Dataset Information

Human NR5A1/SF-1 mutations show decreased activity on BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor), an important regulator of energy balance: testing impact of novel SF-1 mutations beyond steroidogenesis.

ABSTRACT:

Context

Human NR5A1/SF-1 mutations cause 46,XY disorder of sex development (DSD) with broad phenotypic variability, and rarely cause adrenal insufficiency although SF-1 is an important transcription factor for many genes involved in steroidogenesis. In addition, the Sf-1 knockout mouse develops obesity with age. Obesity might be mediated through Sf-1 regulating activity of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), an important regulator of energy balance in the ventromedial hypothalamus.

Objective

To characterize novel SF-1 gene variants in 4 families, clinical, genetic and functional studies were performed with respect to steroidogenesis and energy balance.

Patients

5 patients with 46,XY DSD were found to harbor NR5A1/SF-1 mutations including 2 novel variations. One patient harboring a novel mutation also suffered from adrenal insufficiency.

Methods

SF-1 mutations were studied in cell systems (HEK293, JEG3) for impact on transcription of genes involved in steroidogenesis (CYP11A1, CYP17A1, HSD3B2) and in energy balance (BDNF). BDNF regulation by SF-1 was studied by promoter assays (JEG3).

Results

Two novel NR5A1/SF-1 mutations (Glu7Stop, His408Profs*159) were confirmed. Glu7Stop is the 4th reported SF-1 mutation causing DSD and adrenal insufficiency. In vitro studies revealed that transcription of the BDNF gene is regulated by SF-1, and that mutant SF-1 decreased BDNF promoter activation (similar to steroid enzyme promoters). However, clinical data from 16 subjects carrying SF-1 mutations showed normal birth weight and BMI.

Conclusions

Glu7Stop and His408Profs*159 are novel SF-1 mutations identified in patients with 46,XY DSD and adrenal insufficiency (Glu7Stop). In vitro, SF-1 mutations affect not only steroidogenesis but also transcription of BDNF which is involved in energy balance. However, in contrast to mice, consequences on weight were not found in humans with SF-1 mutations.

SUBMITTER: Malikova J

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4133263 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Human NR5A1/SF-1 mutations show decreased activity on BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor), an important regulator of energy balance: testing impact of novel SF-1 mutations beyond steroidogenesis.

Malikova Jana J Camats Núria N Fernández-Cancio Mónica M Heath Karen K González Isabel I Caimarí María M del Campo Miguel M Albisu Marian M Kolouskova Stanislava S Audí Laura L Flück Christa E CE

PloS one 20140814 8

<h4>Context</h4>Human NR5A1/SF-1 mutations cause 46,XY disorder of sex development (DSD) with broad phenotypic variability, and rarely cause adrenal insufficiency although SF-1 is an important transcription factor for many genes involved in steroidogenesis. In addition, the Sf-1 knockout mouse develops obesity with age. Obesity might be mediated through Sf-1 regulating activity of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), an important regulator of energy balance in the ventromedial hypothalamus. ...[more]

PMID: 25122490

Similar Datasets

Project description:BackgroundSteroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1, NR5A1) is a key transcriptional regulator of many genes involved in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and mutations in NR5A1 can result in 46,XY disorders of sex development (DSD). Patients with this condition typically present with ambiguous genitalia, partial gonadal dysgenesis, and absent/rudimentary Müllerian structures. In these cases, testosterone is usually low in early infancy, indicating significantly impaired androgen synthesis. Further, Sertoli cell dysfunction is seen (low inhibin B, anti-Müllerian hormone). However, gonadal function at puberty in patients with NR5A1 mutations is unknown.Subjects and methodsClinical assessment, endocrine evaluation, and genetic analysis were performed in one female and one male with 46,XY DSD who showed spontaneous virilization during puberty. The female patient presented at adolescence with clitoral hypertrophy, whereas the male patient presented at birth with severe hypospadias and entered puberty spontaneously. Molecular analysis of NR5A1 was performed followed by in vitro functional analysis of the two novel mutations detected.ResultsTestosterone levels were normal during puberty in both patients. Analysis of NR5A1 revealed two novel heterozygous missense mutations in the ligand-binding domain of SF-1 (patient 1: p.L376F; patient 2: p.G328V). The mutant proteins showed reduced transactivation of the CYP11A promoter in vitro.ConclusionPatients with 46,XY DSD and NR5A1 mutations can produce sufficient testosterone for spontaneous virilization during puberty. Phenotypic females (46,XY) with NR5A1 mutations can present with clitoromegaly at puberty, a phenotype similar to other partial defects of androgen synthesis or action. Testosterone production in 46,XY males with NR5A1 mutations can be sufficient for virilization at puberty. As progressive gonadal dysgenesis is likely, gonadal function should be monitored in adolescence and adulthood, and early sperm cryopreservation considered in male patients if possible.

Project description:SF-1 (NR5A1) was overexpressed (Over) or knocked down with shRNA (shRNA) in NCI-H295R human adrenocortical tumor cells and differential global gene expression analysed 48 hours later using Affymetrix GeneChip Human Gene 1.0ST arrays. Over: 5 million cells were transfected (Amaxa Nucleofection) with 10 ug of a pIRES2-AcGPF1-Nuc construct co-expressing SF-1 cDNA and GFP. For experimental control, a mutagenized pIRES2 construct, bearing the G35E mutation in SF-1 that impairs its transactivation function in vivo and in vitro was used. shRNA: 5 million cells were transfected (Amaxa Nucleofection) with 10 ug of the SureSilencing shRNA Plasmid for Human NR5A1 with GFP marker kit (SABioscience). For experimental control, mismatch constructs provided in the kit were used. In both experiments (Over and shRNA), cells were harvested, prepared, and submitted to fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) in a MoFlo XDP sorter 48 hours after transfection. Viable GFP-expressing cells were pooled and resuspended in TRIzol reagent for RNA extraction. Total RNA was extracted, and RNA quality control performed using a 2100 Bioanalyzer. RNA samples were processed using the Affymetrix GeneChip WT Sense Target Labeling kit, starting with 200 ng total RNA. Four independent Over experiments and five independent shRNA experiments were performed and samples of labeled fragmented cDNA were hybridized to Affymetrix GeneChip Human Gene 1.0 ST Arrays. Based on quality control of array data (R/Bioconductor and Partek Genomics Suite), two Over arrays (one SF-1 wild type and one mutant control) and one shRNA array (mismatch control) were excluded and are not deposited here. Differential gene expression analysis was performed using the limma package in R/Bioconductor. A Benjamini-Hochberg-corrected P value cut-off of 0.05 was used to select significant differentially expressed genes in each setting (Over and shRNA). Finally, results from both analyses were combined to identify a subset of positively-regulated SF-1 target genes in these cells, ie transcripts up-regulated by SF-1 overexpression (Over) and down-regulated by SF-1 knockdown (shRNA). Four SF-1 overexpression experiments (Over; intervention = overexpression of wild type SF-1; control = overexpression of functionally-impaired mutant G35E SF-1) and five SF-1 knockdown experiments (shRNA; intervention = SF-1-specific small hairpin RNA; control = shRNA mismatch control) were performed in NCI-H295R cells. Differential gene expression in each setting was analysed using GeneChip Human Gene 1.0ST arrays. Data for arrays that met quality control are presented here: Over, 3 intervention and 3 control arrays; shRNA, 5 intervention and 4 control arrays. Total of 15 arrays.

Dataset Information

Human NR5A1/SF-1 mutations show decreased activity on BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor), an important regulator of energy balance: testing impact of novel SF-1 mutations beyond steroidogenesis.

Context

Objective

Patients

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Human NR5A1/SF-1 mutations show decreased activity on BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor), an important regulator of energy balance: testing impact of novel SF-1 mutations beyond steroidogenesis.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets