help button home button Endocrine Society JCEM
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS

Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism , doi:10.1210/jc.2005-2146
This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a related Letter to the Editor
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Request Copyright Permission
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Raile, K.
Right arrow Articles by Kiess, W.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Raile, K.
Right arrow Articles by Kiess, W.
Related Collections
Right arrow Neuroendocrinology and Pituitary
Right arrow Pediatric Endocrinology
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism Vol. 91, No. 6 2264-2271
Copyright © 2006 by The Endocrine Society

Clinical and Functional Characteristics of the Human Arg59Ter Insulin-Like Growth Factor I Receptor (IGF1R) Mutation: Implications for a Gene Dosage Effect of the Human IGF1R

K. Raile, J. Klammt, A. Schneider, A. Keller, S. Laue, R. Smith, R. Pfäffle, J. Kratzsch, E. Keller and W. Kiess

Hospital for Children and Adolescents (K.R., J.K., A.S., A.K., S.L., R.P., E.K., W.K.) and Institute for Laboratory Medicine and Molecular Diagnostics (J.K.), University of Leipzig, 04109 Leipzig, Germany; and Rhode Island Hospital, Brown University Medical School (R.S.), Providence, Rhode Island 02912

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Dr. Klemens Raile, Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Augustenburgerplatz 1, D-13353 Berlin, Germany. E-mail: klemens.raile{at}charite.de.


    Abstract
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Subjects and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
Context: Signaling via the IGF-I receptor (IGF-IR) is crucial for normal prenatal and postnatal growth. The heterozygous IGF-IR mutation Arg59Ter resulted in reduced IGF-IR expression and represents haploinsufficiency of the human IGF1R gene.

Objective: We studied clinical and in vitro aspects of a human IGF1R gene dosage effect. We provide detailed clinical data on the two half-brothers and their mother with the Arg59Ter mutation. Arg59Ter and control fibroblasts were examined for functionality of IGF-I and insulin-stimulated receptor phosphorylation and signal transduction.

Results: The two brothers presented with primary microcephaly, mild mental retardation, and intrauterine as well as postnatal growth deficits. After GH therapy (30 µg/kg·d) for 24 months, the growth deficit in the propositus decreased by +1.0 SD. There was no clinical evidence for impaired glucose tolerance or hypoglycemia in all Arg59Ter subjects. In vitro, IGF-IR-deficient Arg59Ter cells expressed less IGF-IR and unchanged insulin receptor (IR) protein. Receptor autophosphorylation and phosphorylation of downstream protein kinase B/Akt exhibited resistance to IGF-I but showed an augmented response to insulin in Arg59Ter cells. Decreased IGF-IR content was accompanied by a reduction of IGF-IR/IR receptor hybrids, and therefore, increased levels of IR/IR homodimers probably explain increased insulin-stimulated receptor autophosphorylation and Akt phosphorylation.

Conclusions: In vivo and in vitro IGF-I resistance in Arg59Ter subjects and fibroblasts indicates a human IGF1R gene dosage effect involving not only the IGF-IR, but also IGF-IR/IR hybrids. The abundance of both the IGF-IR protein and IGF-IR/IR hybrid receptors may have an impact on human growth, organ function, and glucose metabolism.


    Introduction
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Subjects and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
IGF-I IS A pleiotropic hormone of the insulin family that exerts biological functions in multiple tissues through autocrine, paracrine, and endocrine signaling mechanisms. Both IGF-I and insulin exert biological effects through the specific cell surface IGF-I receptor (IGF-IR) and insulin receptor (IR), respectively. The IGF-IR and IR are tyrosine kinase receptors and are composed of two extracellular {alpha}-subunits containing the ligand-binding site and two intracellular ß-subunits with intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity (1). Each proreceptor peptide forms a disulfide-linked {alpha}/ß-subunit complex, and these further associate by disulfide bonding into {alpha}/ß-{alpha} tetramers as IGF-IR or IR homoreceptors and also as hybrid receptors composed of IGF-IR {alpha}/ß and IR {alpha}/ß hemireceptors. Such hybrid receptors are widely expressed in many mammalian tissues and cell types (2, 3). Hybrid receptors bind IGF-I with an affinity similar to that of the IGF-IR and insulin with much lower affinity than the IR (4, 5, 6). Distinct biological functions of the receptor types are still not clear; hybrid receptors may potentially contribute to insulin and IGF-I responses in target tissues (7).

We have recently reported on a mother and her two sons with a heterozygous IGF1R mutation. The common phenotype includes pre- and postnatal growth retardation, modestly impaired motor and mental development, and primary microcephaly associated with normal or increased IGF-I and IGF-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) serum levels (8). The IGF-IR mutation in exon 2 of one IGF-IR allele results in early termination of transcription after 59 amino acids (Arg59Ter). The truncated receptor protein, if expressed at all, would correspond to only a short N-terminal fragment of the IGF-IR {alpha}-chain, which could not bind IGF-I or insert into the cell membrane. In fibroblasts and peripheral blood monocytes, biallelic expression of the mutant and wild-type IGF1R alleles has been demonstrated. It thus can be concluded that individuals with the Arg59Ter IGF1R mutation manifest the human phenotype of IGF1R haploinsufficiency (8).

Igf1r gene knockout experiments have shown a mild pre- and postnatal growth deficit in heterozygous knockout (Igf1r+/–) mice (9). Igf1r gene dosage effects on the growth of several tissues and organs, in addition to overall embryonic and postnatal growth, were demonstrated in clonal mouse strains with a spectrum of IGF-IR deficiency (10).

In children born small for gestational age (SGA), binding of IGF-I to erythrocytes was noted to be lower than in children of normal height and weight (11), and it was suggested that decreased IGF1R expression may contribute to the observed reduced growth. In recent years, SGA children have been treated with recombinant human GH (rhGH), and a number of studies have reported improvement of growth as long as GH treatment continued (12, 13). However, the growth response in SGA children is not as marked as that usually seen in children with GH deficiency, and whether this results from the occurrence of IGF-I resistance in a majority of SGA children is not clear.

In this study, we investigated patients and fibroblasts with a heterozygous Arg59Ter IGF1R mutation to define clinical and functional aspects of reduced IGF-IR expression in humans.


    Subjects and Methods
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Subjects and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
Subjects and clinical report

We have investigated features of an adult female and her two sons with an IGF1R mutation leading to heterozygous deactivation of one IGF1R allele. The older son was our index patient, and the family history has been described previously (8).

Case 1, older brother. Phenotypic description at age 8.5 yr (after 24 months of rhGH treatment) is as follows: height 124.4 cm (–1.50 SD), weight 28.0 kg, body mass index 18.8 kg/m2 (+1.20 SD), head circumference 50.4 cm (SD –0.93), and upper to lower segment ratio 1.20. He displayed mild dysmorphic signs as previously reported (8). His mild developmental delay persisted; speech, social skills, and fine and coarse motor skills were delayed, but continuously progressing. He was placed in a special school because of learning handicaps. Endocrine investigations revealed normal or elevated IGF-I, IGFBP-3, and IGF-2 levels, as documented between 2 and 6.4 yr of age before GH treatment was initiated. GH secretion was decreased after arginine infusion (0.5 g/kg) and insulin-induced hypoglycemia, but was normal in response to GHRH (Table 1Go).


View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
TABLE 1. Phenotype of family members with the heterozygous Arg59Ter IGF-1R mutation

 
Case 2, younger brother. The younger brother was born at term after an uneventful pregnancy. He was a half sibling to our index patient from the same mother. His birth weight was 2440 g (SD –3.0), birth length was 46 cm (–2.1 SD), and he had primary microcephaly with a head circumference of 31.5 cm (–2.7 SD). At his present age of 3.15 yr, he had not exhibited catch-up growth (present height of 84.7 cm, –3.22 SD) and had followed a growth pattern similar to that of his older brother. His weight was 11.3 kg and body mass index was 15.8 kg/m2 (+0.11 SD). Genetic testing using umbilical venous blood revealed the same heterozygous Arg59Ter IGF1R gene mutation as that found in his older brother and his mother. He was followed continuously at our clinic. Levels of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 were normal for age, ranging from –0.31 to +1.4 SD and from –1.8 SD to +0.2, respectively. At the age of 2.3 yr, GH secretion was tested by arginine infusion (0.5 g/kg) and was found to be normal (peak level, 9.79 ng/ml; normal, >7 ng/ml). Hormone levels of TSH, IGF-II, free T4, prolactin, and cortisol were normal, and bone age was delayed (chronological age, 1.9 yr; bone age, 1.25 yr).

Case 3, mother. The mother was born SGA at term, with a birth weight of 2400 g (–2.6 SD). Her final height was 148.0 cm (–2.6 SD), and head circumference was 52 cm (–1.7 SD), but her growth pattern had not been documented. A single determination of plasma IGF-I was normal at adult age (+0.4 SD). She finished high school after 8 yr without a regular exam, which corresponds to approximately the level of special school education today.

Materials and methods

Clinical and molecular studies were performed after obtaining approval from the ethical committee of the Medical Faculty of University of Leipzig and written consent from the parents.

Auxology

Height measurements were obtained using a wall-mounted precision stadiometer. Short-term growth response from 9 wk before to 11 wk after the onset of rhGH therapy was assessed by knemometry (14). Bone age was determined using the Bailey-Pinot method.

Assays

Serum levels of IGF-I were measured after acid-ethanol extraction by our in-house competitive solid phase immunoassay with a sensitivity of less than 15 ng/ml and inter- and intraassay coefficients of variation (CVs) of less than 10% (15). Serum levels of IGFBP-3 were determined with a commercially available ELISA (Diagnostic Systems Laboratories, Inc., Sinsheim, Germany) with a sensitivity of less than 0.8 ng/ml and inter- and intraassay CVs less than 12%. For rhGH measurements, the sensitivity of the assay (AutoDELFIA, PerkinElmer, Brussels, Belgium) was 0.02 ng/ml; inter- and intraassay CVs were less than 3.4%.

In vitro studies

Arg59Ter fibroblasts were cultured from a forearm skin biopsy of the propositus, control fibroblasts of age- and sex-matched donors were purchased from the Human Genetic Mutant Cell Repository (Coriell Institute of Medical Research, Camden, NJ; GM 05565, GM 00498, and GM 05381). The cells were grown and cultured as previously described (8). For phosphorylation experiments, cells were seeded into 175-cm2 flasks in culture medium, kept serum free overnight, then stimulated with 0–100 ng/ml IGF-I or insulin for 10 min at 37 C. rhIGF-I and human insulin were donated by Pharmacia Biotech (Stockholm, Sweden).

Cell lysis, immunoblotting, and immunoprecipitation

Protein expression of IGF-IR and IR and ligand-induced phosphorylation of IGF-IR, IR, and the downstream signaling protein, Akt, were measured by Western blotting using specific antibodies. Cells were washed twice with ice-cold PBS, scraped in ice-cold lysis buffer, vortexed, and centrifuged (14,000 x g for 3 min at 4 C). Protein content was assayed using a DC protein assay kit (Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Hercules, CA) with BSA type V (Sigma-Aldrich Corp., Taufkirchen, Germany) as a standard. Total protein extracts (10–50 µg) were resolved by SDS-PAGE [7.5–10% (vol/vol) bisacrylamide-acrylamide, 37.5:1], transferred to nitrocellulose membranes, and immunoblotted with specific antibodies or antisera, and secondary antibodies were identified using chemiluminescence blotting substrate (Supersignal, Pierce/Perbio, Bonn, Germany). Primary antibodies included polyclonal rabbit antisera (Cell Signaling Technology, Beverly, MA) against the phosphotyrosine1158 residue of human IGF-IR and IR (dilution, 1:500), Akt (1:1,000), and phospho-Ser473-Akt (1:1,000), plus polyclonal goat antisera from Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Inc. (Santa Cruz, CA) against the IGF-IR ß-subunit (C-20; 1:2,000) and the insulin receptor ß-subunit (C19; 1:1,000). Highly specific monoclonal antibodies against the human IGF-IR {alpha}-subunit (2C8; Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Inc.) and the IR ß-subunit (29B4; Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Inc.) with no cross-reactivity for IR or IGF-IR, respectively, were used for immunoprecipitation. Primary rabbit antibodies were detected by goat antirabbit immunoserum (Pierce Chemical Co., Bonn, Germany) diluted 1:40,000, and primary goat antibodies were detected by rabbit antigoat immunoserum (DakoCytomation, Hamburg, Germany) diluted 1:40,000.

For immunoprecipitations, protein lysates were precleared with protein G. Approximately 500 µg protein was then incubated with the indicated specific antibodies (1.25 µl) bound to protein G agarose for 16 h at 4 C. Immune complexes were collected by centrifugation, washed in extraction buffer, solubilized, diluted in 2x Laemmli sample buffer, and analyzed as described in detail for Western blot analysis.

Data analysis

Density analysis of specific Western blot protein bands was performed with Image Beta 4.0.2 (Scion Corp., Frederick, MD). Statistical comparisons were carried out by unpaired Student’s t test with Welch’s correction for unequal variances where appropriate. Analysis and graphs were performed using GraphPad PRISM 3.0 software (GraphPad Software, Inc., San Diego, CA). Data are plotted as the mean and SD of the mean.


    Results
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Subjects and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
Phenotypic characteristics

Common phenotypic characteristics of the two male children included prenatal and postnatal growth retardation, primary microcephaly, and mild facial dysmorphism characterized by a broad nasal bridge, broad and rounded nasal tip, long and smooth philtrum, thin upper lip, and an inverted, fleshy lower lip. Both individuals had short broad fingers, short distal phalanges, and bilateral clinodactyly. The body length of the propositus (III/1) was reduced at birth and remained retarded (–2.8 to –3.52 SD; Fig. 1AGo). Starting at 5–6 yr, mild catch-up growth was evident, which was accelerated during the first 2 yr of GH treatment. Body weight was markedly decreased until 3 yr of age and continuously increased thereafter (Fig. 1BGo). Head size exhibited a specific growth pattern, with primary microcephaly and further deviations below normative percentiles during the first 6 yr, followed by accelerated increase to above the third percentile by the age of 7 yr (Fig. 1CGo). This unusual increase in head size during GH treatment was not associated with any cerebral pathology indicating hydrocephalus or cerebral edema. The younger male (III/2) bearing the IGF1R mutation was born SGA, grew below the third percentile, and also has microcephaly. He followed growth patterns similar to those of his older brother, but, in general, all growth deficits were less marked (Fig. 1Go, right panels).


Figure 1
View larger version (21K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
FIG. 1. Growth charts for the older (III/1; left) and the younger (III/2; right) of the two brothers with the Arg59Ter IGF1R mutation. The start of GH treatment in the older brother is indicated with an arrow. Percentiles were 97th (upper), 50th (middle), and third (lower). The individual plots represent height (A), weight (B), and head circumference (C). {diamond}, Respective bone ages.

 
Neuromotor and psychosocial functions

Because primary microcephaly, defined as decreased prenatal head size, is likely to be generated by reduced brain size, neuromotor and psychosocial functions were evaluated in both male children and were found to be delayed. Generalized muscular weakness was evident from the newborn period, although suckling and oral feeding continued to be sufficient. The older individual has been continuously followed by developmental neurologists, and he has ongoing treatment from speech and occupational therapists. His gross motor coordination and fine motor dexterity were delayed, e.g. walking starting at 20 months, and a developmental delay of approximately 10 months was evident at 6 yr. Language dysfunction was predominantly identified as spelling disorder. Magnetic resonance brain imaging was normal at age 5 yr with no abnormalities in structure or size of brain and pituitary. The younger male child was considered to have significant generalized muscle weakness until the age of 6 months, but his gross motor milestones were within the normal range. He developed speech and fine motor skills with mild delay.

Changes in linear growth, body weight, and glucose metabolism during rhGH therapy

Because of persistent growth below –2.5 SD, the older male child was treated with rhGH. Considerations were, first, that high GH serum levels might promote growth through direct action on target tissues via the GH receptor, and second, that high local and systemic IGF-I levels created by GH treatment might overcome relative IGF-I resistance. During therapy with rhGH at a daily dose of 30 µg/kg·d, growth velocity markedly increased within the first 3 months, as documented by knemometry and height velocity (Table 2Go). Height SD values increased progressively from –2.51 to –1.93 SD after 1 yr and –1.50 SD after 2 yr of GH therapy. The increase in body weight was variable during the first 6 months, but subsequently there was a progressive increase in body weight (Fig. 1BGo and Table 2Go). Bone age was approximately 1 yr delayed at the start of GH treatment and was appropriate for chronological age after 2 yr of GH. Oral glucose tolerance testing with 1.75 g/kg performed before GH treatment and annually during rhGH therapy demonstrated normal glucose tolerance, but homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance was mildly elevated in two of three glucose/insulin samples, with a homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance above the 95th percentile compared with normal values from 9-yr-old Canadian boys (16) (Table 2Go).


View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
TABLE 2. Effects of GH therapy on growth, body composition, IGF-I levels, and glucose metabolism in the index patient with the IGF1R mutation

 
IGF-IR expression and IGF-I-stimulated phosphorylation of IGF-IR and Akt

To determine the impact of decreased IGF-IR expression on IGF-I signaling, IGF-IR abundance, IGF-IR phosphorylation, and IGF-I-dependent Akt phosphorylation were assessed by Western blotting. Fibroblasts obtained from the propositus expressed significantly lower levels of IGF-IR ß-subunit (Fig. 2AGo). IGF-I-stimulated phosphorylation of IGF-IR in Arg59Ter and three control cell lines was stimulated in a dose-dependent fashion, but the patient’s cells needed approximately 10-fold higher IGF-I concentrations to achieve equal levels of Tyr-phosphorylated IGF-IR compared with controls. In contrast, after normalization to IGF-IR levels, no significant difference was found between Arg59Ter and control cells (Fig. 2BGo). Furthermore, phosphorylation of Akt, a downstream signaling intermediate of the IGF-I receptor pathway, was stimulated by IGF-I in a dose-dependent fashion, but Akt phosphorylation in Arg59Ter cells also needed approximately 10-fold higher IGF-I concentrations than control fibroblasts despite equal amounts of total Akt protein (Fig. 2CGo).


Figure 2
View larger version (30K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
FIG. 2. IGF-I-induced signal transduction in Arg59Ter fibroblasts. The expression of IGF-IR protein is reduced in Arg59Ter fibroblasts compared with three control cell lines from age- and sex-matched donors. IGF-I-induced autophosphorylation of P-Tyr1158 of IGF-IR and phosphorylation of the downstream signaling protein Akt were decreased in a dose-dependent fashion. Lower IGF-I signaling effects correspond to the lower expression of the IGF-IR protein. The Western blots shown are representative of three independent Western blotting experiments with equivalent results (A). Levels of phospho-Tyr1158 IGF-IR (B) and phospho-Ser473-Akt (C) were normalized to expression levels of the respective total IGF-IR and Akt proteins. Levels were quantified by densitometry, calculated as the fold increase above basal. *, Significant differences between Arg59Ter cells and controls (P < 0.05).

 
Insulin-dependent Akt phosphorylation and IR/IGF-IR hybrid formation

To examine whether lower expression of the IGF-IR would alter insulin signaling, Arg59Ter fibroblasts and control cells were exposed to increasing concentrations of insulin and immunoblotted with IGF-IR, IR, Akt, and phospho-Akt antibodies. Interestingly, dose-dependent stimulation with insulin resulted in higher, dose-dependent Akt phosphorylation in the IGF-IR-deficient Arg59Ter fibroblasts compared with control cell lines despite comparable levels of total IR and Akt protein expression (Fig. 3AGo). Because IR/IGF-IR heterodimers bind insulin with lower affinity than IR/IR homodimers, we investigated the possibility that lower expression of IGF-IR in Arg59Ter fibroblasts would sequester fewer IR into IR/IGF-IR hybrids. For this purpose, protein lysates of Arg59Ter and control fibroblasts were immunoprecipitated with antibodies specific for the IGF-IR ß-subunit or IR ß-subunit. The resulting immunoprecipitates then were resolved by SDS-PAGE and immunoblotted with both IGF-IR and IR antibodies. Compared with two control cell lines, Arg59Ter cells demonstrated markedly decreased IR protein in IGF-IR antibody immunoprecipitates (Fig. 4AGo). Similarly, decreased IGF-IR were identified in immunoblots of IR antibody immunoprecipitates from Arg59Ter compared with control fibroblasts (Fig. 4Go, B and C). The presence of decreased IR coprecipitated with IGF-IR confirmed decreased hybrid receptor formation of the Arg59Ter cells. In the presence of equal expression of total IR protein, but decreased IR/IGF-IR hybrids, increased levels of IR/IR homodimers are likely in Arg59Ter cells.


Figure 3
View larger version (43K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
FIG. 3. Insulin-induced signal transduction in Arg59Ter fibroblasts. Total IR protein was equally expressed in cell lysates from IGF-IR-depleted Arg59Ter fibroblasts and cells from matched controls. Insulin-dependent autophosphorylation and phosphorylation of the downstream signaling protein Akt were increased in Arg59Ter cells. The Western blots shown are representative of three independent Western blotting experiments with equivalent results (A). Levels of phospho-Tyr1158 IR (B) and phospho-Ser473-Akt (C) were quantified by densitometry, normalized to levels of total IR and Akt expression, and expressed as the fold increase above basal. *, P < 0.05.

 

Figure 4
View larger version (41K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
FIG. 4. IR/IGF-IR hybrids in Arg59Ter and control fibroblasts. A, Lysates (500 µg) from Arg59Ter mutant (Mut) and control (Co) fibroblasts were immunoprecipitated with polyclonal antibody C20, which is specific for the IGF-IR ß-subunit. Resulting precipitates were resolved by SDS-PAGE and blotted with either IGF-IR (left panel) or IR (right panel) ß-subunit antibodies. B, Cell lysates were immunoprecipitated with 29B4 insulin receptor antibody, and precipitates were blotted with either IGF-IR antibody (left panel) or IR antibody (right panel). The Western blots of precipitates each represent three independent experiments. C, Levels of IR/IGF-IR hybrids from experiments depicted in A and B were quantified by densitometry. *, Significant differences between lysates from Arg59Ter and control fibroblasts (P < 0.05).

 

    Discussion
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Subjects and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
We previously reported a heterozygous IGF1R Arg59Ter mutation, resulting in early termination of IGF-IR protein transcription and decreased IGF-IR protein expression in a mother and her two sons (8). This study investigates the clinical and in vitro signaling consequences of the reduced IGF-IR gene dosage resulting from this human IGF1R mutation. IGF-I resistance due to reduced IGF-I receptor number has been proposed to explain the growth-restricted phenotype of patients with partial monosomy 15q26.1->qter syndrome resulting in haploinsufficiency of the IGF1R gene (17, 18, 19, 20). Common phenotypic features of these children include intrauterine growth retardation, postnatal growth failure, microcephaly, facial abnormalities (high arched palate, abnormal ears, and hypertelorism), skeletal abnormalities (clinodactyly, club feet, and scoliosis), and mental retardation. In vitro, fibroblasts from patients with partial 15q26.1->qter monosomy display decreased IGF-I ligand binding and IGF-IR tyrosine kinase activation, whereas those from trisomy 15q26.1->qter patients display increased IGF-IR phosphorylation (17, 21). These data are consistent with an IGF-IR gene dosage effect of the human IGF1R gene, but leave unresolved the role of the IGF1R vs. other genes within the affected region of chromosome 15. Comparing 15q26.1->qter and Arg59Ter subjects who also lack one functional IGF1R allele, prenatal and postnatal growth retardation, microcephaly, and mental retardation are common features, but skeletal abnormalities are more severe in 15q26.1->qter subjects and therefore may not be dependent on IGF-IR deletion.

Four different human IGF1R mutations have been reported to date, each of which highlights distinct aspects of IGF-IR function. The heterozygous Arg59Ter mutation results in inactivation of one IGF1R allele and a consequent decrease in mRNA and protein expression of the intact IGF-IR (8). The compound heterozygous IGF1R mutations Arg108Gln/Lys115Asn, with each mutation changing binding characteristics of the IGF-I-binding pocket within the {alpha}-subunit, results in decreased IGF-I binding affinity and receptor phosphorylation (8). A recently reported heterozygous mutation, Arg709Gln, affects the cleavage site between {alpha}- and ß-subunits, resulting in intracellular sequestration of unprocessed proreceptor and decreased expression of fully cleaved and processed IGF-IR (22). Most recently, a patient with a heterozygous mutation Glu1050Lys within the IGF-IR tyrosine kinase domain, with reduced autophosphorylation of the IGF-IR tyrosine kinase and reduced postreceptor signaling, was reported (23). In subjects with these mutations, common features are intrauterine growth retardation and lack of postnatal catch-up growth. The degrees of psychomotor delay and microcephaly are more variable, but some developmental abnormality has been reported in all individuals. Complete deletion of the IGF1R has not been observed in humans and thus may be lethal, even though Igf1r–/– mice have been identified, but die after birth (24).

IGF-I levels in subjects with IGF1R mutations were either normal or elevated to an extent that does not support normal postnatal growth. The highest IGF-I levels were observed in the girl with the heterozygous compound Arg108Gln/Lys115Arg mutations that resulted in markedly decreased IGF-I binding affinity (8), whereas in our study, IGF-I levels were elevated in the more severely affected older child, but were normal in his less markedly growth-restricted younger brother. GH treatment in the older child induced IGF-I serum levels that were higher than that and a growth response that was comparable to that normally observed in SGA patients treated with comparable doses of GH (25, 26, 27). Functionally, higher IGF-I may have resulted from decreased receptor-mediated clearance of IGF-I, and the adequate growth response for the most part reflected the extent of activation of reduced number of IGF-I receptors by these high IGF-I concentrations.

At the cellular level, functional studies in Arg59Ter fibroblasts demonstrated enhanced insulin-dependent IR autophosphorylation and Akt phosphorylation in Arg59Ter fibroblasts despite unchanged IR abundance compared with control cells. If IGF-I and insulin signaling are completely independent from each other, insulin signaling should not be influenced by decreased IGF-IR expression. Studies in fibroblasts from Igf1r-knockout mice (R–) overexpressing IGF-IR and IR demonstrated that hybrid receptors predominantly bind IGF-I, whereas IR and IGF-IR homodimers bind their respective ligands with high affinity (4, 28, 29). In a more recent study, IGF-I was found to induce weak, but significant, phosphorylation of IR, whereas insulin was not able to activate the IGF-IR. This effect was attributed to IR/IGF-IR hybrid signaling activated by IGF-I (4). Together, these findings as well as those from other studies (6) support the conclusion that IGF-IR/IR hybrid receptors exhibit high affinity IGF-I binding and low affinity insulin binding. Therefore, increased levels of IR/IR homodimers as a consequence of decreased IR being sequestered into IR/IGF-IR hybrids probably explain the higher insulin-stimulated receptor autophosphorylation and Akt phosphorylation found in Arg59Ter cells.

The clinical relevance of IGF-IR/IR hybrid receptors vs. IR/IR homodimer signaling was demonstrated in muscle extracts of obese subjects with insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia, and a causal link was postulated between IGF-IR/IR hybrid formation and insulin resistance in these subjects (30, 31). Furthermore, high glucose concentrations were found to up-regulate muscle hybrid receptors, and this mechanism was suggested to be of clinical relevance in insulin-resistant and diabetic patients. Nevertheless and despite the increased insulin sensitivity in IGF-IR-depleted Arg59Ter fibroblasts in vitro, we did not observe increased or clearly decreased insulin sensitivity in Arg59Ter subjects. Additional studies will be required of additional patients with IGF-IR defects to establish the relationships between IGF-IR abundance and insulin sensitivity in vivo.

In conclusion, the Arg59Ter IGF1R mutation results in a phenotype characterized by pre- and postnatal growth retardation, microcephaly, and mental retardation. The Arg59Ter subjects share phenotypic similarities with other reported cases of IGF1R mutations, monosomy 15q->ter, and also mice with Igf1r inactivation. The variability of specific clinical features in individuals with different IGF1R mutations may be related to specific functions of mutated IGF-IR regions or, alternatively, to variations in genetic background. Fibroblasts from the Arg59Ter propositus studied in vitro exhibited decreased IGF-IR abundance and IGF-I resistance, as assessed by IGF-IR phosphorylation and postreceptor signal transduction. The Arg59Ter fibroblasts also manifested an increased signaling response to insulin, which is probably caused by decreased formation of IGF-IR/IR hybrids, resulting in a higher proportion of IR present as highly insulin-sensitive IR/IR homodimers. Therefore, IGF-IR expression has a strong impact on insulin signaling, and IGF-IR and IR are strongly interactive through the formation of hybrid receptors.


    Footnotes
 
This work was supported by grants from the German Endocrine Society (to A.S.), and Interdisziplinäres Zentrum für Klinische Forschung (Leipzig, Germany; Projects B11, B15, and B18; to W.K.) through Bundesministerium für Bildung, Wissenschraft, Forschung, und Technologie (Bonn, Germany) and unrestricted educational grants (to W.K.) from Pfizer, Inc., and Novo Nordisk, Inc.

K.R., J.K., A.S., A.K., S.L., R.S., R.P., J.K., E.K., and W.K. have nothing to declare.

First Published Online March 28, 2006

Abbreviations: CV, Coefficient of variation; IGF-BP, IGF-binding protein; IGF-IR, IGF-I receptor; IR, insulin receptor; rhGH, recombinant human GH; SGA, small for gestational age.

Received September 27, 2005.

Accepted March 17, 2006.


    References
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Subjects and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 

  1. Ullrich A, Gray A, Tam AW, Yang-Feng T, Tsubokawa M, Collins C, Henzel W, Le Bon T, Kathuria S, Chen E 1986 Insulin-like growth factor I receptor primary structure: comparison with insulin receptor suggests structural determinants that define functional specificity. EMBO J 5:2503–2512[Medline]
  2. Bailyes EM, Nave BT, Soos MA, Orr SR, Hayward AC, Siddle K 1997 Insulin receptor/IGF-I receptor hybrids are widely distributed in mammalian tissues: quantification of individual receptor species by selective immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting. Biochem J 327:209–215[Medline]
  3. Seely BL, Reichart DR, Takata Y, Yip C, Olefsky JM 1995 A functional assessment of insulin/insulin-like growth factor-I hybrid receptors. Endocrinology 136:1635–1641[Abstract]
  4. Entingh-Pearsall A, Kahn CR 2004 Differential roles of the insulin and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) receptors in response to insulin and IGF-I. J Biol Chem 279:38016–38024[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  5. Soos MA, Whittaker J, Lammers R, Ullrich A, Siddle K 1990 Receptors for insulin and insulin-like growth factor-I can form hybrid dimers. Characterisation of hybrid receptors in transfected cells. Biochem J 270:383–390[Medline]
  6. Soos MA, Field CE, Siddle K 1993 Purified hybrid insulin/insulin-like growth factor-I receptors bind insulin-like growth factor-I, but not insulin, with high affinity. Biochem J 290:419–426[Medline]
  7. Sakai K, Clemmons DR 2003 Glucosamine induces resistance to insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and insulin in Hep G2 cell cultures: biological significance of IGF-I/insulin hybrid receptors. Endocrinology 144:2388–2395[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  8. Abuzzahab MJ, Schneider A, Goddard A, Grigorescu F, Lautier C, Keller E, Kiess W, Klammt J, Kratzsch J, Osgood D, Pfaffle R, Raile K, Seidel B, Smith RJ, Chernausek SD 2003 IGF-I receptor mutations resulting in intrauterine and postnatal growth retardation. N Engl J Med 349:2211–2222[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  9. Holzenberger M, Leneuve P, Hamard G, Ducos B, Perin L, Binoux M, Le Bouc Y 2000 A targeted partial invalidation of the insulin-like growth factor I receptor gene in mice causes a postnatal growth deficit. Endocrinology 141:2557–2566[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  10. Holzenberger M, Hamard G, Zaoui R, Leneuve P, Ducos B, Beccavin C, Perin L, Le Bouc Y 2001 Experimental IGF-I receptor deficiency generates a sexually dimorphic pattern of organ-specific growth deficits in mice, affecting fat tissue in particular. Endocrinology 142:4469–4478[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  11. Ducos B, Cabrol S, Houang M, Perin L, Holzenberger M, Le Bouc Y 2001 IGF type 1 receptor ligand binding characteristics are altered in a subgroup of children with intrauterine growth retardation. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 86:5516–5524[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  12. de Zegher F 2004 Endocrinology of small-for-gestational-age children: recent advances. Horm Res 62(Suppl 3):141–142
  13. de Zegher F, Hokken-Koelega A 2005 Growth hormone therapy for children born small for gestational age: height gain is less dose dependent over the long term than over the short term. Pediatrics 115:e458–e462
  14. Hermanussen M 2003 The measurement of short term growth. J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab 16:969–971[Medline]
  15. Kratzsch J, Blum WF, Schenker E, Keller E, Jahreis G, Haustein B, Ventz M, Rotzsch W 1993 Measurement of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) in normal adults, patients with liver cirrhosis and acromegaly: experience with a new competitive enzyme immunoassay. Exp Clin Endocrinol 101:144–149[Medline]
  16. Allard P, Delvin EE, Paradis G, Hanley JA, O’Loughlin J, Lavallee C, Levy E, Lambert M 2003 Distribution of fasting plasma insulin, free fatty acids, and glucose concentrations and of homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance in a representative sample of Quebec children and adolescents. Clin Chem 49:644–649[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  17. Okubo Y, Siddle K, Firth H, O’Rahilly S, Wilson LC, Willatt L, Fukushima T, Takahashi S, Petry CJ, Saukkonen T, Stanhope R, Dunger DB 2003 Cell proliferation activities on skin fibroblasts from a short child with absence of one copy of the type 1 insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF1R) gene and a tall child with three copies of the IGF1R gene. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 88:5981–5988[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  18. Roback EW, Barakat AJ, Dev VG, Mbikay M, Chretien M, Butler MG 1991 An infant with deletion of the distal long arm of chromosome 15 (q26.1-qter) and loss of insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor gene. Am J Med Genet 38:74–79[CrossRef][Medline]
  19. Tonnies H, Schulze I, Hennies H, Neumann LM, Keitzer R, Neitzel H 2001 De novo terminal deletion of chromosome 15q26.1 characterised by comparative genomic hybridisation and FISH with locus specific probes. J Med Genet 38:617–621[Free Full Text]
  20. Tonnies H 2004 Comments on "congenital diaphragmatic hernia: is 15q26.1–26.2 a candidate locus?" Am J Med Genet A 131:224
  21. Hammer E, Kutsche K, Haag F, Ullrich K, Sudbrak R, Willig RP, Braulke T, Kubler B 2004 Mono-allelic expression of the IGF-I receptor does not affect IGF responses in human fibroblasts. Eur J Endocrinol 151:521–529[Abstract]
  22. Kawashima Y, Kanzaki S, Yang F, Kinoshita T, Hanaki K, Nagaishi JI, Ohtsuka Y, Hisatome I, Ninomoya H, Nanba E, Fukushima T, Takahashi SI 2005 Mutation at cleavage site of IGF receptor in a short stature child born with intrauterine growth retardation. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 90:4679–4687[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  23. van der Kamp H, Pereira AM, Walenkamp MJ, Kant AG, van Duyvenvoorde HA, Kruithof F, Breuning MH, Romijn JA, Karperien M, van Wit J, Variable degree of familial intrauterine and postnatal growth retardation due to a heterozygous missense mutation in the tyrosine kinase domain of the IGF-I receptor. Program of the 87th Annual Meeting of The Endocrine Society, San Francisco, CA, 2005 (Abstract P2–571)
  24. Liu JP, Baker J, Perkins AS, Robertson EJ, Efstratiadis A 1993 Mice carrying null mutations of the genes encoding insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and type 1 IGF receptor (Igf1r). Cell 75:59–72[Medline]
  25. Arends NJ, Boonstra VH, Mulder PG, Odink RJ, Stokvis-Brantsma WH, Rongen-Westerlaken C, Mulder JC, Delemarre-Van de Waal H, Reeser HM, Jansen M, Waelkens JJ, Hokken-Koelega AC 2003 GH treatment and its effect on bone mineral density, bone maturation and growth in short children born small for gestational age: 3-year results of a randomized, controlled GH trial. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 59:779–787[CrossRef][Medline]
  26. Arends NJ, Boonstra VH, Hokken-Koelega AC 2004 Head circumference and body proportions before and during growth hormone treatment in short children who were born small for gestational age. Pediatrics 114:683–690[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  27. Edouard T, Trivin C, Lawson-Body E, Pinto G, Souberbielle JC, Brauner R 2004 Extreme short stature after intrauterine growth retardation: factors associated with lack of catch-up growth. Horm Res 61:33–40[Medline]
  28. Spampinato D, Pandini G, Iuppa A, Trischitta V, Vigneri R, Frittitta L 2000 Insulin/insulin-like growth factor I hybrid receptors overexpression is not an early defect in insulin-resistant subjects. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 85:4219–4223[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  29. Pandini G, Frasca F, Mineo R, Sciacca L, Vigneri R, Belfiore A 2002 Insulin/insulin-like growth factor I hybrid receptors have different biological characteristics depending on the insulin receptor isoform involved. J Biol Chem 277:39684–39695[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  30. Federici M, Porzio O, Lauro D, Borboni P, Giovannone B, Zucaro L, Hribal ML, Sesti G 1998 Increased abundance of insulin/insulin-like growth factor-I hybrid receptors in skeletal muscle of obese subjects is correlated with in vivo insulin sensitivity. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 83:2911–2915[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  31. Federici M, Giaccari A, Hribal ML, Giovannone B, Lauro D, Morviducci L, Pastore L, Tamburrano G, Lauro R, Sesti G 1999 Evidence for glucose/hexosamine in vivo regulation of insulin/IGF-I hybrid receptor assembly. Diabetes 48:2277–2285[Abstract]



This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
Endocr. Rev.Home page
C. Ohlsson, S. Mohan, K. Sjogren, A. Tivesten, J. Isgaard, O. Isaksson, J.-O. Jansson, and J. Svensson
The Role of Liver-Derived Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I
Endocr. Rev., August 1, 2009; 30(5): 494 - 535.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
P. Fang, I. D. Schwartz, B. D. Johnson, M. A. Derr, C. T. Roberts Jr., V. Hwa, and R. G. Rosenfeld
Familial Short Stature Caused by Haploinsufficiency of the Insulin-Like Growth Factor I Receptor due to Nonsense-Mediated Messenger Ribonucleic Acid Decay
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., May 1, 2009; 94(5): 1740 - 1747.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Endocr. Rev.Home page
D. L. Kleinberg, T. L. Wood, P. A. Furth, and A. V. Lee
Growth Hormone and Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I in the Transition from Normal Mammary Development to Preneoplastic Mammary Lesions
Endocr. Rev., February 1, 2009; 30(1): 51 - 74.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
M. J. E. Walenkamp, S. M. P. F. de Muinck Keizer-Schrama, M. de Mos, M. E. Kalf, H. A. van Duyvenvoorde, A. M. Boot, S. G. Kant, S. J. White, M. Losekoot, J. T. Den Dunnen, et al.
Successful Long-Term Growth Hormone Therapy in a Girl with Haploinsufficiency of the Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I Receptor due to a Terminal 15q26.2->qter Deletion Detected by Multiplex Ligation Probe Amplification
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., June 1, 2008; 93(6): 2421 - 2425.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Eur J EndocrinolHome page
M J E Walenkamp and J M Wit
Genetic disorders in the GH IGF-I axis in mouse and man
Eur. J. Endocrinol., August 1, 2007; 157(suppl_1): S15 - S26.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
K. Inagaki, A. Tiulpakov, P. Rubtsov, P. Sverdlova, V. Peterkova, S. Yakar, S. Terekhov, and D. LeRoith
A Familial Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I Receptor Mutant Leads to Short Stature: Clinical and Biochemical Characterization
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., April 1, 2007; 92(4): 1542 - 1548.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a related Letter to the Editor
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Request Copyright Permission
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Raile, K.
Right arrow Articles by Kiess, W.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Raile, K.
Right arrow Articles by Kiess, W.
Related Collections
Right arrow Neuroendocrinology and Pituitary
Right arrow Pediatric Endocrinology


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Endocrinology Endocrine Reviews J. Clin. End. & Metab.
Molecular Endocrinology Recent Prog. Horm. Res. All Endocrine Journals