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Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism , doi:10.1210/jc.2007-2389
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The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism Vol. 93, No. 7 2790-2799
Copyright © 2008 by The Endocrine Society

A Novel Dysfunctional LHX4 Mutation with High Phenotypical Variability in Patients with Hypopituitarism

F. Castinetti1, A. Saveanu1, R. Reynaud, M. H. Quentien, A. Buffin, R. Brauner, N. Kaffel, F. Albarel, A. M. Guedj, M. El Kholy, M. Amin, A. Enjalbert, A. Barlier and T. Brue

Centre de Recherche en neurobiologie et neurophysiologie de Marseille (CRN2M) (F.C., A.S., R.R., M.H.Q., F.A., A.E., A.Ba., T.B.), Unité Mixte de Recherche 6231, Faculté de Médecine Nord, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de la Méditerranée and Centre de Référence des déficits hypophysaires, Hôpital de la Timone, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Marseille, 13385 Marseille, France; Laboratoire de Biochimie-Biologie Moléculaire (A.S., A.E., A.Ba.), Hôpital Conception, 13005 Marseille, France; Service de Pédiatrie (A.Bu.), Centre Hospitalier Chambéry, 73000 Chambéry France; Université Paris-Descartes et Assistance Publique–Hôpitaux de Paris (R.B.), Hôpital Bicêtre, 94270 Le Kremlin Bicêtre, France; Service d’endocrinologie (N.K.), Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Hedi-Chaker, route El-Ain, 3029 Sfax, Tunisie; Service des Maladies Métaboliques et Endocriniennes (A.M.G.), Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nîmes, 30000 Nîmes France; Department of Paediatrics (M.E.K.), Ain Shams University, 11566 Cairo, Egypt; Department of Paediatrics (M.A.), Cairo University, 11566 Cairo, Egypt

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Professor T. Brue, Department of Endocrinology, Hôpital de la Timone, 264 rue St Pierre, cedex 5, 13385 Marseille, France. E-mail: thierry.brue{at}mail.ap-hm.fr.


    Abstract
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Subjects and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
Context: LHX4 is a LIM homeodomain transcription factor involved in pituitary ontogenesis. Only a few heterozygous LHX4 mutations have been reported to be responsible for congenital pituitary hormone deficiency.

Subjects and Methods: A total of 136 patients with congenital hypopituitarism associated with malformations of brain structures, pituitary stalk, or posterior pituitary gland was screened for LHX4 mutations.

Results: Three novel allelic variants that cause predicted changes in the protein sequence of LHX4 (2.3%) were found (p.Thr99fs, p.Thr90Met, and p.Gly370Ser). On the basis of functional studies, p.Thr99fs mutation was responsible for the patients’ phenotype, whereas p.Thr90Met and p.Gly370Ser were likely polymorphisms. Patients bearing the heterozygous p.Thr99fs mutation had variable phenotypes: two brothers presented somato-lactotroph and thyrotroph deficiencies, with pituitary hypoplasia and poorly developed sella turcica; the youngest brother (propositus) also had corpus callosum hypoplasia and ectopic neurohypophysis; their father only had somatotroph deficiency and delayed puberty with pituitary hyperplasia. Functional studies showed that the mutation induced a complete loss of transcriptional activity on POU1F1 promoter and a lack of DNA binding. Cotransfection of p.Thr99fs mutant and wild-type LHX4 failed to evidence any dominant negative effect, suggesting a mechanism of haploinsufficiency. We also identified prolactin and GH promoters as potential target genes of LHX4 and found that the p.Thr99fs mutant was also unable to transactivate these promoters.

Conclusions: The present report describes three new exonic LHX4 allelic variants with at least one being responsible for congenital hypopituitarism. It also extends the phenotypical heterogeneity associated with LHX4 mutations, which includes variable anterior pituitary hormone deficits, as well as pituitary and extrapituitary abnormalities.


    Introduction
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Subjects and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
Combined pituitary hormone deficiency (CPHD) is defined as the presence of hormone deficits affecting at least two anterior pituitary hormone lineages. Congenital forms are due to mutations of transcription factors (POU1F1, PROP1, HESX1, LHX3, LHX4, etc.) (1, 2, 3, 4).

LHX4 is a LIM homeodomain transcription factor crucial for the genesis and development of Rathke’s pouch (5, 6, 7). In mice, homozygous lhx4 invalidation by homologous recombination induces an abnormal pituitary phenotype and early, death but heterozygous animals display no apparent phenotypical modification (8, 9). In humans, only four functionally defective mutations of LHX4 have previously been described. The first one consists of a germline intronic splice-site mutation responsible for a short stature syndrome, due to GH deficiency. Pituitary phenotype also included TSH and ACTH deficiencies, whereas gonadotroph axis evaluation was not available due to the young age of the patients. Pituitary magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed hindbrain defects in combination with abnormalities of the sella turcica and of the central skull base (10). Functional studies showed an abolished cooperative interaction between LHX4 and another transcription factor, POU1F1, whose proximal promoter has a recognition site for LIM domain transcription factors (11). Recently, another group reported three new LHX4 mutations with variable pituitary phenotypes (including nonconstant GH, TSH, ACTH and LH and FSH deficiencies) and hypoplasic pituitary on MRI with nonconstant ectopic posterior lobe and the lack of other brain malformations. Two of the three mutants had impaired DNA binding, and the third had reduced activity on {alpha}GSU, POU1F1, and TSHβ promoters (12).

A striking feature was that all of these four mutations were heterozygous and likely to act through a mechanism of haploinsufficiency (11).

Another group reported a heterozygous exonic missense LHX4 allelic variant in a young baby presenting with panhypopituitarism, Chiari syndrome, and ectopic neurohypophysis (13). However, no functional study was performed, and, thus, it is not sure that this allelic variant was responsible for the phenotype.

Within a multicenter study of genetic determinants of pituitary deficiencies (GENHYPOPIT Network), 136 patients (from 133 pedigrees) were screened for LHX4 mutations because of congenital hypopituitarism associated with malformations of the brain, pituitary stalk, or posterior pituitary gland. Our primary objective was to search for novel LHX4 mutations in this extended cohort, and our secondary objective was to identify new potential target genes. In this paper we present three new allelic variants of LHX4 that cause predicted changes in protein sequence: Thr99fs, Thr90Met, and Gly370Ser. Functional studies showed that only the frameshift mutation was defective in its transcriptional activity on the POU1F1 promoter, probably due to the lack of DNA binding. We found a striking variability in phenotypical presentation in terms of associated pituitary hormone deficits and morphological abnormalities within the same pedigree. We also identified GH and prolactin (PRL) promoters as potential in vitro target genes of LHX4 and found that the p.Thr99fs mutation was also defective in its ability to transactivate both of these promoters. Thus, the present study allowed us to extend the pattern of phenotypes associated with LHX4 mutations: pituitary hyperplasia and corpus callosum hypoplasia may be associated with variable patterns of anterior pituitary hormone deficits.


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

The GENHYPOPIT network was launched as a multicentric study in both national (France) and international pediatric and adult endocrinology centers (Argentina, Belgium, Egypt, Lebanon, Switzerland, Tunisia, and Turkey). Screening for LHX4 mutations was performed in 136 patients (from 133 pedigrees). A total of 39 of the patients of this cohort had been included in a previous report, and the LHX4 allelic variant that was included in the latter study was found in the family reported by Machinis et al. (10), referred to as "pedigree D" in the present paper. In this study, patients bearing congenital hypopituitarism associated with malformations of the brain, pituitary stalk, or pituitary posterior gland were selected for LHX4 mutation screening on the basis of the first report by Machinis et al. (10), and murine models (14). Seven of the unrelated patients had other members of the family presenting with CPHD phenotype (familial cases). All patients or parents of minors gave their written informed consent to participate in this study, which was approved by our institutional ethics committee.

Hormonal studies and intracranial imaging were performed in all patients in each referring medical center, as previously described (15). On MRI, malformations were systematically sought and recorded in all patients. Patients with a known postnatal cause of acquired hypopituitarism were excluded.

We also report the phenotypical evolution of the two patients presenting with the first published mutation of LHX4 (intron 4 c.607–1G>C). Due to their young age at diagnosis, gonadotroph axis evaluation was not available at the initial report. After their family moved, they were referred to our center for further follow-up, with pituitary hormone evaluation, including gonadotroph axis, and cerebral MRI. These patients are referred to in the text as "Pedigree D."

Screening for LHX4 mutations

LHX4 sequence was amplified from peripheral blood DNA. Genomic analysis of LHX4 was performed by direct sequencing. The six coding exons of LHX4 were amplified from genomic DNA using exon-flanking primers (published as supplemental data on The Endocrine Society’s Journals Online web site at http://jcem.endojournals.org). The same primers were used for sequencing, using CEQ 8000 sequencer (Beckman Coulter, Fullerton, CA). According to the previously described genotyping algorithm, other candidate genes [PROP1, POU1F1, HESX1, and LHX3 (15)] had previously been sequenced, and no alteration had been found in coding regions. In parallel, 37 normal subjects were screened as controls for LHX4 mutations and polymorphisms.

Plasmid constructs and genomic analyses

LHX4 in plasmid pCMV-XL5 was purchased from Origene Technologies, Inc. (Rockville, MD). In vitro site-directed mutagenesis was achieved using the Quick-Change kit (Stratagene cloning system; Stratagene, La Jolla, CA) according to the manufacturer’s instructions. In brief, Pfu DNA polymerase was used to react 50-ng template DNA with the mutant sense primer and mutant antisense primer. This reaction involved 30-sec denaturation at 94 C and 12 cycles consisting of 30-sec denaturation at 94 C, 1-min annealing at 55 C, and 2-min extension at 72 C. After DNA purification and amplification (QIAGEN maxi kit; QIAGEN, Chatsworth, CA), the correct sequence was confirmed by DNA sequencing. Mutagenesis primers used for p.Thr99fs, p.Thr90Met, and p.Gly370Ser allelic variants are given in the supplemental data.

EMSA

Gel mobility shift assays were performed to assess the DNA binding properties of the LHX4 mutants. Wild-type and mutant LHX4 were transcribed and translated using the trinitrotoluene-coupled reticulocyte lysate system with T7 polymerase (Promega Corp., Madison, WI). Annealed synthetic oligonucleotides with {alpha}GSU promoter LIM consensus sequence, as previously described (12, 16), were labeled with [32P]deoxy-CTP. Immunodepletion (supershift assay) was performed with 0.5 µg/well rabbit anti-LHX4 affinity purified polyclonal antibody (CHEMICON International, Inc. Temecula, CA). The protein-DNA complexes were analyzed by electrophoresis through a 8% polyacrylamide gel containing 2.5% glycerol in a 0.5x Tris borate buffer at 4 C.

Protein translation study

Wild-type and mutant LHX4 were transcribed and translated using the same reticulocyte lysate system but with nonradioactive amino acid mixture minus methionine and [35S]methionine. The protein expression was analyzed by electrophoresis on a 12% sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel and then detected by autoradiography.

Cell culture and cotransfection

Reporter constructs containing different gene-regulatory regions with putative LIM factor binding sites were fused to a firefly luciferase gene. These constructs included the proximal promoter regions of the human PRL gene (PRL-250) (a gift of J. A. Martial, Liege, Belgium) (17), or the proximal promoter of the human GH gene (Pa3 Ghp-Luc) (a gift of N. L. Eberhardt, Rochester, MN) (18), or the positive autoregulatory site of the human POU1F1 promoter gene (a gift of M. Delhase, San Diego, CA) (19). All nucleotide numbering was relative to the transcription start site.

Human heterologous HeLa cells were cultured and transfected as follows: 0.3–0.6 ng reporter constructs (PRL-250, GH, or POU1F1 promoter) and 0.6 ng effector construct (pCMV-XL5 empty vector or wild-type or mutant LHX4) per well were cotransfected using the liposome technique (Polyfect transfection reagent; QIAGEN, Hilden, Germany). Total DNA was kept constant with pCMV-XL5 empty vector, which also acted as a control. Transfection efficiency was determined using 0.01 ng pCMV-Renilla, and luciferase firefly values were normalized to it. Firefly and Renilla luciferase activity was measured 48 h after transfection. All assay points were performed in triplicate. Results are expressed in relative units (fold increase vs. empty vector).


    Results
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Subjects and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
Screening for LHX4 mutations

Endocrine and neuroradiological phenotypes LHX4 screening was performed in 136 patients, from 133 pedigrees. Seven of the 133 unrelated patients screened had a history of familial CPHD (5.3%). Briefly, all but one patient presented with GH deficiency, 65% had TSH deficiency, and 48% had ACTH deficiency. Of the 74 patients that could be evaluated in terms of pubertal age, 60 presented with FSH/LH deficiencies (81%). Of the patients, 76% had at least three pituitary deficiencies. The most frequent encephalic MRI abnormalities were pituitary hypoplasia in 70% of cases, abnormal pituitary stalk in 63% of cases (nine patients with a very thin pituitary stalk, and 65 with a pituitary stalk interruption), and ectopic neurohypophysis in 31% of cases. Associated cerebral abnormalities were less frequent, with 8% of patients presenting with Chiari malformation, and 5% with corpus callosum hypoplasia or median line abnormalities. Only 3% of screened patients had septooptic dysplasia. One patient presented cerebellar dysplasia; another had craniostenosis.

Genomic analyses of the 136 patients Three of our unrelated patients had unpublished LHX4 allelic variants (2.3%): p.Thr99fs, (pedigree A), p.Thr90Met (pedigree B), and p.Gly370Ser (pedigree C). LHX4 polymorphisms were found in 54% of our patients; 49.5% of them were carrying the previously described p.Asn328Ser polymorphism (Table 1Go). None of the subjects from the control population bore any of the three unpublished LHX4 allelic variants. The frequency of each of the other polymorphisms was similar in our control population and in previously published reports.


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TABLE 1. Allelic variant frequency in LHX4 gene sequences reported in our cohort of 133 unrelated patients

 
Individual data of patients bearing LHX4 allelic variants

Pedigree A: p.Thr99fs LHX4 variant (Fig. 1Go, Table 2Go) Phenotype
The propositus (patient III1) was referred to a pediatrician for short stature and micropenis at the age of 9 months. He was then –4 SD for height and weight with a normal head circumference. Hormonal data showed somatotroph and thyrotroph deficiencies. MRI showed poorly developed sella turcica, marked pituitary hypoplasia, thin pituitary stalk, lack of visible neurohypophysis, and corpus callosum hypoplasia (Fig. 1BGo, images A1 and A2). His brother (patient III2) was 4 yr old, with a short stature (–2 SD). Hormonal data showed somatotroph and thyrotroph deficiencies. MRI showed poorly developed sella turcica, pituitary hypoplasia, and normal pituitary stalk and neurohypophysis (Fig. 1BGo, images B1 and B2). As depicted in Fig. 2Go, A and B, both affected brothers had a poorly developed shallow, sella turcica without normal concavity of the sellar floor.


Figure 1
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FIG. 1. A, Pedigree of family A, including the propositus (patient III1) with CPHD diagnosed at age 9 months (arrow), his clinically affected brother III2 (age 4 yr), and their affected father (patient II2). Black dots indicate patients heterozygous for the p.Thr99fs mutation. Circles represent females and squares, males. Note that subject II1 (mother of the index case) was found to have a wild-type LHX4 genotype, whereas members of the prior generation were not available for genotyping. B, Family A. The pituitary MRI of the propositus (patient III1, images A1 and A2), his brother (patient III2, images B1 and B2), and their father (patient II2, images C1 and C2). T1-weighted section MRI scans after gadolinium of the brain of the indicated patients. A1, B1, and C1 are coronal; A2, B2, and C2 are sagittal. 1, Corpus callosum hypoplasia. 2, Pituitary stalk. 3, Sella turcica.

 

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TABLE 2. Hormone profiles of patients with p.Thr99fs LHX4 mutation

 

Figure 2
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FIG. 2. A, Schematic representation of LHX4 (true length of each domain was not considered); the three allelic variants described in the present report are indicated. B, S35 in vitro translation of wild-type and the three LHX4 mutants. C, EMSA was performed with P32-{alpha} GSU promoter response element, wild-type LHX4 (WT), and the three mutants. Immunodepletion was performed with polyclonal anti-LHX4 antibody. Lanes marked with an asterisk (*) indicate addition of polyclonal LHX4 antibody. Arrow indicates position of the expected LHX4 DNA binding. 1, pGly370Ser mutant; 2, pThr90Met mutant; 3, pThr99fs mutant; EV, empty vector; Fp, free probe.

 
Their father (patient II2) had presented with delayed puberty with normal final stature (final height: 168 cm). He had a history of severe obesity from the age of 6 yr to adulthood. Hormonal data showed somatotroph deficiency and blunted response to GnRH stimulation with normal basal testosterone level, with irregular moderately hyperplastic pituitary on MRI. There were no pituitary stalk or neurohypophysis abnormalities (Fig 1BGo, images C1 and C2).

The mother of the propositus had no hormonal abnormalities. No other members of the family were available for assessment.

Genotype
Genetic analyses showed that the propositus, his brother, and his father carried the same heterozygous p.Thr99fs LHX4 allelic variant, with cytosine insertion in the third exon of LHX4 (c.293_294 InsC). At protein level, this predicts a frameshift (p.Thr99 frameshift) in the second LIM region with a stop codon occurring 53 amino acids after codon 99 (p.Thr99AsnfsX53). The mother did not carry the mutation. No other family member was available for genetic studies (Fig. 1Go).

Pedigree B: p.Thr90Met LHX4 variant

Phenotype The propositus was referred to an endocrinologist at the age of 50 yr. This man had been diagnosed at the age of 10 yr with somatotroph and corticotroph deficiencies. Delayed puberty also confirmed at the age of 16 yr the diagnosis of gonadotroph deficiency. He received hydrocortisone, testosterone, and GH replacement therapy. At the age of 50 yr, pituitary MRI disclosed ectopic neurohypophysis (at the higher part of the stalk), a thin pituitary stalk, and an empty sella syndrome.

His father did not have any baseline hormonal abnormalities (data not shown). No other members of the family were available for assessment.

Genotype Genetic analyses revealed that the propositus was bearing the allelic variant p.Thr90Met in a heterozygous state. Only his father could be tested by sequence analyses; he was not bearing this allelic variant. The propositus and his clinically unaffected father both bore the c.778 + 14 G>T polymorphism in a heterozygous state.

Pedigree C: p.Gly370Ser LHX4 variant

Phenotype The propositus was referred to a pediatrician at the age of 18 yr. She had somatotroph, corticotroph, and thyrotroph deficiencies. Pituitary MRI displayed pituitary hypoplasia with pituitary stalk interruption, but no neurohypophysis abnormalities. Her mother did not have any hormonal abnormalities. No other members of the family were evaluated.

Genotype Genetic analyses showed that the propositus was bearing the allelic variant p.Gly370Ser in a heterozygous state. Only her mother was available for sequencing analyses; she was not bearing this allelic variant. The propositus and her clinically unaffected mother were also bearing the previously described polymorphism p.Asn328Ser in a heterozygous state.

Phenotypical update of a previously described family (Pedigree D) carrying an intronic LHX4 mutation (intron 4 c.607–1 G>C)

Machinis et al. (10) previously described the same siblings (a brother and sister) carrying an intronic splice site allelic variant (G to C substitution in the intron preceding exon 5), responsible for somatotroph, lactotroph, and corticotroph deficiencies. At the first publication, both children were too young for their gonadal axis to be evaluated, and an update was necessary regarding the outcome of the endocrine phenotype. The brother was now aged 18 yr, and he presented with complete gonadotroph deficiency. Under appropriate GH and testosterone replacement therapy, he had reached normal height. Cerebral MRI performed at the age of 17 yr confirmed previous findings with a small sella turcica and a hypoplastic anterior hypophysis associated with ectopic posterior hypophysis. The sister was now aged 15 yr. She began spontaneous puberty at the age of 14 yr and still receives somatotroph, corticotroph, and thyrotroph substitutive therapies. She was evaluated at Tanner stage IV and had not yet had menarche. Pituitary MRI was unchanged (Table 4Go).


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TABLE 4. Variable clinical, endocrine, and MRI phenotype in patients bearing four distinct LHX4 allelic variants

 
In vitro translation (Fig. 2BGo)

As expected, a truncated protein was observed with the pThr99fs LHX4 mutant. In contrast, expression of pThr90Met and pGly370Ser was detected with the same molecular weight as wild-type LHX4.

Gel shift mobility assay (Fig. 2CGo)

DNA binding of the LHX4 wild-type and the three LHX4 mutants was tested on the {alpha}GSU promoter LIM factor response element. Wild-type LHX4 had a strong detectable DNA binding that was displaced by anti-LHX4 antibody (supershift). No detectable DNA binding was observed with the pThr99fs mutant under the chosen experimental conditions, whereas pGly370Ser and had an equivalent DNA binding as wild-type LHX4. Interestingly, pThr90Met seemed to have a stronger DNA binding than wild-type LHX4.

Functional studies

As expected (11), cotransfection of wild-type LHX4 with POU1F1 promoter resulted in a strong stimulation of the luciferase reporter gene relative to the empty vector. No activation was observed with the p.Thr99fs mutant. Cotransfection of mutant p.Thr99fs and equivalent amounts of wild-type LHX4 did not modify the effect of the latter on POU1F1 promoter, excluding dominant negative effect.

In contrast, cotransfection of p.Thr90Met or p.Gly370Ser LHX4 allelic variants with the POU1F1 promoter resulted in equal luciferase activity stimulation relative to wild-type LHX4. Equimolar cotransfection of either p.Thr90Met or p.Gly370Ser LHX4 plasmids and wild-type LHX4 plasmids showed similar results to double dose of individual plasmids on POU1F1 promoter, excluding dominant negative effect of these allelic variants. These functional results showed that despite amino acid change, p.Thr90Met and p.Gly370Ser were probably nonfunctional polymorphisms (Fig. 3AGo).


Figure 3
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FIG. 3. A, Expression vectors for wild-type (WT) and the three allelic variants with POU1F1 promoter. Proteins were transiently cotransfected into heterologous human HeLa cells with a luciferase reporter gene under the control of the POU1F1 promoter. Promoter activity was assayed by measuring luciferase activity 48 h after transfection. Negative controls (control) received equivalent amounts of empty expression vector plasmid. Results are expressed in fold-increased levels of luciferase stimulation compared with control. For each effector, 1n = 300 ng. B, Expression vectors for wild-type, and the three allelic variants with PRL promoter. Proteins were transiently cotransfected into heterologous human HeLa cells with a luciferase reporter gene under the control of PRL (Fig. 5A) or GH promoter (Fig. 5B). Promoter activity was assayed by measuring luciferase activity 48 h after transfection. Negative controls (control) received equivalent amounts of empty expression vector plasmid. Results are expressed in fold-increased levels of luciferase stimulation compared with control. For each effector, 1n = 300 ng. C, Expression vectors for wild-type, and the three allelic variants with GH promoter. Proteins were transiently cotransfected into heterologous human HeLa cells with a luciferase reporter gene under the control of PRL (Fig. 5A) or GH promoter (Fig. 5B). Promoter activity was assayed by measuring luciferase activity 48 h after transfection. Negative controls (control) received equivalent amounts of empty expression vector plasmid. Results are expressed in fold-increased levels of luciferase stimulation compared with control. For each effector, 1n = 300 ng. EV, Empty vector.

 
Identification of potential new target genes

Based on the phenotypes of patients presenting mutations of LIM homeodomain transcription factors (namely in terms of somato-lactotroph deficiencies) (10, 20, 21), we decided to evaluate the effects of wild-type LHX4 on GH and PRL promoters. Cotransfection of wild-type LHX4 with both promoters resulted in a strong stimulation of the luciferase reporter gene (Fig. 3Go, B and C). This stimulatory effect was observed in a dose-dependent manner (data not shown).

To evaluate the functional significance of our three new LHX4 allelic variants on PRL and GH promoters, we cotransfected mutant LHX4 allelic variants with each of the promoters. No activation was found with the p.Thr99fs mutant, confirming the deleterious effect of this frameshift mutation. As shown for the POU1F1 promoter, cotransfection of mutant p.Thr99fs and equivalent amounts of wild-type LHX4 did not modify the stimulatory effect of the latter on PRL or GH promoters. In contrast, results obtained after cotransfection with p.Thr90Met or p.Gly370Ser were identical to wild-type LHX4, confirming that these allelic variants were probably polymorphisms (Fig. 3Go, B and C).


    Discussion
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Subjects and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
Our screening of 136 patients (from 133 pedigrees) confirmed the rarity of LHX4 allelic variants associated with amino acid change, with a prevalence of less than 3% in this large cohort of selected patients. Four LHX4 mutations with impaired functional activity were previously reported (10, 12). A case of panhypopituitarism associated with another LHX4 allelic variant was also recently reported (13). However, functional studies were not performed, making it difficult to draw an unambiguous link between the phenotype and this allelic variant. In the present study, we report three novel allelic variants, but functional studies confirmed that only one of them, the p.Thr99fs LHX4 mutation, was clearly responsible for the CPHD phenotype. The functional alteration induced by this new mutation could be due to nonsense-mediated RNA decay (22); alternatively, the lack of DNA binding could be due to the lack of homeodomain in the predicted in vitro truncated protein, as demonstrated in our translation experiments, even if in vitro translation of the proteins does not always mean that they have a similar expression level or stability as wild-type LHX4 proteins in the gene activation assays (Fig. 4). The scarcity of CPHD due to LHX4 mutations may be due to several factors. First, because all previously published mutations like the one reported here are heterozygous (10, 12), and because lhx4 knockout mice die at birth (8), it is likely that homozygous LHX4 mutations are lethal or that they increase human perinatal mortality. Second, in this and previous studies, none of the identified allelic variants is identical (10, 12), suggesting a lack of a mutational hot spot in the LHX4 gene. Third, the low incidence of LHX4 mutations could also be the result of inappropriate patient selection for screening. Based on the phenotype of the patients bearing the first LHX4 published mutation (10) and of murine models (14), we decided to screen patients presenting with congenital hypopituitarism (including GH deficiency in all but one of them) associated with pituitary abnormalities, including stalk interruption syndrome and ectopic posterior pituitary lobe, or with intracranial abnormalities, including Chiari syndrome, septooptic dysplasia, or other rare malformations (e.g. corpus callosum hypoplasia). However, three new LHX4 mutations were recently reported, and none of the patients presented brain abnormalities (12). Only further large-scale studies will help determine which patients should be screened for LHX4 mutations.

Clinical and MRI phenotypes of patients bearing mutations of LHX4 can be highly variable both within and between families as shown in Tables 3Go and 4Go. For instance, endocrine testing and cerebral MRI revealed a wide variability in the phenotypes of the patients carrying the novel p.Thr99fs mutation, suggesting a variable phenotype of this mutation. Despite identical genotype, the father of the propositus presented few phenotypical signs compared with his children; he only presented delayed puberty, with a lack of thyrotroph deficiency, normal pituitary stalk, and sella turcica, and had reached normal final height. This could be attributed to the delayed appearance of somatotroph deficiency or to obesity. Because sequencing of PROP1, POU1F1, HESX1, and LHX3 in the affected members of this family were all negative, other genes might interfere with pituitary development in this family. Variability in the endocrine phenotypes was also present in patients bearing the first previously published intronic mutation of LHX4 (10) because we found only one of the probands to have gonadotroph deficiency at pubertal age. To summarize, high phenotypical variability was observed between pedigrees A and D in terms of endocrine profiles (inconstant corticotroph, thyrotroph and gonadotroph deficiencies), pituitary morphology (hypoplastic or hyperplastic), location of pituitary posterior lobe (normal or ectopic), pituitary stalk (thin or normal), or cerebral malformations (Chiari syndrome in two patients, corpus callosum hypoplasia in one patient, lack of malformation in two patients). Patients bearing the three recently published LHX4 mutations also presented extremely variable pituitary intrafamily or interfamily phenotypes (12). The high variability of endocrine phenotype could thus be accounted for by different degrees of expressivity, or by the implication of other epigenetic and/or environmental factors (23). The present study also allowed us to define better the MRI profile of patients bearing LHX4 mutations as shown in Table 4Go. First, one important phenotypical feature that was present in all four young patients with LHX4 mutations is poorly developed sella turcica. This finding suggests the possible interaction of LHX4 with other transcription factors involved in the development of sella turcica. Moreover, the fact that all four patients bearing LHX4 mutation (intron 4 c.607–1 G>C or p.Thr99fs) presented with poorly developed sella turcica makes it an important point in the patient selection method for LHX4 screening. It is noteworthy that this is not a constant feature because none of the recently described patients with novel LHX4 mutations had poorly developed sella turcica (12). Moreover, it is difficult to ascertain whether pituitary hypoplasia was a direct consequence of defective LHX4 function or may be secondarily associated with a poorly developed sella turcica. Second, pituitary hypoplasia was not always present, and a slightly hyperplastic gland was even observed in one case; in contrast to previously published data on PROP1, the older patient had the more hyperplastic pituitary. Pituitary hypoplasia was not unexpected because LHX4 is necessary for the survival of antehypophysis precursor cells (9). In contrast, the father of the propositus (patient III1) is the first patient described with LHX4 mutation and hyperplastic pituitary on MRI. Follow-up of the patients presenting the first-published mutation of LHX4 did not reveal any pituitary volume increase between the age of 5 and 18 yr. Pituitary hyperplasia has been described at an initial stage in association with PROP1 mutations (24, 25, 26, 27) as well as in cases of LHX3 mutations (21, 28).


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TABLE 3. Clinical, endocrine, and MRI phenotype in patients bearing the five currently published LHX4 mutations

 
An interesting fact concerning the novel p.Thr99fs mutation is that patients were heterozygous, as in the previously described mutations of LHX4 (10, 28). This finding confirms that CPHD due to LHX4 mutations is inherited in an autosomal dominant manner. The lack of dominant negative effect, as shown by cotransfection with wild-type LHX4, suggests a probable mechanism of haploinsufficiency, as previously reported by Machinis and Amselem (11). Our genetic screening also identified two previously unpublished nonsynonymous allelic variants (p.Thr90Met and p.Gly370Ser). We considered them polymorphisms because DNA binding of the mutants was not impaired, and our functional studies showed the lack of transactivation alterations on POU1F1, PRL, and GH promoters. However, it cannot be excluded that these variants have functional significance because functional studies are based on transfections done in an in vitro system, in heterologous cells, and on a limited number of target genes, thus making it difficult to state that this result is entirely applicable to humans in a pathophysiological setting. The fact that pThr90Met seemed to have an increased DNA binding compared with wild-type LHX4 could be a point in favor of a mutation rather than a polymorphism; however, these data are not sufficient to support this hypothesis because EMSAs cannot be strictly considered as a quantitative approach, and because functional studies performed on three different promoters did not find any significant difference between both mutants and wild-type LHX4. Moreover, EMSAs were performed under specific conditions that cannot be entirely transposed to in vivo experiments, making difficult to determine a potential functional consequence of an increased in vitro DNA binding. At last, even though the Thr90Met and Gly370Ser show normal activity on the tested candidate target genes, is it possible that they are nevertheless impaired in activation (or repression) of yet-unidentified genes that are critical to anterior pituitary development? Finally, our study also confirms the high frequency of the polymorphism p.Asn328ser (more than 50% patients had this polymorphism) and the rarity of the other previously unpublished variants that were found in our functional studies to likely be polymorphisms. In a recent study based on 62 patients bearing hypopituitarism and ectopic posterior pituitary lobe, a similar frequency of the p.Asn328Ser polymorphism was reported (57% of the patients), and no LHX4 mutation had been found (29).

A secondary objective of this study was the identification of some potential new target genes of LHX4 that might account for the hormonal phenotype of LHX4 mutations. Previous studies reported LHX4 activation of pituitary target genes such as {alpha}-glycoprotein, FSH β and TSH β (12, 30, 31, 32). We report a moderate stimulatory effect of wild-type LHX4 on GH promoter and a strong stimulatory effect on PRL promoter that could be explained by the presence of LIM domain consensus sequences on both promoters. However, no direct binding experiment was performed on these promoters. The high frequency of somatotroph deficiency in patients presenting with LHX4 mutations could be explained by the lack of stimulatory effects of mutant LHX4 (intron 4 c.607–1 G>C or p.Thr99fs) relative to wild-type LHX4 on GH promoter and indirectly on POU1F1 promoter. Further studies particularly on the DNA binding properties of LHX4 on these LIM homeodomain transcription factors consensus sequences, and identification of additional LHX4 target genes will allow us to understand better the physiological relevance of these findings in humans. The patients’ phenotypes could at least partly be accounted for by interactions of LHX4 with these new target genes.

To conclude, pathogenic LHX4 mutations are rare, with a prevalence of less than 1% in a cohort of 136 patients with CPHD and various pituitary or extrapituitary abnormalities. We identified a novel mutation, p.Thr99fs, responsible for variable anterior pituitary hormone deficiencies and MRI abnormalities. The high variability of the phenotypes of the patients within this new pedigree extends the pattern of phenotypes associated with LHX4 mutations, which includes not only multiple pituitary hormone deficiencies associated with pituitary hypoplasia, ectopic neurohypophysis, and Chiari syndrome, but also hyperplastic pituitary, poorly developed sella turcica, and inconstant brain malformations. This study provides additional evidence that the dominance of LHX4 mutations would be due to haploinsufficiency rather than a dominant negative effect of the altered proteins over normal LHX4.


    Acknowledgments
 
We thank Jean-Louis Franc and Jean-Paul Herman for fruitful team discussions. We also thank Nicole Peyrol for sequencing experiments. We thank all the following clinicians who sent us samplings of their patients for genetic screening in the GENHYPOPIT network: Dr. P. Adiceam (Aix-en Provence, France); Professor A. Beckers (Liege, Belgium); Dr. C. Bellesme (Paris, France); Dr. P. Berlier (Lyon, France); Dr. H. Bony-Trifunovic (Amiens, France); Professor Ph. Bouchard (Paris, France); Professor P. Bougneres (Paris, France); Dr. E. Briand (Clamart, France); Dr. C. Brue-Fabre (Marseille, France); Professor O. Bruno (Buenos-Aires, Argentina); Professor J. C. Carel (Paris, France); Professor Ph. Caron (Toulouse, France); Dr. A. Cartault (Toulouse, France); Professor O. Chabre (Grenoble, France); Dr. M. Colle (Bordeaux, France); Dr. Ch. Cortet-Rudelli (Lille, France); Professor S. Christin-Maitre (Paris, France); Dr. F. Dallavale (Palavas, France); Professor M. David (Lyon, France); Dr. R. Desailloud (Amiens, France); Professor F. Duron (Paris, France); Dr. T. Edouard (Toulouse, France); Dr. O. Evliyaoglu (Ankara, Turkey); Dr. Ch. Fedou (Montpellier, France); Professor R. Gaillard (Lausanne, Switzerland); Professor Ph. Garnier (Grenoble, France); Professor G. Halaby (Beyrouth, Lebanon); Dr. B. Hamon (Chambery, France); Dr. C. Jeandel (Montpellier, France); Professor V. Kerlan (Brest, France); Professor P. Lecomte (Tours, France); Professor J. Leger (Paris, France); Professor A. Lienhardt (Limoges, France); Dr. G. Loeuille (Bethune, France); Professor J. Mahoudeau (Caen, France); Dr. M. Manavela (Buenos-Aires, Argentina); Professor M. Pugeat (Lyon, France); Professor Y. Reznik (Caen, France); Dr. L. Rocher (Marseille, France); Professor V. Rohmer (Angers, France); Dr. B. Ronci-Chaix (Bordeaux, France); Dr. N. Salah (Cairo, Egypt); Professor J. L. Sadoul (Nice, France); Dr. G. Simonin (Marseille, France); Dr. Ch. Stuckens (Lille, France); Professor A. Tabarin (Bordeaux, France); Professor M. Tauber (Toulouse, France); Dr. C. Teinturier (Paris, France); Professor M. P. Teissier (Limoges, France); Dr. C. Thuillier (Limoges, France); Dr. Z. Turki (Tunis, Tunisia); Dr. I. Vanpottelbergh (Ghent, Belgium); Dr. M. C. Vantyghem (Lille, France); Dr. D. Vezzosi (Villejuif, France); Dr. J. Weil (Lille, France); and Dr. F. Wibaux (Bethune, France).


    Footnotes
 
Disclosure Statement: The authors have nothing to disclose.

First Published Online April 29, 2008

1 * F.C. and A.S. contributed equally to this work. Back

Abbreviations: CPHD, Combined pituitary hormone deficiency; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging; PRL, prolactin.

Received October 26, 2007.

Accepted April 21, 2008.


    References
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Subjects and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 

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