Background: The GNAS gene on chromosome 20q13.3 is a complex, imprinted locus regulated in a tissue-specific manner. GNAS inactivation disorders are a heterogeneous group of rare disorders caused by mutations and methylation defects. These are divided into pseudohypoparathyroidism (PHP) types 1A and 1B, pseudo-pseudohypoparathyroidism (PPHP), and progressive osseous heteroplasia (POH), depending on the presence or absence of hormone resistance, Albright's hereditary osteodystrophy (AHO), and ectopic ossification.
Methods: This study analyzed the clinical characteristics and molecular genetic backgrounds of 18 Korean patients from 16 families with a genetically confirmed GNAS defect. Auxological parameters, AHO phenotypes, types of hormonal resistance, family history, and molecular genetic disturbances were reviewed retrospectively.
Results: Nine (90%) patients with PHP1A showed resistance to parathyroid hormone (PTH) and all patients showed elevated thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels at diagnosis. Eight (80%) patients were managed with levothyroxine supplementation. Three of six patients with PHP1B had elevated TSH levels, but none of whom needed levothyroxine medication. AHO features were absent in PHP1B. Patients with PPHP and POH did not show any hormone resistance, and both of them were born as small for gestational age. Among the 11 families with PHP1A, PPHP, and POH, eight different (three novel) mutations in the GNAS gene were identified. Among the six patients with PHP1B, two were sporadic cases and four showed isolated loss of methylation at GNAS A/B:TSS-DMR.
Conclusions: Clinical and molecular characteristics of Korean patients with GNAS inactivation disorders were described in this study. Also, we reaffirmed heterogeneity of PHP, contributing to further accumulation and expansion of current knowledge of this complex disease.
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