Papers by Hélène Bony-Trifunovic
European Journal of Endocrinology
Aim: To describe the presenting features and molecular genetics of primary hyperparathyroidism (P... more Aim: To describe the presenting features and molecular genetics of primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) in the paediatric population. Methods: Retrospective study of 63 children diagnosed with primary PHPT from 1998 to 2018. Results: Compared to older children, infants were often asymptomatic (54 vs. 15%, p = 0.002) with a milder form of PHPT. When symptomatic, children and adolescents mostly presented with non-specific complaints such as asthenia, depression, weight loss, vomiting or abdominal pain. A genetic cause of PHPT was identified in about half of this cohort (52%). The infancy period was almost exclusively associated with mutation in genes involved in the calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) signalling pathway (i.e. CaSR and AP2S1 genes, ‘CaSR group’; 94% of mutated infants) whereas childhood and adolescence were associated with mutation in genes involved in parathyroid cell proliferation (i.e. MEN1, CDC73, CDKN1B and RET genes, ‘cell proliferation group’; 69% of mutated children ...
Thyroid, 1999
Resistance to thyroid hormone (RTH) is a syndrome of elevated serum thyroxine, inappropriately &a... more Resistance to thyroid hormone (RTH) is a syndrome of elevated serum thyroxine, inappropriately "normal" serum thyrotropin (TSH) and reduced thyroid hormone responsiveness associated with point mutations in the thyroid hormone receptor-beta (TRbeta) gene. We describe a novel point mutation resulting in a cytosine for adenine substitution at nucleotide 1271 (exon 9) that results in the substitution of threonine for asparagine (T329N). This mutation was identified in a 30-year-old woman who was investigated for recurrent spontaneous abortions and was found to have RTH. Dextrothyroxine (D-T4) therapy was instituted. At 8 mg per day 2 pregnancies followed with the delivery of a healthy boy and an RTH-affected girl another miscarriage occurred on D-T4 treatment at 6 mg per day. The T329N mutation, which was also identified in the daughter, markedly reduces the affinity of TRbeta for triiodothyronine (T3). Formation of T329N mutant TR homodimers and heterodimers with RXRalpha on thyroid hormone response element F2 (TRE F2) was not affected, but the ability of T3 to interrupt T329N mutant TRbeta homodimerization was markedly reduced. The T329N mutant TRbeta was transcriptionally inactive in transient expression assays. In cotransfection assays with wild-type TRbeta1, the mutant TRbeta1 functioned in a dominant negative manner. The results suggest that the T329N mutation in the T3-binding domain of TRbeta is responsible for RTH in the proposita's family.
P450 aromatase (CYP19A1) is essential for the biosynthesis of estrogens from androgen precursors.... more P450 aromatase (CYP19A1) is essential for the biosynthesis of estrogens from androgen precursors. Mutations in the coding region of CYP19A1 lead to autosomal recessive aromatase deficiency. To date over 20 subjects have been reported with aromatase deficiency which may manifest during fetal life with maternal virilization and virilization of the external genitalia of a female fetus due to low aromatase activity in the steroid metabolizing fetal-placental unit and thus high androgen levels. During infancy, girls often have ovarian cysts and thereafter fail to enter puberty showing signs of variable degree of androgen excess. Moreover, impact on growth, skeletal maturation and other metabolic parameters is seen in both sexes. We found a novel homozygous CYP19A1 mutation in a 46,XX girl who was born at term to consanguineous parents. Although the mother did not virilize during pregnancy, the baby was found to have a complex genital anomaly at birth (enlarged genital tubercle, fusion of labioscrotal folds) with elevated androgens at birth, normalizing thereafter. Presence of 46,XX karyotype and female internal genital organs (uterus, vagina) together with biochemical findings and follow-up showing regression of clitoral hypertrophy, as well as elevated FSH suggested aromatase deficiency. Interestingly, her older brother presented with mild hypospadias and bilateral cryptorchidism and was found to carry the same homozygous CYP19A1 mutation. To confirm the clinical diagnosis, genetic, functional and computational studies were performed. Genetic analysis revealed a homozygous R192H mutation in the CYP19A1 gene. This novel mutation was characterized for its enzymatic activity (Km, Vmax) in a cell model and found to have markedly reduced catalytic activity when compared to wild-type aromatase; thus explaining the phenotype. Computational studies suggest that R192H disrupts the substrate access channel in CYP19A1 that may affect binding of substrates and exit of catalytic products. R192H is a novel CYP19A1 mutation which causes a severe phenotype of aromatase deficiency in a 46,XX newborn and maybe hypospadias and cryptorchidism in a 46,XY, but no maternal androgen excess during pregnancy.
Journal of Medical Genetics
BackgroundThe type 1 insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF1R) is a keystone of fetal growth re... more BackgroundThe type 1 insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF1R) is a keystone of fetal growth regulation by mediating the effects of IGF-I and IGF-II. Recently, a cohort of patients carrying an IGF1R defect was described, from which a clinical score was established for diagnosis. We assessed this score in a large cohort of patients with identified IGF1R defects, as no external validation was available. Furthermore, we aimed to develop a functional test to allow the classification of variants of unknown significance (VUS) in vitro.MethodsDNA was tested for either deletions or single nucleotide variant (SNV) and the phosphorylation of downstream pathways studied after stimulation with IGF-I by western blot analysis of fibroblast of nine patients.ResultsWe detected 21 IGF1R defects in 35 patients, including 8 deletions and 10 heterozygous, 1 homozygous and 1 compound-heterozygous SNVs. The main clinical characteristics of these patients were being born small for gestational age (90.9%...
The incidence of childhood type 1 diabetes (T1D) incidence is rising in many countries, supposedl... more The incidence of childhood type 1 diabetes (T1D) incidence is rising in many countries, supposedly because of changing environmental factors, which are yet largely unknown. The purpose of the study was to unravel environmental markers associated with T1D. Cases were children with T1D from the French Isis-Diab cohort. Controls were schoolmates or friends of the patients. Parents were asked to fill a 845-item questionnaire investigating the child's environment before diagnosis. The analysis took into account the matching between cases and controls. A second analysis used propensity score methods. We found a negative association of several lifestyle variables, gastroenteritis episodes, dental hygiene, hazelnut cocoa spread consumption, wasp and bee stings with T1D, consumption of vegetables from a farm and death of a pet by old age. The found statistical association of new environmental markers with T1D calls for replication in other cohorts and investigation of new environmental areas. Clinical-Trial.gov NCT02212522 . Registered August 6, 2014.
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Papers by Hélène Bony-Trifunovic