X-linked adrenal hypoplasia congenita: clinical and follow-up findings of two kindreds, one with a novel NR0B1 mutation

Abstract

X-linked adrenal hypoplasia congenita typically manifests as primary adrenal insufficiency in the newborn age and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism in males, being caused by mutations in NR0B1 gene. We present the clinical and follow-up findings of two kindreds with NR0B1 mutations. The proband of kindred A had a diagnosis of primary adrenal insufficiency when he was a newborn. Family history was relevant for a maternal uncle death at the newborn age. Beyond 2 year-old steroid measurements rendered undetectable and delayed bone age was noticed. Molecular analysis of NR0B1 gene revealed a previously unreported mutation (c.1084A>T), leading to a premature stop codon, p.Lys362*, in exon 1. His mother and sister were asymptomatic carriers. At 14 year-old he had 3 mL of testicular volume and biochemical surveys (LH < 0.1 UI/L, total testosterone < 10 ng/dL) concordant with hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism. Kindred B had two males diagnosed with adrenal insufficiency at the newborn age. By 3 year-old both siblings had undetectable androgen levels and delayed bone age. NR0B1 molecular analysis identified a nonsense mutation in both cases, c.243C>G; p.Tyr81*, in exon 1. Their mother and sister were asymptomatic carriers. At 14 year-old (Tanner stage 1) hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis evaluation in both males (LH < 0.1UI/L, total testosterone < 10 ng/dL) confirmed hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. In conclusion, biochemical profiles, bone age and an X-linked inheritance led to suspicion of NR0B1 mutations. Two nonsense mutations were detected in both kindreds, one previously unreported (c.1084A>T; p.Lys362*). Mutation identification allowed the timely institution of testosterone in patients at puberty and an appropriate genetic counselling for relatives.

INTRODUCTION

X-linked adrenal hypoplasia congenita (AHC; OMIM: 300200) is a rare disorder characterized by the lack of the permanent adrenal cortical zone (¹), representing 0,97% of all causes of primary adrenal insufficiency (PAI) under age 18 (²). It usually manifests as severe PAI in a bimodal fashion (5-60 days and 2-13 years) (³) and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH) in males at the expected time of puberty (⁴). It is caused by mutations in NR0B1 (Nuclear Receptor subfamily 0, group B, member 1; also know as Dosage-sensitive sex reversal, adrenal hypoplasia congenita, critical region on chromosome X, gene 1, DAX-1), a gene encoding an orphan nuclear receptor expressed in hypothalamus, pituitary, adrenal gland and gonads, as well as in other tissues (⁵).

Herein we present two kindreds with NR0B1 mutations, one previously unreported, and a brief review of the literature regarding X-linked AHC.

CLINICAL CASES

Kindred A. A newborn male presented to the Emergency Department (ED) at 18 days of life with vomits, anorexia and generalized hypotony. He was born at 41 weeks of an uneventful pregnancy. Family history was remarkable for a premature death of an uncle (4 days of life, unknown cause). Physical examination revealed dehidratation and hyperpigmentation of axilae, areola and scrotum. Biochemical findings of hypoglycaemia (63 mg/dL) and altered electrolytes (Na⁺: 117 mEq/L; K⁺: 7.9 mEq/L) prompted empirical treatment with glucocorticoids due to suspected PAI. Hormonal assays revealed elevated ACTH and androstenedione (Table 1), and the patient was referred to our department with a diagnosis of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) based on non age-adjusted levels of 11-deoxycortisol (adult reference: < 1 ng/mL). However, follow-up appointments revealed a gradual and atypical decrease of androgen levels to below the analytic sensitivity of the assays with mean doses of hydrocortisone of 19.5 mg/m² (Figure 1A). Delayed bone age (2 yo; chronologic age: 2.9 yo) was also documented. Linking together, these surveys led to the hypothesis of a misdiagnosis of CAH. A short Synacthen^® test also failed to rise 11-deoxycortisol or 17-OHP levels (Table 2), excluding CAH and raising the suspicion for X-linked AHC. After approval by the local ethics committee and informed consent had been obtained from parents, molecular analysis of the NR0B1 gene was carried out, which revealed a c.1084A>T mutation leading to a premature stop codon (p.Lys362*) in exon 1 (Figure 2A). His mother and sister were asymptomatic carriers, whereas his maternal aunt had the wild type allele. This mutation, not previously described, gives rise to a premature stop codon, probably leading to a non-functional truncated protein.

Table 1
Probands of kindreds A and B: basal endocrinological surveys†

Kindred	A	B
Age of the proband	19 days	6 months
Parameters	Value [reference (6)]
17-OHP (ng/mL)	3.3 [1.6-9.6]	5 [0.2-3]
11-deoxycortisol (ng/mL)	28.9 [21.1-93.2]	3.9 [1.37-11]
Androstenedione (ng/mL)	7.2 [0.05-2.6]	1.45 [0.1-3]
Cortisol (mcg/dL)	8 [1.5-30.4]	23 [1.2-35.9]
Plasma renin activity (ug/L/h)	*	59.9 [2.4-37]
ACTH (pg/mL)	156.8 [< 50]	878.2 [< 50]

• ^† Glucocorticoid withdrawal therapy period: proband of kindred A – 0.5 days; proband of kindred B – 1.5 days.

Figure 1
Serial basal measurements of steroids and ACTH: proband of kindred A over 24 months (A) and proband of kindred B over 48 months (B).

Table 2
Cosyntropin stimulation test† in probands of kindreds A and B

Parameters	11-deoxycortisol (ng/mL)		17-OHP (ng/mL)		Cortisol (mcg/dL)
Kindred (proband)	A	B	A	B	A	B
Basal	< 1.5	0.4	< 0.1	4.9	< 1	23
30´	< 1.5	0.25	< 0.1	3.9	< 1	23
60´	< 1.5	0.4	< 0.1	2.2	< 1	22.3

• ^† Glucocorticoid withdrawal therapy period: 1 day.

Figure 2
NR0B1 sequencing results of the two probands and their mother’s.

From 6.8 to 13.9 yo his height curve crossed from -0.03SD to -1.79SD and testicular volume (3 mL) at 14 yo confirmed the clinical diagnosis of delayed puberty. Gonadotropins (LH < 0.1 UI/L) and total testosterone (TT) levels (< 10 ng/dL) were also prepubertal. Testosterone replacement therapy (100 mg/month, IM) was started and at 17.6 yo the patient achieved a height (167.3 cm, -1.35SD) close to his target height (173.5 cm).

Kindred B. A Caucasian male presented to the ED at day 14^th of life with failure to thrive (-12.5% of birth weight). He was the first of 4 children (3 males, 1 female) and was born after 38 weeks of a healthy pregnancy. No relevant family history was perceived. Hypoglycaemia (64 mg/dL), low sodium (121 mEq/L) and high potassium (8.8 mEq/L) led to a presumptive diagnosis of PAI, which was treated accordingly. At 6 months of age the patient was referred to our department with a diagnosis of CAH based on an elevated 17-OHP (Table 1), but a short Synacthen^® test failed to further increase 17-OHP levels (Table 2). In addition, the androgen levels in the follow-up appointments rendered easily undetectable with mean doses of hydrocortisone of 16.5 mg/m² (Figure 1B). Delayed bone age (2.5 yo; chronologic age: 3 yo) was also noticed, reinforcing the need to seek for other causes of PAI.

The third child of this family was a full term male who had a clinical diagnosis of PAI at 16 days of life. Hormonal surveys revealed elevated 17-OHP (16.8 ng/mL, reference for age: 1.6-9.6) and a diagnosis of CAH was established before reference to our department. During childhood, however, several admissions to the ED due to intercurrent illnesses revealed a consistently elevated ACTH (1.133 pg/mL) with undetectable steroid levels (17-OHP < 0.1 ng/mL; androstenedione < 0.2 ng/mL; dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate < 10 ug/dL). At this stage, clinical data of both siblings raised the suspicion of a X-linked mutation of NR0B1. After obtaining institutional ethics approval and written consent from their parents, molecular analysis allowed the identification of the nonsense mutation c.243C>G (p.Tyr81*) in exon 1 (Figure 2B), present in the two affected males. This mutation also gives rise to a premature stop codon and to a non-functional truncated protein. Their mother and sister were asymptomatic carriers.

At the expected time of puberty the 2 affected males had growth velocities of 3.8 cm/year (-3.4SD, proband at 13.4 yo) and 1.99 cm/year (-4.89 SD, affected sibling at 13.6 yo) and testicular volumes of 2 mL. Both HPG axis evaluations revealed concordant low basal LH (< 0.1 UI/L) and TT (< 10 ng/dL). After initiation of testosterone replacement therapy, a marked raise of growth velocity (proband at 15.3 yo: 9.1 cm, 1.96SD; affected sibling at 14.6 yo: 8.7 cm, 1.55SD) was noticed, leading to presently height statures (target height: 170.5 cm) of 167 cm (proband, 18.3 yo: -1.42SD) and 165.6 cm (affected brother, 15.2 yo: 0.13SD).

DISCUSSION

Since the first description of NR0B1 mutations as the genetic aetiology of X-linked AHC (¹), more than 100 mutations have been reported in the literature. Most of them are nonsense or frameshift mutations that generate premature stop codons and truncated proteins (⁷-⁸). The evidence shows that NR0B1 acts mainly through a repressive modulation of NR5A1 (Nuclear Receptor subfamily 5, group A, member 1; also known as Steroidogenic Factor 1, SF-1), a gene with an essential role in the development of both the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) and hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis. Although this modulation seems paradoxical, current models of adrenal gland development suggest that NR5A1 acts on the differentiation of deep mature cortex layers (where NR0B1 is underexpressed), whereas in the more superficial cortical strata NR0B1 expression, along with NR5A1 and other molecular signals, maintains pluripotency of precursor cells and so the continuous external to internal development of the adrenal gland. The disruption of this molecular coordination would then impair its development (⁵).

In HPG axis the mechanism by which NR0B1 gene disruption leads to HH is also not well clarified (⁵). To date, the evidence shows that mutations in NR0B1 have negative effects at both hypothalamic and pituitary levels, as shown in dynamic studies of HPG axis (⁹). At the gonadal level, targeted disruption of NR0B1 in mice leads to testis digenesis and to severely compromised spermatogenesis, showing its importance in the development of the gonads (⁵).

Our cases reflect the classical and most severe form of X-linked AHC. At diagnosis, the presentation is indistinguishable from the more common CAH, and it is frequent to misdiagnose patients as having this disorder until evidence of delayed puberty, when X-linked AHC is usually considered (⁵,¹⁰). The suspicion of an NR0B1 mutation in the kindreds herein reported was based on a combination of an apparent X-linked pattern of inheritance, decreasing androgen levels over the first years of life and delayed bone age. This set of clinical data was extremely useful in excluding the diagnosis of CAH, as this latter pathologic condition is characterized by an autosomal recessive pattern of transmission, elevated androgen levels and advanced bone age (¹¹). Nevertheless, clinicians should be aware of the possible pitfalls during the diagnostic approach of X-linked AHC. Firstly, besides the typical presentation of this disorder, it is also characterized by a significant phenotypic variability. Later childhood presentations (e.g., 7-8 yo) or transitorily compensated forms (from 2 to 12 years) can coexist within the same family with the more severe neonatal phenotypes (³,⁵,¹⁰,¹²). Additionally, late-onset (20-28 yo) PAI (¹³-¹⁵), female presentations (¹⁶-¹⁸) or only mineralocorticoid deficiency (¹⁹) have also been reported. Thus, it is of paramount importance to be aware that NR0B1 mutations can manifest with these atypical phenotypes, which should not preclude the diagnosis. Interestingly, although genotype-phenotype correlations are characteristically absent in X-linked AHC, mutations in NR0B1 gene that maintains a partial repressor activity are usually consistent with more mild phenotypes, as a compensated adrenal insufficiency until adulthood (¹³,¹⁵).

Secondly, as illustrated in our patients, elevated steroid levels at presentation can also lead to a misdiagnosis of CAH. Normal to high levels (e.g. 11-deoxicortisol) of androgens and cortisol can be present in the first months of life (usually 6 months postnatal) as a hallmark of persistent fetocortex activity (⁵). However, as shown in both kindreds, cosyntropin administration usually fails to significantly raise steroid precursors or cortisol (²⁰) and serial basal measurements over time typically reveal a progressive decrease in androgens to undetectable levels (⁴), given the natural involution of foetal cortex. Additionally, appropriate assays should be selected to avoid falsely elevated hormone levels, as cross-reactions with other abundant fetocortical steroids can occur with some of the available measurement methods (⁴).

In the differential diagnosis of X-linked AHC, besides CAH, some authors have reported that, when other disorders have been excluded in a male infant (metabolic – Zellweger or Wolman – syndromes, adrenal haemorrhage) or in an older child (autoimmune disease, X-linked adrenoleukodistrophy, Triple A syndrome, infection), it can be valuable to test for NR0B1 mutations, where its prevalence can reach to 58% (³).

Making a diagnosis of a NR0B1 mutation has several important implications. First, genetic testing for NR0B1 mutations can be offered to potential carrier mothers and their female offspring before fertile ages, as early diagnosis and neonatal institution of salvage therapy in affected male newborns can prevent significant morbidity or death (¹²). Second, the clinician can suitably inform parents that HH will almost certainly arise in their affected child and discuss with them the available treatments and the appropriate age at which they should be initiated (²¹-²²). Taking our kindreds as an example, the early diagnosis of X-linked AHC allowed the timely institution of testosterone when delayed puberty ensued, leading to improved final heights. Third, it also allows clarifying parent’s expectations related with fertility of their male offspring, which in X-linked AHC almost always carries a poor prognosis. These patients usually have severe oligospermia and disorganized seminiferous structures at histopathology, and attempts to achieve fertility have often proved unsuccessful (⁵,¹⁴,²³). Nevertheless, a previous report has shown hopeful results with testicular sperm extraction and intracytoplasmatic injection treatments (²⁴).

In summary, we reported two kindreds with X-linked AHC, one of them with a previously unreported NR0B1 mutation. We also highlighted some challenging aspects of its differential diagnosis, as well as the importance of establishing a correct diagnosis for a suitable genetic counselling and appropriate management of affected members.

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• Financial statement: none to declare.

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  Apr 2015

History

• Received
  15 Feb 2014
• Accepted
  30 June 2014