LUCIANI RENATA SILVEIRA DE CARVALHO
Projetos de Pesquisa
Unidades Organizacionais
Instituto Central, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina - Médico
LIM/42 - Laboratório de Hormônios e Genética Molecular, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina
LIM/42 - Laboratório de Hormônios e Genética Molecular, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina
13 resultados
Resultados de Busca
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- An activating mutation in the CRHR1 gene is rarely associated with pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism in poodles(2017) DE-MARCO, Viviani; CARVALHO, Luciani R.; GUZZO, Mariana F.; OLIVEIRA, Paulo S. L.; GOMES, Larissa G.; MENDONCA, Berenice B.OBJECTIVES: Pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism is the most common cause of naturally occurring hypercortisolism in dogs. CRHR1 expression in human and dog corticotrophinomas suggested that this gene affects pituitary tumorigenesis. The present study aimed to investigate mutations in the CRHR1 coding region in poodles with pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism. METHODS: Fifty poodles with pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism and 50 healthy poodles were studied. Genomic DNA was amplified by PCR and analyzed by Sanger sequencing. RESULTS: The novel CRHR1 p.V97M mutation was identified in one dog. This valine residue, located in the amino-terminal extracellular domain, exhibits high affinity for its corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) ligand. Bioinformatic analysis revealed structural rearrangements in the mutant protein, with a 17% increase in the surface binding affinity between CRHR1 and CRH. In vitro functional studies showed that mutant CRHR1 induced higher ACTH secretion than the wild type after stimulation with human CRH. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that germline activating mutations in CRHR1 may be a rare cause of pituitary hyperadrenocorticism in poodles.
- Combined pituitary hormone deficiency caused by PROP1 mutations: update 20 years post-discovery(2019) CORREA, Fernanda A.; NAKAGUMA, Marilena; MADEIRA, Joao L. O.; NISHI, Mirian Y.; ABRAO, Milena G.; JORGE, Alexander A. L.; CARVALHO, Luciani R.; ARNHOLD, Ivo J. P.; MENDONCA, Berenice B.The first description of patients with combined pituitary hormone deficiencies (CPHD) caused by PROP1 mutations was made 20 years ago. Here we updated the clinical and genetic characteristics of patients with PROP1 mutations and summarized the phenotypes of 14 patients with 7 different pathogenic PROP1 mutations followed at the Hospital das Clinicas of the University of Sao Paulo. In addition to deficiencies in GH, TSH, PRL and gonadotropins some patients develop late ACTH deficiency. Therefore, patients with PROP1 mutations require permanent surveillance. On magnetic resonance imaging, the pituitary stalk is normal, and the posterior lobe is in the normal position. The anterior lobe in patients with PROP1 mutations is usually hypoplastic but may be normal or even enlarged. Bi-allelic PROP1 mutations are currently the most frequently recognized genetic cause of CPHD worldwide. PROP1 defects occur more frequently among offspring of consanguineous parents and familial cases, but they also occur in sporadic cases, especially in countries in which the prevalence of PROP1 mutations is relatively high. We classified all reported PROP1 variants described to date according to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics and the Association for Molecular Pathology (ACMG-AMP) guidelines: 29 were pathogenic, 2 were likely pathogenic, and 2 were of unknown significance. An expansion of the phenotype of patients with PROP1 mutations was observed since the first description 20 years ago: variable anterior pituitary size, different pathogenic mutations, and late development of ACTH deficiency. PROP1 mutations are the most common cause of autosomal recessive CPHD with a topic posterior pituitary lobe.
- PROP1 overexpression in corticotrophinomas: evidence for the role of PROP1 in the maintenance of cells committed to corticotrophic differentiation(2013) ARAUJO, Ricardo V.; CHANG, Claudia V.; CESCATO, Valter A. S.; FRAGOSO, Maria Candida B. V.; BRONSTEIN, Marcello D.; MENDONCA, Berenice B.; ARNHOLD, Ivo J. P.; CARVALHO, Luciani R. S.OBJECTIVE: The expression of transcription factors involved in early pituitary development, such as PROP1 and POU1F1, has been detected in pituitary adenoma tissues. In this study, we sought to characterize the transcriptional profiles of PROP1, POU1F1, and TBX19 in functioning and nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas in an attempt to identify their roles in tumorigenesis and hormone hypersecretion. METHODS: RT-qPCR analyses were performed to assess the transcriptional pattern of PROP1, POU1F1, TBX19, and hormone-producing genes in tissue samples of corticotrophinomas (n = 10), somatotrophinomas (n = 8), and nonfunctioning adenomas (n = 6). RESULTS: Compared with normal pituitary tissue, POU1F1 was overexpressed in somatotrophinomas by 3-fold. PROP1 expression was 18-fold higher in corticotrophinomas, 10-fold higher in somatotrophinomas, and 3-fold higher in nonfunctioning adenomas. TBX19 expression was 27-fold higher in corticotrophinomas. Additionally, the level of TBX19 mRNA positively correlated with that of pro-opiomelanocortin (r = 0.49, p = 0.014). CONCLUSIONS: Our data demonstrate that PROP1 is overexpressed in pituitary adenomas, mainly in corticotrophinomas. Together with previously published data showing that patients who harbor PROP1 loss-of-function mutations present a progressive decline in corticotrope function, our results support a role for PROP1 in pituitary tumor development and in the maintenance of cell lineages committed to corticotrophic differentiation.
- PROP1 and CTNNB1 expression in adamantinomatous craniopharyngiomas with or without beta-catenin mutations(2011) CANI, Carolina M. G.; MATUSHITA, Hamilton; CARVALHO, Luciani R. S.; SOARES, Ibere C.; BRITO, Luciana P.; ALMEIDA, Madson Q.; MENDONCA, Berenice B.INTRODUCTION: Activating mutations in exon 3 of the beta-catenin gene are involved in the pathogenesis of adamantinomatous craniopharyngiomas. Recently, the interaction between beta-catenin and PROP1 has been shown to be responsible for pituitary cell lineage determination. We hypothesized that dysregulated PROP1 expression could also be involved in the pathogenesis of craniopharyngiomas. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether dysregulated gene expression was responsible for tumor pathogenesis in adamantinomatous craniopharyngiomas, the beta-catenin gene was screened for mutations, and the expression of the beta-catenin gene and PROP1 was evaluated. METHODS: The beta-catenin gene was amplified and sequenced from 14 samples of adamantinomatous craniopharyngiomas. PROP1 and beta-catenin gene expression was assessed by real-time RT-PCR from 12 samples, and beta-catenin immunohistochemistry was performed on 11 samples. RESULTS: Mutations in the beta-catenin gene were identified in 64% of the adamantinomatous craniopharyngiomas samples. Evidence of beta-catenin gene overexpression was found in 71% of the tumors with beta-catenin mutations and in 40% of the tumors without mutations, and beta-catenin immunohistochemistry revealed a nuclear staining pattern for each of the analyzed samples. PROP1 expression was undetectable in all of the tumor samples. CONCLUSION: We found evidence of beta-catenin gene overexpression in the majority of adamantinomatous craniopharyngiomas, and we also detected a nuclear beta-catenin staining pattern regardless of the presence of a beta-catenin gene mutation. These results suggest that WNT signaling activation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of adamantinomatous craniopharyngiomas. Additionally, this study was the first to evaluate PROP1 expression in adamantinomatous craniopharyngiomas, and the absence of PROP1 expression indicates that this gene is not involved in the pathogenesis of this tumor, at least in this cohort.
- Successful Pregnancies After Adequate Hormonal Replacement in Patients With Combined Pituitary Hormone Deficiencies(2017) CORREA, Fernanda A.; BIANCHI, Paulo H. M.; FRANCA, Marcela M.; OTTO, Aline P.; RODRIGUES, Rodrigo J. M.; EJZENBERG, Dani; SERAFINI, Paulo C.; BARACAT, Edmundo Chada; FRANCISCO, Rossana P. V.; BRITO, Vinicius N.; ARNHOLD, Ivo J. P.; MENDONCA, Berenice B.; CARVALHO, Luciani R.Context: Women with hypopituitarism have lower pregnancy rates after ovulation induction. Associated pituitary hormone deficiencies might play a role in this poorer outcome. Objective: We evaluated fertility treatment and pregnancy outcomes in five women with childhoodonset combined pituitary hormone deficiencies (CPHD). Patients and Methods: Five women with CPHD were referred for fertility treatment after adequacy of hormone replacement was determined. Patients were subjected to controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) for timed intercourse, intrauterine insemination, or in vitro fertilization, according to the presence or absence of other infertility factors (male or tubal). Results: All women became pregnant. The number of COS attempts until pregnancy was achieved varied between 1 and 5. The duration of COS resulting in at least one dominant follicle varied between 9 and 28 days, and total gonadotropin consumed varied between 1200 and 3450 IU. Two patients with severely suppressed basal gonadotropin levels since an early age had a cancelled COS cycle. All pregnancies were singleton except one (monochorionic twin gestation). The gestational ages at birth ranged from 35 weeks to 39 weeks and 4 days; three patients underwent cesarean section, and two had vaginal deliveries. Only one newborn was small for gestational age (delivered at 35 weeks). Conclusion: Adequate hormonal replacement prior to ovarian stimulation resulted in successful pregnancies in patients with childhood-onset CPHD, indicating that hormone replacement, including growth hormone, is an important step prior to fertility treatments in these patients.
- Allelic Variants in Established Hypopituitarism Genes Expand Our Knowledge of the Phenotypic Spectrum(2021) NAKAGUMA, Marilena; FERREIRA, Nathalia Garcia Bianchi Pereira; BENEDETTI, Anna Flavia Figueredo; MADI, Mariana Cotarelli; SILVA, Juliana Moreira; LI, Jun Z.; MA, Qianyi; OZEL, Ayse Bilge; FANG, Qing; NARCIZO, Amanda de Moraes; CARDOSO, Lais Cavalca; MONTENEGRO, Luciana Ribeiro; FUNARI, Mariana Ferreira de Assis; NISHI, Mirian Yumie; ARNHOLD, Ivo Jorge Prado; JORGE, Alexander Augusto de Lima; MENDONCA, Berenice Bilharinho de; CAMPER, Sally Ann; CARVALHO, Luciani R.We report four allelic variants (three novel) in three genes previously established as causal for hypopituitarism or related disorders. A novel homozygous variant in the growth hormone gene, GH1 c.171delT (p.Phe 57Leufs*43), was found in a male patient with severe isolated growth hormone deficiency (IGHD) born to consanguineous parents. A hemizygous SOX3 allelic variant (p.Met304Ile) was found in a male patient with IGHD and hypoplastic anterior pituitary. YASARA, a tool to evaluate protein stability, suggests that p.Met304Ile destabilizes the SOX3 protein (Delta Delta G = 2.49 kcal/mol). A rare, heterozygous missense variant in the TALE homeobox protein gene, TGIF1 (c.268C>T:p.Arg90Cys) was found in a patient with combined pituitary hormone deficiency (CPHD), diabetes insipidus, and syndromic features of holoprosencephaly (HPE). This variant was previously reported in a patient with severe holoprosencephaly and shown to affect TGIF1 function. A novel heterozygous TGIF1 variant (c.82T>C:p.Ser28Pro) was identified in a patient with CPHD, pituitary aplasia and ectopic posterior lobe. Both TGIF1 variants have an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance with incomplete penetrance. In conclusion, we have found allelic variants in three genes in hypopituitarism patients. We discuss these variants and associated patient phenotypes in relation to previously reported variants in these genes, expanding our knowledge of the phenotypic spectrum in patient populations.
- FGFR1 and PROKR2 rare variants found in patients with combined pituitary hormone deficiencies(2015) CORREA, Fernanda A.; TRARBACH, Ericka B.; TUSSET, Cintia; LATRONICO, Ana Claudia; MONTENEGRO, Luciana R.; CARVALHO, Luciani R.; FRANCA, Marcela M.; OTTO, Aline P.; COSTALONGA, Everlayny F.; BRITO, Vinicius N.; ABREU, Ana Paula; NISHI, Mirian Y.; JORGE, Alexander A. L.; ARNHOLD, Ivo J. P.; SIDIS, Yisrael; PITTELOUD, Nelly; MENDONCA, Berenice B.The genetic aetiology of congenital hypopituitarism (CH) is not entirely elucidated. FGFR1 and PROKR2 loss-of-function mutations are classically involved in hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism (HH), however, due to the clinical and genetic overlap of HH and CH; these genes may also be involved in the pathogenesis of CH. Using a candidate gene approach, we screened 156 Brazilian patients with combined pituitary hormone deficiencies (CPHD) for loss-of-function mutations in FGFR1 and PROKR2. We identified three FGFR1 variants (p.Arg448Trp, p.Ser107Leu and p.Pro772Ser) in four unrelated patients (two males) and two PROKR2 variants (p. Arg85Cys and p. Arg248Glu) in two unrelated female patients. Five of the six patients harbouring the variants had a first-degree relative that was an unaffected carrier of it. Results of functional studies indicated that the new FGFR1 variant p.Arg448Trp is a loss-of-function variant, while p.Ser107Leu and p.Pro772Ser present signalling activity similar to the wild-type form. Regarding PROKR2 variants, results from previous functional studies indicated that p.Arg85Cys moderately compromises receptor signalling through both MAPK and Ca2+ pathways while p.Arg248Glu decreases calcium mobilization but has normal MAPK activity. The presence of loss-of-function variants of FGFR1 and PROKR2 in our patients with CPHD is indicative of an adjuvant and/or modifier effect of these rare variants on the phenotype. The presence of the same variants in unaffected relatives implies that they cannot solely cause the phenotype. Other associated genetic and/or environmental modifiers may play a role in the aetiology of this condition.
- A novel insight on SARS-CoV-2 S-derived fragments in the control of the host immunity(2023) BASTOS, Thais Sibioni Berti; PAULA, Andre Guilherme Portela de; LUZ, Rebeca Bosso dos Santos; GARNIQUE, Anali M. B.; BELO, Marco A. A.; ETO, Silas Fernandes; FERNANDES, Dayanne Carla; FERRARIS, Fausto Klabund; PONTES, Leticia Gomes de; FRANCA, Tabata Takahashi; BARCELLOS, Leonardo Jose Gil; VERAS, Flavio P.; BERMEJO, Pamela; GUIDELLI, Giovanna; MANEIRA, Carla; MELLO, Fellipe da Silveira Bezerra de; TEIXEIRA, Gleidson; PEREIRA, Goncalo Amarante Guimaraes; FERNANDES, Bianca H. Ventura; SANCHES, Paulo R. S.; BRAZ, Helyson Lucas Bezerra; JORGE, Roberta Jeane Bezerra; MALAFAIA, Guilherme; CILLI, Eduardo M.; OLIVIER, Danilo da Silva; AMARAL, Marcos Serrou do; MEDEIROS, Renata J.; CONDINO-NETO, Antonio; CARVALHO, Luciani R.; MACHADO-SANTELLI, Glaucia M.; CHARLIE-SILVA, Ives; GALINDO-VILLEGAS, Jorge; BRAGA, Tarcio TeodoroDespite all efforts to combat the pandemic of COVID-19, we are still living with high numbers of infected persons, an overburdened health care system, and the lack of an effective and definitive treatment. Understanding the pathophysiology of the disease is crucial for the development of new technologies and therapies for the best clinical management of patients. Since the manipulation of the whole virus requires a structure with an adequate level of biosafety, the development of alternative technologies, such as the synthesis of peptides from viral proteins, is a possible solution to circumvent this problem. In addition, the use and validation of animal models is of extreme importance to screen new drugs and to compress the organism's response to the disease. Peptides derived from recombinant S protein from SARS-CoV-2 were synthesized and validated by in silico, in vitro and in vivo methodologies. Macrophages and neutrophils were challenged with the peptides and the production of inflammatory mediators and activation profile were evaluated. These peptides were also inoculated into the swim bladder of transgenic zebrafish larvae at 6 days post fertilization (dpf) to mimic the inflammatory process triggered by the virus, which was evaluated by confocal microscopy. In addition, toxicity and oxidative stress assays were also developed. In silico and molecular dynamics assays revealed that the peptides bind to the ACE2 receptor stably and interact with receptors and adhesion molecules, such as MHC and TCR, from humans and zebrafish. Macrophages stimulated with one of the peptides showed increased production of NO, TNF-alpha and CXCL2. Inoculation of the peptides in zebrafish larvae triggered an inflammatory process marked by macrophage recruitment and increased mortality, as well as histopathological changes, similarly to what is observed in individuals with COVID-19. The use of peptides is a valuable alternative for the study of host immune response in the context of COVID-19. The use of zebrafish as an animal model also proved to be appropriate and effective in evaluating the inflammatory process, comparable to humans.
- Homozygous CDH2 variant may be associated with hypopituitarism without neurological disorders(2023) FERREIRA, Nathalia G. B. P.; MADEIRA, Joao L. O.; GERGICS, Peter; KERTSZ, Renata; MARQUES, Juliana M.; TRIGUEIRO, Nicholas S. S.; BENEDETTI, Anna Flavia Figueredo; V, Bruna Azevedo; V, Bianca H. Fernandes; BISSEGATTO, Debora D.; BISCOTTO, Isabela P.; FANG, Qing; MA, Qianyi; OZEL, Asye B.; LI, Jun; CAMPER, Sally A.; JORGE, Alexander A. L.; MENDONCA, Berenice B.; ARNHOLD, Ivo J. P.; CARVALHO, Luciani R.Context: Congenital hypopituitarism is a genetically heterogeneous condition. Whole exome sequencing (WES) is a promising approach for molecular diagnosis of patients with this condition. Objectives: The aim of this study is to conduct WES in a patient with congenital hypopituitarism born to consanguineous parents, CDH2 screening in a cohort of patients with congenital hypopituitarism, and functional testing of a no vel CDH2 variant. Design: Genomic DNA from a proband and her consanguineous parents was analyzed by WES. Copy number variants were evaluated. The genetic variants were filtered for population frequency (ExAC, 1000 genomes, gnomAD, and ABraOM), in silico prediction of pathogenicity, and gene expression in the pituitary and/or hypothalamus. Genomic DNA from 145 patients was screened for CDH2 by Sanger sequencing. Results: One female patient with deficiencies in growth hormone, thyroid-stimulating hormone, adrenocorticotropic hormone, luteinizing hormone, and follicle-stimulating hormone and ectopic posterior pituitary gland contained a rare homozygous c.865G>A (p.Val289Ile) variant in CDH2. To determine whether the p.Val289Ile variant in CDH2 affects cell adhesion properties, we stably transfected L1 fibroblast lines, labeled the cells with lipophilic dyes, and quantified aggregation. Large aggregates formed in cells expressing wildtype CDH2, but aggregation was impaired in cells transfected with variant CDH2 or non-transfected. Conclusion: A homozygous CDH2 allelic variant was found in one hypopituitarism patient, and the variant impaired cell aggregation function in vitro. No disease-causing variants were found in 145 other patients screened for CDH2 variants. Thus, CDH2 is a candidate gene for hypopituitarism that needs to be tested in different populations.
- Growth hormone deficiency with advanced bone age: phenotypic interaction between GHRH receptor and CYP21A2 mutations diagnosed by sanger and whole exome sequencing(2017) CORREA, Fernanda A.; FRANCA, Marcela M.; FANG, Qing; MA, Qianyi; BACHEGA, Tania A.; RODRIGUES, Andresa; OZEL, Bilge A.; LI, Jun Z.; MENDONCA, Berenice B.; JORGE, Alexander A. L.; CARVALHO, Luciani R.; CAMPER, Sally A.; ARNHOLD, Ivo J. P.Isolated growth hormone deficiency (IGHD) is the most common pituitary hormone deficiency and, clinically, patients have delayed bone age. High sequence similarity between CYP21A2 gene and CYP21A1P pseudogene poses difficulties for exome sequencing interpretation. A 7.5 year-old boy born to second-degree cousins presented with severe short stature (height SDS -3.7) and bone age of 6 years. Clonidine and combined pituitary stimulation tests revealed GH deficiency. Pituitary MRI was normal. The patient was successfully treated with rGH. Surprisingly, at 10.8 years, his bone age had advanced to 13 years, but physical exam, LH and testosterone levels remained prepubertal. An ACTH stimulation test disclosed a non-classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency explaining the bone age advancement and, therefore, treatment with cortisone acetate was added. The genetic diagnosis of a homozygous mutation in GHRHR (p.Leu144His), a homozygous CYP21A2 mutation (p.Val282Leu) and CYP21A1P pseudogene duplication was established by Sanger sequencing, MLPA and whole-exome sequencing. We report the unusual clinical presentation of a patient born to consanguineous parents with two recessive endocrine diseases: non-classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia modifying the classical GH deficiency phenotype. We used a method of paired read mapping aided by neighbouring mis-matches to overcome the challenges of exome-sequencing in the presence of a pseudogene.