ALEXANDER AUGUSTO DE LIMA JORGE
Projetos de Pesquisa
Unidades Organizacionais
Departamento de Clínica Médica, Faculdade de Medicina - Docente
LIM/42 - Laboratório de Hormônios e Genética Molecular, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina
LIM/25 - Laboratório de Endocrinologia Celular e Molecular, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina - Líder
LIM/42 - Laboratório de Hormônios e Genética Molecular, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina
LIM/25 - Laboratório de Endocrinologia Celular e Molecular, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina - Líder
19 resultados
Resultados de Busca
Agora exibindo 1 - 10 de 19
- Genetic Predictors of Long-Term Response to Growth Hormone (GH) Therapy in Children With GH Deficiency and Turner Syndrome: The Influence of a SOCS2 Polymorphism(2014) BRAZ, Adriana F.; COSTALONGA, Everlayny F.; TRARBACH, Ericka B.; SCALCO, Renata C.; MALAQUIAS, Alexsandra C.; GUERRA-JUNIOR, Gil; ANTONINI, Sonir R. R.; MENDONCA, Berenice B.; ARNHOLD, Ivo J. P.; JORGE, Alexander A. L.Background: There is great interindividual variability in the response to GH therapy. Ascertaining genetic factors can improve the accuracy of growth response predictions. Suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS)-2 is an intracellular negative regulator of GH receptor (GHR) signaling. Objective: The objective of the study was to assess the influence of a SOCS2 polymorphism (rs3782415) and its interactive effect with GHR exon 3 and -202 A/C IGFBP3 (rs2854744) polymorphisms on adult height of patients treated with recombinant human GH (rhGH). Design and Patients: Genotypes were correlated with adult height data of 65 Turner syndrome (TS) and 47 GH deficiency (GHD) patients treated with rhGH, by multiple linear regressions. Generalized multifactor dimensionality reduction was used to evaluate gene-gene interactions. Results: Baseline clinical data were indistinguishable among patients with different genotypes. Adult height SD scores of patients with at least one SOCS2 single-nucleotide polymorphism rs3782415-C were 0.7 higher than those homozygous for the T allele (P < .001). SOCS2 (P < .003), GHR-exon 3 (P = .016) and -202 A/C IGFBP3 (P = .013) polymorphisms, together with clinical factors accounted for 58% of the variability in adult height and 82% of the total height SD score gain. Patients harboring any two negative genotypes in these three different loci (homozygosity for SOCS2 T allele; the GHR exon 3 full-length allele and/or the -202C-IGFBP3 allele) were more likely to achieve an adult height at the lower quartile (odds ratio of 13.3; 95% confidence interval of 3.2-54.2, P = .0001). Conclusion: The SOCS2 polymorphism (rs3782415) has an influence on the adult height of children with TS and GHD after long-term rhGH therapy. Polymorphisms located in GHR, IGFBP3, and SOCS2 loci have an influence on the growth outcomes of TS and GHD patients treated with rhGH. The use of these genetic markers could identify among rhGH-treated patients those who are genetically predisposed to have less favorable outcomes.
- Multigene Sequencing Analysis of Children Born Small for Gestational Age With Isolated Short Stature(2019) FREIRE, Bruna L.; HOMMA, Thais K.; FUNARI, Mariana F. A.; LERARIO, Antonio M.; VASQUES, Gabriela A.; MALAQUIAS, Alexsandra C.; ARNHOLD, Ivo J. P.; JORGE, Alexander A. L.Context: Patients born small for gestational age (SGA) who present with persistent short stature could have an underlying genetic etiology that will account for prenatal and postnatal growth impairment. We applied a unique massive parallel sequencing approach in cohort of patients with exclusively nonsyndromic SGA to simultaneously interrogate for clinically substantial genetic variants. Objective: To perform a genetic investigation of children with isolated short stature born SGA. Design: Screening by exome (n = 16) or targeted gene panel (n = 39) sequencing. Setting: Tertiary referral center for growth disorders. Patients and Methods: We selected 55 patients born SGA with persistent short stature without an identified cause of short stature. Main Outcome Measures: Frequency of pathogenic findings. Results: We identified heterozygous pathogenic or likely pathogenic genetic variants in 8 of 55 patients, all in genes already associated with growth disorders. Four of the genes are associated with growth plate development, IHH (n = 2), NPR2 (n = 2), SHOX (n = 1), and ACAN (n = 1), and two are involved in the RAS/MAPK pathway, PTPN11 (n = 1) and NF1 (n = 1). None of these patients had clinical findings that allowed for a clinical diagnosis. Seven patients were SGA only for length and one was SGA for both length and weight. Conclusion: These genomic approaches identified pathogenic or likely pathogenic genetic variants in 8 of 55 patients (15%). Six of the eight patients carried variants in genes associated with growth plate development, indicating that mild forms of skeletal dysplasia could be a cause of growth disorders in this group of patients.
- Comparison of Ga-68 PET/CT to Other Imaging Studies in Medullary Thyroid Cancer: Superiority in Detecting Bone Metastases(2018) CASTRONEVES, Luciana Audi; COURA FILHO, George; FREITAS, Ricardo Miguel Costa de; SALLES, Raphael; MOYSES, Raquel Ajub; LOPEZ, Rossana Veronica Mendoza; PEREIRA, Maria Adelaide Albergaria; TAVARES, Marcos Roberto; JORGE, Alexander Augusto de Lima; BUCHPIGUEL, Carlos Alberto; HOFF, Ana OliveiraContext: Persistent disease after surgery is common in medullary thyroid cancer (MTC), requiring lifelong radiological surveillance. Staging workup includes imaging of neck, chest, abdomen, and bones. A study integrating all sites would be ideal. Despite the established use of gallium-68 (Ga-68) positron emission tomography (PET)/CT with somatostatin analogues in most neuroendocrine tumors, its efficacy is controversial in MTC. Objective: Evaluate the efficacy of Ga-68 PET/CT in detecting MTC lesions and evaluate tumor expression of somatostatin receptors (SSTRs) associated with Ga-68 PET/CT findings. Methods: Prospective study evaluating 30 patients with MTC [group 1 (n = 16), biochemical disease; group 2 (n = 14), metastatic disease]. Patients underwent Ga-68 PET/CT, bone scan, CT and ultrasound of the neck, CT of the chest, CT/MRI of the abdomen, and MRI of the spine. Ga-68 PET/CT findings were analyzed by disease site as positive or negative and as concordant or discordant with conventional studies. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated using pathological or cytological analysis or unequivocal identification by standard imaging studies. Immunohistochemical analysis of SSTRs was compared with Ga-68 PET/CT findings. Results: In both groups, Ga-68 PET/CT was inferior to currently used imaging studies except for bone scan. In group 2, Ga-68 PET/CT sensitivities were 56%, 57%, and 9% for detecting neck lymph nodes, lung metastases, and liver metastases, respectively, and 100% for bone metastases, superior to the bone scan (44%). Expression of SSTRs, observed in 44% of tumors, was not associated with Ga-68-DOTATATE uptake. Conclusions: Ga-68 PET/CT does not provide optimal whole-body imaging as a single procedure in patients with MTC. However, it is highly sensitive in detecting bone lesions and could be a substitute for a bone scan and MRI.
- IHH Gene Mutations Causing Short Stature With Nonspecific Skeletal Abnormalities and Response to Growth Hormone Therapy(2018) VASQUES, Gabriela A.; FUNARI, Mariana F. A.; FERREIRA, Frederico M.; AZA-CARMONA, Miriam; SENTCHORDI-MONTANE, Lucia; BARRAZA-GARCIA, Jimena; LERARIO, Antonio M.; YAMAMOTO, Guilherme L.; NASLAVSKY, Michel S.; DUARTE, Yeda A. O.; BERTOLA, Debora R.; HEATH, Karen E.; JORGE, Alexander A. L.Context: Genetic evaluation has been recognized as an important tool to elucidate the causes of growth disorders. Objective: To investigate the cause of short stature and to determine the phenotype of patients with IHH mutations, including the response to recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) therapy. Patients and Methods: We studied 17 families with autosomal-dominant short stature by using whole exome sequencing and screened IHH defects in 290 patients with growth disorders. Molecular analyses were performed to evaluate the potential impact of N-terminal IHH variants. Results: We identified 10 pathogenic or possibly pathogenic variants in IHH, an important regulator of endochondral ossification. Molecular analyses revealed a smaller potential energy of mutated IHH molecules. The allele frequency of rare, predicted to be deleterious IHH variants found in short-stature samples (1.6%) was higher than that observed in two control cohorts (0.017% and 0.08%; P < 0.001). Identified IHH variants segregate with short stature in a dominant inheritance pattern. Affected individuals typically manifest mild disproportional short stature with a frequent finding of shortening of the middle phalanx of the fifth finger. None of them have classic features of brachydactyly type A1, which was previously associated with IHH mutations. Five patients heterozygous for IHH variants had a good response to rhGH therapy. The mean change in height standard deviation score in 1 year was 0.6. Conclusion: Our study demonstrated the association of pathogenic variants in IHH with short stature with nonspecific skeletal abnormalities and established a frequent cause of growth disorder, with a preliminary good response to rhGH.
- Prevalence of Deleterious Variants in MC3R in Patients With Constitutional Delay of Growth and Puberty(2023) DUCKETT, Katie; WILLIAMSON, Alice; KINCAID, John W. R.; RAINBOW, Kara; CORBIN, Laura J.; MARTIN, Hilary C.; EBERHARDT, Ruth Y.; HUANG, Qin Qin; HURLES, Matthew E.; HE, Wen; BRAUNER, Raja; DELANEY, Angela; DUNKEL, Leo; GRINSPON, Romina P.; HALL, Janet E.; HIRSCHHORN, Joel N.; HOWARD, Sasha R.; LATRONICO, Ana C.; JORGE, Alexander A. L.; MCELREAVEY, Ken; MERICQ, Veronica; MERINO, Paulina M.; PALMERT, Mark R.; PLUMMER, Lacey; REY, Rodolfo A.; REZENDE, Raissa C.; SEMINARA, Stephanie B.; SALNIKOV, Kathryn; BANERJEE, Indraneel; LAM, Brian Y. H.; PERRY, John R. B.; TIMPSON, Nicholas J.; CLAYTON, Peter; CHAN, Yee-Ming; ONG, Ken K.; O'RAHILLY, StephenContext The melanocortin 3 receptor (MC3R) has recently emerged as a critical regulator of pubertal timing, linear growth, and the acquisition of lean mass in humans and mice. In population-based studies, heterozygous carriers of deleterious variants in MC3R report a later onset of puberty than noncarriers. However, the frequency of such variants in patients who present with clinical disorders of pubertal development is currently unknown. Objective This work aimed to determine whether deleterious MC3R variants are more frequently found in patients clinically presenting with constitutional delay of growth and puberty (CDGP) or normosmic idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (nIHH). Methods We examined the sequence of MC3R in 362 adolescents with a clinical diagnosis of CDGP and 657 patients with nIHH, experimentally characterized the signaling properties of all nonsynonymous variants found and compared their frequency to that in 5774 controls from a population-based cohort. Additionally, we established the relative frequency of predicted deleterious variants in individuals with self-reported delayed vs normally timed menarche/voice-breaking in the UK Biobank cohort. Results MC3R loss-of-function variants were infrequent but overrepresented in patients with CDGP (8/362 [2.2%]; OR = 4.17; P = .001). There was no strong evidence of overrepresentation in patients with nIHH (4/657 [0.6%]; OR = 1.15; P = .779). In 246 328 women from the UK Biobank, predicted deleterious variants were more frequently found in those self-reporting delayed (aged & GE;16 years) vs normal age at menarche (OR = 1.66; P = 3.90E-07). Conclusion We have found evidence that functionally damaging variants in MC3R are overrepresented in individuals with CDGP but are not a common cause of this phenotype.
- Heterozygous Mutations in Natriuretic Peptide Receptor-B (NPR2) Gene as a Cause of Short Stature in Patients Initially Classified as Idiopathic Short Stature(2013) VASQUES, Gabriela A.; AMANO, Naoko; DOCKO, Ana J.; FUNARI, Mariana F. A.; QUEDAS, Elisangela P. S.; NISHI, Mirian Y.; ARNHOLD, Ivo J. P.; HASEGAWA, Tomonobu; JORGE, Alexander A. L.Context: Based on the stature observed in relatives of patients with acromesomelic dysplasia, type Maroteaux, homozygous for mutations in natriuretic peptide receptor B gene (NPR2), it has been suggested that heterozygous mutations in this gene could be responsible for the growth impairment observed in some children with idiopathic short stature (ISS). Objective: The objective of the study was to investigate the presence of NPR2 mutations in a group of patients with ISS. Patients and Methods: The NPR2 coding region was directly sequenced in 47 independent patients with ISS. The functional consequences of NPR2 nonsynonymous variations were established using in vitro cell-based assays. Results: Three novel heterozygous NPR2 mutations were identified: c.226T>C (p.Ser76Pro), c.788G>C (p.Arg263Pro), and c.2455C>T (p.Arg819Cys). These allelic variants were not found in our controls or in the 1000 Genomes database. In silico analysis suggested that the three missense mutations are probably damaging. All of them were selected for in vitro functional evaluation. Cells transfected with the three mutants failed to produce cyclic GMP after treatment with C-type natriuretic peptide. Cells cotransfected with mutant and wild-type-NPR-B (1:1) showed a significant decrease in cGMP levels after C-type natriuretic peptide stimulation in comparison with cells cotrasnfected with empty vector and wild type, suggesting a dominant-negative effect. These three mutations segregated with short stature phenotype in an autosomal dominant pattern (height SD score ranged from -4.5 to -1.7). One of these patients and two relatives have disproportionate short stature, whereas in another patient a nonspecific skeletal abnormality was observed. All three of these patients were treated with recombinant human GH (33-50 mu g/kg.d) without significant height SD score change during therapy. Conclusions: We identified heterozygous NPR2 mutations in 6% of patients initially classified as ISS. Affected patients have mild and variable degrees of short stature without a distinct phenotype. Heterozygous mutations in NPR2 could be an important cause of nonsyndromic familial short stature.
- A Genome-Wide Pharmacogenetic Study of Growth Hormone Responsiveness(2020) DAUBER, Andrew; MENG, Yan; AUDI, Laura; VEDANTAM, Sailaja; WEAVER, Benjamin; CARRASCOSA, Antonio; ALBERTSSON-WIKLAND, Kerstin; RANKE, Michael B.; JORGE, Alexander A. L.; CARA, Jose; WAJNRAJCH, Michael P.; LINDBERG, Anders; CAMACHO-HUBNER, Cecilia; HIRSCHHORN, Joel N.Context: Individual patients vary in their response to growth hormone (GH). No large-scale genome-wide studies have looked for genetic predictors of GH responsiveness. Objective: To identify genetic variants associated with GH responsiveness. Design: Genome-wide association study (GWAS). Setting: Cohorts from multiple academic centers and a clinical trial. Patients: A total of 614 individuals from 5 short stature cohorts receiving GH: 297 with idiopathic short stature, 276 with isolated GH deficiency, and 65 born small for gestational age. Intervention: Association of more than 2 million variants was tested. Main Outcome Measures: Primary analysis: individual single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) association with first-year change in height standard deviation scores. Secondary analyses: SNP associations in clinical subgroups adjusted for clinical variables; association of polygenic score calculated from 697 genome-wide significant height SNPs with GH responsiveness. Results: No common variant associations reached genome-wide significance in the primary analysis. The strongest suggestive signals were found near the B4GALT4 and TBCE genes. After meta-analysis including replication data, signals at several loci reached or retained genomewide significance in secondary analyses, including variants near ST3GAL6. There was no significant association with variants previously reported to be associated with GH response nor with a polygenic predicted height score. Conclusions: We performed the largest GWAS of GH responsiveness to date. We identified 2 loci with a suggestive effect on GH responsiveness in our primary analysis and several genomewide significant associations in secondary analyses that require further replication. Our results are consistent with a polygenic component to GH responsiveness, likely distinct from the genetic regulators of adult height.
- Exome Sequencing Reveals the POLR3H Gene as a Novel Cause of Primary Ovarian Insufficiency(2019) FRANCA, Monica M.; HAN, Xingfa; FUNARI, Mariana F. A.; LERARIO, Antonio M.; NISHI, Mirian Y.; FONTENELE, Eveline G. P.; DOMENICE, Sorahia; JORGE, Alexander A. L.; GARCIA-GALIANO, David; ELIAS, Carol F.; MENDONCA, Berenice B.Context: Primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) is a cause of female infertility. However, the genetic etiology of this disorder remains unknown in most patients with POI. Objective: To investigate the genetic etiology of idiopathic POI. Patients and Methods: We performed whole-exome sequencing of 11 families with idiopathic POI. To gain insights into the potential mechanisms associated with this mutation, we generated two mouse lines via clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/Cas9 technology. Results: A pathogenic homozygous missense mutation (c.149A>G; p.Asp50G ly) in the POLR3H gene in two unrelated families was identified. Pathogenic mutations in this subunit have not been associated with human disorders. Loss-of-function Polr3h mutation in mice caused early embryonic lethality. Mice with homozygous point mutation (Polr3h(D50G)) were viable but showed delayed pubertal development, characterized by late first estrus or preputial separation. The Polr3h(D50G) female and male mice showed decreased fertility later in life, associated with small litter size and increased time to pregnancy or to impregnate a female. Polr3h(D50G) mice displayed decreased expression of ovarian Foxo3a and lower numbers of primary follicles. Conclusion: Our manuscript provides a case of POI caused by missense mutation in POLR3H, expanding the knowledge of molecular pathways of the ovarian function and human infertility. Screening of the POLR3H gene may elucidate POI cases without previously identified genetic causes, supporting approaches of genetic counseling.
- DLK1 Is a Novel Link Between Reproduction and Metabolism(2019) GAMES, Larissa G.; CUNHA-SILVA, Marina; CRESPO, Raiane P.; RAMOS, Carolina O.; MONTENEGRO, Luciana R.; CANTON, Ana; LEES, Melissa; SPOUDEAS, Helen; DAUBER, Andrew; MACEDO, Delanie B.; BESSA, Danielle S.; MACIEL, Gustavo A.; BARACAT, Edmund C.; JORGE, Alexander A. L.; MENDONCA, Berenice B.; BRITO, Vinicius N.; LATRONICO, Ana ClaudiaBackground: Delta-like homolog 1 (DLK1), also called preadipocyte factor 1, prevents adipocyte differentiation and has been considered a molecular gatekeeper of adipogenesis. A DLK1 complex genomic defect was identified in five women from a single family with central precocious puberty (CPP) and increased body fat percentage. Methods: We studied 60 female patients with a diagnosis of CPP or history of precocious menarche. Thirty-one of them reported a family history of precocious puberty. DLK1 DNA sequencing was performed in all patients. Serum DLK1 concentrations were measured using an ELISA assay in selected cases. Metabolic and reproductive profiles of adult women with CPP caused by DLK1 defects were compared with those of 20 women with idiopathic CPP. Results: We identified three frameshift mutations of DLK1 (p.Gly199Alafs*11, p.Va1271Cysfs*14, and p.Pro160Leufs*50) in five women from three families with CPP. Segregation analysis was consistent with the maternal imprinting of DLK1. Serum DLK1 concentrations were undetectable in three affected women. Metabolic abnormalities, such as overweight/obesity, early-onset glucose intolerance/type 2 diabetes mellitus, and hyperlipidemia, were more prevalent in women with the DLK1 mutation than in the idiopathic CPP group. Notably, the human metabolic alterations were similar to the previously described dlk1-null mice phenotype. Two sisters who carried the p.Gly199Alafs*11 mutation also exhibited polycystic ovary syndrome and infertility. Conclusions: Loss-of-function mutations of DLK1 are a definitive cause of familial CPP. The high prevalence of metabolic alterations in adult women who experienced CPP due to DLK1 defects suggests that this antiadipogenic factor represents a link between reproduction and metabolism.
- Heterozygous NPR2 Mutations Cause Disproportionate Short Stature, Similar to Leri-Weill Dyschondrosteosis(2015) HISADO-OLIVA, Alfonso; GARRE-VAZQUEZ, Ana I.; SANTAOLALLA-CABALLERO, Fabiola; BELINCHON, Alberta; BARREDA-BONIS, Ana C.; VASQUES, Gabriela A.; RAMIREZ, Joaquin; LUZURIAGA, Cristina; CARLONE, Gianni; GONZALEZ-CASADO, Isabel; BENITO-SANZ, Sara; JORGE, Alexander A.; CAMPOS-BARROS, Angel; HEATH, Karen E.Context: SHOX mutations have been detected in approximately 70% of Leri-Weill dyschondrosteosis (LWD) and approximately 2.5% of idiopathic short stature (155) cases, suggesting the implication of other genes or loci. The recent identification of NPR2 mutations in 155 suggested that NPR2 mutations may also be involved in disproportionate short stature. Objective: The objective of the study was to investigate whether NPR2 mutations can account for a proportion of the cases referred for LWD and 155 in whom no SHOX mutation was detected. Patients and Methods: We undertook NPR2 mutation screening in 173 individuals referred for suspected LWD and 95 for ISS, with no known defect in SHOX or its enhancers. Intracellular localization and natriuretic peptide precursor C-dependent guanylate cyclase activity were determined for the identified NPR2 variants. Results: Eight NPR2 variants were identified in nine individuals, seven referred for suspected LWD and two for ISS. Six were demonstrated to affect NPR-B cell trafficking and/or its ability to synthesize cyclic GMP (cGMP) under response to natriuretic peptide precursor C/brain natriuretic peptide stimulation. All pathogenic mutations were detected in the suspected LWD referral group (similar to 3%). Interestingly, one of these patients is currently being treated with recombinant human GH and in contrast to previous reports is showing a positive response to the treatment. Conclusions: NPR2 mutations account for approximately 3% of patients with disproportionate short stature and/or clinical or radiographic indicators of SHOX deficiency and in whom no SHOX defect has been identified. However, no patient has yet presented with Madelung deformity. Thus, NPR2 should be screened in the SHOX-negative LWD referrals.