A novel mutation of exon 7 in growth hormone receptor mRNA in a patient with growth hormone insensitivity syndrome and neurofibromatosis type I.

Growth hormone insensitivity syndrome (GHIS), a genetic disease characterized by growth retardation combined with high serum concentration of growth hormone (GH) and low insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels, can be caused by mutations in the GH receptor (GHR) gene. We investigated the molecular defects in the GHR gene in a patient with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1). The patient, a 2-year-old boy with NF-1, was assessed on his short stature by auxological, biochemical and molecular studies. Height of the patient and his family members were measured and compared to normal control. Serum concentrations of GH, IGF-1 and IGF-binding protein 3 (IGFBP3) in the patient were measured during a GH stimulation test. We examined the GHR gene in the patient and his parents. Genomic DNA and mRNA of the GHR gene were extracted from peripheral lymphocytes. All the exons and the flanking regions of the GHR gene were amplified by PCR, and directly sequenced. The patient's height was 75 cm (-2.89 SDS) with gradually reducing growth velocity, while the heights of the other family members were within the normal range. The GH stimulation test revealed that serum GH concentrations in the patient were much higher than those in the control group, and serum IGF-1 and IGFBP3 levels were extremely low. There was no germline mutation in the exons or the flanking regions of the patient's GHR gene. Interestingly, a deletion of 166 bases of exon 7 in the GHR mRNA was found, and it was suggested that the novel mutation resulted in premature termination (M207 fs. X8). This mutation decreases GH binding affinity to the GHR, and, thus, would be responsible for growth retardation.