Abstract

Abstract Background Central precocious puberty (CPP) results from early reactivation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis. Four monogenic causes of CPP have been described (KISS, KISS1R MKRN3 and DLK1). Rare loss-of-function mutations of DLK1, a maternally imprinted gene located on chromosome 14q32.2, were identified in families with CPP. Both inherited or de novo DLK1 mutations were described in these affected families. Objective To investigate genetic abnormalities in the DLK1 in a French cohort of patients with idiopathic CPP. Patients: Genomic DNA was obtained from 122 patients (99 girls and 23 boys) with sporadic or familial CPP. Automatic sequencing of the coding regions of DLK1 gene (5 exons, using Sanger method) was performed in all cases, including 91 familial and 31 sporadic cases. Results A pathogenic heterozygous variant in the DLK1 gene (c.372C>A p.Cys124Ter (rs749564412) was identified in a girl with sporadic CPP associated with overweight. This nonsense mutation was considered rare (gnomAD total population 1/251,082) and it was located in the third EGF-like repeat domain in the extracellular region. The affected girl had progressive breast development at 4.5 years and accelerated growth velocity. She had breast development Tanner stage 4 at 5.5 years and bone age (BA) was 6 yr. Her height was 114.5 cm and BMI 18.16 (BMI Z-score = 2.48). Basal LH and FSH was 0.6 IU/L and 5.7 IU/L, respectively. GnRH-stimulated LH and FSH peaks were 14 IU/L and 18 IU/L, respectively, with LH: FSH ratio of 0.77. Other hormonal results were normal (estradiol: 11 pg/mL; ACTH: 11 pg/mL; IGF-1: 235 ng/mL; cortisol: 77 ng/mL). Brain MRI was normal. Pelvic ultrasound revealed uterus length: 49 mm, mucosal thickness of 4 mm, ovaries 20 and 25 mm with follicles less than 10 mm. She was treated with a depot GnRH analog (triptorelin). The DLK1 variant was inherited from her asymptomatic father who had a height of 181 cm. Familial history of CPP history was denied. Conclusion DLK1 loss-of-function are rare genetic cause of familial or sporadic CPP. Novel genetic findings in this factor reinforce its role in the physiopathology of the premature HPG axis reactivation and precocious sexual development in humans. Presentation: Saturday, June 11, 2022 12:45 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.

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