OBJECTIVES: We aimed to investigate whether glucocorticoid receptor gene polymorphisms are associated with clinical and metabolic profiles in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome. Polycystic ovary syndrome is a complex endocrine disease that affects 5-8% of women and may be associated with metabolic syndrome, which is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Cortisol action and dysregulation account for metabolic syndrome development in the general population. As glucocorticoid receptor gene (NR3C1) polymorphisms regulate cortisol sensitivity, we hypothesized that variants of this gene may be involved in the adverse metabolic profiles of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome. METHOD: Clinical, metabolic and hormonal profiles were evaluated in 97 patients with polycystic ovary syndrome who were diagnosed according to the Rotterdam criteria. The alleles of the glucocorticoid gene were genotyped. Association analyses were performed using the appropriate statistical tests. RESULTS: Obesity and metabolic syndrome were observed in 42.3% and 26.8% of patients, respectively. Body mass index was positively correlated with blood pressure, triglyceride, LDL-c, total cholesterol, glucose and insulin levels as well as HOMA-IR values and inversely correlated with HDL-c and SHBG levels. The BclI and A3669G variants were found in 24.7% and 13.4% of alleles, respectively. BclI carriers presented a lower frequency of insulin resistance compared with wild-type subjects. CONCLUSION: The BclI variant is associated with a lower frequency of insulin resistance in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Glucocorticoid gene polymorphism screening during treatment of the syndrome may be useful for identifying subgroups of at-risk patients who would benefit the most from personalized treatment.

OBJECTIVES: Patients with Cushing's disease exhibit wide phenotypic variability in the severity of obesity, diabetes and hypertension. In the general population, several glucocorticoid receptor genes (NR3C1) and HSD11B1 polymorphisms are associated with altered glucocorticoid sensitivity and/or metabolism, resulting in an increased or reduced risk of an adverse metabolic profile. Our aim was to analyze the association of NR3C1 and HSD11B1 gene variants with the severity of some clinical and hormonal features of Cushing's disease. METHODS: Sixty-four patients presenting with Cushing's disease were diagnosed based on adrenocorticotrophic hormone levels, high-dose dexamethasone suppression tests and/or inferior petrosal sinus sampling and magnetic resonance imaging. The A3669G, ER22/23EK, N363S BclI-NR3C1 and HSD11B1-rs12086634 variants were screened. RESULTS: The BclI, HSD11B1-rs12086634 and A3669G variants were found in 36%, 19.5% and 14% of alleles, respectively. The N363S and ER22/23EK polymorphisms were identified in heterozygosis once in only two patients (1.5% of alleles). There were no differences in the weight gain or prevalence of diabetes and hypertension in the patients carrying the abovementioned alleles compared to the wild-type carriers. Interestingly, the mean body mass index (BMI) of the BclI carriers was significantly higher than the non-carriers (34.4±7 kg/m2 vs. 29.6±4.7 kg/m2, respectively). None of the polymorphisms were associated with the basal adrenocorticotrophic hormone, FU levels or F level after dexamethasone suppression testing. CONCLUSION: Although Cushing's disease results from increased glucocorticoid secretion, we observed that interindividual variability in the peripheral glucocorticoid sensitivity, mediated by the glucocorticoid receptor, could modulate the obesity phenotype.

Analisamos as características clínicas e moleculares de 205 pacientes portadores das diferentes formas clínicas da deficiência da 21-hidroxilase, com diagnóstico hormonal e molecular definidos. As mutações mais freqüentes foram a I2 splice na forma perdedora de sal, a I172N na forma virilizante simples e a V281L na forma não clássica, com freqüências semelhantes às de outros estudos. Obtivemos baixa freqüência de deleção do gene da 21-hidroxilase, de forma semelhante ao identificado nas populações argentina e mexicana. Cinco mutações novas foram descritas em nossa população: G424S, H28+C, Ins 1003^1004 A, R408C e IVS2-2A>G. A severidade do genótipo também se correlacionou diretamente com níveis mais elevados de 17OH-progesterona e de testosterona. As mutações foram classificadas em três grupos, de acordo com o comprometimento da atividade enzimática observado in vitro: Grupo A: atividade de 0-2%; Grupo B: atividade de 3-7% e Grupo C: atividade >20%. Houve forte correlação do grupo A com a forma perdedora de sal, do grupo B com a forma virilizante simples e do grupo C com a forma não clássica. A mutação I2 splice (Grupo A) em homo ou hemizigose conferiu o fenótipo de forma clássica, embora tanto a forma perdedora de sal quanto a forma virilizante simples tenham sido identificadas. A boa correlação do genótipo com o fenótipo na HAC-21OH permite sua aplicação na prática clínica, para o aconselhamento genético, diagnóstico e tratamento pré-natal das gestações de risco para a forma clássica da HAC-21OH e para confirmação diagnóstica após screening neonatal da HAC-21OH, exceto na presença da mutação I2splice.

We analyzed the clinical and molecular data of 205 patients with the three different clinical forms of 21-hydroxylase deficiency, in whom the clinical and molecular diagnosis were already defined. The most frequent mutations were I2 splice in the salt wasting form, I172N in the simple virilizing and V281L in the nonclassical form, presenting similar frequencies as those observed in other populations. We found a lower frequency of 21-hydroxylase gene deletion, similar to that previously identified in Argentinean and Mexican populations. Five new mutations were described in our population: G424S, H28+C, Ins 1003^1004 A, R408C and IVS2-2A>G. The genotype was classified in three groups according to the impairment of enzymatic activity observed in vitro, Group A: 0-2%, Group B: 3-7% and Group C: >20%. Group A mutations correlated with the salt wasting form, the Group B with simple virilizing form and Group C with the non classical form. The severity of genotype showed a positive correlation with higher 17OH-progesterone and testosterone levels. The I2 splice mutation in homo or hemizygosis confers classical form phenotype with both salt wasting and simple virilizing forms, precluding the prediction of the clinical form through genotype in pre and neonatal diagnosis. The good genotype-phenotype correlation in patients with 21-hydroxylase deficiency shows the usefulness of genotype to predict the clinical form for genetic counseling, prenatal diagnosis and to confirm neonatal screening diagnosis, except in cases with I2 splice mutation.

Hiperplasia adrenal congênita (HAC) é uma doença autossômica recessiva decorrente da alteração de enzimas que participam da síntese do cortisol. As manifestações podem ser causadas pela deficiência do cortisol e, em alguns casos, aldosterona e pelo acúmulo de precursores. O objetivo desta revisão é apresentar os mecanismos moleculares dos principais defeitos enzimáticos envolvidos na etiopatogênese da HAC. A deficiência da 21-hidroxilase (21OH) ocorre em 95% dos casos de HAC. Existem dois genes que codificam o P450c21: um ativo, CYP21, e um pseudogene CYP21P. Ambos são altamente homólogos (98%), o que favorece o emparelhamento desigual dos cromossomos homólogos durante a meiose, levando a duplicações e/ou deleções ou conversões desses genes. Adicionalmente, foram também descritas mutações de ponto, muitas delas presentes no pseudogene sugerindo microconversões. Mutações no gene CYP11B1 causam HAC por deficiência da 11beta-hidroxilase, forma esta que corresponde a 5% dos casos. Algumas mutações são recorrentes, situando-se principalmente entre os exons 6-8 que representaria uma área hot-spot no gene CYP11B1. A deficiência de 17-hidroxilase é causada por mutações no gene CYP17, que codificam uma proteína alterada, levando a deficiência total ou parcial de 17-hidroxilação e 17,20-liase ou deficiência isolada de 17,20-liase. Finalmente, deficiência de 3beta-HSD é causada por mutações no gene HSD3B2, que codifica a enzima 3beta-HSD tipo II e estas mutações têm sido associadas tanto com a forma clássica como com a forma não clássica da deficiência da 3beta-HSD.

Congenital adrenal hiperplasia (CAH) is a recessive autossomic disease caused by inherited defects in cortisol biosynthesis. The manifestations are caused both by the deficient synthesis of cortisol, and sometimes of aldosterone, and by accumulation of the precursor steroids. The objective of this review is to present the molecular mechanisms of the main enzymatic defects involved in the etiopathogenesis of CAH. Deficiency of 21-hydroxylase (21OH) accounts for more than 95% of all cases of CAH. The human genome contains two CYP genes: one active, CYP21, and a pseudogene, CYP21P. Both are highly homologous (98%), facilitating recombination events during meiosis, leading to duplication and/or deletion or conversion of these genes. Additionally, point mutations have also been described. Deficiency of 11beta-hydroxylase (11betaOH) is caused by mutations in the CYP11B1 gene, and accounts for 5% of all cases. Some mutations are recurrent, and mainly located on exons 6-8, which is considered a hot-spot area in CYP11B1 gene. Deficiency of 17alpha-hydroxylase (17OH) is caused by mutations in the CYP17 gene, producing a truncated or impaired protein. These mutations have been described in patients with combined deficiencies of 17OH and 17,20-lyase or with isolated 17,20-lyase. Finally, CAH caused by 3beta-HSD deficiency is the consequence of mutations in the gene HSD3B2 that encodes 3beta-HSD type II. In the classical form of the disease nonsense mutations, insertion and deletions have been described, while in non classical forms, mutations result in diminished enzyme affinity and loss of enzyme activity.

O tratamento da hiperplasia supra-renal congênita por deficiência da 21-hidroxilase (HSRC-21OH) tem como objetivos repor glico e mineralocorticóides, evitar a virilização dos genitais externos, prevenir a desidratação por perda de sal, controlar o hiperandrogenismo sem afetar a velocidade de crescimento, preservar a função gonadal, fertilidade e estatura final. Relatamos a nossa experiência no acompanhamento de 96 pacientes com HSRC-21OH. Nas crianças utilizamos como glicocorticóide o acetato de cortisona (18-20 mg/m²/dia) e nos adultos a dexametasona (0,25-0,75 mg/dia). Quando necessário, a reposição do mineralocorticóide foi feita com 9alfa-fluor-hidrocortisona 50-250 µg/dia dependendo da faixa etária. Apesar da substituição adequada com glico e/ou mineralocorticóides o resultado final do tratamento da HSRC-21OH ainda deixa a desejar, principalmente em relação ao crescimento, já que a estatura final na maior parte das casuísticas está entre -1 e -2 DP em relação a estatura alvo. Novas terapêuticas da HSRC-21OH, como a associação de hidrocortisona, fludrocortisona, flutamida e testolactona ou a suprarrenalectomia cirúrgica ainda estão em fase experimental e a evolução a longo prazo é necessária para avaliar seu real efeito.

The purpose of the treatment for congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency (CAH-21OH) is to replace gluco and mineralocorticoids, prevent virilization of the external genitalia, salt loss and hyperandrogenism and preserve gonadal function, fertility and final height. Our experience in the treatment of 96 patients with CAH-21OH is presented. Children have been treated with cortisone acetate (18-20 mg/m2/day) and adults with dexamethasone (0.25-0.75 mg/day). If necessary, mineralocorticoid replacement was accomplished with 9alpha-fludrocortisone, 50-250 µg/day, according to chronological age. Despite therapy with gluco and mineralocorticoids the end results for CAH-21OH is still inadequate, especially when growth is concerned; in most reports final height reaches between 1 to 2 SD bellow target height. New therapeutic approaches for CAH-21OH, such as the association of flutamide and testolactone to hydrocortisone and fludrocortisone, and even surgical or chemical adrenalectomy, are still experimental and long-term follow-up is necessary to evaluate their validity.