A novel de novo mutation within PHEX gene in a young girl with hypophosphatemic rickets and review of literature

Article information

Ann Pediatr Endocrinol Metab. 2014;19(1):36-41
Publication date (electronic) : 2014 March 31
doi : https://doi.org/10.6065/apem.2014.19.1.36
1Department of Pediatrics, Pusan National University Children's Hospital, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Yangsan, Korea.
2Department of Pediatrics, Pusan National University Hospital, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
3Medical Genetics Clinic and Laboratory, Asan Medical Center Children's Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
Address for correspondence: Chong Kun Cheon, MD. Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Genetics and Metabolism, Pusan National University Children's Hospital, Pusan National University School of Medicine, 20 Geumo-ro, Mulgeum-eup, Yangsan 626-700, Korea. Tel: +82-55-360-3158, Fax: +82-55-360-2181, chongkun@pusan.ac.kr
Received 2013 September 06; Revised 2013 October 23; Accepted 2013 October 26.

Abstract

X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH) is the most common form of familial hypophosphatemic rickets and it is caused by loss-of-function mutations in the PHEX gene. Recently, a wide variety of PHEX gene defects in XLH have been revealed; these include missense mutations, nonsense mutations, splice site mutations, insertions, and deletions. Recently, we encountered a 2-year-9-month-old female with sporadic hypophosphatemic rickets. She underwent osteotomy, dental abscess was evident, and there was severe bowing of the legs. A low serum phosphorus level in combination with elevated serum alkaline phosphatase activity and normal serum calcium is suggestive of hypophosphatemic rickets. PHEX gene analysis revealed a splice acceptor site mutation, c.934-1G>T (IVS8-1G>T), at the intron8 and exon9 junction. To the best of our knowledge, this mutation is novel and has not been reported. The results of this study expand and improve our understanding of the clinical and molecular characteristics and the global pool of patients with sporadic hypophosphatemic rickets.

Introduction

X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH) is the most common form of familial hypophosphatemic rickets (FHR) and it is caused by loss-of-function mutations in the PHEX gene (phosphate regulating gene with homologies to endopeptidases on the X chromosome) with a prevalence of 1 in 20,0001,2). It is inherited as a dominant disorder and characterized biochemically by hypophosphatemia due to renal phosphate wasting with inappropriately low or normal 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D concentrations1). Autosomal dominant hypophosphatemic rickets is known to be associated with mutations in FGF23 and autosomal recessive hypophosphatemic rickets has been reported by different groups3). Individuals with the features of FHR, but with no family history of rickets (sporadic cases) are also common, and many subsequently transmit the phenotype in an X-linked dominant manner consistent with hypophosphatemia3,4). Despite the fact that PHEX mutations cause renal phosphate wasting, PHEX is not expressed in the kidney. Instead, PHEX is predominantly expressed in bones (osteoblasts and osteocytes) and teeth (odontoblasts)2). Clinical manifestations of hypophosphatemic rickets include short stature, bone pain, dental anomalies, lower extremity deformities, and radiographic evidence of rickets in children5).

Laboratory findings of the disease include low serum phosphorus levels, normal serum calcium levels, increased activity of serum alkaline phosphatases, normal or increased parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels, and inappropriately normal or decreased levels of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D35,6). The PHEX gene, located on Xp22.1, consists of 22 exons that translate into a 749 amino acid protein, which is a member of the peptidase M13 family of membrane-bound metalloproteases7,8). The PHEX gene consists of a cytoplasmatic region, a transmembrane, and an extracellular domain6). Since the identification of the PHEX gene, over 351 mutations have been described in patients with XLH; those mutations include nonsense mutations, missense mutations, splicing site mutations, insertions, and deletions in both coding and noncoding regions of the gene7,9). All published mutations have been catalogued in the PHEX mutation database (http://data.mch.mcgill.ca/phexdb). Only 15 mutations of the PHEX gene in Korean patients with hypophosphatemic rickets have been reported so far3,6,10). Here, we report a sporadic case of hypophosphatemic rickets for which genetic analysis has revealed a novel mutation in PHEX, and we present a review of the literature.

Case report

The proband was a 2-year-9-month-old Korean female who was referred to our pediatric endocrinology clinic for bilateral bowleg. She had been born at term to a 30-year-old woman whose pregnancy was uneventful. The proband's birth weight was 3,850 g and her body length was 49 cm. She was born of a nonconsanguineous marriage at full term. On admission, her height was 85.3 cm (3th-5th percentile) and her body weight was 13.5 kg (50th-75th percentile). Physical examination revealed genua vara and cafe au lait spots on the abdomen. Dental defects, including formation of abscesses and recurrent extractions, were shown in the patient. Her vision and hearing were normal. Laboratory analyses of serum revealed the following values (normal range): inorganic phosphate, 2.5 mg/dL (3.8-6.5 mg/dL); calcium, 9.4 mg/dL (8.8-10.8 mg/dL); intact-PTH, 46.53 pg/mL (9-65 pg/mL); alkaline phosphatase, 1,634 IU/L (129-291 IU/L); 25-hydroxyvitamin D3, 27.30 ng/mL (9.7-52.8 ng/mL); and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, 38.0 pg/mL (19.6-54.3 pg/mL). Radiologic findings showed widening of the proximal tibial metaphysis with medial bowing (Fig. 1). A low serum phosphorus level in combination with elevated serum alkaline phosphatase activity and normal serum calcium is suggestive of hypophosphatemic rickets and molecular analysis was done. Informed consent was obtained and genomic DNA was extracted from the peripheral blood leukocytes using a QuickGene Blood kit (Fujifilm, Tokyo, Japan). PHEX gene analysis revealed a splicing mutation, c.934-1G>T (IVS8-1G> T), which was a novel mutation (Fig. 2). However, the proband's mother had no PHEX gene mutation. All members of the proband's family were healthy.

Fig. 1

(A) Initial radiological exam shows severe symmetric shortening and deformation of both legs. (B) At the 22-month follow-up, radiologic finding still shows widening of the proximal tibial metaphysis with medial bowing.

Fig. 2

Partial genomic DNA sequence of the PHEX gene of the patient: Novel splice site mutation, c.934-1G>T (IVS8-1G>T), in the PHEX gene

She was treated with calcitriol 0.5 µg/day and elemental phosphorus 2 g/day in four divided dosages. The alkaline phosphatase levels were nearly normalized (492 IU/L) within two years. At the 22-month follow-up, she was 4 years and 7 months old. At that time, her height was 98.6 cm (3th-5th percentile) and her body weight was 17.8 kg (50th-75th percentile). Complications associated with medications, such as hypercalciuria, hypercalcemia, nephrocalcinosis, renal glycosuria, and hyperparathyroidism, were not detected. Though she had been treated with medications for two years, the bowing in her legs had not improved. Therefore, the patient recently underwent surgical correction for genua vara.

Discussion

In the present study, we report a splice acceptor site mutation in the PHEX gene, c.934-1G>T (IVS8-1G>T), at the intron8 and exon9 junction. To the best of our knowledge, this mutation is novel and has not been reported. The described mutation was located in the extracellular domain in the PHEX gene, predicting that it would cause exon9 skipping. In our patient, this mutation at the exon-intron border caused subsequently severe clinical symptoms, including severe bowing of the legs, short stature, and dental defects, such as formation of abscesses and recurrent extraction. This suggests that the exon-intron border is significant in the formation of functional PHEX proteins and the mutation in this region probably contributes to the severe phenotypes. Thus, although a functional study is necessary, this mutation likely impairs production of the PHEX protein. The functional consequences of novel splice variants were predicted with the Berkeley Drosophila Genome Project (http://www.fruitfly.org/). Eighty-four de novo mutations reported in the PHEX gene in patients with sporadic hypophosphatemic rickets are summarized in Table 1. Among the 84 patients reported with sporadic hypophosphatemic rickets, including our case, splice site mutation was frequently observed (17/84, 20%). Among the 13 patients reported with sporadic hypophosphatemic rickets in Korea, including our case, splice site mutation was most frequently observed (4/13, 30.8%). Nonsense mutations (3/13, 23.1%) and missense mutations (3/13, 23.1%) were found with the same frequencies. A large number of mutations occur randomly across mainly the extracellular domain, which is encoded by exons2-22, but a mutation in the 3'-untranslated region has also recently been identified2). Moreover, the frequency of de novo mutations has been estimated to be approximately 20%11,12,13). These findings suggest that the PHEX gene appears to be particularly prone to mutations for unknown reasons13). In the present study, the patient was female and the de novo mutation was found to be a sporadic case. The female dominance in sporadic cases is also observed in other ethnic backgrounds, including Asians, Europeans, and Americans7). Given that most sporadic patients are female, it is likely that mutated PHEX alleles resulted from mutagenesis in the X chromosome of the paternal germ cells, and PHEX mutagenesis in paternal germ cells is a frequent event in sporadic patients7). Therefore, further study is needed to prove this inference at the protein level with a biopsy to obtain cells for culture.

Summary of de novo PHEX mutations in patients with sporadic hypophosphatemic rickets

The phenotype was assessed as severity of skeletal disease (mild vs. moderate-to-severe) and severity of dental disease (mild vs. moderate-to-severe) using the following objective criteria: history of osteotomy, degree of bowing, and history of dental abscesses4). In our patient, the truncating mutation predicts a severe clinical occurrence. The girl underwent osteotomy, dental abscess was evident, and there was severe bowing of the legs, thus meeting all the major criteria set forth by Holm et al.4) to be classified as a severe skeletal phenotype. No significant correlation was found between the severity of the skeletal or dental disease and the mutation type and the location of the mutation4,10,14). However, in one study, skeletal disease was more severe in the group with a mutation in the C-terminal half of the protein14). Among patients with a family history of hypophosphatemic rickets, there was a trend toward more severe skeletal disease in patients with truncating mutations4). Hearing defect was correlated with mutations in the beginning fragment of the gene, and dental disease and increased head length was correlated with the mutations in the beginning and the terminal fragment of the gene10).

Without treatment, clinical manifestations begin in the first year of life, and affected children suffer progressive growth failure and bony deformities, such as tibial bowing and frontal bossing14). However, treatment with vitamin D and phosphate resulted in only a partial growth improvement in most cases, and was frequently complicated by hypercalciuria, hypercalcemia, nephrocalcinosis, or hyperparathyroidism10). Despite the fact that the affected individual was treated with vitamin D and phosphate, rickets and growth catch-up were not completely improved in the patient, and finally surgical correction had to be done at 55 months of age. This investigation suggest that early initiated vitamin D and phosphate treatment are not sufficient to correct hypophosphatemic rickets caused by severe loss-of-function mutations, and that an effective therapeutic approach might be required in such circumstances based on new concepts of the molecular mechanism of the disorder. In conclusion, we report a novel de novo splicing mutation in the PHEX gene. The results of this study expand and improve our understanding of the clinical and molecular characteristics and the global pool of patients with sporadic hypophosphatemic rickets.

Acknowledgments

We thank the patient and her family for participating in this study, which was supported by a 1-Year Research Grant of Yangsan Pusan National University.

Notes

No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

References

1. Kienitz T, Ventz M, Kaminsky E, Quinkler M. Novel PHEX nonsense mutation in a patient with X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets and review of current therapeutic regimens. Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 2011;119:431–435. 21553362.
2. Ichikawa S, Traxler EA, Estwick SA, Curry LR, Johnson ML, Sorenson AH, et al. Mutational survey of the PHEX gene in patients with X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets. Bone 2008;43:663–666. 18625346.
3. Kim J, Yang KH, Nam JS, Choi JR, Song J, Chang M, et al. A novel PHEX mutation in a Korean patient with sporadic hypophosphatemic rickets. Ann Clin Lab Sci 2009;39:182–187. 19429806.
4. Holm IA, Nelson AE, Robinson BG, Mason RS, Marsh DJ, Cowell CT, et al. Mutational analysis and genotypephenotype correlation of the PHEX gene in X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2001;86:3889–3899. 11502829.
5. Kang QL, Xu J, Zhang Z, He JW, Lu LS, Fu WZ, et al. Three novel PHEX gene mutations in four Chinese families with X-linked dominant hypophosphatemic rickets. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2012;423:793–798. 22713460.
6. Song HR, Park JW, Cho DY, Yang JH, Yoon HR, Jung SC. PHEX gene mutations and genotype-phenotype analysis of Korean patients with hypophosphatemic rickets. J Korean Med Sci 2007;22:981–986. 18162710.
7. Durmaz E, Zou M, Al-Rijjal RA, Baitei EY, Hammami S, Bircan I, et al. Novel and de novo PHEX mutations in patients with hypophosphatemic rickets. Bone 2013;52:286–291. 23079138.
8. Tyynismaa H, Kaitila I, Nanto-Salonen K, Ala-Houhala M, Alitalo T. Identification of fifteen novel PHEX gene mutations in Finnish patients with hypophosphatemic rickets. Hum Mutat 2000;15:383–384. 10737991.
9. Owen C, Chen F, Flenniken AM, Osborne LR, Ichikawa S, Adamson SL, et al. A novel Phex mutation in a new mouse model of hypophosphatemic rickets. J Cell Biochem 2012;113:2432–2441. 22573557.
10. Cho HY, Lee BH, Kang JH, Ha IS, Cheong HI, Choi Y. A clinical and molecular genetic study of hypophosphatemic rickets in children. Pediatr Res 2005;58:329–333. 16055933.
11. Dixon PH, Christie PT, Wooding C, Trump D, Grieff M, Holm I, et al. Mutational analysis of PHEX gene in X-linked hypophosphatemia. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1998;83:3615–3623. 9768674.
12. Gaucher C, Walrant-Debray O, Nguyen TM, Esterle L, Garabedian M, Jehan F. PHEX analysis in 118 pedigrees reveals new genetic clues in hypophosphatemic rickets. Hum Genet 2009;125:401–411. 19219621.
13. Sato K, Tajima T, Nakae J, Adachi M, Asakura Y, Tachibana K, et al. Three novel PHEX gene mutations in Japanese patients with X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets. Pediatr Res 2000;48:536–540. 11004247.
14. Quinlan C, Guegan K, Offiah A, Neill RO, Hiorns MP, Ellard S, et al. Growth in PHEX-associated X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets: the importance of early treatment. Pediatr Nephrol 2012;27:581–588. 22101457.
15. Chou YY, Chao SC, Tsai SC, Lin SJ. Novel PHEX gene mut ations in two Taiwanes e patients wit h hypophosphatemic rickets. J Formos Med Assoc 2005;104:198–202. 15818436.
16. Morey M, Castro-Feijoo L, Barreiro J, Cabanas P, Pombo M, Gil M, et al. Genetic diagnosis of X-linked dominant Hypophosphatemic Rickets in a cohort study: tubular reabsorption of phosphate and 1,25(OH)2D serum levels are associated with PHEX mutation type. BMC Med Genet 2011;12:116. 21902834.
17. Francis F, Strom TM, Hennig S, Boddrich A, Lorenz B, Brandau O, et al. Genomic organization of the human PEX genemutated in X-linked dominant hypophosphatemic rickets. Genome Res 1997;7:573–585. 9199930.
18. Filisetti D, Ostermann G, von Bredow M, Strom T, Filler G, Ehrich J, et al. Non-random distribution of mutations in the PHEX gene, and under-detected missense mutations at non-conserved residues. Eur J Hum Genet 1999;7:615–619. 10439971.

Article information Continued

Funded by : 1-Year Research Grant of Yangsan Pusan National University

Fig. 1

(A) Initial radiological exam shows severe symmetric shortening and deformation of both legs. (B) At the 22-month follow-up, radiologic finding still shows widening of the proximal tibial metaphysis with medial bowing.

Fig. 2

Partial genomic DNA sequence of the PHEX gene of the patient: Novel splice site mutation, c.934-1G>T (IVS8-1G>T), in the PHEX gene

Table 1.

Summary of de novo PHEX mutations in patients with sporadic hypophosphatemic rickets

Case Sex Nucleotide change Protein change Ethnic origin Reference
1 Female IVS8-1G>T Korean This case
2 Female c.1586_1586+1delAG p.E529GfsX41 Korean [3]
3 Male c.1715G>A p.G572D Korean [10]
4 Female c.58C>T p.R20X Korean [10]
5 Female c.2239C>T p.R747X Korean [10]
6 Female c.1952-1963del12 p.R651-R655del4 Korean [10]
7 Female c.2171-2172delTT p.F724X Korean [10]
8 Female c.64G>T p.A22S Korean [10]
9 Female c.160C>T p.P534L Korean [14]
10 Female c.466_467insAC p.L156HfsX76 Korean [14]
11 Female IVS10+1G>A Korean [14]
12 Female IVS10+1G>A Korean [14]
13 Female IVS17+5G>A Korean [14]
14 Female c.830T>A p.L277X American [4]
15 Female IVS13+1G>C American [4]
16 Female IVS13+1G>C American [4]
17 Female c.496C>T p.R166C American [4]
18 Female c.1133T>C p.L378P American [4]
19 Female c.1601C>T p.P534L American [4]
20 Female c.1736G>T p.G579V American [4]
21 Female c.2090delGA p.R697TfsX19 Taiwanese [15]
22 Female c.670C>T p.Q224X Taiwanese [15]
23 Female c.1217G>A p.C406Y Turkish [7]
24 Female c.2078G>T p.C693F Turkish [7]
25 Female IVS15+1G>A Turkish [7]
26 Female IVS13–2A>G Turkish [7]
27 Female c.1217G>A p.C406Y Turkish [7]
28 Female c.784G>C A262P Spanish [16]
29 Female c.1105A>T R369X Spanish [16]
30 Female c.1529G>C R510P Spanish [16]
31 Female c.1639C>T Q547X Spanish [16]
32 Female c.1645C>T R549X Spanish [16]
33 Female c.1645C>T R549X Spanish [16]
34 Female c.1543C>T Q515X Spanish [16]
35 Female c.1735 G>C G579R Spanish [16]
36 Female c.18251830delAAAAG E609X Spanish [16]
37 Female c.1952G>C R651P Spanish [16]
38 Female c.2104C>T R702X Spanish [16]
39 Female c.2239C>T R747X Spanish [16]
40 Female c.897_898delAA K299N Spanish [16]
41 Female c.188_349del Spanish [16]
42 Female c.395_398dup p.Q133HISfsX14 Spanish [16]
43 Female c.1405_1645del Spanish [16]
44 Female c.1412_2250del p.I495WfsX20 Spanish [16]
45 Male c.1646_2250del Spanish [16]
46 Female c.1701_2070del Spanish [16]
47 Male c.1768+174_1768+177dupTAAG Spanish [16]
48 Female c.1936_1938delGAT p.D646del Spanish [16]
49 Female c.2138_2139dupCT p.Q714LfsX27 Spanish [16]
50 Female c.2168dupA p.N723KfsX3 Spanish [16]
51 Female IVS04+3G>C Spanish [16]
52 Female IVS10+1G>A Spanish [16]
53 Female IVS13+4 delA Spanish [16]
54 Male IVS15+1G>A Spanish [16]
55 Female IVS19+1G>A Spanish [16]
56 Female c.1601.C>T p.P534L Spanish [16]
57 Male c.565C>T Q189X Spanish [16]
58 Female c.1601C>T p.P534L German [17]
59 Female c.1735G>A p.G579R German [17]
60 Female c.1735G>A p.G579R German [17]
61 Male c.2239C>T p.R747X German [17]
62 Female c.1559delG p.W520CfsX1 German [17]
63 Female c.1991insTGACTGAC p.R664SfsX2 German [17]
64 Male Exon 9 del German [17]
65 Female c.2137–2141.del/ins p.713NfsX1 Swiss [17]
66 Female c.242T>C p.F81S European [14]
67 Female c.413T>C p.L138P European [18]
68 Female c.710A>G p.D237G European [18]
69 Male c.832G>T p.E278X European [18]
70 Female IVS9+2T>G European [18]
71 Female c.1351G>T p.E451X European [18]
72 Female c.1363G>T p.E455X European [18]
73 Female c.1728C>A p.A573D European [18]
74 Female c.1736G>A p.G579R European [18]
75 Male c.2064T>A p.Y688X European [18]
76 Female c.2198G>C p.C733S European [18]
77 Female c.2238C>G p.C746W European [18]
78 Male c.2239C>T p.R747X European [18]
79 Female c.1504insGACT p.Y502fsX European [18]
80 Female c.1986insTGAC p.D663fsX1 European [18]
81 Male c.2162insCCCT p.S722PfsX European [18]
82 Male IVS14+3delGAGT European [18]
83 Female IVS19+1G>A European [18]
84 Male IVS21-2A>C European [18]