TAC3/TACR3 Mutations Reveal Preferential Activation of GnRH Release by Neurokinin B in Neonatal Life Followed by Reversal in Adulthood
ABSTRACT Context Mutations in TAC3 and TACR3 (encoding neurokinin B and its receptor) have been identified in Turkish patients with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (IHH), but broader populations have not yet been tested and genotype-phenotype correlations have not been established. Objective A broad cohort of normosmic IHH probands was screened for mutations in TAC3/TACR3 to evaluate the prevalence of such mutations and define the genotype/phenotype relationships. Design Sequencing of TAC3/TACR3; in vitro functional assays, neuroendocrine phenotyping. Setting Tertiary care centers world-wide. Patients or other participants 345 probands, 18 family members, 292 controls. Intervention Examination of reproductive phenotypes throughout reproductive life and pre/post therapy. Main Outcome Measure Rare sequence variants in TAC3/TACR3. Results In TACR3, 19 probands harbored 13 distinct coding sequence rare nucleotide variants (3 nonsense mutations, 6 non-synonymous, 4 synonymous [one predicted to affect splicing]). In TAC3, one homozygous single base pair deletion was identified, resulting in complete loss of the neurokinin B decapeptide. Phenotypic information was available on 16 males and 7 females with coding sequence variants in TACR3/TAC3. Of the 16 males, 15 had microphallus; none of the females had spontaneous thelarche. Seven of the 16 males and 5/7 females were assessed after discontinuation of therapy and 6/7 males and 4/5 females demonstrated evidence for reversibility of their hypogonadotropism. Conclusions Mutations in the neurokinin B pathway are relatively common as causes of hypogonadism. While the neurokinin B pathway appears essential during early sexual development, its importance in sustaining the integrity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis appears attenuated over time.