Disruption of the GHRH receptor and its impact on children and adults: The Itabaianinha syndrome

Manuel H. Aguiar-Oliveira, Roberto Salvatori

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

Since 1994, we have been studying an extended kindred with 105 subjects (over 8 generations) residing in Itabaianinha County, in the Brazilian state of Sergipe, who have severe isolated GH deficiency (IGHD) due to a homozygous inactivating mutation (c.57 + 1G > A) in the GH releasing hormone (GHRH) receptor (GHRHR) gene. Most of these individuals have never received GH replacement therapy. They have low GH, and very low and often undetectable levels of serum IGF-I. Their principal physical findings are proportionate short stature, doll facies, high-pitched-voice, central obesity, wrinkled skin, and youthful hair with delayed pigmentation, and virtual absence of graying. The newborns from this cohort are of normal size, indicating that GH is not needed for intra-uterine growth. However, these IGHD individuals exhibit a myriad of phenotypic changes throughout the body, with a greater number of beneficial than harmful consequences. This GHRH signal disruption syndrome has been a valuable model to study the GH roles in body size and function. This reviews summarized the findings we have reported on this cohort.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)81-89
Number of pages9
JournalReviews in Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders
Volume22
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2021

Keywords

  • GH
  • GHRH
  • GHRH receptor
  • IGF-I
  • IGF-II

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
  • Endocrinology

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