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A Rare Case of Precocious Puberty in a Child with a Novel GATA-4 Gene Mutation: Implications for Disorders of Sex Development (DSD) and Review of the Literature

Background: Disorders/Differences of sex development (DSD) are often due to disruptions of the genetic programs that regulate gonad development. The GATA-4 gene, located on chromosome 8p23.1, encodes GATA-binding protein 4 (GATA-4), a transcription factor that is essential for cardiac and gonadal de...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Aversa, Tommaso, Luppino, Giovanni, Corica, Domenico, Pepe, Giorgia, Valenzise, Mariella, Coco, Roberto, Li Pomi, Alessandra, Wasniewska, Malgorzata
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: MDPI 2023
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10454567/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/37628683
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/genes14081631
Descripción
Sumario:Background: Disorders/Differences of sex development (DSD) are often due to disruptions of the genetic programs that regulate gonad development. The GATA-4 gene, located on chromosome 8p23.1, encodes GATA-binding protein 4 (GATA-4), a transcription factor that is essential for cardiac and gonadal development and sexual differentiation. Case Description: A child with a history of micropenis and cryptorchidism. At 8 years of age, he came under our observation for an increase in sexual pubic hair (pubarche). The laboratory parameters and the GnRH test suggested a central precocious puberty (CPP). Treatment with GnRH analogs was started, and we decided to perform genetic tests for DSD. The NGS genetic investigation showed a novel and heterozygous variant in the GATA-4 gene. Discussion: In the literature, 26 cases with 46,XY DSD due to the GATA4 gene were reported. Conclusion: The novel variant in the GATA-4 gene of our patient was not previously associated with DSD. This is the first case of a DSD due to a GATA-4 mutation that develops precocious puberty. Precocious puberty could be associated with DSD and considered a prelude to hypogonadism in some cases.