Clinical, genetic, and functional characterization of adrenocorticotropin receptor mutations using a novel receptor assay.

Flück, Christa; Martens, John W. M.; Conte, Felix A.; Miller, Walter L. (2002). Clinical, genetic, and functional characterization of adrenocorticotropin receptor mutations using a novel receptor assay. Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 87(9), pp. 4318-4323. Endocrine Society 10.1210/jc.2002-020501

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The ACTH receptor (MC2R) is expressed predominantly in the adrenal cortex, but is one of five G protein-coupled, seven-transmembrane melanocortin receptors (MCRs), all of which bind ACTH to some degree. Testing of MC2R activity is difficult because most cells express endogenous MCRs; hence, ACTH will elicit background activation of assayable reporter systems. Inactivating mutations of MC2R lead to hereditary unresponsiveness to ACTH, also known as familial glucocorticoid deficiency (FGD). These patients are usually seen in early childhood with very low cortisol concentrations, normal mineralocorticoids, hyperpigmentation, and increased bodily growth. Several MC2R mutations have been reported in FGD, but assays of the activities of these mutants are cumbersome. We saw two patients with typical clinical findings of FGD. Genetic analysis showed that patient 1 was homozygous for the mutation R137W, and patient 2 was a compound heterozygote for S74I and Y254C. We tested the activity of these mutations in OS-3 cells, which are unresponsive to ACTH but have intact downstream cAMP signal transduction. OS-3 cells transfected with a cAMP-responsive luciferase reporter plasmid (pCREluc) were unresponsive to ACTH, but cotransfection with a vector expressing human MC2R increased luciferase activity more than 40-fold. Addition of ACTH to cells cotransfected with the pCREluc reporter and wild-type MC2R activated luciferase expression with a 50% effective concentration of 5.5 x 10(-9) M ACTH, which is similar to previously reported values. By contrast, the MC2R mutant R137W had low activity, and the S74I or Y254C mutants elicited no measurable response. This assay provides excellent sensitivity in an easily assayed transient transfection system, providing a more rapid and efficient measurement of ACTH receptor activity.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Gynaecology, Paediatrics and Endocrinology (DFKE) > Clinic of Paediatric Medicine
04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Gynaecology, Paediatrics and Endocrinology (DFKE) > Clinic of Paediatric Medicine > Endocrinology/Metabolic Disorders
04 Faculty of Medicine > Pre-clinic Human Medicine > BioMedical Research (DBMR) > Unit Childrens Hospital > Forschungsgruppe Endokrinologie / Diabetologie / Metabolik (Pädiatrie)

UniBE Contributor:

Flück Pandey, Christa Emma

Subjects:

600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health

ISSN:

0021-972X

Publisher:

Endocrine Society

Language:

English

Submitter:

Anette van Dorland

Date Deposited:

13 Aug 2014 15:21

Last Modified:

12 Oct 2023 16:50

Publisher DOI:

10.1210/jc.2002-020501

PubMed ID:

12213892

BORIS DOI:

10.48350/45696

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/45696

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