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Significance of genotype in tetrahydrobiopterin‐responsive phenylketonuria
Author(s) -
Trefz F. K.,
Scheible D.,
Götz H.,
FrauendienstEgger G.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of inherited metabolic disease
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.462
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1573-2665
pISSN - 0141-8955
DOI - 10.1007/s10545-008-0940-8
Subject(s) - genotype , allele , tetrahydrobiopterin , phenylalanine hydroxylase , compound heterozygosity , genotyping , genetics , complementation , hyperphenylalaninemia , mutation , medicine , biology , endocrinology , phenylalanine , gene , mutant , nitric oxide synthase , amino acid , nitric oxide
Summary Background The value of genotyping to identify tetrahydrobiopterin‐responsive (BH 4 ‐responsive) patients with phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) deficiency is a matter of debate. Methods We reviewed 250 cases of patients with PAH deficiency, using published data from 198 cases and unpublished data from 52 cases of patients attending our own clinic. Patients underwent analyses for BH 4 load and genetic mutations. Partial and full BH 4 responses were defined as a 10–29% decrease and a ≥30% decrease from baseline in blood phenylalanine levels, respectively. BH 4 ‐responsive alleles were identified from BH 4 ‐responsive patients as either homozygous for a specific allele or compound heterozygous for that allele with a null mutation. Results Most inconsistencies between observed genotype and BH 4 response were associated with mutations in the regulatory domain of PAH (p.R68S, p.I65T, p.L48S and p.F39C), where 20/62 alleles (32.2%) were non‐responsive. In the catalytic domain (mutations p.Y414C, p.R261Q, p.E390G, p.A300S, p.R241C, p.A403V and p.V388M), only 8/125 alleles (6.4%) were non‐responsive. Seven patients had a genotype with two BH 4 ‐responsive alleles resulting in no response or only a partial response to BH 4 . Ten patients had identical genotypes but inconsistent responses in BH 4 load. Conclusions These results show that BH 4 non‐responsiveness is associated with genotype. However, patients with mutations in the regulatory domain show inconsistent results. In patients with two responsive alleles, non‐responsiveness may be related to negative inter‐allelic complementation. In patients with the same genotype and inconsistent results for BH 4 load, external factors such as intestinal absorption of BH 4 , catabolic conditions or other genetic factors may be responsible. Further in vitro studies are necessary to clarify the genotype–phenotype correlation in patients with BH 4 ‐responsive PKU.