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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Tarja Kinnunen, Dr Richard Quinton
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
© 2017 EMBO. Congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (CHH) is a rare genetic form of isolated gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) deficiency caused by mutations in > 30 genes. Fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1) is the most frequently mutated gene in CHH and is implicated in GnRH neuron development and maintenance. We note that a CHH FGFR1 mutation (p.L342S) decreases signaling of the metabolic regulator FGF21 by impairing the association of FGFR1 with β-Klotho (KLB), the obligate co-receptor for FGF21. We thus hypothesized that the metabolic FGF21/KLB/FGFR1 pathway is involved in CHH. Genetic screening of 334 CHH patients identified seven heterozygous loss-of-function KLB mutations in 13 patients (4%). Most patients with KLB mutations (9/13) exhibited metabolic defects. In mice, lack of Klb led to delayed puberty, altered estrous cyclicity, and subfertility due to a hypothalamic defect associated with inability of GnRH neurons to release GnRH in response to FGF21. Peripheral FGF21 administration could indeed reach GnRH neurons through circumventricular organs in the hypothalamus. We conclude that FGF21/KLB/FGFR1 signaling plays an essential role in GnRH biology, potentially linking metabolism with reproduction.
Author(s): Xu C, Messina A, Somm E, Miraoui H, Kinnunen T, Acierno J, Niederlander NJ, Bouilly J, Dwyer AA, Sidis Y, Cassatella D, Sykiotis GP, Quinton R, De Geyter C, Dirlewanger M, Schwitzgebel V, Cole TR, Toogood AA, Kirk JMW, Plummer L, Albrecht U, Crowley Jr WF, Mohammadi M, Tena-Sempere M, Prevot V, Pitteloud N
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: EMBO Molecular Medicine
Year: 2017
Volume: 9
Issue: 10
Pages: 1379-1397
Print publication date: 01/10/2017
Online publication date: 28/07/2017
Acceptance date: 27/06/2017
Date deposited: 09/08/2017
ISSN (print): 1757-4676
ISSN (electronic): 1757-4684
Publisher: EMBO Press
URL: https://doi.org/10.15252/emmm.201607376
DOI: 10.15252/emmm.201607376
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