EBioMedicine (Jan 2024)

Clinical and genetic characteristics of a large international cohort of individuals with rare NR5A1/SF-1 variants of sex developmentResearch in context

  • Chrysanthi Kouri,
  • Grit Sommer,
  • Idoia Martinez de Lapiscina,
  • Rawda Naamneh Elzenaty,
  • Lloyd J.W. Tack,
  • Martine Cools,
  • S. Faisal Ahmed,
  • Christa E. Flück,
  • Saygin Abali,
  • Zehra Yavas Abali,
  • Leyla Akin,
  • Maricruz Almaraz,
  • Laura Audí,
  • Murat Aydin,
  • Antonio Balsamo,
  • Federico Baronio,
  • Jillian Bryce,
  • Kanetee Busiah,
  • Maria Caimari,
  • Núria Camats-Tarruella,
  • Ariadna Campos-Martorell,
  • Luis Castaño,
  • Anna Casteràs,
  • Semra Çetinkaya,
  • Yee-Ming Chan,
  • Hedi L. Claahsen-van der Grinten,
  • Ines Costa,
  • Fatma Feyza Darendeliler,
  • Justin H. Davies,
  • Isabel Esteva,
  • Helena Fabbri-Scallet,
  • Courtney A. Finlayson,
  • Emilio Garcia,
  • Beatriz Garcia Cuartero,
  • Alina German,
  • Evgenia Globa,
  • Gil Guerra-Junior,
  • Julio Guerrero,
  • Tulay Guran,
  • Sabine E. Hannema,
  • Olaf Hiort,
  • Josephine Hirsch,
  • Leuan Hughes,
  • Marco Janner,
  • Zofia Kolesinska,
  • Katherine Lachlan,
  • Anna Lauber-Biason,
  • Jana Krenek Malikova,
  • Dagmar l'Allemand,
  • Nina Lenhnerr-Taube,
  • Angela Lucas-Herald,
  • Jamala Mammadova,
  • Kenneth MсElreavey,
  • Veronica Mericq,
  • Isabel Mönig,
  • Francisca Moreno,
  • Julia Mührer,
  • Marek Niedziela,
  • Anna Nordenstrom,
  • Burçe Orman,
  • Sukran Poyrazoglu,
  • Jose M. Rial,
  • Meilan M. Rutter,
  • Amaia Rodríguez,
  • Tara Schafer-Kalkhoff,
  • Kay-Sara Sauter,
  • Sumudu Nimali Seneviratne,
  • Maria Sredkova-Ruskova,
  • Rieko Tadokoro-Cuccaro,
  • Ajay Thankamony,
  • Mónica Tomé,
  • Amaia Vela,
  • Malgorzata Wasniewska,
  • David Zangen,
  • Nataliya Zelinska

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 99
p. 104941

Abstract

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Summary: Background: Steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1/NR5A1) is essential for human sex development. Heterozygous NR5A1/SF-1 variants manifest with a broad range of phenotypes of differences of sex development (DSD), which remain unexplained. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis on the so far largest international cohort of individuals with NR5A1/SF-1 variants, identified through the I-DSD registry and a research network. Findings: Among 197 individuals with NR5A1/SF-1 variants, we confirmed diverse phenotypes. Over 70% of 46, XY individuals had a severe DSD phenotype, while 90% of 46, XX individuals had female-typical sex development. Close to 100 different novel and known NR5A1/SF-1 variants were identified, without specific hot spots. Additionally, likely disease-associated variants in other genes were reported in 32 individuals out of 128 tested (25%), particularly in those with severe or opposite sex DSD phenotypes. Interestingly, 48% of these variants were found in known DSD or SF-1 interacting genes, but no frequent gene-clusters were identified. Sex registration at birth varied, with <10% undergoing reassignment. Gonadectomy was performed in 30% and genital surgery in 58%. Associated organ anomalies were observed in 27% of individuals with a DSD, mainly concerning the spleen. Intrafamilial phenotypes also varied considerably. Interpretation: The observed phenotypic variability in individuals and families with NR5A1/SF-1 variants is large and remains unpredictable. It may often not be solely explained by the monogenic pathogenicity of the NR5A1/SF-1 variants but is likely influenced by additional genetic variants and as-yet-unknown factors. Funding: Swiss National Science Foundation (320030-197725) and Boveri Foundation Zürich, Switzerland.

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