Association of ring-finger protein 3 (MKRN3) gene rs2239669 polymorphism with central precocious puberty susceptibility / 临床儿科杂志

Objectives To explore the association between the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs2239669 in makorin ring-finger protein 3 (MKRN3) gene and the susceptibility to central precocious puberty (CPP). Methods A case-control study including 246 children with CPP and 269 healthy children was performed.The genotype and MKRN3 expression levels of patients were analyzed by PCR-HRM and RT-PCR,respectively. Results SNP rs2239669 genotype (TT,TC,CC) and allele frequencies (T and C) were different between cases and controls,with higher CC genotype in CPP patients. Under recessive model (CC/TT+TC),CC genotype was higher in CPP group and associated with higher risk of CPP (95%CI:1.062-2.143,P=0.021). MKRN3 expression levels were different among patients with different genotypes,of which TT genotype had the highest level followed by TC and CC (0.376±0.094, 0.330±0.068, 0.250±0.072, P=0.041). Conclusions MKRN3 SNP rs2239669 was associated with increased risk of CPP, and patients with TT genotype had higher MKRN3 levels.

An update on the genetic causes of central precocious puberty

Central precocious puberty (CPP) is caused by the premature reactivation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Genetic, nutritional, and environmental factors play a crucial role in determining pubertal timing. Recently mutations in kisspeptin (KISS1), kisspeptin receptor (KISS1R), and makorin RING finger protein 3 (MKRN3) genes have been identified as genetic causes of CPP. In particular, the MKRN3 gene is known to affect pubertal initiation. The MKRN3 gene is located on chromosome 15q11-q13 in the Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) critical region. MKRN3 deficiency, due to a loss of function mutation, leads to the withdrawal of hypothalamic inhibition and prompts pulsatile gonadotropin-releasing hormone secretion, resulting in precocious puberty. The exact functions of these genes associated with CPP are still not well understood. Larger studies are required to discover the mechanisms involved in pubertal development.

An update on the genetic causes of central precocious puberty

Central precocious puberty (CPP) is caused by the premature reactivation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Genetic, nutritional, and environmental factors play a crucial role in determining pubertal timing. Recently mutations in kisspeptin (KISS1), kisspeptin receptor (KISS1R), and makorin RING finger protein 3 (MKRN3) genes have been identified as genetic causes of CPP. In particular, the MKRN3 gene is known to affect pubertal initiation. The MKRN3 gene is located on chromosome 15q11-q13 in the Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) critical region. MKRN3 deficiency, due to a loss of function mutation, leads to the withdrawal of hypothalamic inhibition and prompts pulsatile gonadotropin-releasing hormone secretion, resulting in precocious puberty. The exact functions of these genes associated with CPP are still not well understood. Larger studies are required to discover the mechanisms involved in pubertal development.