Scientific article
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English

NOS1 mutations cause hypogonadotropic hypogonadism with sensory and cognitive deficits that can be reversed in infantile mice

Published inScience translational medicine, vol. 14, no. 665, eabh2369
Publication date2022-10-05
First online date2022-10-05
Abstract

The nitric oxide (NO) signaling pathway in hypothalamic neurons plays a key role in the regulation of the secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), which is crucial for reproduction. We hypothesized that a disruption of neuronal NO synthase (NOS1) activity underlies some forms of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. Whole-exome sequencing was performed on a cohort of 341 probands with congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism to identify ultrarare variants inNOS1. The activity of the identified NOS1 mutant proteins was assessed by their ability to promote nitrite and cGMP production in vitro. In addition, physiological and pharmacological characterization was carried out in aNos1-deficient mouse model. We identified five heterozygousNOS1loss-of-function mutations in six probands with congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (2%), who displayed additional phenotypes including anosmia, hearing loss, and intellectual disability. NOS1 was found to be transiently expressed by GnRH neurons in the nose of both humans and mice, andNos1deficiency in mice resulted in dose-dependent defects in sexual maturation as well as in olfaction, hearing, and cognition. The pharmacological inhibition of NO production in postnatal mice revealed a critical time window during which Nos1 activity shaped minipuberty and sexual maturation. Inhaled NO treatment at minipuberty rescued both reproductive and behavioral phenotypes inNos1-deficient mice. In summary, lack of NOS1 activity led to GnRH deficiency associated with sensory and intellectual comorbidities in humans and mice. NO treatment during minipuberty reversed deficits in sexual maturation, olfaction, and cognition in Nos1 mutant mice, suggesting a potential therapy for humans with NO deficiency.

Keywords
  • Animals
  • Cognition
  • Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / genetics
  • Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Hypogonadism / complications
  • Hypogonadism / congenital
  • Hypogonadism / genetics
  • Mice
  • Mutant Proteins
  • Mutation / genetics
  • Nitric Oxide
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I / genetics
  • Nitrites
Citation (ISO format)
CHACHLAKI, Konstantina et al. NOS1 mutations cause hypogonadotropic hypogonadism with sensory and cognitive deficits that can be reversed in infantile mice. In: Science translational medicine, 2022, vol. 14, n° 665, p. eabh2369. doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abh2369
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Article (Accepted version)
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Journal ISSN1946-6234
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