Mutations in the gene encoding paired box domain (PAX8) are not a frequent cause of congenital hypothyroidism (CH) in Iranian patients with thyroid dysgenesis

• Published in: Arquivos brasileiros de endocrinologia e metabologia 2010-08, Vol.54 (6), p.555-559
• Main Authors: Mahjoubi, Frouzandeh, Mohammadi, Mona Malek, Montazeri, Maryam, Aminii, Masoud, Hashemipour, Mahin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cohort Studies; Congenital Hypothyroidism - etiology; Congenital Hypothyroidism - genetics; ENDOCRINOLOGY & METABOLISM; Exons - genetics; Hot Temperature; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Iran; Mutation - genetics; Paired Box Transcription Factors - genetics; PAX8 Transcription Factor; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Thyroid Dysgenesis - genetics
• ISSN: 0004-2730; 1677-9487; 1677-9487; 0004-2730
• DOI: 10.1590/S0004-27302010000600008

Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) may be caused by defects in the thyroid or in one of the stages in the synthesis of thyroid hormones. Thyroid dysgenesis may be associated with mutation in the paired box transcription factor 8 (PAX8) gene. We attempted to screen PAX8 gene mutation in 50 CH patients with thyroid dysgenesis. The patients were classified in two groups as agenesis and ectopic based on biochemical and para clinical tests. By employing PCR, Single Strand Conformation Polymorphism (SSCP) and sequencing, exons 3 to 12 of PAX8 gene with their exon-intron boundaries were studied. No mutation was found in these patients in any of the exons. Our results, once again, indicate that the PAX8 mutation rate is very low and can only explain a minority of the cases. Therefore, it is highly needed to further investigate the genes controlling development and function of thyroid.