A de novo INSR variant in Type A insulin resistance syndrome: familial investigation and genetic implications

Abstract

Type A insulin resistance syndrome (TAIRS) is a rare autosomal dominant disorder associated with variants in the Insulin Receptor (INSR) gene. It is characterized by insulin resistance, hyperandrogenism, and acanthosis nigricans. The severity of the condition may be influenced by homozygosity or heterozygosity, with some female patients being misdiagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). A 13-year-old female proband from a family was identified with hyperinsulinemia, hyperandrogenism, acanthosis nigricans, hirsutism, acne, oligomenorrhea, and masculinization. Exome sequencing and Sanger sequencing confirmed that the proband was a carrier of the INSR (NM_000208.2): c.3734 T > A(p.V1245E) variant. This variant is not listed in the Human Gene Mutation Database (HGMD) or ClinVar. The novel variant was predicted to be deleterious by the bioinformatic tools SIFT, MutationTaster, and Condel. According to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) criteria, it was evaluated as PM6, PM2_Supporting, and PP3, and classified as uncertain significance. The variant was not detected in the proband’s parents or other family members, all of whom lacked the associated clinical phenotypes. The p.V1245E variant was found to be a de novo variant. SWISS-MODEL analysis suggested that the p.V1245E variant induces structural changes in the three-dimensional configuration of the INSR protein, potentially impairing its normal function. RT-qPCR revealed a significant reduction in INSR mRNA expression in the proband. In a 293 T cell model transfected with lentivirus carrying the p.V1245E variant, both Western blotting and RT-qPCR demonstrated decreased INSR mRNA and protein expression, while immunofluorescence showed reduced INSR protein levels with altered localization. Therefore, the ACMG evaluation (PS2, PS3, PM2_Supporting, PP3) was further upgraded to pathogenic. In conclusion, this de novo variant represents the pathogenic variant responsible for TAIRS in this family, expanding the variant spectrum of the INSR gene.