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World Journal of Oncology

Original Article

Volume 7, Number 5-6, December 2016, pages 104-108

Positive Germline Selection in Pedigrees With Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 2 Carrying V804M Mutation in the RET Gene

There is increasing interest in the biological phenomenon of germline selection of mutations and this has been the focus of studies of certain diseases including achondroplasia and Apert syndrome. More recently, these studies have expanded to include an investigation of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN2) [1]. MEN2 is an autosomal dominant cancer syndrome associated with the development of tumors in multiple endocrine organs, the most characteristic being the occurrence of highly penetrant medullary thyroid cancer. It is caused by germline mutations of RET proto-oncogene (REarranged during Transfection) that encodes a transmembrane receptor which has tyrosine kinase activity and functions in the development of sympathetic, parasympathetic and enteric neurons [2]. MEN2 can be sub-typed based on genotype/phenotype correlation into MEN2A, familial medullary thyroid carcinoma (FMTC), and MEN2B. MEN2A is more common, accounting for 70-80% of all cases of MEN2 and is characterized by the presence of thyroid carcinoma, unilateral or bilateral pheochromocytoma and parathyroid adenoma/hyperplasia. FMTC, which accounts for about 10-20% of all cases of MEN2, is phenotypically characterized by the presence of only medullary thyroid carcinoma. Mutations in the exons encoding the intracellular domain of the RET gene are common and mutations within exons 13 and 14 have been associated with MEN2A and FMTC, while mutations in exon 16 cause MEN2B [3].

MEN2B is less common, accounting for 5% of all cases of MEN2 and is characterized by presence of medullary thyroid cancer, pheochromocytoma, a marfinoid habitus and ganglioneuromas of the intestinal tract mucosa. It is often sporadic with almost 50% of index cases resulting from a spontaneous germline mutation. Interestingly, 95% of all sporadic MEN2B mutations involve c.2943T>C resulting in M981T substitution affecting the intracellular tyrosine kinase portion of the protein. Based upon direct analysis of this specific point mutation in human sperm samples, it was noted that its frequency is much higher than that anticipated based upon several models of expected results. It was concluded that there is positive selection of this mutation in male germline cells [1].

Feldman et al [4] reported the substitution of the valine with methionine at codon 804 (V804M) in exon 14 of the RET gene in two families with medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). The same mutation was reported in a large kindred diagnosed with MEN2A by Shifrin et al [3]. Members who tested positive for the V804M mutation as in these families developed MTC, C-cell hyperplasia (CCH), papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) or primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT). MEN2A is transmitted in autosomal dominant fashion; however, there seemed to be disproportionately higher number of V804M carriers in these families. We report our analysis of the unusual transmission pattern of the V804M mutation in the combined clinical and genotype data in these three pedigrees.

All of the data used for this study were obtained from published studies. Family 1, a four-generation family with 26 members and family 2, consisting of 48 individuals belonging to a five-generation family with multiple members affected with MTC, were both reported by Feldman et al (Fig. 1) [4]. The third family consisting of 107 members belonging to a three-generation Italian-American family was previously described by Shifrin et al (Fig. 2) [3]. The total number of individuals from V804M positive parents in each generation was identified for all three families and the observed and expected numbers of individuals carrying this mutation were tabulated. The number of individuals with paternal and maternal inheritance was determined for each generation and the observed and expected V804M germline transmission frequencies were also tabulated. The final expected and observed data for the V804M mutation for each family and all families combined are summarized along with our analysis (Table 1). A Chi-square goodness-of-fit test was used to compare observed frequencies to expected frequencies using SPSS version 16.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL) statistical software.

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Figure 1. Pedigrees of families 1 and 2 (reprinted from [4]).

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Figure 2. Pedigree of 107 members of a multigenerational Italian-American family with autosomal dominant transmission of the V804M RET mutation causing MEN2A in the affected individuals. Solid circles and squares indicate individuals positive for the V804M RET mutation.

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Table 1. Frequency of Inheritance and Germline Transmission of V804M RET Mutation in Three Multigenerational Families

As expected, the V804M mutation in the RET proto-oncogene is transmitted in an autosomal dominant fashion. When the mode of inheritance is autosomal dominant, as observed in these families, the frequency of the affected progeny of an affected individual is expected to be 50%.

The observed frequency of V804M carriers in family 3 (40 positive of 53 subjects) is significantly higher than the expected frequency of 50% (26.5 of 53 subjects) (P < 0.001). Similarly, the observed frequency for the V804M carriers in family 1 (13 positive of 15 subjects) and family 2 (20 positive of 29 subjects) is higher than the expected frequency of 50%. However, due to the small sample size, statistical analysis was not performed for families 1 and 2. The total observed frequency for all three families combined was significantly higher (P < 0.001) than the expected frequency of 50% (Table 1).

We also analyzed the possible parental effect on the frequency of transmission of the V804M mutation. Assuming no parental influence, there should be no difference in frequency for whether a child carrying the V804M mutation inherited this mutation through maternal or paternal transmission. In families 1 and 3, we observed preferential selection for the mutant allele irrespective of whether it was maternal or paternal inheritance. In family 2, the maternal transmission showed germline selection for the mutant allele; however, in this family, data for the offspring of affected males were not available for analysis. Again, due to the small sample size, the statistical analysis was not performed comparing paternal and maternal inheritance frequencies for families 1 and 2 individually. In family 3, the maternal transmission rate (24 positive of 33 subjects) was significantly higher (P = 0.005) than the expected. Although the paternal transmission frequency (eight positive of 11 subjects) was higher than the expected (5.5 of 11), it was not statistically significant (P = 0.132). The observed frequency of combined paternal transmission from the three families (15 of 20 subjects) was significantly higher than the expected frequency of 50% (10 of 20 subjects) (P = 0.012). Similarly, the observed frequency of the pooled maternal transmissions in the three families (44 of 63 subjects) was significantly higher than the expected frequency of 50% (31.5 of 63 subjects) (P = 0.001) (Table 1).

Our analysis of these three families shows a significant deviation from the expected 50% ratio of an autosomal dominant trait suggesting positive germline selection for the V804M mutant allele (Table 1). These results support the conclusion of prior research studying positive germline selection in the RET gene and indicate this phenomenon may occur with mutations other than M918T. Our results support selection of the V804M mutation in all germ cells not only in paternal gametes (Table 1).

Previous studies have proposed biological mechanisms of how point mutations could confer a selective advantage in male germ cells. The process of oogenesis starts during development in utero as germ cells differentiate into oogonia that ultimately disappear by birth. Unlike males, at birth, females possess all of the oocytes they will ever have. At 5 months of gestation, there is a peak of about 7 million germ cells which then falls to 1 - 2 million at birth. Throughout the reproductive lifespan of women, there is a loss of oocytes predominantly by atresia [5]. In theory, positive germline selection of those gametes carrying the V804M RET mutation could occur any time after oogenesis starts and could continue throughout the reproductive life. Based upon studies of mouse spermatogonial cells, it has been proposed that positive selection in sperm cells involves modification of the signal transduced from the mutated RET gene [6]. Although the role of this gene in oogenesis has not been investigated as extensively as with spermatogenesis, there is a report of the induction of maturation of xenopus oocytes with activated RET products [7]. This study provides a biological basis of a potential role of this gene in oocyte differentiation that could result in positive selection in maternal germline.

Our study of these three families suggests that positive germline selection occurs in both paternal and maternal gametes carrying the V804M mutation. At the present time, ova are not as amenable to the kinds of studies that are possible with spermatozoa to confirm and extend our results regarding maternal germline selection at a cellular level. Although the concept of selection occurring at the level of gametes was first proposed by Hastings, only recently has it been possible to investigate and provide experimental support for this phenomenon [8-10]. These investigations are important as they have implications for many broad fields ranging from clinical genetics to evolutionary biology.

Acknowledgments

We are grateful for the support of the Neurogenetics Foundation. We thank John Urschel MD for his assistance with statistical analysis.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

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