BACKGROUND: Risk of autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) is strongly heritable. Multiple genes confer increased risk for AITD, but a monogenic origin has not yet been described. We studied a family with apparent autosomal dominant, early onset Hashimoto thyroiditis. METHODS: The family was enrolled in an IRB-approved protocol. Whole exome sequencing was used to study the proband and an affected sibling. The identified variant was studied in other family members by Sanger sequencing. RESULTS: We identified a previously unreported splice site variant in the thyroglobulin gene (TG c.1076-1G > C). This variant was confirmed in all affected family members who underwent testing, and also noted in one unaffected child. The variant is associated with exon 9 skipping, resulting in a novel in-frame variant transcript of TG. CONCLUSION: We discovered a monogenic form of AITD associated with a splice site variant in the thyroglobulin gene. This finding raises questions about the origins of thyroid autoimmunity; possible explanations include increased immunogenicity of the mutated protein or thyroid toxicity with secondary development of anti-thyroid antibodies. Further study into the effects of this variant on thyroid function and thyroid autoimmunity are warranted.
Lo MS, Towne M, VanNoy GE, Brownstein CA, Lane AA, Chatila TA, Agrawal PB (2018) Monogenic Hashimoto thyroiditis associated with a variant in the thyroglobulin (TG) gene J Autoimmun86: 116-119
Lo MS, Towne M, VanNoy GE, Brownstein CA, Lane AA, Chatila TA, Agrawal PB (2018) J Autoimmun86: 116-119