A case of hyperinsulinism/hyperammonaemia syndrome: usefulness of the oral protein tolerance for the evaluation of treatment

Mitochondrial GTP insensitivity contributes to hypoglycemia in hyperinsulinemia hyperammonemia by inhibiting glucagon release

Mitochondrial GTP (mtGTP)-insensitive mutations in glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH(H454Y)) result in fasting and amino acid-induced hypoglycemia in hyperinsulinemia hyperammonemia (HI/HA). Surprisingly, hypoglycemia may occur in this disorder despite appropriately suppressed insulin. To better understand the islet-specific contribution, transgenic mice expressing the human activating mutation in β-cells (H454Y mice) were characterized in vivo. As in the humans with HI/HA, H454Y mice had fasting hypoglycemia, but plasma insulin concentrations were similar to the controls. Paradoxically, both glucose- and glutamine-stimulated insulin secretion were severely impaired in H454Y mice. Instead, lack of a glucagon response during hypoglycemic clamps identified impaired counterregulation. Moreover, both insulin and glucagon secretion were impaired in perifused islets. Acute pharmacologic inhibition of GDH restored both insulin and glucagon secretion and normalized glucose tolerance in vivo. These studies support the presence of an mtGTP-dependent signal generated via β-cell GDH that inhibits α-cells. As such, in children with activating GDH mutations of HI/HA, this insulin-independent glucagon suppression may contribute importantly to symptomatic hypoglycemia. The identification of a human mutation causing congenital hypoglucagonemic hypoglycemia highlights a central role of the mtGTP-GDH-glucagon axis in glucose homeostasis.

Hyperinsulinism/hyperammonemia (HI/HA) syndrome due to a mutation in the glutamate dehydrogenase gene

The hyperinsulinism/hyperammonemia (HI/HA) syndrome is a rare autosomal dominant disease manifested by hypoglycemic symptoms triggered by fasting or high-protein meals, and by elevated serum ammonia. HI/HA is the second most common cause of hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia of infancy, and it is caused by activating mutations in GLUD1, the gene that encodes mitochondrial enzyme glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH). Biochemical evaluation, as well as direct sequencing of exons and exon-intron boundary regions of the GLUD1 gene, were performed in a 6-year old female patient presenting fasting hypoglycemia and hyperammonemia. The patient was found to be heterozygous for one de novo missense mutation (c.1491A>G; p.Il497Met) previously reported in a Japanese patient. Treatment with diazoxide 100 mg/day promoted complete resolution of the hypoglycemic episodes.

Hyperinsulinism and hyperammonaemia syndrome due to a novel missense mutation in the allosteric domain of the glutamate dehydrogenase 1 gene

Congenital hyperinsulinism is one of the causes of persistent hypoglycaemia in neonates and infants. We describe a one-month-old boy with a rare form of congenital hyperinsulinism characterised by hypoglycaemia and hyperammonaemia.