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Published on: March 31, 2019
LHX1 mutation screening in 96 patients with müllerian duct abnormalities
Mingdi Xia1, Han Zhao, Yingying Qin
1Center for Reproductive Medicine, Provincial Hospital Affiliated with Shandong University, Jinan, People's Republic of China.
Insights
Genetic screening of the LHX1 gene in Han Chinese patients with Müllerian duct abnormalities (MDAs) revealed no causative mutations. While a rare polymorphism was identified, LHX1 mutations are unlikely to be a common cause of MDAs in this population.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Reproductive Medicine
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Müllerian duct abnormalities (MDAs) are congenital conditions affecting the female reproductive tract.
- The LHX1 gene plays a crucial role in the development of the Müllerian ducts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence of LHX1 gene mutations in Han Chinese patients diagnosed with MDAs.
- To determine if LHX1 gene mutations are a significant genetic factor in the etiology of MDAs within this specific population.
Main Methods:
- Mutation screening was performed using gene sequencing on 96 MDA patients and 105 control subjects from the Han Chinese population.
- Karyotyping and LHX1 gene sequencing were utilized as the primary outcome measures.
- Parents of patients with identified genetic variations were also screened.
Main Results:
- No significant mutations were detected in the coding regions of the LHX1 gene among the studied MDA patients.
- A novel, rare polymorphism (c.1070-1081del) in the LHX1 gene was identified in approximately 1% of both incomplete Müllerian fusion patients and control individuals.
- This finding suggests that coding region mutations in LHX1 are not a prevalent cause of MDAs.
Conclusions:
- The study concluded that no causative genetic perturbations within the LHX1 gene were identified in Han Chinese MDA patients.
- Mutations in the coding regions of LHX1 are unlikely to be a common genetic etiologic factor contributing to MDAs in the Han Chinese population.
- Further research may be warranted to explore non-coding regions or other genes involved in MDA pathogenesis.
Objective:
To investigate whether LHX1 gene mutations exist in Han Chinese patients with müllerian duct abnormalities (MDAs).
Design:
Mutation screening.
Setting:
University hospital.
Patient(S):
Ninety-six MDA patients and 105 control subjects from a Han Chinese population. The parents of the patients carrying the genetic variation were also screened.
Intervention(S):
Gene sequencing.
Main Outcome Measure(S):
Karyotype, LHX1 gene sequencing.
Result(S):
We found no significant mutation in coding regions of LHX1. However, there is a new rare polymorphism of LHX1 gene, c.1070-1081del, found in 1 out of 77 incomplete müllerian fusion patients and 1 out of 105 control individuals in the Han Chinese population (thus affecting ∼1% of Han Chinese).
Conclusion(S):
No causative perturbation was identified in the LHX1 gene. Mutations in the coding regions of LHX1 may not be a common genetic etiologic factor involved in Han Chinese MDA patients.

