Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism
Gene: NLGN3
2 individuals from 2 unrelated families with hemizygous nonsense NLGN3 variants (p.W122* and p.R55*) presenting with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and autism spectrum disorder. Variants were rare and inherited from unaffected mothers. NLGN3 is upregulated in maturing GnRH neurons and NLGN3 wild-type, but not mutant, protein promotes neuritogenesis when overexpressed. Functional assays showed that mutant R55* and W122* were truncated, ER‑retained, not secreted, and failed to induce neuritogenesis.Created: 23 Apr 2026, 3:39 p.m. | Last Modified: 23 Apr 2026, 3:39 p.m.
Panel Version: 0.226
Mode of inheritance
X-LINKED: hemizygous mutation in males, monoallelic mutations in females may cause disease (may be less severe, later onset than males)
Phenotypes
Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism MONDO:0018555
Publications
Monogenic association with autism spectrum disorder/asperger syndrome +/- ID in at least 3 unrelated families with supportive mouse model and patient-specific functional studies.
PMID: 28584888 Varghese et al 2017 - provide a summary of mouse model findings.
PMID: 31184401 Quartier et al 2019 - provide information regarding 2 previously published families (PMID 12669065; 25167861) and one additional family. Supportive functional studies for all three variants showing effect on NLGN3 localization and expression. Additional family described - two brothers affected by nonsyndromic ID, autistic traits and language impairment, WES analysis identified a maternally inherited missense variant NGLN3 c.1540C>T, Pro514Ser.
PMID: 12669065 Jamain et al 2013 - Missense variant Arg451Cys was identified in two Swedish brothers with ASD, one with typical autism and ID and one with Asperger syndrome
PMID: 25167861 Redin et al 2014 - homozygous missense variant c.1789C>T, Arg597Trp in one boy with ID and ASD and in his maternal cousin with the similar phenotype (Redin et al., 2014).
ClinGen curation 2018 - moderate gene-disease validityCreated: 23 Mar 2022, 2:07 p.m. | Last Modified: 23 Mar 2022, 2:07 p.m.
Panel Version: 0.11792
Mode of inheritance
X-LINKED: hemizygous mutation in males, monoallelic mutations in females may cause disease (may be less severe, later onset than males)
Phenotypes
{Asperger syndrome susceptibility, X-linked 1} - MIM#300494; {Autism susceptibility, X-linked 1} - MIM#300425
Publications
Gene: nlgn3 has been classified as Amber List (Moderate Evidence).
Phenotypes for gene: NLGN3 were changed from X-linked complex neurodevelopmental disorder MONDO:0100148; {Autism susceptibility, X-linked 1} - MIM#300425 to X-linked complex neurodevelopmental disorder MONDO:0100148; {Autism susceptibility, X-linked 1} - MIM#300425; Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism MONDO:0018555
Mode of inheritance for gene: NLGN3 was changed from X-LINKED: hemizygous mutation in males, biallelic mutations in females to X-LINKED: hemizygous mutation in males, monoallelic mutations in females may cause disease (may be less severe, later onset than males)
Gene: nlgn3 has been classified as Amber List (Moderate Evidence).
gene: NLGN3 was added gene: NLGN3 was added to Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. Sources: Expert Review Green,Victorian Clinical Genetics Services Mode of inheritance for gene: NLGN3 was set to X-LINKED: hemizygous mutation in males, biallelic mutations in females Publications for gene: NLGN3 were set to 28584888; 12669065; 25167861 Phenotypes for gene: NLGN3 were set to X-linked complex neurodevelopmental disorder MONDO:0100148; {Autism susceptibility, X-linked 1} - MIM#300425