ESPE Abstracts

Background: In an effort to better understand the molecular basis of obesity, studies focus on genetic loci mapping to the leptin–melanocortin pathway, one of the key mechanisms for controlling food intake and body weight. Adenylate cyclase 3 (ADCY3) is a key genetic candidate as it seems to have an essential role at primary neuronal cilia in regulating body weight. We have previously reported the novel probably pathogenic ADCY3</em...

Background: Makorin RING finger protein 3 (MKRN3) is an important factor located on chromosome 15 in the imprinting Prader-Willi syndrome - associated region. Imprinted MKRN3 expressed in hypothalamic regions essential for puberty initiation and mutations have been found in patients with central precocious puberty (CPP). CPP caused by the early activation of pulsatile Gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion is clinically defined by the early maturation...

Background: Central Precocious Puberty (CPP) is clinically defined by the development of secondary sexual characteristics before the age of 8 years in girls and 9 years in boys. To date, mutations in the coding region of KISS1, KISS1R, DLK1 and MKRN3 genes have been reported as causative for CPP. This study investigated the presence of causative mutations in both the promoter and the 5'-UTR regions of the MKRN3 ...

Background: The melanocortin-4-receptor gene (MC4R) is a key regulator for appetite and satiety. MC4R mutations account for 6–8% of severe obesity in children with variable expression and penetrance.Case presentation: A 3-year-old girl is presented with severe early onset and progressive obesity. She was born full-term with appropriate of gestational age weight by non-consanguineous parents. She had normal psychomotor milestones an...

Background: The adenylate cyclase 3 (ADCY3) gene encodes a membrane-associated protein involved in the formation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) from adenosine triphosphate (ATP). This gene seems to be is involved in the regulation of several metabolic processes and has been recently associated to pathophysiological metabolic conditions. Several ADCY3 variants have been linked with obesity in children.M...

Background: Resistance to thyroid hormone (RTH) is a dominantly inherited rare disorder (1:40000) mainly due to mutations in the THRB gene that lead to a decreased end-organ responsiveness to thyroid hormone. Clinical and molecular characteristics of four patients with RTH are described.Patients and methods: Four patients from three non-related families were studied; two boys (8.3 and 9.2 years old) and 2 adults (35 year old male and 27 year old...

Background: More than >90% of cases of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) are caused by 21-hydroxylase deficiency, steroid 11β-hydroxylase deficiency accounts for 5–8% of cases.Objective and hypotheses: To seek evidence on the prevalence of CYP11B1 mutations in prepubertal girls, adolescents and adult females with clinical signs of hyperandrogenemia.Method: The study included 31 girls with premature adrenar...

Background: Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH) is an autosomal recessive disorder with more than 90% of cases caused by defects in the steroid-21 hydroxylase (CYP21A2) gene. Such defects are the main cause of 21-hydroxylase enzyme deficiency that affects the biosynthesis of cortisol and aldosterone. The CYP21A2 gene is part of the RCCX module, which is located on chromosome 6p21.3, in the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class III reg...

Background: Central precocious puberty (CPP) due to premature activation of GnRH secretion results in early epiphyseal fusion and to a significant compromise in the achieved final adult height as well as psychological consequences. So far only a limited number of genetic determinants have been associated with the pathogenesis in children with CPP. In this original research, rare sequence variants in MKRN3, DLK1, KISS1, and KISS1R genes were i...

Abstract: Objective: Congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (CHH) is a rare genetic disease caused by GnRH deficiency and characterized by absent or incomplete puberty with infertility. The identification of the genetic cause in this group of patients through the use of next generation sequencing (NGS) can assist to the clinical management.Methods: Seven GnRH deficient nonrelated Cypriot probands were ...