ESPE Abstracts

Children diagnosed with adrenocortical tumors (ACT) have variable prognosis depending on disease presentation at diagnosis. Available therapeutic options render excellent outcome for a subset of patients, but limited improvement in the survival of those diagnosed with non-localized/advanced disease. ACT DNA methylation was recently demonstrated to be a robust and independent prognostic biomarker. Aiming to identify potential therapeutic targets for these children, we compared ...

Introduction: The molecular aetiology of familial glucocorticoid deficiency (FGD) is very heterogeneous. A recent report of a genetic variant in TXNRD2, the gene encoding thioredoxin reductase Type 2, in a South Asian kindred with FGD suggests that the maintenance of redox balance may be critical for adrenocortical function. We present the second report of an individual from another south Asian family harbouring a different pathological variant in <em...

Background: The adrenal cortex undergoes constant cellular renewal and any effect from recombinant adeno-associated vectors (rAAV) targeting differentiated cells will be transient as extra-chromosomal DNA will be lost by dividing cells. A novel option is to use rAAV to express ectopic adrenocortical enzymes in a stable organ outside the adrenal gland. Our aim was to correct the biochemical phenotype in a mouse model for congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) wit...

Introduction: Adult height in individuals with Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH) is reduced compared to the general population as their growth during childhood can be negatively impacted by both the disease and its treatment. Excess production of androgens through aromatization to estrogens can accelerate height velocity and skeletal maturity, and lead to short stature if not adequately suppressed. Over suppression of adrenal steroids through excess glucoco...

Preliminary results:Objective: Although low birthweight (bw) and unfavourable intrauterine conditions have been associated with metabolic sequelae in later life, little is known about their impact on steroid metabolism. We studied genetically identical twins with intra-twin bw-differences from birth to adolescence to analyse the long-term impact of bw on steroid metabolism.Methods:...

Introduction: The production of ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) is associated with the production of reactive oxygen species modifying the metal-binding sites of albumin. IMA is considered a non-specific early biomarker in the evaluation of oxidative stress status. Cortisol is known to trigger anti-inflammatory actions through genomic and non-genomic pathways that eventually lead to decreased production of cytokines, chemokines, and inducible nitric oxide synt...