ESPE Abstracts

Objectives: Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS) is the most common genetic obesity disorder and results from lack of gene expression on paternally inherited chromosome 15q11.2-q13. However, the factors regulating obesity in PWS are poorly understood. We aimed to characterize genetic alterations in PWS using whole genome microarrays to analyze gene expression, and to understand the molecular mechanisms of obesity in PWS patients.Met...

Background: The melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) pathway is a key regulator of energy balance and satiety. Variants in genes upstream of MC4R encoding leptin receptor (LEPR), proopiomelanocortin (POMC), proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 1(PCSK1) and those involved in Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS) can impair MC4R pathway signaling. Clinically, these variants are characterized by hyperphagia (Pathologic insatiable hunger) and early-onset, severe obesity. E...

Background and aim: PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome (PHTS) is caused by germline mutation in the phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) gene. PTEN is a tumor suppressor gene and antagonist of the growth and survival signalling Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT/mammalian target of Rapamycin (mTOR)- cascade. Patients with PHTS, amongst other symptoms, develop lipomas, for which the underlying mechanism is not completely understood. To investigate the role of PTE...

Background and objectives: Dyslipidemia especially hypercholesterolemia attracts much more attention recently. Given different management and treatment of multiple categories, precise diagnosis becomes increasingly important. However, studies in pediatric patients lacks around the world, especially in China. Consequently, this study was designed to confirm the molecular defect of persistent hypercholesterolemia with next-generation sequencing basing on a singl...

Background: Craniopharyngioma is a non-malignant embryonic tumour in the pituitary-hypothalamic area, associated with hypothalamic obesity. Dysfunctional parasympathetic nervous system activity has been proposed as one mechanism underlying alterations in energy metabolism. Arterial spin labelling (ASL) is a non-invasive MRI technique that quantifies brain tissue perfusion as a proxy for functional activity. Here, we measure cerebral perfusion in patients with ...

Background: Lipodystrophy syndromes comprise a large group of extremely rare diseases characterized by loss or dysfunction of adipose tissue. Due to their extreme rarity and variability, research in the field of lipodystrophy is difficult for single centres warranting larger co-operations.Methods: Therefore, the European Consortium of Lipodystrophies decided to found an international registry in 2016. This registry is ba...