ESPE Abstracts

Introduction: The MAMLD1 gene is expressed in fetal and adult testes. It contributes to the development and formation of the male external genitalia in late stages of fetal organogenesis (week 8-12) and to testosterone biosynthesis. The pathogenic genetic variants of this gene determine a significant reduction in plasma testosterone concentrations, although they are not undetectable. Its most common phenotypic manifestation is hypospadias, also described in patients with micro...

Background: Heat generation in UCP-1 active cells as present in brown adipose tissue contributes to the regulation of energy homeostasis. Brown adipose tissue is known to be present in neonates and infants and has recently also been demonstrated in children and adults. Interestingly, a transition of white adipocytes into a brown phenotype has been documented in vitro in mouse and human cells, yet the underlying mechanisms are still not resolved. Using transcriptome an...

Introduction: Lysosomal Acid Lipase Deficiency (LAL-D) is a rare and systemic condition, secondary to LIPA gene mutations, responsible for lysosomal accumulation of cholesterol esters and triglycerides. Clinical manifestations are heterogeneous in terms of age of onset, severity and biochemical and radiological findings. Dyslipidemia, hepatomegaly and hepatosteatosis with hypertransaminasemia are the most common features. There is significant evidence of incre...

Background: Secretion of catecholamines by adipose tissue M2 macrophages was recently proposed as a molecular mechanism leading to activation of brown adipose tissue and heat generation in mice. However, published data are conflicting and it is not clear whether this pathway might play a role in humans. To shed light on this, we studied macrophage polarization in human white and brown adipose tissue and related it to thermogenic gene expression.Methods: ...

Background: Congenital generalized lipodystrophy (CGL) is characterized by the absence of most adipose tissue at birth due to an adipocyte differentiation block. For several forms of CGL, the underlying mutation and pathophysiological pathway has been identified. However, for many cases the genetic cause is still unknown.Objective and hypotheses: We report a patient with CGL who showed a complete absence of fat apart from protective fat pads in a postnat...

Introduction: CFTR-modulating therapy aims to restore CFTR function. It improves lung function and quality of life in CF patients however, its effects on glucose metabolism are not yet well defined.Methodology: Retrospective and longitudinal study.Inclusion criteria: patients with CF genetic diagnosis ≥10 years old on modulator therapy (ivacaftor + lumacaftor or ivacaftor + teza...

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNA molecules and play an important role in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression and thereby influence important cellular functions. In adipocytes, miRNAs regulate key processes such as differentiation, inflammation, metabolism, and adipokine secretion. Recently, we found that miR-27a is upregulated under proinflammatory conditions in human adipocytes. Thus, our goal was to better understand the function of miR-27a in a...

Background: Functional studies on uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) are important to identify potential pharmacological targets which interfere with energy metabolism. However, current cell models of human origin are scarce due to limited tissue availability. In this study, we generated human preadipocytes and adipocytes with an overexpression of UCP1 and studied the metabolic function of these cells.Methods: Human Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndrome (SGBS) cells w...

Hyperinsulinism is a common cause of severe and persistent hypoglycaemia during the neonatal period. Eleven genes have been identified that lead to unregulated insulin secretion and hyperinsulinemic hypoglycaemia (HH). Inactivating mutations in UCP2 gene have been described in a very small number of patients with HH. UCP2 protein is an inner mitochondrial carrier protein and its loss of function causes enhanced glucose oxidation and increased intracellular ATP synthes...

Hyperinsulinemic hypoglycaemia (HH) is a common cause of severe and persistent hypoglycaemia during the neonatal period. Risk factors for neonatal transient hyperinsulinism are small-for-gestational age (SGA), perinatal asphyxia and maternal diabetes mellitus. This state of hyperinsulinism in SGA newborns could persist from weeks to years, resulting in an important comorbidity; its pathogenesis remains unknown.Objective: To describe the clinical-genetic ...