ESPE Abstracts

Background: DMXL2 haploinsufficiency in humans was recently shown to cause the polyendocrine-polyneuropathia syndrome including a GnRH deficiency (OMIM #616113). The neuronal deletion of Dmxl2 in mice (Nes::Cre;Dmxl2loxp/wt) caused infertility and gonadotropic deficiency (Plos Biology 9 e1001952, 2014). Dmxl2 encodes rabconnectin-3α (rbcn-3α), which participates in the control of the V-ATPase activity an...

Background: Acquisition and maintenance of fertility in mammals rely on the function of Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone (GnRH) neurons. During the juvenile period, GnRH neurons undergo morphological maturation, which involves changes in synaptic inputs and neuropeptide activation from afferent neurons. The functional importance of this maturation could be a pre-requisite for puberty onset. However, the mechanisms behind these dynamic changes have yet to be identified.<p cla...

Background: GNAS gene is a complex imprinted locus, resulting in the expression of at least four transcripts (XL, NESP55, A/B and Gsα) characterized by their specific exon 1 and common exons 2-13. While Gαs is biallelically expressed in most tissues, XL is only expressed from the paternal allele. Maternally inherited, loss-of-function mutations affecting those GNAS exons that ...

Introduction: The envelope protein of Human Endogenous Retrovirus type W (HERV-W-Env) has been shown to be associated with type 1 diabetes (T1D) pathogenesis in adults patients. This protein is expressed in pancreas of T1D patients and it seems to correlate with macrophage infiltrations. In vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated that HERV-W-Env inhibits insulin secretion and promotes hyperglycemia. Furthermore, HERV could be implicated in other auto-immune disorders. The ...

Background: Fanconi–Bickel syndrome (FBS) is a rare glycogen storage disease characterized by hepato-renal glycogen accumulation, severe renal tubular dysfunction and impaired glucose and galactose metabolism. We present the case histories of two sisters who were diagnosed with FBS.Case reports: The proband, Lina, was referred to our clinic for growth retardation and abdominal distention aged 27 months. She is the 4th child of consanguineous parents...

Background: Steroidogenic Factor 1 (SF-1), encoded by NR5A1 (Nuclear receptor subfamily 5 group A member 1) gene, is a transcriptional factor that is primordial for adrenal and gonadal organogenesis. Pathogenic variants of NR5A1 are responsible for a wide spectrum of phenotypes with autosomal dominant inheritance, from adrenal insufficiency to gonadal dysgenesis and oligospermia-azoospermia in 46,XY patients.Obj...

Introduction: The human fetal adrenals (HFA) produce high levels of steroids. The gland is distinguishable from the 7th gestational week and can be separated in two zones: the fetal zone in the center which correspond of 80 % of the gland and the definitive zone in the periphery. At this time of the development, neural crest cells are reaching the adrenal primordium, producing catecholamines. A third zone, the transitional zone appears later in the early 2nd t...

Background: Growth hormone (GH) treatment is indicated for children who are born small for gestational age (SGA) and fail to achieve sufficient catch-up growth during infancy and remain short throughout childhood.Aims: To evaluate the effect of GH treatment in a large, multicentric, Portuguese SGA children cohort and to analyze for correlation between GH treatment response and clinical factors.<str...

Background/Aims: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is used to investigate the etiology of growth hormone deficiency (GHD). There is a close relationship between structural changes in the pituitary gland and clinical status.We aimed to investigate the relationship between MRI findings and clinical symptoms and treatment response in children with GHD.Methods: The study was conducted in nine Department...

Background/Aims: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is used to investigate the etiology of growth hormone deficiency (GHD). There is a close relationship between structural changes in the pituitary gland and clinical status.We aimed to investigate the relationship between MRI findings and clinical symptoms and treatment response in children with GHD.Methods: The study was conducted in nine Department...