ESPE Abstracts

Background: Glucocorticoids (GCs) are frequently used to treat numerous chronic diseases in children. Beside their desired anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects, GCs are well known to cause osteoporosis and impaired linear bone growth. These serious side effects of GCs have at least partially been linked to impairment of Wnt/β-catenin signalling. There is no therapy available to rescue from the undesired skeletal effects of GCs.Objective a...

Background: Synthetic glucocorticoids (GCs) are widely used drugs but their suppression of growth in pediatric patients is a well-known problem. Different mechanisms have been suggested but we still do not know the sensitivity of human growth plate cartilage to GC treatment. Here in this study, we have investigated the direct effects of GC treatment on the expression of crucial genes in the growth plate, such as collagen-2A1, osterix (Osx), and transforming growth factor &#946...

Background: Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) is widely used in the clinic for non-union of fractures. However, effect of ESWT on longitudinal bone growth has not been well studied. We explored the in vitro and in vivo effects of low/high dose radial shock wave treatment (SWT) on growth plate (GP) cartilage. A positive or negative effect on growth could be harnessed for therapeutic growth modulation while no change establishes safety.<p class="abst...

Background: Glucocorticoids (GCs) are widely used for treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune conditions. Prolonged use of GCs, however, has several negative side effects, including bone growth impairment in children. Previous studies have shown that GC-induced apoptosis in growth plate chondrocytes is mediated by inhibition of the PI3K–Akt signaling pathway and activation of the pro-apoptotic protein Bax. Humanin, a small mitochondrial derived peptide, has shown promisi...

Background: Inflammatory diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease or juvenile idiopathic arthritis may lead to growth retardation. One of the key players in inflammatory conditions is TNFa which also triggers other inflammatory cytokines exerting its growth suppressive effects locally at the growth plate level and systemically at the pituitary level leading to a suppression of the GH/IGF-1-axis. Mechanical loading has been regarded as one of the primary fu...

Introduction: The survival rates for childhood cancer have significantly increased over the past decades but the management of treatment-related complications remains challenging. Thus, the introduction of novel drugs requires careful investigation of potential off-target side effects. The developing skeleton is severely affected by the anticancer treatment which may result in growth retardation and short stature. Venetoclax is a selective Bcl-2 inhibitor whic...