ESPE Abstracts

Background: The C19MC locus microRNA gene cluster is imprinted in the placenta. Imprinted genes control prenatal development and placental functions, and are epigenetically regulated. The factors that affect the DNA methylation status of C19MC regulatory region are unknown, as is the impact of this differential methylation on the offspring’s body size.Objectives: To study in humans 1) the association of placental C19MC DNA...

Background: Androgen excess in childhood is a common clinical presentation and might signify serious pathology. We have recently explored patterns and severity of androgen excess in a large female adult cohort to differentiate common polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) from non-PCOS pathology, including congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), ovarian hyperthecosis and adrenal and ovarian tumours (Elhassan et al., JCE&M 2018). Herein, we undertake a similar approach f...

Calcium signaling is fundamental to many cellular processes. An important pathway for increasing intracellular Ca2+ levels is store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) regulated by stromal interaction molecule (STIM1-2), and Ca2+ channels formed by ORAI1-3 proteins. Mutations in the ORAI1 and STIM1 genes that abolish SOCE cause a combined immunodeficiency (CID) syndrome that is accompanied by autoimmunity and nonimmunologic symptoms. We present patients with Anhidrotic Ectodermal Dyspl...

Several studies have evaluated the effects of growth hormone (GH) on auxological and biochemical parameters in children with non-GH-deficient, idiopathic short stature (ISS). This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of GrowtropinR-II (recombinant human GH) in Korean patients with ISS. This was a 1-year, open-label, multicenter, phase III randomized trial of Growtropin-II in Korean patients with ISS. In total, 70 prepubertal subjects (39 males, 31 females) betwee...

Background: Paediatric HPAT, though generally benign, incurs significant neuro-endocrine morbidity. Their management is unclear and the paediatric neuro-oncology or adult pituitary forum at which they are discussed lack pituitary or age-specific expertise respectively. The UK National HPAT Interest Group has pioneered a monthly, multi-site, interdisciplinary, video conferencing decision-making forum, to garner necessary experience and evidence of outcomes to assist worldwide r...

Background: In Androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS) is a hereditary disease in which AR mutations in 46,XY patients present with partial (PAIS) or complete (CAIS) defects in virilisation.Objective and hypotheses: The aim was to analyze the effect of lack of androgen action in germ cell (GC) health and survival along postnatal development, previous to Sertoli cell (SC) pubertal maturation.Method: The histological features and quant...

Background: GnRH neurons originate outside the CNS in the olfactory placode and migrate into the central nervous system, becoming integral components of the hypothalamic-pituitary–gonadal axis (HPG).Objective and hypotheses: We hypothesize that gene(s), whose products are important for pubertal development can be identified via autozygosity mapping together with whole exome sequencing in patients with idiopathic hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism (IHH)/...

Background: Activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway is frequent in adrenocortical tumors (ACTs). This pathway and DAX1, a negative regulator of SF1 expression, control adrenal stem/progenitor cells, which can be involved in ACTs formation.Objective: To analyse the association between the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and the expression of a stem cell marker (NANOG), STAT3, DAX1 and SF1 in ACTs.Methods: Patients:...

Background: Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) arises from mutations in CYP21A2 gene, which encodes for the steroidogenic enzyme 21-hydroxylase. Currently employed chorionic villus sampling and amniocentesis provide genetic results at ~14 weeks of gestation at the earliest. At this time, the genitalia of the affected female foetuses have already become virilized. To prevent genital ambiguity, prenatal treatment with dexamethasone must begin on or before gestational ...

Background: Recently, T3 receptor alpha (TRα) mutations have been identified in a number of patients with varying degrees of growth impairment, delayed development, constipation, increases in serum T3 and decreases in T4 and rT3.Objective: To determine the spectrum of clinical and functional consequences of novel TRα mutations.Method: Clinical assessment and biochemical, imaging...