ESPE Abstracts

Introduction: HLA-G gene is involved in the control of immune response. It plays a primary role on immune tolerance and may participate in controlling autoimmune responses serving as a potential independent susceptibility marker. HLA-G has been isolated in some secretory granules and on the cell surface of primary islet cells induced to secrete insulin. Subsequently, it could be hypothesized that HLA-G methylation at pancreatic islet could sustain T cell activation and onset o...

Background: Hypoxia represents a main risk factor for acquired brain injuries and neurological disabilities in premature and full-term infants. Stabilization of hypoxia-inducible transcription factors (HIF) is one of the most important adaptive mechanism modulating the degree of hypoxic-ischemic brain lesions due to cellular adaptation to reduced oxygen concentrations. Additionally, neuro-protective effects of GH and GH-induced neurotrophic factors are evident as shown by prev...

Background: The low-dose short Synacthen test is a popular diagnostic test of adrenal insufficiency in children. It is employed by 82% of UK paediatric endocrinologists. Although various dosing strategies exist, 1 μg is most commonly employed, however none of the low-dose forms are commercially available. A BSPED survey revealed 14 different methods for diluting 250 μg/ml ampoules.Objective and hypotheses: Do various dilution strategies result ...

Background: In the vast majority of cases, achondroplasia and hypochondroplasia are attributable to hotspot missense mutations in the FGFR3 gene. 96% of patients have a G(1138)A and 3% have a G(1138)C point mutation. We report on a family whose members have a deep intronic mutation that leads to a novel cryptic splicing variant of the FGFR3 gene, and via this pathway results in new pathogenicity manifesting as achondroplasia.Case...

In this study, we conducted a clinical, genetic, and molecular profiling of a Han Chinese family with evident of matrilineally-inherited obesity. Obesity was evident in 2/6 matrilineal relatives in a single generation of this family (of 3 available generations). When the mitochondrial DNA of these individuals was sequences and a pedigree analysis was performed, we were able to identify a novel homoplasmic mutation of the mitochondrial tRNAGly gene (10029A>G) in t...

Background: Alterations in DNA methylation status of specific genetic loci may affect gene expression, thus leading to autoimmunopathies.Objective and hypotheses: This study aimed to investigate possible differences in DNA methylation pattern between type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) youngsters and healthy controls.Method: Ten T1DM participants and 10 age-/gender-matched controls were enrolled. DNA was extracted from white blood cell...

Objective: Low birth weight and prematurity are linked to various behavioural outcomes. In addition, preterm (PT) infants show altered maturation of pituitary–gonadal axis, as demonstrated by its pronounced transient activation during the first postnatal months. Given that gonadal steroid hormones shape the basic processes of neural and behavioural sexual differentiation these elevated sex steroids in premature infants might affect the developing brain and alter subsequen...

Introduction: Complex and ordered intracellular signal pathways play a significant role in sex determination in mammals, mediating the balance of gonadal development. A major pathway involved in the regulation of the male development is mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. To date, mutations of MAP3K1 gene have been found to account for approximately 15%-20% of 46, XY gonadal dysgenesis (46, XY GD)....

Background: Butyrate is a short-chain fatty acid closely related to the ketone body β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) considered as the major source of energy during prolonged exercise. During fasting, when the liver switches to fatty acid oxidation, a rise in serum GH occurs concomitantly with the accumulation of BHB and short chain fatty acids (SCFA) acetate, propionate and butyrate. Interactions between GH, ketone body and SCFA during the metabolic adaptation to fasting are poor...

Background: Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) comprises a group of autosomal recessive disorders caused by defects in one of the several adrenal steroidogenic enzymes. 80–95% of CAH are due to mutations in CYP21A2 gene encoding 21 hydroxylase. Its residual activity defines the clinical form. Except deletions and large gene conversions, nine pseudogene-derived mutations are responsible for 95% of all CAH alleles. The mutational distribution varies between diffe...