ESPE Abstracts

Background: CYP11A1 gene encodes the cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme, P450scc, which plays a key role in the initial steps of steroidogenesis. CYP11A1 insufficiency lead to a variable phenotype ranging from severe early onset primary adrenal insufficiency (PAI) in the neonatal period,with 46,XY DSD; to late-onset PAI with normal genitalia.Objective: Detail the phenotype of a family sharing newly described...

Background: Two siblings of non-consanguineous parents presented with FGD, demonstrated by ACTH resistance with glucocorticoid but not mineralocorticoid deficiency. The proband presented at 21 months, unresponsive with hypoglycaemia (BGL 1.5 mmol/l). Endocrine evaluation subsequent to resuscitation indicated adrenal insufficiency with elevated ACTH. Hydrocortisone therapy was commenced. A sibling, 4 years younger than the proband had a short Synacthen test (SST) performed on d...

Background: Homozygous mutations in STAT5B result in GH insensitivity and immune dysfunction. Heterozygous dominant negative mutations have not been described.Aims and objectives: To characterize genomic STAT5B DNA in two families exhibiting short stature.Methods: Sanger sequencing of STAT5B from genomic DNA. Mutant STAT5B constructs were expressed in HEK293 cells.Results: ...

Background: FGF21 is a hormonal factor with powerful anti-diabetic and anti-obesity properties in adults\. Studies in rodent models indicated that hepatic FGF21 expression and blood FGF21 levels are strongly induced after birth in response to fat provided by milk ingestion. Moreover, preliminary data indicate that FGF21 is present in maternal milk.Objective and hypotheses: Our objective is to determine, using human samples and pre-clinical experimental m...

Background: The endocrine role of white adipose tissue (WAT), as a site of release of the so-called adipokines, has been recognized for long. Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is the main site of adaptive thermogenesis in mammals, especially relevant in neonates and early infancy. The amount and activity of BAT are associated with a healthy metabolic profile and protection against obesity, type II diabetes and hyperlipidemia. This biological role of BAT is traditionally attributed to...

Background: Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2B is a rare genetic syndrome caused by germline mutations in the RET proto-oncogene. Approximately 75% of MEN2B cases are sporadic and caused by de novo RET mutations, whereas 25% of cases occurs in families with an autosomal dominant inheritance. The most common RET mutation found in 95% of MEN2B patients is the substitution of the amino-acid threonine for methionine at codon 918. In infants with de novo mutation...

Background: The impact of prematurity on skeletal health later in life is not well elucidated.Objective and hypotheses: In order to address this topic we evaluated bone mass in ex-preterm (PT) and born at term (BT) prepubertal children and potential risk factors for bone health.Method: DXA measures of total body less head and lumbar spine mineral density (TB/L1-L4 BMD, g/cm2 and z-score), bone mineral content (T...

Introduction: Pubertal growth is hormone dependent. The anthropometric (height, weight) and sexual (Tanner stage (TS)) changes are accompanied by growth in foot length. However, the relationship between changes in foot length and other anthropometry remains unclear. Our aim was to determine how changes in foot length relate to growth parameters (height and weight), self-rated TS and serum sex steroids.Methods: We used data from the Adolescent Rural Cohor...

Introduction: Central precocious puberty (CPP) is due to premature activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Mutations in the imprinted gene MKRN3 are the most common monogenic form of CPP. Recently, attention was directed to DLK1, another imprinted gene. Defects in this gene resulted to be a rare cause of CPP in girls and adult women with precocious menarche, obesity and metabolic derangement. We aimed to investigate a cohort of female and male p...

Background: Imprinted genes are known to regulate fetal growth and a ‘parental conflict’ model predicts that paternally and maternally expressed imprinted genes promote and inhibit fetal growth, respectively. GNAS is a complex imprinted locus with multiple oppositely imprinted gene products. Maternal, but not paternal, G(s)alpha mutations lead to obesity in pseudohypoparathyroidism type IA (PHPIA). However, the disorder rarely causes severe obesity in infancy as pred...