ESPE Abstracts

Nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenase (NNT) is expressed in the heart, thyroid, and testicles, where it maintains the balance of reactive oxygen species in the mitochondria. It is linked, by an insufficiently described mechanism, to primary adrenal insufficiency (PAI) with or without mineralocorticoid insufficiency and several extra-adrenal manifestations (i.e. gonadal adrenal rest tumors, cardiomyopathy, hypothyroidism, and precocious puberty). A comprehensive and chronolo...

Introduction: Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by impairment of one of the enzymes involved in the steroidogenesis pathway. CAH due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21-OHD) is attributed to mutations of the CYP21A2 gene and is distinguished into classic [salt wasting (SW), simple virilizing (SV)] and non-classic form. Herein we present a) the genetic investigation of 526 subjects with suspicion of 21-OHD in t...

Background-Aim: Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is a group of autosomal recessive disorders caused by defects in the steroidogenic pathway of the adrenal cortex. In their most severe forms, they produce adrenal insufficiency and virilization of external genitalia when involving the terminal enzymes of the cortisol and aldosterone synthesis pathway (21-hydroxylase (21-OHD, OMIM#201910) and 11-hydroxylase (11-OHD, OMIM#202010) deficiencies). Mutations of <e...

Introduction: The insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R) gene, located on chromosome 15q26.3, encodes the 1367 aa tyrosine kinase receptor IGF1R which is involved in many processes, including growth. Few heterozygous mutations and deletions of IGF1R leading to IGF-I resistance have been described in patients with intrauterine and postnatal growth retardation, microcephaly and variable learning difficulties. We report a not yet previous...

Background: Genomic imprinting is the process by which preferential methylation of one parental allele results in parent of origin specific expression of particular genes. Methylation is established during gametogenesis and is maintained throughout development. Alterations in any of the processes in the establishment and maintenance of methylation can lead to aberrant imprinting, which can result in either reactivation of the original silent allele or the sile...

Introduction: Silver-Russell syndrome (SRS) is a rare, well-defined genetic disease characterized by intrauterine and postnatal growth retardation, short stature, triangular face, relative macrocephaly and body asymmetry. The most common molecular pathologies are loss of methylation (50%) of the imprinting center in the p15.5 region of the paternal 11th chromosome and maternal uniparental disomy of the 7th chromosome (5-10%). The IGF2 (insulin-like growth fact...

Introduction: Aggrecan, a chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan encoded by the ACAN gene, is an important structural component of the cartilage matrix. Variants in the ACAN gene are associated with a group of skeletal dysplasias called aggrecanopathy, which shows a broad phenotypic spectrum. It has been reported that some heterozygous variants in this gene are responsible for the etiology of familial or idiopathic short stature located at the lightest end of the sp...

Background: Genetic causes of central precocious puberty (CPP) has been increasingly recognized, extending our knowledge of the triggering factors of human pubertal timing. Distinct etiologies remain to be elucidated in sporadic and familial cases. Methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2) is a chromatin-associated protein that can activate or repress gene transcription, playing a role in neuronal maturation. It is encoded by MECP2 gene located at chromoso...

Background: Pediatric thyroid cancer has characteristics that are distinct from adulthood thyroid cancer. Due to its very low prevalence, little is known about the genetic characteristics of pediatric follicular thyroid cancer (FTC).Methods: We investigated genetic alterations in tumor tissues from 15 patients aged < 20 years (median: 14.3 years; range: 2.4-19.0 years) using multifaceted approaches. Whole-exome seque...

Background: Congenital Hyperinsulinism(CHI) is characterized by the unregulated secretion of insulin in the presence of hypoglycaemia. The mutations in ABCC8 and KCNJ11, which encode the sulfonylurea receptor 1 (SUR1) and potassium inward-rectifying 6.2 (Kir6.2) subunits of ATP-sensitive potassium channel (K channel), are the most common identified cause of the condition. Defects in the HADH gene are responsible for SCHAD- HI, a rare form of the disease caused...