ESPE Abstracts

Introduction: The melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) is a G protein coupled receptor (GPCR) and plays a pivotal role in the central regulation of body weight in the hypothalamus. In the context of the leptin-melanocortin signaling pathway, the MC4R is activated by the endogenous ligands a- and b-MSH (melanocyte-stimulating hormone). This leads to the feeling of satiety and to a reduction in food intake. Mutations within the genes leptin, leptin receptor (LEPR), pr...

Introduction: An activating mutations in the ABCC8 gene cause both transient and permanent neonatal diabetes mellitus (DM) or MODY 12. In relation to the variant in the ABCC8 gene, patients may also present with either neonatal hyperinsulinism and/or DM later in life. Besides, the same variant can cause different phenotypic features among family members. Response to the sulfonylurea treatment may vary between patients.<...

Introduction: Heterozygous loss-of-function mutations in the glucokinase (GCK) gene cause MODY 2. Conversely, homozygous loss-of-function mutations in the same gene give rise to permanent neonatal diabetes mellitus (DM). Previously, two patients diagnosed with DM in adolescence and had homozygous GCK mutations were reported. Variants in these patients have been shown to exhibit inactivated kinetics that are indistinguishable from neonatal ons...

Introduction: Early-onset severe obesity (before five years of age) without intellectual deficit, dysmorphisms, or malformations raises the hypothesis of monogenic obesity. The leptin receptor (Lepr) pathway is essential for food intake regulation, energy expenditure, and body weight. Mutations in leptin and the Lepr have been shown to cause early-onset severe obesity in mice and humans.Objective: To report the clinical ...

Introduction: Proopiomelanocortin (POMC) deficiency is a rare disease characterized by central adrenal insufficiency, early-onset obesity, red hair, and impaired skin pigmentation. This disease is caused by mutations of POMC that is localized in 2p23.3. Here, we aimed to present a case with central adrenal insufficiency, red hair, and rapid weight gain and who was detected frameshift mutation in the POMC.Case</s...

Background: FSH stimulates ovarian follicle maturation and estradiol synthesis which is responsible for breast development. Age at pubertal onset varies substantially among healthy girls. Although more than half of the variation is heritable, only a small part has been attributed to specific genetic polymorphisms identified so far.Objective and Hypotheses: We assessed the effect on pubertal onset of three genetic polymorphisms affecting FSH action.<p...

Background: The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a multicellular neurovascular unit (NVU) that allows selective passage of necessary molecules into the central nervous system (CNS) while limiting the entry of neurotoxins and most drugs. A cross talk with pericytes and neural cells mediates the acquisition of tight junctions (TJs) in brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs), which limit the paracellular passage of solutes, thereby regulating CNS homeostasis. H...

Mineralization defects and paradoxical mineralizing enthesopathies are hallmarks of X-linked Hypophosphatemia (XLH), a rare skeletal disease caused by inactivating mutations in the PHEX gene (Phosphate-regulating endopeptidase homolog, X-linked). The current medical treatment, which consist in oral phosphorus supplementation and active vitamin D analogues, aimed at counteracting consequences of FGF23 excess and is commonly prescribed from early childhood to the end of...

Background: Studies aimed at elucidating the pathophysiology of obesity consistently describe it as a highly heterogeneous disorder at both clinical and molecular level. Despite rare monogenic forms and several regions of susceptibility have been defined, the genetic causes underlying the disease remain largely unknown.Objective and hypotheses: We aimed to identify novel genetic abnormalities in a cohort of Spanish children with severe non-syndromic earl...

Background: Adolescent obesity has been steadily increasing all over the developed world for the past several decades. Bariatric surgery in morbid obese adolescents is gaining popularity. The main surgical technique that is used on adolescents in Israel is a gastric sleeve.Aims: To study clinical and laboratory outcomes of adolescent patients 1 year after they underwent bariatric surgery.Methods: Anthropometric, clinical and labora...