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...

Introduction: Imprinted genes are critical for placental function and normal fetal growth and development. Very little is known about the impact of maternal obesity on imprinted genes and their role in postnatal growth and metabolism.Objectives: 1) To identify umbilical cord DNA methylation sites (CpG) associated with gestational weight gain (GWG); 2) to identify which of these CpGs lie within imprinting control regions ...

Background and Aim: IRS1 (Insulin Receptor Substrate 1) is involved in the insulin signalling pathway and abnormalities thereof have been related to metabolic disorders and obesity. In obese subjects, insulin resistance has been associated with changes in IRS1 expression in peripheral in blood. Sex-based differences in cardiovascular disease are well established. Previous results from our group disclosed the association between IRS1 placental methylation with ...

Introduction and aims: MEST (Mesoderm-specific transcript), a candidate gene for Silver-Russell syndrome, is a paternally expressed imprinted gene that positively regulates foetal growth. MEST has also been shown to promote adipose tissue expansion in conditions of positive energy balance. In this context, our objective was to study the possible relationship between placental MEST gene expression and postnatal growth and obesity para...

Introduction: Klotho is an anti-aging protein that reduces adiposity and increases caloric expenditure, among others. Although associations between secreted α-Klotho levels and obesity have been described, its relationship with central obesity and visceral fat accumulation during childhood is poorly understood. Our objective was to study the longitudinal associations between serum α-Klotho concentrations and obesity parameters in apparently healthy...

Introduction: The CCDC3 gene encodes for a protein expressed in endothelial cells and adipose tissue. Insulin increases its expression and, in turn, CCDC3 positively regulates adipogenesis and lipid accumulation. CCDC3 expression is increased in visceral adipose tissue from subjects with obesity. Gestational obesity can modify the metabolic programming in the offspring through epigenetic mechanisms. However, it is unknown whether the...

Background: Thyroid hormone resistance (THR) is a rare genetic disorder that may be caused by thyroid hormone (TH) cell transporter defects or metabolism defects, but most cases are caused by an inherited mutation in the TH receptor beta (THRB) gene. The reduced responsiveness of target tissues to TH is characterized by elevated TH and a normal or elevated thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) level. Differentiating between THR and TSH-producing pituitary...

Background: Cornelia de Lange (CdLS) syndrome (OMIM #122470) is a complex disease, characterized by distinctive facial features, failure to thrive, microcephaly, intrauterine growth retardation and anomalies in multiple organ systems. The complexity and severity of the endocrine commitment is variable. NIPBL, SMC1A, SMC3, RAD21 and HDAC8 genes, all involved in the cohesin pathway, have been identified to cause CdLS. There are few published studies on the endoc...

Background and Objectives: In adults, discordant associations exist between insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and blood pressure with scarce reports in apparently healthy children. IGF-I levels increase during puberty in parallel to calcium and phosphorus levels. In this context, our aim is to study the association between IGF-I and blood pressure in apparently healthy children, together with the interaction of the serum calcium-phosphorus product (Ca*P...

Introduction: CORNELIA DE LANGE Syndrome (CdLS) is a rare syndrome, first described in 1933 by the Dutch pediatrician CORNELIA DE LANGE. This syndrome represents a multi-systemic disorder with physical, cognitive and behavioral characteristics. It is evident in the typical or classical form (craniofacial appearance, short stature and limbs deformities). However, not all individuals with CdLS present with the classic phenotype, as the clinical presentation can ...