ESPE Abstracts

Background: GNAS 1 gene (guanine nucleotide binding protein, alpha stimulating) encodes the alpha subunit of the stimulatory guanine nucleotide-binding protein (G-protein). Variations in the GNAS 1 can cause several disorders including Pseudohypoparathyroisism Type 1A (PHP1A), Type 1B (PHP1B), Type 1C (PPHP1C), Progressive Osseous Heteroplasia (POH), Pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism (PPHP) and McCune-Albright syndrome (MAS).Objectives: To report 2 patients...

Background: Androgens are steroid hormones necessary for human sex development. Testosterone (T) and the more potent dihydrotestosterone (DHT) are maybe the best known androgens, which exert their effect by binding and activating the androgen receptor. Steroid reductases 5α (SRD5As) catalyse the conversion of T to DHT in the classic androgen production pathway, or from 17-hydroxyprogesterone to 17OH-dihydroprogesterone, and androstenedione to androstanedione in alternate ...

Background: Disorders of sex development (DSD) due to mutations in the NR5A1 (SF1) gene result in a highly variable phenotype.Objective: To report the clinical phenotype and the molecular/structural characteristics of the gene-protein product arising from three novel mutations of the NR5A1 (SF1) gene found in patients presenting with 46,XY DSD.Method: Phenotype determined from interrogation of clinical case notes. Interpre...

Background: Transient Generalized Glucocorticoid Hypersensitivity (TGGH) is a rare disorder characterized by increased tissue sensitivity to glucocorticoids and compensatory hypoactivation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis. The condition itself and the underlying molecular mechanisms have not been fully elucidated.Objective and hypotheses: To present the clinical manifestations, endocrinologic evaluation and molecular studies in ...

Background: The DNA-binding High Mobility Group Box-1 (HMGB1) is an intracellular gene regulator that can be secreted also in response to inflammatory mediators, including interleukins, binding subsequently to both RAGE and Toll-like receptors forming a self-reinforcing inflammatory circle. Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a condition characterized by chronic inflammation. Elevated serum HMGB1 concentrations were described in serum of obese children and to be associated with the metabo...

Background: Standard assays for serum cortisol measurements determine total cortisol (TC) concentrations but not the unbound biologically active serum free cortisol (sFC). Measurement of TC would be greatly influenced by alteration in cortisol-binding globulin (CBG) concentrations. It is, therefore, important to determine sFC levels when CBG levels are either decreased or increased.Objective and hypotheses: To determine basal and glucagon-stimulated sFC ...

Background: Neonatal vitamin D deficiency (VDD) can result in symptomatic hypocalcemia, seizures and cardiomyopathy and has been associated with reduced bone mineralization in childhood, but is potentially preventable with antenatal cholecalciferol supplementation. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in the vitamin D metabolism pathway are associated with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] in adulthood. We assessed whether maternal and/or offspring SNPs in ...

Background: Inhibin consists of two homologous subunits, the α (INHA) and the βA or βB subunits (INHBA/INHBB). Both inhibins play an important role in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis by regulating the follicle stimulating hormone levels. INHA knockout mice develop mixed or incompletely differentiated gonadal stromal tumours. In females, some INHA variants have been associated with primary ova...

Differences of sex development (DSD) are congenital conditions with discordance between chromosomal, gonadal and/or anatomic sex. DSD can be syndromic or non-syndromic based on the presence or absence of somatic anomalies, respectively. Variants in several genes have been identified in association with errors of testis determination and male genital differentiation. However, despite technological advances, a genetic diagnosis is not achieved in nearly 50% of individuals presen...

Introduction: Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a rare congenital neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by hyperphagia, growth hormone (GH) deficiency, short stature, and low bone mineral density. The mechanisms concerning bone metabolism disturbances in these patients are still unclear. An important role in the process of bone formation is played by osteocalcin (OC), the most abundant non-collagen protein of the bone matrix. OC has three potential gamma-carb...