ESPE Abstracts

Background: The steroidogenic enzyme aromatase (CYP19A1) is a protein located in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) that catalyzes the conversion of androgens to estrogens. Both deficiency and excess of aromatase activity lead to disease states implicating its role in human biology. Cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes in ER use reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate through cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase (POR) for their metabolic activities. Mutations in POR cause disorders of ...

Background: Diagnostic criteria for polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) are well established in the adult population, but may not be appropriate for adolescent girls. Clinical and/or biochemical hyperandrogenism is one important diagnostic criterion. Screening for hyperandrogenism is often restricted to measurements of testosterone in adult practice. It was our impression that this strategy would under-diagnose PCOS in our adolescent population.Objective ...

Background: In humans, glucocorticoids (GCs) regulate a broad spectrum of physiologic functions, exerting both genomic and nongenomic actions through their ubiquitously expressed glucocorticoid receptor (hGR). The rapid nongenomic actions of GCs are likely to be mediated by membrane hGRs that transduce the glucocorticoid signal via activation of kinases. S-palmitoylation plays an important role in plasma membrane localization and occurs through a highly conserved nine amino ac...

Background: Primary generalized glucocorticoid resistance (PGGR) or Chrousos syndrome is a rare familial or sporadic condition caused by mutations in the hGR gene, which reduce tissue sensitivity to glucocorticoids. A new case of PGGR caused by a novel heterozygous point mutation in the hGR gene, which resulted in threonine (T) to isoleucine (I) substitution at amino acid position 556 in the ligand-binding domain of the receptor, was recently reported in a patient with an adre...

Background: Orthodenticlehomeobox 2 (OTX2) is a transcription factor implicated in pituitary, ocular, and craniofacial development. To date, more than 30 mutations in OTX2 have been described in congenital hypopituitarism (CH) with or without ocular malformation. The pituitary phenotype varied from isolated GH deficiency (IGHD) to Combined Pituitary Hormone Deficiency (CPHD). However, CPHD including ACTH deficiency from neonatal period was rare among the previous reports. Here...

Background: The common phenotype caused by NR5A1 mutations of 46,XY is gonadal dysgenesis without adrenal deficiency. Preserved fertility of the affected males was described in two patients with different mutations. No functional analysis of these two mutations has been done. Here we report brothers with isolated hypospadias who carries a novel heterozygous mutation of c.910G>A, E304K in NR5A1 gene. Their asymptomatic father carries the same nucleotide ch...

Background: Folate and cobalamin are needed for synthesis of methionine, a substrate of methylation in epigenetic, and epigenomic pathways. Methyl donor deficiency (MDD) leads to hyperhomocysteinemia, which has been related to osteoporosis in humans and disruption of epiphyseal cartilage and bone development in rodents. Recent studies have revealed evidence for association between 25(OH)D3 and homocysteine levels, however, underlying mechanisms remain elusive.<p...

Background: Primary generalised glucocorticoid resistance (PGGR) is a rare condition characterised by tissue insensitivity to glucocorticoids owing to inactivating mutations of the hGR gene. A new case of PGGR was reported in a patient with an adrenal incidentaloma harboring a novel heterozygous point mutation in the hGR gene, which resulted in threonine (T) to isoleucine (I) substitution at amino acid position 556 of the receptor.Objec...

Background: Acrodysostosis is a rare skeletal dysplasia with severe brachydactyly, facial dysostosis and nasal hypoplasia. Some patients show hormone resistance whose phenotypes are similar to pseudohypoparathyroidism (PHP). In 2012, PRKAR1A gene was identified as one of the responsible genes of Acrodysostosis with hormonal resistance (ADOHR). Generally, brachydactyly is severe and hormone resistance is mild in Acrodysostosis patients.Objective and hypot...

Background: Steroidogenic factor 1 (SF1), encoded by the gene NR5A1, is a member of the orphan nuclear receptor superfamily and important regulator of gonadal and adrenal function. Variations in SF1 lead to a spectrum of conditions including 46,XY DSD, hypospadias, adrenal insufficiency, male factor infertility, and primary ovarian insufficiency. Inheritance patterns can be complicated (e.g. de novo dominant, sex-limited dominant, and autosomal recessive). In...