Diagnosis, Genetics, and Therapy of Short Stature in Children: A Growth Hormone Research Society International Perspective

The Growth Hormone Research Society (GRS) convened a Workshop in March 2019 to evaluate the diagnosis and therapy of short stature in children. Forty-six international experts participated at the invitation of GRS including clinicians, basic scientists, and representatives from regulatory agencies and the pharmaceutical industry. Following plenary presentations addressing the current diagnosis and therapy of short stature in children, breakout groups discussed questions produced in advance by the planning committee and reconvened to share the group reports. A writing team assembled one document that was subsequently discussed and revised by participants. Participants from regulatory agencies and pharmaceutical companies were not part of the writing process. Short stature is the most common reason for referral to the pediatric endocrinologist. History, physical examination, and auxology remain the most important methods for understanding the reasons for the short stature. While some long-standing topics of controversy continue to generate debate, including in whom, and how, to perform and interpret growth hormone stimulation tests, new research areas are changing the clinical landscape, such as the genetics of short stature, selection of patients for genetic testing, and interpretation of genetic tests in the clinical setting. What dose of growth hormone to start, how to adjust the dose, and how to identify and manage a suboptimal response are still topics to debate. Additional areas that are expected to transform the growth field include the development of long-acting growth hormone preparations and other new therapeutics and diagnostics that may increase adult height or aid in the diagnosis of growth hormone deficiency.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Nuclear Targeting of IGF-1 Receptor in Orbital Fibroblasts from Graves' Disease: Apparent Role of ADAM17

Insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) comprises two subunits, including a ligand binding domain on extra- cellular IGF-1Rα and a tyrosine phosphorylation site located on IGF-1Rβ. IGF-1R is over-expressed by orbital fibroblasts in the autoimmune syndrome, Graves' disease (GD). When activated by IGF-1 or GD-derived IgG (GD-IgG), these fibroblasts produce RANTES and IL-16, while those from healthy donors do not. We now report that IGF-1 and GD-IgG provoke IGF-1R accumulation in the cell nucleus of GD fibroblasts where it co-localizes with chromatin. Nuclear IGF-1R is detected with anti-IGF-1Rα-specific mAb and migrates to approximately 110 kDa, consistent with its identity as an IGF-1R fragment. Nuclear IGF-1R migrating as a 200 kDa protein and consistent with an intact receptor was undetectable when probed with either anti-IGF-1Rα or anti-IGF-1Rβ mAbs. Nuclear redistribution of IGF-1R is absent in control orbital fibroblasts. In GD fibroblasts, it can be abolished by an IGF-1R-blocking mAb, 1H7 and by physiological concentrations of glucocorticoids. When cell-surface IGF-1R is cross-linked with 125I IGF-1, 125I-IGF-1/IGF-1R complexes accumulate in the nuclei of GD fibroblasts. This requires active ADAM17, a membrane associated metalloproteinase, and the phosphorylation of IGF-1R. In contrast, virally encoded IGF-1Rα/GFP fusion protein localizes equivalently in nuclei in both control and GD fibroblasts. This result suggests that generation of IGF-1R fragments may limit the accumulation of nuclear IGF-1R. We thus identify a heretofore-unrecognized behavior of IGF-1R that appears limited to GD-derived fibroblasts. Nuclear IGF-1R may play a role in disease pathogenesis

Endocrine management of children with Prader–Willi syndrome

Clarice Borschiver Medeiros,1 Ana Paula Bordallo,1 Flavio Moutinho Souza,2 Paulo Ferrez Collett-Solberg1,31Endocrinology Unit, Departamento de Medicina Interna, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; 2Pediatric Endocrinology Unit, Departamento de Pediatria, Hospital Federal Cardoso Fontes – Ministério da Saúde do Brasil, Brasília, Brazil; 3Laboratório de Pesquisas Clínicas e Experimentais em Biologia Vascular (BioVasc), Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rio de Janeiro, BrazilAbstract: Prader–Willi syndrome is a rare genetic condition afflicting nearly 1/15,000 live births. Clinical features include neonatal hypotonia, poor weight gain in early infancy followed by binge eating from childhood to adulthood, severe obesity, developmental delay, short stature, and hypogonadism of both central and peripheral etiology. Central hypothyroidism and adrenal insufficiency may occur. Sleep disordered breathing, by obstruction of upper airways associated with central hypoventilation, is a common feature. Most of these characteristics are assumed to be the result of a hypothalamic dysfunction. The most important complication and the most difficult to manage is the obesity. This review aims at discussing the most recent strategies to manage the endocrine complications of Prader–Willi syndrome patients, with a special approach on the treatment of obesity, hypogonadism, and short stature. We summarize the indication and effects of recombinant human growth hormone therapy on growth, cognitive development, and body composition, and discuss the effects of recombinant human growth hormone therapy on the resulting sleep disorders.Keywords: Prader–Willi syndrome, obesity, hypogonadism, growth hormone, sleep disorde

Leydig Cell Tumour in a 46,XX Child with Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia due to 21-Hydroxylase Deficiency

Case Report: A 10-year-old male was referred to our institution due to short stature and bilateral cryptorchidism and reported pubic hair development and acne since the age of 4 years. Laboratory and molecular genetic tests indicated congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency. After treatment with prednisone, adrenal hormones normalised but testosterone remained elevated. Magnetic resonance imaging of the abdomen due to cryptorchidism revealed uterus and adnexal attachments, a prostate and poorly defined nodules on the iliac chains. Upon exploratory laparotomy, a hysterectomy, bilateral oophorectomy and resection of a peri-adnexal nodular lesion on the patient's right side were performed. Histopathology of the nodule mass was compatible with a Leydig cell tumour with a low proliferation rate according to Ki67. Copyright (c) 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel79317918