ESPE Yearbook of Paediatric Endocrinology

Brief summary: In this experimental study, immunomodulatory microparticles, consisting of encapsulating self-antigens with rapamycin, were injected into mouse lymph nodes to protect against type 1 diabetes (T1D) and islet graft rejection. Antigens and rapamycin were both required for maximal efficacy and they induced durable tolerance, accompanied by expansion of antigen-specific regulatory T cells (Treg) in both treated and untreated lymph nodes.Antigen...

Brief Summary: This study performed long-read genome sequencing (lr-GS) using PacBio HiFi on several members of a four-generation family presenting with autosomal dominant (AD) 46,XY differences of sexual development (DSD). This family had undergone a lengthy molecular diagnostic process with no conclusive results. Lr-GS offers enhanced mapping capabilities in highly repetitive, homologous, and low-complexity regions, providing better assessment of structural variations and co...

Brief Summary: This retrospective cohort study analysed risk ratios for preterm birth (<37 completed weeks), very preterm birth (<34 completed weeks), low birth weight (<2500 g), and small for gestational age (SGA, <10th percentile of weight for gestational age) in a large group of women diagnosed with adolescent and young adult (AYA, age 15-39 years) breast cancer, thyroid cancer, gynaecologic cancers, lymphoma, or melanoma.1648 post-can...

Brief Summary: The authors propose a simplified definition of pediatric metabolic syndrome (MetS) for children aged 6-17 years. This uses static cut-offs, enabling easier and quicker assessment in clinical practice, and allowing comparison of MetS prevalence across different pediatric populations.Comment: There is no consensus on the definition of pediatric metabolic syndrome (MetS). Existing pediatric MetS definitions involve age-, sex- or height-specif...

Brief summary: This genome-wide association study (GWAS) reports the first genetic loci for risk of primary aldosteronism. New candidate genes and their potential mechanisms for the development of aldosterone excess are described.Primary aldosteronism (PA) is the most frequent form of secondary hypertension (5% of patients with hypertension in primary care and 10–20% of patients with hypertension referred to specialist care). PA is associated with c...

Nat Commun. 2021 May 11;12(1):2677. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-22859-w. PMID: 33976139This work generated an integrated single nucleus multi-omics resource to elucidate the epigenetic mechanisms that regulate transcriptional networks in the murine pituitary. The authors identified epigenetically defined cell type composition, cell type-specific and sex-specific differences in transcription...

Cell Metab 2021;33(2): 270–282.e8. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2020.11.008Brestoff et al. show, for the first time, that mitochondria are transferred from adipocytes to macrophages and that this event has an impact on systemic metabolic homeostasis.Within the last years, it has been demonstrated that cells are able to communicate with each other by the exchange of organell...

To read the full abstract: J Clin Endocrinol Metab, March 2020, 105(3):e70–e84A cohort of 21 adult males (aged 19 to 89 years) harboring hemizygous pathogenic IGSF1 gene mutations underwent anthropometry, endocrine testing, testis ultrasonography, and body composition assessment to define the pathophysiological role of IGSF1 in influencing GH secretion. In addition, two lines of Igsf1 -deficient male mice were use...

To read the full abstract: JAMA. 2019;322(6):514–523. doi: 10.1001/jama.2019.10329Some children have a high genetic risk to develop type 1 diabetes (T1DM) and/or celiac disease. However, environmental factors may modify such risks. One arm of the TEDDY study assessed the influence of high gluten intakes on the development of celiac disease in genetically high risk children.<p clas...

Abstract: Nature. 2019 Mar;567(7747):234–238.In brief: In this article, the authors present evidence that the murine epiphyseal growth plate develops a postnatal stem cell niche with monoclonal properties, that are able to self-renew. They thereby challenge the concept of a continous depletion of progenitor cells as a limiting factor for bone growth.<p class="abste...