Ghrelin Plasma Levels in Patients with Idiopathic Short Stature.
Summary of "Ghrelin Plasma Levels in Patients with Idiopathic Short Stature."
Background: Novel molecular insights have suggested that ghrelin may be involved in the pathogenesis of some forms of short stature. Recently, growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR) mutations that segregate with short stature have been reported. Aim: To study plasma ghrelin levels in prepubertal patients with idiopathic short stature (ISS). Methods: Fasting total plasma ghrelin levels (radioimmunoassay) in 41 prepubertal patients with ISS (18 females, age 7.9 ± 0.5 years) compared with 42 age- and sex-matched controls (27 females, age 8.0 ± 0.3 years) with normal height. In a subset of 28 patients, the ghrelin receptor was sequenced. Results: ISS patients exhibited a higher level of ghrelin (1,458 ± 137 vs. 935 ± 55 pg/ml, p < 0.01) and similar IGF-I levels (-0.66 ± 1.29 vs. -0.32 ± 0.78 SDS) compared to controls. Ten patients with ISS had ghrelin levels greater than +2 SDS compared to controls. These patients did not differ in height, BMI or IGF-I SDS compared to ISS patients with ghrelin levels within the normal range. Molecular analysis of GHSR did not show any mutations, but showed some polymorphisms. Conclusion: These results suggest that in ISS patients, short stature does not appear to be frequently caused by abnormalities in ghrelin signaling.
Affiliation
Institute of Maternal and Child Research, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile.
Journal Details
This article was published in the following journal.
Name: Hormone research in paediatrics
ISSN: 1663-2826
Pages:
Links
- PubMed Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20861603
- DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000317429
Medical and Biotech [MESH] Definitions
Ghrelin
A 28-amino acid, acylated, orexigenic peptide that is a ligand for GROWTH HORMONE SECRETAGOGUE RECEPTORS. Ghrelin is widely expressed but primarily in the stomach in the adults. Ghrelin acts centrally to stimulate growth hormone secretion and food intake, and peripherally to regulate energy homeostasis. Its large precursor protein, known as appetite-regulating hormone or motilin-related peptide, contains ghrelin and obestatin.
Receptors, Ghrelin
Transmembrane proteins that recognize and bind GHRELIN, a potent stimulator of GROWTH HORMONE secretion and food intake in mammals. Ghrelin receptors are found in the pituitary and HYPOTHALAMUS. They belong to the family of G-PROTEIN-COUPLED RECEPTORS.
Pseudohypoparathyroidism
A hereditary condition clinically resembling HYPOPARATHYROIDISM, but caused by failure of response to rather than deficiency of parathyroid hormones. It is characterized by hypocalcemia and hyperphosphatemia, and is commonly associated with short stature, obesity, short metacarpals, and ectopic calcification. (Dorland, 27th ed)
Klinefelter Syndrome
A form of male HYPOGONADISM, characterized by the presence of an extra X CHROMOSOME, small TESTES, seminiferous tubule dysgenesis, elevated levels of GONADOTROPINS, low serum TESTOSTERONE, underdeveloped secondary sex characteristics, and male infertility (INFERTILITY, MALE). Patients tend to have long legs and a slim, tall stature. GYNECOMASTIA is present in many of the patients. The classic form has the karyotype 47,XXY. Several karyotype variants include 48,XXYY; 48,XXXY; 49,XXXXY, and mosaic patterns ( 46,XY/47,XXY; 47,XXY/48,XXXY, etc.).
Achondroplasia
An autosomal dominant disorder that is the most frequent form of short-limb dwarfism. Affected individuals exhibit short stature caused by rhizomelic shortening of the limbs, characteristic facies with frontal bossing and mid-face hypoplasia, exaggerated lumbar lordosis, limitation of elbow extension, genu varum, and trident hand. (Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Omim, MIM#100800, April 20, 2001)
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