Diminished thyroxine-binding globulin in pubertal diabetic children

Quantitative Evaluation of Serum Proteins Uncovers a Protein Signature Related to Maturity-Onset Diabetes of the Young (MODY)

Maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) is an inherited monogenic type of diabetes. Genetic mutations in MODY often cause nonsynonymous changes that directly lead to the functional distortion of proteins and the pathological consequences. Herein, we proposed that the inherited mutations found in a MODY family could cause a disturbance of protein abundance, specifically in serum. The serum samples were collected from a Uyghur MODY family through three generations, and the serum proteins after depletion treatment were examined by quantitative proteomics to characterize the MODY-related serum proteins followed by verification using target quantification of proteomics. A total of 32 serum proteins were preliminarily identified as the MODY-related. Further verification test toward the individual samples demonstrated the 12 candidates with the significantly different abundance in the MODY patients. A comparison of the 12 proteins among the sera of type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, MODY, and healthy subjects was conducted and revealed a protein signature related with MODY composed of the serum proteins such as SERPINA7, APOC4, LPA, C6, and F5.

Autosomally transmitted low concentration of thyroxine-binding globulin

The gene coding for thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG) is located on the long arm of the X chromosome; thus anomalies of TBG are transmitted in an X-linked fashion. We report a family with decreased concentration of circulating TBG and an unusual pattern of inheritance. In this family, a number of members showed decreased levels of serum TBG. The unusual finding was that the low TBG was transmitted from the male proband to his son. Thyroxine (T4) binding affinity and heat lability of serum TBG of the proband was not different from values obtained from a normal control. All exons and the critical region in the upstream of the TBG gene were sequenced and no alterations were found. The mechanism that causes decreased concentration of TBG of the proband and family members is unknown, but an abnormality in transcription factors that are important for TBG gene expression might be considered.

Growth in the diabetic child

Insulin has an important role in the GH:IGF-I axis, and its absence leads to major endocrine disturbances, particularly during puberty. Rapid growth in the prediabetic phase occurs and may be a risk factor. Final height reflects gender and the age of onset more than specific growth factors. The influence of hepatic insulin on IGF-I bioactivity has important implications in diabetic adolescents.