OBJECTIVETo study the effect of the polymorphism F279Y of the growth hormone receptor (GHR) gene on milk yield and composition in Chinese Holstein cattle.

METHODSHundred thirty two Chinese Holstein cattle were selected as study materials, according to DHI production performance method to get the data of milk yield and composition; PCR- SSCP and sequencing method were used to detect the genotypes; least square method was used to acquire correlation analysis.

RESULTSChinese Holstein cattle F279Y of GHR gene loci A and T allele frequency were 0.68 and 0.32, respectively, the experimental group significantly deviated from Hardy Weinberg equilibrium (P < 0.01); 305 d milk yield of AA genotype was significantly higher than AT type (P < 0.05), 305 d milk fat yield, 305 d milk protein yield and 305 d lactose of AT type had better trend than those of AA type in numeric; Therefore, allele A was dominant gene of high milk yield, allele T has positive effect on milk composition.

CONCLUSIONMutation F279Y of GHR gene can be used as genetic markers in Chinese Holstein milk production traits of marker assisted selection (MAS) breeding.

Animals ; Cattle ; genetics ; Female ; Genotype ; Milk ; secretion ; Point Mutation ; Receptors, Somatotropin ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo analyze the distribution of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of growth hormone receptor (GHR) gene in Chinese Han ethnic population.

METHODSThe sample of 106 unrelated healthy Chinese Hans was studied by sequencing exons of the GHR gene to detect SNP.

RESULTSThere were 6 SNP spots identified in exon 6 and exon 10. Five of them were found in exon 10, and one in exon 6. There were differences between the allele frequencies of the SNP we found and those in the NCBI database. The highest heterozygosity of the SNP was found at 1630 A > C (I526L), which was 47.6%. The SNP 1483 A > C (P477T), 1735 A > C (P561T) and 1319 G > T (C422F) had polarity change. The SNP 536 A > G in exon 6 from the NCBI database was not detected in this population. The allele distribution of SNP was in good unity with the Hardey-Weinberg equilibrium.

CONCLUSIONIt is suggested that the SNP of GHR are unevenly distributed and different in different ethnic populations.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; ethnology ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Humans ; Male ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Receptors, Somatotropin ; genetics

Laron syndrome is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by defects of growth hormone receptor (GHR) gene. It is characterized by severe postnatal growth retardation and characteristic facial features as well as high circulating levels of growth hormone (GH) and low levels of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3). This report described the clinical features and GHR gene mutations in 2 siblings with Laron syndrome in a Chinese family. Their heights and weights were in the normal range at birth, but the growth was retarded after birth. When they presented to the clinic, the heights of the boy (8 years old) and his sister (11 years old) were 80.0 cm (-8.2 SDS) and 96.6 cm (-6.8 SDS) respectively. They had typical appearance features of Laron syndrome such as short stature and obesity, with protruding forehead, saddle nose, large eyes, sparse and thin silky hair and high-pitched voice. They had higher basal serum GH levels and lower serum levels of IGF-I, IGFBP-3 and growth hormone binding protein (GHBP) than normal controls. The peak serum GH level after colonidine and insulin stimulations in the boy was over 350 ng/mL. After one-year rhGH treatment, the boy's height increased from 80.0 cm to 83.3 cm. The gene mutation analysis revealed that two patients had same homozygous mutation of S65H (TCA -->CCA) in exon 4, which is a novel gene mutation. It was concluded that a definite diagnosis of Laron syndrome can be made based on characteristic appearance features and serum levels of GH, IGF-I, IGFBP-3 and GHBP. The S65H mutation might be the cause of Laron syndrome in the two patients.
Base Sequence ; Carrier Proteins ; blood ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Laron Syndrome ; genetics ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation, Missense ; Receptors, Somatotropin ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo assess the influence of growth hormone receptor (GHR) Ex3 genotype on the short-term response to recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) therapy in children with idiopathic short stature (ISS).

METHODSThirty prepubertal children with ISS receiving rhGH treatment [0.116±0.02 IU/(kg/d)] were randomly recruited. The GHR Ex3 locus was genotyped using a PCR multiplex assay. The growth data including growth velocity, height SDS for chronological age (HtSDSCA), height SDS for bone age (HtSDSBA) and predict final height were compared in children with different GHR genotypes 6 months after rhGH treatment.

RESULTSAfter 6 months of rhGH treatment, the children with ISS carrying d3/d3 alleles showed a significantly higher increment in growth velocity than those carrying fl/fl alleles (6.3±1.6 cm/year vs 3.4±0.5 cm/year; P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe polymorphism in GHR Ex3 is associated with the responsiveness to rhGH treatment, showing that the growth velocity in ISS children with d3/d3 genotype is significantly higher than those with fl/fl genotype.

Child ; Exons ; Female ; Genotype ; Growth Disorders ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Human Growth Hormone ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Receptors, Somatotropin ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) in the growth of Bel-7402 human hepatic carcinoma cell line (Bel-7402 line) in vitro and its effects on GHR expression.

METHODSTumor cell count, MT assay and colony forming test were performed to determine the responses of Bel-7402 to different concentrations of rhGH (0, 1, 10, 100, 1000, 10 000 ng/ml). Metabolism of DNA in tumor cells was analyzed with the method of mixture of 3H-TdR. Radioreceptor assay was used to detect the GHR expression of the hepatic carcinoma cell lines and its relation to different rhGH concentrations.

RESULTSrhGH accelerated the proliferation of the Bel-7402 line when the concentration of rhGH was over 100 ng/ml (P < 0.05). Other rhGH concentrations had also positive effects, but with reduced effect as compared with that of 100 ng/ml. After 24 h of rhGH addition of concentration of 10 ng/ml and 100 ng/ml, GHR site number was significantly higher than that in control group, while the 10,000 ng/ml group showed a significantly lower GHR site number.

CONCLUSIONSDifferent concentrations of rhGH might result in variable effects on the growth of Bel-7402 hepatic carcinoma cell line. Certain concentrations of rhGH might stimulate the growth of the cell line. rhGH can regulate the expression of GHR in the cell line.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Human Growth Hormone ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Receptors, Somatotropin ; genetics ; metabolism

Pancreatic cancer is the only major cancer with very low survival rates (1%). It is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death. Hyperactivated growth hormone receptor (GHR) levels have been shown to increase the risk of cancer in general and this pathway is a master regulator of key cellular functions like proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, metastasis, etc. However, to date there is no available data on how GHR promotes pancreatic cancer pathogenesis. Here, we used an RNA interference approach targeted to GHR to determine whether targeting GHR is an effective method for controlling pancreatic cancer growth and metastasis. For this, we used an in vitro model system consisting of HPAC and PANC-1 pancreatic cancer cells lines. GHR is upregulated in both of these cell lines and silencing GHR significantly reduced cell proliferation and viability. Inhibition of GHR also reduced the metastatic potential of pancreatic cancer cells, which was aided through decreased colony-forming ability and reduced invasiveness. Flow cytometric and western blot analyses revealed the induction of apoptosis in GHR silenced cells. GHR silencing affected phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase/AKT, mitogen extracellular signal-regulated kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase, Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription and mammalian target of rapamycin signaling, as well as, epithelial to mesenchymal transition. Interestingly, silencing GHR also suppressed the expression of insulin receptor-beta and cyclo-oxygenease-2. Altogether, GHR silencing controls the growth and metastasis of pancreatic cancer and reveals its importance in pancreatic cancer pathogenesis.
Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal/*genetics/*pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis/genetics/pathology ; Pancreatic Ducts/metabolism/*pathology ; Pancreatic Neoplasms/*genetics/*pathology ; *RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering/administration & dosage/genetics ; Receptors, Somatotropin/*genetics ; Transfection

OBJECTIVESThe mutations of growth hormone receptor (GHR) gene results in growth hormone insensitivity (Laron syndrome) or partial growth hormone insensitivity. This study aimed to understand the relation between mutations of GHR gene and short stature with non-growth-hormone deficiency, and the clinical feature of the patients with the GHR gene mutations.

METHODS(1) Forty-seven patients with non-growth-hormone deficiency and short stature were enrolled in this study, 33 were male and 14 female. The age of the patients were at a range of 2 - 16 years. (2) The mutations of GHR gene were identified by PCR-SSCP and DNA sequencing. (3) The characteristics of the GHR mutation was assumed by screening for the same mutations in patients' family members and the control samples.

RESULTS(1) Four GHR mutations were identified in 5 patients with non-growth-hormone deficiency: H56R, G148E, IVS6-30, -31CA > TG and IVS8 + 10G > C. These mutations were located within the extracellular domain of GHR and not reported before. Five patients were the heterozygous of H56R, G148E, IVS6-30, -31CA > TG and IVS8 + 10G > C. The detection rate of mutant heterozygous individual accounted for 10.6% (5/47). The mutations were considered non-polymorphism by the GHR gene analysis in patients' family members and control samples. (2) Comparison of the amino acid sequence of different species and the position of the mutations H56R and G148E in the GHR protein structure suggested impact of the mutations on the protein function. (3) A polymorphism site was identified in exon 6 of GHR gene: G168G (GGA > GGG). The allelic frequency of G168G had no difference between the patients with non-growth-hormone deficiency and control samples but had significant difference between Chinese and Caucasian. It seems that the G168G was a polymorphism and has no relationship with the height stature. However, there was the allele diversity in different races.

CONCLUSIONThe mutations of GHR gene were detected in the patients with non-growth-hormone deficiency. Special attention should be paid clinically to its potential pathogenesis for short stature.

Adolescent ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; European Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Female ; Growth Disorders ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Receptors, Somatotropin ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study the significance of the changes of growth hormone receptor mRNA (GHR mRNA) in liver after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in a rat model.

METHODSThe rat model of CPB was established and plasma samples were collected at different intervals. Growth hormone (GH), GH binding protein (GHBP), endotoxin, interleukin (IL)-6, prealbumin and liver function were determined respectively. The liver tissues were collected for the detection of the GHR mRNA by RT-PCR analysis.

RESULTSBoth the lesion of liver function and the rising of the concentrations of endotoxin and IL-6 were obviously at 1 h after CPB, and increased markedly 2 h after CPB. However, the changes of concentrations of GH and GHBP, the expressions of GHR mRNA were opposite. In addition, the expression of GHR mRNA, concentrations of GH and GHBP had a significant negative correlation to the concentration of bilirubin, endotoxin respectively (P < 0.01), and a positive correlation to prealbumin (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe liver injury and downregulation of GH-GHR axis obviously exist during early stage of CPB because of the GHR mRNA expression inhibition resulting from endotoxemia. It may be one of the most important factors intervening the pathophysiology changes of liver during CPB.

Animals ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Gene Expression ; Liver ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Models, Animal ; Postoperative Period ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Somatotropin ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

To investigate the effect of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) on JAK2-STAT3 pathway and the growth of gastric cancer cell lines at different GHR expression status, the eukaryotic expression vector targeting human GHR (pGPU6/GFP/Neo-shGHR and pGPU6/GFP/Neo-scramble) was constructed and transfected into MGC803 cells by Lipofectamine 2000. Stable expressive cell lines were obtained by G418 screening. The expression of GHR was analyzed by Western blotting. After being stimulated with rhGH, cell growth was detected by MTT assay. Cell cycle and apoptosis were examined by flow cytometry. The components of JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway were detected by Western blotting. There is no significant difference of GHR expression between MGC803 and pGPU6/GFP/Neo-scramble-transfected cells (named as MGC803-NC) (P > 0.05). Compared with MGC803, the GHR expression in pGPU6/GFP/Neo-shGHR-transfected cells (named as MGC803-shGHR) decreased significantly (protein decreased 50%). The cells were treated with rhGH at 0, 150 and 300 ng x mL(-1), the growth rate of MGC803 and MGC803-NC increased significantly, PI and the number of G2/M phase cells all increased significantly, and apoptosis decreased significantly. Western blotting revealed that the expression of pJAK2 and pSTAT3 was up-regulated after being treated with rhGH in MGC803 and MGC803-NC cells. In contrast, similar change was not observed in MGC803-shGHR cells. Knockdown of GHR gene may decrease the sensitivity of gastric cancer cells to rhGH, and down-regulating of components of the expression of JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway may be the potential mechanisms.
Apoptosis ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Down-Regulation ; Human Growth Hormone ; genetics ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Janus Kinase 2 ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Receptors, Somatotropin ; genetics ; metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins ; genetics ; pharmacology ; STAT3 Transcription Factor ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo analyze clinical manifestations and gene mutations in a child with severe short stature, explore its molecular mechanism and further clarify the diagnostic procedure for short stature.

METHODWe observed clinical characteristics of a patient with short stature and did diagnostic examinations, assessed the function of GH-IGF-1 axis, and surveyed its family members.Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood, GHR, IGFALS, STAT5b and GH1 gene were amplified by PCR for sequencing, including exons and splicing areas.

RESULTThe patient presented symmetrical short stature (height -8.2 SDS) and facial features, and other congenital abnormalities.It displayed non-growth hormone deficiency. The baseline value of GH was 21 µg/L, and the peak was 57.9 µg/L. The value of IGF-1 was less than 25 µg/L, and the IGFBP-3 less than 50 µg/L. And IGF-1 generation test showed no response. There was no similar patients in the family members.Sequencing of GHR in the patient revealed a homozygous point mutation (c.Ivs6+1G>A), and her father and mother had the same heterozygous mutation. The same mutation was not identified for her sister.No other candidate gene was found.

CONCLUSIONAs the result of combined clinical characteristics and lab examinations, as well as gene detection, the case was diagnosed with Laron syndrome and GHR gene mutation is the molecular mechanism.We should explicit the etiological diagnosis for short stature, and avoid missed diagnosis and misdiagnosis.

Base Sequence ; Body Height ; Child ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Exons ; Growth Disorders ; blood ; genetics ; pathology ; Human Growth Hormone ; blood ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 ; blood ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; analysis ; Laron Syndrome ; blood ; genetics ; pathology ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Receptors, Somatotropin ; genetics ; STAT5 Transcription Factor ; genetics