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The confirmation rate of primary hits: a predictive model.

HTS data from primary screening are usually analyzed by setting a cutoff for activity, in order to minimize both false-negative and false-positive rates. An alternative approach, based on a calculated probability of being active, is presented here. Given the predicted confirmation rate derived from this probability, the number of primary positives selected for follow-up can be optimized to maximize the number of true positives without picking too many false positives. Typical cutoff-determining methods are more serendipitous in their nature and not easily optimized in an effort to optimize screening efforts. An additional advantage of calculating a probability of being active for each compound screened is that orthogonal mixtures can be deconvoluted without presetting a deconvolution threshold. An important consequence of using the probability of being active with orthogonal mixtures is that individual compound screening results can be recorded irrespective of whether the assays were performed on single compounds or on cocktails.

Biological Assay↗

Comparison of assay technologies for a tyrosine kinase assay generates different results in high throughput screening.

In today's high-throughput screening (HTS) environment, an increasing number of assay detection technologies are routinely utilized in lead finding programs. Because of the relatively broad applicability of several of these technologies, one is often faced with a choice of which technology to utilize for a specific assay. The aim of this study was to address the question of whether the same compounds would be identified from screening a set of samples in three different versions of an HTS assay. Here, three different versions of a tyrosine kinase assay were established using scintillation proximity assay (SPA), homogeneous time-resolved fluorescence resonance energy transfer (HTR-FRET), and fluorescence polarization (FP) technologies. In this study, 30,000 compounds were evaluated in each version of the kinase assay in primary screening, deconvolution, and dose-response experiments. From this effort, there was only a small degree of overlap of active compounds identified subsequent to the deconvolution experiment. When all active compounds were then profiled in all three assays, 100 and 101 active compounds were identified in the HTR-FRET and FP assays, respectively. In contrast, 40 compounds were identified in the SPA version of the kinase assay, whereas all of these compounds were detected in the HTR-FRET assay only 35 were active in the FP assay. Although there was good correlation between the IC(50) values obtained in the HTR-FRET and FP assays, poor correlations were obtained with the IC(50) values obtained in the SPA assay. These findings suggest that significant differences can be observed from HTS depending on the assay technology that is utilized, particularly in assays with high hit rates.

Biological Assay↗

ARACNE: an algorithm for the reconstruction of gene regulatory networks in a mammalian cellular context.

BACKGROUND: Elucidating gene regulatory networks is crucial for understanding normal cell physiology and complex pathologic phenotypes. Existing computational methods for the genome-wide "reverse engineering" of such networks have been successful only for lower eukaryotes with simple genomes. Here we present ARACNE, a novel algorithm, using microarray expression profiles, specifically designed to scale up to the complexity of regulatory networks in mammalian cells, yet general enough to address a wider range of network deconvolution problems. This method uses an information theoretic approach to eliminate the majority of indirect interactions inferred by co-expression methods. RESULTS: We prove that ARACNE reconstructs the network exactly (asymptotically) if the effect of loops in the network topology is negligible, and we show that the algorithm works well in practice, even in the presence of numerous loops and complex topologies. We assess ARACNE's ability to reconstruct transcriptional regulatory networks using both a realistic synthetic dataset and a microarray dataset from human B cells. On synthetic datasets ARACNE achieves very low error rates and outperforms established methods, such as Relevance Networks and Bayesian Networks. Application to the deconvolution of genetic networks in human B cells demonstrates ARACNE's ability to infer validated transcriptional targets of the cMYC proto-oncogene. We also study the effects of misestimation of mutual information on network reconstruction, and show that algorithms based on mutual information ranking are more resilient to estimation errors. CONCLUSION: ARACNE shows promise in identifying direct transcriptional interactions in mammalian cellular networks, a problem that has challenged existing reverse engineering algorithms. This approach should enhance our ability to use microarray data to elucidate functional mechanisms that underlie cellular processes and to identify molecular targets of pharmacological compounds in mammalian cellular networks.

Algorithms↗

Epigenetic and immunological alterations in umbilical cord blood of overweight/obese women with gestational diabetes mellitus: insights into DNA methylation signatures and immune cell dysregulation.

BACKGROUND: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common pregnancy complication associated with adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. Epigenetic modifications may reflect intrauterine metabolic exposure and contribute to immune and metabolic alterations. This study aimed to explore DNA methylation profiles in umbilical cord blood from overweight and obese women with and without GDM. METHODS: Umbilical cord blood samples from 30 overweight/obese pregnant women (with and without GDM) were analyzed using the Illumina 850&#xa0;K methylation array to identify differentially methylated positions (DMPs) and regions (DMRs). Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were performed to assess the functional relevance of methylation changes. Immune cell composition was estimated using deconvolution analysis and further examined in an independent single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) cohort. Lasso regression was applied to identify CpG sites associated with GDM status and construct a preliminary methylation-based classification model. RESULTS: A total of 23,331 hypermethylated and 29,501 hypomethylated DMPs were identified between women with and without GDM, with hypomethylation predominating. Enrichment analyses indicated associations with neurodevelopmental pathways, metabolic processes, immune regulation, and epigenetic modification. Immune deconvolution analysis suggested reduced proportions of CD4+ T cells (p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.05) and a trend toward decreased NK cells in the GDM group, alongside increased CD8+ T cells and neutrophils. Seven CpG sites were selected for model construction and demonstrated strong discriminatory performance within this cohort. CONCLUSION: This exploratory study identifies distinct cord blood DNA methylation patterns associated with GDM in overweight/obese pregnancies. The findings suggest potential links between epigenetic alterations and immune cell composition in GDM-exposed offspring. The identified CpG signature warrants further validation in larger, prospective cohorts to determine its clinical applicability.

Humans↗

MOADE: a multimodal autoencoder for dissociating bulk multi-omics data.

In single cell biology, the complexity of tissues may hinder lineage cell mapping or tumor microenvironment decomposition, requiring digital dissociation of bulk tissues. Many deconvolution methods focus on transcriptomic assay, not easily applicable to other omics due to ambiguous cell markers and reference-to-target difference. Here, we present MOADE, a multimodal autoencoder pipeline linking multi-dimensional features to jointly predict personalized multi-omic profiles and cellular compositions, using pseudo-bulk data constructed by internal non-transcriptomic reference and external scRNA-seq data. MOADE is evaluated through rigorous simulation experiments and real multi-omic data from multiple tissue types, outperforming nine deconvolution pipelines with superior generalizability and fidelity.

Humans↗

Malignant epithelial states drive immune dysfunction in ampulla of Vater carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Ampulla of Vater (AoV) carcinoma is a rare malignancy arising at the junction of intestinal and pancreatobiliary epithelium. Its heterogeneous clinical behavior and histological diversity have hindered therapeutic advances, and the cellular basis of this heterogeneity remains unclear. We aimed to construct a single-cell transcriptomic atlas of AoV carcinoma, with a focus on identifying epithelial subtypes and their interactions with the tumor microenvironment (TME). METHODS: We performed single-cell RNA sequencing on eight primary AoV tumors and four matched normal tissues. Comprehensive clustering and transcriptomic analyses identified cell-type composition, epithelial heterogeneity, and tumor-immune interactions. Findings were validated using deconvolution of bulk RNA-seq data from 62 AoV carcinoma patients. Results Malignant epithelial cells were categorized into four distinct subtypes: Int-Wnt, PB-KRAS, Int-Hypoxia, and Cycling stage. PB-KRAS cells exhibited stem-like transcriptional programs and high genomic instability. Deconvolution analysis of bulk RNA-seq data from the independent AoV cohort revealed that enrichment of the PB-KRAS subtype correlated with tumor recurrence and poor survival. Our immune profiling analysis discovered a significant association between PB-KRAS subtype and GZMK+ CD8+ T cells, which are in a pre-dysfunctional state, alongside SPP1+ macrophages exhibiting immunosuppressive traits. Spatial transcriptome data further supports the immunosuppressive natures of TME around PB-KRAS subtype malignant epithelial cells in AoV carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: Our study presents a single-cell atlas of AoV carcinoma, highlighting the molecular diversity of malignant epithelium and its association with the immune microenvironment. The PB-KRAS subtype emerges as a stem-like, immunosuppressive tumor state associated with poor prognosis, providing insights for future therapeutic targeting.

Ampulla of Vater carcinoma↗

Age-associated epigenomic heterogeneity in papillary tumors of the pineal region: a multicenter YoungNOA investigation.

BACKGROUND: Papillary tumors of the pineal region (PTPR) are rare CNS neoplasms with adult and pediatric presentations, but whether age defines distinct molecular biology is unclear. METHODS: We assembled a multicenter retrospective cohort of 86 histologically confirmed PTPR with genome-wide DNA methylation data, comprising 62 adult and 24 pediatric tumors. Molecular subgroup, array platform, sex, and tumor purity were incorporated into multivariable models. Analyses included DNA methylation class assignment, differential methylation, copy-number variation (CNV), epigenetic mitotic-clock scores, methylation-based tumor microenvironment deconvolution, and descriptive survival evaluation. RESULTS: Adult and pediatric tumors mapped within the established PTPR-A and PTPR-B methylation framework rather than forming age-defined methylation classes. Pediatric tumors were enriched for PTPR-B (22 of 24 tumors [91.7%]) compared with adult tumors (39 of 62 [62.9%]). After adjustment for methylation-based subgroup as well as technical and biological covariates, 2,923 CpG probes were associated with age at a false discovery rate (FDR) threshold below 0.05, and 530 also met the prespecified effect-size threshold. Global methylation summaries were similar between age groups. CNV patterns were dominated by molecular subgroup; adjusted genomic CNV load was not independently associated with pediatric age. In contrast, epiTOC2 intrinsic rate score and the methylation signature represented by the first principal component (PC1) showed age-associated effects independent of molecular subgroup. Methylation-based deconvolution suggested a limited microenvironmental signal, with neutrophil fraction showing the most consistent adjusted association. CONCLUSIONS: Adult and pediatric PTPR share the established PTPR-A/PTPR-B framework. Pediatric tumors, particularly within PTPR-B, showed age-associated DNA methylation differences and higher epigenetic mitotic-clock (epiTOC2) scores in this retrospective cohort. These tissue-level associations do not establish clinical risk or treatment implications and require prospective clinical annotation and orthogonal validation.

Humans↗

Antenatal glucocorticoids modulate the amplitude of pulsatile cortisol secretion in premature neonates.

We hypothesized that antenatal exposure to glucocorticoids influences subsequent pulsatile cortisol (F) secretion in premature neonates. To test this hypothesis, blood was sampled for plasma F determination via indwelling arterial lines at 15-min intervals for 6 h in 26 clinically stable neonates whose gestational ages were 25-33 wk. Deconvolution analysis was used to characterize F secretion and elimination. Pulsatile F secretion was observed in all neonates. Deconvolution estimates in eight neonates exposed to antenatal glucocorticoids (ANG group) were compared with those of 18 neonates not or only remotely exposed to ANG (No/RG group). The median amplitude of the F secretory burst of the ANG group was significantly less than that of the No/RG group [4.3 nmol/Lv x min and 9.2 nmol/Lv x min, respectively; p = 0.026 (Lv is liter of F distribution volume)]. The number and duration of F secretory bursts was similar for both groups: 5 bursts per 6 h, and 23 versus 16 min. By univariate linear regression analysis, mean arterial blood pressure correlated positively with F secretory burst frequency and F production rate (p = 0.0035, r = 0.55 and p = 0.0067, r = 0.52, respectively). We propose that ANG treatment modulates the amplitude of pulsatile F secretion in premature neonates.

Betamethasone↗

Poorly controlled type I diabetes mellitus in young men selectively suppresses luteinizing hormone secretory burst mass.

Alterations in the reproductive axis function are present to a variable extent in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (IDDM). Results from studies in IDDM men have yielded discrepant findings, which may reflect nonuniform patient selection criteria, age, diabetic status, duration of the disease and differences in sampling protocols. To more clearly define the impact of early diabetic alterations in the male reproductive axis, we applied a combined strategy of patient selection restricted to young men with relatively short duration of IDDM, dual control groups, multiparameter deconvolution analysis to assess LH secretory activity, and assessment of time-dependent changes in human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)-stimulated serum testosterone concentrations. Three groups of subjects were studied: 11 young men with poorly controlled IDDM, 9 well controlled diabetics, and 9 healthy men. All volunteers underwent blood sampling at 10-min intervals before and after 2 consecutive iv pulses of 10 micro g GnRH. On a separate day, 40 IU/kg hCG were given im, and blood samples were collected before hCG administration, every 60 min thereafter for 6 h, and then 24, 48, and 72 h after the injection. Mean serum LH concentrations across the basal 6-h sampling period were significantly (P < 0.05) decreased in men with poorly controlled IDDM (11 +/- 1.6 IU/liter) compared with those in well controlled diabetics (19 +/- 1.8 IU/liter) and healthy controls (19 +/- 1.5 IU/liter). Multiple parameter deconvolution analysis revealed a 50% reduction in the mass of LH secreted per burst and the pulsatile LH secretion rate in poorly controlled IDDM (mass of LH secreted/burst, 7 +/- 1.1 vs. 12 +/- 2.1 and 13 +/- 1.5 IU/liter; LH secretion rate, 47 +/- 6.3 vs. 78 +/- 10 and 87 +/- 11 IU/liter.6 h; poorly controlled vs. well controlled IDDM and healthy controls, respectively; P < 0.05 for both parameters). Uncontrolled IDDM patients had significantly (P < 0.05) lower integrated serum LH concentrations after the first and second GnRH pulses (first GnRH pulse, 4460 +/- 770 vs. 7250 +/- 1200 and 5120 +/- 910 IU/liter; second pulse, 4700 +/- 615 vs. 7640 +/- 881 and 7100 +/- 1230 IU/liter; poorly controlled vs. well controlled IDDM and healthy men, respectively) and markedly attenuated LH secretory burst mass after the second GnRH stimulus (49 +/- 8.8 vs. 90 +/- 13 and 83 +/- 19 IU/liter; poorly controlled vs. well controlled IDDM and healthy controls, respectively). The biological to immunological ratio of LH released in baseline conditions was higher in uncontrolled IDDM patients (0.81 +/- 0.10) than in controlled IDDM (0.37 +/- 0.08) and healthy controls (0.48 +/- 0.06; P < 0.01), whereas LH released in response to exogenous GnRH exhibited comparable ratios among the three study cohorts. Baseline serum testosterone levels as well as absolute and incremental responses to exogenous hCG did not differ by degree of metabolic control. Collectively, these results indicate that the function of the hypothalamic-gonadotrope axis is compromised in young men with poorly controlled IDDM, such that the amplitude of spontaneous pulsatile and exogenous GnRH-stimulated LH secretion is attenuated. This central hypogonadotropism is paradoxically associated with the presence in the circulation of gonadotropin molecules with enriched biological activity, which is evidently sufficient to temporarily maintain normal total testosterone concentrations in the earlier stages of IDDM.

Adult↗

Alterations in cortisol secretory dynamics in adolescent girls with anorexia nervosa and effects on bone metabolism.

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is associated with low bone density in adolescents and adults. Hypercortisolemia has been reported in adults with this disorder and has been hypothesized to be a factor in bone loss. However, the secretory dynamics of cortisol in adolescents with AN and the contribution of alterations in cortisol secretion to bone metabolism in AN have not been examined. We examined the dynamics of cortisol secretion by Cluster and deconvolutional analysis in 23 girls with AN and 21 healthy adolescents of comparable age and maturity. Cortisol sampling was performed every 30 min for 12 h overnight. Twenty-four-hour urinary free cortisol (UFC) and creatinine (cr) were obtained for all subjects. The surface area (SA) of the subjects was calculated. Markers of bone turnover (type 1 procollagen, osteocalcin, and N-telopeptide) were examined. Subjects with AN were prospectively followed over 1 yr, and those who recovered weight (defined as a 10% increase in body mass index) were again studied. On Cluster analysis, girls with AN had significantly higher mean cortisol (8.6 +/- 2.0 vs. 5.9 +/- 1.1 microg/dl; P < 0.0001), nadir cortisol (5.5 +/- 2.3 vs. 3.4 +/- 1.2 microg/dl; P = 0.0008), valley mean cortisol (7.0 +/- 2.7 vs. 4.7 +/- 1.5 microg/dl; P = 0.001), peak amplitude (12.6 +/- 4.4 vs. 7.8 +/- 3.0 microg/dl; P = 0.0004), peak area (652 +/- 501 vs. 340 +/- 238 microg/dl; P = 0.02), and total area under the curve (6112 +/- 1467 vs. 4117 +/- 802 microg/dl; P < 0.0001) than healthy adolescents. On deconvolutional analysis, the frequency of nocturnal secretory bursts (7.0 +/- 1.2 vs. 5.8 +/- 1.3 /12 h; P = 0.001), total nocturnal pulsatile cortisol secretion (69.3 +/- 14.7 vs. 53.9 +/- 11.1 microg/dl; P = 0.0003), and total cortisol secretion (89.6 +/- 18.8 vs. 71.2 +/- 17.6 microg/dl; P = 0.002) were significantly higher in girls with AN than in healthy controls. Cortisol half-life trended higher in girls with AN. However, basal cortisol secretion and approximate entropy did not differ between the groups. UFC/cr and UFC/cr.SA were significantly higher in girls with AN than in controls [0.050 +/- 0.028 vs. 0.036 +/- 0.017 (P = 0.04) and 0.035 +/- 0.020 vs. 0.023 +/- 0.012 (P = 0.03)]. Six of 23 girls with AN had UFC/cr.SA values that were more than 2 sd above those in healthy controls. An inverse correlation was noted between measures of cortisol concentration as well as pulsatile secretion and measures of nutritional status (body mass index, fat mass, leptin, insulin, and IGF-I). An oral glucose load suppressed cortisol levels in healthy adolescents, but not in AN patients. Weight recovery was associated with a significant decrease in the number of secretory bursts. In girls with AN, strong inverse correlations were noted between levels of cortisol (mean, nadir, and total area under the curve) and levels of markers of bone formation (C-terminal propeptide of type 1 procollagen and osteocalcin). Conversely, in healthy controls, cortisol values did not predict levels of markers of bone turnover. Adolescent girls with AN have significantly higher serum cortisol concentrations and UFC/cr.SA values than healthy adolescents. This increased cortisol concentration is a function of increased frequency of secretory bursts, resulting in increased pulsatile secretion. Hypercortisolemia appears to be a direct consequence of undernutrition and is associated with a decrease in markers of bone formation. Therefore, high cortisol values in AN may contribute to the low bone density observed in adolescents with this disorder by decreasing bone formation.

Adolescent↗

Amplitude, but not frequency, modulation of adrenocorticotropin secretory bursts gives rise to the nyctohemeral rhythm of the corticotropic axis in man.

The ACTH-adrenal axis is a critical stress-responsive system with prominent circadian rhythmicity. To test the basis for the circadian ACTH physiology, we have used 1) a sensitive and specific two-site immunoradiometric assay to estimate plasma ACTH-(1-39) concentrations during intensive (every 10 min) and extended (24-h) blood sampling to capture complete diurnal ACTH profiles in eight normal men, and 2) a novel deconvolution model designed to resolve the number, amplitude, and duration of ACTH secretory bursts and simultaneously estimate subject-specific ACTH half-lives under physiological conditions in vivo. Deconvolution revealed 40 +/- 1.5 significant ACTH secretory bursts/24 h, with a mean interburst interval of 39 +/- 2.3 min. ACTH secretory bursts were discrete punctuated events arising without tonic interpulse secretion and had a half-duration (duration at half-maximal amplitude) of 19 +/- 2 min. The estimated half-life of endogenous ACTH was 15 +/- 1.2 min, and its daily production rate was 0.96 +/- 0.16 ng/mL (0.21 +/- 0.035 nmol/L) distribution volume. Cosinor analysis revealed a significant (3.8-fold) 24-h rhythm in the mass (or rate) of ACTH secreted per burst (maximal at 0818 h), but no nyctohemeral variation in ACTH secretory pulse frequency. The validity of ACTH pulse analysis was supported by the significantly nonrandom associations among ACTH, beta-endorphin, and cortisol peaks in the same subjects. Specifically, we found that ACTH and beta-endorphin bursts occurred simultaneously (P less than 10(-4)) and were both followed in 10 min by a cortisol pulse (P less than 10(-4)). We conclude that 1) selective amplitude control of a punctuated burst-like mode of ACTH secretion can give rise to the nyctohemeral corticotropic rhythm without the need to postulate any tonic (or interpulse basal) component of ACTH release; and 2) there is exquisite 3-fold temporal synchrony among bursts of ACTH, beta-endorphin, and cortisol release in normal men.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗

Nature of altered growth hormone secretion in hyperthyroidism.

Hyperthyroidism is accompanied by various neuroendocrine regulatory disturbances that affect not only the thyrotropic, but also the gonadotropic, corticotropic, and somatotropic axes. To examine the nature of alterations in neuroendocrine control mechanisms that direct the somatotropic axis in hyperthyroidism, we have applied a novel deconvolution technique designed to estimate the number, amplitude, and mass of significant underlying GH secretory events after the influence of GH metabolic clearance has been removed mathematically. To this end, blood was sampled at 10-min intervals for 24 h in seven hyperthyroid and seven age-matched euthyroid men. The subsequent GH time series were assayed by immunoradiometric assay (sensitivity, 0.08 ng/mL) and submitted to quantitative deconvolution analysis. We found that hyperthyroid compared to euthyroid men 1) had significantly more GH secretory bursts per 24 h (viz. 15 +/- 1.0 vs. 10 +/- 1.1; P = 0.017); 2) secreted 3 times as much GH per burst (3.7 +/- 0.80 vs. 1.3 +/- 0.42 ng/mL distribution vol; P = 0.013); 3) achieved a maximal rate of GH secretion in each burst 2.3-fold higher than that in control men (0.14 +/- 0.028 vs. 0.060 +/- 0.015 ng/mL.min; P = 0.017); and 4) had 3.7-fold higher 24-h endogenous GH production rates (P less than 0.01). Neither hyperthyroid nor euthyroid men had significant interburst (tonic) GH secretion. We conclude that the somatotropic axis in hyperthyroid men is marked by a higher frequency of spontaneous GH secretory bursts, a higher rate of maximal GH secretion attained per burst, and a larger mass of GH released per burst. These neuroregulatory disturbances result in a nearly 4-fold increase in the 24-h production rate of GH in thyrotoxicosis.

Adult↗

Dynamics of pulsatile prolactin release during the postpartum lactational period.

To investigate the pulsatile nature of PRL release in the physiologically hyperprolactinemic postpartum period, we sampled blood at 10-min intervals for 24 h in each of 6 healthy lactating women at both 3 weeks and 3 months postpartum. The subsequent immunoactive PRL time series were subjected to episodic peak detection (Cluster analysis) and multiple parameter deconvolution analysis. The 24-h mean serum PRL concentrations were significantly higher at 3 weeks than at 3 months postpartum; viz. 113 +/- 12 vs. 66 +/- 15 micrograms/L (P = 0.003). Assessment of episodic PRL pulsatility revealed significantly higher maximal PRL peak heights (296 +/- 63 vs. 141 +/- 44 micrograms/L), fractional peak heights (863 +/- 150 vs. 374 +/- 58%), incremental peak amplitudes (250 +/- 60 vs. 96 +/- 3 micrograms/L), and peak areas (13 +/- 3 vs. 4 +/- 1 mg/L.min) in the earlier postpartum period. In contrast, PRL peak frequencies and interpulse intervals were not different in the early and late postpartum sessions. Deconvolution analysis revealed that the mean mass of PRL secretory bursts was significantly greater at 3 weeks (182 +/- 4.1 micrograms/L) than 3 months (15 +/- 1.6 micrograms/L). There were no changes in the calculated half-life of endogenous PRL viz. 29 +/- 2.5 min (3 weeks) vs. 26 +/- 3.0 min (3 months). We conclude that physiological postpartum hyperprolactinemia is achieved by selectively altering the endogenous secretory rate in each PRL release episode, with no change in the number of bursts of PRL discharged or the PRL half-life.

Adult↗

Decreased metabolic clearance of endogenous growth hormone and specific alterations in the pulsatile mode of growth hormone secretion occur in prepubertal girls with Turner's syndrome. Genentech Collaborative Group.

We have used deconvolution analysis to test the hypothesis that specific facets of GH secretion and clearance differ in young patients with Turner's syndrome and normal prepubertal girls. To this end, we sampled blood at 20-min intervals for 12 h overnight in 50 girls, 37 of whom had Turner's syndrome and 13 of whom were healthy Tanner stage I controls. Deconvolution analysis revealed that the half-life of endogenous GH in Turner's syndrome was significantly prolonged at 14 +/- 0.93 vs. 11 +/- 0.44 min in normal girls (P = 0.029). The number of significant GH secretory bursts was reduced in Turner's patients to 4.7 +/- 0.27 vs. 6.8 +/- 0.60 events/12 h in healthy girls (P less than 0.01). GH secretory burst half-duration was significantly prolonged in Turner's syndrome, viz. 23 +/- 1.3 vs. 15 +/- 0.87 min (controls; P less than 0.001). The changes in GH secretory burst frequency, duration, and half-life were specific, since neither the mass of GH secreted per burst nor the maximal rate of GH secretion attained per burst (amplitude of the secretion pulse) was significantly different in the 2 study groups. Thus, although 12-h GH secretion rates corrected for body weight were similar (3.9 +/- 0.76 in Turner's patients and 3.3 +/- 0.76 micrograms/L.kg/12 h in the control girls), equivalent GH production rates were achieved by different mechanisms in the 2 groups. We conclude that specific alterations in GH secretory burst frequency and duration and endogenous GH half-life can be documented in young girls with Turner's syndrome.

Activity Cycles↗

Properties of spontaneous growth hormone secretory bursts and half-life of endogenous growth hormone in boys with idiopathic short stature. Genentech Collaborative Group.

We analyzed endogenous GH secretory dynamics and MCRs by a novel quantitative deconvolution technique in 20 boys with idiopathic short stature (ISS) and 35 boys of normal stature in Tanner stage I of puberty. We tested the null hypotheses that 1) ISS is not associated with any alterations in the frequency, mass, amplitude, or duration of spontaneous GH secretory bursts and/or the 24-h GH production rate; and 2) the half-life of endogenous GH is not altered in ISS. The boys with ISS had a mean (+/- SEM) bone age of 8.0 +/- 0.42 yr and a chronological age of 10 +/- 0.50 yr. The latter was similar to the chronological (and bone) age of the normal boys of 9.8 +/- 0.23 (and 9.3 +/- 0.34) yr. Mean height SD scores were significantly lower in ISS boys, viz. -2.7 +/- 0.15 in ISS vs. +0.34 +/- 0.13 in normal boys (P less than 0.001). Plasma insulin-like growth factor-I concentrations were similar in the two groups, as were (24-h) mean serum GH concentrations, viz. 3.5 +/- 0.29 micrograms/L in ISS and 4.1 +/- 0.49 micrograms/L in normal boys (P = NS). Deconvolution analysis revealed that the mean number of GH secretory events per 24 h was similar in normal and ISS boys, viz. 9.6 +/- 0.76 (normal) vs. 8.4 +/- 0.55 (ISS), and that there was no significant difference in mean GH interburst intervals. The amplitude, mass, and duration of computer-resolved GH secretory bursts also did not differ in normal and ISS boys. The half-lives of endogenous GH were estimated to be 16 +/- 0.77 min in the ISS and 18 +/- 0.93 min in the control boys (P = NS). The calculated daily GH secretion rate per unit distribution volume was not significantly reduced in ISS, i.e. 194 +/- 19 micrograms/L.day in ISS vs. 177 +/- 19 micrograms/L.day in control boys. Moreover, daily GH secretion rates corrected for body mass index (weight/height2) in the twp groups were not significantly different. In summary, the present cohort of boys with ISS manifested no significant alterations in GH secretory burst frequency, duration, mass, or amplitude or in the half-life of endogenous GH compared to normal boys in Tanner stage I of pubertal development. Indeed, whether daily GH secretion rates are expressed per unit distribution volume or per unit body mass index, groups of boys with ISS and normal height controls secrete similar total amounts of GH. We conclude that the overall dynamics of GH secretion and clearance in boys with ISS considered as a whole cannot be distinguished readily from physiological patterns observed in prepubertal boys of normal height.

Adolescent↗

Sleep, awakenings, and insulin-like growth factor-I modulate the growth hormone (GH) secretory response to GH-releasing hormone.

To delineate possible factors influencing the magnitude of the GH response to GH-releasing hormone (GHRH), eight young healthy men participated in seven 16-h studies involving saline infusions or injections of 0.3 micrograms/kg GHRH at various times of day and stages of sleep. GH responses were quantified by deconvolution, a procedure allowing for secretory rates to be estimated from peripheral levels. While the plasma responses were monophasic, deconvolution revealed that the secretory response to GHRH generally included several distinct bursts in rapid succession. The intersubject variability of GH responses was very wide, but for a given subject, the response was quite reproducible (mean +/- SEM coefficient of variation, 21 +/- 3%). When GHRH was given during the waking period, the magnitude of the response was directly related to the amount of spontaneous GH secretion, negatively correlated with circulating levels of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and was not influenced by time of day. When GHRH was given during slow wave sleep, the magnitude of the response was enhanced. When GHRH was given during rapid eye movement sleep, the response was similar to that observed during wake. Awakenings during sleep consistently inhibited the secretory response to GHRH, and resumption of sleep was associated with a reappearance of the secretory process. Thus, in normal men of similar age and body weight, the GH response to GHRH is dependent on the sleep or wake condition, circulating levels of IGF-I, and, possibly, genetic and lifestyle factors.

Adult↗

Attenuation of luteinizing hormone secretory burst amplitude as a proximate basis for the hypoandrogenism of healthy aging in men.

To evaluate the impact of healthy aging on specific features of endogeneous LH secretion and clearance, we applied deconvolution analysis to 24-h serum immunoradiometric LH concentration series obtained in normal men whose ages ranged from 21-73 yr. Deconvolution analysis was employed to quantitate the number, amplitude, duration, and mass of individual LH secretory bursts underlying the serum LH concentration profiles, and simultaneously estimate the half-life of LH in individual men. Plasma total and free testosterone and estradiol concentrations and body mass index (a measure of relative adiposity) were studied as possible significant covariates of age and LH secretion. We found that age was a negative determinant of LH secretory burst amplitude (r = -0.519, P = 0.013), and a positive predictor of LH secretory burst frequency (r = +0.435, P = 0.043) and basal LH secretory rates (r = +0.486, P = 0.029). Increasing age also correlated positively with LH secretory burst half-duration (duration of the secretory event at half-maximal amplitude, r = +0.656, P less than 0.001). In contrast, age did not relate to daily pulsatile LH production rate, the mass of LH secreted per burst, or the mean (24-h) serum concentration of immunoradiometric LH. Age correlated negatively with serum free testosterone (r = -0.622, P = 0.0034) but not estradiol concentrations. The serum free testosterone concentration also declined significantly with increasing body mass index (r = -0.519, P = 0.023). Although there were strong combined effects of age, body mass index, and LH secretory burst amplitude on serum free testosterone concentrations (P = 0.0006, multi-r value 0.820), LH secretory burst amplitude was the most prominent single determinant of blood androgen concentrations.

Adult↗

Temporal pattern of pancreatic insulin and C-peptide secretion and of plasma glucose levels after nutritional stimulation.

The dependency of the secretory pattern of insulin and C-peptide on either oral ingestion of the energy substrates glucose and protein or gastric distension was determined in nine healthy male subjects. To analyze secretion dynamics, high frequency blood sampling, computed estimation of individual hormone half-lives, deconvolution of data, and pulse analysis of the deconvoluted data by the Cluster program were used. After stimulation with oral glucose and protein, baseline insulin, C-peptide, and glucose levels increased in parallel, forming two or three large increases (macropulses), with a mean duration of 63.8 min. The frequency of high frequency insulin and C-peptide pulses was unchanged, whereas a significantly increased amplitude formed the basis of insulin/C-peptide macropulses after both oral stimulations. No changes in baseline insulin/C-peptide concentrations or in amplitude or frequency were observed after a challenge with 400 mL H2O (n = 3). Gastric distension with an equal volume of H2O (400 mL) did not influence pancreatic hormone secretion. Insulin and C-peptide secretions were pulsatile, with a frequency of approximately one pulse per 12 min correlated to C-peptide pulses. When calculated by multiple regression analysis glucose, insulin and C-peptide plasma levels increased simultaneously after the challenge with either glucose or protein, suggesting a neuronal or humoral intestinal-pancreatic regulation of pancreatic hormone secretion. These findings suggest that high frequency insulin and C-peptide pulses form the basis of insulin and C-peptide plasma levels after meal stimulation.

Administration, Oral↗