Hormone deficiencies that lead to stunted growth in children to be studied

By Diane Brown

Specialized cells within the human pituitary gland, a pea-sized structure that lies at the base of the brain, secrete various hormones, including those that regulate growth. Development of the cells that secrete these hormones is regulated by proteins created by the so-called LHX3 gene.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently awarded Simon Rhodes a $1.15 million grant to study how LHX3 proteins impact the development of the hormone-secreting cells.

"Our long-range goal is to be better able to diagnose and treat growth diseases, such as pituitary dwarfism," Rhodes said. "We want to understand the molecular basis of pituitary (cell) development so we can understand the basis of growth diseases in children."

His research could also provide a better understanding of thyroid, metabolic, and reproductive diseases that are often found in children with growth hormone deficiency, Rhodes said.

The NIH grant is the largest funding to date for Rhodes who has studied growth hormone deficiencies for about 10 years. Previous work, including clinical patient research done in collaboration with Dr. Ora Pescovitz of Riley Children's Hospital, was funded by the National Science Foundation and the Human Growth Foundation, a private charity. The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, a subunit of the NIH, will administer the new grant which runs through the year 2007.