Plasma NTproCNP as a marker of skeletal growth
2008 Research Project Grant Round
Approved for funding by CMRF $74,103.00
for a period of 12 months
Start Date: 1st February 2009
Researcher 1: Dr Timothy Prickett
University of Otago, Christchurch
Photo of Research Team
Jennifer Bothwell, Dr Tim Prickett and Associate Professor Tim Yandle
Absent: Professor Eric Espiner and Professor Mark Richards
Reseacher 2: Associate Professor Timothy Randle
University of Otago, Christchurch
Reseacher 3: Professor Eric Espiner
University of Otago, Christchurch
Researcher 4: Professor Mark Richards
University of Otago, Christchurch
Plasma NTproCNP as a marker of skeletal growth
C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) has recently been identified as an important bone growth factor. Our recent discovery of a stable product of the CNP gene in blood, aminoterminal proCNP (NTproCNP), may provide a unique tool for monitoring skeletal development in growing children.
The primary goal of the current research project is to determine if measurement of blood NTproCNP will provide a useful test to show if growth hormone (GH) treatment will be effective in an abnormally short child. Many abnormally short children receive costly and time consuming treatments with GH or IGF-1, some of whom prove to be relatively unresponsive when height measurements are made after the first year of treatment. Improved techniques for detecting unresponsive subjects would be a major step forward.
It is also likely that plasma NTproCNP levels will reflect the risks of other potential disorders such as impaired bone accrual and bone strength in later life. In short, growth is a barometer of health in children. NTproCNP measurement, once fully validated, has the potential to improve early diagnosis, treatment and monitoring in growth and skeletal disorders.
