Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39468766›Full record

ArticleThe Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism2025

Serum DLK1 During Minipuberty and Pubertal Transition in Healthy Girls and in Girls With Precocious Puberty.

Lea Vilmann, Kaspar Sørensen, Alexander S Busch, Marie L Ljubicic, Emmie N Upners, Margit B Fischer, Trine H Johannsen, Stine A Holmboe, Anders Juul, Casper P Hagen

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Shared Pathophysiological Mechanisms and Genetic Factors in Early Menarche and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience · 2025
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Lea VilmannDepartment of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital-Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, DK-2100, Denmark.ORCID 0000-0001-7188-9845
Kaspar SørensenDepartment of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital-Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, DK-2100, Denmark.
Alexander S BuschDepartment of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital-Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, DK-2100, Denmark.
Marie L LjubicicDepartment of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital-Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, DK-2100, Denmark.
Emmie N UpnersDepartment of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital-Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, DK-2100, Denmark.
Margit B FischerDepartment of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital-Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, DK-2100, Denmark.
Trine H JohannsenDepartment of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital-Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, DK-2100, Denmark.
Stine A HolmboeDepartment of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital-Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, DK-2100, Denmark.
Anders JuulDepartment of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital-Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, DK-2100, Denmark.ORCID 0000-0002-0534-4350
Casper P HagenDepartment of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital-Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, DK-2100, Denmark.

Funding

Capital Region of Denmark R129-A3966International Center for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disrupting Effects of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC)Kirsten and Freddy Johansen Foundation
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

contextDelta-like non-canonical notch ligand 1 (DLK1) is negatively associated with bodyweight. DLK1 pathogenic variants cause central precocious puberty (CPP) and obesity, suggesting that DLK1 links the well-established association between higher body mass index and earlier pubertal onset. However, little is known about the trajectories of circulating DKL1 in healthy girls as well as in girls with precocious puberty.

objectiveTo evaluate longitudinal changes in circulating DLK1 concentrations in (1) full-term, singleton healthy infant girls, (2) healthy girls during pubertal transition, and (3) girls with CPP during treatment with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa).

methodsThree longitudinal studies of (1) healthy infant girls (n = 85), (2) healthy peripubertal girls (n = 15), and (3) girls with CPP before and after GnRHa treatment (n = 15). Body fat percentage calculated using the Slaughter equation, and serum concentrations of DLK1 using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

resultsSerum concentration of DLK1 in healthy infant girls declined significantly through the first year of life (17.6 to 9.9 ng/mL, P = .020). DLK1 was inversely correlated with birth weight and BF%: r = -0.220, P = .044, and r = -0.503, P < .001, respectively. DLK1 declined from 1 year prior to pubertal onset to time of first examination after pubertal onset (10.4  to 9.2 ng/mL, P = .004), as well as to time at the last pubertal evaluation (10.4 to 9.8 ng/mL, P = .006). DLK1 levels were not affected by GnRHa treatment.

conclusionCirculating DLK1 levels declined steeply during infancy and were less pronounced through pubertal development. Due to considerable interindividual variation, DLK1 is not useful as a diagnostic marker of pubertal onset. Importantly, DLK1 was negatively associated with birth weight and body fat percentage.

Indexed as

Calcium-Binding ProteinsIntercellular Signaling Peptides and ProteinsPubertyPuberty, PrecociousAdolescentBody Mass IndexChildChild, PreschoolFemaleGonadotropin-Releasing HormoneHumansInfantLongitudinal StudiesMembrane ProteinsCalcium-Binding ProteinsDLK1 protein, humanGonadotropin-Releasing HormoneIntercellular Signaling Peptides and ProteinsMembrane Proteinsbirth weightbody fatCPPDLK1minipubertypuberty

Identifiers

PMID39468766
PMCPMC12086393

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.