Endocrine Abstracts

Efficiency of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) signaling is modulated by a variety of co-activators, including the transcription intermediary factor 2 (TIF-2). Although TIF-2 has been shown to amplify GR signaling in different cellular models and contexts, its system-physiological relevance has not been comprehensively examined. The present work investigated the role of TIF-2 in GR-mediated regulation of hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity in mice. Experiments were d...

INTRODUCTIONThe plasma concentrations and urinary excretion rates of 18-OH-F and 18-oxo-F are high in Conn's syndrome and glucocorticoid suppressible hyperaldosteronism, reputedly because aldosterone synthase (AS) has abnormal access to cortisol (F). However, both compounds are also excreted in normal subjects. Two enzymes, 11beta-hydroxylase (11OH) and AS, located in the zona fasiculata (ZF) and zona glomerulosa (ZG) respectively, are capable of 18-hydroxylation but only ...

Glucocorticoid hormones play a key role in glucose, fat and protein metabolism and dampen immune and inflammatory reactions. Synthetic equivalents are widely used as therapeutic drugs. Upon hormone binding, the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) detaches from a cytoplasmic multiprotein complex, translocates to the nucleus and regulates the transcription of target genes either directly or indirectly through interference with other transcription regulators.While...

Disruption of the normal cell cycle is one of the most frequent alterations in tumour cells, contributing to uncontrolled cell proliferation during tumour development. The CDK inhibitor p27 plays a pivotal role in controlling cell proliferation during development and tumourigenesis, and has been implicated in tumorigenesis in rats. Previous studies have demonstrated changes in p27 protein expression, in human pituitary tumours,especially in corticotroph tumours, where p27 prot...

Background: Evaluation of plantar pressure is useful for detecting functional abnormality of foot, especially in diabetic patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate plantar pressure and force in diabetic patients using Tekscan F-Scan in-shoe foot force and gait analysis system.Methods: Plantar pressure and force were measured by selecting an area of interest under the six areas of the foot: hallux, first metatarsal, second metatarsal, 3–5 metat...

Archipelago/hCdc4/Fbw7 is the F-box protein specific for recognising and binding phosphorylated cyclin E and targeting it for ubiquitination. Mutations in Archipelago that prevent it from binding to phoshorylated cyclin E have been described in various human cancers including breast, ovarian and endometrial tumours. Previous studies have suggested that cyclin E is over-expressed in corticotroph tumours and other pituitary adenoma subtypes, and we postulated that this may be se...

Background: We have previously shown that a higher BMI and less favorable body composition are associated with relatively higher FT3 levels (within the euthyroid range) in healthy young men. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether FT3 and the ratio FT3:FT4 are also associated with cardiovascular markers in a healthy euthyroid population of middle-aged men and women.Methods: Thyroid parameters were measur...

The pig is an interesting model species for translational endocrine and metabolic research. Many organ systems relevant for endocrine research, including pancreas and gastrointestinal tract, are more similar to the corresponding human organs than those of other species. The human-like size and weight of pigs allows direct transfer of medical products, surgical techniques and in vivo imaging techniques to applications in human patients. Moreover, metabolic tests, such ...

The discovery that mutations in fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) cause autosomal dominant hypophosphatemic rickets transformed our understanding of phosphate homeostasis in health and disease (White et al. Nat Genet 2000). Since then, the critical role of FGF23 in mineral metabolism in chronic kidney disease has been established (Larsson et al. Kidney Int 2003; Gutierrez et al. J Am Soc Nephrol 2005). Elevated FGF23 has ...

In the ovary, 11βHSD enzymes inter-convert cortisol (F) with its inert metabolite, cortisone (E). Porcine follicular fluid from antral follicles and spontaneous ovarian cysts contains hydrophobic compounds that inhibit NADP(H)-dependent cortisol metabolism by 11βHSD1. The aim of this study was to measure intra-follicular F:E ratios in porcine antral follicles and ovarian cysts, and determine whether F:E ratios correlate with the inhibition of 11βHSD1 by porcine ...