Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) channels are expressed in many epithelial cells and respond to mechanical or osmotic stress by initiating a number of calcium-dependent mechanisms. The human serum and glucocorticoid regulated kinase (hSGK) is one such calcium-dependent protein found in the kidney. Stimulated by cell shrinkage, this volume-regulated kinase stimulates sodium transport. Aberrant absorption of sodium has been implicated in the development of hyperten...

Aim: To identify the role of unmetabolised arachidonic acid (AA) produced by phospholipase A2 (PLA2) enzymes, and its 12-lipoxygenase (12-LOX) and cyclooxygenase (COX) products in the insulin secretory response of human islets of Langerhans. Material and Methods: Expression of COX-1 and COX-2 mRNAs was determined by RT-PCR. Insulin secretion from perifused human islets was measured by radioimmunoassay, in the presence of inhibitors of PLA<su...

Objective: The extracellular calcium-sensing receptor (CaR) is expressed on many different cell types other than those involved in the systemic regulation of plasma calcium. We have demonstrated previously that insulin-producing beta cells express the CaR. In this study we have used a calcimimetic CaR agonist (A568) to investigate the effects of CaR activation on beta cell function.Methods: Experiments used the insulin secreting MIN6 cell line or isolate...