Endocrine Abstracts

Vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) support angiogenesis and thus tissue growth. They are synthesised and secreted by several cell types but their actions are normally limited to endothelial cells which express VEGF receptors (VEGFRs). Using qRT-PCR and Western blotting we found that normal human thyroid follicular cells also express VEGFRs (VEGFR1-3, neuropilin1 and 2). We have examined the regulation of the expression of VEGFs and PlGFs in the cells. Cells were fully...

We have recently shown that human thyroid follicular cells in culture secrete large amounts of active plasminogen activators (PAs). Thyroid cells also secrete large amounts of vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) and express their receptors, the VEGFRs. PAs, as serine proteases, are known to process growth factors, particularly VEGFs into active forms. In endothelial cells, VEGFs stimulate PA production. We examined the effect of inhibiting VEGF signalling on thyroid fo...

In order to assess the frequency and timing of recurrence in a group of patients with Graves’ disease and the predictors of recurrence, 197 patients were sampled, who were first seen in the OCDEM clinic in either 2001 or 2002 and put on anti-thyroid medication. Graves’ disease was diagnosed by the presence of low TSH levels ± symmetrical goitre ± uniform radioactive iodine uptake ± eye disease ± high levels of thyroid hormones. Patients with <...

We present the case of a 76 year old woman who was admitted to our hospital with severe Cushings syndrome, in association with hair loss and hypokalaemia. Plasma cortisol levels were elevated, and did not suppress with high dose dexamethasone. ACTH levels were detectable throughout the HDDST. MRI pituitary and CT adrenals were normal, but CT of chest revealed an area of nodularity in the right lung. With no specific treatment her symptoms settled, and her biochemistry returned...

In 1999 Haddow et al (NEJM; 1999; 314:549) reported neuropsychological deficits in babies born to inadequately treated hypothyroid mothers. We have compared our management of treated hypothyroidism in 30 pregnancies in 24 mothers delivered before 2000 to 37 pregnancies in 33 mothers since.TSH levels were measured at booking in 22 (73%) in the pre-2000 group, 6 (27%) of which were raised; and 32 (86%) in the post-2000 group where 12 (38%) were raised. 7 m...

Adrenal crisis is a life-threatening emergency requiring immediate treatment with high glucocorticoid doses. In diagnosed Addison’s disease between 3.8% and 29% of patients are estimated to need emergency hospital treatment per annum (Arlt & Allolio, 2003; Fleming & Ostergaard Kristensen, 1999).In 2003 we conducted the largest international survey of diagnosed Addison’s patients to date (N=868), enquiring about the causes and fre...

Autoimmune hypoadrenalism (Addison’s disease) is a rare condition with a European prevalence of up to 140 per million1. It frequently occurs in association with other organ-specific autoimmune diseases, both endocrine and non-endocrine. These conditions are recognised to occur in the extended family, but their prevalence has been hard to determine, because of the rarity of the disease.In 2003 we conducted the largest international survey ...

The mouse steroid 21-hydroxylase-A gene promoter (21-OH) directs adrenal cortex-specific expression of the β-galactosidase reporter in 21-OHase/LacZ transgenic mice. Multiple independent 21-OHase/LacZ transgenic lines show a similar mosaic pattern of reporter expression probably reflecting stochastic transgene silencing. In the adult, the mosaic reporter expression occurs as radial stripes spanning the adrenal cortex. A similar radial striped pattern occurs ...

There is a significant body of research that demonstrates an association between central (visceral) obesity, insulin resistance, endothelial dysfunction and accelerated atherosclerosis, but the molecular mechanisms underlying this link are incompletely understood. In cultured human aortic endothelial cell (HAEC) models, insulin stimulates an intracellular signalling cascade resulting in activating phosphorylation of Insulin Receptor Substrate-1, Protein kinase B (PKB/Akt) and ...

Annexin 1 (ANXA1) is a 37 Kd member of the annexin family of Ca2+− and phospholipid binding proteins that has been well demonstrated to act as a mediator of glucocorticoid action in inflammation and in the control of anterior pituitary hormone release. ANXA1 is also proapoptotic and has been identified as a mediator of apoptotic cell engulfment (Solito et al. 2003 FASEB J 17:1544; Arur et al. 2003 Dev Cell 4:587). Using yeast two hybrid screening...