Endocrine Abstracts

An increasing number of factors exclusively or predominantly expressed in and released from adipocytes have been identified and shown to have important functions for energy metabolism. Adiponectin is one of these factors that have been implicated in the control of systemic insulin sensitivity. We have recently shown that pharmacological elevation of adiponectin levels results in a transient decrease of plasma glucose levels. This is primarily achieved through a repression of h...

The heterogeneity of human morbid obesity is becoming increasingly apparent with a growing number of monogenic disorders leading to profound dysregulation of body fat mass being identified. Congenital leptin deficiency is associated with extreme hyperphagia and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. Three subjects with this condition are currently undergoing therapeutic trial of recombinant human leptin with markedly beneficial effects on appetite and weight. Leptin treatment has perm...

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are nuclear receptors activated by fatty acids and derivatives. While PPARalpha mediates the hypolipidemic action of fibrates, PPARgamma is the receptor for the antidiabetic glitazones. PPARalpha is highly expressed in tissues such as liver, muscle, kidney and heart, where it stimulates the b-oxidative degradation of fatty acids. PPARgamma is predominantly expressed in adipose tissues, where it promotes adipocyte differentiat...

Metabolic Syndrome (visceral obesity, insulin resistance, type2 diabetes) resembles Cushing's syndrome, but lacks elevated circulating cortisol levels. This has engendered the hypothesis that excessive local glucocorticoid regeneration, resulting from elevated adipose 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11beta-HSD-1) underlies the Metabolic Syndrome. We report that 11beta-HSD-1 nullizygosity (11beta-HSD-1-/-) reduced intra-adipose corticosterone levels and i...