Endocrine Abstracts

Objectives: The main goal of the present study is to investigate the role of N-linked oligosaccharides on the structure and function of human thyrotropin (hTSH). A second aim of the present study is to design new analogs of hTSH.Methods: Overlapping PCR technique was used to convert hTSH heterodimer to a biologically active single chain by fusing the α subunit to the carboxyl terminal end of hTSHβ subunit in the absence (hTSHβα) or pr...

RAP KO mice have a reduction of colloidal Tg resulting in subclinical hypothyroidism and histological signs of goiter. The difference in colloidal Tg between RAP KO and WT mice was striking by immunohistochemistry, but could not be detected in thyroid extracts. To explain this discrepancy, we hypothesized that the reduction of Tg reflected a reduction of Tg aggregates discarded during tissue extraction. To investigate this possibility, pellets obtained by thyroid homogenizatio...

The Na+/I− symporter (NIS), a glycoprotein expressed at the basolateral plasma membrane of thyroid epithelial cells, mediates active I− uptake for the biosynthesis of thyroid hormones and radioiodide transport for diagnosis and treatment in thyroid cancer. Our cloning of the NIS cDNA and generation of anti-NIS antibodies provided the basis to investigate the decrease in I− transport in thyroid cancer relative to hea...

Several studies have identified a relationship between oncogene activation and dedifferentiation of PTC. Mutations of RAS, RET/PTC and BRAF modulate the expression of thyroid genes. An impaired NIS expression has been demonstrated in PTCs harboring the BRAFV600E mutation.Aim of this study was to analyze BRAF and RET/PTC1-3 alterations and their influence on the expression of thyroid differentiation genes. Seventy-one PTC samples were studied. Quantitative analysis o...

Human type 2 deiodinase (hD2) regulates T3 production in placenta during trophoblast development. hD2 mRNA and protein levels are elevated only during the first trimester of gestation then becoming barely detectable. These variations are similar to those of chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a well-known marker of early gestation secreted by the cytotrophoblast. A peculiar promoter architecture of the gene encoding the alpha subunit of hCG allows a CRE-mediated synergism between cA...

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) has been shown to be involved in the pathogenesis of several bone diseases characterized by a negative balance between bone resorption and formation.The aim of the study was to estimate serum markers of bone turnover: osteoclast-derived tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase form 5a (TRACP 5b) and osteocalcin in IL-6 knock-out mice to assess the role of IL-6 in the pathogenesis of thyrotoxicosis-related disturbances of bone metabolism.<...

Background and aims: Interleukin-12 (IL-12) is a pro inflammatory cytokine, which was suggested to play a key role in the pathogenesis of Th1-cell-mediated autoimmune diseases. The aim of our study was to estimate the association of 1188A/C polymorphism of IL12B gene with the predisposition to Graves’ disease (GD) in Polish population.Materials and methods: The study was performed in the group consisting of 245 individuals with GD sequentially recru...