Endocrine Abstracts

Background and aims: Adipose tissue (AT) secretes cytokines which contribute to systemic inflammation in obesity. Cytokines like monocyte-chemoattractant-protein-1 (MCP-1) have also been associated with macrophage infiltration of AT in obese mice. However, it is unknown whether visceral-AT (VAT) or subcutaneous-AT (SCAT) expression is related to serum levels of these cytokines in humans.Methods: Morbidly-obese non-diabetic subjects undergoing bariatric s...

Background: Leptin has multiple functions including modulating energy homeostasis and the immune response. Leptin is an important target for therapy to modulate the immune response in several autoimmune diseases. Although the structure of leptin is known, that of its receptor remains unsolved. The aim of this project was to express and purify the extracellular domain the leptin receptor (ObR) in order to carry out functional and crystallisation studies to elucidate the mechani...

Chronically elevated GH levels in GH-transgenic mice derive in accelerated growth and increased body weight. These animals present increased circulating IGF-I and hepatic IGF-I mRNA levels, as well as liver enlargement due to hypertrophy and hyperplasia, which frequently progress to hepatomas as the animals age.We have previously described that the GH-induced JAK2/STAT5 signalling pathway is desensitized in the liver of transgenic mice overexpressing GH....

Introduction: Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signalling involved in many physiological and pathophysiological processes requires the complex formation of FGF receptor, FGF and heparan sulphate, which is regulated by multiple extracellular inputs. FGFR1 as KAL-2 gene and anosmin-1, an extracellular matrix protein encoded by KAL-1 gene are associated with Kallmann syndrome characterised by anosmia and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. Anosmin-1 induces neurite outgrowth and cytoske...

Introduction: IGF-I and its binding proteins may modulate cardiovascular risk. As part of our Manchester Mothers’ Cardiovascular study, we tested in pre-menopausal women the hypothesis that higher circulating IGF-I concentrations would be associated with lesser arterial stiffness and lower cardiac (LV) mass, while higher IGFBP1, reflecting less pre-hepatic insulin, would be positively related to small vessel function.Methods: About 193 women aged 32...

Tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) is a pleiotropic cytokine well characterised as a mediator of skeletal muscle wasting. However, the role of interlukin-6 (IL-6) in skeletal muscle remains controversial.Objectives: We therefore investigated the potential interactive effects of TNF-α and IL-6 on murine C2 skeletal myoblast survival, differentiation and proliferation.Methods: Real time-PCR, creatine kinase assay, western...

Introduction: Prolonged elevations of proinflammatory cytokines are associated with sarcopenia muscle wasting (ageing) and in cancer cachexia. Increased activation of the IGF/insulin pathway is an attractive target for combating such wasting.Aims: Using rodent skeletal muscle cell lines we have investigated TNF-α/IGF-I interactions, in an attempt to mimic and understand mechanisms underlying skeletal muscle loss.Methods and re...