Endocrine Abstracts

The gut microbiota contributes to postnatal development and maturation by influencing barrier functions of the intestinal wall, the development of the immune system, and the utilisation of nutrients. Recent studies have also implicated a role in the prenatal period since the maternal gut microbiota is altered during pregnancy with a potential role in the regulation of glucose homeostasis and protection against preterm birth. Using as a model system germ-free mice that have nev...

Introduction: Glucocorticoids (GCs) are used in the treatment of chronic inflammatory or autoimmune diseases. However, patients are often resistant to the GC effects. Response to GCs is triggered through glucocorticoid receptor (GR). An important regulator of GR activity is the FKBP5. FKBP5 binds to co-chaperones promoting a conformation with lower cortisol affinity. The number of GRs is another determinant of GC sensitivity; GR expression is regulated by the nuclear ...

The increasing global prevalence of obesity requires urgent intervention to limit the anticipated surge of associated cardiometabolic morbidity and mortality. The energy sensor AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is one proposed target for treating metabolic disorders and is downregulated in adipose tissue of obese insulin resistant individuals. Given the strong relationship between metabolic syndrome and overactivity of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) we inves...

Insulin resistance and androgen excess are the cardinal features of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The severity of hyperandrogenism and metabolic dysfunction in PCOS are closely correlated, but underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Aldoketoreductase type 1C3 (AKR1C3) is an important source of adipose androgen generation, activating androstenedione to testosterone (T). We postulated that AKR1C3 plays a critical role linking androgen metabolism and...

Context: Loss-of-function of immunoglobulin superfamily 1 (IGSF1) causes an X-linked syndrome of central hypothyroidism, macroorchidism, and variable prolactin deficiency, GH deficiency in childhood, delayed pubertal testosterone rise, and/or obesity. The clinical features advert towards a pivotal role for IGSF1 in the pituitary gland, but detailed knowledge on pituitary hormone secretion in this syndrome is lacking.Objective: To study detailed ...