Endocrine Abstracts

Purpose: We found the hypomethylation status of CYP11B2 gene in the aldosterone-producing adenomas compared with normal adrenal glands or non-functioning adrenal adenomas and reported that the methylation of promoter region of this gene influenced the mRNA expression in the adrenal cells. Angiotensin II or potassium regulates CYP11B2 gene expression in the adrenal cells. In order to clarify the acute effect of potassium on the methylation status of CYP11B2 gene, Human adrenal ...

Introduction: The importance of the liver-X receptors (LXRs) in the maintenance of cholesterol homeostasis within the testis has yet to be fully characterised. By 7 months of age, Lxrα/β double knockout male mouse (Lxrα/β DKO) develops sterility with aberrations in testosterone production and lipid homeostasis. However, the underlying testicular LXR-regulated pathways are not well understood.Aim: The aim of this study was to further u...

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is prevalent metabolic disorder in women, associated with androgen excess and insulin resistance. These two major features are closely correlated, but the direction of causality remains unclear. Aldoketoreductase type 1C3 (AKR1C3) converts the androgen precursor androstenendione to testosterone (T), and is highly expressed in subcutaneous (SC) adipose tissue. We hypothesised that adipose tissue represents an important site linking androgen acti...

Recent findings revealed 3,5-diiodo-L-thyronine (3,5-T2) as a metabolically active iodothyronine affecting hepatic energy and lipid metabolism. Therefore, 3,5-T2 has been proposed as a potential hypolipidemic agent for treatment of obesity and its hepatic aftermath. So far only limited data exists relating to the effects of 3,5-T2 on metabolism in euthyroid mammals maintained on high-fat diet from the day of weaning onwards. Therefore, we performed a study in wh...

Introduction: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with dysregulated glucocorticoid metabolism. Advanced stages of NAFLD are associated with adverse outcome and current strategies to stage disease severity are still reliant upon liver biopsy. We have previously described changes to enzymatic pathways that regulate cortisol bioavailability; 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type-1 (11β-HSD1) regenerates cortisol from inactive cortisone, and A-ring re...