Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Many studies have examined maternal and fetal complication rates in treated and untreated overt and subclinical hypothyroidism. Maternal hypothyroidism may adversely affect the development of the fetal pituitary–thyroid axis. It has also been reported to be closely related to adverse pregnancy outcome.Aim: To study the prevalence and outcome of hypothyroidism in pregnancy during the last decade in a high volume obstetric center in Jeru...

The thyroid gland produces thyroid hormones, which are essential regulators of growth, development and metabolism of the body and is mainly regulated by the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)/TSH receptor (TSHR) interplay. The TSHR couples to all four G protein families in vitro but only for the Gs and Gq signaling cascade a role has been identified in vivo. To gain further insights into the complex signaling networks mediated by G proteins in the thyroid, we generated...

Background: Thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG) is the major human thyroid hormone transport protein. It is encoded by the SERPINA7 gene, located on the long arm of the X chromosome (Xq22.2). Inherited TBG abnormalities result in complete (TBG-CD) or partial (TBG-PD) TBG deficiency. We performed a comprehensive molecular analysis of the SERPINA7 gene in a Brazilian family with TBG-PD.Methods: Genomic DNA was extracted from the female proband, her father, di...

Whereas G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) have long been believed to signal via cyclic AMP (cAMP) exclusively at the cell surface, our group has shown that GPCRs also stimulate cAMP production from the cell interior once internalized together with their ligands. This phenomenon, which we originally described for the thyroid stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR) in thyroid follicles, has now also been shown for several other GPCRs. However, the involved subcellular compartment(...

Background: Levothyroxine (LT4) is one of the most prescribed drugs worldwide. Once started, about 90% of patients continue LT4 treatment long-term.Aim of the study: To evaluate the necessity of long-term thyroxine supplementation and to determine the prognostic factors that could identify which patients may discontinue LT4 treatment.Design and methods: LT4 replacement therapy was paused for at least six weeks in all patients conse...