Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction. Lipocortin-1 (annexin-1 and p35) is a 37-kDa Ca2+-dependant membrane-binding protein that hasanti-inflammatory, anti-mitotic and anti-proliferative properties.With these properties in mind it was hypothesised that lipocortin-1 may have an important role in the endometrium. Therefore, the aim ofthis study was to determine the distribution of lipocortin-1 in normal and abnormal endometrial tissue.Methods. Formalin fixed paraffin embedded sect...

IntroductionSomatostatin has antiproliferative, anti-angiogenic and pro-apoptotic actions through 5 G-protein receptors (Sstr). In view of the anti-angiogenic effects of Sstrs their relationship to the distribution of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was undertaken in non-malignant Reinke's Oedema of the larynx and squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx.MethodsSix Reinke's oedema (non malignant) and 1...

Introduction: Somatostatins are physiological down regulatory proteins that act via 5 different transmembrane receptors (SSTR1-5, including isoforms SSTR-2a & 2b) via GTP binding proteins. The aim of this study was to determine the distribution of somatostatin receptors in thyrocytes of different thyroid pathologies.Method: Formalin fixed paraffin embedded sections from archival tissue were immunostained. Sections underwent dewaxing and rehydration before microwave ant...

Lipocortin 1 (LC1) is a well-characterized anti-inflammatory, -anti mitotic and anti-proliferative member of a structurally related family of Ca2+ and phospholipid-binding proteins. LC1 is readily detectable in the neuroendocrine system by Western blot analysis, ELISA, and immunohistochemistry (1). In these tissues, glucocorticoids regulate both the expression and subcellular distribution of LC1. Other studies have also demonstrated the presence of LC1 in endometrium tissue th...

Cathepsin K is a cysteine protease known for its importance in bone remodelling. Inhibitors of cathepsin K are in clinical trials for osteoporosis treatment, but side effects included altered levels of related cathepsins in peripheral organs and in the central nervous system (CNS). Importantly, cathepsin K has been identified not only in osteoclasts but also in most epithelia and, recently, in brain parenchyma. Lately, we have also shown that cathepsin K deficiency in mice ind...

Background: Osteoporosis has been an excruciating disease for many years now. Although various treatments are available, there is an unmet need for disease prognosis, early disease diagnosis and prediction of treatment efficacy. New biomarkers are crucial for the diagnosis or prognosis of a disease as well as for monitoring treatment efficacy and improve decision making. Cathepsin K is a cysteine protease that cleaves collagen type I, the major type of collagen found in bone, ...

Epidemiological studies of postmenopausal women on oral oestrogen replacement therapy (ERT) show a reduction in the risk of developing colon carcinoma. Our previous study demonstrated that 17beta-oestradiol (E2) induced apoptosis in COLO205, a colonic cancer cell line. The aim of this study is to identify the genes important in the E2-induced apoptosis. cDNA array analysis 24h post E2 treatment showed a decrease in mRNA of erbB3 of 92%, K-RAS of 83% and p68TRK-T3 of 98% wherea...

Sleep and wakefulness are behavioral and physiological activities. It is a modified form of the basic rest activity cycle. Humans usually fall asleep by entering in non Rapid Eye movement sleep, a phase accompanied by characteristic changes in the encephalogram (EEG). The person next moves to REM sleep, which is characterized not only by rapid eye movements but also by inhibition of skeletal muscle tone. These two states alternate with each other during sleep cycle. It has bee...

Diabetes mellitus is a group of diseases characterized by high levels of blood glucose resulting from defects in insulin production, insulin action, or both. Diabetes patients usually have accompanying cardiovascular disorders. Sulfonylureas have been the leading oral antihyperglycemic agents for type 2 diabetes treatment, which currently still constitute the most popular anti-diabetic drugs. Nevertheless, concern has arisen over the side effects of sulfonylureas on the cardio...

Calcification is a physiological process in bone but occurs also pathologically in the vasculature, favouring cardio- and cerebrovascular diseases (CVD). Vitamin K metabolites, particularly K1 and MK-4, are associated with decreased vascular calcification especially in patients with chronic kidney disease. We investigated the expression of components of the vitamin K cycle (VKC) and the MK-4 synthesis (MKS) in aorta and bone of 26 brain dead organ donors in order to identify d...