Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Immune function and responses are tightly regulated by the circadian clock system and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Accumulating evidence supports that there is a strong mutual relationship between these two regulatory systems at multiple levels. Recent publications suggest that the clock system may also regulate glucocorticoid release from adrenal glands by altering the sensitivity of the adrenal cortex to adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH).<p cla...

Background: Circadian rhythmicity is generated by a set of genes including Period3. Changes in the expression of Period3 and other clock genes have been linked with regulation of the immune system. Period3 polymorphisms have been associated with circadian disruption and so immune system dysregulation and altered secretion of several cytokines, which can lead to inflammatory and autoimmune disorders.Aim: To investigate the influence of a polymorphism in P...