Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Although the protective effects of 1,25(OH)2D3 on the early stages of atheromatosis process have been investigated, data on its influence on factors implicated in plaque vulnerability are limited. During these stages metalloproteinases MMP-2, MMP-9, their inhibitors TIMP-1,TIMP-2, the RANKL-RANK-OPG system and MCP-1 play a critical role. We aimed to investigate the effect of vitamin D on the expression of the above factors on endothelial cel...

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 ...

Introduction: In the presence of atherogenic plaque, estrogens may be potentially harmful. Among the key vessel wall components in the later stages of atherogenic process are endothelial cells (ECs). During the stages of plaque instability/rupture, metalloproteinases (MMP2 and MMP9), their inhibitors (TIMP2 and TIMP1), RANK, RANKL, OPG, MCP1, lysyl oxidase (LOX), PDGF, and ADAMTS4 play critical role. We aimed to investigate i) the effect of oestrogens on the expression of the ...

Introduction: Glucocroticoids (GCs) which are routinely used in the treatment of Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL), found recently to be beneficial in a subset of AML patients resistant to chemotherapy, by promoting leukemia cells apoptosis. Current studies indicate that vitamin D (VitD) deficiency is highly prevalent among AML patients, posing vitamin D as a therapeutic supplementation. Our previous study demonstrated that VitD exerts inhibitory effect on Dexamethasone-induced...

Objective: Intriguing studies suggest that osteocalcin (OC) and its carboxylated (Gla)/uncarboxylated form are involved in the regulation of insulin secretion and action. Additionally, advanced glycated end products (AGEs), directly regulate the secretion of these osteoblast derived molecules. In PCOS among the pathophysiological aberrations, deregulation of insulin secretion and action as well as elevated AGEs levels have been demonstrated. In this study, we evaluated the ser...

The connective tissue components, collagen types I, III and IV, which surround the ovarian follicles, undergo drastic changes during ovulation. Abnormal collagen synthesis and increased volume and density of ovarian stroma characterise the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Physiologically, collagen synthesis in ovarian follicles is partly regulated by lysyl oxidase (LOX), which catalyzes the collagen and elastin cross-linking and plays indispensable role in the organization of...

In insulin resistant, young women with PCOS elevated serum AGEs and their receptor RAGE have been reported. The present study (approved by the local ethical committee) was undertaken to determine whether increased levels of serum AGEs in PCOS is a distinct finding compared with age- and BMI-matched women, presenting the isolated components of the syndrome and whether serum AGE levels were different among PCOS phenotypes. A total of 193 lean non-insulin resistant women were stu...

The present study aimed to investigate whether dietary advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) are detected in the ovarian tissue of normal female rats and whether they affect metabolic or hormonal profile.Normal rats were randomly assigned to regular diet, high (H-AGE) or low (L-AGE) content for 6 months. Age-matched rats fed with regular diet served as controls.H-AGE rats, demonstrated higher levels of fasting glucose (P&#6...

IntroductionEndometriosis is a dysplastic disease affecting approximately 7–10% of reproductive–aged women. It is defined as the presence of endometrial-like tissue outside the uterine cavity. Disruption of circadian rhythm in night shift worker has been associated with menstrual irregularity and increased chance of developing endometriosis and ovarian tumors. The central circadian clock system located in hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus (...

Introduction: The biological rhythm pattern is synchronized through circadian oscillation of cortisol and melatonin release. Increased cortisol levels and circadian rhythm disruption act as an oncogenic factor in endometrial cancer through among others- dysregulation of cell proliferation/apoptosis and invasion.Aim: To investigate, whether there is an oscillatory expression of the clock genes, MT1 and GR expression in human endometrial carcinoma cells. T...