Endocrine Abstracts

Insulin resistance is an insulin signalling defect, defined as resistance of the body to the biological actions of insulin. It is present in around 25% of the UK adult population and, although genetic factors are involved, the major arbiters are obesity and sedentary lifestyle. The tendency of cardiovascular risk factors to co-occur in the same patient may relate to insulin resistance as a primary abnormality. This hypothesis remains controversial particularly as to whether th...

The renin-angiotensin system (RAS)is important for the regulation of blood pressure with its blockade shown to reduce the vascular complications of diabetes. Adipose tissue expresses the RAS system and may contribute to obesity associated hypertension. Our previous in vitro studies have demonstrated that in human adipose tissue production of both angiotensinogen (AGT) and the active metabolite angiotensin II are stimulated by insulin. The present study investigated the ...

Resistin, a novel signalling molecule isolated in mice, has been suggested to be the putative hormone thought to link obesity with type 2 diabetes. As central obesity is associated with a higher risk of diabetes, we compared resistin mRNA expression in abdominal fat depots to thigh and breast adipose tissue. Mononuclear cells are also known to expression resistin, therefore, CD45 expression (a marker of mononuclear blood cells), was also analysed. RNA was extracted from 32 hum...

Introduction: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has a prevalence of 10–15% and is associated with metabolic and mental health consequences. There is evidence that structured education programmes improve illness perception, quality of life and the metabolic profile in other chronic conditions however evidence for structured patient education in PCOS is lacking.We aimed to use an iterative cycle of research to develop a pragmatic educational interventi...

CGRP, a potent vasodilator, is elevated in the intense periods during menopausal hot flushes and presently represents a candidate mediator of vasomotor symptoms. However due to the short half-life of CGRP, the local paracrine effects may be more important than systemic effects. These local paracrine effects may be mediated in conjunction with adipose tissue, due to close physical proximity with the vasculature; as well as altered oestrogen metabolism following menopause. There...

Adiponectin is an adipocyte derived-hormone, associated with insulin sensitivity and a lower risk of atherosclerosis. As central rather than gluteo-femoral fat is known to increase the risk of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and cardiovascular disease we investigated the mRNA and protein expression of adiponectin in human adipose tissue depots. RNA and protein was extracted using a cohort of 46 human adipose tissue samples (non-diabetic (ND) (age: (mean plus/minus SD) 44.33 plus/minus ...

The functional interleukin-4 receptor is a heterodimeric complex composed of the IL-4 receptor alpha chain and the common cytokine gamma chain. The interleukin-4 receptor (IL-4R) gene is located on human chromosome 16p12.1-11.2. A polymorphism at codon 50 of the alpha chain alters the receptor response to the Th2 cytokine interleukin-4 (IL-4). The allele with the amino acid isoleucine at position 50 (Ile50) upregulates receptor activity in response to binding with IL-4 ...

(This poster is based on OC18.)...

Adiponectin (acrp30) is an adipocyte derived-hormone, associated with insulin sensitivity and lower risk of atherosclerosis. Plasma adiponectin concentrations are decreased in obese and type 2 diabetic subjects with insulin resistance. As central rather than gluteo-fermoral fat is known to increase the risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease we investigated the expression of adiponectin in human adipose tissue depots. We examined expression of adiponectin mRNA level...

Graves' disease and type 1 diabetes frequently occur together and this would suggest that genetic susceptibility is due to common loci. The insulin (INS) gene region (IDDM2) on chromosome 11p15.5 is linked to, and associated with, type 1 diabetes and it has been suggested that it may be acting as a general autoimmunity locus. Susceptibility is conferred by the variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR); a polymorphic region situated 5' to the INS gene. The class I/I homozygote g...