Endocrine Abstracts

Although Endocrinologists have focused for decades on circulating concentrations of cortisol, arguably the important concentrations are those within tissues which are available at corticosteroid receptors. Tissue concentrations are influenced by plasma proteins binding cortisol, by physicochemical characteristics of the steroid, by active transport across cell membranes, and by steroid metabolism within target tissues. Many of these factors vary between individuals, and within...

Brian Walker, UK-. AbstractBrian Walker is Professor of Endocrinology at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland where he is administrative head of a 60-strong multidisciplinary research group in the Centre for Cardiovascular Science.He graduated in medicine in Edinburgh in 1986 and completed his clinical training in Glasgow and Edinburgh. Since 1996 he has practised as an honorary consultant i...

Similarities between the metabolic syndrome and Cushing’s syndrome, and reversibility of the features of Cushing’s syndrome, suggest that cortisol may contribute to pathophysiology in both conditions and that reducing cortisol action may provide a novel therapeutic approach in metabolic syndrome.There is substantial evidence that circulating cortisol concentrations are higher in people with hypertension and glucose intolerance. The basis for th...

Brian Walker, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom. AbstractBrian Walker is Professor of Endocrinology at the University of Edinburgh, where he is administrative head of a 60-strong multidisciplinary research group in the Centre for Cardiovascular Science.He graduated in medicine in Edinburgh in 1986 and completed his clinical training in Glasgow and Edinburgh. Since 1996 he has pra...

The hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis plays a key role in the metabolic response to stress, so it is to be anticipated that cortisol signalling might in turn be regulated by nutritional status. This regulation might operate either centrally, controlling ACTH and hence plasma cortisol, or peripherally, controlling metabolism of cortisol in target tissues.Plasma cortisol levels are elevated during starvation in animals and a recent meta-analysis co...

Similarities between the metabolic syndrome and Cushing’s syndrome, and reversibility of the features of Cushing’s syndrome, suggest that cortisol may contribute to pathophysiology in both conditions and that reducing cortisol action may provide a novel therapeutic approach in metabolic syndrome. There is substantial evidence that circulating cortisol concentrations are higher in people with hypertension and glucose intolerance. The basis for t...

Adipose exposure to glucocorticoids (GCs) results in visceral adiposity and insulin resistance. Only the unbound, free fraction of GC can diffuse into cells. Corticosteroid binding globulin (CBG) is the major GC carrier, binding 80–85% of circulating GCs with high affinity. Targeted proteolysis of CBG by neutrophil elastase (NE) significantly reduces CBG binding affinity. This suggests that neutrophil-mediated inflammation provides a regulatory mechanism for delivery of G...

Adipose exposure to glucocorticoids (GCs) results in visceral adiposity and insulin resistance. Only the unbound, free fraction of GC can diffuse into cells. Corticosteroid binding globulin (CBG) is the major GC carrier, binding 80–85% of circulating GCs with high affinity. Targeted proteolysis of CBG by neutrophil elastase (NE) significantly reduces CBG binding affinity. This suggests that neutrophil-mediated inflammation provides a regulatory mechanism for delivery of G...

Background: Elevated morning plasma cortisol is associated with multiple cardiovascular risk factors in metabolic syndrome. Epidemiological studies have also reported a positive association between plasma cortisol and coronary heart disease (CHD), although not all estimates are statistically significant (OR 1.10 (95% CI 0.97 to 1.25)) (Davey Smith et al. Circulation 2005). Importantly, observational studies are unable to infer causality and results may be confounded.<...

Background: Vascular impairment, most commonly due to endothelial dysfunction, is associated with cardiovascular risk in humans with obesity, insulin resistance or Cushing’s syndrome. Similar endocrine disorders in horses, resulting in insulin resistance, are associated with laminitis, a dysfunction of the vasculature supplying the hooves, the mechanism of which is unclear. We hypothesised that horses with insulin resistance have both local and systemic evidence of vascul...