Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Mutations in the UMOD gene, which encodes the Tamm-Horsfall Glycoprotein (THP), cause FJHN, an autosomal dominant disorder characterised by gout and renal failure. THP is a 640 amino acid glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored protein, containing three Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF)-like domains, a cysteine-rich region and a Zona Pelllucida (ZP) domain. THP is translated into the Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) lumen, glycosylated in the Golgi apparatus, trafficked...

Neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) occur in multiple sites including, the pancreas, gastrointestinal tract, lung, thymus, parathyroid, adrenals and pituitary. Current treatments for advanced NETs such as surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy, rarely achieve a cure due to metastases at presentation therefore additional therapeutic treatments are required. Identification of cell surface receptors or binding sites that are unique or up-regulated on tumour or neuroendocrine tissue coul...

Endocrine cells utilise endocytosis to scavenge polypeptide hormones, and to generate signals from inactive precursors, such as release of thyroid hormones from thyroglobulin in thyrocytes, and activation of vitamin D after reabsorption of ultrafiltrated pro-vitamin D binding protein complex by renal proximal tubular cells (PTC). We have investigated the role of CLC-5, a chloride/proton antiporter expressed in apical endosomes and the apical plasma membrane of thyrocytes and P...