Endocrine Abstracts

In the past decades, glucocorticoid (GC) hormones and their cognate, intracellular receptor, the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), have been well established as critical checkpoints in mammalian energy homeostasis. Whereas many aspects in healthy nutrient metabolism require physiological levels and/or action of GC, aberrant GC/GR signalling has been linked to severe metabolic disorders, including obesity, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Consequently, molecular mechanisms w...

Obesity, insulin resistance and high cholesterol levels are hallmarks of the metabolic syndrome. The molecular players involved in the onset of the metabolic syndrome are mostly unknown. In this context the three pseudokinases of the tribbles family have emerged as potential candidates. Among them, TRB3 has been described as a negative regulator of Akt, a key player in insulin signal transduction. However, the biological functions of TRB family members remain largely unknown. ...

Given the importance of transcriptional regulation in metabolic control, we investigated the role of nuclear receptor co-factors in the liver, a key organ in energy homeostasis. Here we show in mice that the expression of receptor interacting protein 140 (RIP140) in the liver is induced in catabolic states like fasting and cancer cachexia. In contrast, chronic high fat diet feeding reduced RIP140 mRNA levels in the liver. Increased hepatic RIP140 in catabolic conditions was as...

Disruption of the balance in energy homeostasis and substrate metabolism can lead to obesity and the metabolic syndrome on one hand and body wasting in cachexia associated with cancer and other chronic diseases on the other hand. Indirect evidence suggests that prostaglandins (PGs), products of the cyclooxygenase (COX) pathway, are involved in the regulation of metabolic processes under physiological conditions or during disease, in particular cancer cachexia. However, the dir...

Background: Invasive nonfunctioning (NF) pituitary neuroendocrine tumors (PitNETs) are non-resectable neoplasms associated to frequent relapse and significant comorbidities. As current treatments often fail against NF-PitNETs, identifying actionable therapeutic targets is essential. We focused on the angiopoietin-2 (Angpt2)/Tie2 axis, usually active in endothelial cells (ECs).Methods: ANGPT2 plasma levels in NF-PitNET patients and healthy controls were m...

Background and aimsGlucose homeostasis is essential for life. The liver is among the key tissues for maintaining an adequate metabolic homeostasis and its alterations are at the root of the pathogenesis of many disease states. A perfect balance between glucose production, mainly at the liver, and glucose consumption in different tissues, is provided by the action of insulin and counterregulatory hormones as glucagon, cortisol or catecholamines. There is ...