Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Asprosin is a novel adipokine that is released in response to fasting and can elicit orexigenic and glucogenic effects. Circulating asprosin levels are elevated in a number of cardio-metabolic diseases, including obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus. In vitro studies have reported pro-inflammatory effects of asprosin in pancreatic β-cells and skeletal muscle cells, which appear to be mediated via a toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) mediated pathway, and m...

Background: Adipose tissue exhibits an altered adipokine secretion profile in obesity which is pro-inflammatory and relates to higher risk of cardio-metabolic diseases. Asprosin is a novel pleiotropic adipokine with orexigenic and glucogenic effects which is secreted in response to fasting. Elevated circulating asprosin levels have been shown in obesity and type 2 diabetes, as well as in other cardio-metabolic diseases. Furthermore, in vitro studies have reported pro-...

Aims/objectives: Glycerol cycling plays an essential regulatory role in metabolism in both health and disease. Aquaporins (AQPs) are a recently described family of water transporting membrane proteins, which contain a subset of members that also have the ability to transport glycerol across the cell membrane. This study sought to investigate the adipose tissue expression profile of AQPs in humans, and to assess the role of AQPs in adipocyte differentiation.<p class="abstex...

Apart from its role in energy storage, adipose tissue produces several hormones and cytokines termed ‘adipokines’ that have wide-ranging effects on carbohydrate and lipid metabolism; and thereby, play an important role in the pathogenesis of the metabolic syndrome. Visfatin is a novel adipokine, levels of which increase in obesity and is adipogenic; properties common to that of leptin. Thus, leptin may modulate visfatin production in adipose tissue. We investigated t...

NESFATIN-1 is a recently identified hypothalamic satiety molecule derived from its precursor protein, NEFA/nucleobindin2 (NUCB2). Although the hypothalamus is considered the cornerstone for maintenance of energy homeostasis, adipose tissue plays an important role in the integration of metabolic activity and energy balance; communicating with peripheral organs and the brain via secreted proteins, termed adipokines. Many hypothalamic satiety regulatory peptides have been describ...

Orexin-A and orexin-B orchestrate their diverse central and peripheral effects via two G-protein coupled receptors, OX1R and OX2R, which activate multiple G-proteins. They are involved in a host of physiological processes including, steroidogenesis, appetite control and energy regulation. Whilst some signalling mechanisms have been proposed for individual recombinant orexin receptors in generic mammalian cell types, it is clear that the peripheral effects of orexin are spatial...