Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: CLOCK system is a highly conserved, ubiquitous molecular ‘clock’ which creates internal circadian rhythmicity under the influence of light/dark information. CLOCK system is regulated by the coordinated activation/inactivation of several transcription factors, including the CLOCK, the BMAL1 and other essential regulators, such as the Pers, Crys and RORs. The present study aimed to evaluate the circadian rhythm of clock-related genes expressed in patients...

Introduction: Although the protective effects of 1,25(OH)2D3 on the early stages of atheromatosis process have been investigated, data on its influence on factors implicated in plaque vulnerability are limited. During these stages metalloproteinases MMP-2, MMP-9, their inhibitors TIMP-1,TIMP-2, the RANKL-RANK-OPG system and MCP-1 play a critical role. We aimed to investigate the effect of vitamin D on the expression of the above factors on endothelial cel...

Introduction: Glucocorticoids (GCs) are used in the treatment of chronic inflammatory or autoimmune diseases. However, patients are often resistant to the GC effects. Response to GCs is triggered through glucocorticoid receptor (GR). An important regulator of GR activity is the FKBP5. FKBP5 binds to co-chaperones promoting a conformation with lower cortisol affinity. The number of GRs is another determinant of GC sensitivity; GR expression is regulated by the nuclear ...

Introduction: In the presence of atherogenic plaque, estrogens may be potentially harmful. Among the key vessel wall components in the later stages of atherogenic process are endothelial cells (ECs). During the stages of plaque instability/rupture, metalloproteinases (MMP2 and MMP9), their inhibitors (TIMP2 and TIMP1), RANK, RANKL, OPG, MCP1, lysyl oxidase (LOX), PDGF, and ADAMTS4 play critical role. We aimed to investigate i) the effect of oestrogens on the expression of the ...

Introduction: Glucocroticoids (GCs) which are routinely used in the treatment of Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL), found recently to be beneficial in a subset of AML patients resistant to chemotherapy, by promoting leukemia cells apoptosis. Current studies indicate that vitamin D (VitD) deficiency is highly prevalent among AML patients, posing vitamin D as a therapeutic supplementation. Our previous study demonstrated that VitD exerts inhibitory effect on Dexamethasone-induced...

Introduction: Glucocorticoids are used for treatment of various hematological malignancies such as Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). Glucocorticoids are known to induce apoptosis by regulating the expression of key anti- or pro-apoptotic genes. Vitamin D induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in various types of cancer cells. Despite recent advances in treatment of AML, the poor response rate to therapy remains a big challenge.Therefore, discovering new factors that can affect th...