Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease which is characterized with dysregulation of the immune system. Recent studies suggest that dysregulation of the HPA axis may as well play a contributory role in the pathogenesis of RA. Glucocorticoid hormones (GC) accomplish their effects through binding to glucocorticoid receptor (GR). Presence of GR gene polymorphisms can modulate GC effects. The A3669G polymorphism in human GR gene has been connected...

Introduction: Narcolepsy is a rare sleep disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness and REM-sleep abnormalities. Lateral hypothalamic hypocretin/orexin neurones are critical for normal wakefulness and energy expenditure, and the reduction of their activity has been linked with narcolepsy. Their activity is inhibited by extracellular glucose and the ‘satiety’ hormone leptin but stimulated by the ’hunger’ hormone ghrelin. Patients with narcolepsy ...

Introduction: Leptin is an adipocyte-secreted hormone that plays a key part in energy homeostasis but also regulates reproductive, neuroendocrine, immune, and metabolic functions. Inflammatory cytokines may affect leptin secretion. Gaucher disease (GD) is autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorder caused by the deficiency of enzyme glucocerebrosidase (GCD) with consequent massive acumulation of lipid-laden macrophages in various tissues. The pathology of Gaucher disease pr...