Endocrine Abstracts

Folliculostellate (FS) cells form a three-dimensional network within the anterior pituitary gland and play a key role in regulating the endocrine response to inflammation and anoxic stress. Adenosine, released under such conditions in high concentration, modulates a number of inflammatory processes and can regulate the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. The identities of the adenosine receptor (AR) subtypes mediating these responses, however, and the si...

The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis is a major regulation of inflammation via the release of adrenal glucocorticoids. We recently showed that anaphylatoxin C3a receptors are expressed throughout the anterior pituitary gland and that immune-derived complement C3a and its less active derivative, C3adesR (loss of C-terminal arginine) are potent stimuli for pituitary hormones.In this study we investigated the expression of the anaphylatoxin receptor C5a ...

Coordinated interaction between the immune and neuroendocrine systems is of key importance in regulating the host's response to inflammation and anoxic stress. Adenosine, released under such conditions in high concentration, modulates a number of inflammatory processes and can regulate the activity of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Although adenosine receptors (ARs) have been described in the pituitary gland, the distribution of the receptor subtypes (A1, A2A, A...

The hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis is the major regulator of stress and inflammation via the secretion of anti-inflammatory corticosteroids. This suggests an important bidirectional flow of information between the endocrine and immune systems. A critical component of the inflammatory response is the complement cascade in which anaphylatoxins C3a, C4a and C5a are released.In this report we used colocalisation immunohistochemistry to show detai...

The nucleoside adenosine is an important regulator of interleukin-6 secretion from the folliculostellate (FS) cells of the anterior pituitary gland but the source of adenosine in this scenario is unknown. Therefore the aim of this study was to investigate secretion of adenosine and the expression of adenosine forming and metabolising enzymes in the pituitary gland.Ecto-5/-nucleotidase (CD73), adenosine kinase and adenosine deaminase (AD) were ...

Bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) are able to differentiate along multiple lineages including adipogenic and osteogenic lineages. The adenosine A1 receptor (A1R) modulates adipose tissue function causing an inhibition of lipolysis. We therefore studied A1R expression in BMSCs induced to differentiate along the adipogenic lineage.BMSCs were isolated from rat femur (10 wk male Wistar), cultured in control medium (alphaMEM 10% FCS) and then plated into adipocy...