Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction and Aims: Graves’ disease (GD) is mediated by thyroid stimulating antibodies (TSAbs) to the TSH receptor (TSHR). Treatments for GD have remained unchanged for more than 40 years with less than 50% of patients achieving long term remission with medical therapy. Experimental animal models have been described which facilitate understanding of disease mechanisms and permit studies of novel immunotherapeutic interventions. However studies aiming to perturb the Th1...

Chronic exposure to elevated circulating glucocorticoids can lead to metabolic changes, which resemble those observed in Metabolic Syndrome. Features of the Metabolic Syndrome can be reversed by lowering systemic glucocorticoid levels or by treatment with a glucocorticoid receptor antagonist. At the intracellular level, exposure to glucocorticoids is regulated by two distinct 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases, 11beta-HSD type 1 and type 2. 11beta-HSD1 predominantly acts as ...