Endocrine Abstracts

Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), a pleiotropic cytokine of the interleukine-6 superfamily, is involved in several functions including the control of reproduction at the embrionic-endometrial interface and the regulation of energy homeostasis. LIF activates a cell-surface receptor complex (LIF-Rs) composed of one ligand-specific low affinity LIF receptor β (LIFR-β) subunit and the gp-130 subunit. Since little is known about the involvement of LIF in the modulation of...

Background: Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) receptor is a G protein-coupled receptor involved in the synthesis and release of pituitary gonadotropins. GnRH analogs constitute the most widely employed medical treatment for prostatic cancer. The predominant mechanism of action is presumed to be via the inhibition of gonadotropins and resultant decrease in androgen. Although pituitary and extra-pituitary GnRH-R transcripts appear identical, their functional characteristics ...

We hypothesized that hormonal therapy favors the development of the hormone-resistant (HR) phenotype through epigenetic mechanisms. Human prostate cancer (Pca) tissues and in vitro and in vivo models were used to verify this hypothesis. We demonstrated that tumor cells continuously treated with BCLT or cultured in androgen depleted medium progressively acquire higher DNMT activity and expression. Increased DNMT expression and activity also paralleled the up-regul...

Neuroendocrine molecules play a significant role in the progression of human prostate cancer (PCa) and its neuroendocrine differentiation has been associated to a worse prognosis. Among these molecules, the pleiotropic peptide neuropeptide Y (NPY) was found to be expressed in the human prostate and may show some relevance in PCa progression. In this study, we evaluated the direct effect of NPY on the growth of the human PCa cell lines LNCaP (androgen dependent) and DU145 and P...

Aging is associated with weight loss, appetite decline, reduced fat-free mass (FFM) and increased fat mass (FM). Dysregulation of the ghrelin and leptin systems could reduce hunger and promote early satiety in elderly subjects, leading to impairment of the nutritional status. To better clarify this issue, we evaluated the response of plasma ghrelin and leptin to a standardised oral mixed nutrient load (SOMNL) in elderly subjects with different body composition. The study popul...

Rationale and aims: Aberrant activation or “reactivation” of androgen receptor in the course of androgen-ablation therapy shows a potential cause for the development of castration-resistant prostate cancer. This study tested the hypothesis that belinostat (PXD101), a potent pan histone deacetylase inhibitor, may potentiate hormonal therapy and prevent onset of castration resistant phenotype Material and Methods. A panel of human prostate cancer (Pca) cells with grade...