Endocrine Abstracts

The trace element selenium (Se) is unevenly distributed in our earth’s crust causing regional differences in soil Se concentrations. Soil Se directly affects plant Se content and thereby animal and human Se intake. Besides intake, the actual health status and genotype modify Se metabolism and expression of selenoproteins, i.e., Se status. In order to assess the individual Se status, total blood Se concentration or two circulating selenoproteins are determined. According t...

Background: Selenium (Se) sufficiency is beneficial for thyroid metabolism and pregnancy course due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. As a part of selenoenzymes, it ameliorates autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) progression in mothers and provides proper neurogenesis in fetuses. Despite lacking or conflicting recommendations for its supplementation in pregnancy, Se is used in a clinical setting, as a common constituent of multivitamin pregnancy diet supplemen...

Introduction: So far, only two representatives of thyronamines, namely 3-iodothyronamine (3-T1AM) and the iodine–free thyronamine (T0AM), have been detected in vivo. While intensive research is done on the (patho-) physiological function of 3-T1AM, the physiological role of T0AM is poorly studied. Conflicting data have been reported for the acute cardiac effects of T0AM. This project therefore determined whet...

Introduction: Autoantibodies (aAB) are characteristic of autoimmune diseases, but may also be found in apparently healthy individuals and precede pathological symptoms. We have recently reported on autoantibodies against the IGF1-receptor (IGF1R-aAB) in control subjects and patients with Graves’ disease (1). The isolated aAB were able to immunoprecipitate the recombinant autoantigen and antagonized IGF1 signaling in vitro. Given the structural similarities betwee...

Iodine (I) and selenium (Se) are two essential trace elements for regular thyroid gland functioning and thyroid hormone metabolism. Most Europeans are only marginally supplied with both elements through their daily nutrition. The mammalian organism has developed efficient and highly complex mechanisms to control I and Se uptake, metabolism and recycling. The thyroid gland is equipped with the necessary transporters and metabolizing enzymes for I uptake and bioconversion into t...

Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element and is important for maintaining health and preventing disease. Se exhibits its biological function as the 21st proteinogenic amino acid selenocysteine (Sec). Different cis and trans acting factors are necessary for incorporation of Sec into proteins. Se can be transported and stored as Sec in selenoprotein P (SePP), a liver-derived protein which contains up to 10 Sec residues per protein in humans. Thus, SePP functions...

Many endocrine disorders bear an immunological component and involve local cytokines as paracrine signals. Moreover, certain auto-antibodies appear as causative pathological agents in some of the most common endocrine diseases e.g. in type I diabetes mellitus or different forms of autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD). Recently, selenium (Se) status and selenoproteins have emerged as important modifiers of the inflammatory response, AITD or sepsis. Notably, mortality risk of patie...

Background: Selenoproteins contain the 21st proteinogenic amino acid selenocysteine (Sec) and exert important biological functions. Selenoprotein S (SelS) has only recently been identified and appears to be implicated in type 2 diabetes and inflammation. In vitro studies have shown that SelS expression is controlled by circulating cytokine and glucose levels. Mechanistically, SelS participates in the retro-translocation during quality control in the ER and the ER-associ...

The quantification of TSH from a serum or plasma sample constitutes the cornerstone of assessing the thyroid axis in the clinical routine. In addition, T4 and/or T3 levels may be determined to diagnose pathological conditions. However, these data do not necessarily reflect the local action of thyroid hormone in the target tissues and are sensitive to distortion, as best known from pregnancy when chorionic gonadotropin disturbs the regular feedback control. Recently, we identif...

Background: Selenoproteins are involved in oxidative stress defence, cell signalling and hormone metabolism. Accordingly, impairment of selenium (Se) metabolism or transport results in a complex phenotype as exemplified in selenoprotein P knockout mice (SePP-KO). This mouse model is characterized by a disrupted metabolism of Se resulting in neurological and growth defects. Hypothesis: Se impairs regular tissue development by modifying growth signal biosynthesis, anabolic respo...