Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Sarcopenic obesity prevails with ageing, encompassing excess weight gains and muscle mass or strength losses. Free fatty acids and proinflammatory cytokines are elevated in obese adults. Palmitate decreases the anabolic effects of IGF signalling, while EPA elicits anti-inflammatory activities.We aimed to examine the effects of palmitate and EPA on TNF-α/IGF1 interactions in established models of skeletal muscle cell loss.<p class="...

Inflamed ageing is associated with reduced muscle mass and increased susceptibility to TNF-induced muscle protein degradation. We therefore aimed to elucidate mechanisms supporting reduced hypertrophy and increased atrophy of skeletal myoblasts. C2 myoblasts display diminished differentiation and increased susceptibility to TNF-α-induced apoptosis versus daughter C2C12 cells, providing us with relevant models. C2 and C2</su...

Introduction: The role of TNF-alpha in muscle wasting diseases if a topic of great interest. However, the role of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in some pathological diseases and in skeletal muscle is controversial. Physical exercise provides protection against several human diseases, e.g. cardiovascular disease, heart failure and claudicatio intermittens. This protection is associated with the muscle specific production of IL-6. In contrast to its protective role during exercise, eleva...

Tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) is a pleiotropic cytokine well characterised as a mediator of skeletal muscle wasting. However, the role of interlukin-6 (IL-6) in skeletal muscle remains controversial.Objectives: We therefore investigated the potential interactive effects of TNF-α and IL-6 on murine C2 skeletal myoblast survival, differentiation and proliferation.Methods: Real time-PCR, creatine kinase assay, western...

Introduction: Prolonged elevations of proinflammatory cytokines are associated with sarcopenia muscle wasting (ageing) and in cancer cachexia. Increased activation of the IGF/insulin pathway is an attractive target for combating such wasting.Aims: Using rodent skeletal muscle cell lines we have investigated TNF-α/IGF-I interactions, in an attempt to mimic and understand mechanisms underlying skeletal muscle loss.Methods and re...

Introduction: Skeletal muscle cells enable investigation of myogenesis and metabolic function in vitro. Exposure to human serum can provide insight into the impact of endocrine factors upon differentiation and mitochondrial function of skeletal muscle. The aim of these experiments was to optimise the culture conditions using human serum, which it was hypothesised would enhance myogenesis and mitochondrial function of LHCN-M2 human skeletal muscle cells.<p class="a...

Introduction: Survivors of childhood BMT/TBI have increased cardiovascular morbidity and GH deficiency (GHD). We aimed to investigate the relationship between cardiovascular risk and GHD and GHTx in BMT/TBI survivors.Methods: BMT/TBI survivors (n=36) and non-BMT control subjects (n=19) were sub-divided according to GH status assessed by insulin tolerance test: i) survivors with untreated GHD (N=18,11M), ii) survivors on GHTx (N</i...

Introduction: Data on the impact of TBI on the HPAA are limited. This study investigates the HPAA in BMT-survivors and non-BMT controls using overnight serum cortisol profiles and midnight/9am ACTH levels.Subjects (N=35): N=14, child (7), adult (7) controls, N=21 child (7), adult (14) BMT-survivors (TBI dose 12.0-14.4Gy). None had had treatment with corticosteroids in the last year.Method: Subjects rested for 3...

Introduction: Growth hormone deficiency (GHD) after cranial irradiation (CRI) is time, dose and fraction dependent. TBI (12–14.4Gy) involves low dose CRI, and skeletal irradiation causing further adverse growth effects. We present baseline data from a prospective study of GH treatment.Subjects N=25: We studied 13 BMT survivors (all had TBI, 3 also had CRI <18Gy), and 12 non-BMT subjects investigated for GHD. Both groups contained y...