Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Mitochondrial uncoupling proteins (UCPs) are transmembrane channels present in the inner mitochondrial membrane whose function is the transport of protons and small substrates between the intermembrane space and the mitochondrial matrix. UCPs are key regulators of cellular metabolism, including mitochondrial function, oxidative phosphorylation, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. UCPs’ dysfunction has been associated with the onset of metabolic dis...

Infertility affects about 15% of couples, and, among these, 50% are related to the male factor. Male infertility can be caused by intrinsic factors, and these may either directly or indirectly affect gamete and testicular development as a consequence of endocrinopathies. In that sense, research regarding the involvement of endocrine hormones, particularly of nutritional status-linked hormones, in the male reproductive system has increased over the years. In fact, the rise on t...

The Standards of Care version 8 (SOC 8) for transgender and gender diverse people suggest maintaining estradiol (E2) levels between 100-200 pg/ml in Assigned Male at Birth (AMAB) subjects who desire a complete feminization during gender affirmation hormone therapy (GAHT). However, data about estrogen dose therapy and corresponding serum concentrations are scarce, especially regarding gel formulations. Our aim was to retrospectively compare E2 serum levels in AMAB patients unde...

Thyroid hormone (TH) synthesis requires iodine, a scarce element whose recycling is mediated by DEHAL1 through deiodination of iodotyrosines MIT and DIT. In humans, DEHAL1 defects lead to severe congenital hypothyroidism (CH) non-detected by neonatal screening programs, which involves the risk of mental retardation in infants. The timing for establishment of this hypothyroidism remains unknown, but environmental iodine deficiency may represent a triggering factor. Whi...

Cushing’s Disease (CD) is a rare condition characterized by an overproduction of ACTH by an ACTH-secreting pituitary tumor, resulting in excess of cortisol release by the adrenal glands. Pasireotide is the pituitary-targeted drug approved to treat adult patients. Its mechanism of action seems to rely on the preferential binding to the highly expressed somatostatin receptor in corticotroph tumors, SST5. Recently, somatic mutations in the deubiquitinase USP8 gene h...

The high expression of somatostatin receptor 2 (SST2) in growth hormone (GH)-secreting tumors represents the rationale for the clinical use of somatostatin analogs (SSAs) in acromegaly. However, about one third of patients displays resistance to SSAs and, to date, the responsible molecular mechanisms are still under investigation. Recently, the cytoskeletal protein Filamin A (FLNA) and the scaffolding proteins β-arrestins have emerged as key modulators of the responsivene...

Cushing’s disease (CD) is a rare disorder of chronic hypercortisolism due to an adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-secreting pituitary tumor. Pasireotide, a multireceptor-targeted somatostatin (SST) analog with high binding affinity for the predominant SST receptor in human corticotroph tumors, SST5, has been recently approved to treat adult patients for whom surgery failed or does not represent a suitable option. However, to date, the molecular predictors of antisecretor...

Purpose: To evaluate whether the degree of response to surgical pre-treatment with somatostatin receptor ligands (SRL) predicts alterations in blood glucose levels.Patients and methods: We retrospectively studied 181 patients attending the Unit of Neurosurgery of our Hospital prior to transsphenoidal surgery. All patients had a diagnosis of acromegaly (nadir GH during OGTT >0.4 ng/ml; and IGF-I above age-standardized UNL); diagnosis of diabetes (DM) ...

Context: The endocannabinoid system (ECS) hypertonicity contributes to obesity development and maintenance. Excess circulating levels of ECS mediator 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2AG) were reported in obese humans, however, unstandardized experimental settings (i.e. analytical conditions, sample size, concurrent diseases/medications, statistics, gender, body mass index (BMI) and age), clouded its role in dysmetabolism and its usefulness as biomarker. The study aimed at describing 2...

Context: Ageing and obesity are similarly characterized by metabolic impairment in terms of visceral fat, dyslipidaemia, insulin resistance and hypertension. Obesity is featured by endocannabinoid system (ECS) hyperactivation. Increased levels of endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2AG) found in obesity were variously associated to dysmetabolic features, however, it is not clear whether such associations exist in normal weight conditions. Moreover, ageing contribute in mod...