Endocrine Abstracts

Pituitary luteinizing hormone (LH) and placental human choriogonadotropin (hCG) are two heterodimeric glycoprotein hormones regulating reproduction. They bind the same receptor (LHCGR) expressed in gonadal cells, activating hormone-specific G protein- and β-arrestins-dependent signaling cascades, before LHCGR internalization. LH induces preferential proliferative signals, while hCG activates mainly the steroidogenic pathway, reflecting their physiological roles. In this s...

Objective: Aromatase, the key enzyme involved in estrogen synthesis, is expressed in a variety of cells, including peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs), and tissues. The systematic study of aromatase expression and activity in different tissues in the human and other primates, however, is difficult and still missing. Although is not really known, aromatase expression in PBLs could be used as parameter of aromatase expression/activity making PBLs a potential alternative for other...

Introduction: A primate-specific luteinizing hormone (LH) receptor (LHCGR)-variant was suspected to discriminate between maternal choriogonadotropin (hCG)- and fetal LH-functioning. It is the so-called “LHCGRex6A”, truncated, intracellular receptor isoform produced by alternative cryptic exon stop-codons located between the 6th-7th out of 11 exons. Its function is unknown, although pseudohermaphroditism and 46-XY female-like phenotype were associated with LHCGRex...

Introduction: Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) biosimilars, differing for source cell and glycosylation pattern, are commercially available for therapy of hypogonadism and assisted reproduction techniques (ART). Although these molecules are commonly used in clinical practice, comparison of their action in vitro was poorly investigated.Aim: The aim of the study is to compare recombinant FSH- and biosimilars-induced cell response in vitro</e...

Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) is produced by the anterior pituitary gland and is a key hormone in the reproductive system. FSH is a heterodimeric glycoprotein composed with two extensively glycosylated protein subunits (α and β) N-glycosylated in two positions (Asn52 and Asn78in the FSHα subunit and Asn7 and Asn24 in the FSHβ subunit). Due to different glycosylation pattern, several FSH isoforms may different...

Introduction: Luteinizing hormone (LH) and human choriogonadotropin (hCG) regulate reproduction through binding the same receptor (LHCGR). They act via activation of G protein- and β-arrestin-dependent signals, resulting in ligand-specific pattern of signaling cascades and LHCGR internalization into endosomal vesicles. Previous studies differentiated the action of these two hormones in LH-related proliferative signals and hCG-related steroidogenic signals.Aim. We compared...

Background: The classical steroidogenic route to the synthesis of dihydrotestosterone in Leydig cells involves delta-5 and delta-4 precursors. Besides, the “backdoor pathway”, encompassing progesterone metabolites, is gaining increasing interest in fetal development and men pathophysiology. Nowadays, liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) is the ideal technique to simultaneously quantify large panels of steroids with elevated sensitivity and specif...

Introduction: Benzo[a]Pyrene (BaP) is an endocrine-disrupting chemical, which may impact reproduction. It is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon generated by the incomplete combustion of organic compounds. BaP may be accumulated in the environment, achieving effective concentrations in the nanomolar range and exerting genotoxic effects in long-term exposed humans.Aim: We evaluated the short-term impact of BaP on luteinizing-hormone (LH)/choriogonadotropin ...

Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) is produced by the anterior pituitary gland and it is a key hormone in the reproductive system. FSH is a heterodimeric glycoprotein composed with two extensively glycosylated protein sobunits (α and β) N-glycosylated in two positions (Asn52 and Asn78 in the FSHα subunit and Asn7 and Asn24 in the FSHβ subunit) giving rise to numerous isoforms of FSH. Glycosylation has been shown t...

Introduction and aim: Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine neoplasia affecting 0.2–1.5% of the individuals worldwide and its incidence is increasing [1]. Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the main histotype (80–90%). PTC susceptibility is the result of genetic predisposition, environmental factors and lifestyle. We hypothesized that genetic predisposition to PTC is poligenic and characterized by a genetic signature involving combinations of genes previously...