Endocrine Abstracts

Inflammation activates a variety of inflammatory cells, which induce and activate several oxidant-generating enzymes which are able to produce high concentrations of free radicals and oxidants which react with each other to generate other more potent reactive oxygen and nitrogen species such as peroxynitrite (ONOO−) that can damage DNA, RNA, lipids, and proteins by nitration, oxidation, etc., leading to increased mutations and altered functions of enzymes and ...

Sphingosine-1 phosphate (S1P) is a lysosphingolipid present in the ovarian follicular fluid at the nanomolar concentration. The physiological functions of S1P are mediated through five specific G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), known as S1PR1-5. S1PR1 and S1PR3 are expressed in human primary granulosa lutein cells (hGLC), as well as in the immortalized human primary granulosa cell line hGL5. S1PRs are activated at nanomolar concentrations inducing specific activation or inh...

HIV-1-infected patients under antirretroviral treatment develop the so-called ‘lipodystrophy syndrome’. It is characterized by peripheral lipoatrophy (face, limbs), visceral lipohypertrophy, and, sometimes abnormal accumulation of subcutaneous fat in specific sites, especially the dorso-cervical area. The abnormal fat distribution is associated with systemic alterations characteristic of the metabolic syndrome (dyslipidemia, insulin resistance). Drugs are importantly...

Mechanisms regulating the selection of antral ovarian follicles are poorly understood and supposed to rely on low estrogen levels, decline of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels and receptor (FSHR) expression on the surface of granulosa cells. These concepts are challenged in-vitro, where apoptosis of human granulosa cells (hGLC) and transfected cell lines is induced by high doses of FSH or FSHR overexpression, while estrogens induce anti-apoptotic signals via n...

In the last 50 years survival after childhood cancer has dramatically improved. However, childhood cancer survivors (CCS) are at risk for a considerable array of late effects arising from previous anti-cancer therapies. The excess mortality (compared with the general population) in CCS is mostly due to second neoplasms and cardiovascular diseases. Indeed, the cardiovascular system has been recognized as a highly sensitive target for damage by anti-cancer therapies. Early in th...

The polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is actually considered not only a reproductive disease but also a multifaceted disease with metabolic, cardiovascular and long-term health implications, including diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease. In particular, insulin resistance, hyperandrogenemia and dyslipidemia are likely the major risk factors for the occurrence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in PCOS. These cardiovascular risk (CVR) factors are often evident at an early ...

Background: MiRNAs transported by exosomes play a role in various processes of tumorigenesis and tumor progression. They can function as oncogenes able to structurally and biologically change the tumor microenvironment (TME) therefore playing a crucial role in cell-to-cell communication during tumor development and allowing cancer cells to become invasive and disseminate from the primary site to distant locations.We aimed to identify the exosome miRNAs that may be involved in ...

Background: Pasireotide LAR is a multireceptor targeted somatostatin analogue that has been shown to obtain a better biochemical control of acromegaly. However, pasireotide LAR could induce hyperglycemia in acromegalic patients with higher baseline glucose values. The devices that can track interstitial glucose levels such as continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) could be a useful for studying the impact of SSA on patients’ glucose status.Aim: We aime...

During the menstrual cycle, selection of the dominant follicle is characterized by changes of gonadotropin and steroid hormone receptor expression. We aim to evaluate whether co-existing follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) and G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) form heterodimers, suggesting their role in ovarian follicle selection. FSHR-GPER dimerization was evaluated in transfected HEK293 cells in vitro by bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (B...

Background: Pegvisomant (PEG) is a second line medical treatment for active acromegalic patients. PEG efficacy is between 61.5 and 92% and even if it is administered daily its long half-life suggests a possible use with a non-daily regime.Aim: We aim to compare acromegalic patients on daily PEG administration (DP) with patients on non-daily PEG administration (NDP).Methods: We studied 43 acromegalic patients under PEG treatment bet...