Endocrine Abstracts

Oestrogenic effects on colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence, proliferation, and patient survival remains controversial. We have previously shown enzymic pathways favouring oestradiol (E2) synthesis are upregulated in CRC, and stimulation of the G-protein coupled oestrogen receptor (GPER) by E2 increases CRC proliferation. Here we interrogated The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) Colon Adenocarcinoma (COAD) database to determine all oestrogen metabolism enzymes and...

Background: Despite the widespread use of the 250-μg Cosyntropin test (ACTH test) for the diagnosis of adrenal insufficiency (AI), the effect of timing of the test on 30- vs. 60-min serum cortisol values remains unclear. Also, there is limited evidence comparing the value of performing both 30- and 60-min cortisol levels.Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all ACTH tests conducted at the Halifax Neuropituitary Program, Nova Scotia,...

Mutations in the melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) are the most common cause of monogenic obesity. The majority of MC4R mutations are predicted to cause the receptor to aberrantly fold. Misfolded MC4R fails to traffic to the plasma membrane (PM) and is retained in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Recent studies with other G-protein coupled receptors have shown that stabilisation of misfolded receptor, by pharmacological chaperones, promotes trafficking to the cell surface where th...

Children, who are born with low birth weight (less 2500 g) are known to have an increased risk of developing lipid disturbances and atherosclerosis in later live.PPAR alpha activity could play a regulatory role in the pathogenesis of hyperlipidemia and a modulatory role in the control of inflammatory response.The aim of this study was to determine whether the presence of polymorphism in gene of peroxisome proliferators-activated re...

It is well known that hypophyseotrophic dopamine (DA) exhibits a tonic inhibitory effect on pituitary lactotrops in vivo. We have previously observed that prolactin (PRL) cells obtained from lactating rats become partially resistant to DA following a brief suckling period compared to non-suckled control female rats. This, so-called “desensitization” (and a parallel appearance of “tolerance”) to DA is mediated through by a selective change of protein phospha...

Propionate upregulates leptin synthesis through the G protein-coupled receptor 41 (GPR41) in mice. In contrast to monogastric mammals, ruminants almost entirely depend on short chain fatty acids as energy source, but the reports about the physiological relevance of propionate for leptin secretion in these species are controversial and the importance of the GPR41 for its regulation is not yet clarified. Here we characterise the effects of intravenously infused propionate on the...

The D2 dopamine receptor (D2R) is a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) known to have key roles in neurotransmission, hypothalamic-pituitary hormone release and glucose homeostasis. Thus, this receptor is a therapeutic target in schizophrenia, neurodegenerative disorders, endocrine tumours and even diabetes. As for many GPCRs, D2R can associate with itself as homodimers or heterodimers with distinct receptors. The balance between monomers, homodimers and heterodimers of D2R has ...

Glycoprotein hormone receptors (TSHr, LH/CGr, FSHr)are rhodopsin-like G protein-coupled receptors with a large extracellular N-terminal portion containing leucine rich repeats, responsible for hormone recognition and binding. We have relied on spontaneous gain-of-function mutations in both the serpentine and LRR portions of the receptors to further explore the structure-function relationships of this family of receptors.ECTODOMAIN. From the observation i...

Introduction: The number of thyroid cancer diagnosis has increased worldwide. However, its diagnosis, particularly in a case of follicular cancer (FTC), may be challenging. New markers of malignancy are intensively searched for.Case description: A 29-year-old female was referred for subtotal thyroidectomy in 2006 due to a nodule in the right lobe. The histopathological examination revealed follicular adenoma (FA). During endocrinological follow-up, in 20...

IntroductionProgressive and radioiodine-refractory thyroid cancer has poor outcomes and limited therapeutic options (i.e tyrosine kinase inhibitors) due to the transient efficacy of treatment and toxic effects. Therefore, combinatorial treatment with new therapeutic approaches are needed. Many studies link G Protein-Coupled Receptors (GPCRs) to cancer. The aim of this study is to present the first specific atlas of GPCRs expression in progressive and ref...