Endocrine Abstracts

Thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG), the major transport protein for thyroid hormone in circulation, is synthesized in the liver. Complete TBG deficiency was first reported in 1964, and in 1991 a single nucleotide deletion was found in the first base of the codon for amino acid 352 of the common-type TBG molecule. This mutation causes a frameshift in translation and premature termination. Most people with abnormal TBG concentrations are euthyroid. Cases of Graves’ disease wi...

Phaeochromocytoma is a rare tumour of the adrenal gland medulla characterized by excess catecholamine release. Classic presentation includes paroxysms of hypertension and adrenergic symptoms such as headache, sweating, shortness of breath, and tachycardia. In severe cases, patients might develop hypertensive crises and cardiomyopathy. We present a case of intestinal pseudo-obstruction as a rare complication of phaeochromocytoma which responded only to surgical resection of the...

Introduction: Dexamethasone inhibits mucin secretion considering the primary option for treating acute asthma exacerbation. However, the mechanism underlying dexamethasone-induced decreased in mucosecretion is unclear. Recent studies have reported that dexamethasone exerts an inhibitory effect on mucosecretion in the lung by modulating the expression of calcium-processing genes. However, the expression of the calcium-processing genes in trachea are not examined yet. Thus, the ...

The embryoid body test (EBT) is a developmental toxicity test method that assesses the half inhibitory concentrations of substances in the area of embryoid bodies (EBs), and in the viability of mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and fibroblasts (3T3 cells). In the previous pre-validation study evaluated the predictive accuracy of the EBT using 26 coded test substances and highly accurate (above 80%) when substances were classified using the predictive model. EBT used two same e...

Developmental toxicity tests have been made by embryonic stem cell tests at the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods or by embryonic body test in our laboratory. However, no neuronal-specific developmental toxicity test has been made yet. Therefore, this study was carried out using a 46C cell line, mouse embryonic stem cells with an endogenous Sox1-GFP reporter, to exploit the developmental neurotoxicity test. The expression of Sox1, a marker for neural pr...

11β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type one (11β-HSD1) converts inert glucocorticoids to active forms, amplifying intracellular glucocorticoid action. 11β-HSD1 also catalyses the reduction of seven-ketocholesterol (7KC) to 7β-hydroxycholesterol (7βHC). 7KC may inhibit cholesterol biosynthesis (Brown et al. 2002). Alteration of cholesterol homeostasis is a major atherosclerotic risk factor. 11β-HSD1 deficiency/inhibition is atheroprotective ...

Background and aims: Bile acids regulate cholesterol metabolism and the digestive system. They are conserved through enterohepatic circulation, a glucocorticoid-modulated process. We investigated whether the regeneration of active glucocorticoid by 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type one (11β-HSD1) affects bile acid release and enterohepatic transport after re-feeding.Methods: Bile acid turnover was assessed in global (Hsd11b11<...

11β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1) regenerates glucocorticoids in intact cells, converting inert cortisone into active cortisol. We have previously shown attenuated atherosclerosis development, reduced plasma monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and reduced macrophage/T cell infiltration within atherosclerotic lesions in 11β-HSD1−/−×ApoE−/− double knock-out (DKO) mice fed western diet (WD)....

High plasma levels of glucocorticoids cause metabolic disease (central obesity, hypertension, diabetes) and increase risk of cardiovascular disease. 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1) regenerates glucocorticoids in intact cells, converting inert cortisone (11-dehydrocorticosterone in rodents) into active cortisol (corticosterone in rodents). Recent work has shown the pathological importance of elevated adipose tissue 11β-HSD1 expression in develo...

Obesity, particularly abdominal (visceral) obesity, is a major risk factor for development of the metabolic syndrome. Human and animal studies have shown elevated intra-adipose glucocorticoid-action in obesity and suggest that increased glucocorticoid receptor (GR) density may be an important determinant of visceral adiposity. We have tested this hypothesis in transgenic (Tg) mice in which adipose GR levels have been increased or decreased, by expression of “sense” o...