Endocrine Abstracts

Somatostatin (SST), Cortistatin (CORT), ghrelin, and their corresponding receptors (ssts and GHS-R) are closely interrelated systems involved in the regulation of essential hormones for metabolic homeostasis, like insulin, whose release is inhibited by SST/CORT and stimulated by ghrelin. To investigate the underlying mechanisms of this insulin regulation, we analyzed the expression of such systems at pancreatic level in wild type (WT) and CORT knock-out mice (CORT-KO) under bo...

Adipocytes are cells highly specialized in storing excess energy as neutral lipids in lipid droplets (LDs). These organelles act not only as mere fat reservoirs, but also as active modulators of lipid storage and mobilization in response to hormonal signals. This role is accomplished through a plethora of proteins associated with the LD surface that spatially and temporally coordinate lipid metabolism and traffic on demand. Recently, we have shown that the LD-associated protei...

Adipose tissue is a highly active metabolic organ which, together with its role as an energy storage depot, produces a wide variety of bioactive molecules (i.e. adipokines) with important roles in the regulation of energy metabolism and homeostasis, immunity and inflammation. Alterations in lipid metabolism and/or in adipokine production associated to the excess of adipose tissue that defines obesity or to adipose tissue deficiency, as occurs in lipodystrophy, are linked to in...

Background and aims: Use of potassium iodide (PI) supplements during gestation in mild to moderate iodine deficiency areas remains a controversial issue.Objective: Comparing the pharmacological effect of iodized salt versus iodide potassium supplements on the maternal thyroid function and neurodevelopment (Bayley Scales) of the progeny.Methods: One hundred and thirty one pregnant women were included from the first trimester (below ...

51 y/o female with past medical history of migraine headache, brought to UR because of hypoactivity, generalized weakness, confusion, lack of balance and dysarthria since one day of evolution. No medications. No Habits. Past history: negative for hypertension, cardiac disease or dyslipidemia. Physical examination: normal vital signs and weight. Alert, awake, and oriented only in person. Palpable nontender left thyroid lobe. Bilateral hyperreflexia.Labs: ...

JAK2/STAT5 is the principal growth hormone (GH) signaling pathway related to body growth. It is positively regulated by glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and hepatocyte nuclear factor 1 (HNF-1) and downregulated by activation of tyrosine-phosphatases SHP-1,-2 and PTP-1B, and by GH-induction of suppressors of cytokine signaling (CIS/SOCS) that block GHR or JAK2, and promote internalization/degradation of signaling complexes. This pathway is desensitized in liver of adult transgenic ...

Wnt/beta-catenin signalling pathway is required during embryonic development for normal cell proliferation, differentiation and for organ homeostasis in adulthood. Over-activation of this pathway has been implicated in human cancers such as colon or skin cancers. Here, we demonstrate that enhancement of the Wnt pathway in the embryonic Rathke’s pouch causes over-proliferation of progenitor cells and severe differentiation defects in the Pit1-lineage, which results ...

Background: SOX2 is a member of the SOX family of transcription factors (SRY-related high-mobility group (HMG) box). Heterozygous, de novo, loss-of-function mutations were initially reported in patients with bilateral anophthalmia/microphthalmia, developmental delay, male genital tract abnormalities, oesophageal atresia and sensorineural hearing loss. We have recently reported a number of SOX2 mutations in patients with anterior pituitary hypoplasia and hy...

TSH-secreting pituitary adenomas (thyrotropinomas or TSH-omas) are rare. At diagnosis, TSH-omas are frequently macroadenomas presenting with variable symptoms, and signs of hyperthyroidism. Somatostatin analogs (SSA) are a very efficient treatment to improve clinical signs in patients with TSH-omas, reducing hormone levels (90%) and causing tumor shrinkage (50%).Inhibitory effects of SSA are mediated by a family of five somatostatin receptor subtypes (sst1-5), with sst2 and ss...

Background: SOX2 is a member of the SOX family of transcription factors (SRY-related high-mobility group (HMG) box). Heterozygous, de novo, loss-of-function mutations were initially reported in patients with bilateral anophthalmia/microphthalmia, developmental delay, male genital tract abnormalities, oesophageal atresia and sensorineural hearing loss. We have recently reported a number of SOX2 mutations in patients with anterior pituitary hypoplasia and hy...