Endocrine Abstracts

Long acting somatostatin analogues (SMS) are extensively used as second and even first line treatment of acromegaly. Except of the inhibition of GH secretion, somatostatin is a potent inhibitor of insulin secretion from the pancreatic b- cells. As defects of glucose homeostasis are very common in acromegaly, we decided to examine the effect of the control of GH hypersecretion with SMS on glucose metabolism.We study 44 acromegalic patients divided in 3 gr...

Context: Autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type 1 (APS1) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in the autoimmune regulator gene. Hypoparathyroidism occurs in 80% of patients with APS1 and has been suggested to result from an autoimmune reaction against the calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) on parathyroid cells. Previously, we have detected CaSR-binding antibodies in patients with APS1 using immunoprecipitation and flow cytometry assays.Obj...

Autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type 1 (APS1) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in the autoimmune regulator gene. Major disease components include mucocutaneous candidiasis, hypoparathyroidism and Addison’s disease. Acquired hypoparathyroidism (AH) occurs in 80% of APS1 patients and is associated with hypocalcaemia, hyperphosphataemia and low serum levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH). Reports suggest that these clinical symptoms are initiated by...

Introduction: The growth hormone receptor (GHR) consists of 620 residues and belongs to the class I cytokine receptor family. It is a single membrane spanning protein that binds its ligand, GH, via the extracellular domain. GH binding to GHR induces a conformational change in the preformed receptor dimer, which leads to intracellular signalling. Correct functional dimerisation of two GHR molecules is essential for GH signalling. We have previously shown that membrane bound tru...

Introduction: High serum homocysteine (Hcy) has been associated with insulin resistance (IR) syndrome and cardiovascular risk, although controversy exists. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is regarded as the hepatic component of IR syndrome, but data on Hcy are limited. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate serum Hcy levels in patients with NAFLD.Methods: Thirty-one consecutive patients (54±11years, 8 males) with biopsy-prove...

We have previously demonstrated that a truncated GHR lacking the cytoplasmic domain of the receptor acts as a dominant negative regulator of receptor signalling. Glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchors are a common mechanism by which cells direct and anchor proteins in the cell membrane. We have generated a GHR extracellular domain-GPI fusion protein and tested its biological activity as a receptor antagonist. The extracellular domain of GHR (growth hormone binding protein-...

Introduction: We have generated a truncated Growth Hormone Receptor (GHR) fused to the cell membrane by a glycosyl phosphatidylinositol anchor (GHR-GPI). The protein consists of the complete extracellular domain of the GHR, but lacks the intracellular domain, and we predict it would act as a GH antagonist. Aim: To test if partially-purified soluble GHR-GPI could re-insert into CHO cell membranes. Material and methods: Membrane preparations were made from CHO cells stably expre...