Endocrine Abstracts

Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is an endocrine and paracrine factor that is produced in many tissues in response to metabolic stress, including several nutrient and dietary conditions. In addition to its physiologic role in regulating the adaptive response to these conditions, pharmacologic administration of FGF21 to obese animals causes weight loss and improves insulin sensitivity. The diverse actions of FGF21 are mediated through a unique receptor complex that is compos...

Nuclear receptors are ligand-dependent transcription factors that govern complex physiologic pathways, including reproduction, development, and metabolism. The importance of this receptor superfamily is emphasized by its conservation throughout evolution, from simple multicellular organisms to humans. Because of their therapeutic potential in governing physiology and disease, targeting nuclear receptors for novel drug discovery has become a major interest in both academia and ...

Measurement of plasma cortisol by immunoassay after ACTH1–24 stimulation is used to assess the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis. Liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) has greater specificity and equilibrium dialysis allows measurement of free plasma cortisol. We investigated whether measuring cortisol by LC–MS/MS improves the sensitivity of ACTH1–24 stimulation testing in pituitary patients. ...

High dose glucocorticoids reduce hepatic and peripheral insulin sensitivity and insulin secretion. However, the metabolic consequences of typical therapeutic glucocorticoid doses (e.g. prednisolone <10 mg/day) are poorly characterised. The aim was to determine the acute effect of low dose prednisolone on carbohydrate metabolism and then assess whether subjects taking chronic prednisolone had increased adiposity that amplified carbohydrate metabolism perturbations.<p cl...

The resin of the guggul tree (Commiphora mukul) has been used for millennia in Ayurvedic medicine to treat a variety of ailments. Extracts of this resin have been reported to lower LDL cholesterol in humans, and the plant sterol guggulsterone (4,17(20)-pregnadiene-3,16-dione) is thought to be the active agent. We have found that guggulsterone is an antagonist ligand for the nuclear the bile acid receptor, FXR. Guggulsterone treatment lowers hepatic cholesterol levels in wild t...