Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Lymphocytic hypophysitis(LH) is a rare autoimmune endocrinopathy that causes pituitary gland inflammation, resulting in hypopituitarism. Headache is the most common presenting symptom; however, diabetes insipidus (DI) may be the first feature in some patients. Here we report one such case. Case: a 36-year-old female was referred to the Endocrine clinic with sudden onset of polydipsia, polyuria and nocturia. She also reported amenorrhoea but...

Primary Hyperaldosteronism (PA) is caused by adrenal tumours or bilateral adrenal hyperplasia (Djajadiningrat-Laanen et al., 2011) causing constitutive aldosterone production. Both germline and somatic mutations have been identified in human PA (Scholl, 2022). The commonest somatic mutations in benign tumours causing PA in humans include KCNJ5, CACNA1D, ATP1A1 and ATP2B3 (Williams et al., 2015). It is hypothesized that analogous somatic mutations arise in fel...

Introduction: Prior to 2015 there was no pathway for adrenal masses. An Adrenal MDT was started to discuss all the adrenal nodules (except for suspected phaechromocytoma and adrenal carcinoma) to improve the service for this cohort of patients. This audit is a review of the impact of this intervention.Methods: Data was collected between April 2016 and March 2016 for all adrenalectomies performed at East Sussex Hospitals Trust. Data was collected from the...

Folliculo-stellate (FS) cells exert a paracrine regulation on their neighbouring endocrine cells in the anterior pituitary gland. FS cells are non-granular cells characterized by long cytoplasmic processes and form follicles with microvilli on their luminal cavity, suggesting a transport function. Moreover, FS cells form monolayers in primary culture and develop domes after reaching confluence, characteristics of polarized transport epithelia. However little is known about tra...

Introduction: Klinefelter’s Syndrome (KS) is a genetic condition affecting men with the potential to severely reduce testosterone levels and affect physical appearance. Being a syndrome there are a variety of different symptoms which individuals may experience to a great or lesser extent. With no screening programme in place, KS may not be detected until puberty, or until men have problems starting a family. As a result, many different healthcare professionals (HCPs) are ...

Recent studies have demonstrated that rather than being a collection of heterogeneously dispersed cells, the pituitary gland is wired by multiple and specific endocrine cell networks to synchronise hormone release. Prolactin (PRL) is primarily important for lactation. In response to changing physiological demands during pregnancy and lactation the pituitary has the ability to expand and contract its cell number. We have investigated changes in lactotroph morphology and cell-to...

Annexin 1 (ANXA1) was first identified as a glucocorticoid (GC)-inducible protein in macrophages and is a mediator of the powerful anti-inflammatory actions of these steroid hormones. In the pituitary ANXA1 plays a critical role in mediating the early-onset negative feedback effects of GCs on the release of ACTH. ANXA1 is expressed in abundance in the anterior pituitary gland where it is localized specifically to the S100-positive folliculo-stellate (FS) cells. GCs act on FS c...

Background: Medical research suggests individuals with KS are visibly different and likely to be affected by their appearance. This can be associated with increased social stigma and increased psychological morbidity. This can undermine an already fragile self esteem, potentially increasing the risk of social isolation, resulting in further psychological distress. This study qualitatively explored the experiences of men living with a diagnosis of KS.Meth...

Annexin 1 (ANXA1) externalised from folliculostellate cells is known to be an essential intermediate in the early delayed (30 min- 3 h) negative feedback of glucocorticoids on the release of ACTH and other pituitary hormones. We have used a well-characterised folliculostellate cell line (TtT/GF cells) to investigate the mechanism by which ANXA1, a cytoplasmic protein, is externalised by cells. Externalisation is stimulated by dexamethasone (Dex) and inhibited by inhibitors of ...

Annexin 1 (ANXA1) is a 37 Kd member of the annexin family of Ca2+− and phospholipid binding proteins that has been well demonstrated to act as a mediator of glucocorticoid action in inflammation and in the control of anterior pituitary hormone release. ANXA1 is also proapoptotic and has been identified as a mediator of apoptotic cell engulfment (Solito et al. 2003 FASEB J 17:1544; Arur et al. 2003 Dev Cell 4:587). Using yeast two hybrid screening...