Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB) results in sustained weight loss. Changes in food preferences and eating behaviour are postulated as possible contributing mechanisms. Post-RYGB, patients consume less sugary and fatty food. Sweet taste detection and sensitivity have been reported to be enhanced post-surgery and this may account for changes in the palatability of food. Underlying mechanisms for the changes in sweet taste function and eating behaviour are unclear....

Lactate is a metabolite that activates the G-protein coupled receptor, Hydroxycarboxylic acid Receptor 1 (HCAR1) to regulate physiological processes such as lipolysis, cancer cell survival, and neuroprotection. Lactate exists in two forms, L+ and D-, with the L isoform predominant in the human body. Interestingly, both isoforms are only found together in the gastrointestinal tract. L-lactate is synthesised as a by-product of anaerobic respiration, whereas D-lactate, is a produ...

Determining the sequence of events controlling preadipocyte commitment and subsequent terminal differentiation into adipocytes is critical to gain insight into brown and white fat physiology and metabolic dysfunction. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important regulators of gene expression and emerging evidence supports their involvement in adipogenesis and adipose metabolism. The aim of this study is to 1) identify miRNAs that modulate differentiation or function of white and brown adi...

Glycogen storage disease 1A (GSD1A) is an inherited metabolic disorder caused by glucose-6-phosphatase (G6PC) deficiency. Patients with GSD1A present disturbed glucose homeostasis and exhibit glycogen accumulation accompanied by hepatomegaly, hypoglycemia, lactic acidosis and hyperlipidemia. However, there are currently no licensed treatments for GSD1A, and human in vitro systems for disease modelling and drug screening are lacking. We aimed to develop a human hepatoc...