Endocrine Abstracts

Type 1 diabetes mellitus has received much attention recently as a potential target for the emerging science of stem cell medicine. Advances in islet transplantation procedures now mean that patients with the disease can be cured by transplantation of primary human islets of Langerhans. A major drawback in this therapy is the availability of donor islets, and the search for substitute transplant tissues has intensified in the last few years. This review lecture will investigat...

The HLA class II region, CTLA-4 and PTPN22, have been consistently associated with autoimmune disease (AID). Recently, three DNA variants, two of which (M55V and 001Msp) are present in NF-κB inhibitors SUMO-4 and MAP3K7IP2, and one of which (fcrl3_3) modulates NF-κB binding and production of the B cell surface molecule FCRL3, have been reported to be associated with a number of AIDs. The aim of this study was to investigate genetic variati...

Glucocorticoids (Gcs) act through the ubiquitously expressed glucocorticoid receptor (GR). Transcriptional activation by the GR involves interaction with co-modulator proteins, the expression level of which can mediate Gc sensitivity. The aim of this study was to identify additional GR interacting proteins that may influence Gc sensitivity.Using a yeast two-hybrid screen we identified a novel GR interacting protein, R59, which showed an enhanced interact...

Annexin 1 (Anx-1), a 37kDa protein, is a member of the super-family of Ca 2+ and phospholipid-binding annexin proteins and acts as a mediator of glucocorticoid (GC) action in the host defense and neuroendocrine systems. In the anterior pituitary Anx-1 is expressed mainly by folliculostellate (FS) cells and mediates the early delayed feedback inhibition exerted by GCs on the release of ACTH and other pituitary hormones. It has been previously demonstrated that TtT/GF...

Ghrelin stimulates growth hormone (GH), prolactin (PRL) and cortisol release in rodents and healthy humans.Aim: to determine the effects of ghrelin on neuroendocrine response in patients with AN in this cross-sectional hospital based study, approved by the Local Ethical Committee. Twenty-five young women were studied: AN with very low body weight (BMI 12.0±0.4 kg/m2), partially recovered AN (PRAN 17.2±1.3 kg/m2) and consti...

IntroductionHuman clinical trials are currently evaluating the protective effects of antioxidants against pre-eclampsia in threatened pregnancy (Poston et al. Ann.N.Y.Acad.Sci. 1031:242.2004). While there has been increased awareness about the modulating effects on pituitary-adrenal responses to stress by antioxidants in adult life (Brody et al. Psychopharmacology. 159:319.2001). nothing is known about the effects of antioxida...

Prostaglandin E (EP) receptors have been characterised in human myometrium from non-pregnant and pregnant (non-labouring) donors (Senior et al. 1991; 1993). However. the response to PGE2 in tissue taken at labour has not been investigated. The aim of the present study was to compare myogenic activity and the effects of PGE2 in myometrium from donors at different stages of the menstrual cycle and at pregnancy (labouring and non-labouring).<p cla...

Corpus luteum lifespan is regulated by the secretion of prostaglandins (PGF and PGE) from the endometrium. which are synthesized by cyclo-oxygenase 2 (COX-2). However. corpus luteum lifespan is altered by uterine bacterial infections. causing infertility. Uterine infection is common after parturition in cattle. often involving Escherichia coli. The pathogenic ligand of E. coli. lipopolysaccharide (LPS). is detected by Toll-like Receptor 4 (TLR4). predominantly fo...