Endocrine Abstracts

Leptin is a 16kDa protein produced mainly by adipocytes. Animal models demonstrate that leptin is required for control of bodyweight and reproduction, since mice defective in leptin or the leptin receptor are obese, hyperphagic insulin resistant and infertile. Our initial series of observations lead us to propose that leptin also had significant effects on human type I proinflammatory immune responses. In support of this hypothesis, leptin deficient mice are resistant to a wid...

Cardiovascular disease is significantly increased in patients with the metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. A clustering of risk factors, including dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, hypertension, inflammation and coagulation disorders result in an increased risk for cardiovascular events in these patients. PPARs (Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors) and LXRs are ligand-activated transcription factors that control lipid and glucose metabolism, as well as the inflamma...

Inflammation is a primordial response to infection and injury that seeks to neutralise and eliminate foreign organisms and/or material. Thus, inflammation is no trivial event. Life depends upon it. In general, the innate inflammatory response initiates within minutes and resolves within hours. Chronic inflammation, on the other hand, persists for weeks, months or even years and, unlike the acute response, is the side of host immunity we need to avoid. Notwithstanding, disperse...

Obesity is associated with a significantly increased risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and some cancers together with numerous other medical problems. During the last 10 years in particular, there has been a conceptual transformation of adipose tissue from an inert store of energy into an active endocrine organ that participates in the maintenance of normal energy homeostasis through its interactions with organs such as muscle, liver and the brain. In addition, it has b...