Endocrine Abstracts

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common chronic systemic inflammatory disease. Several new therapies exist for RA but long-term patient management remains problematic.We have discovered that hypoxia, a characteristic of inflamed tissues, potently inhibits glucocorticoid (Gc) sensitivity. This effect is mediated, in part by HIF1α, whose activity is induced in hypoxia. HIF1α gene expression is also induced in primary peripheral blood mononuclear ce...

Introduction: Data are conflicting on whether and how serum adipokines alter following acute dietary intake. Here, we used the specific challenge of standard 75 g glucose tolerance tests (GTT) to assess timed changes in TNF-α, IL-6, leptin and adiponectin in healthy younger women and how these would be affected by adiposity.Methods: Consenting participants in the Manchester Mothers’ Heart and Vascular health study had serum adipokines measured ...

Primary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a life-threatening disease that has prevalence of 1 to 2 occurrences per one million individuals. This disease is characterized by excessive proliferation of vascular endothelium and smooth muscle cells, causing thickening the walls of pulmonary arterioles. Recent studies have uncovered a link between familial and idiopathic PAH to BMPRII mutations. The pathology of PAH is characterized by the remodeling of pulmonary arteries due to pulmo...

The human pituitary tumor transforming gene (hPTTG) is overexpressed in thyroid cancers; it induces genetic instability and propagates growth through the induction of growth factors. We set out to investigate the autocrine and paracrine pathways of interaction between hPTTG and epidermal growth factor (EGF), transforming growth factor-α (TGF-α) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) in vitro and in vivo. Synchronised K1 papillary thyroid carcinoma cell...

Introduction: SOCS2 is an important negative regulator of post-natal growth, as demonstrated by the SOCS2 null overgrowth phenotype. We have used SOCS2−/− mice, alongside chondrocytes overexpressing SOCS2, to investigate the mode of action of SOCS2 at the epiphysis. SOCS2 maybe involved in growth retardation associated with chronic inflammatory disorders, therefore we studied LPS induced growth retardation in wild type (WT) and SOCS2−/−<...

Introduction: Sarcopenic obesity prevails with ageing, encompassing excess weight gains and muscle mass or strength losses. Free fatty acids and proinflammatory cytokines are elevated in obese adults. Palmitate decreases the anabolic effects of IGF signalling, while EPA elicits anti-inflammatory activities.We aimed to examine the effects of palmitate and EPA on TNF-α/IGF1 interactions in established models of skeletal muscle cell loss.<p class="...

Inflamed ageing is associated with reduced muscle mass and increased susceptibility to TNF-induced muscle protein degradation. We therefore aimed to elucidate mechanisms supporting reduced hypertrophy and increased atrophy of skeletal myoblasts. C2 myoblasts display diminished differentiation and increased susceptibility to TNF-α-induced apoptosis versus daughter C2C12 cells, providing us with relevant models. C2 and C2</su...

Introduction: Obesity related glomerulopathy (ORG) is an emerging epidemic alongside increasing incidences of obesity. ORG pathophysiology has not been explored despite poor prognosis in untreated patients. MCP-1, MIF, CCL-18 and CCL-15 are novel cytokines that may be pathologically involved in obesity-induced renal injury and explored in this study.Methods: Blood pressure, urine and blood samples were collected from 34 morbidly obese patients before and...