Endocrine Abstracts

The prohormone thyroxine (T4) is the major product secreted by the thyroid gland, while most actions of thyroid hormone (TH) are initiated by binding of the active hormone 3,3′,5-triiodothyronine (T3) to nuclear receptors. The biological activity of TH is thus determined by the intracellular T3 concentration in target tissues, which depends on 1) the circulating concentrations of T4 and T3, 2) the activity of deiodinases catalyzing the conversion of T4 to T3 or to recept...

In 2005, Bergh et al. first described a cell surface receptor for thyroid hormones (TH) T3 and T4 on integrin αvβ3 that is expressed on tumour cells and dividing endothelial cells. The deaminated T4 derivative tetraiodothyroacetic acid (tetrac) is a specific inhibitor of integrin-mediated TH action. Building on Paul Davis’ pioneer studies, we are investigating the effects of TH and tetrac on mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), important progenitor cells of t...

Thyroid hormones (THs) are known to regulate both lipid, glucose, and cholesterol metabolism. These effects have led to biochemical and molecular studies on the roles that they and their metabolites have on these processes. Additionally, TH analogs have been developed to improve metabolic conditions such as hypertriglyceridemia hypercholesterolemia, and obesity while minimizing side effects such as tachycardia and osteoporosis that occur in hyperthyroidism. Typically, these an...