ECE2018 Symposia New Aspects of Pituitary Regulation (3 abstracts)
Spain.
Adipose tissue is a highly active metabolic organ which, together with its classical role as energy storage depot, releases a wide variety of bioactive molecules with signaling properties, the adipokines, that play central roles in the regulation of energy metabolism and homeostasis, immunity and inflammation. Alterations in both adipokine production and lipid metabolism have been proposed to underlie the metabolic and cardiovascular disorders associated to excess body fat accumulation, including insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis, dyslipidemia or hypertension. Notably, adipokines and their receptors are also expressed and regulated in other tissues, including the pituitary. We will discuss findings from our group and others on the regulation and molecular mechanisms underlying the action of three major adipokines, leptin, adiponectin, and resistin, on the pituitary cell types as well as their interaction with the major central and peripheral regulators of these cells. Current knowledge, gained from both in vitro studies and animal models, including murine and nonhuman-primate species, and human, supports the occurrence of a pituitary-centered local adipokine circuitry which, together with peripheral (i.e. adipose tissue-produced) signaling molecules, may convey metabolic signals to the somatotropic, corticotropic, and reproductive axes. In sum, the pituitary constitutes a relevant site of action for adipokines which likely act as links in the coordinated regulation of metabolism, growth and reproduction.