What is hot in Society journals?

Metformin blocks colon cancer

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 12:00:00 GMT

Many studies link a high calorie diet to an increased risk of colorectal cancer. Studies of diabetic cancer patients receiving metformin suggested the drug improves outcomes.

Algire and colleagues observed that a high calorie diet increases insulin levels, increases expression of fatty acid synthase (FASN) and increases colon tumour growth in mice. Metformin reduced insulin levels, thereby reducing expression of FASN. In addition, they suggest metformin may have some direct antiproliferative activity on tumour cells. Algire et al. (2010), Endocrine-Related Cancer 17, 351-360.

DOI: 10.1677/ERC-09-0252

Melanocortin blockade attenuates cardiac cachexia

Fri, 02 Jul 2010 12:00:00 GMT

Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a major public health problem in western countries, with an incidence approaching 10 per 1000 per year in those aged 65 years or older. The prognosis of CHF patients is significantly worsened by the development of cachexia. Data from a number of studies support a critical role for the central melanocortin system in the pathogenesis of cachexia of chronic disease.

Scarlett et al. show that, in murine and rat models of heart failure, chronic blockade of central melanocortin signalling using genetic and pharmacological techniques is able to attenuate the metabolic manifestations of cardiac cachexia. Scarlett et al. (2010), Journal of Endocrinology 206, 121-130.

Read the full article online at DOI:10.1677/JOE-09-0397.

Neonatal nicotine exposure programs leptin resistance

Fri, 02 Jul 2010 12:00:00 GMT

Epidemiological studies show that maternal smoking during pregnancy might be a risk factor for childhood obesity and hypertension. Experimental data suggest that exposure to nicotine, the main addictive compound in tobacco smoke, during gestational and lactational periods, is responsible for increased adiposity in offspring.

As previous studies show that there is a high rate of relapse among women, de Oliviera et al. investigated the effects of perinatal nicotine exposure on intermediary metabolism in a rat model. They found that nicotine exposure during lactation programmes rats for adipocyte hypertrophy in adult life as well as for leptin and insulin resistance. De Oliviera et al. (2010), Journal of Endocrinology 206, 55-63.

Read the full article online at DOI: 10.1677/JOE-10-0104.

TRPC1-Orai1-STIM1 in hyperparathyroidism

Mon, 14 Jun 2010 12:00:00 GMT

Primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) is the second most common endocrine disorder in the western world. While the underlying uncoupling of parathyroid hormone secretion from elevated serum calcium which causes pHPT is understood, the mechanism responsible for the control of parathyroid cell intracellular Ca2+ has not been identified from the many which have been proposed. Lu and colleagues report that L-type voltage operated Ca2+ channels are not involved, and produce strong evidence that a complex of transient receptor potential canonical 1 (TRPC1), Ca2+ release-activated Ca2+ modulator 1 (Orai1), and stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1) is the key mechanism regulating intracellular Ca2+ in human parathyroid cells. Lu, M et al. (2010). Journal of Molecular Endocrinology, 44, 285-294.

DOI: 10.1677/JME-09-0138

CypB in PRL signalling

Mon, 14 Jun 2010 12:00:00 GMT

Evidence increasingly demonstrates of role for prolactin (PRL) in the pathogenesis of human breast cancer. Cyclophilin B (CypB) is a binding partner necessary for the transactivation of PRL-responsive genes involved in breast cancer. In this study, Fang and colleagues used siRNA to examine the effect of CyB knockdown in PRL-stimulated breast cancer cells. They conclude that the absence of CypB significantly impairs PRL-induced gene expression in breast cancer cells, resulting in reduced cell growth and migration. Fang, F et al. (2010). Journal of Molecular Endocrinology, 44, 319-329.

DOI: 10.1677/JME-09-0140