Influence of glucocorticoids and glucocorticoid receptor gene polymorphisms on glucose metabolism

U ludzi glikokortykosteroidy (GS) regulują szeroki zakres funkcji fizjologicznych, w tym różnicowanie komórek, metabolizm i reakcje zapalne. Hormony te odgrywają ważną rolę w utrzymywaniu podstawowej homeostazy ustroju oraz odpowiedzi na stres. Ponadto GS stanowią jeden z najbardziej rozpowszechnionych związków terapeutycznych stosowanych w leczeniu chorób zapalnych, autoimmunologicznych i układu limfatycznego. Według klasycznego, genomowego modelu GS działają poprzez wewnątrzkomórkowy receptor glikokortykosteroidów (hGR) i bezpośrednio lub pośrednio regulują transkrypcję genów i syntezę białek odpowiedzialnych za proces zapalny. Zmiany w działaniu hGR mogą mieć istotne znaczenie dla wielu procesów biologicznych, takich jak behawioralne i fi­zjologiczne reakcje na stres, reakcje immunologiczne i zapalne, proces snu, a także podstawowe funkcje, takie jak wzrost i rozmnażanie czy odpowiedź na leczenie. Glikokortykosteroidy należą do hormonów antagonistycznych w stosunku do insuliny i odgrywa­ją istotną rolę w regulacji homeostazy metabolizmu glukozy. In humans glucocorticoids (GS) regulate a broad spectrum of physiologic functions, including cell differentiation, metabolism and inflammatory re­sponses. These hormones play an important role in the maintenance of basal and stress-related homeo­stasis. Furthermore, glucocorticoids represent one of the most widely used therapeutic compounds in the treatment of inflammatory, autoimmune and lymp­hoproliferative disorders. According to the classic genomic model GS bind to intracellular receptors (hGR) and directly or indirectly regulate gene transcription and synthesis of proteins responsible for inflammatory process. Alterations in hGR action may have important implications for many critical biological processes, such as the behavioral and physiologic responses to stress, the immune and inflammatory reaction, the process of sleep, as well as basic functions, such as growth and reproduction, or response to treatment. Glucocorti­coids belong to the antagonistic hormons compared to insulin and play an important role in maintaining the homeostasis of glucose metabolism

[131I]I-MIBG-negative metastases of a recurrent sporadic paraganglioma in a female with achondroplasia

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Head and Neck Paragangliomas—A Genetic Overview

Pheochromocytomas (PCC) and paragangliomas (PGL) are rare neuroendocrine tumors. Head and neck paragangliomas (HNPGL) can be categorized into carotid body tumors, which are the most common, as well as jugular, tympanic, and vagal paraganglioma. A review of the current literature was conducted to consolidate knowledge concerning PGL mutations, familial occurrence, and the practical application of this information. Available scientific databases were searched using the keywords head and neck paraganglioma and genetics, and 274 articles in PubMed and 1183 in ScienceDirect were found. From these articles, those concerning genetic changes in HNPGLs were selected. The aim of this review is to describe the known genetic changes and their practical applications. We found that the etiology of the tumors in question is based on genetic changes in the form of either germinal or somatic mutations. 40% of PCC and PGL have a predisposing germline mutation (including VHL, SDHB, SDHD, RET, NF1, THEM127, MAX, SDHC, SDHA, SDHAF2, HIF2A, HRAS, KIF1B, PHD2, and FH). Approximately 25–30% of cases are due to somatic mutations, such as RET, VHL, NF1, MAX, and HIF2A. The tumors were divided into three main clusters by the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA); namely, the pseudohypoxia group, the Wnt signaling group, and the kinase signaling group. The review also discusses genetic syndromes, epigenetic changes, and new testing technologies such as next-generation sequencing (NGS)

Ewing`s Sarcoma

Ewing's sarcoma is a small round-cell tumor typically arising in the bones, rarely in soft tissues, of children and adolescents. Clinical presentation is usually dominated by local bone pain and a mass. Magnetic resonance best defines the extent of the lesion. Patients diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma within  last years show a improving  survival rate . Rehabilitation seems to be a crucial part of multimodal therapy

Copy Number Variants Contributing to Combined Pituitary Hormone Deficiency

Combined pituitary hormone deficiency represents a disorder with complex etiology. For many patients, causes of the disease remain unexplained, despite usage of advanced genetic testing. Although major and common transcription factors were identified two decades ago, we still struggle with identification of rare inborn factors contributing to pituitary function. In this report, we follow up genomic screening of CPHD patient cohort that were previously tested for changes in a coding sequences of genes with the use of the whole exome. We aimed to find contribution of rare copy number variations (CNVs). As a result, we identified genomic imbalances in 7 regions among 12 CPHD patients. Five out of seven regions showed copy gains whereas two presented losses of genomic fragment. Three regions with detected gains encompassed known CPHD genes namely LHX4, HESX1, and OTX2. Among new CPHD loci, the most interesting seem to be the region covering SIX3 gene, that is abundantly expressed in developing brain, and together with HESX1 contributes to pituitary organogenesis as it was evidenced before in functional studies. In conclusion, with the use of broadened genomic approach we identified copy number imbalances for 12 CPHD patients. Although further functional studies are required in order to estimate its true impact on expression pattern during pituitary organogenesis and CPHD etiology

VEGF-C Is a Thyroid Marker of Malignancy Superior to VEGF-A in the Differential Diagnostics of Thyroid Lesions.

Thyroid nodular goiter is one of the most common medical conditions affecting even over a half of adult population. The risk of malignancy is rather small but noticeable-estimated by numerous studies to be about 3-10%. The definite differentiation between benign and malignant ones is a vital issue in endocrine practice. The aim of the current study was to assess the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) and VEGF-C on the mRNA level in FNAB washouts in case of benign and malignant thyroid nodules and to evaluate the diagnostic value of these markers of malignancy.Patients undergoing fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) in our department between January 2013 and May 2014 were included. In case of all patients who gave the written consent, after ultrasonography (US) and fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) performed as routine medical procedure the needle was flushed with RNA Later solution, the washouts were frozen in -80 Celsius degrees. Expression of VEGF-A and VEGF-C and GADPH (reference gene) was assessed in washouts on the mRNA level using the real-time PCR technique. Probes of patients who underwent subsequent thyroidectomy and were diagnosed with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC; proved by post-surgical histopathology) were analyzed. Similar number of patients with benign cytology were randomly selected to be a control group.Thirty one DTCs and 28 benign thyroid lesions were analyzed. Expression of VEGF-A was insignificantly higher in patients with DTCs (p = 0.13). Expression of VEGF-C was significantly higher in patients with DTC. The relative expression of VEGF-C (in comparison with GAPDH) was 0.0049 for DTCs and 0.00070 for benign lesions, medians - 0.0036 and 0.000024 respectively (p<0.0001).Measurement of expression VEGF-C on the mRNA level in washouts from FNAB is more useful than more commonly investigated VEGF-A. Measurement of VEGF-C in FNAB washouts do not allow for fully reliable differentiation of benign and malignant thyroid nodules and should be interpreted carefully. Further studies on larger groups are indicated. However, measurement of VEGF-C on mRNA level can bring important information without exposing patient for additional risk and invasive procedures

NKX2-5 Variant in Two Siblings with Thyroid Hemiagenesis

Thyroid hemiagenesis (THA) is an inborn absence of one thyroid lobe of largely unknown etiopathogenesis. The aim of the study was to reveal genetic factors responsible for thyroid maldevelopment in two siblings with THA. None of the family members presented with congenital heart defect. The samples were subjected to whole-exome sequencing (WES) (Illumina, TruSeq Exome Enrichment Kit, San Diego, CA 92121, USA). An ultra-rare variant c.839C&gt;T (p.Pro280Leu) in NKX2-5 gene (NM_004387.4) was identified in both affected children and an unaffected father. In the mother, the variant was not present. This variant is reported in population databases with 0.0000655 MAF (GnomAD v3, dbSNP rs761596254). The affected amino acid position is moderately conserved (positive scores in PhyloP: 1.364 and phastCons: 0.398). Functional prediction algorithms showed deleterious impact (dbNSFP v4.1, FATHMM, SIFT) or benign (CADD, PolyPhen-2, Mutation Assessor). According to ACMG criteria, variant is classified as having uncertain clinical significance. For the first time, NKX2-5 gene variants were found in two siblings with THA, providing evidence for its potential contribution to the pathogenesis of this type of thyroid dysgenesis. The presence of the variant in an unaffected parent, carrier of p.Pro280Leu variant, suggests potential contribution of yet unidentified additional factors determining the final penetrance and expression

Alternative 3' acceptor site in the exon 2 of human PAX8 gene resulting in the expression of unknown mRNA variant found in thyroid hemiagenesis and some types of cancers

PAX8 gene encodes one of the transcription factors engaged in the regulation of proper development of thyroid gland as well as Müllerian and renal/upper urinary tracts. So far, six alternatively spliced transcripts were reported, however, sequences of only four were deposited in the NCBI database. Here, we evaluate a fragment of a novel variant of PAX8 mRNA formed by an alternative 3' acceptor site located in the second exon. The molecular outcome encompasses extension of the 5' untranslated region of exon two by 97 nucleotides as is evident from mRNA. This new insert may impair binding of mRNA to the ribosome and in consequence significantly decrease expression of the PAX8 protein. Here, we show for the first time that the novel insert in exon two might be associated with congenital thyroid hemiagenesis and influence development of different types of cancer