Cortisol van kop tot teen: over ‘goed en kwaad’ van een stresshormoon

Oratie uitgesproken door Prof.dr. O.C. Meijer bij de aanvaarding van het ambt van hoogleraar in de Moleculaire Neuro-endocrinologie van Corticosteroïden aan de Universiteit Leiden op maandag 12 september 2016Oratie uitgesproken door Prof.dr. O.C. Meijer bij de aanvaarding van het ambt van hoogleraar in de Moleculaire Neuro-endocrinologie van Corticosteroïden aan de Universiteit Leiden op maandag 12 september 201

Immune modulations by glucocorticoids: from molecular biology to clinical research

Animal science

Glucocorticoid receptor modulators

Diabetes mellitus: pathophysiological changes and therap

Brain areas affected by intranasal oxytocin show higher oxytocin receptor expression

Neuroimaging studies suggest that intranasal oxytocin (IN-OXT) may modulate emotional and social processes by altering neural activity patterns. The extent of brain penetration after IN-OXT is unclear, and it is currently unknown whether IN-OXT can directly bind central oxytocin receptors (OXTRs). We investigated oxytocin pathway gene expression in regions affected by IN-OXT on task-based fMRI. We found that OXTR is more highly expressed in affected than unaffected subcortical regions; this effect did not vary by task type or sex. Cortical results revealed higher OXTR expression in regions affected by IN-OXT in emotional processing tasks and in male-only data. No significant differences were found in expression of the closely related vasopressin receptors. Our findings suggest that the mechanism by which IN-OXT may alter brain functionality involves direct activation of central OXTRs.Diabetes mellitus: pathophysiological changes and therap

Adrenal vein sampling in a patient with primary hyperaldosteronism and severe contrast allergy

We report on a case of a 50-year-old female patient with primary hyperaldosteronism, in whom adrenal venous sampling was required to differentiate between unilateral and bilateral disease. Because of a history of severe allergy to iodinated contrast media, premedication with glucocorticoids was indicated. Exogenous glucocorticoids, however, can affect measurements of serum cortisol. To avoid this potential confounding effects on the cortisol assay, we decided to use dexamethasone instead of prednisolone or hydrocortisone. A high-dose adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) stimulation test with the simultaneous use of dexamethasone revealed an adequate adrenal cortisol response. ACTH-stimulated adrenal venous sampling showed reliable results, which provided a solid basis for further clinical decision-making.Diabetes mellitus: pathophysiological changes and therap

Identification of mineralocorticoid receptor target genes in the mouse hippocampus

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Glucocorticoid-enhanced expression of dioxin target genes through regulation of the rat aryl hydrocarbon receptor

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) are ligand-activated transcription factors and members of the basic helix–loop–helix Period-aryl hydrocarbon nuclear translocator-single minded and nuclear hormone receptor superfamilies, respectively. Besides their individual role as activators of specific gene transcription, also interplay between both transcription factors can be an important mechanism of regulation. In this study, we report that GR can strongly activate AhRmediated transcription and consequent gene expression in rat H4IIe cells. Reporter gene assays showed an enhanced effect of dexamethasone on the dioxin response mediated by GR in rat H4IIe cells and mouse Hepa 1c1c7 cells, but not in human HepG2 cells and human T47D cells. These deviations between the rodent and human cell lines were confirmed by CYP1A1 enzyme activities. In addition, quantitative reverse transcription–PC