DICER1 gene mutations in endocrine tumors

In this review, the importance of theDICER1gene in the function of endocrine cells is discussed. There is conclusive evidence thatDICER1mutations play a crucial role in the development, progression, cell proliferation, therapeutic responsiveness and behavior of several endocrine tumors. We review the literature ofDICER1gene mutations in thyroid, parathyroid, pituitary, pineal gland, endocrine pancreas, paragangliomas, medullary, adrenocortical, ovarian and testicular tumors. Although significant progress has been made during the last few years, much more work is needed to fully understand the significance ofDICER1mutations.</jats:p

Exploring the Role of Somatostatin in the Pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease

The amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide is understood to be a critical factor in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), with soluble Aβ oligomers (oAβ) observed to be particularly toxic to neurons. For this reason, we undertook an in-depth search for oAβ binders in human brain, taking advantage of advanced mass spectrometry workflows. This analysis revealed the peptide somatostatin (SST) to be the most selective binder to oAβ in affinity capture experiments. Furthermore, SST was observed to interfere with Aβ aggregation kinetics and promote the formation of distinct 50-60 kDa Aβ assemblies. In a follow-up investigation of the SST interactome, it was revealed that SST predominantly binds to several members of the family of P-type ATPases, particularly the Na+/K+-ATPase. Subsequent validation experiments confirmed this interaction and identified a tryptophan residue within SST as critical for binding. These findings bring to light potentially new mechanisms for SST action in normal physiology and AD.M.Sc