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M A Webb NIHR Leicester-Loughborough Diet, Lifestyle and Physical Activity Biomedical Research Unit, University Hospitals of Leicester, Leicester General Hospital, Leicester, UK
The Leicester Diabetes Centre, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester General Hospital, Leicester, UK

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H Mani Diabetes Research Centre, University of Leicester, Leicester General Hospital, Leicester, UK
Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Leicester Royal Infirmary, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester, UK
Diabetes and Endocrinology Department, Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Kettering, UK

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S J Robertson The Leicester Diabetes Centre, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester General Hospital, Leicester, UK

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H L Waller Diabetes Research Centre, University of Leicester, Leicester General Hospital, Leicester, UK

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D R Webb NIHR Leicester-Loughborough Diet, Lifestyle and Physical Activity Biomedical Research Unit, University Hospitals of Leicester, Leicester General Hospital, Leicester, UK
Diabetes Research Centre, University of Leicester, Leicester General Hospital, Leicester, UK

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C L Edwardson NIHR Leicester-Loughborough Diet, Lifestyle and Physical Activity Biomedical Research Unit, University Hospitals of Leicester, Leicester General Hospital, Leicester, UK
Diabetes Research Centre, University of Leicester, Leicester General Hospital, Leicester, UK

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D H Bodicoat NIHR Leicester-Loughborough Diet, Lifestyle and Physical Activity Biomedical Research Unit, University Hospitals of Leicester, Leicester General Hospital, Leicester, UK
Diabetes Research Centre, University of Leicester, Leicester General Hospital, Leicester, UK

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T Yates NIHR Leicester-Loughborough Diet, Lifestyle and Physical Activity Biomedical Research Unit, University Hospitals of Leicester, Leicester General Hospital, Leicester, UK
Diabetes Research Centre, University of Leicester, Leicester General Hospital, Leicester, UK

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K Khunti NIHR Leicester-Loughborough Diet, Lifestyle and Physical Activity Biomedical Research Unit, University Hospitals of Leicester, Leicester General Hospital, Leicester, UK
The Leicester Diabetes Centre, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester General Hospital, Leicester, UK
Diabetes Research Centre, University of Leicester, Leicester General Hospital, Leicester, UK

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M J Davies NIHR Leicester-Loughborough Diet, Lifestyle and Physical Activity Biomedical Research Unit, University Hospitals of Leicester, Leicester General Hospital, Leicester, UK
The Leicester Diabetes Centre, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester General Hospital, Leicester, UK
Diabetes Research Centre, University of Leicester, Leicester General Hospital, Leicester, UK

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Aims

Physical activity has been proposed to be an effective non-pharmacological method of reducing systemic inflammation and therefore may prove particularly efficacious for women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) who have been shown to have high levels of inflammation and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Therefore, the aim of the present study was to assess whether modest changes in daily step count could significantly reduce levels of inflammatory markers in women with PCOS.

Subjects and Methods

Sixty-five women with PCOS were assessed at baseline and again at 6 months. All had been provided with an accelerometer and encouraged to increase activity levels. Multivariate linear regression analyses (adjusted for age, ethnicity, baseline step count, change in BMI and change in accelerometer wear-time) were used to assess changes in daily step count against clinical and research biomarkers of inflammation, CVD and T2DM.

Results

Mean step count/day at baseline was 6337 (±270). An increase in step count (by 1000 steps) was associated with a 13% reduction in IL6 (β: −0.81 ng/L; 95% CI, −1.37, −0.25, P = 0.005) and a 13% reduction in CRP (β: −0.68 mg/L; 95% CI, −1.30, −0.06, P = 0.033). Additionally, there was a modest decrease in BMI (β: 0.20 kg/m2; 95% CI, −0.38, −0.01, P = 0.038). Clinical markers of T2DM and CVD were not affected by increased step count.

Conclusions

Modest increases in step count/day can reduce levels of inflammatory markers in women with PCOS, which may reduce the future risk of T2DM and CVD.

Open access
Milica Popovic Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
Department of Clinical Research, University of Basel and University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland

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Fahim Ebrahimi Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
Department of Clinical Research, University of Basel and University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland

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Sandrine Andrea Urwyler Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
Department of Clinical Research, University of Basel and University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland

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Marc Yves Donath Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland

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Mirjam Christ-Crain Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
Department of Clinical Research, University of Basel and University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland

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Arginine vasopressin (AVP) was suggested to contribute to cardiovascular risk and type 2 diabetes in patients with metabolic syndrome. The proinflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-1 is able to induce AVP secretion and plays a causal role in cardiovascular mortality and type 2 diabetes. We investigated in two studies whether copeptin levels – the surrogate marker for AVP – are regulated by IL-1-mediated chronic inflammation in patients with metabolic syndrome. Study A was a prospective, interventional, single-arm study (2014–2016). Study B was a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study (2016–2017). n = 73 (Study A) and n = 66 (Study B) adult patients with metabolic syndrome were treated with 100 mg anakinra or placebo (only in study B) twice daily for 1 day (study A) and 28 days (study B). Fasting blood samples were drawn at day 1, 7, and 28 of treatment for measurement of serum copeptin. Patients with chronic low-grade inflammation (C-reactive protein levels ≥2 mg/L) and BMI >35 kg/m2 had higher baseline copeptin levels (7.7 (IQR 4.9–11.9) vs 5.8 (IQR 3.9–9.3) pmol/L, P inflamm = 0.009; 7.8 (IQR 5.4–11.7) vs 4.9 (IQR 3.7–9.8) pmol/L, P BMI = 0.008). Copeptin levels did not change either in the anakinra or in the placebo group and remained stable throughout the treatment (P = 0.44). Subgroup analyses did not reveal effect modifications. Therefore, we conclude that, although IL-1-mediated inflammation is associated with increased circulating copeptin levels, antagonizing IL-1 does not significantly alter copeptin levels in patients with metabolic syndrome.

Open access
Xiao-Shan Huang Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China

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Ning Dai Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China

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Jian-Xia Xu Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China

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Jun-Yi Xiang Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China

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Xiao-Zhong Zheng Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China

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Tian-Yu Ke Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China

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Lin-Ying Ma Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China

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Qi-Hao Shi Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China

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Shu-Feng Fan Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China

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Objective

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is an inflammatory disease, and research suggests that a low-carbohydrate diet may have potential anti-inflammatory effects. This study aims to utilize Dixon-T2-weighted imaging (WI) sequence for a semi-quantitative assessment of the impact of a low-carbohydrate diet on the degree of thyroid inflammation in patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.

Methods

Forty patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis were recruited for this study and randomly divided into two groups: one with a normal diet and the other with a low-carbohydrate diet. Antibodies against thyroid peroxidase (TPOAb) and thyroglobulin (TgAb) were measured for all participants. Additionally, thyroid water content was semi-quantitatively measured using Dixon-T2WI. The same tests and measurements were repeated for all participants after 6 months.

Results

After 6 months of a low-carbohydrate diet, patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis showed a significant reduction in thyroid water content (94.84 ± 1.57% vs 93.07 ± 2.05%, P < 0.05). Concurrently, a decrease was observed in levels of TPOAb and TgAb (TPOAb: 211.30 (92.63–614.62) vs 89.45 (15.9–215.67); TgAb: 17.05 (1.47–81.64) vs 4.1 (0.51–19.42), P < 0.05). In contrast, there were no significant differences in thyroid water content or TPOAb and TgAb levels for patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis following a normal diet after 6 months (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Dixon-T2WI can quantitatively assess the degree of thyroid inflammation in patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Following a low-carbohydrate diet intervention, there is a significant reduction in thyroid water content and a decrease in levels of TPOAb and TgAb. These results suggest that a low-carbohydrate diet may help alleviate inflammation in patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.

Open access
Borros Arneth Institute of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiochemistry, Molecular Diagnostics, University Hospital of the Universities of Giessen and Marburg, UKGM, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Giessen, Germany

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Background

The origin of autoimmune disease type 1 diabetes is still unknown.

Aim

This study assessed the activation of CD4+ and CD8+ T-lymphocytes by human insulin and human glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) in patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and healthy volunteers.

Materials and methods

The expression of CD69, a marker of T-lymphocyte activity, was determined in whole blood samples by flow cytometry after 12 h of incubation with or without insulin or GAD. The analysis included samples from 12 type 1 DM patients, 14 type 2 DM patients and 12 healthy volunteers.

Results

Significant increases in the number of activated CD4+ and CD8+ T-lymphocytes following pre-incubation of whole blood samples with human insulin or GAD were observed in samples from patients with type 1 DM, whereas no activation of these cells was detected in samples from either type 2 DM patients or healthy subjects.

Discussion

These results indicated that latent pre-activation of CD4+ and CD8+ T-lymphocytes in response to insulin or GAD epitopes occurred in type 1 DM patients.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that pre-immunization against insulin and/or GAD might be associated with the development of type 1 DM. Alternatively, these results might reflect a non-specific, bystander autoimmune response.

Open access
Liangming Li Center for Scientific Research and Institute of Exercise and Health, Guangzhou Sport University, Guangzhou, China
Key Laboratory of Sports Technique, Tactics and Physical Function of General Administration of Sport of China, Scientific Research Center, Guangzhou Sport University, Guangzhou, China

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Yuan Wei Center for Scientific Research and Institute of Exercise and Health, Guangzhou Sport University, Guangzhou, China
Key Laboratory of Sports Technique, Tactics and Physical Function of General Administration of Sport of China, Scientific Research Center, Guangzhou Sport University, Guangzhou, China

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Chunlu Fang Center for Scientific Research and Institute of Exercise and Health, Guangzhou Sport University, Guangzhou, China
Key Laboratory of Sports Technique, Tactics and Physical Function of General Administration of Sport of China, Scientific Research Center, Guangzhou Sport University, Guangzhou, China

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Shujing Liu Center for Scientific Research and Institute of Exercise and Health, Guangzhou Sport University, Guangzhou, China
Key Laboratory of Sports Technique, Tactics and Physical Function of General Administration of Sport of China, Scientific Research Center, Guangzhou Sport University, Guangzhou, China

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Fu Zhou Key Laboratory of Sports Technique, Tactics and Physical Function of General Administration of Sport of China, Scientific Research Center, Guangzhou Sport University, Guangzhou, China

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Ge Zhao Key Laboratory of Sports Technique, Tactics and Physical Function of General Administration of Sport of China, Scientific Research Center, Guangzhou Sport University, Guangzhou, China

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Yaping Li Key Laboratory of Sports Technique, Tactics and Physical Function of General Administration of Sport of China, Scientific Research Center, Guangzhou Sport University, Guangzhou, China

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Yuan Luo Key Laboratory of Sports Technique, Tactics and Physical Function of General Administration of Sport of China, Scientific Research Center, Guangzhou Sport University, Guangzhou, China

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Ziyi Guo Key Laboratory of Sports Technique, Tactics and Physical Function of General Administration of Sport of China, Scientific Research Center, Guangzhou Sport University, Guangzhou, China

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Weiqun Lin Department of Clinical Nutrition, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China

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Wenqi Yang Center for Scientific Research and Institute of Exercise and Health, Guangzhou Sport University, Guangzhou, China
Key Laboratory of Sports Technique, Tactics and Physical Function of General Administration of Sport of China, Scientific Research Center, Guangzhou Sport University, Guangzhou, China

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Exercise has been recommended as an important strategy to improve glucose metabolism in obesity. Adipose tissue fibrosis is associated with inflammation and is implicated in glucose metabolism disturbance and insulin resistance in obesity. However, the effect of exercise on the progression of adipose tissue fibrosis is still unknown. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether exercise retarded the progression of adipose tissue fibrosis and ameliorated glucose homeostasis in diet-induced obese mice. To do so, obesity and adipose tissue fibrosis in mice were induced by high-fat diet feeding for 12 weeks and the mice subsequently received high-fat diet and exercise intervention for another 12 weeks. Exercise alleviated high-fat diet-induced glucose intolerance and insulin resistance. Continued high-fat diet feeding exacerbated collagen deposition and further increased fibrosis-related gene expression in adipose tissue. Exercise attenuated or reversed these changes. Additionally, PPARγ, which has been shown to inhibit adipose tissue fibrosis, was observed to be increased following exercise. Moreover, exercise decreased the expression of HIF-1α in adipose fibrosis, and adipose tissue inflammation was inhibited. In conclusion, our data indicate that exercise attenuates and even reverses the progression of adipose tissue fibrosis, providing a plausible mechanism for its beneficial effects on glucose metabolism in obesity.

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Stefano Mangiola Bioinformatics Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
Department of Surgery, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
Department of Urology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia

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Ryan Stuchbery Department of Surgery, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia

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Patrick McCoy Department of Surgery, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
Department of Urology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia

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Ken Chow Department of Surgery, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
Department of Urology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia

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Natalie Kurganovs Department of Surgery, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre Epworth, Richmond, Victoria, Australia
Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, Canada
Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada

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Michael Kerger Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre Epworth, Richmond, Victoria, Australia

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Anthony Papenfuss Bioinformatics Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

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Christopher M Hovens Department of Surgery, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
Department of Urology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia

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Niall M Corcoran Department of Surgery, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
Department of Urology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
Department of Urology, Frankston Hospital, Frankston, Victoria, Australia

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Prostate cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and cancer-related death worldwide. Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is the cornerstone of management for advanced disease. The use of these therapies is associated with multiple side effects, including metabolic syndrome and truncal obesity. At the same time, obesity has been associated with both prostate cancer development and disease progression, linked to its effects on chronic inflammation at a tissue level. The connection between ADT, obesity, inflammation and prostate cancer progression is well established in clinical settings; however, an understanding of the changes in adipose tissue at the molecular level induced by castration therapies is missing. Here, we investigated the transcriptional changes in periprostatic fat tissue induced by profound ADT in a group of patients with high-risk tumours compared to a matching untreated cohort. We find that the deprivation of androgen is associated with a pro-inflammatory and obesity-like adipose tissue microenvironment. This study suggests that the beneficial effect of therapies based on androgen deprivation may be partially counteracted by metabolic and inflammatory side effects in the adipose tissue surrounding the prostate.

Open access
T L C Wolters Division of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

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C D C C van der Heijden Division of Experimental Internal Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Division of Vascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

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N van Leeuwen Department of Physiology, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

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B T P Hijmans-Kersten Department of Physiology, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

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M G Netea Division of Experimental Internal Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

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J W A Smit Division of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

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D H J Thijssen Department of Physiology, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK

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A R M M Hermus Division of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

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N P Riksen Division of Vascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

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R T Netea-Maier Division of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

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Objective

Acromegaly is characterized by an excess of growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1). Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors are common in acromegaly and often persist after treatment. Both acute and long-lasting pro-inflammatory effects have been attributed to IGF1. Therefore, we hypothesized that inflammation persists in treated acromegaly and may contribute to CVD risk.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, we assessed cardiovascular structure and function, and inflammatory parameters in treated acromegaly patients. Immune cell populations and inflammatory markers were assessed in peripheral blood from 71 treated acromegaly patients (with controlled or uncontrolled disease) and 41 matched controls. Whole blood (WB) was stimulated with Toll-like receptor ligands. In a subgroup of 21 controls and 33 patients with controlled disease, vascular ultrasound measurements were performed.

Results

Leukocyte counts were lower in patients with controlled acromegaly compared to patients with uncontrolled acromegaly and controls. Circulating IL18 concentrations were lower in patients; concentrations of other inflammatory mediators were comparable with controls. In stimulated WB, cytokine production was skewed toward inflammation in patients, most pronounced in those with uncontrolled disease. Vascular measurements in controlled patients showed endothelial dysfunction as indicated by a lower flow-mediated dilatation/nitroglycerine-mediated dilatation ratio. Surprisingly, pulse wave analysis and pulse wave velocity, both markers of endothelial dysfunction, were lower in patients, whereas intima-media thickness did not differ.

Conclusions

Despite treatment, acromegaly patients display persistent inflammatory changes and endothelial dysfunction, which may contribute to CVD risk and development of CVD.

Open access
Fernando Aprile-Garcia Instituto de Investigación en Biomedicina de Buenos Aires – CONICET, Departamento de Fisiología, Partner Institute of the Max Planck Society, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Instituto de Investigación en Biomedicina de Buenos Aires – CONICET, Departamento de Fisiología, Partner Institute of the Max Planck Society, Buenos Aires, Argentina

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María Antunica-Noguerol Instituto de Investigación en Biomedicina de Buenos Aires – CONICET, Departamento de Fisiología, Partner Institute of the Max Planck Society, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Instituto de Investigación en Biomedicina de Buenos Aires – CONICET, Departamento de Fisiología, Partner Institute of the Max Planck Society, Buenos Aires, Argentina

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Maia Ludmila Budziñski Instituto de Investigación en Biomedicina de Buenos Aires – CONICET, Departamento de Fisiología, Partner Institute of the Max Planck Society, Buenos Aires, Argentina

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Ana C Liberman Instituto de Investigación en Biomedicina de Buenos Aires – CONICET, Departamento de Fisiología, Partner Institute of the Max Planck Society, Buenos Aires, Argentina

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Eduardo Arzt Instituto de Investigación en Biomedicina de Buenos Aires – CONICET, Departamento de Fisiología, Partner Institute of the Max Planck Society, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Instituto de Investigación en Biomedicina de Buenos Aires – CONICET, Departamento de Fisiología, Partner Institute of the Max Planck Society, Buenos Aires, Argentina

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Inflammatory responses are elicited after injury, involving release of inflammatory mediators that ultimately lead, at the molecular level, to the activation of specific transcription factors (TFs; mainly activator protein 1 and nuclear factor-κB). These TFs propagate inflammation by inducing the expression of cytokines and chemokines. The neuroendocrine system has a determinant role in the maintenance of homeostasis, to avoid exacerbated inflammatory responses. Glucocorticoids (GCs) are the key neuroendocrine regulators of the inflammatory response. In this study, we describe the molecular mechanisms involved in the interplay between inflammatory cytokines, the neuroendocrine axis and GCs necessary for the control of inflammation. Targeting and modulation of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and its activity is a common therapeutic strategy to reduce pathological signaling. Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1) is an enzyme that catalyzes the addition of PAR on target proteins, a post-translational modification termed PARylation. PARP1 has a central role in transcriptional regulation of inflammatory mediators, both in neuroendocrine tumors and in CNS cells. It is also involved in modulation of several nuclear receptors. Therefore, PARP1 and GR share common inflammatory pathways with antagonic roles in the control of inflammatory processes, which are crucial for the effective maintenance of homeostasis.

Open access
Fei Wu Department of Nuclear Medicine, Yancheng City No. 1 People’s Hospital, Yancheng, China
Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China

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Chaoming Mao Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China

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Xiao Mou Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China

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Chengcheng Xu Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China

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Tingting Zheng Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China

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Ling Bu Department of Clinical Medicine, Jiangsu Health Vocational College, Nanjing, China

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Xuan Luo Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China

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Qingyan Lu Department of Laboratory Medicine, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Xuzhou, China

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Xuefeng Wang Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China

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Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) is a very common organ-specific autoimmune disease characterized by lymphocyte infiltration and the destruction of thyroid follicular cells (TFCs), in which IFN-γ and chemokines play pivotal roles. Moreover, β-catenin has been implicated in the regulation of T cell infiltration. However, whether β-catenin is involved in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is unknown. Here, we examined β-catenin expression in thyroid tissues and investigated its role in the pathogenesis of HT. The results showed that β-catenin expression was markedly reduced in the thyroid tissues of HT patients; more importantly, IFN-γ treatment markedly reduced the expression of β-catenin and was accompanied by the secretion of chemokines such as CCL5, CXCL16, GRO-β, and GRO-γ in TFCs in vitro, which was attributed to GSK-3β/β-catenin signaling pathway activation. Collectively, the decreased expression of β-catenin might contribute to IFNγ-induced chemokine secretion and lymphocyte infiltration in the development of HT.

Open access
Mírian Romitti Thyroid Unit, Endocrine Division, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil

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Vitor C Fabris Gynecological Endocrinology Unit, Endocrine Division, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, and Department of Physiology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil

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Patricia K Ziegelmann Postgraduate Program in Epidemiology and Department of Statistics, Institute of Mathematics, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil

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Ana Luiza Maia Thyroid Unit, Endocrine Division, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil

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Poli Mara Spritzer Gynecological Endocrinology Unit, Endocrine Division, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, and Department of Physiology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil

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Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most prevalent endocrine disorder affecting women of reproductive age. PCOS has been associated with distinct metabolic and cardiovascular diseases and with autoimmune conditions, predominantly autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD). AITD has been reported in 18–40% of PCOS women, depending on PCOS diagnostic criteria and ethnicity. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to summarize the available evidence regarding the likelihood of women with PCOS also having AITD in comparison to a reference group of non-PCOS women. We systematically searched EMBASE and MEDLINE for non-interventional case control, cross-sectional or cohort studies published until August 2017. The Ottawa–Newcastle Scale was used to assess the methodological quality of studies. Statistical meta-analysis was performed with R. Thirteen studies were selected for the present analysis, including 1210 women diagnosed with PCOS and 987 healthy controls. AITD was observed in 26.03 and 9.72% of PCOS and control groups respectively. A significant association was detected between PCOS and chance of AITD (OR = 3.27, 95% CI 2.32–4.63). Notably, after geographical stratification, the higher risk of AITD in PCOS women persisted for Asians (OR = 4.56, 95% CI 2.47–8.43), Europeans (OR = 3.27, 95% CI 2.07–5.15) and South Americans (OR = 1.86, 95% CI 1.05–3.29). AIDT is a frequent condition in PCOS patients and might affect thyroid function. Thus, screening for thyroid function and thyroid-specific autoantibodies should be considered in patients with PCOS even in the absence of overt symptoms. This systematic review and meta-analysis is registered in PROSPERO under number CRD42017079676.

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