EndocrinologyPub Date : 2025-03-24DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqaf061
Willis K Samson, Gina L C Yosten
{"title":"Renin Finds a New Target.","authors":"Willis K Samson, Gina L C Yosten","doi":"10.1210/endocr/bqaf061","DOIUrl":"10.1210/endocr/bqaf061","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":11819,"journal":{"name":"Endocrinology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143763355","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
EndocrinologyPub Date : 2025-03-24DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqaf041
Andrew C Pearson, Jessica S Miller, Hannah J Jensen, Ketan Shrestha, Thomas E Curry, Diane M Duffy
{"title":"Neurotensin Regulates Primate Ovulation Via Multiple Neurotensin Receptors.","authors":"Andrew C Pearson, Jessica S Miller, Hannah J Jensen, Ketan Shrestha, Thomas E Curry, Diane M Duffy","doi":"10.1210/endocr/bqaf041","DOIUrl":"10.1210/endocr/bqaf041","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Neurotensin (NTS), a small neuropeptide, was recently established as a key paracrine mediator of ovulation. NTS mRNA is highly expressed by granulosa cells in response to the luteinizing hormone surge, and multiple NTS receptors are expressed by cells of the ovulatory follicle. To identify the role of NTS receptors NTSR1 and SORT1 in ovulation in vivo, the dominant follicle of cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis) was injected with either vehicle control, the general NTS receptor antagonist SR142948, the NTSR1-selective antagonist SR48692, or the SORT1-selective antagonist AF38469. hCG was then administered to initiate ovulatory events. Ovulation was successful in all control-injected follicles. Rupture sites were smaller or absent after injection with NTS receptor antagonists. Histological analysis of follicles injected with SR142948, SR48692, or AF38469 revealed increased red blood cell extravasation and pooling in the follicle antrum when compared to controls. NTS receptor antagonist-injected follicles also showed dysregulated capillary formation and reduced luteinization of the granulosa cell layer. Prior in vitro studies showed that NTS significantly increased monkey ovarian microvascular endothelial cell (mOMEC) migration, while decreasing monolayer permeability. The NSTR1 antagonist SR48692 or siRNA knockdown of NTSR1 abrogated the ability of NTS to stimulate mOMEC migration and to decrease monolayer permeability. Similar experiments performed with the SORT1 antagonist AF38469 or siRNA knockdown of SORT1 also resulted in ablation of NTS-mediated changes in migration and permeability after SORT1 signaling was impaired. Together, these data implicate both NTSR1 and SORT1 to be critical mediators of NTS-stimulated ovulation, luteinization, and angiogenesis of the ovulatory follicle.</p>","PeriodicalId":11819,"journal":{"name":"Endocrinology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143556244","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
EndocrinologyPub Date : 2025-03-24DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqaf050
Cristina Luongo, Daniela Di Girolamo, Raffaele Ambrosio, Sara Di Cintio, Maria Angela De Stefano, Tommaso Porcelli, Domenico Salvatore
{"title":"Type 2 Deiodinase Promotes Fatty Adipogenesis in Muscle Fibroadipogenic Progenitors From Adult Male Mice.","authors":"Cristina Luongo, Daniela Di Girolamo, Raffaele Ambrosio, Sara Di Cintio, Maria Angela De Stefano, Tommaso Porcelli, Domenico Salvatore","doi":"10.1210/endocr/bqaf050","DOIUrl":"10.1210/endocr/bqaf050","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Fibro-adipogenic progenitor cells (FAPs) are a heterogeneous population of multipotent mesenchymal cells that give rise to fibroblasts and adipocytes. In response to muscle injury, FAPs are activated and cooperate with inflammatory and muscle stem cells to promote muscle regeneration. In pathological conditions, such as muscular dystrophies, this coordinated response is partially lost and an accumulation of FAPs is observed that is responsible for maladaptive fibrosis, ectopic fat deposition, and impaired muscle regeneration. The role of intracellular thyroid hormone (TH) signaling in this cellular context is largely unknown. Here we show that intracellular 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T3) concentration in FAPs is increased in vitro during adipogenic differentiation via the increase of the T3-producing type 2 deiodinase (D2). The adipogenic potential is reduced in FAPs cultured in the presence of 3,3,5'-triiodothyronine (rT3), a specific D2 inhibitor, while exogenous administration of THs is able to induce the expression of relevant adipogenic genes. Accordingly, on genetic D2 depletion in vivo, adipogenesis was significantly reduced in D2KO compared to control mice. These data were confirmed using a FAP-inducible specific D2-KO mouse model, suggesting that a cell-specific D2-depletion in FAPs is sufficient to decrease fatty muscle infiltration and to improve muscle regeneration. Taken together, these data show that TH signaling is dynamically modulated in FAPs wherein D2-produced T3 is required to promote maturation of FAPs into adipocytes.</p>","PeriodicalId":11819,"journal":{"name":"Endocrinology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11933820/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143585151","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
EndocrinologyPub Date : 2025-03-24DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqaf044
{"title":"Correction to: \"Ghrelin Promotes Functional Angiogenesis in a Mouse Model of Critical Limb Ischemia Through Activation of Proangiogenic MicroRNAs\".","authors":"","doi":"10.1210/endocr/bqaf044","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1210/endocr/bqaf044","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":11819,"journal":{"name":"Endocrinology","volume":"166 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143802735","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
EndocrinologyPub Date : 2025-03-24DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqaf056
Michael Wallis
{"title":"Evolution of the Complex Growth Hormone Gene Cluster in Macaques.","authors":"Michael Wallis","doi":"10.1210/endocr/bqaf056","DOIUrl":"10.1210/endocr/bqaf056","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In higher primates, unlike other mammals, the GH gene locus is complex, comprising several GH-like genes, resulting from gene duplication and divergent evolution, expressed in pituitary and placenta. There are 5 genes in this GH gene cluster in human and 5 to 7 in apes and most Old-World monkeys, but in macaques the cluster has expanded further. Here the nature and evolution of the GH locus in this important primate genus is explored. Analysis of genomic data for Macaca fascicularis (crab-eating macaque) revealed that the GH gene cluster in this species is variable, with at least 5 different haplotypes, comprising 11 to 14 GH-like genes. Gene-number heterozygosity was also detected in Macaca mulatta (rhesus macaque) with 9 to 13 genes. Analysis of genomic data for other macaque species revealed GH gene clusters containing 8 to 14 GH-like genes, but gene-number heterozygosity was not detected. Expression of GH-like genes in pituitary and placenta was examined for Macaca fascicularis. This analysis has established that the complexity of the GH gene cluster increased during the evolution of macaques, by gene duplication and divergent evolution, and that these processes continue within at least 2 extant species. Analysis of rate of sequence change, and distribution of substitutions within the 3D structure, shows that for at least 1 GH-like gene (GH2), the changes reflect positive selection, implying adaptive biological change. Whether this involves changes in physiological (endocrine) function or response to viral or other pathogenic challenge is not yet clear.</p>","PeriodicalId":11819,"journal":{"name":"Endocrinology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11961355/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143656542","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
EndocrinologyPub Date : 2025-03-24DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqaf042
Richard B McCosh, Helen F Bell, Michael J Kreisman, Katherine Tian, Kellie M Breen
{"title":"Suppression of Luteinizing Hormone Secretion in Female Mice by a Urocortin 2-CRHR2 Signaling Pathway.","authors":"Richard B McCosh, Helen F Bell, Michael J Kreisman, Katherine Tian, Kellie M Breen","doi":"10.1210/endocr/bqaf042","DOIUrl":"10.1210/endocr/bqaf042","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Physiologic stress elicits impairment of reproductive function, in part, by the suppression of luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion. Two populations of kisspeptin-synthesizing neurons in the hypothalamus play essential roles in controlling the pulsatile and surge modes of LH secretion and are potential direct targets of stress-activated neural circuits; however, the mechanism(s) for impairment of kisspeptin cells during stress remain unclear. Here, we conducted 4 experiments to test the hypothesis that corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 2 (CRHR2) signaling contributes to impaired pulsatile and surge LH secretion via direct actions on kisspeptin cells. First, we observed that cells expressing a specific ligand of CRHR2, urocortin 2 (UCN2), show enhanced c-Fos in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) following acute hypoglycemia, a metabolic stressor that rapidly suppresses LH pulses by impairing arcuate kisspeptin neuron activation. Second, we determined that central injection of UCN2 rapidly inhibits LH pulses. Furthermore, UCN2 disrupts evening expression of the estradiol-induced LH surge and reduces kisspeptin cell activation in the rostral periventricular hypothalamic region (RP3V). Next, we identified CRHR2 in a majority of both arcuate and RP3V kisspeptin cells. Finally, we observed that UCN2 cells in the PVN are activated following chemogenetic stimulation of catecholamine neurons in the nucleus of the solitary tract. Together these data demonstrate that UCN2-CRHR2 signaling disrupts the pulsatile and surge modes of LH secretion via direct suppression of kisspeptin cells. Furthermore, these findings suggest UCN2 cells in the PVN are regulated by metabolic stress and brainstem norepinephrine signaling pathways that convey stress cues to the hypothalamus.</p>","PeriodicalId":11819,"journal":{"name":"Endocrinology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11932080/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143556168","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
EndocrinologyPub Date : 2025-03-24DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqaf055
Anath Shalev
{"title":"Target Discovery to Diabetes Therapy-TXNIP From Bench to Bedside With NIDDK.","authors":"Anath Shalev","doi":"10.1210/endocr/bqaf055","DOIUrl":"10.1210/endocr/bqaf055","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Diabetes is the most expensive chronic disease in the United States, with more than $400 billion in annual costs, and it affects more than 38 million Americans. While major advances in drug treatment have been made for type 2 diabetes (T2D) and the often-associated obesity, there are still no approved and effective medications targeting β-cell loss or islet dysfunction, which is one of the major underlying causes of both type 1 diabetes (T1D) and T2D. In addition, there are no oral medications for T1D approved in the United States more than 100 years after the discovery of insulin, and attractive therapeutic targets are only starting to emerge. As we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), progress is finally being made in this area with NIDDK support. This mini-review follows the discovery of thioredoxin-interacting protein inhibitors as an example of a methodical approach to identify and develop an oral β-cell treatment for T1D. It further discusses how the initial molecular findings were translated into novel clinical treatment approaches that promote the patient's own islet health and β-cell function using drug repurposing as well as new drug discovery.</p>","PeriodicalId":11819,"journal":{"name":"Endocrinology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11949688/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143656545","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
EndocrinologyPub Date : 2025-03-24DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqaf048
Vassilios Papadopoulos
{"title":"Insl3-iCre Mouse Line: A Novel Effective Tool for Targeting Leydig Cells to Study Their Development and Function.","authors":"Vassilios Papadopoulos","doi":"10.1210/endocr/bqaf048","DOIUrl":"10.1210/endocr/bqaf048","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":11819,"journal":{"name":"Endocrinology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143572567","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
EndocrinologyPub Date : 2025-03-24DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqaf049
Rebecka Amodei, Sonnet S Jonker, Evelyn Lazen, Casey C Nestor, Charles T Estill, Charles E Roselli
{"title":"KNDy Neurons and the Control of the Gonadotropic Axis in the Midgestation Fetal Sheep.","authors":"Rebecka Amodei, Sonnet S Jonker, Evelyn Lazen, Casey C Nestor, Charles T Estill, Charles E Roselli","doi":"10.1210/endocr/bqaf049","DOIUrl":"10.1210/endocr/bqaf049","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>KNDy neurons, located in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus, coexpress kisspeptin (Kiss), neurokinin B, and dynorphin and play a crucial role in regulating GnRH/LH secretion in midgestation sheep fetuses. We hypothesize that KNDy-GnRH signaling is established during midgestation, with negative feedback acting through KNDy neurons regulating testosterone levels needed for brain masculinization in male fetuses. We used immunofluorescence histochemistry to assess the effect of chemical castration with the GnRH antagonist degarelix on arcuate KNDy neurons in fetal sheep. Fluorescent in situ hybridization demonstrated the presence of steroid receptors in untreated midgestation fetal kisspeptin neurons. Additionally, unanesthetized cannulated midgestation fetal sheep were used to examine the effects of KNDy peptides on LH secretion and characterize receptor specificity. Treatment of male lamb fetuses with degarelix on day 62 of gestation resulted in significantly decreased plasma LH and testosterone concentrations (P < .05), accompanied by a significant increase in arcuate Kiss neurons (P < .05). In unanesthetized cannulated fetuses, bolus administration of KP-10 (a Kiss receptor agonist) and senktide (NK3 receptor agonist) elicited robust LH release within 15 minutes. Pretreatment with the NK3 receptor antagonist SB222200 blocked the LH response to senktide, whereas P271 (Kiss receptor antagonist) did not affect basal LH or block the LH response to KP-10. Blocking κ-opiate receptor with PF4455242 significantly increased LH release. These results support the hypothesis that KNDy neurons regulate GnRH and gonadotropin secretion in midgestation sheep fetuses, acting as targets for negative feedback to maintain a stable androgen environment crucial for brain masculinization.</p>","PeriodicalId":11819,"journal":{"name":"Endocrinology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143572571","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
EndocrinologyPub Date : 2025-03-24DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqaf046
Alice Batistuzzo, Xiaohan Zhang, Barbara M L C Bocco, Elizabeth A McAninch, Federico Salas-Lucia, Miriam O Ribeiro, Peter Arvan, Antonio C Bianco, Tatiana L Fonseca
{"title":"FVB But Not B6 Mice Carrying the Thr92Ala-Dio2 Polymorphism Have Impaired Thyroid Hormonogenesis and Goiter.","authors":"Alice Batistuzzo, Xiaohan Zhang, Barbara M L C Bocco, Elizabeth A McAninch, Federico Salas-Lucia, Miriam O Ribeiro, Peter Arvan, Antonio C Bianco, Tatiana L Fonseca","doi":"10.1210/endocr/bqaf046","DOIUrl":"10.1210/endocr/bqaf046","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The Thr92Ala-Dio2 polymorphism is prevalent worldwide, with about 50% of the population carrying at least 1 allele. The Ala92-Dio2 allele encodes a less active type 2 deiodinase enzyme and has been associated with neurodegenerative diseases, hypertension, and insulin resistance. To understand why its phenotypic effects are variable across different populations, in this study we examined the impact of genetic background on the Thr92Ala-Dio2 polymorphism. We focused on the thyroid gland of 2 genetically distant mouse strains, the C57BL/6J (B6) and the FVB/N (FVB). While the B6-Ala92-Dio2 mice have no meaningful phenotype, the FVB-Ala92-Dio2 exhibit a goiter (about 2.3-fold heavier thyroid) with an about 1.7-fold enlarged thyroid follicular area and impaired hormonogenesis with reduced thyroglobulin content of T4 and T3, 35% to 50% lower serum T4, and about 3-fold elevated serum TSH levels. Notably, the FVB-Ala92-Dio2 thyroid glands showed transcriptional evidence of endoplasmic reticulum stress, unfolded protein response, autophagy, and apoptosis. Female FVB-Ala92-Dio2 mice exhibited a more pronounced thyroid phenotype than males. These findings underscore the critical role of genetic background in modulating the phenotype outcomes of the Thr92Ala-Dio2 polymorphism and highlight its potential implications for understanding variable disease susceptibility in human populations.</p>","PeriodicalId":11819,"journal":{"name":"Endocrinology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11932088/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143630071","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}