Introdução: A deficiência da 21-hidroxilase (21-OHD) é um frequente erro herdado do metabolismo que resulta no comprometimento da síntese do cortisol e/ou aldosterona e aumento da produção de andrógenos. A doença é caracterizada por uma diversidade fenotípica, variando desde virilização pré-natal da genitália externa de fetos femininos e pós-natal em ambos os sexos, com ou sem perda de sal, até quadros assintomáticos. Em seu tratamento é necessária reposição com glicocorticoide para se evitar a insuficiência adrenocortical e os sinais de virilização. Um fino ajuste na dose diária do glicocorticoide é essencial para se evitar sub ou supertratamento, com o objetivo de preservar o potencial de estatura final e fertilidade. Entretanto, tem sido observada maior frequência de obesidade e outras comorbidades metabólicas nestes pacientes; porém, a prevalência destas complicações ainda não é conhecida, bem como se estariam associadas à exposição ao glicocorticoide e/ou com fatores genéticos. Objetivos: avaliar a frequência de obesidade e de síndrome metabólica (SM) em pacientes com 21OHD; caracterizar a distribuição alélica dos polimorfismos dos genes do receptor de glicocorticoide (NR3C1) e da enzima 11beta-hidroxiesteróide desidrogenase tipo I (HSD11B1), e correlacionar a distribuição destes polimorfismos com a presença das complicações metabólicas. Métodos: Foram selecionados 109 pacientes (60 PS/49 VS), sendo 41 crianças e adolescentes (idade média 11,4 ± 3,9 anos) e 68 adultos (idade média 28,4 ± 9 anos) em tratamento com glicocorticoide e com adequado controle hormonal. Pacientes com a forma PS também receberam fludrocortisona. Adequado controle foi caracterizado por concentração normal de atividade plasmática de renina e de andrógenos de acordo com o sexo e idade nos últimos 2 anos. A obesidade nos adultos foi definida pelo IMC >= 30 kg/m² e em crianças e adolescentes pelo IMC acima do percentil 95. Síndrome metabólica foi definida segundo o critério do National Cholesterol Education Program em adultos e crianças. História familiar de hipertensão arterial, diabetes, dislipidemia, obesidade e/ou doença cardiovascular também foi avaliada. Foram mensuradas glicemia, lipoproteínas, triglicérides, colesterol total e insulina. Os alelos BclI, A3669G, ER22/23EK e N363S do gene NR3C1 e o alelo 4436InsA do gene HSD11B1 foram genotipados e as análises de associação com os fenótipos foram realizadas por meio dos testes Chi-quadrado, t-studant e análise de regressão. As análises de correlação foram feitas utilizando o teste de correlação de Pearson. Resultados: Obesidade foi observada em 31,7% das crianças e 23,5% dos adultos. Síndrome metabólica foi observada em 14,6% das crianças e 7,3% dos adultos. A prevalência dos componentes da SM foi maior no grupo dos obesos quando comparada a de pacientes não obesos (crianças e adultos). Não houve correlação significante entre o IMC, sexo, forma clínica da 21-OHD, duração da terapia e dose de GC. História familiar positiva para obesidade, hipertensão, dislipidemia e doença cardiovascular foi mais frequente nos pacientes obesos quando comparada a de pacientes não obesos, em adultos e crianças. Os polimorfismos BclI, A3669G e 4436InsA foram identificados em 23,2%, 9,7% e 14,6% dos alelos das crianças, respectivamente, e nos adultos em 26,4%, 9,6% e 18,4% dos alelos, respectivamente. A variante A3669G foi associada à maiores concentrações de LDL-c em crianças quando comparada aos carreadores do alelo selvagem. Os pacientes adultos carreadores do polimorfismo BclI apresentaram maior IMC, circunferência abdominal e PAS quando comparados aos carreadores do alelo selvagem. Não observamos diferenças estatisticamente significantes no perfil metabólico entre pacientes carreadores e não carreadores do polimorfismo 4436InsA (adultos e crianças). Conclusão: observamos que pacientes 21-OHD possuem maior prevalência de obesidade, e o grupo pediátrico maior prevalência de SM em relação à população de referência, sendo ambas independentes da dose de glicocorticoide e do tempo do tratamento. A presença de perfil metabólico adverso esteve associada à obesidade e à predisposição genética, tais como história familiar e variantes genéticas do receptor de glicocorticoide / Introduction: Congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21OHD) is a common autosomal recessive disorder that leads to decreased glucocorticoid secretion, with or without mineralocorticoid deficiency, and increased androgen production. The disease is characterized by phenotypic variability, including a severe form with prenatal virilization of the external genitalia in female fetuses and postnatal virilization in both sexes, with or without salt loss. Current therapy aims to provide adequate glucocorticoid (GC) replacement and to suppress the abnormal androgen secretion; mineralocorticoid replacement aims to control the renal salt balance to avoid adrenal crisis. Nevertheless, these therapeutic goals are difficult to achieve in practice due to the complexity of replicating the physiologic cortisol circadian rhythm. Increased prevalence of obesity, insulin resistance, hypertension and adverse lipid profile have been observed among CAH patients under GC therapy; however, the extent of its prevalence and also whether it is associated with the GC dose or with genetic factors are not known. Objectives: to evaluate the obesity and metabolic syndrome (SM) frequencies in 21-OHD patients; to characterize the allelic distribution of the NR3C1 and HSD11B1 polymorphisms, and to correlate with the metabolic profile. Methods: One hundred and nine patients (60SW/49SV) were selected, 41 being children and adolescents (mean age 11.4 ± 3.9 yrs) and 68 adults (mean age 28.4 ± 9 yrs) all of whom received GC treatment and had adequate hormonal control. SW patients also received fludrocortisone. Adequate hormonal control was characterized by normal plasmatic rennin activity and androgen levels according to age and sex for at least two years. Blood fasting was used to obtain glucose, lipoproteins, triglycerides, total cholesterol and insulin levels. Obesity in the adult group was defined by BMI >= 30 kg/m², and in the young group by BMI > 95th percentile. Metabolic syndrome was defined by the NCEP ATPIII criteria. Family history of the hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, obesity and/or cardiovascular disease was also evaluated. The BclI, A3669G, ER22/23EK and N363S alleles of the NR3C1 gene and 4436InsA of the HSD11B1 gene were genotyped and association analyses with phenotype were carried out with Chi-square, t-test and regression analysis. Correlation analyses were performed by Pearson correlation test. Results: obesity was observed in 31.7% of children and 23.5% of adults. SM was observed in 14.6% of young and 7.3% of adult patients. SM prevalence was higher in the obese group than the nonobese group (children and adults). There was no significant correlation between GC dose and BMI, sex, clinical form or treatment duration. Prevalence of family history of obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia and cardiovascular disease was higher in the obese than in non-obese patients (children and adults). The BclI, A3669G and 4436InsA polymorphisms were found in 23.2%, 9.7% and 14.6% of the alleles in children, respectively and in 26.4%, 9.6% and 18.4% of the alleles in adults. The A3669G variant was associated to increased LDL-c levels in comparison with noncarriers in the young group. The BclI adult carriers presented higher BMI, abdominal circumference and systolic blood pressure in comparison with noncarriers. Statistically significant differences were not observed in the metabolic profile between carriers and non-carriers of the 4436InsA polymorphism (children and adults). Conclusion: in the present study, which analyzed the clinical and metabolic profile of 21-OHD patients, high obesity prevalence, independent of GC dose and treatment duration, was observed. Adverse metabolic profile was mainly associated with obesity and genetic predisposition, such as family history and NR3C1 polymorphisms

Les cellules béta pancréatiques synthétisent et sécrètent l’insuline, unique hormone hypoglycémiante de l’organisme. Ces cellules jouent un rôle central dans l’apparition du diabète, préserver leurs masses fonctionnelles est donc essentiel. Le récepteur GLP-1, appartenant à la classe B de la super famille des récepteurs couplés aux protéines G (RCPGs), est considéré comme une cible thérapeutique majeure dans le traitement du diabète de type 2. Via son récepteur, le GLP-1 potentialise la sécrétion d’insuline en réponse au glucose et favorise la survie des cellules beta. Les glucocorticoïdes sont des hormones du stress impliquées dans la régulation énergétique, largement utilisés en thérapeutique pour leur propriétés anti-inflammatoire, immunosuppresseur et antiallergique. Néanmoins, les glucocorticoïdes administrés en chronique sont diabétogènes en exerçant notamment des effets délétères sur les cellules beta. Nous avons caractérisé l’impact d’une exposition prolongée des cellules beta à un glucocorticoïde de synthèse (la dexaméthasone) sur les actions biologiques du glucose et du GLP-1.Nous montrons qu’une exposition prolongée des cellules beta à la dexaméthasone exerce des effets délétères en inhibant la sécrétion d’insuline en réponse au glucose et l’activation des kinases de survie ERK1/2 (Extracellular Regulated Kinases 1/2). A l’inverse, nous démontrons que l’exposition prolongée des cellules bêta à la dexaméthasone favorise le maintien du récepteur GLP-1 à la membrane plasmique, augmente le couplage du récepteur à la protéine Galpha s, ce qui se traduit par une production de second messager (AMPc) intracellulaire doublée. Malgré une diminution des effets du glucose, la sécrétion d’insuline et l’activation des kinases ERK1/2 en réponse au GLP-1 ne sont pas affectées. Cette étude révèle qu’une exposition chronique des cellules beta aux glucocorticoïdes 1) régule le trafficking du récepteur GLP-1 et favorise son maintien à la surface cellulaire, 2) hypersensibilise la signalisation du récepteur GLP-1 dépendante de la protéine Gαs , et 3) pourrait impacter les effets thérapeutiques des molécules ciblant l’activation du récepteur GLP-1. / Pancreatic beta cells synthesize and secrete insulin, the only hypoglycemic hormone in the body. These cells play a central role in the onset of diabetes. To protect the functional beta-cell mass is essential. The GLP-1 receptor, which belongs to the class B of the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) family, is a major therapeutic target in type 2 diabetes. Through its receptor, GLP-1 potentiates glucose-induced insulin secretion and improves the survival of pancreatic beta cells. Glucocorticoids are stress hormones implied in energetic metabolism and are widely used in therapeutics for their anti-inflammatory, immunosupressive and anti-allergic properties. Neverless, on chronic administration, glucocorticoids can induce metabolic syndrome especially due beta cell functional mass impairement. Here, we characterized the impact of a prolonged exposure of pancreatic beta cells to a synthetic glucocorticoid (dexamethasone) on biological actions of glucose and GLP-1.We show that a chronic exposure of beta cells to dexamethasone exerted deleterious effects on glucose-induced insulin secretion and ERK1/2 (Extracelllular Regulated Kinases 1/2) activation. In contrast, we observed that the glucocorticoid treatment increased GLP-1 receptor expression at the plasma membrane and improved the Galpha s protein coupling leading to an enhancement of cAMP production (2 fold increase). Despite the negative impact on glucose effects, glucocorticoids did not impair neither GLP-1-induced insulin secretion nor ERK1/2 activation. This study reveals that a glucocorticoid chronic exposure 1) regulates GLP-1 receptor trafficking and increases its expression to the plasma membrane, 2) causes supersensitization of Gαs-associated signaling, and 3) could impact on therapeutic effects of GLP-1 receptor-based drugs.

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The successful regeneration of muscle tissue is dependent upon the infiltration of phagocytic CD14++CD16- monocytes that support the proliferation and differentiation of myogenic precursor cells. Physiologically, the magnitude of the cellular response following resistance exercise is dictated by the level of receptor expression on the plasma membrane of the monocyte, as well as the secretion of their cognate ligands from tissue resident cells. However, it remains unclear whether the innate pro-inflammatory immune response varies with different resistance training protocols, and how it may impact recovery and the muscle remodeling process. Therefore, the purpose of this investigation was to examine temporal changes in the expression of chemotactic and adhesion receptors following an acute bout of high-volume, moderate-intensity (VOL) versus high-intensity, low-volume (HVY) lower-body resistance exercise in experienced, resistance trained men. Changes in receptor expression were assessed in conjunction with plasma concentrations of MCP-1, TNF?, and cortisol. Ten resistance-trained men (90.1 ± 11.3 kg; 176.0 ± 4.9 cm; 24.7 ± 3.4 yrs; 14.1 ± 6.1% body fat) performed each resistance exercise protocol in a random, counterbalanced order. Blood samples were obtained at baseline (BL), immediately (IP), 30 minutes (30P), 1 hour (1H), 2 hours (2H), and 5 hours (5H) post-exercise. Analysis of target receptor expression on CD14++CD16- monocytes was completed at BL, IP, 1H, 2H and 5H time points via flow cytometric analysis. Plasma concentrations of myoglobin, and LDH AUC were significantly greater following HVY compared to VOL (p = 0.003 and p = 0.010 respectively). Changes in plasma TNF?, MCP-1, and expression of CCR2, CD11b, and GCR on CD14++CD16- monocytes were similar following HVY and VOL. When collapsed across groups, TNF? was significantly increased at IP, 30P, 1H and 2H post-exercise (p = 0.001 – 0.004), while MCP-1 was significantly elevated at all post-exercise time points (p = 0.002 – 0.033). CCR2 expression was significantly lower at IP, 1H, 2H and 5H post-exercise (p = 0.020 – 0.040). In contrast, CD11b receptor expression was significantly greater at 1H relative to BL (p = 0.001), while GCR expression was not significantly different from baseline at any time point. As expected, plasma cortisol concentrations were significantly higher following VOL compared to HVY (p = 0.001), although this did not appear to be related to changes in receptor expression. Plasma testosterone concentrations and TNFr1 receptor expression did not appear to be affected by resistance exercise. Our results do not support a role for cortisol in the modulation of CCR2 receptors in vivo, while the degree of muscle damage does not appear to influence plasma concentrations of TNF?, or MCP-1. It is therefore likely that both HVY and VOL protocols constitute an exercise stimulus that is sufficient enough to promote a robust pro-inflammatory response, which is similar in timing and magnitude.

Cannabinoid (CB) receptors have been found in most vertebrates that have been studied. The location of various CB receptors in the body and brain are known, but their physiological functions are not fully understood. The effects CBs have on the cardiovascular system have been of growing interest in recent years. Increasing reports from emergency departments and law enforcement agencies detail acute cardiovascular and psychological effects from synthetic CB intoxication, such as JWH-018. This major health concern is substantiated by governmental agencies like the CDC and NIDA. This pilot study investigates the acute toxic effects of the synthetic CB, JWH-018, on the cardiovascular and neuroendocrine systems in Ictalurus punctatus (channel catfish). Research in organisms besides the traditional mammal models can provide new insights into CB function and physiology. Ictalurus punctatus lend multiple benefits as a model organism that permits researchers to investigate in vivo effects of both cardiovascular and neuroendocrine systems without much influence from traditional sampling methods, and further more provide ample size and tissue to perform specific cardiovascular experiments. Multiple methods were used to assess cardiovascular function and sympathetic nervous system activation. Two different doses, low (500 µg/kg) and high 1,500 µg/kg, of JWH-018 were evaluated in the study. Delivery of JWH-018, via dorsal aorta cannulation, was administered to channel catfish in order to measure cardiovascular functions and sample blood. Plasma levels of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal/interrenal (HPA/I) biomarkers; ACTH, cortisol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine, were measured using ELISAs. Myocardial and neural tissue was collected after the exposures for rt-PCR analysis on β2 adrenergic and glucocorticoid receptor density change. Acute exposure of JWH-018 in undisturbed channel catfish yielded several findings: (1) High dose of JWH-018 was responsible for cardio depressor effects in catfish with a tendency to produce tachycardia, (2) rt-PCR results showed a 2.7 fold increase of glucocorticoid receptor mRNA density in catfish cardiomyocytes when exposed to each dose of JWH-018, (3) Catfish plasma ACTH levels were increased with high doses of JWH-018, while plasma cortisol was increased by low doses. Channel catfish is an excellent animal model to examine the effects of synthetic cannabinoids and cardiovascular function. Acute exposures to high levels of JWH-018 appear to produce cardiovascular dysfunction providing evidence that substantiates emergency department reports, in addition yields novel information about the interaction of CBs exposure and the increase of glucocorticoid receptors levels on cardiomyocytes. The channel catfish is a new animal model that can aid in further investigations of CB exposure and multiple physiological functions for health and toxicology studies. With relatively easy adjustments from this pilot study, the effects on CBs can be monitored on Ictalurus punctatus with confident results concerning human health.

No description available.