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International Journal of Molecular... Dec 2023The adrenal gland is paired peripheral end organs of the neuroendocrine system and is responsible for producing crucial stress hormones from its two functional...
The adrenal gland is paired peripheral end organs of the neuroendocrine system and is responsible for producing crucial stress hormones from its two functional compartments, the adrenal cortex, and the adrenal medulla under stimuli. Left-right asymmetry in vertebrates exists from the central nervous system to peripheral paired endocrine glands. The sided difference in the cerebral cortex is extensively investigated, while the knowledge of asymmetry of paired endocrine glands is still poor. The present study aims to investigate the asymmetries of bilateral adrenal glands, which play important roles in stress adaptation and energy homeostasis via steroid hormones produced from the distinct functional zones. Left and right adrenal glands from male C57BL/6J mice were initially histologically analyzed, and high-throughput RNA sequencing was then used to detect the gene transcriptional difference between left and right adrenal glands. Subsequently, the enrichment of functional pathways and ceRNA regulatory work was validated. The results demonstrated that the left adrenal gland had higher tissue mass and levels of energy expenditure, whereas the right adrenal gland appeared to be more potent in glucocorticoid secretion. Further analysis of adrenal stem/progenitor cell markers predicted that Shh signaling might play an important role in the left-right asymmetry of adrenal glands. Of the hub miRNAs, miRNA-466i-5p was identified in the left-right differential innervation of the adrenal glands. Therefore, the present study provides evidence that there are asymmetries between the left and right adrenal glands in glucocorticoid production and neural innervation, in which Shh signaling and miRNA-466i-5p play an important role.
Topics: Animals; Mice; Male; Glucocorticoids; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Adrenal Glands; Adrenal Cortex; MicroRNAs
PubMed: 38139285
DOI: 10.3390/ijms242417456 -
Endokrynologia Polska 2024Not required for Clinical Vignettes.
Not required for Clinical Vignettes.
Topics: Humans; Adenoma, Oxyphilic; Adrenal Gland Neoplasms; Adrenal Glands
PubMed: 38646992
DOI: 10.5603/ep.99035 -
Journal of Cancer Research and... Apr 2023This retrospective study presents our single-institutional experience with stereotactic body radiotherapy for adrenal gland metastases.
AIM
This retrospective study presents our single-institutional experience with stereotactic body radiotherapy for adrenal gland metastases.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We evaluated patients with adrenal metastases treated by stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) from 2014 to 2020. We performed an analysis of 35 patients. The median age of the patients was 62.2. Dosimetric parameters and treatment outcomes were evaluated.
RESULTS
The primary diagnosis of the majority of patients was non-small cell lung cancer (94.3%). Treatment was performed in a median of 3 fractions, and the median prescribed dose was 24 Gy (range 22,5-27). The median follow-up was 17 months. Treatment response according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours was categorized as complete response in 11 patients, partial response in nine patients, stable disease in 7, and progressive disease in eight patients. Twenty seven patients had oligometastatic disease and treatment response. Patients with oligometastatic disease had a significantly higher rate of complete response and partial response to treatment than patients with common disease (P = 0,011). The 6-month and 1-year local control rates were 68.4% and 43%, respectively. In general, SBRT was well tolerated and no acute toxicities were observed.
CONCLUSION
Our retrospective study shows that SBRT can be applied safely in adrenal metastases with good results especially in patients with oligometastatic disease.
Topics: Humans; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Lung Neoplasms; Radiosurgery; Retrospective Studies; Adrenal Gland Neoplasms; Treatment Outcome; Adrenal Glands
PubMed: 37147982
DOI: 10.4103/jcrt.jcrt_891_21 -
Journal of the American College of... Apr 2020A total of 44.7% adults in China have hypertension, but the prevalence of primary aldosteronism (PA) in Chinese hypertensive patients is unknown. (Observational Study)
Observational Study
BACKGROUND
A total of 44.7% adults in China have hypertension, but the prevalence of primary aldosteronism (PA) in Chinese hypertensive patients is unknown.
OBJECTIVES
This study prospectively investigated the prevalence, characteristics, and outcomes of PA in newly diagnosed hypertensive patients.
METHODS
In a large community health center, consecutive hypertensive patients with an aldosterone-renin ratio >20 ng/mIU and plasma aldosterone concentration >10 ng/dl underwent captopril challenge test and/or saline infusion test for confirmation of PA. Adrenal computed tomography scan and adrenal vein sampling were used for subtyping. PA patients treated with surgery or medication were followed up for 1 year, and outcomes after treatment were evaluated.
RESULTS
In total, 1,020 newly diagnosed hypertensive patients were screened over 16 months, of whom 40 were diagnosed with PA, 948 with non-PA, 32 with probable PA, resulting in a prevalence of more than 4.0%. Compared with non-PA, PA patients more frequently displayed microalbuminuria (p = 0.031), but the incidence of cardiovascular events was not different (p = 0.927). For surgically treated patients (n = 7), a complete biochemical success rate was 100% and a complete clinical success rate was 85.7%. For medically treated patients (n = 29), the proportion with optimal blood pressure control was 79%, and among them, 91% (21 of 23) only needed 1 antihypertensive drug: the mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist.
CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of PA in patients with newly diagnosed hypertension in China was at least 4%. PA screening in newly diagnosed hypertensive patients leads to good clinical outcomes. (Primary Aldosteronism In Hypertensive Patients in China [PA-China]; NCT03155139).
Topics: Adrenal Glands; China; Female; Humans; Hyperaldosteronism; Hypertension; Male; Middle Aged; Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; Patient Care Management; Prevalence; Prospective Studies; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
PubMed: 32327102
DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2020.02.052 -
The Israel Medical Association Journal... Oct 2021
Topics: Adrenal Glands; Adrenal Insufficiency; Autoimmunity; COVID-19; Humans; Inflammation Mediators; Molecular Mimicry; Receptors, Angiotensin; Receptors, Corticotropin; SARS-CoV-2; Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome
PubMed: 34672441
DOI: No ID Found -
Journal of Clinical Research in... Aug 2022Ectopic adrenal tissue, defined as the formation of adrenal tissue in an abnormal anatomical location, is not a rare entity and may have clinical significance. Even... (Review)
Review
Ectopic adrenal tissue, defined as the formation of adrenal tissue in an abnormal anatomical location, is not a rare entity and may have clinical significance. Even though the mechanism for their emergence has not been fully understood, numerous cases of ectopic adrenal tissue have been reported, mostly in the vicinity of the original location of adrenal gland, such as in kidneys and gonads. In these cases, most authors attributed their emergence to a probable migration defect. However, this mechanism does not simply explain the ectopic tissues in remote locations, such as in the hypophysis or lungs. This review summarizes these reports, describing many different locations in which ectopic adrenal tissues were encountered, together with their suggested mechanisms.
Topics: Adrenal Glands; Choristoma; Humans
PubMed: 34569220
DOI: 10.4274/jcrpe.galenos.2021.2021.0148 -
International Journal of Molecular... Jun 2021Cytokines play a huge role in many biological processes. Their production, release and interactions are subject to a very complex mechanism. Cytokines are produced by... (Review)
Review
Cytokines play a huge role in many biological processes. Their production, release and interactions are subject to a very complex mechanism. Cytokines are produced by all types of cells, they function very differently and they are characterized by synergism in action, antagonism, and aggregation activity, opposing action of one cytokine, overlapping activity, induction of another cytokine, inhibition of cytokine synthesis at the mRNA level as well as autoregulation-stimulation or inhibition of own production. The predominance of pro-inflammatory cytokines leads to a systemic inflammatory response, and anti-inflammatory-to an anti-inflammatory response. They regulate the organism's immune response and protect it against sudden disturbances in homeostasis. The synthesis and activity of cytokines are influenced by the central nervous system through the endocrine system (pituitary gland, adrenal glands).
Topics: Adrenal Glands; Cytokines; Female; Homeostasis; Humans; Milk, Human; Pituitary Gland
PubMed: 34207900
DOI: 10.3390/ijms22126238 -
Problemy Endokrinologii Dec 2021Our current understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms in tissues and organs during normal and pathological conditions opens up substantial prospects for the... (Review)
Review
Our current understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms in tissues and organs during normal and pathological conditions opens up substantial prospects for the development of novel approaches to treatment of various diseases. For instance, lifelong replacement therapy is no longer mandatory for the management of some monogenic hereditary diseases. Genome editing techniques that have emerged in the last decade are being actively investigated as tools for correcting mutations in affected organs. Furthermore, new protocols for obtaining various types of human and animal cells and cellular systems are evolving, increasingly reflecting the real structures in vivo. These methods, together with the accompanying gene and cell therapy, are being actively developed and several approaches are already undergoing clinical trials. Adrenal insufficiency caused by a variety of factors can potentially be the target of such therapeutic strategies. The adrenal gland is a highly organized organ, with multiple structural components interacting with each other via a complex network of endocrine and paracrine signals. This review summarizes the findings of studies in the field of structural organization and functioning of the adrenal gland at the molecular level, as well as the modern approaches to the treatment of adrenal pathologies.
Topics: Adrenal Glands; Animals; Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy; Endocrine System; Gene Editing
PubMed: 35018764
DOI: 10.14341/probl12818 -
Frontiers in Endocrinology 202311-ketotestosterone (11KT), which is derived by the bioconversion of testosterone 11β-hydroxytestosterone (11OHT), is a potent agonist of the human androgen receptor....
INTRODUCTION
11-ketotestosterone (11KT), which is derived by the bioconversion of testosterone 11β-hydroxytestosterone (11OHT), is a potent agonist of the human androgen receptor. The adrenal gland is considered an important organ in 11KT production because CYP11B1, which catalyzes testosterone to 11OHT, is expressed in the adrenal glands. The present study aimed to demonstrate adrenal gland involvement in 11KT production in prepubertal children, a topic which has not yet been addressed by any previous studies.
METHODS
Three, retrospective, observational studies were performed. Study 1 enrolled patients aged 8 months to 7 years with severe Kawasaki disease (KD) who were treated with mPSL pulse. Studies 2 and 3 included patients who had received a corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) stimulation test and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation test, respectively. Samples were collected before and after treatment or drug administration, and serum 11KT, 11OHT, and other 11-oxygenated androgens were measured by LC-MS/MS. Steroid hormone values before and after medication were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed rank test.
RESULTS
Studies 1, 2, and 3 included twenty patients with severe KD, eight patients with a CRH stimulation test, and eight patients with an ACTH stimulation test, respectively. Study 1 demonstrated that the median (IQR) 11KT level was significantly higher before, than after, mPSL pulse (0.39 (0.28-0.47) nmol/L versus 0.064 (0.012-0.075) nmol/L; P < 0.001). Studies 2 and 3 indicated no significant difference in the median 11KT value before and after the CRH or ACTH stimulation test while the 11OHT value was significantly higher after the test.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the mediation of 11KT production by ACTH demonstrated the importance of the adrenal glands in the synthesis of this androgen in prepubertal children.
Topics: Child; Humans; Adrenal Glands; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; Androgens; Chromatography, Liquid; Retrospective Studies; Tandem Mass Spectrometry; Testosterone; Infant; Child, Preschool
PubMed: 36742384
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1051195 -
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology... Sep 2020Adrenal insufficiency requires lifelong corticoid replacement therapies. However, current therapies are not able to replace the physiological circadian pattern of the...
Adrenal insufficiency requires lifelong corticoid replacement therapies. However, current therapies are not able to replace the physiological circadian pattern of the adrenal cortex and are associated with many metabolic, vascular, neuroendocrine, and mental perturbations. Therefore, regenerative and more curative strategies would be desirable. In the current perspective, we describe emerging new regenerative therapies for the treatment of adrenal insufficiency. In particular, we discuss gene therapy and cell replacement strategies. Furthermore, we discuss how adrenal cells might be used as a source for regenerative therapies of nonadrenal neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson disease.
Topics: Adrenal Glands; Adrenal Insufficiency; Endocrinology; Glucocorticoids; Hormone Replacement Therapy; Humans; Regeneration; Therapies, Investigational
PubMed: 32629476
DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgaa438