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Abstract
Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) is a rare X-linked disorder of peroxisomal oxidation due to mutations in ABCD1. It is a progressive condition with a variable clinical spectrum that includes primary adrenal insufficiency, myelopathy, and cerebral ALD. Adrenal insufficiency affects over 80% of ALD patients. Cerebral ALD affects one-third of boys under the age of 12 and progresses to total disability and death without treatment. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) remains the only disease-modifying therapy if completed in the early stages of cerebral ALD, but it does not affect the course of adrenal insufficiency. It has significant associated morbidity and mortality. A recent gene therapy clinical trial for ALD reported short-term MRI and neurological outcomes comparable to historical patients treated with HSCT without the associated adverse side effects. In addition, over a dozen states have started newborn screening (NBS) for ALD, with the number of states expecting to double in 2020. Genetic testing of NBS-positive neonates has identified novel variants of unknown significance, providing further opportunity for genetic characterization but also uncertainty in the monitoring and therapy of subclinical and/or mild adrenal insufficiency or cerebral involvement. As more individuals with ALD are identified at birth, it remains uncertain if availability of matched donors, transplant (and, potentially, gene therapy) centers, and specialists may affect the timely treatment of these individuals. As these promising gene therapy trials and NBS transform the clinical management and outcomes of ALD, there will be an increasing need for the endocrine management of presymptomatic and subclinical adrenal insufficiency. (Endocrine Reviews 41: 1 - 17, 2020).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Zhu
- Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Florian Eichler
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Alessandra Biffi
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Dana-Farber and Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, Massachusetts
- Harvard Stem-Cell Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Christine N Duncan
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Dana-Farber and Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - David A Williams
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Dana-Farber and Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, Massachusetts
- Harvard Stem-Cell Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Joseph A Majzoub
- Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
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2
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Mandl KD, Glauser T, Krantz ID, Avillach P, Bartels A, Beggs AH, Biswas S, Bourgeois FT, Corsmo J, Dauber A, Devkota B, Fleisher GR, Heath AP, Helbig I, Hirschhorn JN, Kilbourn J, Kong SW, Kornetsky S, Majzoub JA, Marsolo K, Martin LJ, Nix J, Schwarzhoff A, Stedman J, Strauss A, Sund KL, Taylor DM, White PS, Marsh E, Grimberg A, Hawkes C. The Genomics Research and Innovation Network: creating an interoperable, federated, genomics learning system. Genet Med 2020; 22:371-380. [PMID: 31481752 PMCID: PMC7000325 DOI: 10.1038/s41436-019-0646-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2019] [Accepted: 08/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Clinicians and researchers must contextualize a patient's genetic variants against population-based references with detailed phenotyping. We sought to establish globally scalable technology, policy, and procedures for sharing biosamples and associated genomic and phenotypic data on broadly consented cohorts, across sites of care. METHODS Three of the nation's leading children's hospitals launched the Genomic Research and Innovation Network (GRIN), with federated information technology infrastructure, harmonized biobanking protocols, and material transfer agreements. Pilot studies in epilepsy and short stature were completed to design and test the collaboration model. RESULTS Harmonized, broadly consented institutional review board (IRB) protocols were approved and used for biobank enrollment, creating ever-expanding, compatible biobanks. An open source federated query infrastructure was established over genotype-phenotype databases at the three hospitals. Investigators securely access the GRIN platform for prep to research queries, receiving aggregate counts of patients with particular phenotypes or genotypes in each biobank. With proper approvals, de-identified data is exported to a shared analytic workspace. Investigators at all sites enthusiastically collaborated on the pilot studies, resulting in multiple publications. Investigators have also begun to successfully utilize the infrastructure for grant applications. CONCLUSIONS The GRIN collaboration establishes the technology, policy, and procedures for a scalable genomic research network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth D Mandl
- Computational Health Informatics Program, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Tracy Glauser
- Division of Neurology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Ian D Krantz
- Division of Human Genetics at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Paul Avillach
- Computational Health Informatics Program, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Anna Bartels
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Alan H Beggs
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- The Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research, Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sawona Biswas
- Division of Human Genetics at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Florence T Bourgeois
- Computational Health Informatics Program, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jeremy Corsmo
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Office of Research Compliance and Regulatory Affairs, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Andrew Dauber
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Division of Endocrinology, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Batsal Devkota
- Center for Data-Driven Discovery in Biomedicine, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Gary R Fleisher
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Allison P Heath
- Center for Data-Driven Discovery in Biomedicine, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ingo Helbig
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Biomedical and Health Informatics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Division of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Joel N Hirschhorn
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Judson Kilbourn
- Computational Health Informatics Program, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sek Won Kong
- Computational Health Informatics Program, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Susan Kornetsky
- Research Administration, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Joseph A Majzoub
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Keith Marsolo
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Lisa J Martin
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Division of Human Genetics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Jeremy Nix
- Division of Biomedical Informatics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | | | - Jason Stedman
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Arnold Strauss
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Division of Cardiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Kristen L Sund
- Division of Human Genetics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Deanne M Taylor
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Biomedical and Health Informatics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Peter S White
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Division of Biomedical Informatics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Eric Marsh
- Division of Neurology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, The Perelman School of Medicine at The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Adda Grimberg
- Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, The Perelman School of Medicine at The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Colin Hawkes
- Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, The Perelman School of Medicine at The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Allen BD, Liao C, Shu J, Muglia LJ, Majzoub JA, Diaz V, Nelson JF. Hyperadrenocorticism of calorie restriction contributes to its anti-inflammatory action in mice. Aging Cell 2019; 18:e12944. [PMID: 30938024 PMCID: PMC6516174 DOI: 10.1111/acel.12944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2018] [Revised: 01/26/2019] [Accepted: 02/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Calorie restriction (CR), which lengthens lifespan in many species, is associated with moderate hyperadrenocorticism and attenuated inflammation. Given the anti‐inflammatory action of glucocorticoids, we tested the hypothesis that the hyperadrenocorticism of CR contributes to its attenuated inflammatory response. We used a corticotropin‐releasing‐hormone knockout (CRHKO) mouse, which is glucocorticoid insufficient. There were four controls groups: CRHKO mice and wild‐type (WT) littermates fed either ad libitum (AL) or CR (60% of AL food intake), and three experimental groups: (a) AL‐fed CRHKO mice given corticosterone (CORT) in their drinking water titrated to match the integrated 24‐hr plasma CORT levels of AL‐fed WT mice, (b) CR‐fed CRHKO mice given CORT to match the 24‐hr CORT levels of AL‐fed WT mice, and (c) CR‐fed CHRKO mice given CORT to match the 24‐hr CORT levels of CR‐fed WT mice. Inflammation was measured volumetrically as footpad edema induced by carrageenan injection. As previously observed, CR attenuated footpad edema in WT mice. This attenuation was significantly blocked in CORT‐deficient CR‐fed CRHKO mice. Replacement of CORT in CR‐fed CRHKO mice to the elevated levels observed in CR‐fed WT mice, but not to the levels observed in AL‐fed WT mice, restored the anti‐inflammatory effect of CR. These results indicate that the hyperadrenocorticism of CR contributes to the anti‐inflammatory action of CR, which may in turn contribute to its life‐extending actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian D. Allen
- Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio San Antonio Texas
- Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio San Antonio Texas
- Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center and Research Service South Texas Veterans Health Care System San Antonio Texas
| | - Chen‐Yu Liao
- Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio San Antonio Texas
- Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio San Antonio Texas
| | - Jianhua Shu
- Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio San Antonio Texas
- Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio San Antonio Texas
- Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center and Research Service South Texas Veterans Health Care System San Antonio Texas
| | - Louis J. Muglia
- Department of Molecular Biology and Pharmacology Washington University School of Medicine St. Louis Missouri
| | - Joseph A. Majzoub
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School Boston Massachusetts
| | - Vivian Diaz
- Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio San Antonio Texas
| | - James F. Nelson
- Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio San Antonio Texas
- Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio San Antonio Texas
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Abstract
Impaired growth is common in patients with glycogen storage disease (GSD), who also may have "cherubic" facies similar to the "moon" facies of Cushing syndrome (CS). An infant presented with moon facies, growth failure, and obesity. Laboratory evaluation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis was consistent with CS. He was subsequently found to have liver disease, hypoglycemia, and a pathogenic variant in PHKA2, leading to the diagnosis of GSD type IXa. The cushingoid appearance, poor linear growth and hypercortisolemia improved after treatment to prevent recurrent hypoglycemia. We suspect this child's HPA axis activation was "appropriate" and caused by chronic hypoglycemic stress, leading to increased glucocorticoid secretion that may have contributed to his poor growth and excessive weight gain. This is in contrast to typical CS, which is due to excessive adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) or cortisol secretion from neoplastic pituitary or adrenal glands, ectopic secretion of ACTH or corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), or exogenous administration of corticosteroid or ACTH. Pseudo-CS is a third cause of excessive glucocorticoid secretion, has no HPA axis pathology, is most often associated with underlying psychiatric disorders or obesity in children and, by itself, is thought to be benign. We speculate that some diseases, including chronic hypoglycemic disorders such as the GSDs, may have biochemical features and pathologic consequences of CS. We propose that excessive glucocorticoid secretion due to chronic stress be termed "stress-induced Cushing (SIC) syndrome" to distinguish it from the other causes of CS and pseudo-CS, and that evaluation of children with chronic hypoglycemia and poor statural growth include evaluation for CS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret A. Stefater
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of PediatricsBoston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusetts
| | - Joseph I. Wolfsdorf
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of PediatricsBoston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusetts
| | - Nina S. Ma
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of PediatricsBoston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusetts
| | - Joseph A. Majzoub
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of PediatricsBoston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusetts
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5
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Edward HL, D'Gama AM, Wojcik MH, Brownstein CA, Kenna MA, Grant PE, Majzoub JA, Agrawal PB. A novel missense mutation inTFAP2Bassociated with Char syndrome and central diabetes insipidus. Am J Med Genet A 2019; 179:1299-1303. [DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.61150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2019] [Revised: 03/16/2019] [Accepted: 03/21/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Heather L. Edward
- Division of Newborn MedicineDepartment of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School Boston, MA United States
- Division of Genetics and GenomicsDepartment of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School Boston, MA United States
| | - Alissa M. D'Gama
- Division of Genetics and GenomicsDepartment of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School Boston, MA United States
- The Manton Center for Orphan Disease ResearchBoston Children's Hospital Boston, MA United States
| | - Monica H. Wojcik
- Division of Newborn MedicineDepartment of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School Boston, MA United States
- Division of Genetics and GenomicsDepartment of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School Boston, MA United States
- The Manton Center for Orphan Disease ResearchBoston Children's Hospital Boston, MA United States
| | - Catherine A. Brownstein
- Division of Genetics and GenomicsDepartment of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School Boston, MA United States
- The Manton Center for Orphan Disease ResearchBoston Children's Hospital Boston, MA United States
| | - Margaret A. Kenna
- Department of Otolaryngology and Communication EnhancementBoston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School Boston, MA
| | - P. Ellen Grant
- Division of Newborn MedicineDepartment of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School Boston, MA United States
| | - Joseph A. Majzoub
- Division of EndocrinologyDepartment of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School Boston, MA United States
| | - Pankaj B. Agrawal
- Division of Newborn MedicineDepartment of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School Boston, MA United States
- Division of Genetics and GenomicsDepartment of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School Boston, MA United States
- The Manton Center for Orphan Disease ResearchBoston Children's Hospital Boston, MA United States
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6
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James-Todd T, March MI, Seiglie J, Gupta M, Brown FM, Majzoub JA. Racial differences in neonatal hypoglycemia among very early preterm births. J Perinatol 2018; 38:258-263. [PMID: 29209031 PMCID: PMC5906150 DOI: 10.1038/s41372-017-0003-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2017] [Revised: 09/25/2017] [Accepted: 10/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine whether the prevalence of neonatal hypoglycemia differs by race/ethnicity. STUDY DESIGN A retrospective cohort study using prospectively collected data from 515 neonates born very preterm (<32 weeks) to normoglycemic women and admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at a major tertiary hospital in Boston, MA, between 2008 and 2012. RESULTS A total of 61%, 12%, 7%, 7%, and 13% were White, Black, Hispanic, Asian, and Other, respectively. Among the 66% spontaneous preterm births, 63% of the black neonates experienced hypoglycemia (blood glucose level < 40 mg/dL), while only 22-30% of the other racial/ethnic neonates did so (Black vs. White RR 2.15; 95% CI: 1.54-3.00). After adjusting for maternal education, maternal age, multiple gestations, delivery type, gestational age, birth weight, and neonates' sex, this association remained significant (adjusted Black vs. White RR: 1.61, 95% CI: 1.13-2.29). An increased risk of infant hypoglycemia was not seen in infants of other racial/ethnic groups, nor in any racial/ethnic group with a medically indicated preterm birth. CONCLUSIONS Black neonates delivered for spontaneous (but not medical) indications at <32 weeks had a higher risk of hypoglycemia, which could provide critical information about mechanisms of preterm birth and adverse postnatal outcomes in this high-risk group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamarra James-Todd
- Division of Women’s Health, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts,Departments of Environmental Health and Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Melissa I. March
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospitals, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Jacqueline Seiglie
- Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Munish Gupta
- Department of Neonatology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Florence M. Brown
- Division of Adult Diabetes, Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Joseph A. Majzoub
- Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
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Majzoub JA, Topor LS. A New Model for Adrenarche: Inhibition of 3β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 2 by Intra-Adrenal Cortisol. Horm Res Paediatr 2018; 89:311-319. [PMID: 29847819 PMCID: PMC6031466 DOI: 10.1159/000488777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2018] [Accepted: 03/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
We propose that the normal adrenarche-related rise in dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) secretion is ultimately caused by the rise in cortisol production occurring during childhood and adolescent growth, by the following mechanisms. (1) The onset of childhood growth leads to a slight fall in serum cortisol concentration due to growth-induced dilution and a decrease in the negative feedback of cortisol upon ACTH secretion. (2) In response, ACTH rises and stimulates increased cortisol synthesis and secretion in the growing body to restore the serum cortisol concentration to normal. (3) The cortisol concentration produced within and taken up by adrenocortical steroidogenic cells may rise during this time. (4) Cortisol competitively inhibits 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (3βHSD2)-mediated conversion of 17αOH-pregnenolone to cortisol, causing a further fall in serum cortisol, a further decrease in the negative feedback of cortisol upon ACTH, a further rise in ACTH, and further stimulation of adrenal steroidogenesis. (5) The cortisol-mediated inhibition of 3βHSD2 also blocks the conversion of DHEA to androstenedione, causing a rise in adrenal DHEA and DHEA sulfate relative to androstenedione secretion. Thus, the combination of normal body growth plus inhibition of 3βHSD2 by intra-adrenal cortisol may cause normal adrenarche. Childhood obesity may hasten this process by causing a pathologic increase in body size that triggers these same processes at an earlier age, resulting in the premature onset of adrenarche.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph A. Majzoub
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Lisa Swartz Topor
- Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Hasbro Children’s Hospital, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI 02903
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Zhang R, Asai M, Mahoney CE, Joachim M, Shen Y, Gunner G, Majzoub JA. Loss of hypothalamic corticotropin-releasing hormone markedly reduces anxiety behaviors in mice. Mol Psychiatry 2017; 22:733-744. [PMID: 27595593 PMCID: PMC5339066 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2016.136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2016] [Revised: 06/17/2016] [Accepted: 07/13/2016] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
A long-standing paradigm posits that hypothalamic corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) regulates neuroendocrine functions such as adrenal glucocorticoid release, whereas extra-hypothalamic CRH has a key role in stressor-triggered behaviors. Here we report that hypothalamus-specific Crh knockout mice (Sim1CrhKO mice, created by crossing Crhflox with Sim1Cre mice) have absent Crh mRNA and peptide mainly in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVH) but preserved Crh expression in other brain regions including amygdala and cerebral cortex. As expected, Sim1CrhKO mice exhibit adrenal atrophy as well as decreased basal, diurnal and stressor-stimulated plasma corticosterone secretion and basal plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone, but surprisingly, have a profound anxiolytic phenotype when evaluated using multiple stressors including open-field, elevated plus maze, holeboard, light-dark box and novel object recognition task. Restoring plasma corticosterone did not reverse the anxiolytic phenotype of Sim1CrhKO mice. Crh-Cre driver mice revealed that PVHCrh fibers project abundantly to cingulate cortex and the nucleus accumbens shell, and moderately to medial amygdala, locus coeruleus and solitary tract, consistent with the existence of PVHCrh-dependent behavioral pathways. Although previous, nonselective attenuation of CRH production or action, genetically in mice and pharmacologically in humans, respectively, has not produced the anticipated anxiolytic effects, our data show that targeted interference specifically with hypothalamic Crh expression results in anxiolysis. Our data identify neurons that express both Sim1 and Crh as a cellular entry point into the study of CRH-mediated, anxiety-like behaviors and their therapeutic attenuation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Zhang
- Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA,Key laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China; College of Life Science, Northwest University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, 710069, China,Division for Experimental Natural Science, Faculty of Arts and Science, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan,To whom correspondence should be addressed. ;
| | - Masato Asai
- Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA,Department of Pathology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
| | - Carrie E Mahoney
- Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Maria Joachim
- Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Yuan Shen
- Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Georgia Gunner
- Neurodevelopmental Behavior Core, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Joseph A Majzoub
- Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA,To whom correspondence should be addressed. ;
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9
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Schneuer FJ, Bower C, Holland AJA, Tasevski V, Jamieson SE, Barker A, Lee L, Majzoub JA, Nassar N. Maternal first trimester serum levels of free-beta human chorionic gonadotrophin and male genital anomalies. Hum Reprod 2016; 31:1895-903. [PMID: 27496947 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dew150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2016] [Accepted: 05/26/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION Are maternal first trimester levels of serum free-beta hCG associated with the development of hypospadias or undescended testis (UDT) in boys? SUMMARY ANSWER Overall, first trimester maternal levels of serum free-beta hCG are not associated with hypospadias or UDT. However, elevated levels were found in severe phenotypes (proximal hypospadias and bilateral UDT) suggesting an altered pathway of hormonal release in early pregnancy. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Human chorionic gonadotrophin peaks in first trimester of pregnancy stimulating fetal testosterone production, which is key to normal male genital development. Endocrine-disrupting insults early in pregnancy have been associated with increased risk of common genital anomalies in males such as hypospadias and UDT. One plausible etiological pathway is altered release of hCG. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION We conducted a record-linkage study of two separate populations of women attending first trimester aneuploidy screening in two Australian states, New South Wales (NSW) and Western Australia (WA), in 2006-2009 and 2001-2003, respectively. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Included were women who gave birth to a singleton live born male infant. There were 12 099 boys from NSW and 10 518 from WA included, of whom 90 and 77 had hypospadias; and 107 and 109 UDT, respectively. Serum levels of free-beta hCG were ascertained from laboratory databases and combined with relevant birth outcomes and congenital anomalies via record linkage of laboratory, birth, congenital anomalies and hospital data. Median and quartile levels of gestational age specific free-beta hCG multiple of the median (MoM) were compared between affected and unaffected boys. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between levels of free-beta hCG MoM and hypospadias or UDT, stratified by suspected placental dysfunction and co-existing anomalies. Where relevant, pooled analysis was conducted. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE There was no difference in median hCG levels amongst women with an infant with hypospadias (NSW = 0.88 MoM, P = 0.83; WA = 0.84 MoM, P = 0.76) or UDT (NSW = 0.89 MoM, P = 0.54; WA = 0.95 MoM, P = 0.95), compared with women with an unaffected boy (NSW = 0.92 MoM; WA = 0.88 MoM). Low (<25th centile) or high (>75th centile) hCG levels were not associated with hypospadias or UDT, nor when stratifying by suspected placental dysfunction and co-existing anomalies. However, there was a tendency towards high levels for severe types, although confidence intervals were wide. When combining NSW and WA results, high hCG MoM levels (>75th centile) were associated with increased risk of proximal hypospadias (odds ratio (OR) 4.34; 95% CI: 1.08-17.4) and bilateral UDT (OR 2.86; 95% CI: 1.02-8.03). LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION There were only small numbers of proximal hypospadias and bilateral UDT in both cohorts and although we conducted pooled analyses, results reported on these should be interpreted with caution. Gestational age by ultrasound may have been inaccurately estimated in small and large for gestational age fetuses affecting hCG MoM calculation in those pregnancies. Despite the reliability of our datasets in identifying adverse pregnancy outcomes, we did not have pathology information to confirm tissue lesions in the placenta and therefore our composite outcome should be considered as a proxy for placental dysfunction. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS This is one of the largest population-based studies examining the association between maternal first trimester serum levels of free-beta hCG and genital anomalies-hypospadias and UDT; and the first to compare specific phenotypes by severity. Overall, our findings does not support the hypothesis that alteration in maternal hCG levels is associated with the development of male genital anomalies; however, high hCG free-beta levels found in severe types suggest different underlying etiology involving higher production and secretion of hCG. These findings require further exploration and replication. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS This work was funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) grant APP1047263. N.N. is supported by a NHMRC Career Development Fellowship APP1067066. C.B. was supported by a NHMRC Principal Research Fellowship #634341. The funding agencies had no role in the design, analysis, interpretation or reporting of the findings. There are no competing interests. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER Not applicable.
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Affiliation(s)
- F J Schneuer
- Menzies Centre for Health Policy, School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - C Bower
- Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - A J A Holland
- Discipline of Paediatrics and Child Health, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - V Tasevski
- Pathology North, NSW Health Pathology, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, NSW 2065, Australia
| | - S E Jamieson
- Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - A Barker
- Department of Paediatric Surgery, Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Subiaco, Western Australia 6008, Australia
| | - L Lee
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - J A Majzoub
- Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children's Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, CLSB 16028, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - N Nassar
- Menzies Centre for Health Policy, School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
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10
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Abstract
The inaugural issue of this journal, published in November 2005, included articles on thyroid cancer, type 2 diabetes mellitus, the metabolic syndrome, pituitary adenomas and obesity. 10 years later, we are still publishing articles on these topics (and many others). Although a great deal of progress has been made in our understanding of the pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the endocrine system over the past 10 years, many challenges still remain. For this Viewpoint, we have asked five of our Advisory Board Members to comment on the progress and challenges from the past 10 years. They were also asked to offer their thoughts on where money should be spent going forward, and their predictions for what advances might be achieved in the next 10 years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevan C Herold
- Department of Immunobiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University, 300 George Street, #353E, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Joseph A Majzoub
- Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Shlomo Melmed
- Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Room 2015, 8700 Beverly Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Merri Pendergrass
- University of Arizona College of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, 3950 South Country Club Road, Tucson, AZ 85714, USA
| | - Martin Schlumberger
- Institut Gustave Roussy and University Paris-Sud, 114 Rue Edouard Vaillant, 94800 Villejuif, France
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11
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Thomas JL, Rajapaksha M, Mack VL, DeMars GA, Majzoub JA, Bose HS. Regulation of human 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 by adrenal corticosteroids and product-feedback by androstenedione in human adrenarche. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2014; 352:67-76. [PMID: 25355646 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.114.219550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
In human adrenarche during childhood, the secretion of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) from the adrenal gland increases due to its increased synthesis and/or decreased metabolism. DHEA is synthesized by 17α-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase, and is metabolized by 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (3βHSD2). In this study, the inhibition of purified human 3βHSD2 by the adrenal steroids, androstenedione, cortisone, and cortisol, was investigated and related to changes in secondary enzyme structure. Solubilized, purified 3βHSD2 was inhibited competitively by androstenedione with high affinity, by cortisone at lower affinity, and by cortisol only at very high, nonphysiologic levels. When purified 3βHSD2 was bound to lipid vesicles, the competitive Ki values for androstenedione and cortisone were slightly decreased, and the Ki value of cortisol was decreased 2.5-fold, although still at a nonphysiologic level. The circular dichroism spectrum that measured 3βHSD2 secondary structure was significantly altered by the binding of cortisol, but not by androstenedione and cortisone. Our import studies show that 3βHSD2 binds in the intermitochondrial space as a membrane-associated protein. Androstenedione inhibits purified 3βHSD2 at physiologic levels, but similar actions for cortisol and cortisone are not supported. In summary, our results have clarified the mechanisms for limiting the metabolism of DHEA during human adrenarche.
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Affiliation(s)
- James L Thomas
- Division of Basic Medical Sciences (J.L.T., V.L.M.) and Department of Ob-Gyn (J.L.T.), Mercer University School of Medicine, Macon, Georgia; Department of Biochemistry, Mercer University School of Medicine, Savannah, Georgia (M.R., G.A.D., H.S.B.); Memorial University Medical Center, Anderson Cancer Institute, Savannah, Georgia (H.S.B.); and Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children's Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts (J.A.M.)
| | - Maheshinie Rajapaksha
- Division of Basic Medical Sciences (J.L.T., V.L.M.) and Department of Ob-Gyn (J.L.T.), Mercer University School of Medicine, Macon, Georgia; Department of Biochemistry, Mercer University School of Medicine, Savannah, Georgia (M.R., G.A.D., H.S.B.); Memorial University Medical Center, Anderson Cancer Institute, Savannah, Georgia (H.S.B.); and Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children's Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts (J.A.M.)
| | - Vance L Mack
- Division of Basic Medical Sciences (J.L.T., V.L.M.) and Department of Ob-Gyn (J.L.T.), Mercer University School of Medicine, Macon, Georgia; Department of Biochemistry, Mercer University School of Medicine, Savannah, Georgia (M.R., G.A.D., H.S.B.); Memorial University Medical Center, Anderson Cancer Institute, Savannah, Georgia (H.S.B.); and Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children's Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts (J.A.M.)
| | - Geneva A DeMars
- Division of Basic Medical Sciences (J.L.T., V.L.M.) and Department of Ob-Gyn (J.L.T.), Mercer University School of Medicine, Macon, Georgia; Department of Biochemistry, Mercer University School of Medicine, Savannah, Georgia (M.R., G.A.D., H.S.B.); Memorial University Medical Center, Anderson Cancer Institute, Savannah, Georgia (H.S.B.); and Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children's Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts (J.A.M.)
| | - Joseph A Majzoub
- Division of Basic Medical Sciences (J.L.T., V.L.M.) and Department of Ob-Gyn (J.L.T.), Mercer University School of Medicine, Macon, Georgia; Department of Biochemistry, Mercer University School of Medicine, Savannah, Georgia (M.R., G.A.D., H.S.B.); Memorial University Medical Center, Anderson Cancer Institute, Savannah, Georgia (H.S.B.); and Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children's Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts (J.A.M.)
| | - Himangshu S Bose
- Division of Basic Medical Sciences (J.L.T., V.L.M.) and Department of Ob-Gyn (J.L.T.), Mercer University School of Medicine, Macon, Georgia; Department of Biochemistry, Mercer University School of Medicine, Savannah, Georgia (M.R., G.A.D., H.S.B.); Memorial University Medical Center, Anderson Cancer Institute, Savannah, Georgia (H.S.B.); and Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children's Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts (J.A.M.)
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12
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Freedman BD, Kempna PB, Carlone DL, Shah M, Guagliardo NA, Barrett PQ, Gomez-Sanchez CE, Majzoub JA, Breault DT. Adrenocortical zonation results from lineage conversion of differentiated zona glomerulosa cells. Dev Cell 2013; 26:666-673. [PMID: 24035414 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2013.07.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2012] [Revised: 06/11/2013] [Accepted: 07/17/2013] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Lineage conversion of differentiated cells in response to hormonal feedback has yet to be described. To investigate this, we studied the adrenal cortex, which is composed of functionally distinct concentric layers that develop postnatally, the outer zona glomerulosa (zG) and the inner zona fasciculata (zF). These layers have separate functions, are continuously renewed in response to physiological demands, and are regulated by discrete hormonal feedback loops. Their cellular origin, lineage relationship, and renewal mechanism, however, remain poorly understood. Cell-fate mapping and gene-deletion studies using zG-specific Cre expression demonstrate that differentiated zG cells undergo lineage conversion into zF cells. In addition, zG maintenance is dependent on the master transcriptional regulator Steroidogenic Factor 1 (SF-1), and zG-specific Sf-1 deletion prevents lineage conversion. These findings demonstrate that adrenocortical zonation and regeneration result from lineage conversion and may provide a paradigm for homeostatic cellular renewal in other tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bethany D Freedman
- Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115 USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115 USA
| | - Petra Bukovac Kempna
- Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115 USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115 USA
| | - Diana L Carlone
- Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115 USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115 USA
| | - Manasvi Shah
- Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115 USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115 USA
| | - Nick A Guagliardo
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, 22908 USA
| | - Paula Q Barrett
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, 22908 USA
| | - Celso E Gomez-Sanchez
- Department of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216 USA
| | - Joseph A Majzoub
- Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115 USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115 USA
| | - David T Breault
- Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115 USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115 USA.,Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA 02138 USA
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13
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Asai M, Ramachandrappa S, Joachim M, Shen Y, Zhang R, Nuthalapati N, Ramanathan V, Strochlic DE, Ferket P, Linhart K, Ho C, Novoselova TV, Garg S, Ridderstråle M, Marcus C, Hirschhorn JN, Keogh JM, O’Rahilly S, Chan LF, Clark AJ, Farooqi IS, Majzoub JA. Loss of function of the melanocortin 2 receptor accessory protein 2 is associated with mammalian obesity. Science 2013; 341:275-8. [PMID: 23869016 PMCID: PMC3788688 DOI: 10.1126/science.1233000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 197] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Melanocortin receptor accessory proteins (MRAPs) modulate signaling of melanocortin receptors in vitro. To investigate the physiological role of brain-expressed melanocortin 2 receptor accessory protein 2 (MRAP2), we characterized mice with whole-body and brain-specific targeted deletion of Mrap2, both of which develop severe obesity at a young age. Mrap2 interacts directly with melanocortin 4 receptor (Mc4r), a protein previously implicated in mammalian obesity, and it enhances Mc4r-mediated generation of the second messenger cyclic adenosine monophosphate, suggesting that alterations in Mc4r signaling may be one mechanism underlying the association between Mrap2 disruption and obesity. In a study of humans with severe, early-onset obesity, we found four rare, potentially pathogenic genetic variants in MRAP2, suggesting that the gene may also contribute to body weight regulation in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masato Asai
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115,Departments of Pathology, Endocrinology and Diabetes, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
| | - Shwetha Ramachandrappa
- University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories and NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Institute of Metabolic Science, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, CB2 0QQ, Cambridge, UK
| | - Maria Joachim
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Yuan Shen
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Rong Zhang
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Nikhil Nuthalapati
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Visali Ramanathan
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
| | - David E. Strochlic
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Peter Ferket
- Prestage Department of Poultry Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695
| | - Kirsten Linhart
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Caroline Ho
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Tatiana V. Novoselova
- William Harvey Research Institute, Centre for Endocrinology Queen Mary, University of London Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Sumedha Garg
- University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories and NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Institute of Metabolic Science, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, CB2 0QQ, Cambridge, UK
| | - Martin Ridderstråle
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden and Steno Diabetes Center, Gentofte, Denmark
| | - Claude Marcus
- Department for Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institute, Division of Pediatrics, National Childhood Obesity Centre, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Joel N. Hirschhorn
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115,Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School and Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA
| | - Julia M. Keogh
- University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories and NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Institute of Metabolic Science, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, CB2 0QQ, Cambridge, UK
| | - Stephen O’Rahilly
- University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories and NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Institute of Metabolic Science, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, CB2 0QQ, Cambridge, UK
| | - Li F. Chan
- William Harvey Research Institute, Centre for Endocrinology Queen Mary, University of London Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Adrian J. Clark
- William Harvey Research Institute, Centre for Endocrinology Queen Mary, University of London Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - I. Sadaf Farooqi
- University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories and NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Institute of Metabolic Science, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, CB2 0QQ, Cambridge, UK,Correspondence to: Joseph A. Majzoub, , I. Sadaf Farooqi,
| | - Joseph A. Majzoub
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115,Correspondence to: Joseph A. Majzoub, , I. Sadaf Farooqi,
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14
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Sharara-Chami RI, Zhou Y, Ebert S, Pacak K, Ozcan U, Majzoub JA. Epinephrine deficiency results in intact glucose counter-regulation, severe hepatic steatosis and possible defective autophagy in fasting mice. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 2012; 44:905-13. [PMID: 22405854 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocel.2012.02.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2011] [Revised: 02/15/2012] [Accepted: 02/23/2012] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Epinephrine is one of the major hormones involved in glucose counter-regulation and gluconeogenesis. However, little is known about its importance in energy homeostasis during fasting. Our objective is to study the specific role of epinephrine in glucose and lipid metabolism during starvation. In our experiment, we subject regular mice and epinephrine-deficient mice to a 48-h fast then we evaluate the different metabolic responses to fasting. Our results show that epinephrine is not required for glucose counter-regulation: epinephrine-deficient mice maintain their blood glucose at normal fasting levels via glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis, with normal fasting-induced changes in the peroxisomal activators: peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ coactivator α (PGC-1α), fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF-21), peroxisome proliferator activated receptor α (PPAR-α), and sterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP-1c). However, fasted epinephrine-deficient mice develop severe ketosis and hepatic steatosis, with evidence for inhibition of hepatic autophagy, a process that normally provides essential energy via degradation of hepatic triglycerides during starvation. We conclude that, during fasting, epinephrine is not required for glucose homeostasis, lipolysis or ketogenesis. Epinephrine may have an essential role in lipid handling, possibly via an autophagy-dependent mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rana I Sharara-Chami
- Division of Critical Care Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Children's Hospital Boston, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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15
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Topor LS, Asai M, Dunn J, Majzoub JA. Cortisol stimulates secretion of dehydroepiandrosterone in human adrenocortical cells through inhibition of 3betaHSD2. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2011; 96:E31-9. [PMID: 20943790 PMCID: PMC3038480 DOI: 10.1210/jc.2010-0692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Initiating factors leading to production of adrenal androgens are poorly defined. Cortisol is present in high concentrations within the adrenal gland, and its production rises with growth during childhood. OBJECTIVE Our aim was to characterize the effect of cortisol and other glucocorticoids on androgen secretion from a human adrenocortical cell line and from nonadrenal cells transfected with CYP17A1 or HSD3B2. DESIGN/SETTING This study was performed in cultured cells, at an academic medical center. METHODS The effects of cortisol upon steroid production in human adrenal NCI-H295R cells were measured by immunoassay, tandem mass spectrometry, and thin-layer chromatography. The effects of cortisol upon the activities of 17, 20 lyase and 3βHSD2 were measured in NCI-H295R cells and in transfected COS-7 cells. RESULTS Cortisol markedly and rapidly stimulated dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in a dose-dependent manner at cortisol concentrations ≥50 μM. Cortisone and 11-deoxycortisol were also potent stimulators of DHEA secretion, whereas prednisolone and dexamethasone were not. Treatment with cortisol did not affect expression of CYP17A1 or HSD3B2 mRNAs. Stimulation of DHEA secretion by cortisol was associated with competitive inhibition of 3βHSD2 activity. CONCLUSIONS Cortisol inhibits 3βHSD2 activity in adrenal cells and in COS-7 cells transfected with HSD3B2. Thus, it is possible that intraadrenal cortisol may participate in the regulation of adrenal DHEA secretion through inhibition of 3βHSD2. We hypothesize that a rise in intraadrenal cortisol during childhood growth may lead to inhibition of 3βHSD2 activity and contribute to the initiation of adrenarche.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Swartz Topor
- Division of Endocrinology, Children's Hospital Boston, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
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16
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Sharara-Chami RI, Joachim M, Mulcahey M, Ebert S, Majzoub JA. Effect of epinephrine deficiency on cold tolerance and on brown adipose tissue. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2010; 328:34-9. [PMID: 20619316 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2010.06.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2010] [Revised: 06/18/2010] [Accepted: 06/29/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Catecholamines are involved in thermogenesis. We investigated the specific role of epinephrine in regulation of temperature homeostasis in mice. We subjected adult wildtype (WT) and phenylethanolamine N-methyl transferase knock out mice (Pnmt(-/-)) lacking epinephrine to cold for 24h. Body temperature and thyroid hormone levels were not different between WT and Pnmt(-/-) mice. Although temperature was normal in Pnmt(-/-) mice, the brown fat response to cold was abnormal with no increase in Ucp-1 or Pgc-1alpha mRNA levels (but with an exaggerated cold-induced lipid loss from the tissue). Our results show that epinephrine may have a role in brown fat mitochondrial uncoupling through regulation of Ucp-1 and Pgc-1alpha, although this is not required to maintain a normal temperature during acute cold exposure. We conclude that epinephrine may have an important role in induction of Ucp-1 and Pgc-1alpha gene expression during cold stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rana I Sharara-Chami
- Division of Critical Care Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Children's Hospital Boston, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, United States.
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17
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Congenital adrenal hyperplasia is a group of disorders caused by defects in the adrenal steroidogenic pathways. In its most common form, 21-hydroxylase deficiency, patients develop varying degrees of glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid deficiency as well as androgen excess. Therapy is guided by monitoring clinical parameters as well as adrenal hormone and metabolite concentrations. CONTENT We review the evidence for clinical and biochemical parameters used in monitoring therapy for congenital adrenal hyperplasia. We discuss the utility of 24-h urine collections for pregnanetriol and 17-ketosteroids as well as serum measurements of 17-hydroxyprogesterone, androstenedione, and testosterone. In addition, we examine the added value of daily hormonal profiles obtained from salivary or blood-spot samples and discuss the limitations of the various assays. SUMMARY Clinical parameters such as growth velocity and bone age remain the gold standard for monitoring the adequacy of therapy in congenital adrenal hyperplasia. The use of 24-h urine collections for pregnanetriol and 17-ketosteroid may offer an integrated view of adrenal hormone production but target concentrations must be better defined. Random serum hormone measurements are of little value and fluctuate with time of day and timing relative to glucocorticoid administration. Assays of daily hormonal profiles from saliva or blood spots offer a more detailed assessment of therapeutic control, although salivary assays have variable quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Dauber
- Division of Endocrinology, Children's Hospital Boston, Boston, MA, USA
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18
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Fasting MH, Oken E, Mantzoros CS, Rich-Edwards JW, Majzoub JA, Kleinman K, Rifas-Shiman SL, Vik T, Gillman MW. Maternal levels of corticotropin-releasing hormone during pregnancy in relation to adiponectin and leptin in early childhood. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2009; 94:1409-15. [PMID: 19190112 PMCID: PMC2682476 DOI: 10.1210/jc.2008-1424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fetal glucocorticoid exposure is associated with later development of features of the metabolic syndrome such as central obesity and insulin resistance. Fat tissue, especially visceral fat, produces adiponectin, which is inversely associated with insulin resistance in older children and adults. Adipocytes also produce leptin, directly related to measures of adiposity. It is unknown how the secretion of these hormones in early childhood is related to pregnancy levels of CRH, a proxy of fetal glucocorticoid exposure. AIM Our aim was to study the relationship of maternal midpregnancy CRH levels with offspring levels of adiponectin and leptin in early childhood. METHODS The study population consisted of 349 mother-children pairs from Project Viva, a prospective prebirth cohort study from eastern Massachusetts. We created a general linear model with log CRH levels in midpregnancy maternal blood as the predictor and adiponectin and leptin measured in the 3-yr-old offspring as outcomes, adjusting for covariates. RESULTS The means (sd) of log CRH, adiponectin, and leptin were 4.97 (0.65) log pg/ml, 22.4 (5.8) microg/ml, and 1.9 (1.8) ng/ml. For each unit increment in log CRH, mean value of offspring adiponectin was 1.10 microg/ml (95% confidence interval = 0.06-2.14) higher. We found no association with leptin (-0.08 ng/ml; 95% confidence interval = -0.40-0.24). CONCLUSIONS Higher maternal blood levels of CRH were associated with higher levels of adiponectin but unchanged levels of leptin at age 3 yr. The increased adiponectin levels might represent secretion from organs other than fat or reflect a compensatory mechanism to increase insulin sensitivity.
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Scribner KB, Pawlak DB, Aubin CM, Majzoub JA, Ludwig DS. Long-term effects of dietary glycemic index on adiposity, energy metabolism, and physical activity in mice. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2008; 295:E1126-31. [PMID: 18780772 PMCID: PMC2584816 DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.90487.2008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
A high-glycemic index (GI) diet has been shown to increase adiposity in rodents; however, the long-term metabolic effects of a low- and high-GI diet have not been examined. In this study, a total of 48 male 129SvPas mice were fed diets high in either rapidly absorbed carbohydrate (RAC; high GI) or slowly absorbed carbohydrate (SAC; low GI) for up to 40 wk. Diets were controlled for macronutrient and micronutrient content, differing only in starch type. Body composition and insulin sensitivity were measured longitudinally by DEXA scan and oral glucose tolerance test, respectively. Food intake, respiratory quotient, physical activity, and energy expenditure were assessed using metabolic cages. Despite having similar mean body weights, mice fed the RAC diet had 40% greater body fat by the end of the study and a mean 2.2-fold greater insulin resistance compared with mice fed the SAC diet. Respiratory quotient was higher in the RAC group, indicating comparatively less fat oxidation. Although no differences in energy expenditure were observed throughout the study, total physical activity was 45% higher for the SAC-fed mice after 38 wk of feeding. We conclude that, in this animal model, 1) the effect of GI on body composition is mediated by changes in substrate oxidation, not energy intake; 2) a high-GI diet causes insulin resistance; and 3) dietary composition can affect physical activity level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly B Scribner
- Department of Medicine, Children's Hospital Boston, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
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Abstract
Aldosterone production is controlled by angiotensin II, potassium, and ACTH. Mice lacking Pomc and its pituitary product ACTH have been reported to have absent or low aldosterone levels, suggesting that ACTH is required for normal aldosterone production. However, this is at odds with the clinical finding that human aldosterone deficiency is not a component of secondary adrenal insufficiency. To resolve this, we measured plasma and urine electrolytes, together with plasma aldosterone and renin activity, in Pomc(-/-) mice. We found that these mice have secondary hyperaldosteronism (elevated aldosterone without suppression of renin activity), indicating that ACTH is not required for aldosterone production or release in vivo. Exogenous ACTH stimulates a further increase in aldosterone in Pomc(-/-) mice, whereas angiotensin II has no effect, and the combination of angiotensin II and ACTH is no more potent than ACTH alone. These data suggest that aldosterone production and release in vivo do not require the action of ACTH during development or postnatal life and that secondary hyperaldosteronism in Pomc(-/-) mice is a consequence of glucocorticoid deficiency.
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Majzoub JA, Emanuel R, Adler G, Martinez C, Robinson B, Wittert G. Second messenger regulation of mRNA for corticotropin-releasing factor. Ciba Found Symp 2007; 172:30-43; discussion 43-58. [PMID: 8491092 DOI: 10.1002/9780470514368.ch3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
An understanding of how second messengers and their ligands are coupled to CRF gene activation is necessary if we are to understand the regulation of the CRF gene in physiological and pathological states. The protein kinase A, protein kinase C and glucocorticoid second messenger systems mediate most of the regulation of the CRF gene. In in vitro systems, CRF gene expression is stimulated 20-30-fold by activation of either the protein kinase A or the protein kinase C system. Glucocorticoid is able to inhibit stimulation via both pathways, but appears to be more effective in repressing activation mediated by protein kinase C. Glucocorticoid negative regulation requires the presence of glucocorticoid receptor possessing an intact DNA-binding domain, suggesting that this effect involves binding of the receptor to the CRF promoter. These in vitro studies should serve to guide investigators towards the possible mechanisms underlying CRF gene regulation in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- J A Majzoub
- Division of Endocrinology, Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
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Majzoub JA, Srivatsa A. Diabetes insipidus: clinical and basic aspects. Pediatr Endocrinol Rev 2006; 4 Suppl 1:60-5. [PMID: 17261971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Water homeostasis in the body is finely balanced by the release of the antidiuretic hormone vasopressin and the stimulation of thirst. Vasopressin acts in the kidneys to concentrate urine and reduce plasma osmolality. Diabetes insipidus is a disorder of water balance characterized by a failure to concentrate urine. There are two types of diabetes insipidus: central and nephrogenic. Central diabetes insipidus is caused by insufficient production of vasopressin, while nephrogenic diabetes insipidus is caused by an impaired response of the kidneys to vasopressin. Patients with central diabetes insipidus respond to treatment with vasopressin or its synthetic analogue, desmopressin; however, caution should be utilized in treating infants with vasopressin or analogues-infants can be treated successfully with fluids alone. Treatment of nephrogenic diabetes insipidus involves removing the underlying cause, if possible, reducing solute load or therapy with a diuretic agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph A Majzoub
- Division of Endocrinology, Children's Hospital Boston, Harvard Medical School, Boston MA, USA
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Gillman MW, Rich-Edwards JW, Huh S, Majzoub JA, Oken E, Taveras EM, Rifas-Shiman SL. Maternal corticotropin-releasing hormone levels during pregnancy and offspring adiposity. Obesity (Silver Spring) 2006; 14:1647-53. [PMID: 17030976 PMCID: PMC1899091 DOI: 10.1038/oby.2006.189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Animal models suggest that fetal exposure to glucocorticoids can program adiposity, especially central adiposity, later in life. We examined associations of maternal corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) levels in the late 2nd trimester of pregnancy, a marker of fetal glucocorticoid exposure, with child adiposity at age 3 years. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES We analyzed data from 199 participants in Project Viva, a prospective cohort study of pregnant women and their children, At age 3 years, the main outcomes were age-sex-specific BMI z score and the sum of subscapular (SS) and triceps (TR) skinfold thicknesses to represent overall adiposity, and ratio of SS to TR (SS:TR) to represent central adiposity. RESULTS Mean (standard deviation) maternal 2nd trimester log CRH was 4.94 (0.56) pg/mL. At age 3, mean (standard deviation) for BMI z score was 0.52 (1.02); for SS + TR, 16.51 (3.94) mm; and for SS:TR, 0.67 (0.17). Log CRH was mildly inversely correlated with birth weight (r = -0.08), chiefly because of its association with length of gestation (r = -0.21) rather than fetal growth (r = -0.004). After adjustment for sociodemographic factors, maternal smoking, BMI, and gestational weight gain, fetal growth, length of gestation, breastfeeding duration, and (for SS:TR only) child's 3-year BMI, each increment of 1 unit of log CRH was associated with a reduction in BMI z score [-0.43; 95% confidence interval (CI), -0.73, -0.14; p = 0.004] and possible reduction in SS + TR (-1.10; 95% CI, -2.33, 0.14; p = 0.08). In contrast, log CRH was associated with higher SS:TR (0.07; 95% CI, 0.02, 0.13; p = 0.007). DISCUSSION Fetal exposure to glucocorticoids, although associated with an overall decrease in body size, may cause an increase in central adiposity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew W Gillman
- Department of Ambulatory Care and Prevention, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
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Strong EF, Kleinman KP, Gillman MW, Clark I, Emanuel RL, Majzoub JA, Rich-Edwards JW. Measuring corticotropin-releasing hormone in pregnant women - comparing blood collection protocols for epidemiological studies. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol 2006; 20:67-71. [PMID: 16420343 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3016.2006.00689.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
We describe a pilot study to determine the effect of delays in blood sample processing under simulated field conditions on measurement of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) levels in pregnant women. CRH, a peptide secreted by the placenta into the maternal blood, is of interest in epidemiological studies of gestational duration. Many investigators suspected that CRH might break down quickly after collection, and believed the optimal treatment of blood samples for CRH must include immediate processing under chilled conditions and quick freezing of plasma. Epidemiological studies often have logistical constraints that make such rapid processing unfeasible. To examine how delays in the processing of blood samples might affect the level of measured CRH, we collected whole blood samples from 33 pregnant women attending a prenatal clinic in Boston. We compared CRH levels measured following three different processing delays with the levels of samples that were processed immediately after blood collection, the 'gold standard'. The delayed strategies involved placing the freshly collected whole blood in a cooler or refrigerator for up to 22 h prior to processing. Correlation coefficients comparing delayed with gold standard processing exceeded 0.96. These results suggest that CRH may be measured in blood samples that were spun and frozen up to 22 h after blood collection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily F Strong
- Department of Ambulatory Care and Prevention, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
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Silverman ES, Breault DT, Vallone J, Subramanian S, Yilmaz AD, Mathew S, Subramaniam V, Tantisira K, Pacák K, Weiss ST, Majzoub JA. Corticotropin-releasing hormone deficiency increases allergen-induced airway inflammation in a mouse model of asthma. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2004; 114:747-54. [PMID: 15480311 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2004.06.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) is a major regulator of adrenocorticotropic hormone and the production of glucocorticoids by the adrenal gland. Abnormal regulation of CRH and endogenous glucocorticoids has been implicated in the pathogenesis of asthma. OBJECTIVE We postulated that CRH deficiency could increase asthma severity by disrupting hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis function and the induction of glucocorticoids through inflammatory and physiologic stress. However, CRH is expressed by several types of immune cells and might be induced at sites of inflammation, where it has local immunostimulatory actions. Thus CRH deficiency could decrease asthma severity. METHODS To test these possibilities, we subjected CRH-knockout mice to an ovalbumin-induced airway inflammation protocol that mimics many features of asthma. RESULTS CRH-knockout mice had an increase in airway inflammation of approximately 80% to 300% and an increase in goblet cell hyperplasia of approximately 70% compared with wild-type mice. In contrast, IgE induction was unaffected by CRH deficiency. The increased inflammation in knockout mice was associated with increased tissue resistance, elastance, and hysteresivity. Levels of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, RANTES, IFN-gamma, and eotaxin were all increased in knockout mice. Serum corticosterone levels were decreased in knockout mice and might account for some of the differences between knockout and wild-type mice. CONCLUSION We conclude that CRH deficiency disrupts endogenous glucocorticoid production and enhances allergen-induced airway inflammation and lung mechanical dysfunction in mice. Thus inherited or acquired CRH deficiency could increase asthma severity in human subjects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric S Silverman
- Physiology Program, Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115-6021, USA.
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McElhinney DB, Colan SD, Moran AM, Wypij D, Lin M, Majzoub JA, Crawford EC, Bartlett JM, McGrath EA, Newburger JW. Recombinant human growth hormone treatment for dilated cardiomyopathy in children. Pediatrics 2004; 114:e452-8. [PMID: 15466071 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2004-0072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is one of the most common causes of heart failure among children and is often progressive despite maximal medical therapy. Heart failure is characterized by a number of neurohormonal abnormalities, including derangements in the growth hormone (GH)/insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) signaling axis. Decreased serum levels of GH, which acts on cardiac myocytes primarily through IGF-1, are associated with impaired myocardial growth and function, which can be improved with restoration of GH/IGF-1 homeostasis. In animal models and among human adults with heart failure attributable to DCM, treatment with GH results in acquisition of left ventricular (LV) mass and improved LV function, through a combination of mechanisms. We undertook this study to determine the effects of recombinant human GH on LV function and mass among children with stable LV dysfunction attributable to DCM. METHODS We performed a prospective, single-center, randomized, partially blinded, crossover trial among children 1 to 19 years of age with DCM and cardiac dysfunction of > or =6-month duration. After enrollment, patients were randomly assigned to receive treatment for 6 months with either conventional therapy (determined by the patient's primary cardiologist) plus recombinant human GH (0.025-0.04 mg/kg per day), administered as daily subcutaneous injections, or conventional therapy alone. Patients were then crossed over to the other treatment strategy for 6 months. The primary outcome measure was change in LV shortening fraction (SF). Other echocardiographic indices of LV function, somatic growth, and somatotropic/thyroid hormone levels were also monitored. RESULTS Only 8 of an intended 15 patients were enrolled, because of a combination of factors. Two patients withdrew during the study as a result of declining LV function requiring transplantation. LV SF did not change significantly during GH treatment, although both LV SF and LV SF z score were higher 6 months after cessation of GH treatment than at baseline. LV ejection fraction increased during GH therapy to a degree that approached significance. Height and weight percentiles for age increased significantly during GH therapy and remained higher 6 months after treatment. Annualized height velocity during GH treatment (13.7 +/- 3.3 cm/year, >97th percentile for all patients) was significantly higher than that after GH discontinuation (3.2 +/- 3.5 cm/year). Serum levels of IGF-1 and IGF-binding protein-3 were significantly higher after 6 months of GH treatment and 6 months after discontinuation of GH treatment than at baseline. There were no adverse events related to GH treatment. DISCUSSION In this prospective, single-center, randomized, partially blinded, crossover trial, recombinant human GH was administered to 8 pediatric patients with stable chronic heart failure secondary to DCM. Because of unanticipated difficulty enrolling eligible patients, the study was underpowered to detect changes in our primary outcome measure of the magnitude we projected. Nevertheless, we did observe several notable cardiovascular effects of GH treatment, including a trend toward improved LV ejection fraction during the course of GH treatment and significantly improved LV SF, SF z score, and LV end systolic stress z score 6 months after discontinuation of GH treatment (relative to baseline values). Given the fact that levels of IGF-1, the primary myocardial effector of GH signaling, remained significantly higher 6 months after GH treatment than at baseline, the improvement in LV functional indices 6 months after discontinuation of therapy may represent progression or perpetuation of a GH treatment effect. In addition to its cardiovascular effects, GH therapy was associated with significant acceleration of somatic growth. The benefits of GH were not associated with significant attributable side effects, although 2 patients developed progressive LV dysfunction during the study and underwent cardiac transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doff B McElhinney
- Department of Cardiology, Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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Abstract
Leptin has been postulated to comprise part of an adipostat, whereby during states of excessive energy storage, elevated levels of the hormone prevent further weight gain by inhibiting appetite. A physiological role for leptin in this regard remains unclear because the presence of excessive food, and therefore the need to restrain overeating under natural conditions, is doubtful. We have previously shown that CRH-deficient (Crh(-/-)) mice have glucocorticoid insufficiency and lack the fasting-induced increase in glucocorticoid, a hormone important in stimulating leptin synthesis and secretion. We hypothesized that these mice might have low circulating leptin. Indeed, Crh(-/-) mice exhibited no diurnal variation of leptin, whereas normal littermates showed a clear rhythm, and their leptin levels were lower than their counterparts. A continuous peripheral CRH infusion to Crh(-/-) mice not only restored corticosterone levels, but it also increased leptin expression to normal. Surprisingly, 36 h of fasting elevated leptin levels in Crh(-/-) mice, rather than falling as in normal mice. This abnormal leptin change during fasting in Crh(-/-) mice was corrected by corticosterone replacement. Furthermore, Crh(-/-) mice lost less body weight during 24 h of fasting and ate less food during refeeding than normal littermates. Taken together, we conclude that glucocorticoid insufficiency in Crh(-/-) mice results in impaired leptin production as well as an abnormal increase in leptin during fasting, and propose that the fast-induced physiological reduction in leptin may play an important role to stimulate food intake during the recovery from fasting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyeong-Hoon Jeong
- Division of Endocrinology, Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Enders 416, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
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Venihaki M, Sakihara S, Subramanian S, Dikkes P, Weninger SC, Liapakis G, Graf T, Majzoub JA. Urocortin III, a brain neuropeptide of the corticotropin-releasing hormone family: modulation by stress and attenuation of some anxiety-like behaviours. J Neuroendocrinol 2004; 16:411-22. [PMID: 15117334 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2826.2004.01170.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Following its discovery 20 years ago, corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) has been postulated to mediate both hormonal and behavioural responses to stressors. Here, we characterize and describe a behavioural role for the murine gene, UcnIII, which encodes a recently discovered CRH-related neuropeptide, urocortin III. We found that mouse UcnIII is expressed predominantly in regions of the brain known to be involved in stress-related behaviours, and its expression in the hypothalamus increases following restraint. In addition, we found that intracerebroventricular administration of mUcnIII stimulates behaviours that are associated with reduced anxiety, including exploration of an open field and decreased latency to enter the lit compartment of a dark-light chamber, but has no effect on the elevated-plus maze. Finally, we found that mUcnIII does not exert any effects on the hormonal stress response. Based upon our findings, UcnIII may be an endogenous brain neuropeptide that is modulated by stress and stimulates behaviours associated with reduced anxiety. In this capacity, UcnIII may attenuate stress-related behaviours, which may be useful both to help cope with stressful situations as well as to avoid pathology associated with excessive reaction to stressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Venihaki
- Division of Endocrinology, Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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Pagan YL, Hirschhorn J, Yang B, D'Souza-Li L, Majzoub JA, Hendy GN. Maternal activating mutation of the calcium-sensing receptor: implications for calcium metabolism in the neonate. J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab 2004; 17:673-7. [PMID: 15198301 DOI: 10.1515/jpem.2004.17.4.673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Two infants were studied born of a mother with autosomal dominant hypocalcemia who is heterozygous for an activating mutation in the calcium-sensing receptor gene. Both infants had serum calcium levels in the low-normal range and parathyroid hormone levels in the high-normal range and were healthy. The mother's hypocalcemia had been treated with calcium carbonate and calcitriol and she has nephrocalcinosis and mild renal insufficiency. By genetic testing, both infants were shown to have normal calcium-sensing receptor gene alleles, i.e., they had not inherited the activating mutation from their mother. This provided reassurance to the family and ensured that treatment to correct apparent hypocalcemia would not be necessary. The fact that the infants had high normal parathyroid hormone levels with normal calcium may be due to the fact that with a normal calcium-sensing receptor their parathyroid glands responded in utero to the maternal hypocalcemia with an increase in parathyroid hormone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanira L Pagan
- Division of Endocrinology, Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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Brewer JA, Bethin KE, Schaefer ML, Muglia LM, Vogt SK, Weninger SC, Majzoub JA, Muglia LJ. Dissecting adrenal and behavioral responses to stress by targeted gene inactivation in mice. Stress 2003; 6:121-5. [PMID: 12775331 DOI: 10.1080/1025389031000116460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
Abstract
To define the molecular pathways modulating adrenal and behavioral responses to stress, we have generated mice with inactivation of hypothalamic neuropeptides and signaling pathways. Studies in mice deficient in corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) have revealed the essential role for CRH in adrenal glucocorticoid production in response to many physiological and psychological stressors. Immune system activation in CRH-deficient mice provides a unique exception to the necessity for CRH in stimulating adrenal glucocorticoid production. By analyzing mice deficient in interleukin-6 (IL-6) and CRH, we find that restoration of glucocorticoid output with inflammation is largely mediated by dysregulated IL-6 production. Current studies focus on identifying cellular and gene targets by which glucocorticoids regulate immune system function. In contrast to impaired adrenocortical responses to stress, CRH-deficient mice exhibit normal behavioral responses to stress. To determine signaling pathways that may contribute to the behavioral responses to stress, we have generated and analyzed mice deficient in adenylyl cyclase type 8 (AC8). AC8 deficient mice have intact adrenocortical responses to stress, but an inability to undergo stress-induced alterations in behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judson A Brewer
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
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Weninger SC, Majzoub JA. Regulation and Actions of Corticotropin‐Releasing Hormone. Compr Physiol 2001. [DOI: 10.1002/cphy.cp070406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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Gordon CM, Dougherty DD, Fischman AJ, Emans SJ, Grace E, Lamm R, Alpert NM, Majzoub JA, Rauch SL. Neural substrates of anorexia nervosa: a behavioral challenge study with positron emission tomography. J Pediatr 2001; 139:51-7. [PMID: 11445794 DOI: 10.1067/mpd.2001.114768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To delineate functional brain abnormalities associated with anorexia nervosa (AN). STUDY DESIGN Positron emission tomographic measurements of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) were performed on 8 female patients with AN and 8 healthy female control subjects during exposure to 3 types of stimuli: high-calorie foods, low-calorie foods, and non-food items. Heart rate and internal state analog scale scores were also obtained. Stereotactic transformation and statistical parametric mapping techniques were used to analyze imaging data. RESULTS During the high-calorie condition, control subjects reported a significant desire to eat, whereas subjects with AN reported elevated anxiety and exhibited increases in heart rate. Patients with AN had elevated bilateral medial temporal lobe rCBF compared with control subjects. Planned comparisons for group-by-condition interactions demonstrated greater activation within left occipital cortex and right temporo-occipital cortex for the high-calorie versus low-calorie contrast in patients with AN compared with control subjects. CONCLUSIONS Our finding of elevated rCBF within bilateral medial temporal lobes is similar to published results in patients with psychotic disorders and may be related to the body image distortion common to AN. The high-calorie food phobia exhibited by patients with AN appears to be associated with exaggerated responses in visual association cortex, as has been previously observed in studies of specific phobias.
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Affiliation(s)
- C M Gordon
- Divisions of Adolescent/Young Adult Medicine and Endocrinology, Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Abstract
A review of the generation and characterization of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH)-deficient mice is presented. The studies summarized demonstrate the central role of CRH in the pituitary-adrenal axis response to stress, circadian stimulation, and glucocorticoid withdrawal. Additionally, pro-inflammatory actions of CRH at sites of local inflammation are given further support. In contrast, behavioral effects during stress that had been ascribed to CRH action are not altered in CRH-deficient mice. The normal behavioral response to stress in CRH-deficient mice strongly suggests the importance of other, possibly as yet undiscovered, CRH-like molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- L J Muglia
- Departments of Pediatrics, Molecular Biology and Pharmacology, and Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, and St. Louis Children's Hospital, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
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Seth KA, Majzoub JA. Repressor element silencing transcription factor/neuron-restrictive silencing factor (REST/NRSF) can act as an enhancer as well as a repressor of corticotropin-releasing hormone gene transcription. J Biol Chem 2001; 276:13917-23. [PMID: 11278361 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m007745200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The repressor element-1/neuron-restrictive silencing element (RE-1/NRSE) mediates transcriptional repression by the repressor element silencing transcription factor/neuron-restrictive silencing factor (REST/NRSF) in many neuron-specific genes. REST/NRSF is expressed most highly in non-neural tissues, where it is thought to repress gene transcription, but is also found in developing neurons and at low levels in the brain. Its null mutation in vivo results in embryonic lethality in mice. While the RE-1/NRSE-mediated repressive influence of REST/NRSF is well established, results in transgenic studies have suggested that the action of the system is more complex. Here, we report that transcription of the corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) gene is regulated by REST/NRSF, in part through the RE-1/NRSE. Expression of transfected Crh-luciferase constructs was down-regulated by REST/NRSF in a RE-1/NRSE-dependent fashion in both muscle-derived L6 and REST/NRSF co-transfected neuronal PC12 cells. Treatment of L6 cells with trichostatin A revealed that REST/NRSF repression depends, in part, on histone deacetylase activity in these cells. In another neuronal cell line, NG108, REST/NRSF also repressed expression from constructs containing an intact RE-1/NRSE. However, unexpectedly, REST/NRSF up-regulated expression levels of constructs lacking an intact RE-1/NRSE. These results suggest that REST/NRSF can act as both a repressor of Crh transcription, via the Crh RE-1/NRSE, and an enhancer of Crh transcription, via a mechanism independent of the Crh RE-1/NRSE.
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Affiliation(s)
- K A Seth
- Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
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36
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Abstract
Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH)-deficient (knockout (KO)) mice demonstrate severely impaired adrenal responses to restraint, ether, and fasting, and lack the normal diurnal glucocorticoid (GC) rhythm. Here, we summarize recent studies determining the role of CRH in augmenting plasma adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) concentration after glucocorticoid withdrawal and pituitary-adrenal axis stimulation in the context of inflammation. Even though GC insufficient, basal pituitary proopiomelanocortin (POMC) mRNA, ACTH peptide content within the pituitary, and plasma ACTH concentrations are not elevated in CRH KO mice. POMC mRNA content in CRH KO mice increases following adrenalectomy, and this increase is reversed by GC, but not aldosterone, replacement. In marked contrast to the increase in POMC mRNA, plasma ACTH does not increase in the CRH KO mice following adrenalectomy. Administration of CRH to adrenalectomized CRH KO mice results in acute, robust ACTH secretion. Thus, loss of GC feedback can increase POMC gene expression in the pituitary, but CRH action is essential for increased secretion of ACTH into the circulation. While GC secretion is impaired in CRH KO mice after most stimuli, we have found near-normal GC responses to inflammation and systemic immune challenge. Studies in mice with CRH and IL-6 deficiency reveal that IL-6 is essential for activation of the pituitary-adrenal axis during inflammatory and other stressors in the absence of CRH.
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Affiliation(s)
- L J Muglia
- Dept. of Pediatrics, Washington Univ. School Med., St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
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Gordon CM, Emans SJ, DuRant RH, Mantzoros C, Grace E, Harper GP, Majzoub JA. Endocrinologic and psychological effects of short-term dexamethasone in anorexia nervosa. Eat Weight Disord 2000; 5:175-82. [PMID: 11082797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) have hyperactivity of their hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, sometimes accompanied by elevations of cortisol. We examined whether the normal effects of short-term dexamethasone treatment upon HPA axis suppression and appetite stimulation are observed in these patients. Five young women with AN and ten healthy female controls received one week of high-dose oral dexamethasone (2 mg/m2/d) preceded and followed by hormonal evaluation of sensitivity to glucocorticoids and psychological assessments. No differences in hormone levels of the HPA axis were observed between the two groups and control groups at baseline, after dexamethasone suppression, or following ACTH stimulation testing. However, fasting insulin levels were significantly lower in the AN group, both before and after dexamethasone therapy and their serum leptin levels were also significantly lower. The AN group had significantly lower scores on the Anorexia Nervosa Subtest and the Beck Depression Inventory after dexamethasone compared to controls. On daily analog scales, AN patients had higher anxiety scores while on dexamethasone. Normal sensitivity to glucocorticoids was observed in all parameters examined except for mild abnormalities in pancreatic beta-cell function. These data suggest that AN may represent a state of partial glucocorticoid resistance, as in other states of restricted food intake. Furthermore, these pilot data, including the effects of dexamethasone upon psychological outlook in AN, suggest that glucocorticoids are not an effective therapy for these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- C M Gordon
- Division of Adolescent/Young Adult Medicine, Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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39
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Iwasaki Y, Oiso Y, Saito H, Majzoub JA. Effects of various mutations in the neurophysin/glycopeptide portion of the vasopressin gene on vasopressin expression in vitro. TOHOKU J EXP MED 2000; 191:187-202. [PMID: 11038011 DOI: 10.1620/tjem.191.187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The vasopressin gene encodes three polypeptides besides the signal peptide: vasopressin, neurophysin II (neurophysin), and the carboxy-terminal glycopeptide (glycopeptide). Although the function of vasopressin is well characterized, those of the latter two are not completely understood. In the present study, we investigated the effects of various mutations within the neurophysin/glycopeptide portion of the vasopressin gene on vasopressin secretion in vitro, to clarify the role of each peptide in vasopressin biosynthesis. Expression vectors containing the vasopressin gene, either wild-type or various mutants, were transiently transfected into AtT20 cells, which are known to have the enzymes necessary for the proper processing of the vasopressin precursor protein. The amount of vasopressin secreted into the culture medium was estimated by specific radioimmunoassay. Variable degrees of decreased vasopressin secretion were observed with mutant vasopressin genes harboring deletions or amino acid substitutions in neurophysin. The naturally-occurring frame-shift mutation in the hereditary diabetes insipidus (Brattleboro) rat completely eliminated vasopressin expression. In contrast, a missense mutation found in patients with familial neurogenic diabetes insipidus only partially decreased vasopressin secretion. Finally, the mutant vasopressin gene lacking the N-linked glycosylation site in glycopeptide had no effect on vasopressin expression. Our data suggest that 1) intact neurophysin is not indispensable for vasopressin expression, although an altered structure of neurophysin significantly affects the secretion of the hormone; 2) the pathogenesis of diabetes insipidus with the two naturally-occurring mutations found in the rat (Brattleboro rat) and human (familial central diabetes insipidus) seem to be different; and 3) glycosylation of the carboxy-terminal glycopeptide is not essential for the expression of vasopressin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Iwasaki
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Nagoya University School of Medicine, Japan
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40
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Venihaki M, Carrigan A, Dikkes P, Majzoub JA. Circadian rise in maternal glucocorticoid prevents pulmonary dysplasia in fetal mice with adrenal insufficiency. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2000; 97:7336-41. [PMID: 10861000 PMCID: PMC16546 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.97.13.7336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, including hypothalamic corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and pituitary corticotropin, is one of the first endocrine systems to develop during fetal life, probably because glucocorticoid secretion is necessary for the maturation of many essential fetal organs. Consistent with this, pregnant mice with an inactivating mutation in the Crh gene deliver CRH-deficient offspring that die at birth with dysplastic lungs, which can be prevented by prenatal maternal glucocorticoid treatment. But children lacking the ability to synthesize cortisol (because of various genetic defects in adrenal gland development or steroidogenesis) are not born with respiratory insufficiency or abnormal lung development, suggesting that the transfer of maternal glucocorticoid across the placenta might promote fetal organ maturation in the absence of fetal glucocorticoid production. We used pregnant mice with a normal HPA axis carrying fetuses with CRH deficiency to characterize the relative contributions of the fetal and maternal adrenal to the activity of the fetal HPA axis, and related these findings to fetal lung development. We found that in the presence of fetal adrenal insufficiency, normal fetal lung development is maintained by the transfer of maternal glucocorticoid to the fetus, specifically during the circadian peak in maternal glucocorticoid secretion.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Venihaki
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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41
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Muglia LJ, Jacobson L, Luedke C, Vogt SK, Schaefer ML, Dikkes P, Fukuda S, Sakai Y, Suda T, Majzoub JA. Corticotropin-releasing hormone links pituitary adrenocorticotropin gene expression and release during adrenal insufficiency. J Clin Invest 2000; 105:1269-77. [PMID: 10792002 PMCID: PMC315436 DOI: 10.1172/jci5250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH)-deficient (KO) mice provide a unique system to define the role of CRH in regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Despite several manifestations of chronic glucocorticoid insufficiency, basal pituitary proopiomelanocortin (POMC) mRNA, adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) peptide content within the pituitary, and plasma ACTH concentrations are not elevated in CRH KO mice. The normal POMC mRNA content in KO mice is dependent upon residual glucocorticoid secretion, as it increases in both KO and WT mice after adrenalectomy; this increase is reversed by glucocorticoid, but not aldosterone, replacement. However, the normal plasma levels of ACTH in CRH KO mice are not dependent upon residual glucocorticoid secretion, because, after adrenalectomy, these levels do not undergo the normal increase seen in KO mice despite the increase in POMC mRNA content. Administration of CRH restores ACTH secretion to its expected high level in adrenalectomized CRH KO mice. Thus, in adrenal insufficiency, loss of glucocorticoid feedback by itself can increase POMC gene expression in the pituitary; but CRH action is essential for this to result in increased secretion of ACTH. This may explain why, after withdrawal of chronic glucocorticoid treatment, reactivation of CRH secretion is a necessary prerequisite for recovery from suppression of the HPA axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- L J Muglia
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
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42
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Jeong KH, Jacobson L, Pacák K, Widmaier EP, Goldstein DS, Majzoub JA. Impaired basal and restraint-induced epinephrine secretion in corticotropin-releasing hormone-deficient mice. Endocrinology 2000; 141:1142-50. [PMID: 10698191 DOI: 10.1210/endo.141.3.7370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
CRH is thought to play a role in responses of the adrenocortical and adrenomedullary systems during stress. To investigate the role of CRH in stress-induced secretions of corticosterone and epinephrine, we subjected wild-type (WT) and CRH-deficient (knockout, KO) mice to restraint, and analyzed plasma corticosterone, plasma catecholamines, and adrenal phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT) gene expression and activity before and during 3 h of restraint. Plasma corticosterone increased over 40-fold in WT mice, but minimally in CRH KO mice. Adrenal corticosterone content tended to increase in CRH KO mice, although to levels 5-fold lower than that in WT mice. CRH KO mice had significantly lower plasma epinephrine and higher norepinephrine than WT mice at baseline, and delayed epinephrine secretion during restraint. Adrenal PNMT messenger RNA content in CRH KO mice tended to be lower than that in WT mice, though the degree of induction was similar in both genotypes. PNMT enzyme activity was significantly lower in CRH KO mice. Pharmacological adrenalectomy abolished restraint-induced corticosterone secretion and PNMT gene expression in WT mice, consistent with an absolute requirement of glucocorticoids for PNMT gene expression. We conclude that glucocorticoid insufficiency in CRH KO mice leads to decreased basal and restraint-induced plasma epinephrine and adrenal PNMT gene expression and enzyme activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- K H Jeong
- Division of Endocrinology, Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
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43
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE The mediating neuroanatomy of human appetitive function is poorly understood. A state induction paradigm was employed, in conjunction with positron emission tomography, to test the hypothesis that limbic/paralimbic regions respond to the desirability of food stimuli. METHODS Eight normal subjects were studied during each of three conditions, involving visual exposure to high-caloric food, low-caloric food, and nonfood stimuli. Subjective indices of hunger were measured via analog scales. RESULTS Planned contrasts demonstrated significant increases in desire to eat and decreases in left temporoinsular cortical blood flow during the high-caloric versus control conditions. DISCUSSION Results implicate the temporo-insular cortex in normal appetitive function, suggesting that activity within this region is associated with the desirability or valence of food stimuli, prior to ingestion. These data will provide a broad foundation for future studies of patients with eating disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- C M Gordon
- Division of Adolescent/Young Adult Medicine, Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
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44
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Abstract
We have previously observed significant, albeit decreased, corticosterone responses to restraint stress in corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH)-deficient (knockout, CRH KO) mice. Because different stressors have been shown to engage different populations of hypophysiotropic neurons, we have used hypoglycemia and hypovolemia to test whether CRH-independent pituitary-adrenal activation is evoked by stimuli other than restraint. Insulin injection in fasted CRH KO mice elicited increases in corticosterone that were markedly lower than those in wild type but marginally significant relative to corresponding KO controls. Consistent with impaired adrenocortical function, hypoglycemia-induced epinephrine secretion was reduced in female CRH KO mice. Hypovolemia produced by retro-orbital bleeding also significantly elevated corticosterone in CRH KO mice. In contrast to significant stress-induced increases in corticotropin (ACTH) in wild-type mice, those in CRH KO mice were slight, transient and difficult to detect without frequent sampling. Restraint-induced interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were similar between wild-type and CRH KO mice, arguing against compensatory changes in IL-6 responses to restraint due to CRH deficiency. CRH infusion enhanced adrenocortical responses to restraint independently of effects on basal corticosterone levels, suggesting that pituitary-adrenal activity is augmented by factors besides CRH during stress. We conclude that although stress-induced pituitary-adrenal activity does not require acute increases in CRH, CRH is required to support the normal amplitude of adrenocortical axis responsiveness to other endocrine or neural factors during stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Jacobson
- Division of Endocrinology, Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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45
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Weninger SC, Peters LL, Majzoub JA. Urocortin expression in the Edinger-Westphal nucleus is up-regulated by stress and corticotropin-releasing hormone deficiency. Endocrinology 2000; 141:256-63. [PMID: 10614646 DOI: 10.1210/endo.141.1.7277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Urocortin is a 40-amino acid mammalian peptide related to CRH and urotensin. The physiological role of urocortin is unknown, but it has been postulated to serve some of the functions previously attributed to CRH. We had earlier found that urocortin messenger RNA (mRNA) expression within the mouse brain is confined to the region of the Edinger-Westphal (EW) nucleus of the midbrain. To further characterize the regulation of the urocortin gene, we first cloned and sequenced the mouse gene, confirming the presence of a single gene in the murine genome. A general survey of mouse tissues using Northern blot analysis revealed the presence of urocortin mRNA only within the midbrain. By in situ hybridization analysis, we found that urocortin mRNA expression in the EW nucleus is responsive to stress, as mRNA levels increased approximately 3-fold after 3 h of restraint. Chronic glucocorticoid treatment, although not affecting basal levels, blocked the stress-induced rise in urocortin mRNA. Using CRH-deficient [knockout (KO)] mice, we examined the effect of combined CRH and glucocorticoid deficiency upon urocortin mRNA expression. As in wild-type (WT) mice, we had previously found that urocortin expression in CRHKO mouse brain was not detected outside of the EW nucleus. However, we found that urocortin expression within the EW of CRHKO mice is up-regulated 2- to 3-fold compared with that in WT mice. This up-regulation is not due to a lack of inhibition by glucocorticoids, as urocortin mRNA levels in the EW nucleus of CRHKO mice did not change after glucocorticoid supplementation. As the EW does not project to any brain regions known to be involved in the behavioral responses to stress, urocortin expressed in this site is unlikely to mediate stress-induced behaviors. On the other hand, as the EW nucleus may play a role in the regulation of the autonomic nervous system and projects to various brain stem nuclei that express the CRH receptor, urocortin originating in the EW may play a role in the regulation of the autonomic nervous system during stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- S C Weninger
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Division of Endocrinology, Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
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46
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Gudmundsson K, Majzoub JA, Bradwin G, Mandel S, Rifai N. Virilising 21-hydroxylase deficiency: timing of newborn screening and confirmatory tests can be crucial. J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab 1999; 12:895-901. [PMID: 10614550 DOI: 10.1515/jpem.1999.12.6.895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Early diagnosis of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) can be lifesaving. With the advent of newborn screening programs employing blood 17-hydroxyprogesterone, fewer cases are missed. Because false positive results occur, especially in premature and low birth weight babies, infants with borderline elevations, although requiring follow-up, are often considered normal. We describe a newborn female that, despite severe virilization, only had a borderline elevation in 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17OHP) on newborn screening, as well as on initial confirmatory testing in our clinical laboratory. Our confirmatory method, which employs high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) separation, because of its high specificity, yields steroid values from both normal children and those with CAH that are lower than found with older, less specific methods. Given the heterogeneity of phenotypes of CAH, less severe forms, especially in males, could result in marginally abnormal laboratory results early in life, with possible adverse effects later. Although in retrospect the diagnosis of the described patient was clear and not a novel entity, we consider it an important example for several reasons. It emphasizes the broad range of 17OHP levels in CAH, the lack of correlation of these levels with clinical phenotype and the importance of the timing of both screening and confirmatory tests. Due to the complexity of interpreting these tests, any screening program for CAH should be controlled by an experienced pediatric endocrinologist.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Gudmundsson
- Division of Endocrinology, Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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47
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Arbiser JL, Karalis K, Viswanathan A, Koike C, Anand-Apte B, Flynn E, Zetter B, Majzoub JA. Corticotropin-releasing hormone stimulates angiogenesis and epithelial tumor growth in the skin. J Invest Dermatol 1999; 113:838-42. [PMID: 10571742 DOI: 10.1046/j.1523-1747.1999.00760.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The hypothalamic neuropeptide corticotropin-releasing hormone is the major hypothalamic regulator of the endocrine pituitary-adrenal axis. Corticotropin-releasing hormone is also expressed in many peripheral sites, where its functions are unclear. It is also secreted by diverse neoplasms, where it may be associated with malignant behavior. To provide information regarding the function of corticotropin-releasing hormone in peripheral sites and in tumors, we asked whether corticotropin-releasing hormone has angiogenic properties. In vitro, we found that human corticotropin-releasing hormone specifically stimulates endothelial chemotaxis via a corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor-dependent mechanism. In vivo, subcutaneous inoculation of nude mice with human epithelial tumor cells engineered to secrete corticotropin-releasing hormone was associated with significantly enhanced angiogenesis (2.3-fold over control) and tumor growth (5-fold over control). Peripheral corticotropin-releasing hormone may thus enhance local angiogenesis, which may provide clues to its function outside of the nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- J L Arbiser
- Department of Dermatology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
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48
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Abstract
Many studies have implicated corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) as a mediator of stress-induced decreases in food intake. However, urocortin, sauvagine, and urotensin, other members of the family of CRH-like molecules, have also been shown to be potent inhibitors of food intake. This raises the possibility that a CRH-related molecule might also be responsible for stress-induced anorexia. We therefore examined the effects of three chronic stressors, repetitive daily restraint, turpentine abscess, and surgical stress, upon food intake in wildtype and CRH-deficient mice created by targeted inactivation of the CRH gene. We have found that both genotypes have similar basal food intake which initially decreases to the same degree following initiation of each stress paradigm. Food intake also recovers following the same time course and to the same degree in both genotypes. Therefore, CRH is not necessary for decreases in food-intake induced by the chronic stressors examined in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- S C Weninger
- Program in Neuroscience, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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49
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Weninger SC, Dunn AJ, Muglia LJ, Dikkes P, Miczek KA, Swiergiel AH, Berridge CW, Majzoub JA. Stress-induced behaviors require the corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) receptor, but not CRH. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 1999; 96:8283-8. [PMID: 10393986 PMCID: PMC22226 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.96.14.8283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 187] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) is a central regulator of the hormonal stress response, causing stimulation of corticotropin and glucocorticoid secretion. CRH is also widely believed to mediate stress-induced behaviors, implying a broader, integrative role for the hormone in the psychological stress response. Mice lacking the CRH gene exhibit normal stress-induced behavior that is specifically blocked by a CRH type 1 receptor antagonist. The other known mammalian ligand for CRH receptors is urocortin. Normal and CRH-deficient mice have an identical distribution of urocortin mRNA, which is confined to the region of the Edinger-Westphal nucleus, and is absent from regions known to mediate stress-related behaviors. Since the Edinger-Westphal nucleus is not known to project to any brain regions believed to play a role in anxiety-like behavior, an entirely different pathway must be postulated for urocortin in the Edinger-Westphal nucleus to mediate these behaviors in CRH-deficient mice. Alternatively, an unidentified CRH-like molecule other than CRH or urocortin, acting through the CRH receptors in brain regions believed to mediate stress-induced behaviors, may mediate the behavioral response to stress, either alone or in concert with CRH.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Avoidance Learning/physiology
- Cerebral Ventricles/physiology
- Conditioning, Operant/physiology
- Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone/administration & dosage
- Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone/deficiency
- Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone/genetics
- Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone/physiology
- Crosses, Genetic
- Electroshock
- Fear
- Female
- Gene Expression Regulation
- Injections, Intraventricular
- Learning/physiology
- Male
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Inbred Strains
- Mice, Knockout
- Motor Activity/physiology
- Pain/genetics
- Pain/physiopathology
- Pyrimidines/pharmacology
- Pyrroles/pharmacology
- Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone/antagonists & inhibitors
- Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone/physiology
- Reinforcement, Psychology
- Stress, Psychological
- Transcription, Genetic
- Urocortins
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Affiliation(s)
- S C Weninger
- Program in Neuroscience, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Children's Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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50
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Zurakowski D, Di Canzio J, Majzoub JA. Pediatric reference intervals for serum thyroxine, triiodothyronine, thyrotropin, and free thyroxine. Clin Chem 1999; 45:1087-91. [PMID: 10388488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/13/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- D Zurakowski
- Department of Biostatistics and Medicine, Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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