Endocrinology 1998-1999

Overview

In the cascade hormone - second messenger - cellular G-proteins (GTP binding proteins), impairment can occuralso at the last step: Mutant G-proteins may amplify the response (e.g. hypophyseal and thyroide adenomas) or reduceit (pseudohypoparathyreosis, testitoxicosis). Other new group of diseases appears to be anexinopathy: Among anexinsbelong also lippocortins and impairments occur in the hemocoagulation. „Reverse endocrinology" is a processdescription when the recognition of receptor (called an „orphan receptor") comes earlier than that of the hormone:Such receptors are known for several steroid hormones, retinoids and eicosanoids and it appears they are importantalso in the metabolism of cholesterol. A single antigen - glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), can cause autoimmunedisease as the immunodependent diabetes (IDDM). Treatment of the skin T-cell lymphoma by some retinoids canresult in hypothyroidysm. Retrotransposones are example of the human genome modification with yet unknownclinical manifestations. Hepatocytal growth factor reveals to be the hope for treatment of cirrhosis. Search foreffective peroral insulin substitutes is at present based on testing of various metabolites of fungi. Antibodies againstTNF (tumor necrosis factor) become tested as „anticytokine therapy" in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Someother suggestions for new ways of treatment is also listed, including the intranasal administration of estradiol.

Key words:
endocrinology, G-protein diseases, reverse endocrinology, therapy.