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New genes associated with adult-onset obesity Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. (IF 40.5) Pub Date : 2024-04-24 Claire Greenhill
The factors that determine an individual’s body weight are highly complex and incompletely understood. Currently, >1,000 genes that are associated with body weight have been identified; however, these variants explain only a small fraction of the population variance in BMI. Over the past few years, whole-exome sequencing has been applied at the population scale, in exome-wide association studies. Now
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Mild autonomous cortisol secretion: pathophysiology, comorbidities and management approaches Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. (IF 40.5) Pub Date : 2024-04-22 Alessandro Prete, Irina Bancos
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A novel system for non-invasive measurement of blood levels of glucose Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. (IF 40.5) Pub Date : 2024-04-17 Olivia Tysoe
People with diabetes mellitus rely predominantly on finger pricking to measure blood levels of glucose, which can be onerous. A popular alternative is electrochemical microneedles used in continuous glucose monitors; however, these systems measure glucose levels in the interstitial fluid rather than in the blood directly, which potentially results in inaccurate measurements. A study in Nature Metabolism
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Targeting the incretin system in obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. (IF 40.5) Pub Date : 2024-04-17 Saleem Ansari, Bernard Khoo, Tricia Tan
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Continuous glucose monitoring for the routine care of type 2 diabetes mellitus Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. (IF 40.5) Pub Date : 2024-04-08 Ramzi A. Ajjan, Tadej Battelino, Xavier Cos, Stefano Del Prato, Jean-Christophe Philips, Laurent Meyer, Jochen Seufert, Samuel Seidu
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Metformin acts through appetite-suppressing metabolite: Lac-Phe Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. (IF 40.5) Pub Date : 2024-04-02 Shimona Starling
Metformin is a first-line medication for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) that acts to reduce blood levels of glucose, food intake and body weight. The mechanisms behind the therapeutic effects of metformin are not completely understood and various modes of action have been proposed. Now, two independent studies published simultaneously in Nature Metabolism point towards a role for an appetite-suppressing
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Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B in metabolic diseases and drug development Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. (IF 40.5) Pub Date : 2024-03-22 Mirela Delibegović, Sergio Dall’Angelo, Ruta Dekeryte
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The hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis and the enigma of Alzheimer disease sex differences Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. (IF 40.5) Pub Date : 2024-03-21 Florent Sauvé, Loïc Kacimi, Vincent Prévot
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Endocrine and cellular physiology and pathology of the insulin-like growth factor acid-labile subunit Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. (IF 40.5) Pub Date : 2024-03-21 Robert C. Baxter
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Sex differences in diabetic kidney disease explained Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. (IF 40.5) Pub Date : 2024-03-20 Claire Greenhill
Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a common complication of diabetes mellitus and can lead to chronic kidney failure. However, prevention and treatment options are fairly limited. In addition, the incidence and rate of progression of DKD is known to differ between male and female patients. To date, the reasons underlying these sex differences have been unclear. A new study, published in Science Translational
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Inceptor loss in mice with obesity Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. (IF 40.5) Pub Date : 2024-03-18 Shimona Starling
Inceptor (encoded by Iir) is a novel receptor that inhibits insulin receptor and insulin-like growth factor signalling. A previous study showed that loss of inceptor from β-cells in lean normoglycaemic mice improved glucose homeostasis. Now, the same group reports findings on inceptor loss in mouse models of obesity. Inceptor is widely expressed in neurons and pan-neuronal Iir deletion in male DIO
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Metabolic regulation of skeletal cell fate and function Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. (IF 40.5) Pub Date : 2024-03-18 Steve Stegen, Geert Carmeliet
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The individual response to antibiotics and diet — insights into gut microbial resilience and host metabolism Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. (IF 40.5) Pub Date : 2024-03-14 Lars M. M. Vliex, John Penders, Arjen Nauta, Erwin G. Zoetendal, Ellen E. Blaak
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Antibodies drive adipose tissue ageing Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. (IF 40.5) Pub Date : 2024-03-13 Shimona Starling
The mechanisms underlying metabolic decline during ageing are not well understood. A new study in Cell Metabolism identifies IgG antibodies as factors that accumulate in white adipose tissue (WAT) during ageing, driving tissue fibrosis and impaired metabolic health in mice. “Leveraging our understanding of ageing research, we naturally sought to investigate whether interventions targeting ageing could
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Thyroid-function reference ranges in the diagnosis of thyroid dysfunction in adults Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. (IF 40.5) Pub Date : 2024-03-08 Salman Razvi
Applying a uniform reference range across all adults for serum levels of thyroid stimulating hormone and thyroid hormones makes establishing a diagnosis of thyroid dysfunction challenging and could lead to potentially unnecessary treatment. For the results of thyroid function tests to be meaningful, the reference ranges should reflect individual variation in thyroid function.
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Controlling brown adipose tissue size through EPAC1 Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. (IF 40.5) Pub Date : 2024-03-04 Francesc Villarroya, Marta Giralt
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Cryo-electron microscopy for GPCR research and drug discovery in endocrinology and metabolism Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. (IF 40.5) Pub Date : 2024-02-29 Jia Duan, Xin-Heng He, Shu-Jie Li, H. Eric Xu
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An historical step in our understanding of hypothalamic oestrogen feedback Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. (IF 40.5) Pub Date : 2024-02-28 Erik Hrabovszky
In 1957, Béla Flerkó and János Szentágothai implanted ovarian and liver tissue autografts into two distinct hypothalamic regions or the adenohypophysis of female rats. The tiny pieces of liver were absorbed. By contrast, the ovary implants survived and continued to release oestrogens. Furthermore, when the ovarian tissue was implanted below the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus, the weight of the
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Phase I results for AMG 133 Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. (IF 40.5) Pub Date : 2024-02-22 Claire Greenhill
The past few years have seen a rapid increase in the development and use of new drugs to treat obesity, many of which target the incretin system. A new study has reported the phase I results of AMG 133 (also known as maridebart cafraglutide), which is a bispecific molecule consisting of a glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide receptor (GIPR) antagonist antibody conjugated to two glucagon-like peptide
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Endocrine disrupting chemicals are a threat to hormone health: a commentary on behalf of the ESE Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. (IF 40.5) Pub Date : 2024-02-22 Martin Reincke, Wiebke Arlt, Pauliina Damdimopoulou, Josef Köhrle, Jerome Bertherat
The European Society of Endocrinology (ESE), representing 20,000 endocrinologists, is concerned about the effect of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) on endocrine health, particularly thyroid and gonadal function. The policy strategies of the ESE aim to minimize overall exposure of humans to EDCs and to stimulate funding for research at the level of the European Union.
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Beyond the ovary: rewiring our perspective on polycystic ovary syndrome Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. (IF 40.5) Pub Date : 2024-02-20 Rebecca E. Campbell
One in ten women of reproductive age is likely to have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a complex endocrine disorder that affects reproductive, metabolic, cardiovascular and psychological health. PCOS is defined by ovarian dysfunction, including the diagnostic features of androgen excess, reduced or absent ovulation, and polycystic ovarian morphology. However, two seminal studies in the late 1990s
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FGF21 suppresses CD8+ T cell antitumour activity Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. (IF 40.5) Pub Date : 2024-02-20 Olivia Tysoe
Tumours can evade the immune system by suppressing the activity of immune cells within the tumour microenvironment (TME), with cytotoxic CD8+ T cells being a key target for immunosuppression. A study in Cell Metabolism has now identified a mechanism by which fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) promotes tumour growth via inhibition of CD8+ T cell activity. Activated CD8+ T cells were treated with conditioned
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RalA links obesity and mitochondrial dysfunction Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. (IF 40.5) Pub Date : 2024-02-16 Katrin Legg
Obesity in humans and rodents is characterized by mitochondrial dysfunction, but what connects obesity and mitochondrial damage? The small GTPase RalA, according to a report in Nature Metabolism. The report’s authors observed increased RalA expression and activity in inguinal white adipose tissue (iWAT) during the development of obesity in mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD), prompting them to create adipocyte-specific
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Obesity and the kidney: mechanistic links and therapeutic advances Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. (IF 40.5) Pub Date : 2024-02-13 Kevin Yau, Rachel Kuah, David Z. I. Cherney, Tony K. T. Lam
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Thyroid dysfunction in COVID-19 Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. (IF 40.5) Pub Date : 2024-02-12 David Tak Wai Lui, Chi Ho Lee, Yu Cho Woo, Ivan Fan Ngai Hung, Karen Siu Ling Lam
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Consensus guideline for the diagnosis and management of pituitary adenomas in childhood and adolescence: Part 1, general recommendations Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. (IF 40.5) Pub Date : 2024-02-09 Márta Korbonits, Joanne C. Blair, Anna Boguslawska, John Ayuk, Justin H. Davies, Maralyn R. Druce, Jane Evanson, Daniel Flanagan, Nigel Glynn, Claire E. Higham, Thomas S. Jacques, Saurabh Sinha, Ian Simmons, Nicky Thorp, Francesca M. Swords, Helen L. Storr, Helen A. Spoudeas
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Consensus guideline for the diagnosis and management of pituitary adenomas in childhood and adolescence: Part 2, specific diseases Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. (IF 40.5) Pub Date : 2024-02-09 Márta Korbonits, Joanne C. Blair, Anna Boguslawska, John Ayuk, Justin H. Davies, Maralyn R. Druce, Jane Evanson, Daniel Flanagan, Nigel Glynn, Claire E. Higham, Thomas S. Jacques, Saurabh Sinha, Ian Simmons, Nicky Thorp, Francesca M. Swords, Helen L. Storr, Helen A. Spoudeas
Pituitary adenomas are rare in children and young people under the age of 19 (hereafter referred to as CYP) but they pose some different diagnostic and management challenges in this age group than in adults. These rare neoplasms can disrupt maturational, visual, intellectual and developmental processes and, in CYP, they tend to have more occult presentation, aggressive behaviour and are more likely
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Sarcopenic obesity in older adults: a clinical overview Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. (IF 40.5) Pub Date : 2024-02-06 Carla M. Prado, John A. Batsis, Lorenzo M. Donini, M. Cristina Gonzalez, Mario Siervo
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Targeting endometriosis Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. (IF 40.5) Pub Date : 2024-02-02 Claire Greenhill
Endometriosis is a common disorder, affecting ~10% of women worldwide. However, despite this high prevalence, treatment options are still very limited. Current treatments include surgery and hormone-based medications; however, these are often ineffective. As a result, large numbers of people are living with this debilitating condition. A new study reports early findings of a non-hormonal treatment
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Dysfunctional lipid metabolism in ageing muscle: effects on glucose tolerance Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. (IF 40.5) Pub Date : 2024-02-02 Shimona Starling
A new study published in Nature Aging has found that a previously overlooked lipid metabolic pathway is dysfunctional in ageing skeletal muscle and this deficiency could affect systemic glucose metabolism.
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Pancreatic δ-cells influence the glycaemic set point Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. (IF 40.5) Pub Date : 2024-02-01 Olivia Tysoe
Somatostatin, produced by pancreatic δ-cells, has been known to inhibit insulin secretion since its discovery in the 1970s. However, the role of somatostatin in the regulation of the glycaemic set point (the homeostatic blood level of glucose between meals) remains unclear. A study in Nature Metabolism now explores the contribution of pancreatic δ-cell somatostatin secretion to the glycaemic set point
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Seeing through the fog: a neuroendocrine explanation for post-COVID cognitive deficits Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. (IF 40.5) Pub Date : 2024-01-29 S. Rasika, Ruben Nogueiras, Markus Scwaninger, Vincent Prevot
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone is implicated in cognitive functions, and its loss is a factor in pathological brain ageing. There are similarities between these processes and the neurological and cognitive deficits observed in patients with long COVID. Here, we explore the hypothesis that neuroanatomical and transcriptomic alterations associated with long COVID could stem from this neuroendocrine perturbation
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Iatrogenic adrenal insufficiency in adults Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. (IF 40.5) Pub Date : 2024-01-25 Julie Martin-Grace, Maria Tomkins, Michael W. O’Reilly, Mark Sherlock
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A view on vitamin D: a pleiotropic factor? Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. (IF 40.5) Pub Date : 2024-01-22 Andrea Giustina, Marise Lazaretti-Castro, Adrian R. Martineau, Rebecca S. Mason, Clifford J. Rosen, Inez Schoenmakers
Vitamin D is precursor of the steroid hormone calcitriol and has important functions throughout the body, including increasing intestinal absorption of calcium, magnesium and phosphate. Vitamin D deficiency has been linked with a range of disorders, including several bone diseases. However, large trials of vitamin D supplementation have produced mixed results. Here, experts from around the world discuss
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mTORC1 in energy expenditure: consequences for obesity Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. (IF 40.5) Pub Date : 2024-01-15 Camille Allard, Cristina Miralpeix, Antonio J. López-Gambero, Daniela Cota
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Brain–immune networks: a role for GLP1 receptor Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. (IF 40.5) Pub Date : 2024-01-11 Claire Greenhill
Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP1RAs) are established treatments for metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity, and are also being explored in the treatment of metabolic-associated fatty liver disease and neurodegenerative diseases. These drugs are known to have an anti-inflammatory effect; however, whether this effect was solely the results of GLP1RAs reducing
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Phospholipid biosynthetic pathways and lipodystrophies: a novel syndrome due to PLAAT3 deficiency Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. (IF 40.5) Pub Date : 2024-01-08 Anil K. Agarwal, Abhimanyu Garg
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Oxytocin regulates adipose tissue lipolysis Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. (IF 40.5) Pub Date : 2024-01-05 Olivia Tysoe
Oxytocin is a hormone that is involved in labour, lactation and social bonding, but has also been shown to induce weight loss in rodents when given exogenously. A study in Nature has now uncovered a role for a novel source of endogenous oxytocin that promotes lipolysis.
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Scrutinizing the effect of BPS on adipose tissue Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. (IF 40.5) Pub Date : 2024-01-05 Shimona Starling
A new study in Cell Reports shows that bisphenol S (BPS) accumulates in brown adipose tissue (BAT), induces BAT whitening and aggravates obesity in mice in an oestrogen-dependent manner.
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A transporter on the move Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. (IF 40.5) Pub Date : 2024-01-05 Steffen H. Raun
Glucose is a hydrophilic molecule that is transported in the blood and is vital for energy homeostasis across most tissues. However, glucose cannot readily diffuse through the lipid bilayers of cells and so glucose needs a transporter. The glucose transporters were first described in the 1980s. Today, 13 different glucose transporters have been identified, each with their own specific properties, and
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Organoids in endocrine and metabolic research: current and emerging applications Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. (IF 40.5) Pub Date : 2024-01-05 Penney M. Gilbert, Sandra Hofmann, Huck-Hui Ng, Hugo Vankelecom, James M. Wells
Organoid technologies are a potent tool for investigating human biology, modelling diseases and developing novel therapies. In this Viewpoint, experts in metabolic and endocrine research in the brain, pituitary, skeletal muscle, bone and gastrointestinal system discuss how organoids and related bioengineered systems are currently used in their field and how innovations in these technologies could transform
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Emerging mechanisms of obesity-associated immune dysfunction Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. (IF 40.5) Pub Date : 2023-12-21 Saame Raza Shaikh, Melinda A. Beck, Yazan Alwarawrah, Nancie J. MacIver
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The intersection between ghrelin, metabolism and circadian rhythms Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. (IF 40.5) Pub Date : 2023-12-20 Soumya S. Kulkarni, Omprakash Singh, Jeffrey M. Zigman
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Luteal phase support in assisted reproductive technology Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. (IF 40.5) Pub Date : 2023-12-18 Akanksha Garg, Agata P. Zielinska, Arthur C. Yeung, Rebecca Abdelmalak, Runzhi Chen, Aleena Hossain, Alisha Israni, Scott M. Nelson, Andy V. Babwah, Waljit S. Dhillo, Ali Abbara
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Deciphering the role of leptin in weight gain associated with anti-psychotic medications Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. (IF 40.5) Pub Date : 2023-12-15 Claire Greenhill
Anti-psychotic medications, such as olanzapine and risperidone, are highly effective treatments for a range of disorders, including schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorders. However, these drugs are associated with several adverse metabolic effects. Patients taking anti-psychotic medications often experience weight gain and hyperglycaemia, as well as the development and/or progression of diabetes
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Pituitary stem cells: past, present and future perspectives Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. (IF 40.5) Pub Date : 2023-12-15 María Inés Pérez Millán, Leonard Y. M. Cheung, Florencia Mercogliano, Maria Andrea Camilletti, Gonzalo T. Chirino Felker, Lucia N. Moro, Santiago Miriuka, Michelle L. Brinkmeier, Sally A. Camper
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Management of phaeochromocytoma and paraganglioma in patients with germline SDHB pathogenic variants: an international expert Consensus statement Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. (IF 40.5) Pub Date : 2023-12-14 David Taïeb, Svenja Nölting, Nancy D. Perrier, Martin Fassnacht, Jorge A. Carrasquillo, Ashley B. Grossman, Roderick Clifton-Bligh, George B. Wanna, Zachary G. Schwam, Laurence Amar, Isabelle Bourdeau, Ruth T. Casey, Joakim Crona, Cheri L. Deal, Jaydira Del Rivero, Quan-Yang Duh, Graeme Eisenhofer, Tito Fojo, Hans K. Ghayee, Anne-Paule Gimenez-Roqueplo, Antony J. Gill, Rodney Hicks, Alessio Imperiale
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A pivotal year for NAFLD and NASH therapeutics Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. (IF 40.5) Pub Date : 2023-12-14 Jean-François Dufour
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Harnessing the inflammatory processes in endometriosis Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. (IF 40.5) Pub Date : 2023-12-07 Jane E. Girling
The pathophysiology of endometriosis is underpinned by a complex interplay of inflammatory processes that are responsible for the local and systemic effects of the condition. Recent studies delve further into this inflammatory interplay; using animal models, they identify potential therapeutic tools and remind us to look beyond the endometriotic lesions.
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Advances in incretin-based therapeutics for obesity Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. (IF 40.5) Pub Date : 2023-12-07 Mette M. Rosenkilde
The year 2023 brought reports of highly effective glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP1) mono-agonists or combinations with amylin receptor agonists. Results for monomolecular co-agonists that added glucagon receptor and/or glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor agonism to GLP1 receptor activation were also published in 2023. Interestingly, antagonistic GIP receptor antibodies conjugated
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Highlights from SfE BES 2023 Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. (IF 40.5) Pub Date : 2023-12-07 Claire Greenhill
This November, >1,000 endocrinologists convened in Glasgow, UK, for the annual meeting of the Society for Endocrinology (SfE BES).
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Type 1 diabetes mellitus: a brave new world Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. (IF 40.5) Pub Date : 2023-12-06 Pieter-Jan Martens, Chantal Mathieu
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Endocrinology in the multi-omics era Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. (IF 40.5) Pub Date : 2023-12-05 Smadar Shilo, Eran Segal
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Genomic alterations in thyroid cancer: biological and clinical insights Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. (IF 40.5) Pub Date : 2023-12-04 Iñigo Landa, Maria E. Cabanillas
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Metabolic control of puberty: 60 years in the footsteps of Kennedy and Mitra’s seminal work Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. (IF 40.5) Pub Date : 2023-12-04 Greg M. Anderson, Jennifer W. Hill, Ursula B. Kaiser, Victor M. Navarro, Ken K. Ong, John R. B. Perry, Vincent Prevot, Manuel Tena-Sempere, Carol F. Elias
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GIP regulates body weight via GABAergic neurons Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. (IF 40.5) Pub Date : 2023-11-29 Shimona Starling
The development of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP1) receptor (GLP1R)–glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP) receptor (GIPR) co-agonist drugs for obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus was a major breakthrough. Yet, the mechanisms by which GIP regulates energy metabolism are still not clear. A study in Nature Metabolism now shows that GIP regulates body weight and food intake in mice via GABAergic
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β-cells protected from T1DM by early senescence programme Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. (IF 40.5) Pub Date : 2023-11-24 Olivia Tysoe
Pancreatic β-cells undergo high levels of cellular stress in the early stages of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), including endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. ER stress results in the activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR), which restores homeostasis and adapts the cell to promote survival. However, in cases of prolonged or severe stress, the UPR initiates a pro-apoptotic response that results
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The metabolic mythos of ketones Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. (IF 40.5) Pub Date : 2023-11-20 Jonathan Low, Kaja Falkenhain
Ketones are water-soluble molecules that are primarily produced endogenously in the liver from free fatty acids during periods of long-term fasting or severe carbohydrate restriction. Historically denoted as ‘starvation molecules’, our understanding of ketones has undergone a number of transformations over the years. From toxic by-products of lipid metabolism during diabetic ketoacidosis to a valuable
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SGLT inhibitors: a serendipitous glycaemic tale Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. (IF 40.5) Pub Date : 2023-11-20 Shubham Agarwal, Ildiko Lingvay
Humans have evolved to conserve energy: bipedalism, for example, is widely claimed to use less energy than quadrupedal knuckle walking. Sodium–glucose co-transporters (SGLTs) might similarly have emerged in the kidneys over time to prevent glucose being excreted (and thus, energy being wasted) by the body. SGLT2 present in the early proximal convoluted tubule of nephrons reabsorbs the majority of glucose
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How a common NAFLD genetic risk variant affects human metabolism Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. (IF 40.5) Pub Date : 2023-11-14 Shimona Starling
The PNPLA3 I148M variant is a very common genetic risk factor for all stages of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), with a large effect size. Yet how this variant predisposes to NAFLD is currently unclear. A new clinical study in Cell Metabolism examines metabolism in people who are homozygous carriers of this mutation.