Diverse Responses of Autoantibodies to the Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor in Primary Aldosteronism.

Primary aldosteronism is a common form of endocrine hypertension mainly caused by a unilateral aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA) or bilateral adrenal hyperplasia (BAH). AT1R-Abs (autoantibodies to the angiotensin II type 1 receptor) have been reported in patients with disorders associated with hypertension. Our objective was to assess AT1R-Ab levels in patients with primary aldosteronism (APA, n=40 and BAH, n=40) relative to patients with primary hypertension (n=40), preeclampsia (n=23), and normotensive individuals (n=25).

Synergistic Highly Potent Targeted Drug Combinations in Different Pheochromocytoma Models Including Human Tumor Cultures.

There are no officially approved therapies for metastatic pheochromocytomas apart from ultratrace 131I-metaiodbenzylguanidine therapy, which is approved only in the United States. We have, therefore, investigated the antitumor potential of molecular-targeted approaches in murine pheochromocytoma cell lines [monocyte chemoattractant protein (MPC)/monocyte chemoattractant protein/3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT)], immortalized mouse chromaffin Sdhb-/- cells, three-dimensional pheochromocytoma tumor models (MPC/MTT spheroids), and human pheochromocytoma primary cultures. We identified the specific phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase α inhibitor BYL719 and the mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor everolimus as the most effective combination in all models.

The role of iodine and delta-iodolactone in growth and apoptosis of malignant thyroid epithelial cells and breast cancer cells.

Objective: As we previously demonstrated, the inhibitory effect of iodine on thyroid cell growth is mediated by iodolactones, especially 6-iodo-5-hydroxy-eicosatrienoic acid (delta-iodolactone). In this communication we compare the effect of iodide, molecular iodine and delta-iodolactone on growth inhibition and apoptosis on three human thyroid carcinoma cell lines (B-CPAP cells, FTC-133 cells and 8505C cells) as well as on human breast cancer cells (MCF 7).

Methods: Thyroid carcinoma cells were cultured in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) and MCF 7 cells in Rowswell Park Memorial Institute (RPMI) culture medium, both containing 10% (v/v) Fetal Calf Serum (FCS), until they were confluent.

Dose-related influence of sodium selenite on apoptosis in human thyroid follicles in vitro induced by iodine, EGF, TGF-beta, and H2O2.

Apoptosis of thyroid follicular cells is induced by high doses of iodide, epidermal growth factor (EGF), transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), as well as H2O2 and might be attenuated by antioxidants. Therefore, we examined the apoptotic index induced by these substances in selenium-treated vs untreated human thyroid follicular cells. Reconstituted human thyroid follicles were incubated with sodium selenite (10 or 100 nM) for 72 h; controls received none.