Article
Biology
Eliana G. Aerts, KaLynn Harlow, Max J. Griesgraber, Elizabeth C. Bowdridge, Steven L. Hardy, Casey C. Nestor, Stanley M. Hileman
Summary: The study found that kisspeptin and NKB expression levels were evident well before the pubertal increase in LH secretion and did not change with age, while dynorphin expression increased postpuberty. Despite the critical role of KNDy neurons in puberty, they may require inputs from other neural systems to trigger puberty onset.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Stephanie A. Roberts, Lydie Naule, Soukayna Chouman, Tatyana Johnson, Marciana Johnson, Rona S. Carroll, Victor M. Navarro, Ursula B. Kaiser
Summary: Makorin ring finger protein 3 (MKRN3) is an important neuroendocrine factor that plays a crucial role in regulating pubertal timing and inhibiting gonadotropin-releasing hormone secretion. Through studying mice, it was found that the expression of Mkrn3 in the hypothalamus decreases before the onset of puberty. A mouse model showed that sustained hypothalamic expression of Mkrn3 can lead to delayed puberty. Furthermore, it was discovered that Mkrn3 may influence neuropeptides in Kiss1 neurons through degradation pathways.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mayuko Nagae, Yoshihisa Uenoyama, Saki Okamoto, Hitomi Tsuchida, Kana Ikegami, Teppei Goto, Sutisa Majarune, Sho Nakamura, Makoto Sanbo, Masumi Hirabayashi, Kenta Kobayashi, Naoko Inoue, Hiroko Tsukamura
Summary: The study demonstrates that KNDy neurons serve as the GnRH pulse generator, and at least 20% of KNDy neurons are sufficient to maintain folliculogenesis. This provides a new therapeutic approach for treating infertile women.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Kana Ikegami, Youki Watanabe, Sho Nakamura, Teppei Goto, Naoko Inoue, Yoshihisa Uenoyama, Hiroko Tsukamura
Summary: Research has shown that hypothalamic arcuate kisspeptin neurons play a crucial role in regulating gametogenesis and steroidogenesis in mammals by overseeing the pulsatile release of GnRH. These neurons, also known as KNDy neurons, express NKB and Dyn. The article focuses on the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying GnRH pulse generation, as well as the factors that modulate the activity of KNDy neurons and consequent pulsatile GnRH/LH release in mammals.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Yoshihisa Uenoyama, Hiroko Tsukamura
Summary: This study focused on the role of arcuate kisspeptin neurons (KNDy neurons) as an intrinsic gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) pulse generator. It plays a fundamental role in mammalian reproduction by stimulating pituitary gonadotropin synthesis and release, thereby affecting gametogenesis and steroidogenesis in mammals. The study also discusses the mechanism that inhibits pulsatile GnRH/gonadotropin release under negative energy balance, which is relevant to reproductive disorders in humans and livestock during malnutrition.
JOURNAL OF NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Reproductive Biology
Ashley N. Lindo, Jennifer F. Thorson, Michelle N. Bedenbaugh, Richard B. McCosh, Justin A. Lopez, Samantha A. Young, Lanny J. Meadows, Elizabeth C. Bowdridge, Chrysanthi Fergani, Bradley A. Freking, Michael N. Lehman, Stanley M. Hileman, Clay A. Lents
Summary: In pigs, Kisspeptin and NKB neurons are mainly located in the arcuate nucleus, while NK3R cells are distributed in the preoptic area and other hypothalamic regions but not in the arcuate nucleus. Treatment with altrenogest decreases LH secretion without affecting the expression of Kisspeptin and NKB.
BIOLOGY OF REPRODUCTION
(2021)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Amnon Zung, Aviad Nachmany, Ella Burundukov, Tamar Glaser, Sharon Straussman
Summary: FVU-LH testing shows good diagnostic value in distinguishing progressive from nonprogressive puberty, and may serve as a screening method for girls with suspected progressive puberty, reducing the need for GnRH stimulation test.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY & METABOLISM
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Su Young Yan, Paul G. Morris, Jae -Chang Kim, Santosh Guru, Maria Pardo-Navarro, Shel-Hwa Yeo, H. James McQuillan, Allan E. Herbison
Summary: In this study, it was found that arcuate nucleus kisspeptin (ARNKISS) neurons co-expressing glutamate, neurokinin B, and dynorphin intermittently synchronize their activity to generate pulsatile hormone secretion. The synchronization is a result of near-random emergent network activity within the population and is dependent on local glutamate-AMPA signaling. Neurokinin B potentiates the glutamate-generated synchronizations, while dynorphin-kappa opioid serves as a gate for synchronization initiation. These findings challenge the existing KNDy hypothesis for ARNKISS neuron synchronization.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Robert L. Goodman, Aleisha M. Moore, Kayla Onslow, Stanley M. Hileman, Steve L. Hardy, Elizabeth C. Bowdridge, Burgundy A. Walters, Sami Agus, Max J. Griesgraber, Eliana G. Aerts, Michael N. Lehman, Lique M. Coolen
Summary: This study found that KNDy neurons are essential for GnRH pulses in ewes, while ARC Kiss1R cells do not directly contribute to the generation of GnRH pulses but maintain their amplitude and regularity.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Xiang Shi, Yanrong Zhuang, Zhenhua Chen, Mingrui Xu, Junqi Kuang, Xue-Lian Sun, Lisen Gao, Xia Kuang, Huairen Zhang, Wei Li, Samuel Zheng Hao Wong, Chuanyu Liu, Longqi Liu, Danhua Jiang, Duanqing Pei, Yi Lin, Qing-Feng Wu
Summary: The neuroendocrine system is composed of neuropeptidergic neurons in the brain, with hypothalamic KNDy neurons playing a crucial role in controlling puberty onset. Recent genetic studies have linked TBX3 mutations to delayed puberty onset. This study systematically investigated the Tbx3-derived neuronal lineage and found that Tbx3 is hierarchically involved in establishing and maintaining the identity of KNDy neurons for triggering puberty. In addition to lineage-dependent fate determination, the study also revealed rules of interlineage interaction and intralineage retention in neuronal differentiation. The study further revealed that TBX3 mutations disrupt protein phase separation and impair transcriptional regulation of key neuropeptides, providing a pathological mechanism for TBX3-associated puberty disorders.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Dogus Vuralli, Nurdan Ciftci, Huseyin Demirbilek
Summary: This study aims to evaluate the serum levels of kisspeptin, neurokinin-B (NKB), anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) and inhibin B (INHB) in girls with central precocious puberty (CPP) and assess their diagnostic validity. The results showed that serum levels of kisspeptin, NKB, and INHB were higher, while AMH levels were lower in girls with CPP compared to those with premature thelarche (PT) and prepubertal controls. These findings suggest that these peptides could be used as alternative parameters to distinguish CPP from PT.
CLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
KaLynn Harlow, Max J. Griesgraber, Andrew D. Seman, Sydney L. Shuping, Jeffrey R. Sommer, Emily H. Griffith, Stanley M. Hileman, Casey C. Nestor
Summary: This study suggests that undernutrition inhibits the expression of kisspeptin in KNDy neurons, resulting in lower levels and pulsatile amplitude of LH, thereby limiting the reproductive capacity of female sheep.
JOURNAL OF NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Optics
Kevin F. Lee, Antoine Rolland, Peng Li, Jie Jiang, Martin E. Fermann
Summary: In this study, we shape the spectrum of a supercontinuum spanning an octave using an erbium fiber laser. By controlling the temperature profile of a chirped fiber Bragg grating, we demonstrate control over spectral broadening, switching in spectral windows, and power optimization. We verify the locking of the shaped f-2f beat note and the coherence of the shaped supercontinuum through interference measurements.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
William L. Dees, Jill K. Hiney, Vinod K. Srivastava
Summary: The pubertal process is initiated by complex neuroendocrine interactions in the brain, leading to an increase in gonadotropin-releasing hormone secretion. Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) has been identified as a key player in this process, with its ability to induce GnRH release and regulate the timing of puberty.
NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Leman Damla Kotan, Gaetan Ternier, Aydilek Dagdeviren Cakir, Hamdi Cihan Emeksiz, Ihsan Turan, Gaspard Delpouve, Asli Derya Kardelen, Bahar Ozcabi, Emregul Isik, Eda Mengen, Esra Deniz P. Cakir, Aysegul Yuksel, Sebahat Yilmaz Agladioglu, Semine Ozdemir Dilek, Olcay Evliyaoglu, Feyza Darendeliler, Fatih Gurbuz, Gamze Akkus, Bilgin Yuksel, Paolo Giacobini, A. Kemal Topaloglu
Summary: The study revealed that SEMA3F signaling through PLXNA1-A3 is involved in guiding human GnRH neurons and olfactory/vomeronasal nerve fibers. Rare missense variants in SEMA3F and PLXNA3 were identified in 15 patients from 11 families, with most variants predicted to be deleterious by functional assays. The study suggests that insufficiency in Semaphorin-3F signaling contributes to the pathogenesis of IHH.
GENETICS IN MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
E. Antoun, P. Titcombe, K. Dalrymple, N. T. Kitaba, S. J. Barton, Ac Flynn, R. Murray, E. S. Garratt, P. T. Seed, S. L. White, Cyrus Cooper, H. M. Inskip, M. Hanson, L. Poston, K. M. Godfrey, K. A. Lillycrop
Summary: The study identified neonatal methylation changes associated with birthweight and specific maternal factors, suggesting potential insights into developmental pathways affecting birthweight and surrogate markers for adverse prenatal exposures linked to non-communicable diseases.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Wenneke van Weelden, Paul T. Seed, Elie Antoun, Keith M. Godfrey, Negusse T. Kitaba, Karen A. Lillycrop, Kathryn Dalrymple, Agata Sobczynska-Malefora, Rebecca C. Painter, Lucilla Poston, Sara L. White, Angela C. Flynn
Summary: This study found no evidence to link folate and vitamin B12 status with the differential methylation of neonatal DNA previously observed in association with dysglycaemia. However, higher folate levels may be associated with maternal glucose homoeostasis.
JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENTAL ORIGINS OF HEALTH AND DISEASE
(2022)
Article
Acoustics
J. Allotey, R. Whittle, K. I. E. Snell, M. Smuk, R. Townsend, P. von Dadelszen, A. E. P. Heazell, L. Magee, G. C. S. Smith, J. Sandall, B. Thilaganathan, J. Zamora, R. D. Riley, A. Khalil, S. Thangaratinam
Summary: This study externally validated published prediction models for stillbirth using individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis. The results showed that these models had generally poor and uncertain predictive performance, with limited evidence to support their clinical application. The study highlighted methodological shortcomings in the development of these models and called for further research to validate and improve them.
ULTRASOUND IN OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Francesca Spiga, Michael A. Lawton, Stafford L. Lightman, George Davey Smith, Yoav Ben-Shlomo
Summary: The study found differences in the association between social class and cortisol in an aging male population, with lower social class being linked to slower recovery of cortisol levels after exposure to stress.
PSYCHONEUROENDOCRINOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Samuel Furse, Albert Koulman, Susan E. Ozanne, Lucilla Poston, Sara L. White, Claire L. Meek
Summary: Gestational diabetes in obese women is associated with elevated levels of specific lipids related to de novo lipogenesis, which are also correlated with measures of offspring adiposity. These findings suggest that the effects of GDM on neonatal body composition may not be solely due to hyperglycemia, but may involve other pathways.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY & METABOLISM
(2022)
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Angela C. Flynn, Fatma Suleiman, Hazel Windsor-Aubrey, Ingrid Wolfe, Majella O'Keeffe, Lucilla Poston, Kathryn Dalrymple
Summary: This systematic review evaluated interventions aimed at reducing obesity in children aged 0-5 years old, categorizing them by intervention setting. The study found that home-based interventions, particularly those involving parents/families, were the most effective in preventing childhood obesity.
MATERNAL AND CHILD NUTRITION
(2022)
Letter
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Kyriakie Sarafoglou, Oppong Yaw Addo, James S. Hodges, Richard C. Brundage, Stafford L. Lightman, Peter C. Hindmarsh, Bradley S. Miller
HORMONE RESEARCH IN PAEDIATRICS
(2022)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Paul D. Taylor, Haotian Gu, Hannah Saunders, Federico Fiori, Kathryn Dalrymple, Priyanka Sethupathi, Liana Yamanouchi, Faith Miller, Bethany Jones, Matias C. Vieira, Claire Singh, Annette Briley, Paul T. Seed, Dharmintra Pasupathy, Paramala J. Santosh, Alan M. Groves, Manish D. Sinha, Philip J. Chowienczyk, Lucilla Poston
Summary: Maternal obesity is associated with changes in offspring's cardiac structure, including increased interventricular septum, posterior wall, and relative wall thickness. However, maternal intervention can mitigate the occurrence of cardiac remodeling in women with obesity.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBESITY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ola F. Quotah, Lucilla Poston, Angela C. Flynn, Sara L. White
Summary: This study explores the difficulty of early prediction of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) development in obese women in the UK and finds that insulin secretory dysfunction may be an important discriminator for GDM development among pregnant women with obesity.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Angela C. C. Flynn, Michelle Robertson, Kimberley Kavanagh, Helen R. R. Murphy, Rita Forde, Judith Stephenson, Lucilla Poston, Sara L. L. White
Summary: This study aims to examine the health behaviors and risk factors in women with pre-existing diabetes or previous gestational diabetes who are planning pregnancy. The results show a high proportion of these women have obesity, inadequate folic acid intake, smoking, and drug abuse.
Article
Neurosciences
Philippe C. Habets, Konstantinos Kalafatakis, Oleh Dzyubachyk, Steven J. A. van der Werff, Arlin Keo, Jamini Thakrar, Ahmed Mahfouz, Alberto M. Pereira, Georgina M. Russell, Stafford L. Lightman, Onno C. Meijer
Summary: Recent evidence suggests that the ultradian cortisol pulsatility is crucial for normal emotional response in humans. This study investigates the anatomical and cell type signature of brain regions sensitive to a loss of ultradian rhythmicity in emotional processing. The findings highlight the importance of GABAergic function and specific genes in cortical brain areas for emotional processing response.
NEUROBIOLOGY OF STRESS
(2023)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Daria Andreeva, Carolyn Gill, Anna Brockbank, Joanna Hejmej, Fran J. Conti-Ramsden, Katie T. Doores, Paul Seed, Lucilla Poston
Summary: A repeated cross-sectional surveillance study showed high rates of SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnant women in an inner-city setting, with higher infection risk and lower vaccine uptake among women of black ethnic backgrounds.
BJOG-AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Laura A. Magee, Erika Molteni, Vicky Bowyer, Jeffrey N. Bone, Harriet Boulding, Asma Khalil, Hiten D. Mistry, Lucilla Poston, Sergio A. Silverio, Ingrid Wolfe, Emma L. Duncan, Peter von Dadelszen
Summary: Among women of reproductive age, older age, White ethnicity, and being in the least-deprived index of multiple deprivation are independently associated with higher vaccine uptake. Ethnicity has the strongest influence, while multiple deprivation has the weakest. These findings are crucial for informing future vaccination policies and public messaging.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Biology
Mitsuhiro Yoshimura, Benjamin P. Flynn, Yvonne M. Kershaw, Zidong Zhao, Yoichi Ueta, Stafford L. Lightman, Becky L. Conway-Campbell
Summary: This study demonstrates how the timing of feeding behavior becomes disordered when glucocorticoid rhythms are dissociated from lighting cues. The dysregulated timing of neuropeptide gene expression is associated with this altered feeding pattern.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Daniel Galvis, Eder Zavala, Jamie J. Walker, Thomas Upton, Stafford L. Lightman, Gianni D. Angelini, Jon Evans, Chris A. Rogers, Kirsty Phillips, Ben Gibbison
Summary: Major surgery and critical illness can cause a potentially life-threatening systemic inflammatory response. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis plays a crucial role in counterbalancing this inflammation through changes in ACTH and cortisol. By studying patients undergoing cardiac surgery, researchers have identified three phenotypes of HPA axis response, each with different physiological mechanisms.
JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY INTERFACE
(2022)