Ulla Feldt-Rasmussen

THE EFFECT OF INTERLEUKIN-1 ON THE THYROID GLAND

The inhibitory effect of interleukin (IL)-1 on thyroid cell functions, including cAMP and thyroglobulin production, is well documented. Recently, IL-1 was shown to enhance the production of IL-6 from thyrocytes, and IL-1 receptors were demonstrated on normal thyroid cells. The origin of IL-1 could be from infiltrating monocytes/-macrophages, endothelial cells as well as from the thyrocytes themselves. Thus, IL-1 activated thyrocyte may participate directly in the immunological process by reacting to and producing immunoinflammatory cytokines.

Response to GH treatment in adult GH deficiency is predicted by gender, age, and IGF1 SDS but not by stimulated GH-peak

OBJECTIVEnWe studied whether the severity of GH deficiency (GHD) defined as i) GH-peak on stimulation tests (insulin tolerance test (ITT), arginine, and glucagon), ii) number of additional pituitary deficits, or iii) baseline IGF1 SDS could impact the response to GH treatment. We further explored whether iv) IGF1 SDS after 24 months of GH replacement or v) ΔIGF1 SDS from baseline to 24 months was related to the phenotypic response to GH treatment. DESIGN, PATIENTS, AND MEASUREMENTS: The patient cohort (n=1752; 50% women) was obtained from KIMS (Pfizer International Metabolic Database). The patients were divided into three groups of approximately equal size (tertiles) according to the stimulated GH-peak values and baseline IGF1 SDS and were studied at baseline, 12, and 24 months of GH therapy.nnnRESULTSnLower baseline IGF1 SDS predicted better response in weight, BMI, total cholesterol, and triglycerides, while IGF1 SDS after 24 months was associated with reduction in waist/hip ratio, total cholesterol, and improved quality of life (QoL). Age-correlated negatively with the response in body weight, BMI, waist, IGF1 SDS, and total and LDL-cholesterol. Response in weight and BMI was greater in men than in women, whereas women showed greater improvement in QoL than men. Patients with more severe GHD as assessed by lower GH-peaks and more pituitary hormone deficiencies had a greater increase in IGF1 SDS. The increase in IGF1 SDS was associated with a reduction in waist/hip ratio and an increase in weight, BMI, and triglycerides. There was no correlation with other lipids, blood pressure, or glucose.nnnCONCLUSIONnOur findings indicate that baseline and 24 months, IGF1 and its degree of increase during GH replacement were more important than stimulated peak GH to predict the phenotypic response.

Serum thyroglobulin as a marker of thyroid neoplasms after childhood cancer

Aim: To evaluate serum thyroglobulin (Tg) level as a marker of the development of thyroid disease when following individuals who Received neck irradiation therapy in childhood. Methods: In a non‐randomized cross‐sectional study Tg was assessed in 172 survivors of childhood cancer 10.8 y (1.9‐24) median (range) after diagnosis and 7.9 y. (0.9‐24.3) median (range) after the end of treatment. The patients were divided into two groups: group 1 included 47 patients who had Received irradiation to the neck and group 2 included 125 patients who did not receive irradiation to the neck. Results: Patients who had Received irradiation to the neck had significantly higher Tg levels compared with those who did not receive neck irradiation: median 14.0 (1.0–189.0) μg/L vs median 8.8, (0.7–112.2) μg/L (p < 0.001). Six out of seven patients with elevated Tg levels (>70 μg/L) had Received neck irradiation. Among these six patients, two patients developed secondary differentiated thyroid cancer and two patients developed benign thyroid neoplasms. None of the patients who had normal levels of Tg developed thyroid cancer.

The Influence of Interleukin-1 on The Function of Human Thyroid Cells

Interleukin 1 (IL-1) is a T- and B-lymphocyte activating cytokine released primarily by antigen-presenting macrophages (1,2). We have recently found that IL-1 elicited functional impairment of human thyroid cells in monolayers. The aim of the present study was to further elucidate the influence of recombinant IL-1 β (rIL-1β) on the secretion of thyroglobulin (Tg) and cAMP frcm cultured human thyroid cells.