Anxiety, depression, urinary continence, and sexuality in patients undergoing radical prostatectomy: preliminary findings.

OBJECTIVES: Evaluate the relationship between psychological distress, namely anxiety and depression, with urinary continence and recovery of erectile function in patients undergoing radical prostatectomy (RP). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed data from 33 consecutive patients who underwent RP in a single tertiary-referral academy between 01/2018 to 01/2019. We used the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-15), the Sexual Complaints Screener for Men (SCS-M), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), validated questionnaires for the assessment of sexual function, anxiety, and depression experiences, respectively. These questionnaires were administered at the pre-surgical visit, after surgery, and at intermediate follow-ups (three, six, and twelve months). RESULTS: The analysis of the questionnaires completed during follow-up shows that erectile function is the most affected, with 90% erectile dysfunction (ED) at three months after surgery. In terms of emotional states, anxiety prevails in the first months following surgery and is statistically significantly associated with incontinence (p = 0.02). Depressive symptoms, on the other hand, appear later and prevail over anxiety at six months after surgery, although not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: In the early post-surgical phase anxiety and ED are the most frequently detected components, while depressive experiences and decreased desire, typical of later stages, have not yet fully emerged.

Oncological Outcomes of Thulium-Yttrium-Aluminum-Garnet (Tm:YAG) Laser Ablation for Penile Cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To report oncological outcomes after thulium-yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Tm:YAG) laser ablation for penile cancer patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 71 patients with ≤cT1 penile cancer (2013-2022). All patients underwent Tm:YAG ablation with a RevoLix 200W continuous-wave laser. First, Kaplan-Meier plots and multivariable Cox regression models tested local tumor recurrence rates. Second, Kaplan-Meier plots tested progression-free survival (≥T3 and/or N1-3 and/or M1). RESULTS: Median (interquartile range) follow-up time was 38 (22-58) months. Overall, 33 (50.5%) patients experienced local tumor recurrence. Specifically, 19 (29%) vs 9 (14%) vs 5 (7.5%) patients had 1 vs 2 vs 3 recurrences over time. In multivariable Cox regression models, a trend for higher recurrence rates was observed for G3 tumors (hazard ratio:6.1; P = .05), relative to G1. During follow-up, 12 (18.5%) vs 4 (6.0%) vs 2 (3.0%) men were retreated with 1 vs 2 vs 3 Tm:YAG laser ablations. Moreover, 11 (17.0%) and 3 (4.5%) patients underwent glansectomy and partial/total penile amputation. Last, 5 (7.5%) patients experienced disease progression. Specifically, TNM stage at the time of disease progression was: (1) pT3N0; (2) pT2N2; (3) pTxN3; (4) pT1N1 and (5) pT3N3, respectively. CONCLUSION: Tm:YAG laser ablation provides similar oncological results as those observed by other penile-sparing surgery procedures. In consequence, Tm:YAG laser ablation should be considered a valid alternative for treating selected penile cancer patients.

Ischaemic Priapism: A Complication of Self-Administered Hyaluronic Acid Gel as an Injectable Filler for Penile Augmentation

Background: Injectable hyaluronic acid (HA) gel has emerged as a widely used soft tissue filler for surgeries. In penile reconstructivesurgery, HA gel has been employed for penile or glans augmentation in selected patients diagnosed with micropenis.This augmentation technique involves injecting the gel into submucosal tissue and increasing the size of the penis for approximately1 year. A few studies have investigated the possible complications correlated with medically assisted penile injections ofHA gel. However, no previous reports have shown the complications of self-administered HA injection. This case report aims topresent the first documented case of ischaemic priapism as a complication of self-administered HA injection.Case Presentation: We present the case of a 43-year-old male who self-administered a 20 mL injection of HA into the dorsal sideof his penis. The injected material probably reached the corpora cavernosa, leading to priapism within a few hours. However,the patient did not seek medical attention until 72 h later. The first two initial conservative attempts of blood drainage wereunsuccessful because the gel had obstructed vein drainage, causing the penis to remain in a state of priapism. The final treatmentapproach involved shunting, high enoxaparin doses and oral Effortil administration.Conclusions: While complications from medically assisted HA injections have been documented, this case report sheds light onthe complications arising from self-administered penile injections. Priapism is a severe medical condition that requires immediatetreatment to avoid potentially serious long-term consequences. Healthcare providers and patients must acknowledge itssymptoms and its appropriate course of treatment, especially in the context of penile medical injections. (AU)

Penile-Sparing Surgery for Tumour Recurrence after Previous Glansectomy/Partial Penectomy: Treatment Feasibility and Oncological Outcomes.

We tested the feasibility and oncological outcomes after penile-sparing surgery (PSS) for local recurrent penile cancer after a previous glansectomy/partial penectomy. We retrospectively analysed 13 patients (1997-2022) with local recurrence of penile cancer after a previous glansectomy or partial penectomy. All patients underwent PSS: circumcision, excision, or laser ablation. First, technical feasibility, treatment setting, and complications (Clavien-Dindo) were recorded. Second, Kaplan-Meier plots depicted overall and local recurrences over time. Overall, 11 (84.5%) vs. 2 (15.5%) patients were previously treated with glansectomy vs. partial penectomy. The median (IQR) time to disease recurrence was 56 (13-88) months. Six (46%) vs. two (15.5%) vs. five (38.5%) patients were treated with, respectively, local excision vs. local excision + circumcision vs. laser ablation. All procedures, except one, were performed in an outpatient setting. Only one Clavien-Dindo 2 complication was recorded. The median follow-up time was 41 months. Overall, three (23%) vs. four (30.5%) patients experienced local vs. overall recurrence, respectively. All local recurrences were safely treated with salvage surgery. In conclusion, we reported the results of a preliminary analysis testing safety, feasibility, and early oncological outcomes of PSS procedures for patients with local recurrence after previous glansectomy or partial penectomy. Stronger oncological outcomes should be tested in other series to optimise patient selection.

The dire consequences of multiple failed hypospadias repairs: a case report of a cavernosal reconstruction with mesh and malleable prosthesis.

The management of hypospadias during the neonatal period should be carried out exclusively in specialized medical centers because of the potential dire complications that may arise. In this report, we present a case of a 22-year-old male who underwent thirteen unsuccessful surgical procedures for his penoscrotal hypospadias in various hospitals. The purpose of this case report is to describe the surgical correction of severe corporal fibrosis and penile curvature that ensued from the multiple failed hypospadias corrections. We implanted an extra cavernosal malleable penile prosthesis and reconstructed the tunica albuginea defect with surgical meshes used in hernia repairs.

Comprehensive overview of ureteral stents based on clinical aspects, material and design.

Ureteral stents are useful devices in urological surgery. The main objective of a ureteric stent is to allow passage of urine and reduce early or late complications related to obstruction in the urinary tract. Despite their widespread use, there is a general lack of knowledge and awareness in stent composition and indication of application. We represented a synthesis of our extensive research over materials, coatings and shapes available on the market and then analyzed the main characteristics and peculiarities of ureteral stents. We have also focused our attention over the side effects and complication that must be considered when placing a ureteral stent. Encrustation, microbial colonization, stent-related symptoms and patient's history must always be evaluated when there is the need for a ureteral stent. The perfect stent should have many characteristics including easy insertion and removal, easy manipulation, resistance to encrustation and migration, lack of complications, biocompatibility, radio-opacity, biodurability, affordability (cost-effectiveness), tolerability and optimal flow characteristics. Nevertheless, further research and studies need to be done to provide more information about stent composition and efficacy in vivo. In this narrative review, we covered the basic information and main characteristics of ureteral stents, in order to help clinicians choose the appropriate device needed for a given situation.

Artificial intelligence and radiomics in evaluation of kidney lesions: a comprehensive literature review.

Radiomics and artificial intelligence (AI) may increase the differentiation of benign from malignant kidney lesions, differentiation of angiomyolipoma (AML) from renal cell carcinoma (RCC), differentiation of oncocytoma from RCC, differentiation of different subtypes of RCC, to predict Fuhrman grade, to predict gene mutation through molecular biomarkers and to predict treatment response in metastatic RCC undergoing immunotherapy. Neural networks analyze imaging data. Statistical, geometrical, textural features derived are giving quantitative data of contour, internal heterogeneity and gray zone features of lesions. A comprehensive literature review was performed, until July 2022. Studies investigating the diagnostic value of radiomics in differentiation of renal lesions, grade prediction, gene alterations, molecular biomarkers and ongoing clinical trials have been analyzed. The application of AI and radiomics could lead to improved sensitivity, specificity, accuracy in detecting and differentiating between renal lesions. Standardization of scanner protocols will improve preoperative differentiation between benign, low-risk cancers and clinically significant renal cancers and holds the premises to enhance the diagnostic ability of imaging tools to characterize renal lesions.

Full activation of thermogenesis in brown adipocytes requires Basigin action.

Exploring mechanisms responsible for brown adipose tissue's (BAT) high metabolic activity is crucial to exploit its energy-dissipating ability for therapeutic purposes. Basigin (Bsg), a multifunctional highly glycosylated transmembrane protein, was recently proposed as one of the 98 critical markers allowing to distinguish 'white' and 'brown' adipocytes, yet its function in thermogenic brown adipocytes is unknown. Here, we report that Bsg is negatively associated with obesity in mice. By contrast, Bsg expression increased in the mature adipocyte fraction of BAT upon cold acclimation. Additionally, Bsg levels were highly induced during brown adipocyte maturation in vitro and were further increased upon ß-adrenergic stimulation in a HIF-1α-dependent manner. siRNA-mediated Bsg gene silencing in cultured brown adipocytes did not impact adipogenesis nor mitochondrial function. However, a significant decrease in mitochondrial respiration, lipolysis and Ucp1 transcription was observed in adipocytes lacking Bsg, when activated by norepinephrine. Furthermore, using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry-time-of-flight analysis to assess the composition of cellular metabolites, we demonstrate that brown adipocytes lacking Bsg have lower levels of intracellular lactate and acetoacetate. Bsg was additionally required to regulate intracellular AcAc and tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediate levels in NE-stimulated adipocytes. Our study highlights the critical role of Bsg in active brown adipocytes, possibly by controlling cellular metabolism.

Ischaemic Priapism: A Complication of Self-Administered Hyaluronic Acid Gel as an Injectable Filler for Penile Augmentation.

BACKGROUND: Injectable hyaluronic acid (HA) gel has emerged as a widely used soft tissue filler for surgeries. In penile reconstructive surgery, HA gel has been employed for penile or glans augmentation in selected patients diagnosed with micropenis. This augmentation technique involves injecting the gel into submucosal tissue and increasing the size of the penis for approximately 1 year. A few studies have investigated the possible complications correlated with medically assisted penile injections of HA gel. However, no previous reports have shown the complications of self-administered HA injection. This case report aims to present the first documented case of ischaemic priapism as a complication of self-administered HA injection. CASE PRESENTATION: We present the case of a 43-year-old male who self-administered a 20 mL injection of HA into the dorsal side of his penis. The injected material probably reached the corpora cavernosa, leading to priapism within a few hours. However, the patient did not seek medical attention until 72 h later. The first two initial conservative attempts of blood drainage were unsuccessful because the gel had obstructed vein drainage, causing the penis to remain in a state of priapism. The final treatment approach involved shunting, high enoxaparin doses and oral Effortil administration. CONCLUSIONS: While complications from medically assisted HA injections have been documented, this case report sheds light on the complications arising from self-administered penile injections. Priapism is a severe medical condition that requires immediate treatment to avoid potentially serious long-term consequences. Healthcare providers and patients must acknowledge its symptoms and its appropriate course of treatment, especially in the context of penile medical injections.

Quality of Life and Psychological Distress among Patients with Small Renal Masses.

Background: Quality of life (QoL) and psychological distress represent an important aspect of the daily life of cancer patients. The aim of this systematic review was to critically analyze available literature regarding QoL and psychological distress in patients with small renal masses (SRMs). (2) Methods: A systematic search of EMBASE, PUBMED and American Psychological Association (APA-net) was performed on 30 April 2022. Studies were considered eligible if they included patients with SRMs, had a prospective or retrospective design, included at least 10 patients, were published in the last 20 years, and assessed the QoL or psychological distress in patients that underwent active surveillance (AS) in comparison to those that underwent ablation/surgery treatments. (3) Results: The patients that underwent AS were statistically significantly older, with smaller renal masses than those that underwent surgery/ablation. A study showed a significant reduction in total scores of Short Form-12 (SF-12) among AS patients when compared to partial nephrectomy (PN) patients at enrollment (95.0 ± 15.8 vs. 99.1 ± 13.9), 2 years (91.0 ± 16.4 vs. 100.3 ± 14.3), and at 3 years (92.9 ± 15.9 vs. 100.3 ± 14.3), p < 0.05, respectively. That was mainly due to lower physical health scores. On the other hand, another study showed that AS patients with a biopsy-proven malignant tumor had a worse psychological distress sub-score (PDSS) compared to patients treated with surgery/ablation after biopsy. (4) Conclusions: It seems that there is an influence on QoL and psychological distress while on AS of SMRs. However, due to the low amount of available data, the impact of AS or active treatment on QoL or psychological distress of patients with small renal masses warrants further investigation.

Dynamic interplay between AfadinS1795 phosphorylation and diet regulates glucose homeostasis in obese mice.

KEY POINTS: Afadin is a ubiquitously expressed scaffold protein with a recently discovered role in insulin signalling and glucose metabolism. Insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of Afadin at S1795 occurs in insulin-responsive tissues such as adipose tissue, muscle, liver, pancreas and heart. Afadin abundance and AfadinS1795 phosphorylation are dynamically regulated in metabolic tissues during diet-induced obesity progression. Genetic silencing of AfadinS1795 phosphorylation improves glucose homeostasis in the early stages of diet-induced metabolic dysregulation. AfadinS1795 phosphorylation contributes to the early development of obesity-related complications in mice. ABSTRACT: Obesity is associated with systemic insulin resistance and numerous metabolic disorders. Yet, the mechanisms underlying impaired insulin action during obesity remain to be fully elucidated. Afadin is a multifunctional scaffold protein with the ability to modulate insulin action through its phosphorylation at S1795 in adipocytes. In the present study, we report that insulin-stimulated AfadinS1795 phosphorylation is not restricted to adipose tissues, but is a common signalling event in insulin-responsive tissues including muscle, liver, pancreas and heart. Furthermore, a dynamic regulation of Afadin abundance occurred during diet-induced obesity progression, while its phosphorylation was progressively attenuated. To investigate the role of AfadinS1795 phosphorylation in the regulation of whole-body metabolic homeostasis, we generated a phospho-defective mouse model (Afadin SA) in which the Afadin phosphorylation site was silenced (S1795A) at the whole-body level using CRISPR-Cas9-mediated gene editing. Metabolic characterization of these mice under basal physiological conditions or during a high-fat diet (HFD) challenge revealed that preventing AfadinS1795 phosphorylation improved insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance and increased liver glycogen storage in the early stage of diet-induced metabolic dysregulation, without affecting body weight. Together, our findings reveal that AfadinS1795 phosphorylation in metabolic tissues is critical during obesity progression and contributes to promote systemic insulin resistance and glucose intolerance in the early phase of diet-induced obesity.

The P2X7 Receptor Stimulates IL-6 Release from Pancreatic Stellate Cells and Tocilizumab Prevents Activation of STAT3 in Pancreatic Cancer Cells.

Pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) are important pancreatic fibrogenic cells that interact with pancreatic cancer cells to promote the progression of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). In the tumor microenvironment (TME), several factors such as cytokines and nucleotides contribute to this interplay. Our aim was to investigate whether there is an interaction between IL-6 and nucleotide signaling, in particular, that mediated by the ATP-sensing P2X7 receptor (P2X7R). Using human cell lines of PSCs and cancer cells, as well as primary PSCs from mice, we show that ATP is released from both PSCs and cancer cells in response to mechanical and metabolic cues that may occur in the TME, and thus activate the P2X7R. Functional studies using P2X7R agonists and inhibitors show that the receptor is involved in PSC proliferation, collagen secretion and IL-6 secretion and it promotes cancer cell migration in a human PSC-cancer cell co-culture. Moreover, conditioned media from P2X7R-stimulated PSCs activated the JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway in cancer cells. The monoclonal antibody inhibiting the IL-6 receptor, Tocilizumab, inhibited this signaling. In conclusion, we show an important mechanism between PSC-cancer cell interaction involving ATP and IL-6, activating P2X7 and IL-6 receptors, respectively, both potential therapeutic targets in PDAC.

Cold-induction of afadin in brown fat supports its thermogenic capacity.

The profound energy-expending nature of brown adipose tissue (BAT) thermogenesis makes it an attractive target tissue to combat obesity-associated metabolic disorders. While cold exposure is the strongest inducer of BAT activity, the temporal mechanisms tuning BAT adaptation during this activation process are incompletely understood. Here we show that the scaffold protein Afadin is dynamically regulated by cold in BAT, and participates in cold acclimation. Cold exposure acutely increases Afadin protein levels and its phosphorylation in BAT. Knockdown of Afadin in brown pre-adipocytes does not alter adipogenesis but restricts ß3-adrenegic induction of thermogenic genes expression and HSL phosphorylation in mature brown adipocytes. Consistent with a defect in thermogenesis, an impaired cold tolerance was observed in fat-specific Afadin knockout mice. However, while Afadin depletion led to reduced Ucp1 mRNA induction by cold, stimulation of Ucp1 protein was conserved. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that fat-specific ablation of Afadin led to decreased functional enrichment of gene sets controlling essential metabolic functions at thermoneutrality in BAT, whereas it led to an altered reprogramming in response to cold, with enhanced enrichment of different pathways related to metabolism and remodeling. Collectively, we demonstrate a role for Afadin in supporting the adrenergic response in brown adipocytes and BAT function.

White adipose remodeling during browning in mice involves YBX1 to drive thermogenic commitment.

OBJECTIVE: Increasing adaptive thermogenesis by stimulating browning in white adipose tissue is a promising method of improving metabolic health. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this transition remain elusive. Our study examined the molecular determinants driving the differentiation of precursor cells into thermogenic adipocytes. METHODS: In this study, we conducted temporal high-resolution proteomic analysis of subcutaneous white adipose tissue (scWAT) after cold exposure in mice. This was followed by loss- and gain-of-function experiments using siRNA-mediated knockdown and CRISPRa-mediated induction of gene expression, respectively, to evaluate the function of the transcriptional regulator Y box-binding protein 1 (YBX1) during adipogenesis of brown pre-adipocytes and mesenchymal stem cells. Transcriptomic analysis of mesenchymal stem cells following induction of endogenous Ybx1 expression was conducted to elucidate transcriptomic events controlled by YBX1 during adipogenesis. RESULTS: Our proteomics analysis uncovered 509 proteins differentially regulated by cold in a time-dependent manner. Overall, 44 transcriptional regulators were acutely upregulated following cold exposure, among which included the cold-shock domain containing protein YBX1, peaking after 24 h. Cold-induced upregulation of YBX1 also occurred in brown adipose tissue, but not in visceral white adipose tissue, suggesting a role of YBX1 in thermogenesis. This role was confirmed by Ybx1 knockdown in brown and brite preadipocytes, which significantly impaired their thermogenic potential. Conversely, inducing Ybx1 expression in mesenchymal stem cells during adipogenesis promoted browning concurrent with an increased expression of thermogenic markers and enhanced mitochondrial respiration. At a molecular level, our transcriptomic analysis showed that YBX1 regulates a subset of genes, including the histone H3K9 demethylase Jmjd1c, to promote thermogenic adipocyte differentiation. CONCLUSION: Our study mapped the dynamic proteomic changes of murine scWAT during browning and identified YBX1 as a novel factor coordinating the genomic mechanisms by which preadipocytes commit to brite/beige lineage.

Proton Pump Inhibitors Reduce Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Progression by Selectively Targeting H+, K+-ATPases in Pancreatic Cancer and Stellate Cells.

Pancreatic duct cells are equipped with acid/base transporters important for exocrine secretion. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cells may utilize such transporters to acidify extracellular tumor microenvironment, creating a niche favoring cell proliferation, fibrosis and resistance to chemotherapy-all contributing to the notoriously bad prognosis of this disease. Here, we report that gastric and non-gastric H+, K+-ATPases (coded by ATP4A and ATP12A) are overexpressed in human and murine pancreatic cancer and that we can target them specifically with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and potassium-competitive acid blockers (P-CABs) in in vitro models of PDAC. Focusing on pantoprazole, we show that it significantly reduced human cancer cell proliferation by inhibiting cellular H+ extrusion, increasing K+ conductance and promoting cyclin D1-dependent cell cycle arrest and preventing STAT3 activation. Pantoprazole also decreased collagen secretion from pancreatic stellate cells. Importantly, in vivo studies show that pantoprazole treatment of tumor-bearing mice reduced tumor size, fibrosis and expression of angiogenic markers. This work provides the first evidence that H+, K+-ATPases contribute to PDAC progression and that these can be targeted by inhibitors of these pumps, thus proving a promising therapeutic strategy.

Pannexin-1 mediated ATP release in adipocytes is sensitive to glucose and insulin and modulates lipolysis and macrophage migration.

AIM: Extracellular ATP signalling is involved in many physiological and pathophysiological processes in several tissues, including adipose tissue. Adipocytes have crucial functions in lipid and glucose metabolism and they express purinergic receptors. However, the sources of extracellular ATP in adipose tissue are not well characterized. In the present study, we investigated the mechanism and regulation of ATP release in white adipocytes, and evaluated the role of extracellular ATP as potential autocrine and paracrine signal. METHODS: Online ATP release was monitored in C3H10T1/2 cells and freshly isolated murine adipocytes. The ATP release mechanism and its regulation were tested in cells exposed to adrenergic agonists, insulin, glucose load and pharmacological inhibitors. Cell metabolism was monitored using Seahorse respirometry and expression analysis of pannexin-1 was performed on pre- and mature adipocytes. The ATP signalling was evaluated in live cell imaging (Ca2+ , pore formation), glycerol release and its effect on macrophages was tested in co-culture and migration assays. RESULTS: Here, we show that upon adrenergic stimulation white murine adipocytes release ATP through the pannexin-1 pore that is regulated by a cAMP-PKA-dependent pathway. The ATP release correlates with increased cell metabolism and is sensitive to glucose. Extracellular ATP induces Ca2+ signalling and lipolysis in adipocytes and promotes macrophage migration. Importantly, ATP release is markedly inhibited by insulin, which operates via the activation of phosphodiesterase 3. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings reveal an insulin-pannexin-1-purinergic signalling crosstalk in adipose tissue and we propose that deregulation of this signalling may contribute to adipose tissue inflammation and type 2 diabetes.

Afadin is a scaffold protein repressing insulin action via HDAC6 in adipose tissue.

Insulin orchestrates metabolic homeostasis through a complex signaling network for which the precise mechanisms controlling its fine-tuning are not completely understood. Here, we report that Afadin, a scaffold protein, is phosphorylated on S1795 (S1718 in humans) in response to insulin in adipocytes, and this phosphorylation is impaired with obesity and insulin resistance. In turn, loss of Afadin enhances the response to insulin in adipose tissues via upregulation of the insulin receptor protein levels. This happens in a cell-autonomous and phosphorylation-dependent manner. Insulin-stimulated Afadin-S1795 phosphorylation modulates Afadin binding with interaction partners in adipocytes, among which HDAC6 preferentially interacts with phosphorylated Afadin and acts as a key intermediate to suppress insulin receptor protein levels. Adipose tissue-specific Afadin depletion protects against insulin resistance and improves glucose homeostasis in diet-induced obese mice, independently of adiposity. Altogether, we uncover a novel insulin-induced cellular feedback mechanism governed by the interaction of Afadin with HDAC6 to negatively control insulin action in adipocytes, which may offer new strategies to alleviate insulin resistance.

The P2X7 receptor and pannexin-1 are involved in glucose-induced autocrine regulation in ß-cells.

Extracellular ATP is an important short-range signaling molecule that promotes various physiological responses virtually in all cell types, including pancreatic ß-cells. It is well documented that pancreatic ß-cells release ATP through exocytosis of insulin granules upon glucose stimulation. We hypothesized that glucose might stimulate ATP release through other non-vesicular mechanisms. Several purinergic receptors are found in ß-cells and there is increasing evidence that purinergic signaling regulates ß-cell functions and survival. One of the receptors that may be relevant is the P2X7 receptor, but its detailed role in ß-cell physiology is unclear. In this study we investigated roles of the P2X7 receptor and pannexin-1 in ATP release, intracellular ATP, Ca2+ signals, insulin release and cell proliferation/survival in ß-cells. Results show that glucose induces rapid release of ATP and significant fraction of release involves the P2X7 receptor and pannexin-1, both expressed in INS-1E cells, rat and mouse ß-cells. Furthermore, we provide pharmacological evidence that extracellular ATP, via P2X7 receptor, stimulates Ca2+ transients and cell proliferation in INS-1E cells and insulin secretion in INS-1E cells and rat islets. These data indicate that the P2X7 receptor and pannexin-1 have important functions in ß-cell physiology, and should be considered in understanding and treatment of diabetes.

Purinergic Receptors in Adipose Tissue As Potential Targets in Metabolic Disorders.

Extracellular nucleosides and nucleotides, such as adenosine and adenosine triphosphate (ATP), are involved in many physiological and pathological processes in adipose tissue (AT). It is becoming accepted that, in addition to the well-established sympathetic and hormonal system, purinergic receptors contribute significantly to regulation of adipocyte functions. Several receptor subtypes for both adenosine (P1) and ATP (P2X and P2Y) have been characterized in white adipocytes (WA) and brown adipocytes (BA). The effects mediated by adenosine and ATP on adipocytes are multiple and often differing, depending on specific receptors activated. Using a variety of agonists, antagonists and transgenic animals it has been demonstrated that adenosine and P2 receptors are involved in lipolysis, lipogenesis, adipokines secretion, glucose uptake, adipogenesis, cell proliferation, inflammation, and other processes. Given their central role in regulating many AT functions, purinergic receptors are considered potential therapeutic targets in different pathological conditions, such as obesity and type-2 diabetes. To achieve this goal, specific and potent P1 and P2 receptors activators and inhibitors are being developed and show promising results. However, more insight is needed into the function of P2 receptors in brown and beige adipocytes and their potential role in thermogenesis. This review aims at summarizing current knowledge on the patho-/physiological role of P1, P2X, and P2Y receptors in WA and BA and their potential exploitation for pharmacological intervention. Furthermore, we analyze impact of purinergic signaling in AT - in health and metabolic diseases.

Proton Pump Inhibitors Inhibit Pancreatic Secretion: Role of Gastric and Non-Gastric H+/K+-ATPases.

The mechanism by which pancreas secretes high HCO3- has not been fully resolved. This alkaline secretion, formed in pancreatic ducts, can be achieved by transporting HCO3- from serosa to mucosa or by moving H+ in the opposite direction. The aim of the present study was to determine whether H+/K+-ATPases are expressed and functional in human pancreatic ducts and whether proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) have effect on those. Here we show that the gastric HKα1 and HKß subunits (ATP4A; ATP4B) and non-gastric HKα2 subunits (ATP12A) of H+/K+-ATPases are expressed in human pancreatic cells. Pumps have similar localizations in duct cell monolayers (Capan-1) and human pancreas, and notably the gastric pumps are localized on the luminal membranes. In Capan-1 cells, PPIs inhibited recovery of intracellular pH from acidosis. Furthermore, in rats treated with PPIs, pancreatic secretion was inhibited but concentrations of major ions in secretion follow similar excretory curves in control and PPI treated animals. In addition to HCO3-, pancreas also secretes K+. In conclusion, this study calls for a revision of the basic model for HCO3- secretion. We propose that proton transport is driving secretion, and that in addition it may provide a protective pH buffer zone and K+ recirculation. Furthermore, it seems relevant to re-evaluate whether PPIs should be used in treatment therapies where pancreatic functions are already compromised.