Reviews & Analysis

The actions of growth hormone (GH) on growth and many other processes are well-described. This Review highlights clinical data from patients with acromegaly or GH deficiency, alongside data from cellular and animal studies, to reveal novel actions of GH in fibrosis, cardiovascular function and cancer.

This article discusses X chromosome agents of sexual differentiation. These agents could explain some of the sex differences in incidence and severity of particular diseases.

A recent study has generated compelling experimental data on the role of GPR177 and WNT5a in the pathogenesis and treatment of painful diabetic neuropathy (PDN). The clinical value of these translational findings should be interpreted with caution. However, the limited efficacy of current treatments for PDN warrants further clinical studies on these novel pathways.

This article discusses evidence for the emergence of a different set of complications associated with diabetes mellitus from the traditional ones, outlines the risks and burden of these associated complications and considers implications for the future management of diabetes mellitus.

This Review highlights evidence that persistent enterovirus infections, particularly coxsackievirus B, trigger and/or accelerate islet autoimmunity in susceptible individuals, thereby leading to type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). The potential for vaccination or antiviral therapies to prevent T1DM onset is also considered.

Menopause affects roughly half of the global population, yet many affected people do not receive the treatment they need. This Review discusses currently available menopausal hormonal therapies and novel pharmaceutical alternatives to manage menopausal symptoms.

By identifying a new means of communication between endothelial cells and adipocytes, researchers provide evidence that the endothelial cells actively provoke lipid release from adipocytes to support capillary growth. This crosstalk ultimately helps to maintain metabolic health in obesity.

Stem cells in the pituitary master gland remain mystifying; moreover, they have hardly been explored in humans. A new study applied transcriptome and chromatin accessibility profiling at single-cell resolution to human postmortem pituitary glands from individuals of different ages, thereby providing insights into the heterogeneity and regulatory mechanisms of the projected human pituitary stem cell population.

Glucocorticoid therapies are widely used to treat acute and chronic inflammatory diseases, yet these drugs induce adverse metabolic effects. This Review highlights new insights into mechanisms of glucocorticoid-induced diabetes mellitus and discusses current and future therapeutic options.

This Review considers the principal regulators of the processes of biomineralization and crystallization in human physiology. In addition, disorders of biomineralization are discussed, including bone disorders and disorders of extraskeletal mineralization.

Macrophages in the liver can undergo phenotypic changes during metabolic diseases such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This Review discusses our current understanding of the changes in the proportions and functions of liver macrophage populations in health and NAFLD.

This Review discusses the role of epigenetic mechanisms in the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus and in the regulation of body weight in humans. How epigenetics might help the development of precision medicine is outlined.

Prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is increasing substantially in India and China. This Review discusses the epidemiology, phenotypes and pathogenesis of T2DM in India and China and evaluates options for optimal pharmacological management.

This Consensus Statement provides robust clinical evidence on the multidisciplinary management of children and adults with X-linked hypophosphataemia, with an emphasis on patients’ experiences and needs. It is the outcome of a working group of the European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases.

This Review focuses on challenges and advances in the management and treatment of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency. New therapeutic developments are discussed, including novel glucocorticoid therapies, adjunct agents aimed at controlling excess androgens, and cell-based and gene-based therapies.

This article discusses the current understanding of the genetics of autoimmune Addison disease and outlines the autoimmune mechanisms that could underlie the effects on the adrenal cortex.

A recent paper published in PLoS Biology reported the application of lipidomics in predicting the incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases in a population cohort. The study demonstrates the role of lipidomics in prediction of diseases and translational research, which could herald the beginning of an era of quantitative lipidomics.

Exerkines are signalling moieties that are released in response to acute and/or chronic exercise that exert their effects through endocrine, paracrine and/or autocrine pathways. This Review summarizes the importance and current state of exerkine research, prevailing challenges and future directions.

The growth hormone (GH)–insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) axis regulates bone remodelling and metabolism. This Review highlights the pathophysiological and clinical aspects of skeletal fragility associated with perturbations in the GH–IGF1 axis such as GH deficiency, anorexia nervosa, ageing and acromegaly.

Diet is a major modifiable risk factor for noncommunicable diseases. However, studies are inconsistent on the associations between diet quality and education, income and food access. A new study brings together novel big data sources and highlights the need for strong action on the social determinants of health in order to improve population diets.