The pituitary gland is a central regulator of growth, reproduction, and stress among other physiological functions by relaying signals from the hypothalamus to various target organs. Its major endocrine function resides in the pars distalis, which contains five different specialized hormone-producing cell types whose proportions can alter under different physiological conditions. The plastic organization of pituitary cells within homotypic and heterotypic networks allows for coordinating the sensing and integration of signals with the delivery of a strong and synchronous secretory response of the six peptide hormones that are involved in regulating the metabolic functions of the entire body. The network with the hypothalamus and between pituitary lineages serves as an important maintenance function in the adult gland and contributes to adjusting cell number, volume, and function. Conversely, disruption of these networks is implicated in hormone imbalance/disorders such as deficiency (hypopituitarism) or hypersecretion (pituitary tumor). In the last years, DNA sequencing methods have generated an exponential growth of molecular data from large cohorts of patients with different pituitary disorders, but the results obtained have not fully demonstrated the genesis, nor have they significantly improved the diagnosis or therapeutic strategies. In this sense, the computational approach can be seen as hypothesis-generating that needs to become into hypothesis-testing studies using proteomic assays and developing pre-clinical experimental models. The understanding of the genetic and protein alterations consequences in the complex pituitary network may be applied in the clinic, being necessary for the development of more efficient diagnostic and prognostic tools for the adequate management of patients with pituitary disorders.
This article collection welcomes studies with a focus on the pathophysiology of pituitary disorders and the description of new molecular targets for them, using animal models, and human and in vitro systems. Research articles, reviews, and mini-review on new advances in research using state-of-the-art technologies are of particular interest.
Main topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
• Molecular mechanism controlling pituitary biology in physiological and pathological conditions.
• Genetic alterations involved in pituitary disorders
• Description of new molecular target (signaling) involved in pituitary functions.
• Development of new in vivo models for pituitary hormone disorders.
• Pre-clinical studies involving signaling pathways or molecular targets for pituitary diseases.
The pituitary gland is a central regulator of growth, reproduction, and stress among other physiological functions by relaying signals from the hypothalamus to various target organs. Its major endocrine function resides in the pars distalis, which contains five different specialized hormone-producing cell types whose proportions can alter under different physiological conditions. The plastic organization of pituitary cells within homotypic and heterotypic networks allows for coordinating the sensing and integration of signals with the delivery of a strong and synchronous secretory response of the six peptide hormones that are involved in regulating the metabolic functions of the entire body. The network with the hypothalamus and between pituitary lineages serves as an important maintenance function in the adult gland and contributes to adjusting cell number, volume, and function. Conversely, disruption of these networks is implicated in hormone imbalance/disorders such as deficiency (hypopituitarism) or hypersecretion (pituitary tumor). In the last years, DNA sequencing methods have generated an exponential growth of molecular data from large cohorts of patients with different pituitary disorders, but the results obtained have not fully demonstrated the genesis, nor have they significantly improved the diagnosis or therapeutic strategies. In this sense, the computational approach can be seen as hypothesis-generating that needs to become into hypothesis-testing studies using proteomic assays and developing pre-clinical experimental models. The understanding of the genetic and protein alterations consequences in the complex pituitary network may be applied in the clinic, being necessary for the development of more efficient diagnostic and prognostic tools for the adequate management of patients with pituitary disorders.
This article collection welcomes studies with a focus on the pathophysiology of pituitary disorders and the description of new molecular targets for them, using animal models, and human and in vitro systems. Research articles, reviews, and mini-review on new advances in research using state-of-the-art technologies are of particular interest.
Main topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
• Molecular mechanism controlling pituitary biology in physiological and pathological conditions.
• Genetic alterations involved in pituitary disorders
• Description of new molecular target (signaling) involved in pituitary functions.
• Development of new in vivo models for pituitary hormone disorders.
• Pre-clinical studies involving signaling pathways or molecular targets for pituitary diseases.
