Obesity, Bioactive Lipids, and Adipose Tissue Inflammation in Insulin Resistance

Degree of obesity and gastrointestinal adverse reactions influence the weight loss effect of liraglutide in overweight or obese patients with type 2 diabetes

Background

Liraglutide can effectively reduce the weight of patients with type 2 diabetes. Nonetheless, its weight loss effect was highly heterogeneous in different patients in the clinical practice.

Objective

To identify the factors most associated with the weight loss effect of liraglutide in obese or overweight patients with type 2 diabetes with poorly controlled oral medication in northeast China.

Design

A prospective study.

Methods

A prospective study was performed in subjects with type 2 diabetes who were taking oral medication and had a body mass index (BMI) of ⩾24 kg/m². Liraglutide was administered for at least 12 weeks, while the original hypoglycemic regimen was kept unchanged (Phase I). Later, liraglutide treatment was continued or stopped as necessary or as subjects thought fit in the 13-52 weeks that followed (Phase II), and the potential factors affecting the effect of weight loss of liraglutide were analyzed.

Results

Of the 127 recruited subjects, 90 had comprehensive follow-up data at week 12. In Phase I, the subjects' blood sugar levels and weight decreased significantly(P < 0.001). Among all the significant factors, the gastrointestinal adverse reactions score (GARS) was more correlated with BMI change (ΔBMI; r = 0.43) and waist circumference change (ΔWC; r = 0.32) than the baseline BMI (BMI₀) and WC (WC₀). At week 12, linear regression showed that BMI₀ independently affected ΔBMI and ΔWC, whereas WC₀ only affected ΔWC. The GARS was significantly associated with ΔBMI and ΔWC, and this association continued until week 52, even after most subjects had discontinued liraglutide treatment.

Conclusion

The degree of obesity and gastrointestinal adverse reactions were the most promising predictors of weight loss in liraglutide treatment.

Supplemental wheat germ modulates phosphorylation of STAT3 in the gut and NF-κBp65 in the adipose tissue of mice fed a Western diet

Background

Commensal gut bacteria, including Lactobacillus, can produce metabolites that stimulate the release of gut antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) via the signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)3 pathway and prevent obesity-associated leaky gut and chronic inflammation. We have previously reported that wheat germ (WG) selectively increased cecal Lactobacillus in obese mice.

Objectives

This study investigated the effects of WG on gut STAT3 activation and AMPs (Reg3γ and Reg3β) as well as the potential of WG to inhibit nuclear Nf-κB-activation and immune cell infiltration in the visceral adipose tissue (VAT) of mice fed a Western diet (i.e., high-fat and sucrose diet [HFS]).

Methods

Six-wk-old male C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to 4 groups (n = 12/group): control (C, 10% fat and sucrose kcal) or HFS (45% fat and 26% sucrose kcal) diet with or without 10% WG (wt/wt) for 12 wk. Assessments include serum metabolic parameters jejunal AMPs genes, inflammatory markers, and phosphorylation of STAT3 as well as VAT NF-κBp65. Independent and interaction effects of HFS and WG were analyzed with a 2-factor ANOVA.

Results

WG significantly improved markers of insulin resistance and upregulated jejunal Il10 and Il22 genes. The HFS + WG group had a 15-fold increase in jejunal pSTAT3 compared with the HFS group. Consequently, WG significantly upregulated jejunal mRNA expression of Reg3γ and Reg3β. The HFS group had a significantly higher VAT NF-κBp65 phosphorylation than the C group, while the HFS + WG group suppressed this to the level of C. Moreover, VAT Il6 and Lbp genes were downregulated in the HFS + WG group compared with HFS. Genes related to macrophage infiltration in the VAT were repressed in the WG-fed mice.

Conclusion

These findings show the potential of WG to influence vital regulatory pathways in the gut and adipose tissue which may reduce the chronic inflammatory burden on these tissues that are important targets in obesity and insulin resistance.

Effectiveness and safety of acupuncture combined with hot compress in the treatment of obese adolescents with insulin resistance: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

In recent years, the incidence of obesity patients has become younger and younger, and adolescents are gradually becoming one of the groups with a high incidence of obesity. Although several systematic reviews and clinical trials suggest that acupuncture and warm compresses may be effective in the treatment of obesity, the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture combined with warm compresses in the treatment of obesity insulin resistance (IR) in adolescents have not been systematically reviewed.

METHODS

The search language of this study is Chinese and English, and the data of Medline, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Web of Science, China Biomedical Literature Database, Central Controlled Trial Registration Center, and China Scientific Journal Database were searched for this study respectively, from the date of creation of the above data to December 2022. Randomized controlled trials of acupuncture combined with warm compresses in adolescents with obese IR were included in this review. Main outcome measures were body mass index, waist circumference, hip circumference, waist-hip ratio, fasting blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, IR index, body fat content, blood lipid level and blood pressure, etc. In addition, we manually retrieved other resources, including reference lists of identified publications, conference articles and gray literature.

RESULTS

This study will provide more clinical treatment ideas and options for adolescent obese IR patients.

CONCLUSION

The purpose of this study is to summarize and evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture combined with hot compress in treating obesity IR in adolescents from clinical trials.

Angiogenesis-Browning Interplay Mediated by Asprosin-Knockout Contributes to Weight Loss in Mice with Obesity

Asprosin (ASP) is a recently identified adipokine secreted by white adipose tissue (WAT). It plays important roles in the maintenance of glucose homeostasis in the fasting state and in the occurrence and development of obesity. However, there is no report on whether and how ASP would inhibit angiogenesis and fat browning in the mouse adipose microenvironment. Therefore, the study sought to investigate the effects of ASP-knockout on angiogenesis and fat browning, and to identify the interaction between them in the ASP-knockout mouse adipose microenvironment. In the experiments in vivo, the ASP-knockout alleviated the obesity induced by a high fat diet (HFD) and increased the expressions of the browning-related proteins including uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), PRD1-BF-1-RIZ1 homologus domain-containing protein-16 (PRDM16) and PPAR gamma coactivator 1 (PGC1-α) and the endothelial cell marker (CD31). In the experiments in vitro, treatment with the conditional medium (CM) from ASP-knockout adipocytes (ASP^-/--CM) significantly promoted the proliferation, migration and angiogenesis of vascular endothelial cells, and increased the expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)/vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT)/endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) pathway proteins. In addition, the treatment with CM from endothelial cells (EC-CM) markedly reduced the accumulation of lipid droplets and increased the expressions of the browning-related proteins and the mitochondrial contents. Moreover, the treatment with EC-CM significantly improved the energy metabolism in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. These results highlight that ASP-knockout can promote the browning and angiogenesis of WAT, and the fat browning and angiogenesis can interact in the mouse adipose microenvironment, which contributes to weight loss in the mice with obesity.

Aerobic training improves bone fragility by reducing the inflammatory microenvironment in bone tissue in type 2 diabetes

Aerobic training (AT) is indicated in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) to control hyperglycaemia and inflammation. AT improves bone microarchitecture and resistance to fracture. The intensity of AT and the mechanisms that lead to the improvement in bone quality are still unknown. Using a mouse model of T2DM, we evaluated the effects of two intensities of forced AT. We divided mice into: sedentary (SED), T2DM-SED, low runners (LOW), T2DM-LOW, high runners (HIGH) and T2DM-HIGH. The AT for low was 8 m/minute (m/min); 5° slope or high 18 m/min; 15° slope for 2 months. We measured metabolic parameters, the serum cytokines concentration, lipocalin-2 (LCN-2) and adiponectin; and the tibial concentrations of LCN-2, tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and protein carbonylation (CO). We evaluated femur morphometry and biomechanical properties. We performed multiple correlation analysis. The T2DM-LOW versus T2DM-SED group, shown an increase of interleukin (IL)-10 (417 ± 90 vs 102 ± 25 pg/mL) and improved trabecular bone (BV/TV: 31.8 ± 2.3 vs 19.25 ± 1.4%; Tb.Sp.: 1.62 ± 0.02 vs 2.0 ± 0.07 mm), by a decrease bone CO (3.4 ± 0.1 vs 6.0 ± 0.5 nmol/mg), bone TNF-α (84 ± 4 vs 239 ± 13 pg/mL) and LCN-2 (2887 ± 23 vs 3418 ± 105 pg/mL). The T2DM-HIGH versus T2DM-SED group showed a greater hypoglycaemic effect (228 ± 10 vs 408 ± 5 mg/dL), with improved cortical bone density (0.26 ± 0.012 vs 0.21 ± 0.007 mm) and fracture resistance (102 ± 8 vs 78 ± 5 MPa), by a reduction of bone TNF-α (77 ± 34 vs 239 ± 13 pg/mL); LCN-2 (2768 ± 20 vs 3418 ± 105 pg/mL) and CO (4.8 ± 0.5 vs 6.0 ± 0.5 nmol/mg). In conclusion, AT improves bone morphometry and biomechanical properties by reducing the bone inflammatory microenvironment.

Acetate restores hypothalamic-adipose kisspeptin status in a rat model of PCOS by suppression of NLRP3 immunoreactivity

PURPOSE

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex reproductive event that is delineated by endocrine/metabolic disorders. Alteration of kisspeptin status in the hypothalamus and adipose tissue is critical to increased endocrine/metabolic derangements in PCOS individuals, aggravating the clinical manifestation of PCOS and its complications. Short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are crucial modulators of metabolic homeostasis. However, the role of SCFAs, particularly acetate on hypothalamic-adipose kisspeptin status (HAKS) in PCOS model is unknown. The present study hypothesized acetate as a key player in restoration of deranged HAKS, associated with experimental PCOS model.

METHODS

Three groups (n = 6/group) of female Wistar rats (120-150 g) were used. The groups were treated (po) for 21 days with vehicle, letrozole (1 mg/kg) with/without acetate (200 mg/kg) respectively.

RESULTS

Letrozole-treated animals had impaired glucose homeostasis, elevated testosterone, leptin and LH/FSH ratio and decreased GnRH and adiponectin with ovarian tissues revealing degenerated follicles and disrupted morphology. These animals also showed increased concentration of hypothalamic triglyceride (TG)/total cholesterol (TC), free fatty acid (FFA), and decreased concentration of TG/TC/FFA in visceral adipose tissue (VAT) with an increase in hypothalamic and VAT malondialdehyde, NF-κB/TNF-α and decreased glutathione/G6PD and hypothalamic but not VAT kisspeptin. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed the expression of NLRP3 inflammasome in the hypothalamus and VAT and all these changes were attenuated by acetate.

CONCLUSIONS

Altogether, the present results demonstrate that PCOS is characterized with hypothalamic-adipose inflammation, associated with immunohistochemical expression of NLRP3 with significant alteration of hypothalamic but not adipose kisspeptin. The results suggest that acetate restores kisspeptin status in PCOS animals. This beneficial effect is accompanied by repressed NLRP3 immunoreactivity.

Methionine enkephalin promotes white fat browning through cAMP/PKA pathway

AIMS

Obesity and its related metabolic disorders, including insulin resistance and fatty liver, have become a serious global public health problem. Previous studies have shown Methionine Enkephalin (MetEnk) has the potential on adipocyte browning, however, its effects on the potential mechanisms of its regulation in browning as well as its improvement in energy metabolic homeostasis remain to be deciphered.

MAIN METHODS

C57BL/6J male mice were fed with high-fat diet (HFD) to induce obesity model, and MetEnk was injected subcutaneously to detect changes in the metabolic status of mice, adipocytes and HepG2 cells were also treated with MetEnk, and transcriptomic, metabolomic were used to detect the changes of lipid metabolism, mitochondrial function, inflammation and other related factors.

KEY FINDINGS

We found that MetEnk effectively protected against obesity weight gain in HFD-induced C57BL/6J mice, significantly improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity, reduced the expression levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6), promoted white fat browning, moreover, using a combination of transcriptomic, metabolomic and inhibitors, it was found that MetEnk improved mitochondrial function, promoted thermogenesis and lipolysis by activating cAMP/PKA pathway in adipocytes, further analysis found that MetEnk also promoted lipolysis and alleviated inflammation through AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway in mice liver and HepG2 cells.

SIGNIFICANCE

Our study provides profound evidence for the role of MetEnk in improving lipid metabolism disorders. This study provides a mechanical foundation for investigating the potential of MetEnk to improve obesity and its associated metabolic disorders.

The Effects of Resistance Training on some Inflammatory Markers, Appetite-Regulating Peptides and Insulin Resistance Index in Obese Women

Purpose

Obesity is associated with a chronic inflammatory condition, which plays an important role in the development of insulin resistance and disorder in appetite regulation. Resistance training (RT) can improve low-grade systemic inflammation caused by obesity by improving body composition. Hence, this study aimed to investigate whether RT with improvement in inflammatory status leads to improvement of metabolic markers and appetite-regulating peptides in obese women.

Methods

Sixteen obese and healthy women were randomly divided into RT and control groups. The RT group participated in 8 weeks of RT. Blood samples and anthropometric characteristics were taken before the start of the exercise protocol and 3 days after the last training session. Serum levels of leptin, ghrelin, adiponectin, tumour necrosis factor (TNF-α), fasting glucose, insulin, and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were also measured.

Results

After 8 weeks of training, body weight (BW) and body mass index (BMI) in the control group increased significantly (P < 0.01), but in the training group, anthropometric characteristics remained unchanged. Serum levels of ghrelin and leptin, adiponectin and tumour necrosis factor remained unchanged after 8 weeks of RT. A significant increase in insulin and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance levels was observed in the control group (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

It seems that 8 weeks of RT is not enough to induce an anti-inflammatory response and improve body composition and subsequently improve appetite and metabolic markers.

Beneficial Effects of Anti-Inflammatory Diet in Modulating Gut Microbiota and Controlling Obesity

Obesity has consistently been associated with an increased risk of metabolic abnormalities such as diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and cardiovascular diseases, as well as the development of several types of cancer. In recent decades, unfortunately, the rate of overweight/obesity has increased significantly among adults and children. A growing body of evidence shows that there is a relationship between metabolic disorders such as obesity and the composition of the gut microbiota. Additionally, inflammation is considered to be a driving force in the obesity–gut microbiota connection. Therefore, it seems that anti-inflammatory nutrients, foods, and/or diets can play an essential role in the management of obesity by affecting the intestinal flora and controlling inflammatory responses. In this review, we describe the links between the gut microbiota, obesity, and inflammation, and summarize the benefits of anti-inflammatory diets in preventing obesity.

The Drosophila melanogaster ACE2 ortholog genes are differently expressed in obesity/diabetes and aging models: Implications for COVID-19 pathology

The Spike glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for coronavirus disease 2019, binds to its ACE2 receptor for internalization in the host cells. Elderly individuals or those with subjacent disorders, such as obesity and diabetes, are more susceptible to COVID-19 severity. Additionally, several SARS-CoV-2 variants appear to enhance the Spike-ACE2 interaction, which increases transmissibility and death. Considering that the fruit fly is a robust animal model in metabolic research and has two ACE2 orthologs, Ance and Acer, in this work, we studied the effects of two hypercaloric diets (HFD and HSD) and aging on ACE2 orthologs mRNA expression levels in Drosophila melanogaster. To complement our work, we analyzed the predicted binding affinity between the Spike protein with Ance and Acer. We show for the first time that Ance and Acer genes are differentially regulated and dependent on diet and age in adult flies. At the molecular level, Ance and Acer proteins exhibit the potential to bind to the Spike protein in different regions, as shown by a molecular docking approach. Acer, in particular, interacts with the Spike protein in the same region as in humans. Overall, we suggest that the D. melanogaster is a promising animal model for translational studies on COVID-19 associated risk factors and ACE2.

Obezitede İnsülin Direnci ve İnflamasyon

Objectives: Obesity is one of the predominant risk factors associated with insulin resistance (IR), type 2 diabetes, and many metabolic syndromes. In this study, we aimed to investigate inflammatory parameters and their relationship with IR and blood groups in obese individuals. Materials and Methods: The demographic characteristics, body mass index (BMI), biochemical parameters, hemogram values, and blood group types of individuals in the obesity and control groups were recorded and compared. Results: The mean age was 37.37±11.43 years in obese individuals and 41.8% (n=77) of them had IR. Neutrophil and monocyte counts of the obese individuals with IR were significantly higher than those of the individuals without IR in the control and the obesity groups (p

DPHB, a diarylheptane from Alpinia officinarum Hance, ameliorates insulin resistance: A network pharmacology and in vitro study

(4E)-7-(4-Hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1-phenylhept-4-en-3-one (DPHB) derived from A. officinarum Hance has been reported to exert anti-inflammatory and anti-insulin resistance (IR) effects. We explored the molecular mechanism of DPHB ameliorating IR through network pharmacological prediction and in vitro analysis. The PI3K/AKT and TNF signaling pathways are the core pathways for DPHB to exert anti-IR, and the key proteins of this pathway were confirmed by molecular docking. In the IR-3T3-L1 adipocyte model, DPHB significantly promoted glucose uptake and the glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4) translocation. In addition, DPHB significantly improved lipid accumulation, triglyceride content, and the mRNA expression of key adipokines [such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors-gamma (PPARγ), CCAAT enhancer-binding protein alpha (C/EBPα), and sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1 (SREBP-1)]. DPHB inhibited the protein expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and phosphorylated nuclear factor-κB (NF-kB), as well as promoted the expression of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), protein kinase B (AKT), phosphorylated PI3K, and phosphorylated AKT. More interestingly, validation of the PI3K inhibitor LY294002 revealed that these changes were dependent on the activation of PI3K. Our cumulative findings thereby validate the potential of DPHB to alleviate and treat IR and the related diseases by regulating the PI3K/AKT and TNF-α signaling pathways.

Association between four nontraditional lipids and ischemic stroke: a cohort study in Shanghai, China

BACKGROUND

The correlation between nontraditional lipids and ischemic stroke (IS) is inconsistent and controversial. This study aimed to examine the association of four nontraditional lipids with IS risk in Chinese adults.

METHODS

This prospective community-based cohort study was performed in Songjiang District, Shanghai, China. The study began in 2016 and included 34,294 participants without stroke before the investigation. The association between nontraditional lipids (nonhigh-density lipoprotein cholesterol [non-HDL-C], total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [TC/HDL-C], triglyceride [TG]/HDL-C, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C]/HDL-C) and IS was studied with multivariate Cox regression models. The dose-response associations between these four serum lipids and IS were explored using restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis.

RESULTS

There were a total of 458 IS cases with 166,380 person-years of follow-up. Compared with the lowest tertiles, the highest tertiles of the nontraditional blood lipids showed greater IS risk after controlling for potential confounders. The hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were as follows: TC/HDL-C, 1.63 (1.28-2.07); TG/HDL-C, 1.65 (1.28-2.13); LDL-C/HDL-C, 1.51 (1.18-1.92); and non-HDL-C, 1.43 (1.13-1.81). The fully adjusted RCS curves presented a nonlinear relationship, and the risk increased when the TC/HDL-C, TG/HDL-C, and LDL-C/HDL-C levels were > 3.47, > 0.92, and > 1.98, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

This community-based cohort study presents a positive association between the four nontraditional lipids and IS incidence. Maintaining relatively low lipid ratios can be beneficial for preventing stroke. Nontraditional lipids can be considered targets for managing blood lipids.

The Benefits of High-Resistant Starch and Beta-Carotene Snack in Ameliorating Atherogenic Index and Inflammation in Obesity

BACKGROUND: In obesity, lipid abnormalities may be related to the higher risk of cardiovascular diseases associated with increased oxidation of lipids and inflammation. Resistant starch and beta-carotene reduce atherosclerosis risk related to low-grade inflammation and oxidative stress in obesity. AIM: This study aimed to evaluate the benefits of a snack containing high-resistant starch and beta-carotene in improving the atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) and inflammation in obesity. METHODS: This study used a single-blinded and randomized controlled design. Fifty subjects received 42 g of snacks per day for 6 weeks, either tested snacks or standard snacks. Anthropometry, body composition, lipid profile, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) were measured before and after intervention. RESULTS: The snack containing high-resistant starch and beta-carotene significantly decreased LDL, AIP, and TNF-α (p < 0.05). Positive correlations were found between AIP and triglycerides in both snacks (p < 0.05), LDL or TNF-α in the standard snack (p < 0.05), and TNF-α and ox-LDL in both snacks (p < 0.05). A negative correlation was found between AIP and HDL in both snacks (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A snack containing high-resistant starch and beta-carotene reduced AIP and inflammation by preventing LDL oxidation.

Encapsulated Microstructures of Beneficial Functional Lipids and Their Applications in Foods and Biomedicines

Beneficial functional lipids are essential nutrients for the growth and development of humans and animals, which nevertheless possess poor chemical stability because of heat/light-sensitivity. Various encapsulation technologies have been developed to protect these nutrients against adverse factors. Different microstructures are exhibited through different encapsulation methods, which influence the encapsulation efficiency and release behavior at the same time. This review summarizes the effects of preparation methods and process parameters on the microstructures of capsules at first. The mechanisms of the different microstructures on encapsulation efficiency and controlled release behavior of core materials are analyzed. Next, a comprehensive overview on the beneficial functional lipids capsules in the latest food and biomedicine applications are provided as well as the matching relationship between the microstructures of the capsules and applications are discussed. Finally, the remaining challenges and future possible directions that have potential interest are outlined. The purpose of this review is to convey the construction of beneficial functional lipids capsules and the function mechanism, a critical analysis on its current status and challenges, and opinions on its future development. This review is believed to promote communication among the food, pharmacy, agronomy, engineering, and nutrition industries.

Link between Insulin Resistance and Obesity—From Diagnosis to Treatment

Insulin resistance (IR) has become a common health issue in medical practice. There are no detailed data on IR prevalence, but it is an increasing problem due to its close association with obesity. However, IR is not considered as a separate nosological entity and the diagnostic criteria are not well defined, which leads to overdiagnosis of IR and an inappropriate approach. This review aims to summarize the available literature on IR pathophysiology, its relationship with obesity, as well as diagnostic methods, clinical presentation and treatment. Excessive energy intake results in cell overload that triggers mechanisms to protect cells from further energy accumulation by reducing insulin sensitivity. Additionally, hypertrophied adipocytes and macrophage infiltration causes local inflammation that may result in general inflammation that induces IR. The clinical picture varies from skin lesions (e.g., acanthosis nigricans) to metabolic disorders such as diabetes mellitus or metabolic-associated fatty liver disease. There are numerous IR laboratory markers with varying sensitivities and specificities. Nutrition changes and regular physical activity are crucial for IR management because a reduction in adipose tissue may reverse the inflammatory state and consequently reduce the severity of insulin resistance. In cases of obesity, anti-obesity medications can be used.

IFN-γ and LPS Induce Synergistic Expression of CCL2 in Monocytic Cells via H3K27 Acetylation

Background

Overexpression of CCL2 (MCP-1) has been implicated in pathogenesis of metabolic conditions, such as obesity and T2D. However, the mechanisms leading to increased CCL2 expression in obesity are not fully understood. Since both IFN-γ and LPS levels are found to be elevated in obesity and shown to be involved in the regulation of metabolic inflammation and insulin resistance, we investigated whether these two agents could synergistically trigger the expression of CCL2 in obesity.

Methods

Monocytes (Human monocytic THP-1 cells) were stimulated with IFN-γ and LPS. CCL2 gene expression was determined by real-time RT-PCR. CCL2 protein was determined by ELISA. Signaling pathways were identified by using epigenetic inhibitors and STAT1 siRNA. Acetylation of H3K27 was analyzed by Western blotting. The acetylation level of histone H3K27 in the transcriptional initiation region of CCL2 gene was determined by ChIP-qPCR.

Results

Our results show that the co-incubation of THP-1 monocytes with IFN-γ and LPS significantly enhanced the expression of CCL2, compared to treatment with IFN-γ or LPS alone. Similar results were obtained using primary monocytes and macrophages. Interestingly, IFN-γ priming was found to be more effective than LPS priming in inducing synergistic expression of CCL2. Moreover, STAT1 deficiency significantly suppressed this synergy for CCL2 expression. Mechanistically, we showed that IFN-γ priming induced acetylation of lysine 27 on histone 3 (H3K27ac) in THP-1 cells. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay followed by qRT-PCR revealed increased H3K27ac at the CCL2 promoter proximal region, resulting in stabilized gene expression. Furthermore, inhibition of histone acetylation with anacardic acid suppressed this synergistic response, whereas trichostatin A (TSA) could substitute IFN-γ in this synergy.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that IFN-γ, in combination with LPS, has the potential to augment inflammation via the H3K27ac-mediated induction of CCL2 in monocytic cells in the setting of obesity.

An Evaluation of Metabolic, Dietetic, and Nutritional Status Reveals Impaired Nutritional Outcomes in Breast Cancer Patients

Nutritional status can change in breast cancer patients after treatment. However, the metabolic implications of those alterations are poorly understood. We used a cross-sectional study design to compare body composition, lipids, glucose levels, and adiposity indices in breast cancer patients with a matched control and a healthy group. We recruited women who completed their chemotherapy (BC group) and compared them with a group of women without cancer age and body mass index-paired (MC group) and a group of healthy women (HC group). We estimated body composition by bioelectrical impedance analysis, physical function by handgrip strength, and food consumption by 24-hour food record. A blood sample was collected. We calculated visceral obesity indices (VAI and LAP) and insulin resistance-triglyceride glucose (TyG). Eighty-eight women were included (BC = 36, MC = 36, HC = 16). BC patients demonstrated worse phase angle values, nutritional risk index and lower handgrip strength. Additionally, according to the indices, BC had impairments in lipids, worse glucose levels, and elevated visceral fat adiposity and presented important unhealthy dietary patterns characterized by under-recommended protein consumption and higher caloric intake than the other groups. No differences were observed between both control groups. Further investigations are required to examine the underlying mechanisms and the potential longitudinal changes during surveillance.

A long-term anti-inflammation markedly alleviated high-fat diet-induced obesity by repeated administrations of overexpressing IL10 human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stromal cells

Objectives

Obesity is a chronic process and could activate various inflammatory responses, which in turn aggravates obesity and related metabolic syndrome. Here we explored whether long-term inhibition of inflammation could successfully alleviate high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity.

Methods

We constructed stable overexpressing interleukin 10 (IL10) human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (HUCMSCs) which repeatedly were applied to obesity mice with HFD feeding to obtain a long-term anti-inflammation based on the prominent anti-inflammation effects of IL10 and immunomodulatery effects of HUCMSCs. Then we monitored the features of obesity including body weight, serum ALT, AST, and lipids. In addition, glucose homeostasis was determined by glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity tests. The infiltrated macrophages in adipose tissues and hepatic lipid accumulation were detected, and the expressions of adipogenesis and inflammatory genes in adipose tissues were examined by real-time (RT) PCR and western blot analysis.

Results

Compared with HUCMSCs, IL10-HUCMSCs treatment had much better anti-obesity effects including body weight reduction, less hepatic lipids accumulation, lower amount and size of adipocyte, greater glucose tolerance, less systemic insulin resistance, and less adipose tissue inflammation in HFD feeding mice. Finally, IL10-HUCMSCs could decrease the activation of MAPK JNK of adipose tissue induced by HFD. The inhibition of MAPK JNK signal pathway by a small chemical molecule SP600125 in 3T3-L1 cells, a preadipocyte line, reduced the differentiation of adipocytes and lipid droplet accumulation.

Conclusion

A lasting anti-inflammation based on gene modified stem cell therapy is an effective strategy in preventing diet-induced obesity and obesity-related metabolic syndrome.

Once-Weekly Semaglutide Induces an Early Improvement in Body Composition in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A 26-Week Prospective Real-Life Study

Background: Body weight (BW) loss is an essential therapeutic goal in type 2 diabetes (T2D). Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists are effective in reducing BW, but their effect on body composition has not yet been fully explored. The study aim was to assess the impact of Semaglutide on body composition in patients with T2D. Methods: Forty patients with T2D were treated with subcutaneous Semaglutide and evaluated at the baseline (T0) and after three (T3) and six (T6) months. Body composition was assessed by a phase-sensitive bioimpedance analyzer. Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) thickness was also measured with an ultrasonographic method (US-VAT). Anthropometric variables, muscular strength, and laboratory tests were analyzed and compared. Results: A significant decrease in VAT, the fat mass index (FMI), and BW loss was observed at all observation times. US-VAT, the skeletal mass index (SMI), the fat-free mass index (FFMI), waist circumferences, and glycated hemoglobin had lessened after three months and remained stable at T6. No variations in muscle strength, the muscle quality index, and body water were found. Discussion: In a real-life setting, Semaglutide provided significant weight loss mainly due to a reduction in the FMI and VAT, with non-clinically relevant changes in the SMI, the FFMI, and muscle strength. Most importantly, the results were obtained after three months of treatment and persisted thereafter.

B-Cell Activating Factor Increases Related to Adiposity, Insulin Resistance, and Endothelial Dysfunction in Overweight and Obese Subjects

Obesity (OB) is a major healthcare problem that results from long-term energy imbalance. Adipokines and pro-inflammatory cytokines facilitate adipose tissue (AT) remodeling to safely store excess nutrients. B-cell activating factor (BAFF) is a newly described adipokine whose role in enhancing adipogenesis has been reported. The present study aimed to evaluate serum BAFF association with adiposity distribution, serum adipokines, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and metabolic and endothelial dysfunction markers. The study included 124 young Mexican adults with no diagnosed comorbidities, divided according to their BMI. Anthropometric measurements, blood counts, and serum molecules (i.e., glucose, lipid profile, insulin, leptin, pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, von Willebrand factor (vWF), and BAFF) were assessed. The analysis showed positive correlation between BAFF and increased fat mass in all anthropometric measurements (p < 0.0001). BAFF augmentation was related to systemic inflammatory environment (p < 0.05), and linked with insulin resistance status (p < 0.05). BAFF increment was also correlated with early endothelial damage markers such as vWF (p < 0.0001). Linear regression analysis showed a role for BAFF in predicting serum vWF concentrations (p < 0.01). In conclusion, our data show that BAFF is an adipokine dynamically related to OB progression, insulin resistance status, and systemic inflammatory environment, and is a predictor of soluble vWF augmentation, in young overweight and obese Mexican subjects.

Anti-Obesity and Anti-Hyperglycemic Effects of Meretrix lusoria Protamex Hydrolysate in ob/ob Mice

Meretrix lusoria (M. lusoria) is an economically important shellfish which is widely distributed in South Eastern Asia that contains bioactive peptides, proteins, and enzymes. In the present study, the extracted meat content of M. lusoria was enzymatic hydrolyzed using four different commercial proteases (neutrase, protamex, alcalase, and flavourzyme). Among the enzymatic hydrolysates, M. lusoria protamex hydrolysate (MLPH) fraction with MW ≤ 1 kDa exhibited the highest free radical scavenging ability. The MLPH fraction was further purified and an amino acid sequence (KDLEL, 617.35 Da) was identified by LC-MS/MS analysis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-obesity and anti-hyperglycemic effects of MLPH containing antioxidant peptides using ob/ob mice. Treatment with MLPH for 6 weeks reduced body and organ weight and ameliorated the effects of hepatic steatosis and epididymal fat, including a constructive effect on hepatic and serum marker parameters. Moreover, hepatic antioxidant enzyme activities were upregulated and impaired glucose tolerance was improved in obese control mice. In addition, MLPH treatment markedly suppressed mRNA expression related to lipogenesis and hyperglycemia through activation of AMPK phosphorylation. These findings suggest that MLPH has anti-obesity and anti-hyperglycemic potential and could be effectively applied as a functional food ingredient or pharmaceutical.

Sirt3 Pharmacologically Promotes Insulin Sensitivity through PI3/AKT/mTOR and Their Downstream Pathway in Adipocytes

Sirtuin-3 (Sirt3) is a major mitochondrial deacetylase enzyme that regulates multiple metabolic pathways, and its expression is decreased in diabetes type 1 and type 2 diabetes. This study aimed to elucidate Sirt3′s molecular mechanism in regulating insulin sensitivity in adipocytes that can contribute to the effort of targeting Sirt3 for the treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes. We found that the Sirt3 activator honokiol (HNK) induced adipogenesis compared to the control, in contrast to Sirt3 inhibitor, 3-TYP. Accordingly, HNK increased expression of adipocyte gene markers, gene-involved lipolysis and glucose transport (GLUT4), while 3-TYP reduced expression of those genes. Interestingly, 3-TYP caused an increase in gene expression of adipocyte-specific cytokines including IL6, resistin, and TNF-α. However, changes in adipocyte-specific cytokines in HNK treated cells were not significant. In addition, HNK stimulated insulin pathway by promoting insulin receptor beta (IRβ) and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathways, resulting in an increase in phosphorylation of the forkhead family FoxO1/FoxO3a/FoxO4 and glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3β), opposing 3-TYP. In line with these findings, HNK increased free fatty acid and glucose uptake, contrary to 3-TYP. In conclusion, Sirt3 activator-HNK induced adipogenesis and lipolysis reduced adipocytes specific cytokines. Intriguingly, HNK activated insulin signaling pathway and increased free fatty acid as well as glucose uptake and transport, in sharp contrast to 3-TYP. These results indicate that, via insulin signaling regulation, Sirt3 activation by HNK improves insulin resistance, while Sirt3 inhibition by 3-TYP might precipitate insulin resistance.

Exercise Interventions Combined With Dietary Supplements in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients—A Systematic Review of Relevant Health Outcomes

Introduction

Physical training can improve several health variables in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). A growing body of studies also finds a positive influence of dietary supplement (DS) intake. The aim of this review is to shed light on the possible effects of training interventions combined with DS intake in T2DM patients.

Methods

A systematic search was performed following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines in the PubMed and BISp Surf databases. Inclusion criteria were defined using the Patient-Intervention-Comparison-Outcome (PICO) scheme. The Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale was used for quality assessment and risk of bias analysis.

Results

Ten controlled interventional studies with a total number of 643 subjects met the inclusion criteria. These studies investigated the effects of (a) vitamin D (VD), (b) VD + whey protein, (c) polyphenol containing antioxidant capsules, (d) creatine, (e) L-arginine, (f) leucine-rich amino acids, and (g) broccoli sprouts powder. Eight studies investigated effects on one or more of the following health outcomes: body mass index, fat mass, insulin resistance, glycemic control, lipid profile, oxidative stress/antioxidative capacity and/or inflammatory markers/molecules. Five of the studies show clear superior effects of physical training combined with DS intake (supplements a, b, c, e) on some of these variables compared with training only. However, one study indicates that VD intake might attenuate the training effects on triglyceride levels. Another study found that training + VD + whey protein intake increased tumor necrosis factor-α levels in T2DM patients. The effects of training combined with DS intake on renal function (supplement d) or incretin metabolism (supplement a) were investigated in two further studies. These studies do not show any additional effects of DS intake. The quality of the majority of the studies was high.

Conclusion

DS intake can potentially increase the benefits of physical training for specific health outcomes in T2DM patients. However, negative effects can also be observed. Possible cellular and molecular mechanisms behind potential synergistic or divergent effects of exercise training and DS use in T2DM should be explored in detail in future studies for the development of safe recommendations.

Blueberry-derived exosomes-like nanoparticles ameliorate nonalcoholic fatty liver disease by attenuating mitochondrial oxidative stress

Accumulating evidence indicates that mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress play a pivotal role in the initiation and progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). In this study, we found that blueberry-derived exosomes-like nanoparticles (BELNs) could ameliorate oxidative stress in rotenone-induced HepG2 cells and high-fat diet (HFD)-fed C57BL/6 mice. Preincubation with BELNs decreased the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS), increased the mitochondrial membrane potential, and prevented cell apoptosis by inducing the expression of Bcl-2 and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and decreasing the content of Bax in rotenone-treated HepG2 cells. We also found that preincubation with BELNs accelerated the translocation of Nrf2, an important transcription factor of antioxidative proteins, from the cytoplasm to the nucleus in rotenone-treated HepG2 cells. Moreover, administration of BELNs improved insulin resistance, ameliorated the dysfunction of hepatocytes, and regulated the expression of detoxifying/antioxidant genes by affecting the distribution of Nrf2 in the cytoplasm and nucleus of hepatocytes of HFD-fed mice. Furthermore, BELNs supplementation prevented the formation of vacuoles and attenuated the accumulation of lipid droplets by inhibiting the expression of fatty acid synthase (FAS) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 (ACC1), the two key transcription factors for de novo lipogenesis in the liver of HFD-fed mice. These findings suggested that BELNs can be used for the treatment of NAFLD because of their antioxidative activity.

The melatonin MT2 receptor is involved in the anti-apoptotic effects of melatonin in rats with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a widely prevalent chronic disease and risk factor for several other diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, neuropathy, nephropathy, and retinopathy. Apoptosis is a homeostatic mechanism to maintain cell numbers at a certain level in tissues. Chronic high blood glucose levels might lead to mitochondrial dysfunction and trigger undesirable apoptosis in T2DM. The pineal hormone melatonin has been shown to regulate apoptosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of the melatonin MT₂ receptor in the role of melatonin to prevent undesirable apotosis in different tissues of diabetic rats. Male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 groups; 1. Control group (only vehicle), 2. Diabetic group (streptozotozin/nicotinamide treated), 3. Diabetic group treated with melatonin (500μg/kg/day), and 4. Diabetic group treated with melatonin (500 μg/kg/day for 6 weeks) and the selective MT₂ receptor antagonist luzindole (0.25 g/kg/day for 6 weeks). Various tissue samples (kidney, liver, adipose tissue, pancreas) were removed after 6 weeks for immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis. Our results demonstrated an increased rate of apoptosis in different tissues of diabetic rats compared to controls with melatonin reducing the apoptotic rate in the tissues of rats with T2DM. Furthermore, the anti-apoptotic effects of melatonin were partly mediated by the melatonin MT₂ receptor.

The Impact of Obesity, Adipose Tissue, and Tumor Microenvironment on Macrophage Polarization and Metastasis

Simple Summary

The inflammatory adipose microenvironment in obesity plays a crucial role in cancer development and metastases. By focusing on adipocytes and macrophages, as well as the extracellular matrix, the cellular and molecular mechanisms that link inflammation, obesity, and cancer will be addressed by this review. After describing the tumor microenvironment and extracellular matrix, the influence of M1, M2, and tumor-associated macrophages will be explored through their origin, classification, polarization, and regulatory networks, including their potential role in angiogenesis, invasion, metastasis, and immunosuppression, with a specific focus on the roles of adipocytes in this process.

Abstract

Tumor metastasis is a major cause of death in cancer patients. It involves not only the intrinsic alterations within tumor cells, but also crosstalk between these cells and components of the tumor microenvironment (TME). Tumorigenesis is a complex and dynamic process, involving the following three main stages: initiation, progression, and metastasis. The transition between these stages depends on the changes within the extracellular matrix (ECM), in which tumor and stromal cells reside. This matrix, under the effect of growth factors, cytokines, and adipokines, can be morphologically altered, degraded, or reorganized. Many cancers evolve to form an immunosuppressive TME locally and create a pre-metastatic niche in other tissue sites. TME and pre-metastatic niches include myofibroblasts, immuno-inflammatory cells (macrophages), adipocytes, blood, and lymphatic vascular networks. Several studies have highlighted the adipocyte-macrophage interaction as a key driver of cancer progression and dissemination. The following two main classes of macrophages are distinguished: M1 (pro-inflammatory/anti-tumor) and M2 (anti-inflammatory/pro-tumor). These cells exhibit distinct microenvironment-dependent phenotypes that can promote or inhibit metastasis. On the other hand, obesity in cancer patients has been linked to a poor prognosis. In this regard, tumor-associated adipocytes modulate TME through the secretion of inflammatory mediators, which modulate and recruit tumor-associated macrophages (TAM). Hereby, this review describes the cellular and molecular mechanisms that link inflammation, obesity, and cancer. It provides a comprehensive overview of adipocytes and macrophages in the ECM as they control cancer initiation, progression, and invasion. In addition, it addresses the mechanisms of tumor anchoring and recruitment for M1, M2, and TAM macrophages, specifically highlighting their origin, classification, polarization, and regulatory networks, as well as their roles in the regulation of angiogenesis, invasion, metastasis, and immunosuppression, specifically highlighting the role of adipocytes in this process.

Insulin receptor substrate 1 gene variations and lipid profile characteristics in the type 2 diabetic patients with comorbid obesity and chronic pancreatitis

Objective. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is one of diseases that develops in a setting of polymorbid processes or more often promotes their development, forming in this spectrum the phenomenon of comorbidity. The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in the lipid panel data in T2DM patients with comorbid obesity and chronic pancreatitis (CP) taking into account the C/A polymorphism of the insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1) gene (rs2943640). Methods. The study involved 34 T2DM patients and 10 healthy individuals. The rs2943640 IRS1 gene polymorphism was genotyped using the TaqMan real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. Blood serum lipid panel data were determined with commercially available kits on a Cobas 6000 analyzer. Results. In patients with only T2DM and T2DM + comorbid obesity, an association between IRS1 gene polymorphism (rs2943640) and lipid profile abnormalities with maximum changes of the lipid characteristics recorded in C/C genotype carriers was found. Within the C/C genotype of the IRS1 gene (rs2943640) in type 2 diabetic patients with comorbid obesity and CP, significantly lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels and significantly higher levels of triglycerides (TG), non-HDL-C and remnant cholesterol (RC) in relation to type 2 diabetic patients with comorbid obesity were found. At the same time, within the C/A genotype of the IRS1 gene (rs2943640), significant changes of lipid panel data were found in type 2 diabetic patients with comorbid obesity relative to the control group (p<0.001). Conclusions. Our data indicate that the presence of the C allele of IRS1 gene (rs2943640) in both homozygous and heterozygous states may indicate increased risk of dyslipidemia in type 2 diabetic patients with comorbidities.

Immune Response and Lipid Metabolism Gene Polymorphisms Are Associated with the Risk of Obesity in Middle-Aged and Elderly Patients

More than two billion people around the world are overweight or obese. Even in apparently healthy people, obesity has a potent effect on their quality of life. Experimental data indicate the role of infectious agents in systemic inflammation, revealing a correlation between the dietary habits of people with obesity and the level of systemic inflammation mediators, serum lipid concentration, and hormonal and immune status. This study aimed to determine the association of immune response and lipid metabolism gene polymorphisms with the risk of obesity. This study included 560 Caucasian participants living in Western Siberia (Russian Federation). A total of 52 polymorphic sites in 20 genes were analyzed using the 5′ TaqMan nuclease assay. Four risk-associated polymorphic variants were discovered—two variants in immune response genes (IL6R rs2229238, OR = 1.92, 95% CI = 1.36–2.7, p = 0.0002 in the dominant model; IL18 rs1946518, OR = 1.45, 95% CI = 1.03–2.04, p = 0.033 in the over-dominant model) and two variants in lipid metabolism genes (LPA rs10455872, OR = 1.86, 95% CI = 1.07–3.21, p = 0.026 in the log-additive model; LEPR rs1137100, OR = 2.88, 95% CI = 1.52–5.46, p = 0.001 in the recessive model). Thus, polymorphisms in immune response and lipid metabolism genes are potentially associated with the modification of obesity risk in the Caucasian population.

Physical activity ameliorates the function of organs via adipose tissue in metabolic diseases

Adipose tissue is a dynamic organ in the endocrine system that can connect organs by secreting molecules and bioactive. Hence, adipose tissue really plays a pivotal role in regulating metabolism, inflammation, energy homeostasis, and thermogenesis. Disruption of hub bioactive molecules secretion such as adipokines leads to dysregulate metabolic communication between adipose tissue and other organs in non-communicable disorders. Moreover, a sedentary lifestyle may be a risk factor for adipose tissue function. Physical inactivity leads to fat tissue accumulation and promotes obesity, Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative disease, fatty liver, osteoporosis, and inflammatory bowel disease. On the other hand, physical activity may ameliorate and protect the body against metabolic disorders, triggering thermogenesis, metabolism, mitochondrial biogenesis, β-oxidation, and glucose uptake. Furthermore, physical activity provides an inter-organ association and cross-talk between different tissues by improving adipose tissue function, reprogramming gene expression, modulating molecules and bioactive factors. Also, physical activity decreases chronic inflammation, oxidative stress and improves metabolic features in adipose tissue. The current review focuses on the beneficial effect of physical activity on the cardiovascular, locomotor, digestive, and nervous systems. In addition, we visualize protein-protein interactions networks between hub proteins involved in dysregulating metabolic induced by adipose tissue.

Marine Oil from C. finmarchicus Enhances Glucose Homeostasis and Liver Insulin Resistance in Obese Prediabetic Individuals

The intermediate state between normal glucose tolerance and overt type 2 diabetes mellitus is associated with micro- and macrovascular diseases, requiring safe and cost-effective treatment measures interventions. A novel source of LC n-3 FAs is Calanus finmarchicus Oil, which showed promising effects on glucose homeostasis in preclinical studies due to anti-obesity effects and/or anti-inflammatory properties. In total, 43 obese patients (BMI: 31.7 ± 5.2 kg/m²) were allocated in the following two groups: (1) Calanus oil group (2 g CO/day) and (2) placebo group (2 g paraffin oil/day). Markers of glucose metabolism, body composition and energy intake were measured at the beginning (t0), after 12 weeks (t₁₂) and 16 weeks (t₁₆). Overall, parameters reflecting abnormal glucose homeostasis and insulin resistance in the liver, including fasting insulin (−2.9 mU/L ± 4.10, p < 0.05), HOMA-IR (−0.9 ± 1.28, p < 0.05) and hepatic insulin resistance index (−1.06 ± 1.72 × 10⁶, p < 0.05) significantly enhanced after a 12-week CO-intervention, while no differences were observed in HbA1c, AUC_0–2h Glucose, AUC_0–2h Insulin, 2 h plasma glucose and muscle insulin sensitivity index. Our results indicate that Calanus oil causes beneficial effects on glucose metabolism and insulin resistance in obese patients, with clinical relevance to be verified in further studies. In addition, the possible active compounds and their mechanisms of action should be elucidated.

Aberrant lipid metabolism in cancer cells and tumor microenvironment: the player rather than bystander in cancer progression and metastasis

As the primary cause of cancer-induced fatality and morbidity, cancer metastasis has been a hard nut to crack. Existing studies indicate that lipid metabolism reprogramming occurring in cancer cells and surrounding cells in TME also endows the aggressive and spreading properties with malignant cells. In this review we describe the lipid metabolic reprogramming of cancer cells at different steps along the metastatic process, we also summarize the altered lipid metabolism of non-cancer cells in TME during tumor metastasis. Additionally, we reveal both intrinsic and extrinsic factors which influence the cellular lipid metabolism reprogramming.

CerS1 but Not CerS5 Gene Silencing, Improves Insulin Sensitivity and Glucose Uptake in Skeletal Muscle

Skeletal muscle is perceived as a major tissue in glucose and lipid metabolism. High fat diet (HFD) lead to the accumulation of intramuscular lipids, including: long chain acyl-CoA, diacylglycerols, and ceramides. Ceramides are considered to be one of the most important lipid groups in the generation of skeletal muscle insulin resistance. So far, it has not been clearly established whether all ceramides adversely affect the functioning of the insulin pathway, or whether there are certain ceramide species that play a pivotal role in the induction of insulin resistance. Therefore, we designed a study in which the expression of CerS1 and CerS5 genes responsible for the synthesis of C18:0-Cer and C16:0-Cer, respectively, was locally silenced in the gastrocnemius muscle of HFD-fed mice through in vivo electroporation-mediated shRNA plasmids. Our study indicates that HFD feeding induced both, the systemic and skeletal muscle insulin resistance, which was accompanied by an increase in the intramuscular lipid levels, decreased activation of the insulin pathway and, consequently, a decrease in the skeletal muscle glucose uptake. CerS1 silencing leads to a reduction in C18:0-Cer content, with a subsequent increase in the activity of the insulin pathway, and an improvement in skeletal muscle glucose uptake. Such effects were not visible in case of CerS5 silencing, which indicates that the accumulation of C18:0-Cer plays a decisive role in the induction of skeletal muscle insulin resistance.

Adiponectin is unrelated to kidney function or injury markers in renal transplant recipients: A one-year follow-up study

BACKGROUND

Adiponectin (ADPN) is a biologically active cytokine produced by adipose tissue. This protein exhibits anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antifibrotic, and insulin-sensitizing properties. As ADPN is primarily eliminated by the kidneys, it is a potential biomarker of chronic kidney disease progression. This study aimed to analyze the fluctuations in ADPN levels after kidney transplantation during a one-year follow-up and to compare them to significant renal (eGFR, NGAL) and metabolic (insulin, glucose, lipids, HOMA-IR) markers.

METHODS

Insulin, ADPN, NGAL, and basic biochemical parameters were evaluated in 51 healthy controls and 39 patients right before kidney transplantation and at five time points following transplantation (5-7 days, one month, three months, six months, and twelve months).

RESULTS

Mean ADPN levels dropped significantly right after transplantation (from 35.449 to 30.920 µg/ml, p = 0.001) and decreased gradually over a year. From the third month after the transplantation, ADPN levels were comparable to healthy individuals. At the pre-transplant time point, ADPN correlated only with insulin (r = -0.60, p < 0.001) and HOMA-IR (r = -0.55, p < 0.001). At the timepoints after transplantation, ADPN correlated only with NGAL at three months (r = -0.70, p = 0.048). The correlation of ADPN with HOMA-IR found at pre-transplant was not significant at any post-transplant time point, but at one and three months after transplant, the correlations reached a borderline significance (p = 0.07 and p = 0.08, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Successful kidney transplantation is followed by a gradual and significant ADPN decrease. In pre- and post-transplant patients, ADPN is unrelated to kidney function defined by GFR, but to glucose metabolism. Most of the analyzed metabolic and kidney parameters, apart from NGAL, stabilize within three months after transplantation.

Riceberry rice beverage decreases postprandial glycemic response, inflammatory markers and antioxidant status induced by a high-carbohydrate and moderate-fat meal in overweight and obese men

Recent clinical studies support the beneficial role of riceberry rice and its food products in controlling the glycemic response in healthy subjects. The aim of the current work was to determine the effects of riceberry rice beverage (RRB) on postprandial glycemic, insulin and triglyceride responses, inflammatory biomarkers, and antioxidant status as well as appetite sensation following a high-carbohydrate and moderate-fat (HCMF) meal in overweight/obese subjects. Thirteen participants, overweight and obese men (age = 24.46 ± 0.90 years and BMI = 25.92 ± 0.69 kg m^-2), completed a randomized, crossover intervention study. They consumed an HCMF meal with or without RRB (2 g of riceberry rice extract powder/400 ml). Blood samples and appetite sensation were measured at the fasting state and up to 6 h after meal consumption. The ingestion of the HCMF meal accompanied by RRB had a lower incremental area under the curve (iAUC) for postprandial plasma glucose, insulin, malondialdehyde (MDA) and serum triglyceride concentrations when compared to the control. A significant increase in the ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP), Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), and thiol level, all measures of antioxidant capacity, was also observed in the participants who consumed the HCMF meal accompanied by RRB. The postprandial level of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α) significantly increased at 3 h and 6 h after the HCMF meal intake when compared to the fasting state. Interestingly, these values were significantly decreased upon consumption of RRB. However, there were no statistically significant differences in the rating scores of hunger, fullness, desire to eat, and satiety among the tested meals. In conclusion, RRB intake prevented HCMF meal-induced postprandial glycemic, lipemic, and pro-inflammatory responses and improved plasma antioxidant capacity in overweight and obese participants.

Untargeted Metabolomics Analysis of the Serum Metabolic Signature of Childhood Obesity

Obesity rates among children are growing rapidly worldwide, placing massive pressure on healthcare systems. Untargeted metabolomics can expand our understanding of the pathogenesis of obesity and elucidate mechanisms related to its symptoms. However, the metabolic signatures of obesity in children have not been thoroughly investigated. Herein, we explored metabolites associated with obesity development in childhood. Untargeted metabolomic profiling was performed on fasting serum samples from 27 obese Caucasian children and adolescents and 15 sex- and age-matched normal-weight children. Three metabolomic assays were combined and yielded 726 unique identified metabolites: gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (HILIC LC–MS/MS), and lipidomics. Univariate and multivariate analyses showed clear discrimination between the untargeted metabolomes of obese and normal-weight children, with 162 significantly differentially expressed metabolites between groups. Children with obesity had higher concentrations of branch-chained amino acids and various lipid metabolites, including phosphatidylcholines, cholesteryl esters, triglycerides. Thus, an early manifestation of obesity pathogenesis and its metabolic consequences in the serum metabolome are correlated with altered lipid metabolism. Obesity metabolite patterns in the adult population were very similar to the metabolic signature of childhood obesity. Identified metabolites could be potential biomarkers and used to study obesity pathomechanisms.

The emerging roles and mechanisms of exosomal non-coding RNAs in the mutual regulation between adipose tissue and other related tissues in obesity and metabolic diseases

Exosomes (EXs) are the major types of extracellular vesicles (EVs) of 30-100 nm diameter that can be secreted by most cells to the extracellular environment. EXs transport endogenous cargoes (proteins, lipids, RNAs, etc.) to target cells and thereby triggers the release of these bioactive components, which then play important roles in regulating numerous biological processes under both physiological and pathological conditions. Throughout the studies in recent years, growing evidences have shown that EXs-derived non-coding RNAs (EXs-ncRNAs) are emerging as key players in cell-to-cell communication between adipose tissue and other related tissues in obesity and metabolic diseases. In this review, we will summarize the recent findings about EXs-ncRNAs, especially focus on the following aspects: 1) the biogenesis of EXs and emerging roles of EXs-ncRNAs, 2) the role of EXs-ncRNAs (EXs-miRNAs, EXs-lncRNAs, EXs-circRNAs, etc.) that were secreted by adipose-related tissues in promoting the differentiation of preadipocytes into mature and fully functional adipocytes, and 3) the crosstalk between the adipose tissue derived EXs-ncRNAs and the development of insulin resistance, obesity and various cancers. This review aims to reveal the emerging roles and mechanisms of EXs-ncRNAs in the mutual regulation of adipose tissue and its related tissues in obesity and metabolic diseases, so as to provide references for elucidating the etiology of obesity and related metabolic diseases and screening novel therapeutic targets.

Integrated lipids biomarker of the prediabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus Chinese patients

INTRODUCTION

Dyslipidemia is a hallmark of T2DM, and as such, analyses of lipid metabolic profiles in affected patients have the potential to permit the development of an integrated lipid metabolite-based biomarker model that can facilitate early patient diagnosis and treatment.

METHODS

Untargeted and targeted lipidomics approaches were used to analyze serum samples from newly diagnosed 93 Chinese participants in discovery cohort and 440 in validation cohort via UHPLC-MS and UHPLC-MS/MS first. The acid sphingomyelinase protein expression was analyzed by Western blot.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Through these analyses, we developed a novel integrated biomarker signature composed of LPC 22:6, PC(16:0/20:4), PE(22:6/16:0), Cer(d18:1/24:0)/SM(d18:1/19:0), Cer(d18:1/24:0)/SM(d18:0/16:0), TG(18:1/18:2/18:2), TG(16:0/16:0/20:3), and TG(18:0/16:0/18:2). The area under the curve (AUC) values for this integrated biomarker signature for prediabetes and T2DM patients were 0.841 (cutoff: 0.565) and 0.894 (cutoff: 0.633), respectively. Furthermore, theresults of western blot analysis of frozen adipose tissue from 3 week (prediabetes) and 12 week (T2DM) Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats also confirmed that acid sphingomyelinase is responsible for significant disruptions in ceramide and sphingomyelin homeostasis. Network analyses of the biomarkers associated with this biosignature suggested that the most profoundly affected lipid metabolism pathways in the context of diabetes include de novo ceramide synthesis, sphingomyelin metabolism, and additional pathways associated with phosphatidylcholine synthesis. Together, these results offer new biological insights regarding the role of serum lipids in the context of insidious T2DM development, and may offer new avenues for future diagnostic and/or therapeutic research.

PDIA4, a new endoplasmic reticulum stress protein, modulates insulin resistance and inflammation in skeletal muscle

INTRODUCTION

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress has emerged as a key player in insulin resistance (IR) progression in skeletal muscle. Recent reports revealed that ER stress-induced the expression of protein disulfide isomerase family a member 4 (PDIA4), which may be involved in IR-related diseases. A previous study showed that metformin modulated ER stress-induced IR. However, it remained unclear whether metformin alleviated IR by regulating PDIA4 expression in skeletal muscle.

METHODS

Herein, we used palmitate-induced IR in C2C12 cells and a high-fat diet-induced IR mouse model to document the relations between metformin, IR, and PDIA4.

RESULTS

In C2C12 cells, palmitate-induced IR increased inflammatory cytokines and PDIA4 expression. Besides, knocking down PDIA4 decreased palmitate-induced IR and inflammation in C2C12 cells. Furthermore, metformin modulated PDIA4 expression and alleviated IR both in vitro and in vivo. In addition, serum PDIA4 concentrations are associated with IR and inflammatory cytokines levels in human subjects.

DISCUSSION

Thus, this study is the first to demonstrate that PDIA4 participates in the metformin-induced effects on skeletal muscle IR and indicates that PDIA4 is a potential novel therapeutic target for directly alleviating IR.

Mechanisms of Kaempferol in the treatment of diabetes: A comprehensive and latest review

Obesity-insulin resistance-β-cells apoptosis" is an important trilogy of the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes. With the global pandemic of obesity and diabetes, continuous research and development of new drugs focuses on the prevention of the pathological progress of these diseases. According to a recent study, the natural product kaempferol has excellent antidiabetic effects. Therefore, this review comprehensively summarized the frontier studies and pharmacological mechanisms of kaempferol in the treatment of diabetes. The successful research and development of kaempferol may yield a significant leap in the treatment of diabetes and its complications.

An update of the consensus statement on insulin resistance in children 2010

In our modern society, where highly palatable and calorie-rich foods are readily available, and sedentary lifestyle is common among children and adolescents, we face the pandemic of obesity, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, hypertension, atherosclerosis, and T2D. Insulin resistance (IR) is known to be the main underlying mechanism of all these associated health consequences; therefore, the early detection of IR is fundamental for preventing them.A Consensus Statement, internationally supported by all the major scientific societies in pediatric endocrinology, was published in 2010, providing all the most recent reliable evidence to identify the definition of IR in children, its measurement, its risk factors, and the effective strategies to prevent and treat it. However, the 2010 Consensus concluded that further research was necessary to assess some of the discussed points, in particular the best way to measure insulin sensitivity, standardization of insulin measurements, identification of strong surrogate biomarkers of IR, and the effective role of lifestyle intervention and medications in the prevention and treatment of IR.The aim of this review is to update each point of the consensus with the most recent available studies, with the goal of giving a picture of the current state of the scientific literature regarding IR in children, with a particular regard for issues that are not yet fully clarified.

Current status of oral antidiabetic drug prescribing patterns based on the body mass index for Japanese type 2 diabetes mellitus patients and yearly changes in diabetologists' prescribing patterns from 2002 to 2019 (JDDM61)

AIMS/INTRODUCTION

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is caused by a relative imbalance between insulin secretion and sensitivity related to the body mass index (BMI). Seven categories of oral antidiabetic drugs (OADs) are available in Japan. It is important to assess the OAD utilization patterns based on patients' BMI levels.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

OAD prescribing patterns from 2002 to 2019 were analyzed using the data collected in the computerized diabetes care database provided by the Japan Diabetes Clinical Data Management Study Group; OAD utilization patterns in 25,751 OAD-treated type 2 diabetes mellitus patients registered in 2019 were analyzed after classifying them into five categories of BMI.

RESULTS

Comparing OAD usage between 2002 and 2019, sulfonylureas decreased from 44.5 to 23.2%, and biguanides (BGs) increased from 19.3 to 50.3%. Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP4is) increased to 56.9% in 2019. Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) increased to 23.6% in 2019. About 90% of type 2 diabetes mellitus patients had BMI < 30 kg/m2 . DPP4is were the most used OADs in 2019. When BMI exceeded 30 kg/m2 , use of BGs and sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors increased, and use of sulfonylureas and DPP4is decreased. Although DPP4is were the most used OADs for patients with BMI <30 kg/m2 , they were the third most prescribed OADs for patients with BMI >35 kg/m2 after BGs and sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors .

CONCLUSIONS

DPP4i usage was as high as that of BG in the analysis of Japanese type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with relatively low BMI. This was considered to be a treatment option appropriate for the pathophysiology in Japanese patients.

Comparison of different insulin resistance surrogates to predict hyperuricemia among U.S. non-diabetic adults

PURPOSE

Although it has been well-acknowledged that insulin resistance (IR) plays a critical role in the development of hyperuricemia (HU), specific relationship between IR and HU in non-diabetic patients remains rarely studied, and there is still no large-scale research regarding this issue. This study aims to explore the association between triglyceride glucose (TyG), TyG with body mass index (TyG-BMI), the ratio of triglycerides divided by high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL-C), metabolic score for insulin resistance (METS-IR), and the risk of HU in non-diabetic patients in The United States of America.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) enrolling a representative population aged ≥18-year-old were included to calculate these four indexes. Logistic regression analysis was applied to describe their associations and calculate odds ratios (OR) while the Receiver Operating Characteristic curve was utilized to assess the prediction ability of these four indexes.

RESULTS

A total of 7,743 people (3,806 males and 3,937 females, mean age: 45.17 ± 17.10 years old) were included in this study, among whom 32.18% suffered from HU. After adjustment for sex, age, ethnicity, education background, smoking status, drinking status, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), metabolic equivalent values (METs), total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and estimated glomerular filtration rate, it showed that all four indexes were closely related to HU. Compared with the lowest quartile, OR of the highest quartile of these four indicators for HU were as following respectively: TyG: 5.61 (95% CI: 4.29-7.32); TyG-BMI: 7.15 (95% CI: 5.56-9.20); TG/HDL-C: 4.42 (95% CI: 3.49-5.60); METS-IR: 7.84 (95% CI: 6.07-10.13). TyG, TyG-BMI, TG/HDL-C and METS-IR had moderate discrimination ability for HU, with an AUC value of 0.66 (95% CI: 0.65-0.68), 0.67 (95% CI: 0.65-0.68), 0.68 (95% CI: 0.67-0.69) and 0.68 (95% CI: 0.66-0.69) respectively. Each index showed better prediction ability for HU risk in females than in males.

CONCLUSION

It was found that the risk of HU was positively associated with the elevation of TyG, TyG-BMI, TG/HDL-C and METS-IR in a large-scale population of U.S., and TyG-BMI and METS-IR have a better ability to identify HU in both genders.

Relationship Between Four Non-Insulin-Based Indexes of Insulin Resistance and Serum Uric Acid in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Cross-Sectional Study

AIM

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between serum uric acid (SUA) levels and four insulin resistance surrogates in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). The four non-insulin-based indexes of insulin resistance (IR) include the glucose and triglycerides index (TyG), TyG index with body mass index (TyG-BMI), ratio of triglycerides to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL-c) and metabolic score for insulin resistance (METS-IR).

METHODS

A total of 687 patients with T2DM were enrolled in the current study. Patients were stratified into three groups according to their levels of SUA. Spearman correlation was used to analyze the correlation between SUA and clinical variables. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to assess the association between SUA and the four insulin resistance surrogates. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses and the area under the ROC curve (AUC) were then used to assess the ability of TyG, TyG-BMI, TG/HDL-c, and METS-IR to discriminate hyperuricemia (HUA) in T2DM.

RESULTS

SUA in T2DM was significantly positively correlated with TyG (r 0.406 P < 0.01), TyG-BMI (r 0.272 P < 0.01), TG/HDL-c (r 0.493 P < 0.01), and METS-IR (r 0.238 P < 0.01). Furthermore, higher values of the four insulin resistance surrogates were independently correlated with higher SUA levels in T2DM patients (P < 0.01 for all) after adjusting for confounding factors. TyG, TyG-BMI, TG/HDL-c, and METS-IR all had a significant discriminative ability for HUA in patients with T2DM. The AUC values were 0.693 (95% CI 0.645-0.741), 0.649 (95% CI 0.599-0.699), 0.768 (95% CI 0.726-0.811), and 0.660 (95% CI 0.609-0.710), respectively.

CONCLUSION

The present study suggests that TyG, TyG-BMI, TG/HDL-c and METS-IR had a significant correlation with SUA in T2DM. TG/HDL-c was the best marker among the four insulin resistance surrogates for the identification of HUA in T2DM.

Measurement of Plasma Resistin Concentrations in Horses with Metabolic and Inflammatory Disorders

Simple Summary

Obesity and its associated complications, such as metabolic syndrome, are an increasing problem in both humans and horses in the developed world. Adipose tissue is a key endocrine organ that communicates with other organs by multiple endocrine substances called adipokines. There is evidence to suggest that adipokines may contribute to the regulation of biological processes, such as metabolism, immunity, and inflammation. The aim of this study was to investigate the usefulness of one of these adipokines in horses, resistin, and its relationship with insulin dysregulation (ID) and inflammation. Seventy-two horses, included in one of the four following groups, were studied: healthy controls, horses with inflammatory conditions, horses with mild, and horses with severe ID. Plasma resistin concentrations were significantly different between groups, and the highest values were recorded in the inflammatory and severe ID groups. The lack of correlation of resistin with basal insulin concentration and the significant correlation of resistin with the inflammatory marker serum amyloid A suggest that, as is the case in humans, plasma resistin concentrations in horses are predominantly related to inflammatory conditions and not to ID.

Abstract

Obesity and its associated complications, such as metabolic syndrome, are an increasing problem in both humans and horses in the developed world. The expression patterns of resistin differ considerably between species. In rodents, resistin is expressed by adipocytes and is related to obesity and ID. In humans, resistin is predominantly produced by inflammatory cells, and resistin concentrations do not reflect the degree of obesity, although they may predict cardiovascular outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate the usefulness of resistin and its relationship with ID and selected indicators of inflammation in horses. Seventy-two horses, included in one of the four following groups, were studied: healthy controls (C, n = 14), horses with inflammatory conditions (I, n = 21), horses with mild ID (ID1, n = 18), and horses with severe ID (ID2, n = 19). Plasma resistin concentrations were significantly different between groups and the higher values were recorded in the I and ID2 groups (C: 2.38 ± 1.69 ng/mL; I: 6.85 ± 8.38 ng/mL; ID1: 2.41 ± 2.70 ng/mL; ID2: 4.49 ± 3.08 ng/mL). Plasma resistin was not correlated with basal insulin concentrations. A significant (r = 0.336, p = 0.002) correlation was found between resistin and serum amyloid A. Our results show that, as is the case in humans, plasma resistin concentrations in horses are predominantly related to inflammatory conditions and not to ID. Horses with severe ID showed an elevation in resistin that may be secondary to the inflammatory status associated with metabolic syndrome.

Association of Metabolically Healthy and Unhealthy Obesity Phenotype with Markers Related to Obesity, Diabetes among Young, Healthy Adult Men. Analysis of MAGNETIC Study

Adipose tissue secretes many regulatory factors called adipokines. Adipokines affect the metabolism of lipids and carbohydrates. They also influence the regulation of the immune system and inflammation. The current study aimed to evaluate the association between markers related to obesity, diabesity and adipokines and metabolically healthy and unhealthy obesity in young men. The study included 98 healthy participants. We divided participants into three subgroups based on body mass index and metabolic health definition: 49 metabolically healthy normal-weight patients, 27 metabolically healthy obese patients and 22 metabolically unhealthy obese patients. The 14 metabolic markers selected were measured in serum or plasma. The analysis showed associations between markers related to obesity, diabesity and adipokines in metabolically healthy and unhealthy obese participants. The decreased level of adipsin (p < 0.05) was only associated with metabolically healthy obesity, not with metabolically unhealthy obesity. The decreased level of ghrelin (p < 0.001) and increased level of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (p < 0.01) were only associated with metabolically unhealthy obesity, not with metabolically healthy obesity. The decreased level of adiponectin and increased levels of leptin, c-peptide, insulin and angiopoietin-like 3 protein were associated with metabolically healthy and unhealthy obesity. In conclusion, our data show that metabolically healthy obesity was more similar to metabolically unhealthy obesity in terms of the analyzed markers related to obesity and diabesity.