Galectin-3 levels relate in children to total body fat, abdominal fat, body fat distribution, and cardiac size

A Physiological Approach to Inflammatory Markers in Obesity

Obesity is one of the most critical health problems all over the world; it is associated with metabolic dysfunction and overnutrition. Changes in the physiological function of adipose tissue, leading to altered secretion of adipocytokines, inflammatory mediators release, and chronic low-grade inflammation, are seen in obesity. Macrophages, neutrophils, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, B cells, natural killer T (NKT) cells, eosinophils, mast cells, and adipocytes are involved in the inflammatory response that occurs during obesity. Various inflammatory markers are released from these cells. In this chapter, we will mention inflammatory mechanisms and markers of obesity.

A Scoping Review of Galectin-3 as a Biomarker of Cardiovascular Diseases in Pediatric Populations

Galectin-3 as a cardiac biomarker has proven to be a significant prognostic tool in adults. However, it has not yet been established in the pediatric population as a biomarker in daily clinical practice. The aim of the study was to summarize the current knowledge on galectin-3 as a biomarker in children with cardiac conditions by reviewing the literature. Bibliographic databases such as PubMed, Web of Science and Embase were searched, and consequently twelve articles met the inclusion criteria. Supplemental handsearching of references delivered one additional source. These prospective studies concerning galectin-3 as a cardiac biomarker present analyses performed in cohorts composed of healthy children and children with cardiovascular diseases. The results, despite being based on small cohort studies, inform that galectin-3 could serve as a potential biomarker in cardiovascular risk stratification in children with heart failure, arrhythmia, Kawasaki disease or in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. The evidence for the usefulness of galectin-3 in the assessment of such pathologies as idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, coarctation of the aorta, functionally univentricular heart or tetralogy of Fallot were not completely confirmed. Galectin-3 seems to be a promising biomarker; however, there is a need for further research to establish its use in daily clinical practice.

Sexual Dimorphism in Cardiovascular Biomarkers: Clinical and Research Implications

Sex-based differences in cardiovascular disease presentation, diagnosis, and response to therapies are well established, but mechanistic understanding and translation to clinical applications are limited. Blood-based biomarkers have become an important tool for interrogating biologic pathways. Understanding sexual dimorphism in the relationship between biomarkers and cardiovascular disease will enhance our insights into cardiovascular disease pathogenesis in women, with potential to translate to improved individualized care for men and women with or at risk for cardiovascular disease. In this review, we examine how biologic sex associates with differential levels of blood-based biomarkers and influences the effect of biomarkers on disease outcomes. We further summarize key differences in blood-based cardiovascular biomarkers along central biologic pathways, including myocardial stretch/injury, inflammation, adipose tissue metabolism, and fibrosis pathways in men versus women. Finally, we present recommendations for leveraging our current knowledge of sex differences in blood-based biomarkers for future research and clinical innovation.

A Systematic Review of the Long-Term Trajectory of Hemodynamics and Body Composition in Childhood Obesity

Obesity has long been cited as a significant risk factor for high blood pressure, with long-term exposure linked with an increased incidence of carotid artery atherosclerosis. However, as obesity is becoming more common in young-aged children, it is important to recognize combinational factors like lifestyle, socioeconomic, and genetic factors as a cause. Increasing weight during childhood, on the other hand, is a clinically significant challenge for many physicians. It is critical to identify these risk factors since early prevention (primordial prevention) or treatment (primary prevention) to reverse the potential risks is much more likely to be effective. The objective of this review was to explore the relationship between lifestyle, anthropometric, and genetic factors and cardiometabolic risk factors. We are hopeful that our findings may aid in the primary prevention of hypertension in children and the prevention of any related cardiovascular complications that may arise later in life as a result of obesity. The synthesis of this systematic review includes a total of 15 studies using defined criteria, published up to October 2021. In addition, a total of 2,397 articles were found through an initial electronic database search and included a total of 38,182 participants. Studies explored included one or more of the following cardiovascular risk factors: body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and triglycerides (TG). The findings of this study support the notion that childhood obesity may be a risk factor for a variety of adult cardiovascular disease risk factors. Several behavioral, genetic, and anthropometric factors are linked to the development of obesity during early ages, overall creating challenges in cardiovascular health during adulthood. As a result, addressing the risk factors for childhood hypertension would be advantageous for the primary prevention of its sequelae in adulthood.

Sex-related differences in contemporary biomarkers for heart failure: a review

The use of circulating biomarkers for heart failure (HF) is engrained in contemporary cardiovascular practice and provides objective information about various pathophysiological pathways associated with HF syndrome. However, biomarker profiles differ considerably among women and men. For instance, in the general population, markers of cardiac stretch (natriuretic peptides) and fibrosis (galectin‐3) are higher in women, whereas markers of cardiac injury (cardiac troponins) and inflammation (sST2) are higher in men. Such differences may reflect sex‐specific pathogenic processes associated with HF risk, but may also arise as a result of differences in sex hormone profiles and fat distribution. From a clinical perspective, sex‐related differences in biomarker levels may affect the objectivity of biomarkers in HF management because what is considered to be ‘normal’ in one sex may not be so in the other. The objectives of this review are, therefore: (i) to examine the sex‐specific dynamics of clinically relevant HF biomarkers in the general population, as well as in HF patients; (ii) to discuss the overlap between sex‐related and obesity‐related effects, and (iii) to identify knowledge gaps to stimulate research on sex‐related differences in HF.

Berberine inhibits adipocyte differentiation, proliferation and adiposity through down-regulating galectin-3

This study is designed to investigate the effects of berberine (BBR) on galectin-3 (Gal-3) and the relationships to its suppressive activities on adipocyte differentiation, proliferation and adiposity. Our results showed that BBR greatly suppressed the differentiation and proliferation of mouse primary preadipocytes isolated from epididymal white adipose tissue (eWAT), during which the expression level of Gal-3 was down-regulated significantly. Overexpression of Gal-3 totally abolished the suppressive activities of BBR on Gal-3 expression, preadipocyte differentiation and proliferation. BBR reduced Gal-3 promoter activity, destabilized its mRNA and inhibited firefly luciferase activity of a recombinant plasmid containing the Gal-3 3′ untranslated region (UTR). Furthermore, BBR up-regulated microRNA (miRNA) let-7d expression and the suppressive activity on Gal-3 3′UTR was abolished by point mutation on the let-7d binding site. In mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD), BBR up-regulated let-7d and down-regulated Gal-3 expression in eWAT; it also suppressed adipocyte differentiation and proliferation and reduced adiposity greatly. In summary, our study proves that BBR inhibits the differentiation and proliferation of adipocytes through down-regulating Gal-3, which is closely associated with its anti-obesity effect. Our results may support the future clinical application of BBR for the treatment of obesity or related diseases.