Cross-sectional associations of acylation stimulating protein (ASP) and adipose tissue gene expression with estradiol and progesterone in pre- and postmenopausal women

New insights of acylation stimulating protein in modulating the pathological progression of metabolic syndromes

Obesity is associated with insulin resistance, hypertension, and coronary artery diseases which are grouped as metabolic syndrome. Rather than being a storage for energy, the adipocytes could synthesis and secret diverse hormones and molecules, named as adipokines. Under obese status, the adipocytes are dysfunctional with excessively producing the inflammatory related cytokines, such as interleukin 1 (IL-1), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α). Concerning on the vital role of adipokines, it is proposed that one of the critical pathological factors of obesity is the dysfunctional adipocytic pathways. Among these adipokines, acylation stimulating protein, as an adipokine synthesized by adipocytes during the process of cell differentiation, is shown to activate the metabolism of triglyceride (TG) by regulating the catabolism of glucose and free fatty acid (FFA). Recent attention has paid to explore the underlying mechanism whereby acylation stimulating protein influences the biological function of adipocyte and the pathological development of obesity. In the present review, we summarized the progression of acylation stimulating protein in modulating the physiological and hormonal catabolism which affects fat distribution. Furthermore, the potential mechanisms which acylation stimulating protein regulates the metabolism of adipose tissue and the process of metabolic syndrome were also summarized.

Acylation stimulating protein/C3adesArg in the metabolic states: role of adipocyte dysfunction in obesity complications

Adipose tissue, as an endocrine organ, secretes several adipocyte-derived hormones named 'adipokines' that are implicated in regulating energy haemostasis. Substantial evidence shows that white adipose tissue-derived adipokines mediate the link between obesity-related exogenous factors (like diet and lifestyle) and various biological events (such as pre- and postmenopausal status) that have obesity consequences (cardiometabolic disorders). One of the critical aetiological factors for obesity-related diseases is the dysfunction of adipokine pathways. Acylation-stimulating protein (ASP) is an adipokine that stimulates triglyceride synthesis and storage in adipose tissue by enhancing glucose and fatty acid uptake. ASP acts via its receptor C5L2. The primary objective of this review is to address the existing gap in the literature regarding ASP by investigating its diverse responses and receptor interactions across multiple determinants of obesity. These determinants include diet composition, metabolic disorders, organ involvement, sex and sex hormone levels. Furthermore, this article explores the broader paradigm shift from solely focusing on adipose tissue mass, which contributes to obesity, to considering the broader implications of adipose tissue function. Additionally, we raise a critical question concerning the clinical relevance of the insights gained from this review, both in terms of potential therapeutic interventions targeting ASP and in the context of preventing obesity-related conditions, highlighting the potential of the ASP-C5L2 interaction as a pharmacological target. In conclusion, these findings validate that obesity is a low-grade inflammatory status with multiorgan involvement and sex differences, demonstrating dynamic interactions between immune and metabolic response determinants.

Characteristics of the metabolically unhealthy phenotype in menopausal resistance training practitioners

Introduction

Objective: to evaluate clinical, metabolic and body characteristics related to the metabolically unhealthy phenotype (MUH) in menopausal women who practice resistance training (RT). Methods: cross-sectional study with a sample of 31 women. Clinical and metabolic variables were measured. Body adiposity was assessed by body mass index, waist circumference, visceral adiposity index (VAI) and lipid accumulation product (LAP). Body composition analysis was performed by DEXA. Results: the prevalence of the MH phenotype was 74.2 %. Metabolically healthy (MH) women were younger, had more years of RT practice, higher HDL-c levels and lower VAI and android/gynoid ratio (A/G) than the MUH women. Women with inadequacy of HDL-c, TG, A/G and VAI had 12.50 (95 % CI: 3.30-47.23), 4.83 (95 % CI: 2.37-9.85), 5.20 (95 % CI: 1.90-14.16) and 3.12 (95 % CI: 1.07-9.04) times greater prevalence of the MUH phenotype, respectively, than those with adequacy of these parameters. Binary logistic regression analysis demonstrated that age is a predictor of the MUH phenotype (OR = 1.254; 95 % CI: 1.00-1.56) and this variable showed correlation with TG, VAI and A/G. There was no association between thyrotropin and MUH phenotype in the present sample. Conclusion: age and visceral adiposity are predictors for the MUH phenotype in RT practitioners in menopause, which may initially be characterized by alterations in serum lipid profile.

Obesity-associated cardiovascular risk in women: hypertension and heart failure

The pathogenesis of obesity-associated cardiovascular diseases begins long prior to the presentation of a cardiovascular event. In both men and women, cardiovascular events, and their associated hospitalizations and mortality, are often clinically predisposed by the presentation of a chronic cardiovascular risk factor. Obesity increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases in both sexes, however, the clinical prevalence of obesity, as well as its contribution to crucial cardiovascular risk factors is dependent on sex. The mechanisms via which obesity leads to cardiovascular risk is also discrepant in women between their premenopausal, pregnancy and postmenopausal phases of life. Emerging data indicate that at all reproductive statuses and ages, the presentation of a cardiovascular event in obese women is strongly associated with hypertension and its subsequent chronic risk factor, heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). In addition, emerging evidence indicates that obesity increases the risk of both hypertension and heart failure in pregnancy. This review will summarize clinical and experimental data on the female-specific prevalence and mechanisms of hypertension and heart failure in women across reproductive stages and highlight the particular risks in pregnancy as well as emerging data in a high-risk ethnicity in women of African ancestry (AA).

Acylation-stimulating protein is a surrogate biomarker for acute myocardial infarction: Role of statins

BACKGROUND:

Acylation-stimulating protein (ASP) is an adipokine synthesized within adipocytes environment due to adipocyte differentiation.

AIM:

The aim of this study was to assess changes in ASP levels in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI) and to correlate these variations with disease variables.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS:

A total number of 111 patients previously and currently treated with rosuvastatin or atorvastatin presented with acute MI in a Coronary Care Unit, were divided into three groups, Group A: Thirty-nine patients treated with atorvastatin, Group B: Thirty patients treated with rosuvastatin, compared to 42 patients presented with MI not previously treated with statins were enrolled in this study. ASP and troponin-I levels and lipid profile were estimated in each group.

RESULTS:

The effects of atorvastatin and rosuvastatin compared to nonstatins-treated group on the anthropometric and biochemical variables in patients with acute MI showed significant difference in all biochemical and anthropometric parameters P < 0.05. Serum ASP (nmol/l) levels were higher in control patients 57.25 ± 9.15 compared to atorvastatin-treated patients 48.43 ± 7.42 and rosuvastatin-treated patients 49.33 ± 6.52 P = 0.0124.

CONCLUSION:

ASP levels are elevated in patients with acute MI and regarded as surrogate biomarker for acute MI also; therapy with statins leads to significant reduction in ASP levels compared to nonstatins-treated patients that presented with acute MI.

An increase level of acylation stimulating protein is correlated with metabolic risk markers in North Indian obese women

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The present study was to investigate the association between serum acylation stimulating protein (ASP) level with metabolic risk factors in North Indian obese women.

METHODS

This is a case control study, total n=322 women aged between 20 and 45 years (n=162 with metabolic syndrome & n=160 without metabolic syndrome) were recruited for the study according to National Cholesterol Education Program Treatment Panel (NCEPATP) guidelines. Serum ASP level were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTS

Results indicated that circulating ASP and other metabolic risk factors (waist circumference, triglycerides, fasting plasma glucose etc) were significantly higher in women with metabolic syndrome (WmetS) than in women without syndrome (WometS) (p<0.001). Furthermore circulating ASP was significantly higher possitively correlated with waist circumference (r=0.51, p<0.001), triglyceride (r=0.56, p<0.001), glucose (r=0.70, p<0.001), and negatively correlated with high density lipoprotein(r=-0.56, p<0.001) in women with metabolic syndrome.

CONCLUSIONS

Conclusively circulating ASP was found to be significantly associated with hyperlipidemia, obesity and obesity related disorders in North Indian obese women.

Acute effects of exogenous hormone administration on postprandial acylation stimulating protein levels in ovariectomized rats after a fat load

Background. ASP, a potent lipogenic factor, was linked to female fat metabolism in association studies. Aim. To investigate acute effects of sex hormone treatment on postprandial ASP levels in vivo. Methods. 24 female rats were randomly divided into 4 groups including controls. The rats were ovariectomized and injected with progesterone, estrogen, or testosterone. An hour later, olive oil was administered orally. Plasma ASP and triglycerides were measured at several postprandial time points. Area under the curve (TG-AUC) represented TG clearance. Results. Only the progesterone treated group had a significant postprandial ASP increase at two hours compared to basal levels (439.8 ± 62.4 versus 253.4 ± 59.03 μg/mL, P = 0.04). Interestingly, increased ASP levels coordinated negatively with corresponding TG levels and TG-AUC postprandially, mostly evident in the opposite effects in the progesterone and testosterone treated groups. ASP levels increased 3-fold in the progesterone versus testosterone treated groups, whereas TG-AUC was significantly lower. Conclusion. These findings suggest that progesterone enhances ASP production and TG clearance simultaneously, supporting the notion of a stimulatory role for progesterone on ASP-mediated TG clearance. This is the first functional study demonstrating a cause-effect relationship between hormone treatment and ASP levels in vivo and may contribute to understanding the mechanism of progesterone function as a female lipogenic hormone.