Human serum metabolomic analysis reveals progression for high blood pressure in type 2 diabetes mellitus

Role of ceramides in diabetic foot ulcers (Review)

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder, which if not managed properly, can lead to serious health problems over time and impose significant financial burden on the patient, their family and society as a whole. The study of this disease and the underlying biological mechanism is gaining momentum. Multiple pieces of conclusive evidence show that ceramides are involved in the occurrence and development of diabetes. The present review focuses on the function of ceramides, a type of sphingolipid signaling molecule, to provide a brief description of ceramides and their metabolism, discuss the significant roles of ceramides in the healthy skin barrier, and speculate on the potential involvement of ceramides in the pathogenesis and development of diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). Understanding these aspects of this disease more thoroughly is crucial to establish how ceramides contribute to the etiology of diabetic foot infections and identify possible therapeutic targets for the treatment of DFUs.

Investigation of pathogenesis of hyperuricemia based on untargeted and targeted metabolomics

Hyperuricemia (HUA) seriously harms human health but the exact etiology and pathogenesis of HUA are not fully understood. Therefore, it is still of great significance to find effective biomarkers and explore the pathogenesis of HUA. Metabolomics reflects the influence of internal and external factors on system metabolism, explains the changes in metabolite levels during the development of diseases, and reveals the molecular mechanism of pathogenesis. Metabolomics is divided into untargeted metabolomics and targeted metabolomics according to different research modes. Each other's advantages can be fully utilized by combining the two so that the results of metabolomics research can be consummated. 20 HUA patients and 20 healthy individuals participated in the experiment, and untargeted metabolomics was employed to find 50 differential metabolites in HUA serum samples. Twelve candidate biomarkers were screened based on literature research and ROC Curve analysis for subsequent verification. Based on the UPLC-TQ-MS analysis platform, the targeted metabolomics detection methods were established and the content of 12 candidate biomarkers was precisely quantified. Compare with the results of untargeted metabolomics, the targeted metabolomics results were considered more reliable.

Exploring the link between Parkinson's disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus in Drosophila

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disease characterized by high levels of glucose in blood. Recent epidemiological studies have highlighted the link between both diseases; it is even considered that DM might be a risk factor for PD. To further investigate the likely relation of these diseases, we have used a Drosophila PD model based on inactivation of the DJ-1β gene (ortholog of human DJ-1), and diet-induced Drosophila and mouse type 2 DM (T2DM) models, together with human neuron-like cells. T2DM models were obtained by feeding flies with a high sugar-containing medium, and mice with a high fat diet. Our results showed that both fly models exhibit common phenotypes such as alterations in carbohydrate homeostasis, mitochondrial dysfunction or motor defects, among others. In addition, we demonstrated that T2DM might be a risk factor of developing PD since our diet-induced fly and mouse T2DM models present DA neuron dysfunction, a hallmark of PD. We also confirmed that neurodegeneration is caused by increased glucose levels, which has detrimental effects in human neuron-like cells by triggering apoptosis and leading to cell death. Besides, the observed phenotypes were exacerbated in DJ-1β mutants cultured in the high sugar medium, indicating that DJ-1 might have a role in carbohydrate homeostasis. Finally, we have confirmed that metformin, an antidiabetic drug, is a potential candidate for PD treatment and that it could prevent PD onset in T2DM model flies. This result supports antidiabetic compounds as promising PD therapeutics.