Pentraxin 3 increases in adult overweight and obese men after weight loss by dietary modification with exercise training

Sugar-Rich Food Intake Is Negatively Associated with Plasma Pentraxin 3 Levels

Background

Levels of pentraxin 3 (PTX3), an anti-inflammatory cardioprotective protein, increase after weight loss in obese men and aerobic exercise in non-obese adults. However, the effect of nutritional characteristics on PTX3 levels remains unclear. This population-based, cross-sectional study investigated the association between circulating PTX3 levels and food intake in Japanese adults.

Methods

We hypothesized that the consumption of high amounts of high-sugar foods would lead to low plasma PTX3 levels, resulting in obesity. This study included 327 participants categorized depending on the consumption of the recommended amount of confectionary and sugar-sweetened beverages (CSSB) into high and low groups.

Results

PTX3 levels were significantly lower in the high CSSB group than in the low CSSB group. Biological sex was the strongest effector of PTX3 levels. Moreover, the intake of Tsukudani and CSSB, as well as some metabolic syndrome factors, also affect PTX3 levels. In the groups categorized by sex and age, the determinants of PTX3 levels differed. Body mass index, waist circumference (WC), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were significantly associated with PTX3 levels in women. Tsukudani, HDL-C, heart rate, saturated fatty acids, systolic blood pressure, and CSSB were associated with PTX3 levels in individuals aged >65 years.

Conclusion

Our results show that circulating PTX3 levels are affected by sex, sugar-rich foods, and metabolic syndrome characteristics (WC, HDL-C).

High Fat, High Sugar Diet and DJOS Bariatric Surgery Influence Plasma Levels of Fetuin-B, Growth Differentiation Factor-15, and Pentraxin 3 in Diet-Induced Obese Sprague-Dawley Rats

The liver plays a central role in glucose and fatty acid metabolism and acts as an endocrine organ that secretes hepatokines with diverse systemic effects. The study aimed to examine the influence of duodenojejunal omega switch (DJOS) bariatric surgery in combination with different diets on glucose administration parameters and hepatokines levels. After 8 weeks on high fat, high sugar diet (HFS) or control diets (CD), Sprague-Dawley rats underwent DJOS or SHAM (control) surgery. For the next 8 weeks after the surgery, half of DJOS and SHAM-operated animals were kept on the same diet as before, and half had a diet change. The oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed three times: 8 weeks before and 4 and 8 weeks after surgery. Fetuin-B, growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15), pentraxin 3 (PTX3) plasma levels were analyzed. DJOS surgery had a beneficial effect on oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) results and the area under the curve (AUC_OGTT). The OGTT results depended on the time elapsed after the surgery, the type of diet used, the surgery performed, and the interaction between these factors. DJOS bariatric surgery reduced fetuin-B and GDF15 plasma levels. Interaction between the type of surgery performed and diet used influenced the fetuin-B and PTX-3 plasma levels. A dietary regime is essential to achieve therapeutic and clinical goals after bariatric surgery.

Impact of acute high-intensity interval exercise on plasma pentraxin 3 and endothelial function in obese individuals-a pilot study

PURPOSE

Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) has been shown to be a predictor of endothelial dysfunction in patients with increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) (e.g., obesity). Circulating PTX3 concentrations are dysregulated in obese individuals and are elevated following acute aerobic exercise. High-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) has been demonstrated to be as effective as continuous moderate-intensity exercise in improving endothelial function, as indicated by brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (BAFMD), in patients with CVD. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the effect of acute HIIE on plasma PTX3 and BAFMD responses in obese individuals.

METHODS

Eight obese and six normal-weight young males participated in acute HIIE (4 intervals of 4 min at 80-90% of VO_2max; 3 min of active recovery at 50-60% VO_2max). Plasma PTX3 and BAFMD were measured prior to, immediately following exercise, and one and 2 hours into recovery.

RESULTS

Plasma PTX3 concentrations significantly increased following HIIE, yet the PTX3 response to HIIE was significantly blunted in obese compared to normal-weight participants. While the kinetic responses of BAFMD were also significantly different in obese compared to normal-weight participants, similar increases above the baseline were observed 2 hours into recovery in both groups. Finally, plasma PTX3 concentrations were not associated with BAFMD at baseline or in response to HIIE.

CONCLUSION

The utilization of HIIE may serve as a time-efficient exercise prescription strategy to transiently improve endothelial function, independent of elevated plasma PTX3 concentrations, in obese individuals.

Combined aerobic and low-intensity resistance exercise training increases basal nitric oxide production and decreases arterial stiffness in healthy older adults

Meta-analyses have concluded that combined aerobic and high-intensity or moderate-intensity resistance exercise training has no effects on arterial stiffness. However, a recent study demonstrated that combined aerobic training and resistance training using rubber bands increases basal nitric oxide (NO) production and decreases arterial stiffness with marked reduction of body weight in obese adolescent girls. To investigate whether combined aerobic and low-intensity resistance training increases basal NO production and decreases arterial stiffness without body weight reduction in older adults, 27 healthy older individuals participated in a 6-week program as a part of the training group (mean body mass index, 21 kg/m²; walking and resistance training using one’s body weight) or the control group (22 kg/m², asked not to modify their lifestyle). The exercise intervention increased aerobic capacity, muscle strength, and plasma concentrations of nitrite/nitrate (end products of NO) and decreased pulse wave velocity (an index of arterial stiffness) without changes in body weight. In the control group, there were no differences in these measures before and after the study period. These results suggest that combined aerobic and low-intensity resistance exercise training increases basal NO production and decreases arterial stiffness in healthy older adults.