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Beneficial Effects of Akkermansia muciniphila Are Not Associated with Major Changes in the Circulating Endocannabinoidome but Linked to Higher Mono-Palmitoyl-Glycerol Levels as New PPARα Agonists. Cells 2021; 10:cells10010185. [PMID: 33477821 PMCID: PMC7832901 DOI: 10.3390/cells10010185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Revised: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Akkermansia muciniphila is considered as one of the next-generation beneficial bacteria in the context of obesity and associated metabolic disorders. Although a first proof-of-concept of its beneficial effects has been established in the context of metabolic syndrome in humans, mechanisms are not yet fully understood. This study aimed at deciphering whether the bacterium exerts its beneficial properties through the modulation of the endocannabinoidome (eCBome). Circulating levels of 25 endogenous endocannabinoid-related lipids were quantified by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) in the plasma of overweight or obese individuals before and after a 3 months intervention consisting of the daily ingestion of either alive or pasteurized A. muciniphila. Results from multivariate analyses suggested that the beneficial effects of A. muciniphila were not linked to an overall modification of the eCBome. However, subsequent univariate analysis showed that the decrease in 1-Palmitoyl-glycerol (1-PG) and 2-Palmitoyl-glycerol (2-PG), two eCBome lipids, observed in the placebo group was significantly counteracted by the alive bacterium, and to a lower extent by the pasteurized form. We also discovered that 1- and 2-PG are endogenous activators of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα). We hypothesize that PPARα activation by mono-palmitoyl-glycerols may underlie part of the beneficial metabolic effects induced by A. muciniphila in human metabolic syndrome.
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Depommier C, Flamand N, Pelicaen R, Maiter D, Thissen JP, Loumaye A, Hermans MP, Everard A, Delzenne NM, Di Marzo V, Cani PD. Linking the Endocannabinoidome with Specific Metabolic Parameters in an Overweight and Insulin-Resistant Population: From Multivariate Exploratory Analysis to Univariate Analysis and Construction of Predictive Models. Cells 2021; 10:cells10010071. [PMID: 33466285 PMCID: PMC7824762 DOI: 10.3390/cells10010071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Revised: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The global obesity epidemic continues to rise worldwide. In this context, unraveling new interconnections between biological systems involved in obesity etiology is highly relevant. Dysregulation of the endocannabinoidome (eCBome) is associated with metabolic complications in obesity. This study aims at deciphering new associations between circulating endogenous bioactive lipids belonging to the eCBome and metabolic parameters in a population of overweight or obese individuals with metabolic syndrome. To this aim, we combined different multivariate exploratory analysis methods: canonical correlation analysis and principal component analysis, revealed associations between eCBome subsets, and metabolic parameters such as leptin, lipopolysaccharide-binding protein, and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA). Subsequent construction of predictive regression models according to the linear combination of selected endocannabinoids demonstrates good prediction performance for NEFA. Descriptive approaches reveal the importance of specific circulating endocannabinoids and key related congeners to explain variance in the metabolic parameters in our cohort. Analysis of quartiles confirmed that these bioactive lipids were significantly higher in individuals characterized by important levels for aforementioned metabolic variables. In conclusion, by proposing a methodology for the exploration of large-scale data, our study offers additional evidence of the existence of an interplay between eCBome related-entities and metabolic parameters known to be altered in obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Depommier
- Metabolism and Nutrition Research Group, Louvain Drug Research Institute, Walloon Excellence in Life Sciences and Biotechnology (WELBIO), UCLouvain, Université Catholique de Louvain, Av. E. Mounier, 73 B1.73.11, 1200 Brussels, Belgium; (C.D.); (R.P.); (A.E.); (N.M.D.)
| | - Nicolas Flamand
- Quebec Heart and Lung Institute Research Centre, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada; (N.F.); (V.D.M.)
| | - Rudy Pelicaen
- Metabolism and Nutrition Research Group, Louvain Drug Research Institute, Walloon Excellence in Life Sciences and Biotechnology (WELBIO), UCLouvain, Université Catholique de Louvain, Av. E. Mounier, 73 B1.73.11, 1200 Brussels, Belgium; (C.D.); (R.P.); (A.E.); (N.M.D.)
| | - Dominique Maiter
- Pôle EDIN, Institut de Recherches Expérimentales et Cliniques, UCLouvain, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1200 Brussels, Belgium; (D.M.); (J.-P.T.); (A.L.); (M.P.H.)
- Division of Endocrinology and Nutrition, Cliniques Universitaires St-Luc, Avenue Hippocrate 10, 1200 Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - Jean-Paul Thissen
- Pôle EDIN, Institut de Recherches Expérimentales et Cliniques, UCLouvain, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1200 Brussels, Belgium; (D.M.); (J.-P.T.); (A.L.); (M.P.H.)
- Division of Endocrinology and Nutrition, Cliniques Universitaires St-Luc, Avenue Hippocrate 10, 1200 Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - Audrey Loumaye
- Pôle EDIN, Institut de Recherches Expérimentales et Cliniques, UCLouvain, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1200 Brussels, Belgium; (D.M.); (J.-P.T.); (A.L.); (M.P.H.)
- Division of Endocrinology and Nutrition, Cliniques Universitaires St-Luc, Avenue Hippocrate 10, 1200 Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - Michel P. Hermans
- Pôle EDIN, Institut de Recherches Expérimentales et Cliniques, UCLouvain, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1200 Brussels, Belgium; (D.M.); (J.-P.T.); (A.L.); (M.P.H.)
- Division of Endocrinology and Nutrition, Cliniques Universitaires St-Luc, Avenue Hippocrate 10, 1200 Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - Amandine Everard
- Metabolism and Nutrition Research Group, Louvain Drug Research Institute, Walloon Excellence in Life Sciences and Biotechnology (WELBIO), UCLouvain, Université Catholique de Louvain, Av. E. Mounier, 73 B1.73.11, 1200 Brussels, Belgium; (C.D.); (R.P.); (A.E.); (N.M.D.)
| | - Nathalie M. Delzenne
- Metabolism and Nutrition Research Group, Louvain Drug Research Institute, Walloon Excellence in Life Sciences and Biotechnology (WELBIO), UCLouvain, Université Catholique de Louvain, Av. E. Mounier, 73 B1.73.11, 1200 Brussels, Belgium; (C.D.); (R.P.); (A.E.); (N.M.D.)
| | - Vincenzo Di Marzo
- Quebec Heart and Lung Institute Research Centre, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada; (N.F.); (V.D.M.)
- Centre NUTRISS, Institute of Nutrition and Functional Foods, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Patrice D. Cani
- Metabolism and Nutrition Research Group, Louvain Drug Research Institute, Walloon Excellence in Life Sciences and Biotechnology (WELBIO), UCLouvain, Université Catholique de Louvain, Av. E. Mounier, 73 B1.73.11, 1200 Brussels, Belgium; (C.D.); (R.P.); (A.E.); (N.M.D.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +32-2-764-73-97
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Depommier C, Everard A, Druart C, Plovier H, Van Hul M, Vieira-Silva S, Falony G, Raes J, Maiter D, Delzenne NM, de Barsy M, Loumaye A, Hermans MP, Thissen JP, de Vos WM, Cani PD. Supplementation with Akkermansia muciniphila in overweight and obese human volunteers: a proof-of-concept exploratory study. Nat Med 2019; 25:1096-1103. [PMID: 31263284 PMCID: PMC6699990 DOI: 10.1038/s41591-019-0495-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1178] [Impact Index Per Article: 235.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2018] [Accepted: 05/22/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Metabolic syndrome is characterized by a constellation of comorbidities that predispose individuals to an increased risk of developing cardiovascular pathologies as well as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)1. The gut microbiota is considered as a new key contributor involved in the onset of obesity-related disorders2. In humans, studies have provided evidence for a negative correlation between Akkermansia muciniphila abundance and overweight, obesity, untreated T2DM, or hypertension3–8. As the administration of A.muciniphila has never been investigated in humans, we conducted a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled pilot study in overweight/obese insulin resistant volunteers, 40 were enroled and 32 completed the trial. The primary endpoints were on safety, tolerability and metabolic parameters (i.e., insulin resistance, circulating lipids, visceral adiposity, body mass). The secondary outcomes were the gut barrier function (i.e., plasma lipopolysacharrides (LPS) and gut microbiota composition. In this single-center study, we demonstrated that daily oral supplementation of 1010 bacteria either alive or pasteurized A.muciniphila for 3 months was safe and well tolerated. Compared to the Placebo, pasteurized A.muciniphila improved insulin sensitivity (+28.62±7.02%, P=0.002), reduced insulinemia (-34.08±7.12%, P=0.006) and plasma total cholesterol (-8.68±2.38%, P=0.02). Pasteurized A.muciniphila supplementation slightly decreased body weight (-2.27±0.92kg, P=0.091) as compared to the Placebo group, and fat mass (-1.37±0.82kg, P=0.092) and hip circumference (-2.63±1.14cm, P = 0.091) as compared to baseline. After 3 months of supplementation, A.muciniphila reduced the levels of relevant blood markers of liver dysfunction and inflammation while the overall gut microbiome structure was unaffected. In conclusion, this proof-of-concept study (NCT02637115) shows that the intervention was safe and well-tolerated and that the supplementation with A.muciniphila improves several metabolic paramaters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Depommier
- Metabolism and Nutrition Research Group, Louvain Drug Research Institute, WELBIO, Walloon Excellence in Life Sciences and BIOtechnology, UCLouvain, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Amandine Everard
- Metabolism and Nutrition Research Group, Louvain Drug Research Institute, WELBIO, Walloon Excellence in Life Sciences and BIOtechnology, UCLouvain, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Céline Druart
- Metabolism and Nutrition Research Group, Louvain Drug Research Institute, WELBIO, Walloon Excellence in Life Sciences and BIOtechnology, UCLouvain, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Hubert Plovier
- Metabolism and Nutrition Research Group, Louvain Drug Research Institute, WELBIO, Walloon Excellence in Life Sciences and BIOtechnology, UCLouvain, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Matthias Van Hul
- Metabolism and Nutrition Research Group, Louvain Drug Research Institute, WELBIO, Walloon Excellence in Life Sciences and BIOtechnology, UCLouvain, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Sara Vieira-Silva
- Laboratory of Molecular Bacteriology-Department of Microbiology and Immunology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Center for Microbiology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Gwen Falony
- Laboratory of Molecular Bacteriology-Department of Microbiology and Immunology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Center for Microbiology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jeroen Raes
- Laboratory of Molecular Bacteriology-Department of Microbiology and Immunology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Center for Microbiology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Dominique Maiter
- Pôle EDIN, Institut de Recherches Expérimentales et Cliniques, UCLouvain, Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.,Division of Endocrinology and Nutrition, Cliniques universitaires St-Luc, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Nathalie M Delzenne
- Metabolism and Nutrition Research Group, Louvain Drug Research Institute, UCLouvain, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Marie de Barsy
- Pôle EDIN, Institut de Recherches Expérimentales et Cliniques, UCLouvain, Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.,Division of Endocrinology and Nutrition, Cliniques universitaires St-Luc, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Audrey Loumaye
- Pôle EDIN, Institut de Recherches Expérimentales et Cliniques, UCLouvain, Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.,Division of Endocrinology and Nutrition, Cliniques universitaires St-Luc, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Michel P Hermans
- Pôle EDIN, Institut de Recherches Expérimentales et Cliniques, UCLouvain, Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.,Division of Endocrinology and Nutrition, Cliniques universitaires St-Luc, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Jean-Paul Thissen
- Pôle EDIN, Institut de Recherches Expérimentales et Cliniques, UCLouvain, Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.,Division of Endocrinology and Nutrition, Cliniques universitaires St-Luc, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Willem M de Vos
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands.,Human Microbiome Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Patrice D Cani
- Metabolism and Nutrition Research Group, Louvain Drug Research Institute, WELBIO, Walloon Excellence in Life Sciences and BIOtechnology, UCLouvain, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.
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Tohidi M, Arbab P, Ghasemi A. Assay-dependent variability of serum insulin concentrations: a comparison of eight assays. Scandinavian Journal of Clinical and Laboratory Investigation 2017; 77:122-129. [PMID: 28150502 DOI: 10.1080/00365513.2016.1278260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Although insulin measurement is essential for both clinical and research purposes, there is currently no reference method for insulin assays. The aim of this study was to compare results of serum insulin determined by a number of commercially available assays. We compared eight insulin assays by analyzing 165 serum samples. Assays included two chemiluminescence (Roche and DiaSorin), four ELISA (Tosoh, Mercodia, Monobind, and Diametra), and two IRMA (Izotop and BioSource) methods. Each assay was compared with the mean of all assay methods and Bland-Altman difference plots were used to measure agreement between each assay and overall mean. Least squared perpendicular distance regression analysis (Deming's method) was used to calculate slope and intercept for bias and also for each assay vs. mean of eight assays. Findings showed that the lowest and highest median insulin concentrations varied by a factor of 1.8. Maximum and minimum correlations with mean of assays were observed for Roche (0.992) and BioSource (0.844), respectively. Significant bias was observed in six assays. In pairwise comparisons of different assays, the highest and least mean differences were 7.78 μU/mL and -0.14 μU/mL, respectively. In conclusion, serum insulin measurement with different assays showed a maximum of 1.8-fold difference, a point that should be taken into consideration in the interpretation of circulating insulin levels in both clinical and research fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Tohidi
- a Prevention of Metabolic Disorder Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences , Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran
| | - Parvaneh Arbab
- a Prevention of Metabolic Disorder Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences , Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran
| | - Asghar Ghasemi
- b Endocrine Physiology Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences , Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran
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Raising threshold for diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome excludes population of patients with metabolic risk. Fertil Steril 2016; 106:1244-1251. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2016.06.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2016] [Revised: 06/08/2016] [Accepted: 06/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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Haass-Koffler CL, Giovenco DE, Lee MR, Zywiak WH, de la Monte SM, Kenna GA, Swift RM, Leggio L. Serum Insulin Levels Are Reduced by Intravenous Ghrelin Administration but Do Not Correlate with Alcohol Craving in Alcohol-Dependent Individuals. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2016; 19:pyw048. [PMID: 27207912 PMCID: PMC5091823 DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyw048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2016] [Revised: 04/25/2016] [Accepted: 05/03/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Increasing evidence supports a role for appetite-regulating pathways like ghrelin, insulin, and leptin in alcoholism. We previously reported that intravenous (i.v.) exogenous ghrelin increases alcohol craving. We also reported i.v. ghrelin reduces endogenous serum leptin, whose levels, in turn, negatively correlated with alcohol craving. Exogenous ghrelin administration decreases insulin secretion both in vitro and in vivo experiments. This study tested the hypothesis that i.v. ghrelin may also decrease endogenous serum insulin levels in alcoholic individuals. Additionally, we explored possible correlations between serum insulin and alcohol craving, since a correlation between insulin and alcohol craving was previously reported. METHODS This was a double-blind, placebo-controlled human laboratory study ( n =43). Non-treatment-seeking, alcohol-dependent, heavy drinkers were randomized to receive i.v. ghrelin or placebo, followed by an alcohol cue-reactivity procedure. RESULTS There was a main effect for i.v. ghrelin, compared to placebo in reducing serum insulin ( P <.05). There was also a time effect ( P <.001) but not ghrelin x time interaction ( P >.05). We did not find a correlation between the reduction of serum insulin and alcohol craving ( P >.05). The change in serum insulin was consistent with a parallel reduction in serum connective-peptide in the ghrelin group compared with placebo, although this difference did not reach statistical significance ( P =.076). No similar effects were found for other glucose-regulating hormones analyzed i.e. glucagon, glucagon-like peptide-1, and gastric inhibitory peptide ( P s>.05). CONCLUSIONS These findings indicate i.v. ghrelin administration has an effect on reducing serum insulin in alcohol-dependent individuals; however, the reduction of insulin did not correlate with changes in alcohol cue-elicited craving. We speculate that, unlike for leptin, the interactions between ghrelin and insulin relationship are limited at the peripheral level. However, mechanistic studies are needed to investigate this hypothesis.
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Fu Y, Zheng X, Bao L, Xu K, Cheng X, Sun M, Xue X, Chen H, Yang T, Zhang M. Assessment of physiological factors for the establishment of serum insulin reference intervals in healthy Chinese Han adults: A community-based large cross-sectional study. Scandinavian Journal of Clinical and Laboratory Investigation 2015; 75:319-26. [DOI: 10.3109/00365513.2014.992947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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Garnett SP, Srinivasan S, Birt SG, Ambler GR, Lawrie EA, Cowell CT, Craig ME. Evaluation of glycaemic status in young people with clinical insulin resistance; fasting glucose, fasting insulin or an oral glucose tolerance test? Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 2010; 72:475-80. [PMID: 19656159 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2265.2009.03677.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE It is important to identify young people with prediabetes for early intervention. However, it is unclear how to best screen overweight and obese young people for prediabetes. The objective of this study was to compare fasting indices with an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in diagnosing prediabetes. DESIGN Retrospective review. PATIENTS A total of 224 young people, aged 12.0 years (range: 3.2-17.3 years), with clinical features of insulin resistance, who had an OGTT between 2000 and 2007 at a tertiary children's hospital, Sydney, Australia. MEASUREMENTS Oral glucose tolerance test. RESULTS A total of 168 (75%) participants had normal glucose tolerance, 45 (20%) had prediabetes and 11 (5%) had type 2 diabetes; 29 of those with prediabetes and 10 with type 2 diabetes were identified by fasting glucose criteria alone. Young people with normal fasting glucose and fasting insulin < or =180 pmol/l had lower insulin resistance (homeostasis model assessment median 1.9 vs. 4.2, P < 0.001), higher insulin sensitivity index (2.4 vs. 1.0, P < 0.001) and a lower early insulin response (insulinogenic index 2.5 vs. 4.1, P < 0.001) compared to those with normal fasting glucose and higher fasting insulin levels. If a fasting insulin cut point (< or =180 pmol/l) was used in addition to fasting glucose to determine the need for an OGTT, 114 (68%) young people with normal glucose tolerance would have avoided the test. By contrast, the diagnosis of impaired glucose tolerance, identified by an OGTT, would have been missed in three children. CONCLUSION Fasting glucose and insulin levels should be measured in young people with insulin resistance before undertaking a time- and resource-intensive OGTT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah P Garnett
- Division of Research, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilene Fennoy
- Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA.
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Borza D, Karmali R, André S, Valsamis J, Cytryn E, Hermans MP, Beyer I. Influence of assay-dependent variability of serum insulin levels on insulin sensitivity indices. Clin Chem Lab Med 2009; 46:1655-6. [PMID: 19012533 DOI: 10.1515/cclm.2008.315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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Veldhuis JD, Keenan DM, Pincus SM. Motivations and methods for analyzing pulsatile hormone secretion. Endocr Rev 2008; 29:823-64. [PMID: 18940916 PMCID: PMC2647703 DOI: 10.1210/er.2008-0005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 156] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2008] [Accepted: 09/16/2008] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Endocrine glands communicate with remote target cells via a mixture of continuous and intermittent signal exchange. Continuous signaling allows slowly varying control, whereas intermittency permits large rapid adjustments. The control systems that mediate such homeostatic corrections operate in a species-, gender-, age-, and context-selective fashion. Significant progress has been made in understanding mechanisms of adaptive interglandular signaling in vivo. Principal goals are to understand the physiological origins, significance, and mechanisms of pulsatile hormone secretion. Key analytical issues are: 1) to quantify the number, size, shape, and uniformity of pulses, nonpulsatile (basal) secretion, and elimination kinetics; 2) to evaluate regulation of the axis as a whole; and 3) to reconstruct dose-response interactions without disrupting hormone connections. This review will focus on the motivations driving and the methodologies used for such analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes D Veldhuis
- Endocrine Research Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Medical School, Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education, Center for Translational Science Activities, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.
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