Novel associations of serum adropin and lipopolysaccharide-binding protein versus lipid profiles in childhood obesity

The role of adipokines and ghrelin in interactions and clinical implications in childhood obesity

BACKGROUND

Childhood obesity is a growing global health concern, especially prevalent in the Arabian Peninsula, and is known to contribute to metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance. This study aimed to investigate the interplay between adipokines (leptin and adiponectin), ghrelin, and insulin homeostasis in childhood obesity.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A case-control study was conducted in Babylon involving 120 children/adolescents (7-17 years). The participants were divided into two groups: 60 obese and 60 healthy controls. Anthropometric and biochemical measures were examined, applying World Health Organization (WHO) growth standards to categorize weight status. Data on blood lipids, glucose, adipokines, and ghrelin were collected in Babylon (Merjan Medical City), ensuring accuracy and providing insights into pediatric obesity's metabolic and hormonal status.

RESULT

Clinical, anthropometric, and laboratory attributes of children were evaluated, with classification as normal-weight or obese based on BMI/Z-score and Waist Circumference. The obese group exhibited elevated triglycerides and insulin levels, as well as reduced adiponectin levels (P ≤ 0.001). Leptin levels showed a positive correlation with BMI/Z-score (r = 0.352, P = 0.006). A diagnostic model demonstrated the significant diagnostic capacity of leptin (AUC > 99%) and its importance in predicting childhood obesity. Each unit increase in leptin elevated the probability of obesity by a factor of 1.197 (95% CI: 1.0507-1.3632, P = 0.0068).

CONCLUSION

The study revealed significant differences in clinical, biochemical, and biological markers of obesity between the research groups and the control group. Leptin emerged as a significant predictor of obesity, demonstrating high diagnostic accuracy. The complex interactions among these adipokines underscore the necessity for comprehensive obesity management strategies.

Longitudinal changes in serum adropin levels and liver fat content during liraglutide treatment in newly diagnosed patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease

AIMS

To explore the effect of liraglutide treatment on serum adropin and its relationship to the liver fat content in newly diagnosed patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD).

METHODS

Serum adropin level and liver fat content were assessed in patients with T2DM and MAFLD (n = 22), along with healthy controls (n = 22). Afterward, the patients received liraglutide treatment for 12 weeks. Serum adropin levels were examined by a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Liver fat content was quantified via magnetic resonance imaging-estimated proton density fat fraction (MRI-PDFF).

RESULTS

We found that patients with newly diagnosed T2DM and MAFLD had lower serum adropin levels [2.79 ± 0.47 vs. 3.27 ± 0.79 ng/mL, P < 0.05] and higher liver fat content [19.12 ± 9.46 vs. 4.67 ± 0.61%, P < 0.001], compared to healthy controls. Following 12-week liraglutide treatment, serum adropin levels increased from 2.83(2.44, 3.24) to 3.65(3.20, 3.85) ng/mL (P < 0.001), and liver fat content decreased from 18.04(11.08, 27.65) to 7.74(6.42, 13.49) % (P < 0.001) in patients with T2DM and MAFLD. Furthermore, increases in serum adropin were strongly associated with decreases in liver fat content (β = - 5.933, P < 0.001), liver enzyme and glucolipid metabolism parameters.

CONCLUSION

The increase in serum adropin level following liraglutide treatment was strongly correlated with the reduction in liver fat content and glucolipid metabolism. Hence, adropin might be a potential marker for the beneficial effects of liraglutide on treating T2DM and MAFLD.

New Peptides as Potential Players in the Crosstalk Between the Brain and Obesity, Metabolic and Cardiovascular Diseases

According to the World Health Organization report published in 2016, 650 million people worldwide suffer from obesity, almost three times more than in 1975. Obesity is defined as excessive fat accumulation which may impair health with non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases (hypertension, coronary artery disease, stroke), and some cancers. Despite medical advances, cardiovascular complications are still the leading causes of death arising from obesity. Excessive fat accumulation is caused by the imbalance between energy intake and expenditure. The pathogenesis of this process is complex and not fully understood, but current research is focused on the role of the complex crosstalk between the central nervous system (CNS), neuroendocrine and immune system including the autonomic nervous system, adipose tissue, digestive and cardiovascular systems. Additionally, special attention has been paid to newly discovered substances: neuropeptide 26RFa, preptin, and adropin. It was shown that the above peptides are synthesized both in numerous structures of the CNS and in many peripheral organs and tissues, such as the heart, adipose tissue, and the gastrointestinal tract. Recently, particular attention has been paid to the role of the presented peptides in the pathogenesis of obesity, metabolic and cardiovascular system diseases. This review summarizes the role of newly investigated peptides in the crosstalk between brain and peripheral organs in the pathogenesis of obesity, metabolic, and cardiovascular diseases.

The role of the gut microbiota on the metabolic status of obese children

Background

The term “metabolically healthy obese (MHO)” denotes a hale and salutary status, yet this connotation has not been validated in children, and may, in fact, be a misnomer. As pertains to obesity, the gut microbiota has garnered attention as conceivably a nosogenic or, on the other hand, protective participator.

Objective

This study explored the characteristics of the fecal microbiota of obese Chinese children and adolescents of disparate metabolic statuses, and the associations between their gut microbiota and circulating proinflammatory factors, such as IL-6, TNF-α, lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP), and a cytokine up-regulator and mediator, leptin.

Results

Based on weight and metabolic status, the 86 Chinese children (ages 5–15 years) were divided into three groups: metabolically healthy obese (MHO, n = 42), metabolic unhealthy obese (MUO, n = 23), and healthy normal weight controls (Con, n = 21). In the MUO subjects, the phylum Tenericutes, as well as the alpha and beta diversity, were significantly reduced compared with the controls. Furthermore, Phylum Synergistetes and genus Bacteroides were more prevalent in the MHO population compared with controls. For the MHO group, Spearman’s correlation analysis revealed that serum IL-6 positively correlated with genus Paraprevotella, LBP was positively correlated with genus Roseburia and Faecalibacterium, and negatively correlated with genus Lactobacillus, and leptin correlated positively with genus Phascolarctobacterium and negatively with genus Dialister (all p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Although there are distinct differences in the characteristic gut microbiota of the MUO population versus MHO, dysbiosis of gut microsystem is already extant in the MHO cohort. The abundance of some metabolism-related bacteria associates with the degree of circulating inflammatory compounds, suggesting that dysbiosis of gut microbiota, present in the MHO children, conceivably serves as a compensatory or remedial response to a surfeit of nutrients.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12934-021-01548-9.

Higher Lipopolysaccharide Binding Protein and Chemerin Concentrations Were Associated with Metabolic Syndrome Features in Pediatric Subjects with Abdominal Obesity during a Lifestyle Intervention

Background: Elevated circulating plasma levels of both lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) and chemerin are reported in patients with obesity, but few studies are available on lifestyle intervention programs. We investigated the association of both LBP and chemerin plasma levels with metabolic syndrome (MetS) outcomes in a lifestyle intervention in children and adolescents with abdominal obesity Methods: Twenty-nine patients enrolled in a randomized controlled trial were selected. The lifestyle intervention with a 2-month intensive phase and a subsequent 10-month follow-up consisted of a moderate calorie-restricted diet, recommendations to increase physical activity levels, and nutritional education. Results: Weight loss was accompanied by a significant reduction in MetS prevalence (−43%; p = 0.009). Chemerin (p = 0.029) and LBP (p = 0.033) plasma levels were significantly reduced at 2 months and 12 months, respectively. At the end of intervention, MetS components were associated with both LBP (p = 0.017) and chemerin (p < 0.001) plasma levels. Conclusions: We describe for the first time a reduction in both LBP and chemerin plasma levels and its association with MetS risk factors after a lifestyle intervention program in children and adolescents with abdominal obesity. Therefore, LBP and chemerin plasma levels could be used as biomarkers for the progression of cardiovascular risk in pediatric populations.

Dysbiosis is one of the risk factor for stroke and cognitive impairment and potential target for treatment

More than 50 million people have various forms of cognitive impairment basically caused by neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and cerebrovascular diseases as well as stroke. Often these conditions coexist and exacerbate one another. The damaged area in post-stroke dementia may lead to neurodegenerative lesions. Gut microbiome functions like an endocrine organ by generating bioactive metabolites that can directly or indirectly impact human physiology. An alteration in the composition and function of intestinal flora, i.e. gut dysbiosis, is implicated in neurodegenerative and cerebrovascular diseases. Additionally, gut dysbiosis may accelerate the progression of cognitive impairment. Dysbiosis may result from obesity; metabolic disorders, cardiovascular disease, and sleep disorders, Lack of physical activity is associated with dysbiosis as well. These may coexist in various patterns in older people, enhancing the risk, incidence, and progression of cerebrovascular lesions, neurodegenerative disorders, and cognitive impairment, creating a vicious circle. Recently, it has been reported that several metabolites produced by gut microbiota (e.g., trimethylamine/trimethylamine N-oxide, short-chain fatty acids, secondary bile acids) may be linked to neurodegenerative and cerebrovascular diseases. New treatment modalities, including prebiotic and probiotics, may normalize the gut microbiota composition, change the brain-gut barrier, and decrease the risk of the pathology development. Fecal microbiota transplantation, sometimes in combination with other methods, is used for remodeling and replenishing the symbiotic gut microbiome. This promising field of research is associated with basic findings of bidirectional communication between body organs and gut microbiota that creates new possibilities of pharmacological treatments of many clinical conditions. The authors present the role of gut microbiota in physiology, and the novel therapeutic targets in modulation of intestinal microbiota Personalized therapies based on their personal genome make up could offer benefits by modulating microbiota cross-talk with brain and cardiovascular system. A healthy lifestyle, including pre and probiotic nutrition is generally recommended. Prevention may also be enhanced by correcting gut dysbiosis resulting a reduced risk of post-stroke cognitive impairment including dementia.