The evaluation of the role of BMI and insulin resistance on inflammatory markers, PAI-1 levels and arterial stiffness in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus patients

ACSL1 is a key regulator of inflammatory and macrophage foaming induced by short-term palmitate exposure or acute high-fat feeding

Foamy and inflammatory macrophages play pathogenic roles in metabolic disorders. However, the mechanisms that promote foamy and inflammatory macrophage phenotypes under acute-high-fat feeding (AHFF) remain elusive. Herein, we investigated the role of acyl-CoA synthetase-1 (ACSL1) in favoring the foamy/inflammatory phenotype of monocytes/macrophages upon short-term exposure to palmitate or AHFF. Palmitate exposure induced a foamy/inflammatory phenotype in macrophages which was associated with increased ACSL1 expression. Inhibition/knockdown of ACSL1 in macrophages suppressed the foamy/inflammatory phenotype through the inhibition of the CD36-FABP4-p38-PPARδ signaling axis. ACSL1 inhibition/knockdown suppressed macrophage foaming/inflammation after palmitate stimulation by downregulating the FABP4 expression. Similar results were obtained using primary human monocytes. As expected, oral administration of ACSL1 inhibitor triacsin-C in mice before AHFF normalized the inflammatory/foamy phenotype of the circulatory monocytes by suppressing FABP4 expression. Our results reveal that targeting ACSL1 leads to the attenuation of the CD36-FABP4-p38-PPARδ signaling axis, providing a therapeutic strategy to prevent the AHFF-induced macrophage foaming and inflammation.

Association between environmental lead/cadmium co-exposure in drinking water and soil and type 2 diabetes mellitus/obesity in Southern China

Lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) in environment can be directly absorbed by drinking water and soil. However, data on human Pb and Cd exposure by drinking water and soil and its long-term consequence for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obesity are lacking. Our study aims to explore the association of typical heavy metals co-exposure in drinking water and soil to the community residents with T2DM and obesity indices in two cities of southern China. A cross-sectional study enrolling total 1,274 participants was performed and the local water and soil samples were collected in two communities in southern China. The average daily dose (ADD) of heavy metals was calculated to assess the exposure. The obesity indices comprise body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and waist circumference (WC). Binary, multiple logistic and linear regressions were employed for assessing the associations of Pb and Cd exposure with T2DM and obesity. The results showed that there weren't any significant correlations between ADDs of Pb/Cd and T2DM in community residents (all Ps>0.05). Compared with those with 18.5 ≤ BMI <24, with 1 μg/kg bw/d ADD of Pb increase in exposure are associated with 49.2-56.1% lower likelihood of overweight. Besides, with ADDs of Pb exposure was increased by 1 μg/kg bw/d and WHR decreasing by 0.01-0.02, and WC decreasing by 2.22-4.67 cm. We speculate that Pb causes weight loss because it damages the absorption function of the gastrointestinal tract as an initial injury. 1μg/kg bw/d ADD of Cd increase is associated with 100.9% upper likelihood of low weight in Model 1. It suggests that Pb/Cd pollution in the local environment was serious and harmful to residents' health. Government should introduce relevant oversight and accountability systems to improve the prevention and management of lifestyle-related chronic diseases in the future.

Triglyceride-Glucose Index for the Diagnosis of Metabolic Syndrome: A Cross-Sectional Study of 298,652 Individuals Receiving a Health Check-Up in China

OBJECTIVE

We herein aim to explore the relationship between the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index and metabolic syndrome (MS).

METHODS

We enrolled 298,652 individuals with an average age of 47.08 ± 12.94 years and who underwent health check-ups at the First Affiliated Hospital of Wuhu Wannan Medical College in this cross-sectional study from 2014 to 2016. We enlisted 125,025 women (41.86%) and 173,627 men (58.14%). The survey information included a questionnaire survey, a physical examination, and a laboratory examination.

RESULTS

The prevalence of MS increased gradually in the TyG-index subgroups (Q1, TyG <8.30; Q2, 8.30≤ TyG <8.83; and Q3, TyG ≥8.83). We noted significant differences in hypertension, hyperlipidemia, hyperglycemia, sex, age, body mass index (BMI), smoking and drinking habits, and estimated glomerular filtration rate between the TyG-index subgroups. Multiclass logistic regression analysis showed that the group with TyG <8.30 was the reference group, and the 8.30≤ TyG <8.83 and the TyG ≥8.83 groups exhibited a higher TyG index with MS, and a lower TyG index without MS disease. In the linear curve analysis of the TyG index and MS components, BMI, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure showed upward trends, while high-density lipoprotein cholesterol showed no obvious trend in the TyG index at a range of 7.8-11.0. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was used to evaluate the predictive value of the TyG index, triglycerides, and fasting blood glucose for MS, and we found that the area under the TyG index curve was the largest (AUC = 0.89).

CONCLUSION

There were associations between the TyG index and MS and its components, and the TyG index is therefore of great value in the early diagnosis of MS.