Effect of Inulin Intervention on Metabolic Control and Methylation of INS and IRS1 Genes in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

The role of the Helianthus genus in Hyperglycemia: A systematic review with meta-analysis

Hyperglycemia is characterized by high and uncompensated glucose levels, leading to diabetes mellitus (DM). Helianthus species extracts may have hypoglycemic properties and can be used as a complementary therapy for diabetes and its complications. This review evaluates the effects of extracts from Helianthus species on glycemia reduction in preclinical and clinical studies. Studies that isolated compounds or other associated compounds with the extract did not measure the glycemic profile; review articles and in vitro and ex vivo articles were excluded. The review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) protocols, and the systematic review center for laboratory animal experimentation (SYRCLE) tool was used for preclinical studies risk-of-bias (RoB) assessment. 14 studies, including 12 preclinical and 1 clinical study, were included. A meta-analysis was applied to preclinical studies and showed a significant effect in reducing glycemia and HbA1c levels. Qualitative analysis of the clinical study has also shown a reduction in glycemia. Inulin and chlorogenic acid (CGA) were identified in HelianthustuberosusL. and HelianthusannuusL., respectively, as compounds possibly responsible for these pharmacological effects. Extracts of the Helianthus species have been effective in improving the glycemic profile, making it possible to control DM and minimize its complications.

Association Between ABCG1/TCF7L2 and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: An Intervention Trial Based on a Case-Control Study

Background and Objective: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is the result of both genetic and environmental factors. Environmental factors may contribute to the occurrence and development of T2DM by influencing epigenetic modification. The objective of this study was to explore the potential functions of two SNP-CG sites (rs7901695 of TCF7L2 and cg06500161 of ABCG1) that are most strongly associated with T2DM. Given that Uyghur population has been less studied, we conducted an intervention trial in Uyghur people to provide evidence for personalized health management of T2DM in them. Methods: From May to July 2022, 320 patients with T2DM and 332 patients without T2DM were treated with dietary pagoda-based health education intervention. The demographic data were collected before intervention and basic physical biochemical indexes before and after intervention by questionnaire and physical biochemical examination. SNP typing was performed by the TaqMan-MGB probe method, and gene methylation was detected by the pyrosequencing method. Results: The rs7901695 genotype difference of TCF7L2 was statistically significant between the case group and the control group (p < 0.05). After adjusting for covariates (smoking, alcohol consumption, exercise, fasting blood glucose (FPG), obesity, and hypertension), the genotype of rs7901695 in the TCF7L2 gene was associated with genetic susceptibility to T2DM in additive (TC vs. TT,p = 0.047; CC vs. TT,p = 0.010), dominant (p = 0.015), and recessive (p = 0.039) models. Before intervention, there were significant differences in the intake of water between the case group and the control group (p < 0.05). After intervention, there was statistical significance in the intake of coarse grains, fruits, aquatic products, eggs, dairy products, soy products, nuts, edible oils, and water between the case group and the control group (ps < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that methylation of the ABCG1 gene was correlated with T2DM susceptibility after adjustment of covariable before intervention (p = 0.015, odds ratio (OR): 1.023; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.004~1.041) but not after intervention. Generalized multifactor dimensionality reduction (GMDR) showed that the rs7901695 locus of the TCF7L2 gene and the cg06500161 locus of the ABCG1 gene had interaction with hypertension, dyslipidemia, abdominal obesity, and obesity and also had interaction with drinking, smoking, and exercise. Conclusions: The interaction of the rs7901695 site of the TCF7L2 gene and the cg06500161 site of the ABCG1 gene with environmental factors may increase the risk of T2DM in Uyghurs. The interaction between the cg06500161 site of the ABCG1 gene and environmental factors on T2DM varied with the intervention. The cg06500161 site of ABCG1 may serve as a biomarker to evaluate the effect of T2DM interventions.

Association of polymorphism of NLRP3, ICAM-1, PTPN22, INS genes in childhood onset type 1 diabetes in a Pakistani population

BACKGROUND

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an organ-specific autoimmune disorder characterized by the destruction of pancreatic β cells, leading to absolute insulin deficiency. The genes NLRP3, ICAM-1, PTPN22, and INS are reportedly associated with T1D in other populations. However, the genetic pattern of T1D in the Pakistani population is not clear. This study aimed to find the association of polymorphisms in the PTPN22, INS, NLRP3, and ICAM-1 genes with T1D susceptibility in the Pakistani population.

METHODOLOGY

This case-control study includes 100 T1D patients (3-14 years), recruited randomly from the pediatric endocrinology department of Fatima Memorial Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan and 100 age-matched healthy controls were selected from different localities of the same population. The polymorphisms in PTPN22 (rs601, rs33996649, rs2488457), INS (rs80356664), NLRP3 (rs10754558, rs35829419), and ICAM-1 (rs1799969, rs5498) genes were genotyped by Sanger sequencing. The genotypic and allelic frequencies, haplotypes, and linkage disequilibrium were computed using the genetic toolset PLINK to investigate their relationship to T1D.

RESULTS

The results indicate that the occurrence of the GT genotype of the rs33996649 variant is significantly higher in children with T1D compared to a control group of healthy individuals (P = 0.001, OR: 2.0, 95% CI = 0.15-0.45). Furthermore, the CT genotype of rs2488457 was notably associated with T1D patients (P = 0.007, OR: 2.8, 95% CI = 0.56-0.67). The CG genotype of rs80356664 showed a slight association with T1D (P = 0.03, OR: 1.9, 95% CI = 0.35-0.59). The prevalence of the AT genotype of rs10754558 showed a strong association with T1D (P = 0.005, OR: 3.4, 95% CI = 0.45-0.69). The TG genotype of rs5498 was also strongly associated with T1D (P = 0.009, OR: 2.8, 95% CI = 0.75-0.89).

CONCLUSION

The present study provides evidence that SNPs in the PTPN22, INS, NLRP3, and ICAM-1 genes are associated with the development of T1D. Further research is needed to explore their potential use in genetic screening and personalized medication.

The Gut Microbial Regulation of Epigenetic Modification from a Metabolic Perspective

Obesity is a global health challenge that has received increasing attention in contemporary research. The gut microbiota has been implicated in the development of obesity, primarily through its involvement in regulating various host metabolic processes. Recent research suggests that epigenetic modifications may serve as crucial pathways through which the gut microbiota and its metabolites contribute to the pathogenesis of obesity and other metabolic disorders. Hence, understanding the interplay between gut microbiota and epigenetic mechanisms is crucial for elucidating the impact of obesity on the host. This review primarily focuses on the understanding of the relationship between the gut microbiota and its metabolites with epigenetic mechanisms in several obesity-related pathogenic mechanisms, including energy dysregulation, metabolic inflammation, and maternal inheritance. These findings could serve as novel therapeutic targets for probiotics, prebiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation tools in treating metabolic disruptions. It may also aid in developing therapeutic strategies that modulate the gut microbiota, thereby regulating the metabolic characteristics of obesity.

Inulin: Unveiling its potential as a multifaceted biopolymer in prebiotics, drug delivery, and therapeutics

In recent years, inulin has gained much attention as a promising multifunctional natural biopolymer with numerous applications in drug delivery, prebiotics, and therapeutics. It reveals a multifaceted biopolymer with transformative implications by elucidating the intricate interplay between inulin and the host, microbiome, and therapeutic agents. Their flexible structure, exceptional targetability, biocompatibility, inherent ability to control release behavior, tunable degradation kinetics, and protective ability make them outstanding carriers in healthcare and biomedicine. USFDA has approved Inulin as a nutritional dietary supplement for infants. The possible applications of inulin in biomedicine research inspired by nature are presented. The therapeutic potential of inulin goes beyond its role in prebiotics and drug delivery. Recently, significant research efforts have been made towards inulin's anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory properties for their potential applications in treating various chronic diseases. Moreover, its ability to reduce inflammation and modulate immune responses opens new avenues for treating conditions such as autoimmune disorders and gastrointestinal ailments. This review will attempt to illustrate the inulin's numerous and interconnected roles, shedding light on its critical contributions to the advancement of healthcare and biomedicine and its recent advancement in therapeutics, and conclude by taking valuable insights into the prospects and opportunities of inulin.