Errate: Dysregulation of Inflammation, Oxidative Stress, and Glucose Metabolism-Related Genes and miRNAs in Visceral Adipose Tissue of Women with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

The authors informed the journal that errors occurred in their manuscript, and were not noticed by the authors during the proofreading. Corrections: 1. Figure 1, top entry: "Predipocytes" should read "Preadipocytes". 2. Figure 3, chart "TIGAR": "-9" value on y axis should read "-8". 3. Figure 4, chart "let-7g-5p": the upper "-4" value on y axis should read "0". 4. Figure 5: the title of the bottom right chart should read "TIGAR". 5. Figure 6, chart "miR-26a-5p": the values on y axis should read from the top: 2, 1, 0, -1, -2. 6. Figure 6, chart "miR-374a-5p": the values on y axis should read from the top: 0, -1, -2, -3, -4. 7. Table 4., in the 6 rows from the bottom: in column "miRNAs", "hsa-miR-21-5" should read "hsa-miR-21-5p". 8. Supplementary Table1, 1st column on the left: "TG-HDL" should read "TG/HDL" Reference: Adam Wróblewski, Justyna Strycharz, Katarzyna Oszajca, Piotr Czarny, Ewa Świderska, Tomasz Matyjas, Andrzej Zieleniak, Monika Rucińska, Lech Pomorski, Józef Drzewoski, Agnieszka Śliwińska, Janusz Szemraj: Dysregulation of Inflammation, Oxidative Stress, and Glucose Metabolism-Related Genes and miRNAs in Visceral Adipose Tissue of Women with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Med Sci Monit, 2023; 29: e939299. DOI: 10.12659/MSM.939299.

Evening Primrose Extract Modulates TYMS Expression via SP1 Transcription Factor in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

PURPOSE

To determine the mechanism of EPE in downregulating TYMS in MPM cancer.

METHODS

The TYMS mRNA expression with epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition biomarkers and nuclear factor SP1 was assessed using the GEO database in a data set of MPM patients (GSE51024). Invasive MPM cell lines were in vitro models for the investigation of TYMS expression after EPE treatment. The tyms promoter SP1 binding sequences were determined using Genomatix v 3.4 software Electrophoretic mobility shift and dual-luciferase reporter assays revealed specific SP1 motifs in the interaction of EPE and reference compounds. Chromatin immunoprecipitation and Re-ChIP were used for the co-occupancy study.

RESULTS

In MPM patients, a positive correlation of overexpressed TYMS with mesenchymal TWIST1, FN1 and N-cadherin was observed. EPE and its major components, gallic and ellagic acid (GA and EA, respectively), downregulated TYMS in invasive MPM cells by interacting with particular SP1 motifs on the tyms promoter. The luciferase constructs confirmed the occupation of two SP1 regulatory regions critical for the promotion of TYMS expression. Both EPE and reference standards influenced SP1 translocation into the nucleus.

CONCLUSION

EPE components reduced TYMS expression by occupation of SP1 motifs on the tyms promoter and reversed the EMT phenotype of invasive MPM cells. Further in-depth analysis of the molecular docking of polyphenol compounds with SP1 regulatory motifs is required.

Dysregulation of Inflammation, Oxidative Stress, and Glucose Metabolism-Related Genes and miRNAs in Visceral Adipose Tissue of Women with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

BACKGROUND Human visceral adipose tissue (VAT), now identified as an endocrine organ, plays a significant role in impaired fasting glucose and diabetes through the deregulated metabolism and adipogenesis of visceral adipocytes in obesity. Our study focuses on exploring the link between inflammation, oxidative stress, and glucose metabolism-associated genes with corresponding miRNAs in human visceral adipocytes and VAT from individuals with glucose metabolism disorders. MATERIAL AND METHODS We examined the expression of ATM, NFKB1, SOD2, INSR, and TIGAR, along with their related miRNAs using PCR, in two contexts:1 - During the three-stage visceral adipogenesis under normal glucose levels (5.5 millimoles), intermittent, and chronic hyperglycemia (30 millimoles).2 - In visceral adipose tissue from subjects (34 F, 18 M) with normal glucose metabolism, impaired fasting glucose, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. RESULTS Both chronic and intermittent hyperglycemia similarly influenced ATM, NFKB1, TIGAR, SOD2, INSR gene expression in visceral adipocytes, with corresponding changes in a few tested miRNAs (eg, let-7g-5p, miR-145-5p, miR-21-5p). Anthropometric and biochemical parameters led us to focus on female subjects. Our results showed transactivation of NFKB1, TIGAR, miR-10b-5p, miR-132-3p, miR-20a-5p, miR-21-5p, and miR-26a-5p exclusively in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Upregulated molecules (excluding miR-10b-5p and miR-20a-5p) positively correlated with glucose metabolism markers. CONCLUSIONS The genes studied may undergo miRNA interferences and hyperglycemic memory in visceral adipocytes under hyperglycemic conditions. VAT from women with type 2 diabetes mellitus, but not with impaired fasting glucose, showed transactivated miRNAs and a molecular dysregulation of TIGAR and NFKB1, possibly enhancing inflammation, oxidative stress, and disrupted glucose metabolism. These findings highlight the epigenetic and molecular disturbances in VAT related to glucose metabolism abnormalities. However, additional research is necessary to further understand their biological significance.

Targeted and untargeted metabolomic approach for GDM diagnosis

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a disorder which manifests itself for the first time during pregnancy and is mainly connected with glucose metabolism. It is also known that fatty acid profile changes in erythrocyte membranes and plasma could be associated with obesity and insulin resistance. These factors can lead to the development of diabetes. In the reported study, we applied the untargeted analysis of plasma in GDM against standard glucose-tolerant (NGT) women to identify the differences in metabolomic profiles between those groups. We found higher levels of 2-hydroxybutyric and 3-hydroxybutyric acids. Both secondary metabolites are associated with impaired glucose metabolism. However, they are products of different metabolic pathways. Additionally, we applied lipidomic profiling using gas chromatography to examine the fatty acid composition of cholesteryl esters in the plasma of GDM patients. Among the 14 measured fatty acids characterizing the representative plasma lipidomic cluster, myristic, oleic, arachidonic, and α-linoleic acids revealed statistically significant changes. Concentrations of both myristic acid, one of the saturated fatty acids (SFAs), and oleic acid, which belong to monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), tend to decrease in GDM patients. In the case of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), some of them tend to increase (e.g., arachidonic), and some of them tend to decrease (e.g., α-linolenic). Based on our results, we postulate the importance of hydroxybutyric acid derivatives, cholesteryl ester composition, and the oleic acid diminution in the pathophysiology of GDM. There are some evidence suggests that the oleic acid can have the protective role in diabetes onset. However, metabolic alterations that lead to the onset of GDM are complex; therefore, further studies are needed to confirm our observations.

Transcriptomic Dysregulation of Inflammation-Related Genes in Leukocytes of Patients with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) during and after Pregnancy: Identifying Potential Biomarkers Relevant to Glycemic Abnormality

Although the immune system has been implicated in the pathophysiology of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and postpartum abnormal glucose tolerance (AGT), little is known about the transcriptional response of inflammation-related genes linked to metabolic phenotypes of GDM women during and after pregnancy, which may be potential diagnostic classifiers for GDM and biomarkers for predicting AGT. To address these questions, gene expression of IL6, IL8, IL10, IL13, IL18, TNFA, and the nuclear factor κB (NFκB)/RELA transcription factor were quantified in leukocytes of 28 diabetic women at GDM diagnosis (GDM group) and 1-year postpartum (pGDM group: 10 women with AGT and 18 normoglycemic women), using a nested RT-PCR method. Control pregnancies with normal glucose tolerance (NGT group; n = 31) were closely matched for maternal age, gestational age, pre-pregnancy BMI, pregnancy weight, and gestational weight gain. Compared with the NGT group, IL8 was downregulated in the GDM group, and IL13 and RELA were upregulated in the pGDM group, whereas IL6, IL10, and IL18 were upregulated in the GDM and pGDM groups. The TNFA level did not change from pregnancy to postpartum. Associations of some cytokines with glycemic measures were detected in pregnancy (IL6 and RELA) and postpartum (IL10) (p < 0.05). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves showed that IL6, IL8, and IL18, if employed alone, can discriminate GDM patients from NGT individuals at GDM diagnosis, with the area under the ROC curves (AUCs) of 0.844, (95% CI 0.736−0.953), 0.771 (95% CI 0.651−0.890), and 0.714 (95% CI 0.582−0.846), respectively. By the logistic regression method, we also identified a three-gene panel (IL8, IL13, and TNFA) for postpartum AGT prediction. This study demonstrates a different transcriptional response of the studied genes in clinically well-characterized women with GDM at GDM diagnosis and 1-year postpartum, and provides novel transcriptomic biomarkers for future efforts aimed at diagnosing GDM and identifying the high risk of postpartum AGT groups.

Identification of a novel association for the WWOX/HIF1A axis with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM)

Background

Although the WW-domain-containing oxidoreductase (WWOX)/Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF1) pathway is a well-known regulator of cellular glucose and energy metabolism in pathophysiological processes, its role in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), remains elusive. We undertook this study to determine the effect of WWOX/HIF1A signaling on the expression of glucose metabolism genes in GDM patients.

Methods

Leukocytes were obtained from 135 pregnant women with (n = 98) or without (n = 37) GDM and, in turn, 3 months (n = 8) and 1 year (n = 12) postpartum. Quantitative RT-PCR was performed to determine gene expression profiles of the WWOX/HIF1A-related genes, including those involved in glucose transport (SLC2A1, SLC2A4), glycolytic pathway (HK2, PKM2, PFK, LDHA), Wnt pathway (DVL2, CTNNB1), and inflammatory response (NFKB1).

Results

GDM patients displayed a significant downregulation of WWOX with simultaneous upregulation of HIF1A which resulted in approximately six times reduction in WWOX/HIF1A ratio. As a consequence, HIF1A induced genes (SLC2A1, HK2, PFK, PKM) were found to be overexpressed in GDM compared to normal pregnancy and negative correlate with WWOX/HIF1A ratio. The postpartum WWOX expression was higher than during GDM, but its level was comparable to that observed in normal pregnancy.

Conclusions

The obtained results suggest a significant contribution of the WWOX gene to glucose metabolism in patients with gestational diabetes. Decreased WWOX expression in GDM compared to normal pregnancy, and in particular reduction of WWOX/HIF1A ratio, indicate that WWOX modulates HIF1α activity in normal tissues as described in the tumor. The effect of HIF1α excessive activation is to increase the expression of genes encoding proteins directly involved in the glycolysis which may lead to pathological changes in glucose metabolism observed in gestational diabetes.

Expression Profile of Diabetes-Related Genes Associated with Leukocyte Sirtuin 1 Overexpression in Gestational Diabetes

Although compelling evidence indicates that Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) plays a prominent role in type 2 diabetes, its relationship with gestational diabetes (GDM) remains elusive. This study was aimed at identifying diabetes-related genes and cellular pathways linked to changes of leukocyte SIRT1 expression at the time of GDM diagnosis. For this purpose, 122 GDM patients were screened for leukocyte SIRT1 expression, and two subgroups were distinguished, namely GDM/SIRT1(↑) (n = 30, p < 0.05) and GDM/SIRT1(↔) (n = 92, p > 0.05), with significant and insignificant changes in leukocyte SIRT1 expression compared to a normal glucose tolerant (NGT) group (n = 41), respectively. PCR array analysis identified 11 diabetes-related genes with at least a ± 2-fold difference in expression in GDM/SIRT1(↑) patients (n = 9) vs. NGT controls (n = 7); in addition, significant differences in the expression of four of the six investigated genes were confirmed between the entire GDM/SIRT1(↑) group and the whole NGT group (p < 0.05). Interestingly, of these four genes, only ACLY expression was found to significantly differ between GDM/SIRT1(↑) and GDM/SIRT1(↔). This study demonstrates that under hyperglycemic conditions, leukocyte SIRT1 overexpression is accompanied by an over-abundance of three transcripts and an under-abundance of another; these four govern related metabolism, inflammation, and transport functions, suggesting that such alterations might represent systemic biological adaptations with a unique ACLY under-expression in GDM/SIRT1(↑) women.

Increased expression of immune-related genes in leukocytes of patients with diagnosed gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM)

Compelling evidence indicates that the immune system is linked to metabolism in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), but factors participating in these processes still are awaiting identification. Inducible nitric oxide synthase, encoded by the NOS2 gene, and surfactant protein D, encoded by the SFTPD gene, have been implicated in diabetes. We investigated NOS2 and SFTPD mRNA levels in leukocytes obtained from 125 pregnant women with (n = 87) or without (control group; n = 38) GDM, and, in turn, correlated their expression with clinical parameters of subjects. Leukocytes were isolated from the blood of pregnant women and NOS2 and SFTPD expression in these cells was determined by quantitative real time PCR (qRT-PCR). Univariate correlation analyses were performed to assess an association between leukocyte NOS2 and SFTPD expression and clinical characteristics of patients. qRT-PCR experiments disclosed significantly increased leukocyte NOS2 and SFTPD mRNA levels in hyperglycemic GDM patients (P < 0.05). In the entire study group, there were significant positive associations of leukocyte NOS2 and SFTPD mRNAs with C-reactive protein. Additionally, transcript level of SFTPD also correlated positively with fasting glycemia and insulin resistance. This study demonstrates that an impaired glucose metabolism in GDM may be predominant predictor of leukocyte NOS2 and SFTPD overexpression in diabetic patients. Furthermore, alterations in the expression of these genes are associated with glucose metabolism dysfunction and/or inflammation during pregnancy. In addition, these findings support the utilization of leukocytes as good experimental model to study a relationship between immune-related genes and metabolic changes in women with GDM, as well as to assess the potential mechanisms underlying these alterations.

The elevated gene expression level of the A(2B) adenosine receptor is associated with hyperglycemia in women with gestational diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND

Adenosine receptors denoted by A1 , A2A , A2B , and A3 and encoded by ADORA1, ADORA2A, ADORA2B, and ADORA3 genes, respectively, are adenosine-activated G-protein-coupled receptors that play an important role in obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, little is known about their significance in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there are changes in leukocyte AR expression in GDM patients and whether these alterations are linked to well-known diabetic genes.

METHODS

Leukocytes were isolated from the blood of normal glucose tolerant (NGT; n = 35) and GDM (n = 82) pregnant women, and expression of ARs was determined by a semi-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Univariate correlation analysis was performed to investigate associations between expression of ARs and anthropometric and metabolic parameters of patients. Furthermore, the identification of diabetic genes linked to significantly differentiated leukocyte adenosine receptors expression in GDM women was also carried out with the use of the human diabetes RT(2) profiler PCR arrays.

RESULTS

ADORA2B mRNA expression was significantly higher in GDM versus NGT pregnant women (p < 0.05), and positively correlated with the glucose level at 1-h 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT; r = 0.21, p = 0.044). Nineteen diabetic genes linked to leukocyte ADORA2B overexpression associated with hyperglycemia in GDM women were also identified.

CONCLUSIONS

Maternal leukocyte ADORA2B overexpression is associated with hyperglycemia in GDM subjects, and it is accompanied by complex alterations in the expression of diabetes-related genes involved in insulin action, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, oxidative stress, and inflammation.

Adenosine receptors expression is elevated in leukocytes of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) subjects--a preliminary study

INTRODUCTION

Adenosine receptors (ARs), belonging to the G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), are present in the majority of human cells and tissues. Depending on their biochemical and pharmacologic properties, four subtypes of ARs (i.e. A₁, A(2A), A(2B), and A₃) have been distinguished. Currently, these receptors are attractive molecular targets for pharmacological interventions in various diseases, including diabetes. The literature published to date has shown an altered expression of ARs in several types of cells under diabetic conditions. However, there has been no publication devoted to the investigation of ARs expression in leukocytes of subjects with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Therefore, this study was aimed to determine the expression level of AR subtypes in leukocytes of GDM patients and its relationship to anthropometric and biochemical parameters.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Gene expression of four AR subtypes in leukocytes of both healthy (n = 34) and GDM (n = 67) subjects in the third trimester of pregnancy (from 24 to 33 weeks) was investigated. Multiple regression analyses were used to assess the association between the expression level of ARs and both anthropometric and biochemical parameters.

RESULTS

Statistically significant (p < 0.05) higher levels of A(2A) and A(2B) mRNAs were observed in leukocytes of the GDM subjects compared to the control group. There was a positive correlation of A(2B) mRNA level with glucose concentration at 120 min of oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) (r = 0.24, p = 0.041).

CONCLUSIONS

Overexpression of A2BAR in leukocytes of the GDM subjects and, additionally, the existence of a relationship between its elevated expression level in these cells and abnormal values of glucose concentration at 120 min of OGTT for GDM, suggest that this subtype might be involved in the pathogenesis of GDM.

New insight into A₁ adenosine receptors in diabetes treatment

The A₁ adenosine receptors (A₁AR), belonging to the rhodopsin-like superfamily of the G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), may regulate many various cellular processes in cardiovascular, renal, and central nervous systems. In addition, since A(1)AR possesses antilipolytic properties, numerous A₁AR agonists and antagonists have been developed, but only some of them with the most promising selective properties in vitro have been advanced to animal studies and clinical trials. In this review, we have summarized the studies on the utility of A₁AR selective agonists and antagonists in the regulation of lipid and carbohydrate metabolism and their potential therapeutic applications in diabetes.