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Adipocyte Dec 2024Adipose tissue plays a crucial role in metabolic syndrome, autoimmune diseases, and many cancers. Because of adipose's role in so many aspects of human health, there is...
Adipose tissue plays a crucial role in metabolic syndrome, autoimmune diseases, and many cancers. Because of adipose's role in so many aspects of human health, there is a critical need for in vitro models that replicate adipose architecture and function. Traditional monolayer models, despite their convenience, are limited, showing heterogeneity and functional differences compared to 3D models. While monolayer cultures struggle with detachment and inefficient differentiation, healthy adipocytes in 3D culture accumulate large lipid droplets, secrete adiponectin, and produce low levels of inflammatory cytokines. The shift from monolayer models to more complex 3D models aims to better replicate the physiology of healthy adipose tissue in culture. This study introduces a simple and accessible protocol for generating adipose organoids using a scaffold-free spheroid model. The method, utilizing either 96-well spheroid plates or agarose micromolds, demonstrates increased throughput, uniformity, and ease of handling compared to previous techniques. This protocol allows for diverse applications, including drug testing, toxin screening, tissue engineering, and co-culturing. The choice between the two methods depends on the experimental goals, with the 96-well plate providing individualized control and the micromold offering scale advantages. The outlined protocol covers isolation, expansion, and characterization of stromal vascular fraction cells, followed by detailed steps for spheroid formation and optional downstream analyses.
Topics: Spheroids, Cellular; Adipose Tissue; Humans; Adipocytes; Cell Culture Techniques; Animals; Tissue Engineering; Cells, Cultured; Cell Differentiation; Mice
PubMed: 38864486
DOI: 10.1080/21623945.2024.2347215 -
Journal of Sports Sciences Apr 2024Few studies have reported the cardiovascular health effects of different high-intensity interval training (HIIT) protocols among sedentary young women. We investigated... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
Few studies have reported the cardiovascular health effects of different high-intensity interval training (HIIT) protocols among sedentary young women. We investigated the impact of a traditional HIIT programme and a high-intensity circuit training (HICT) programme on lipid profiles and inflammatory cytokine levels in sedentary young women. Forty-two women were randomly assigned to HICT (body weight-based training), HIIT (cycling-based training), or control groups ( = 14 each). HICT and HIIT participants completed an 8-week training programme of three sessions per week. Total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride, high- and low-density lipoprotein, leptin, resistin, tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-8, and interferon-gamma levels were measured before and after the intervention. Post-intervention, TC and leptin were decreased in the HICT group. The HICT group also demonstrated increased lean mass, upper and lower limb strength, and balance, while the HIIT group displayed improved lower limb strength. Additionally, the control group showed significant increases in triglyceride levels, weight, body mass index, and fat mass. In conclusion, although both HICT and HIIT interventions showed improvements in cardiovascular health and physical fitness, participants in the HICT group experienced more health benefits.
Topics: Humans; High-Intensity Interval Training; Female; Sedentary Behavior; Biomarkers; Leptin; Young Adult; Triglycerides; Body Mass Index; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; Lipids; Muscle Strength; Body Composition; Resistin; Cytokines; Cholesterol; Adult; Interferon-gamma; Interleukin-8
PubMed: 38864405
DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2024.2363708 -
Clinical Nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland) Jul 2024Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a growing public health concern. The disease is silent, and its diagnosis is often delayed.... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
Inflammatory markers as diagnostic and precision nutrition tools for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: Results from the Fatty Liver in Obesity trial.
BACKGROUND & AIMS
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a growing public health concern. The disease is silent, and its diagnosis is often delayed. Inflammatory markers constitute an interesting tool to act as subrogate, non-invasive markers. This study aimed to evaluate the changes of inflammatory markers throughout a two-year dietary intervention in subjects presenting MASLD, to determine which of the markers are suitable to predict the disease, and act as a customizing tool for MASLD's dietary treatment.
METHODS
Ninety-eight subjects with MASLD and forty-five controls from the Fatty Liver in Obesity (FLiO) Study were analyzed. MASLD was diagnosed and graded by ultrasound. The MASLD subjects were randomly assigned to two different dietary strategies, the American Heart Association (AHA diet) or a dietary strategy based on the Mediterranean pattern, which was specially designed for the study (FLiO diet), and then followed for two years. Hepatic status was additionally assessed through Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), elastography, and determination of transaminases.
RESULTS & DISCUSSION
Inflammatory markers improved throughout the intervention in the MASLD subjects and managed to reach similar levels to controls, especially at 6 and 12 months. Additionally, leptin, adiponectin, M30, and LECT2 managed to significantly diagnose the disease at all time marks of the intervention, making them candidates for subrogate non-invasive markers of the disease. Moreover, baseline chemerin, leptin, LECT2, and M65 were used to build a predictive score to achieve greater weight loss, and therefore, which strategy could be more useful for MASLD 's treatment. The predictive score was significantly able assign a specific diet to 55% of the study participants, meaning that the remaining 45% could achieve the same amount of weight loss following either diet equally.
CONCLUSION
Inflammatory markers constitute a potential non-invasive tool to be used in MASLD screening and could also constitute an interesting tool for MASLD's treatment customization, being able to predict the effectiveness of a dietary strategy based on the initial inflammatory state of each subject.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
www.
CLINICALTRIALS
gov (NCT03183193).
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Biomarkers; Middle Aged; Obesity; Adult; Inflammation; Fatty Liver; Diet, Mediterranean; Liver; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; Leptin
PubMed: 38861890
DOI: 10.1016/j.clnu.2024.05.042 -
Endocrine Regulations Jan 2024Sedentary lifestyle increasingly observed in the population contributes to the incremental incidence of obesity, cardiovascular diseases, mental disorders, type 2...
Sedentary lifestyle increasingly observed in the population contributes to the incremental incidence of obesity, cardiovascular diseases, mental disorders, type 2 diabetes, hyper-tension, dyslipidemia, and others. Physical inactivity together with an imbalance in caloric intake and expenditure leads to a loss of muscle mass, reduced insulin sensitivity, and accumulation of the visceral fat. Organokines (adipokines, myokines, hepatokines, etc.) serve in the organism for inter-organ communication. However, human studies focused on the exercise-related changes in plasma levels of certain myokines have produced contradictory results. In the present study, we verified a hypothesis that myokine irisin, which is expected to increase in response to physical activity, induces brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) production and by this way mediates the beneficial effect of exercise on several brain functions. Women (n=27) and men (n=10) aged 44.5±12.0 years, who were sedentary and overweight/obese (men ≥25%, women ≥28% body fat), participated in the study. The effect of an 8-week intensive lifestyle intervention (150 minutes of moderate physical activity per week, diet modification, and reduction of caloric intake) on the selected organokines (irisin, BDNF) in the context of an expected improvement in cardiometabolic status was examined. The 8-week lifestyle intervention resulted in a significant (p<0.05) reduction in body mass index, body fat, blood pressure, insulin resistance, lipid and liver parameters, and irisin levels (p<0.001). However, BDNF increase in the whole group did not reach statistical significance. After the improvement of cardiometabolic parameters, a significant decrease in irisin and increase in BDNF levels were also observed in the subgroup with unsatisfactory (≤5%) body weight reduction. Neither relationship between irisin and BDNF levels, nor effect of age or sex on their levels was observed. We cannot confirm the hypothesis that exercise-induced irisin may increase the BDNF levels, whereas, the organokine levels in the periphery may not completely reflect the processes in the brain compartments. The observed decrease in irisin levels after 8-week intensive lifestyle intervention program, which was in contrary to its supposed mechanisms of action and dynamics, suggests the presence of several yet undiscovered impacts on the secretion of irisin.
Topics: Humans; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; Fibronectins; Sedentary Behavior; Male; Female; Middle Aged; Adult; Exercise; Obesity; Overweight; Life Style
PubMed: 38861537
DOI: 10.2478/enr-2024-0013 -
Expert Review of Endocrinology &... Jul 2024Obesity and metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) during pregnancy constitute significant problems for routine antenatal care, with increasing prevalence... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Obesity and metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) during pregnancy constitute significant problems for routine antenatal care, with increasing prevalence globally. Similar to obesity, MAFLD is associated with a higher risk for maternal complications (e.g. pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes) and long-term adverse health outcomes for the offspring. However, MAFLD during pregnancy is often under-recognized, with limited management/treatment options.
AREAS COVERED
PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Scopus were searched based on a search strategy for obesity and/or MAFLD in pregnancy to identify relevant papers up to 2024. This review summarizes the pertinent evidence on the relationship between maternal obesity and MAFLD during pregnancy. Key mechanisms implicated in the underlying pathophysiology linking obesity and MAFLD during pregnancy (e.g. insulin resistance and dysregulated adipokine secretion) are highlighted. Moreover, a diagnostic approach for MAFLD diagnosis during pregnancy and its complications are presented. Finally, promising relevant areas for future research are covered.
EXPERT OPINION
Research progress regarding maternal obesity, MAFLD, and their impact on maternal and fetal/offspring health is expected to improve the relevant diagnostic methods and lead to novel treatments. Thus, routine practice could apply more personalized management strategies, incorporating individualized algorithms with genetic and/or multi-biomarker profiling to guide prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment.
Topics: Humans; Pregnancy; Female; Pregnancy Complications; Obesity, Maternal; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
PubMed: 38860684
DOI: 10.1080/17446651.2024.2365791 -
Adiponectin rescues synaptic plasticity in the dentate gyrus of a mouse model of Fragile X Syndrome.Philosophical Transactions of the Royal... Jul 2024Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the most common inherited cause of intellectual disability and is the leading known single-gene cause of autism spectrum disorder. Patients...
Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the most common inherited cause of intellectual disability and is the leading known single-gene cause of autism spectrum disorder. Patients with FXS display varied behavioural deficits that include mild to severe cognitive impairments in addition to mood disorders. Currently, there is no cure for this condition; however, there is an emerging focus on therapies that inhibit mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR)-dependent protein synthesis owing to the clinical effectiveness of metformin for alleviating some behavioural symptoms in FXS. Adiponectin (APN) is a neurohormone that is released by adipocytes and provides an alternative means to inhibit mTOR activation in the brain. In these studies, we show that knockout mice, like patients with FXS, show reduced levels of circulating APN and that both long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD) in the dentate gyrus (DG) are impaired. Brief (20 min) incubation of hippocampal slices in APN (50 nM) was able to rescue both LTP and LTD in the DG and increased both the surface expression and phosphorylation of GluA1 receptors. These results provide evidence for reduced APN levels in FXS playing a role in decreasing bidirectional synaptic plasticity and show that therapies which enhance APN levels may have therapeutic potential for this and related conditions.This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Long-term potentiation: 50 years on'.
Topics: Animals; Fragile X Syndrome; Dentate Gyrus; Mice; Neuronal Plasticity; Mice, Knockout; Disease Models, Animal; Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein; Adiponectin; Long-Term Potentiation; Male; Receptors, AMPA
PubMed: 38853554
DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2023.0221 -
Redox Biology Jul 2024Radiation causes damage to normal tissues that leads to increased oxidative stress, inflammation, and fibrosis, highlighting the need for the selective radioprotection...
Exogenous APN protects normal tissues from radiation-induced oxidative damage and fibrosis in mice and prostate cancer patients with higher levels of APN have less radiation-induced toxicities.
Radiation causes damage to normal tissues that leads to increased oxidative stress, inflammation, and fibrosis, highlighting the need for the selective radioprotection of healthy tissues without hindering radiotherapy effectiveness in cancer. This study shows that adiponectin, an adipokine secreted by adipocytes, protects normal tissues from radiation damage invitro and invivo. Specifically, adiponectin (APN) reduces chronic oxidative stress and fibrosis in irradiated mice. Importantly, APN also conferred no protection from radiation to prostate cancer cells. Adipose tissue is the primary source of circulating endogenous adiponectin. However, this study shows that adipose tissue is sensitive to radiation exposure exhibiting morphological changes and persistent oxidative damage. In addition, radiation results in a significant and chronic reduction in blood APN levels from adipose tissue in mice and human prostate cancer patients exposed to pelvic irradiation. APN levels negatively correlated with bowel toxicity and overall toxicities associated with radiotherapy in prostate cancer patients. Thus, protecting, or modulating APN signaling may improve outcomes for prostate cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy.
Topics: Male; Animals; Prostatic Neoplasms; Humans; Mice; Oxidative Stress; Fibrosis; Adiponectin; Radiation Injuries; Adipose Tissue; Radiation-Protective Agents
PubMed: 38851001
DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2024.103219 -
BMC Endocrine Disorders Jun 2024Meteorin-like (Metrnl), a secreted myokine, is a newly discovered neurotrophic factor. The aim of this study was to determine if there is a correlation between the...
OBJECTIVE
Meteorin-like (Metrnl), a secreted myokine, is a newly discovered neurotrophic factor. The aim of this study was to determine if there is a correlation between the Metrnl level and diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN).
METHODS
The investigation was conducted on a sample of 80 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and 60 healthy controls. The T2DM patients were categorized into two subgroups based on skin biopsy: the DPN subgroup (n = 20) and the diabetes without neuropathy subgroup (n = 60).
RESULTS
The T2DM groups had higher serum Metrnl concentrations compared with the controls. The serum Metrnl concentration was significantly lower in the DPN group than in T2DM patients without neuropathy. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated a notable correlation between serum Metrnl and DPN (OR: 0.997, 95% CI: 0.995-1.000, P < 0.05). Serum Metrnl level was negatively correlated with age and SBP after a simple logistic regression analysis.
CONCLUSION
Serum Metrnl concentration is independently correlated with DPN.
Topics: Humans; Diabetic Neuropathies; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Male; Female; Middle Aged; Case-Control Studies; Aged; Biomarkers; Adipokines
PubMed: 38849768
DOI: 10.1186/s12902-024-01616-2 -
Clinical and Translational Science Jun 2024Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is the severe form of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease which has a high potential to progress to cirrhosis and...
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is the severe form of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease which has a high potential to progress to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, yet adequate effective therapies are lacking. Hypoadiponectinemia is causally involved in the pathogenesis of MASH. This study investigated the pharmacological effects of adiponectin replacement therapy with the adiponectin-derived peptide ALY688 (ALY688-SR) in a mouse model of MASH. Human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell-derived hepatocytes were used to test cytotoxicity and signaling of unmodified ALY688 in vitro. High-fat diet with low methionine and no added choline (CDAHF) was used to induce MASH and test the effects of ALY688-SR in vivo. Histological MASH activity score (NAS) and fibrosis score were determined to assess the effect of ALY688-SR. Transcriptional characterization of mice through RNA sequencing was performed to indicate potential molecular mechanisms involved. In cultured hepatocytes, ALY688 efficiently induced adiponectin-like signaling, including the AMP-activated protein kinase and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways, and did not elicit cytotoxicity. Administration of ALY688-SR in mice did not influence body weight but significantly ameliorated CDAHF-induced hepatic steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis, therefore effectively preventing the development and progression of MASH. Mechanistically, ALY688-SR treatment markedly induced hepatic expression of genes involved in fatty acid oxidation, whereas it significantly suppressed the expression of pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic genes as demonstrated by transcriptomic analysis. ALY688-SR may represent an effective approach in MASH treatment. Its mode of action involves inhibition of hepatic steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis, possibly via canonical adiponectin-mediated signaling.
Topics: Animals; Adiponectin; Mice; Humans; Hepatocytes; Disease Models, Animal; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; Male; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Signal Transduction; Diet, High-Fat; Metabolism, Inborn Errors; Metabolic Diseases; Liver; Fatty Liver
PubMed: 38847320
DOI: 10.1111/cts.13760 -
Frontiers in Endocrinology 2024Leptin and its receptors are expressed by the human placenta throughout gestation, yet the role of leptin in early human placental development is not well characterized....
INTRODUCTION
Leptin and its receptors are expressed by the human placenta throughout gestation, yet the role of leptin in early human placental development is not well characterized. Leptin is overexpressed in the placentas from preeclamptic (PE) pregnancies. PE can result from the impaired invasion of fetal placental cells, cytotrophoblasts (CTBs), into the maternal decidua. We hypothesized that elevated leptin levels would impair human CTB invasion.
METHODS
The effects of leptin on the invasion of human CTBs were evaluated in three cell models, HTR-8/SVneo cells, primary CTBs, and placental villous explants using invasion assays. Further, leptin receptor expression was characterized in all three cell models using RT-PCR. Further phosphokinase assays were performed in HTR-8/SVneo cells to determine signaling pathways involved in CTB invasion in response to differential leptin doses.
RESULTS
We found that, prior to 8 weeks gestation, leptin promoted CTB invasion in the explant model. After 11 weeks gestation in explants, primary CTBs and in HTR-8/SVneo cells, leptin promoted invasion at moderate but not at high concentrations. Further, leptin receptor characterization revealed that leptin receptor expression did not vary over gestation, however, STAT, PI3K and MAPK pathways showed different signaling in response to varied leptin doses.
DISCUSSION
These data suggest that the excess placental leptin observed in PE may cause impaired CTB invasion as a second-trimester defect. Leptin's differential effect on trophoblast invasion may explain the role of hyperleptinemia in preeclampsia pathogenesis.
Topics: Humans; Trophoblasts; Leptin; Female; Pregnancy; Gestational Age; Receptors, Leptin; Placenta; Pre-Eclampsia; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Signal Transduction; Placentation; Cell Movement
PubMed: 38846494
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1386309