Whole fresh fruit intake and risk of incident diabetes in different glycemic stages: a nationwide prospective cohort investigation.

PURPOSE: Fruit intake is beneficial to several chronic diseases, but controversial in diabetes. We aimed to investigate prospectively the associations of whole fresh fruit intake with risk of incident type 2 diabetes (T2D) in subjects with different glucose regulation capacities. METHODS: The present study included 79,922 non-diabetic participants aged ≥ 40 years from an ongoing nationwide prospective cohort in China. Baseline fruit intake information was collected by a validated food frequency questionnaire. Plasma HbA1c, fasting and 2 h post-loading glucose levels were measured at both baseline and follow-up examinations. Cox proportional hazards models were used to calculate hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for incident diabetes among participants with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) and prediabetes, after adjusted for multiple confounders. Restricted cubic spline analysis was applied for dose-response relation. RESULTS: During a median 3.8-year follow-up, 5886 (7.36%) participants developed diabetes. Overall, we identified a linear and dose-dependent inverse association between dietary whole fresh fruit intake and risk of incident T2D. Each 100 g/d higher fruit intake was associated with 2.8% lower risk of diabetes (HR 0.972, 95%CI [0.949-0.996], P = 0.0217), majorly benefiting NGT subjects with 15.2% lower risk (HR 0.848, 95%CI [0.766-0.940], P = 0.0017), while not significant in prediabetes (HR 0.981, 95%CI 0.957-4.005, P = 0.1268). Similarly, the inverse association was present in normoglycemia individuals with a 48.6% lower risk of diabetes when consuming fruits > 7 times/week comparing to those < 1 time/week (HR 0.514, 95% CI [0.368-0.948]), but not in prediabetes (HR 0.883, 95% CI [0.762-1.023]). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that higher frequency and amount of fresh fruit intake may protect against incident T2D, especially in NGT, but not in prediabetes, highlighting the dietary recommendation of higher fresh fruit consumption to prevent T2D in normoglycemia population.

Long noncoding RNA MIR22HG promotes Leydig cell apoptosis by acting as a competing endogenous RNA for microRNA-125a-5p that targets N-Myc downstream-regulated gene 2 in late-onset hypogonadism.

Leydig cells (LCs) apoptosis is responsible for the deficiency of serum testosterone in Late-onset hypogonadism (LOH), while its specific mechanism is still unknown. This study focuses on the role of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) MIR22HG in LC apoptosis and aims to elaborate its regulatory mechanism. MIR22HG was up-regulated in the testicular tissues of mice with LOH and H2O2-treated TM3 cells (mouse Leydig cell line). Interference of MIR22HG ameliorated cell apoptosis and upregulated miR-125a-5p expression in H2O2-treated TM3 cells. Then, the interaction between MIR22HG and miR-125a-5p was confirmed with RIP and RNA pull-down assay. Further study showed that miR-125a-5p downregulated N-Myc downstream-regulated gene 2 (NDRG2) expression by targeting its 3'-UTR of mRNA. What's more, MIR22HG overexpression aggravated cell apoptosis and reduced testosterone production in TM3 cells via miR-125a-5p/NDRG2 pathway. MIR22HG knockdown elevated testosterone levels in LOH mice. In conclusion, MIR22HG up-regulated NDRG2 expression through targeting miR-125a-5p, thus promoting LC apoptosis in LOH.

Dual Specificity Phosphatase 12 Regulates Hepatic Lipid Metabolism Through Inhibition of the Lipogenesis and Apoptosis Signal-Regulating Kinase 1 Pathways.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become the most common cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. Due to the growing economic burden of NAFLD on public health, it has become an emergent target for clinical intervention. DUSP12 is a member of the dual specificity phosphatase (DUSP) family, which plays important roles in brown adipocyte differentiation, microbial infection, and cardiac hypertrophy. However, the role of DUSP12 in NAFLD has yet to be clarified. Here, we reveal that DUSP12 protects against hepatic steatosis and inflammation in L02 cells after palmitic acid/oleic acid treatment. We demonstrate that hepatocyte specific DUSP12-deficient mice exhibit high-fat diet (HFD)-induced and high-fat high-cholesterol diet-induced hyperinsulinemia and liver steatosis and decreased insulin sensitivity. Consistently, DUSP12 overexpression in hepatocyte could reduce HFD-induced hepatic steatosis, insulin resistance, and inflammation. At the molecular level, steatosis in the absence of DUSP12 was characterized by elevated apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1), which mediates the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway and hepatic metabolism. DUSP12 physically binds to ASK1, promotes its dephosphorylation, and inhibits its action on ASK1-related proteins, JUN N-terminal kinase, and p38 MAPK in order to inhibit lipogenesis under high-fat conditions. Conclusion: DUSP12 acts as a positive regulator in hepatic steatosis and offers potential therapeutic opportunities for NAFLD.

Elevated triglycerides rather than other lipid parameters are associated with increased urinary albumin to creatinine ratio in the general population of China: a report from the REACTION study.

BACKGROUND: Dyslipidaemia has always been regarded as the cornerstone of arteriosclerosis and is related to the pathogenesis of renal insufficiency. However, it is unclear which routinely available lipid parameter is related to urinary albumin to creatinine ratio (UACR). The purpose of this study was to examine the lipid abnormalities associated with UACR in the general population in China. METHODS: The present study was nested in an ongoing Risk Evaluation of cAncers in Chinese diabetic Individuals: A lONgitudinal (REACTION) study, which was designed to demonstrate the association of abnormal glucose metabolism with the risk of cancer in the Chinese population. This cross-sectional study included 34, 569 subjects (11, 390 males and 23, 179 females) from 8 different regional community cohorts, with an average age of 57.9 years. The UACR data were divided into the < 25% group, the 25-49% group, the 50-74% group, and the ≥ 75% group according to the quartile division of the centre where the subjects visited. The lipid classes were defined according to the guidelines for the prevention and treatment of dyslipidaemia in Chinese adults. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the association of the lipid parameters and UACR. RESULTS: Multivariable regression analysis revealed that compared with the other lipid parameters, triglycerides (TG) showed an adjusted odds ratio that was significant in model 1-4. This relationship was attenuated after adjusting for Haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and blood pressure (BP), but TG ≥ 2.3 mmol/L was still significantly associated with UACR in total subjects and in both men and women (OR: 1.131, 95% CI 1.065-1.203, P < 0.001 in total subjects; OR: 1.134, 95% CI 1.022-1.258, P = 0.017 in men; OR: 1.129, 95% CI 1.046-1.219, P = 0.002 in women). In the stratified analysis, elevated TG was significantly associated with increased urinary albumin in subjects with eGFR ≥ 90 mL/min per 1.73 m2, 5.6 ≤ FBG < 7.0 or 7.8 ≤ PBG < 11.1 mmol/L, 24 ≤ BMI < 28 kg/m2, 120 ≤ SBP < 140 and/or 80 ≤ DBP < 90 mmHg. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that high TG levels rather than total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, or non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels are associated with UACR in the general population in China.

Melanocortin 4 Receptor Activation Attenuates Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Skeletal Muscle of Diabetic Rats.

A previous study has confirmed that the central melanocortin system was able to mediate skeletal muscle AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation in mice fed a high-fat diet, while activation of the AMPK signaling pathway significantly induced mitochondrial biogenesis. Our hypothesis was that melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) was involved in the development of skeletal muscle injury in diabetic rats. In this study, we treated diabetic rats intracerebroventricularly with MC4R agonist R027-3225 or antagonist SHU9119, respectively. Then, we measured the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH), the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) content and mitochondrial biogenesis, and the protein levels of p-AMPK, AMPK, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator 1α (PGC-1α), sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), and manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) in the skeletal muscle of diabetic rats. The results showed that there was significant skeletal muscle injury in the diabetic rats along with serious oxidative stress and decreased mitochondrial biogenesis. Treatment with R027-3225 reduced oxidative stress and induced mitochondrial biogenesis in skeletal muscle, and also activated the AMPK-SIRT1-PGC-1α signaling pathway. However, diabetic rats injected with MC4R antagonist SHU9119 showed an aggravated oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in skeletal muscle. In conclusion, our results revealed that MC4R activation was able to attenuate oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in skeletal muscle induced by diabetes partially through activating the AMPK-SIRT1-PGC-1α signaling pathway. J. Cell. Biochem. 118: 4072-4079, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Sirtuin-3 (SIRT3) protects pancreatic ß-cells from endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-induced apoptosis and dysfunction.

Insufficient insulin produced by pancreatic ß-cells in the control of blood sugar is a central feature of the etiology of diabetes. Reports have shown that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is fundamentally involved in ß-cell dysfunction. In this study, we hypothesized that NAD-dependent deacetylase sirtuin-3 (SIRT3), an important regulator of cell metabolism, protects pancreatic ß-cells from ER stress-mediated apoptosis. To validate our hypothesis, a rat diabetic model was established by a high-fat diet (HFD). We found that SIRT3 expression was markedly decreased in NIT1 and INS1 cells incubated with palmitate. Palmitate treatment significantly decreased ß-cell viability and insulin secretion, and promoted malondialdehyde (MDA) formation. However, SIRT3 overexpression in NIT1 and INS1 cells reversed these effects, resulting in higher insulin secretion, decreased ß-cell apoptosis, and downregulation of the expression of ER stress-associated genes. Moreover, SIRT3 overexpression also inhibited calcium influx and the hyperacetylation of glucose-regulated protein of 78 kDa (GRP78). SIRT3 knockdown effectively enhanced the upregulation of phospho-extracellular regulated protein kinases (pERK), inositol-requiring enzyme-1 (IRE1), activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6), and C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) induced by palmitate, and promoted palmitate-induced ß-cell apoptosis and dysfunction. Taken together, our results suggest that SIRT3 is an integral regulator of ER function and that its depletion might result in the hyperacetylation of critical ER proteins that protect against islet lipotoxicity under conditions of nutrient excess.

Risk factors of nocturia (two or more voids per night) in Chinese people older than 40 years.

AIMS: To explore the risk factors of nocturia in Chinese inhabitants aged ≥40 years. METHODS: A randomized, community-based, cross-sectional study was performed on 10,160 inhabitants ≥40 years old in mainland China, via a stratified sampling approach. A questionnaire, including socio-demographics, lifestyle factors and medical history, was completed. Nocturia was defined as a threshold of two or more voids per night. Differences in prevalence between age and gender groups were ascertained by the chi-squared test. Gender-related factors were evaluated by multivariate logistic regression analysis. P < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. RESULTS: Data on 9,637 (94.9%) people aged 59.6 ± 9.7 years qualified for final statistical analysis. The overall prevalence of nocturia was 31.7% (3,053/9,637), and this increased with age (P < 0.001). Nocturia was significantly associated with cardiovascular disease and overactive bladder symptom score (OABSS) (P < 0.05), while sporting activities were protective (P < 0.001). Diabetes mellitus (DM) was significantly correlated with nocturia in men (P < 0.05), whereas hypertension was correlated with nocturia in women (P < 0.05). No correlation was found between nocturia and education level, occupation, civil status, tea consumption, body mass index (BMI), female birth history, and International Prostate Symptom Score. CONCLUSIONS: In Chinese people aged ≥40 years, nocturia is associated with aging, OABSS, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and DM. Sporting activities are negatively associated with nocturia.

The effect of FoxO1 on the proliferation of rat mesangial cells under high glucose conditions.

BACKGROUND: Hyperproliferation of glomerular mesangial cells (MCs) is a major pathological characteristic in the early stage of diabetic nephropathy (DN). We have previously confirmed that forkhead transcription factor O1 (FoxO1) was significantly downregulated in both the renal cortex of DN rats and MCs cultured under high-glucose (HG) conditions, but the effects and mechanisms of FoxO1 involved in the hyperproliferation of MCs are still unclear. This study aims to investigate whether FoxO1 regulates the hyperproliferation of MCs induced under high-glucose conditions, through modulating the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor (CKI), p27. METHODS: Lentiviral vectors of LV-constitutively active FoxO1 (CA-FoxO1) and LV-small interfering RNA (siRNA)-FoxO1 were constructed to up- and downregulate FoxO1. Similarly, LV-NC-FoxO1 was used as negative control (NC). Rat MCs were cultured in normal glucose (5.6 mM) medium, HG (30 mM) medium, HG with LV-NC-FoxO1, HG with LV-CA-FoxO1 and HG with LV-siRNA-FoxO1 for 72 h. Cell proliferation, cell cycle progression, messenger RNA and protein expression of FoxO1, p27, cyclin D1 and CDK4 were detected by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay, flow cytometry, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blotting, respectively. RESULTS: MCs exposed to HG medium triggered hyperproliferation of MCs. Nevertheless, overexpression of FoxO1 caused by LV-CA-FoxO1 promoted cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase and attenuated proliferation, which was associated with upregulation of p27 and downregulation of cyclin D1 and CDK4. Moreover, specific degradation of FoxO1 by LV-siRNA-FoxO1 caused a decrease of p27, increase of cyclin D1 and CDK4, overrode the limited cell cycle and stimulated proliferation of MCs. CONCLUSIONS: Overexpression of FoxO1 caused upregulation of p27, which promoted cell cycle arrest and inhibited hyperproliferation of MCs induced by HG. Degradation of FoxO1 caused an increase in p27 and stimulated MC proliferation. These findings unveil part of the molecular mechanism of FoxO1 regulation of MC hyperproliferation induced by HG.

Novel lncRNA-prader willi/angelman region RNA, SNRPN neighbour (PWARSN) aggravates tubular epithelial cell pyroptosis by regulating TXNIP via dual way in diabetic kidney disease.

OBJECTIVES: Elevated thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP)-induced pyroptosis contributes to the pathology of diabetic kidney disease (DKD). However, the molecular mechanisms in dysregulated TXNIP in DKD remain largely unclear. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Transcriptomic analysis identified a novel long noncoding RNA-Prader Willi/Angelman region RNA, SNRPN neighbour (PWARSN)-which was highly expressed in a proximal tubular epithelial cell (PTEC) under high glucose conditions. We focused on revealing the functions of PWARSN in regulating TXNIP-mediated pyroptosis in PTECs by targeting PWARSN expression via lentivirus-mediated overexpression and CRISPR-Cas9-based knockout in vitro and overexpressing PWARSN in the renal cortex by AAV-9 targeted injection in vivo. A number of molecular techniques disclosed the mechanisms of PWARSN in regulating TXNIP induced-pyroptosis in DKD. RESULTS: TXNIP-NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome and PTEC pyroptosis were activated in the renal tubules of patients with DKD and in diabetic mice. Then we explored that PWARSN enhanced TXNIP-driven PTECs pyroptosis in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, cytoplasmic PWARSN sponged miR-372-3p to promote TXNIP expression. Moreover, nuclear PWARSN interacted and facilitated RNA binding motif protein X-linked (RBMX) degradation through ubiquitination, resulting in the initiation of TXNIP transcription by reducing H3K9me3-enrichment at the TXNIP promoter. Further analysis indicated that PWARSN might be a potential biomarker for DKD. CONCLUSIONS: These findings illustrate distinct dual molecular mechanisms for PWARSN-modulated TXNIP and PTECs pyroptosis in DKD, presenting PWARSN as a promising therapeutic target for DKD.

LncRNA RUNX1-IT1 affects the differentiation of Th1 cells by regulating NrCAM transcription in Graves' disease.

Graves' disease (GD) is a kind of autoimmune diseases. The development of GD is closely related to the imbalance of Th1/Th2 generated by the differentiation of CD4+ T cells. This study was sought to clarify the role of lncRNA RUNX1-IT1 and explore the mechanism of its function. The expressions of RUNX1-IT1 and Neural cell adhesion molecule (NrCAM) in the peripheral blood of GD patients were detected by qRT-PCR and Western blot. We performed RNA pull down, RIP, and ChIP experiments to verify the correlation between p53 and RUNX1-IT1, p53 and NrCAM. The levels of Th1 cells differentiation markers were detected by Flow cytometry assay and ELISA. The expressions of lncRNA RUNX1-IT1 and NrCAM were most significantly up-regulated in CD4+ T cells of GD patients, and NrCAM expression was significantly positively correlated with RUNX1-IT1 expression. Furthermore, p53 was a potential transcription factor of NrCAM, which could interact with NrCAM. NrCAM level was up-regulated after the overexpression of p53 in CD4+ T cells, while knockdown of RUNX1-IT1 reversed this effect. Down-regulation of NrCAM and RUNX1-IT1 could decrease the mRNA and protein levels of transcriptional regulator T-bet and CXC chemokine ligand 10 (CXCL10) in CD4+ T cells. Our results suggested that RUNX1-IT1 regulated the expressions of the important Th1 factor T-bet, CXCL10, and interferon γ (IFN-γ) by regulating NrCAM transcription, thus participating in the occurrence and development of specific autoimmune disease GD.

Berberine activates the ß-catenin/TCF4 signaling pathway by down-regulating miR-106b to promote GLP-1 production by intestinal L cells.

Berberine facilitates the production of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) by intestinal L cells. Here, we aimed to reveal the mechanism of berberine facilitating the production of GLP-1 by intestinal L cells. In this study, we confirmed that the 100 mg/kg berberine daily through diet decreased the miR-106b expression and elevated the expressions of ß-catenin and T-cell factor 4 (TCF4) in colon tissues of high-fat diet mice; berberine decreased the concentrations of triglycerides, total cholesterol and the ratio of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in mouse serum samples; berberine decreased the blood glucose in the mouse tail vein blood and promoted GLP-1 production by intestinal L cells in mouse serum samples and elevated the GLP-1 expression in mouse colon tissues. Meanwhile, the mechanism analysis demonstrated that a dose of 100 µM berberine down-regulated the miR-106b expression by elevating the methylation levels of miR-106b in STC-1 cells and miR-106b bound to TCF4 in 293T cells. Moreover, the 100 mg/kg berberine daily through diet activated the ß-catenin/TCF4 signaling pathway by decreasing miR-106b, thereby facilitating GLP-1 production in intestinal L cells through the in vivo assays. Conclusively, our experimental data illustrated that berberine decreased miR-106b expression by increasing its methylation levels and then activated the ß-catenin/TCF4 signaling pathway, thereby facilitating GLP-1 production by intestinal L cells.

Inverted U-Shaped Associations between Glycemic Indices and Serum Uric Acid Levels in the General Chinese Population: Findings from the China Cardiometabolic Disease and Cancer Cohort (4C) Study.

OBJECTIVE: The relationship between serum uric acid (SUA) levels and glycemic indices, including plasma glucose (FPG), 2-hour postload glucose (2h-PG), and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), remains inconclusive. We aimed to explore the associations between glycemic indices and SUA levels in the general Chinese population. METHODS: The current study was a cross-sectional analysis using the first follow-up survey data from The China Cardiometabolic Disease and Cancer Cohort Study. A total of 105,922 community-dwelling adults aged ≥ 40 years underwent the oral glucose tolerance test and uric acid assessment. The nonlinear relationships between glycemic indices and SUA levels were explored using generalized additive models. RESULTS: A total of 30,941 men and 62,361 women were eligible for the current analysis. Generalized additive models verified the inverted U-shaped association between glycemic indices and SUA levels, but with different inflection points in men and women. The thresholds for FPG, 2h-PG, and HbA1c for men and women were 6.5/8.0 mmol/L, 11.0/14.0 mmol/L, and 6.1/6.5, respectively (SUA levels increased with increasing glycemic indices before the inflection points and then eventually decreased with further increases in the glycemic indices). CONCLUSION: An inverted U-shaped association was observed between major glycemic indices and uric acid levels in both sexes, while the inflection points were reached earlier in men than in women.

The apoptosis and GLP-1 hyposecretion induced by LPS via RIP/ROS/mTOR pathway in GLUTag cells.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) as a component of the outer structure of cell wall of gram-negative bacteria, could induce apoptosis in the intestinal endocrine cell line STC-1. However, the signaling cascades involved in this process have not been elucidated. Hence, we investigated the mechanism of cell apoptosis and hyposecretion of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) induced by LPS in the GLUTag enteroendocrine cell line. LPS decreased the cell viability of GLUTag cells, up-regulated the TNF-α level, induced the apoptosis and down-regulated the mRNA and protein levels of GLP-1. In addition, TNF-α promoted LPS-induced apoptosis of GLUTag cells through mediating the formation of the RIP1/RIP3 necrosome. RIP1 and RIP3 knockdown increased cell viability, the mRNA and protein levels of GLP-1 and the mTOR signaling pathway-related proteins (p-mTOR and p-S6), and decreased the relative caspase 3/7 activity, cell apoptosis and ROS production. Further studies showed that ROS inhibited the mTOR signaling pathway. Moreover, the antioxidant N-acetyl-l-cysteine increased cell viability, GLP-1 expressions and the mTOR signaling pathway-related proteins, and inhibited the ROS production. However, the mTOR specific inhibitor (Rapa) reversed all these above effects. Taken together, our result revealed that LPS induced the apoptosis of GLUTag cells and GLP-1 hyposecretion through the RIP/ROS/mTOR pathway.

Correlations between SIRT1 gene polymorphisms and diabetic kidney disease.

To investigate the correlations between SIRT1 gene polymorphisms and diabetic kidney disease (DKD). There were 150 patients with DKD in the observation group (urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER) ≥ 300 mg 24 h-1), and 160 patients with a more than 10 year history of type 2 diabetes but without retinopathy and DKD (UAER < 30 mg 24 h-1) in the control group. Genotypes of three tagged single-nucleotide polymorphism loci (rs3818292, rs4746720 and rs10823108) in the SIRT1 gene in the two groups were detected. Risks of DKD for patients with the GG and GG + AG genotype in the rs10823108 locus of the SIRT1 gene were 2.96 and 2.92 times higher than that for AA genotype carriers, respectively. The risk of DKD for patients with the GG genotype in the rs3818292 locus was 0.23 times and 0.21 times higher than that for AA and for AA + AG genotype carriers, respectively, and the risk of DKD for patients with allele G was 0.66 times higher than that for allele A carriers. There was no significant difference in genotype frequency of rs4746720 locus gene polymorphisms between the observation and control groups. The SIRT1 gene is a genetic susceptibility gene of DKD. Mutation genotype GG and GG + AG in the rs10823108 locus can increase the risk of DKD. Mutation genotype GG and allele G in the rs3818292 locus can decrease the risk of DKD.

SIRT1 overexpression in skeletal muscle in vivo induces increased insulin sensitivity and enhanced complex I but not complex II-V functions in individual subsarcolemmal and intermyofibrillar mitochondria.

SIRT1 is known to improve insulin resistance (IR), but whether this effect is direct or not is still unclear, and this question has not been addressed in vivo in the skeletal muscle. Therefore, we sought to test if acute overexpression of SIRT1 in skeletal muscle of high-fat diet (HFD) rats in vivo would affect subsarcolemmal (SS) and intermyofibrillar (IMF) mitochondrial complexes I-V activities and antioxidant enzymes thereby improving insulin action. In vivo electrotransfer was used to overexpress SIRT1 in the skeletal muscle of rats fed HFD for 12 weeks. Skeletal muscle insulin sensitivity and downstream effects of SIRT1 on AMPK, SIRT3, and mitochondrial biogenesis were studied. Citrate synthase (CS), complexes I-V, oxidative stress, and antioxidant levels were assessed in SS and IMF mitochondria. HFD rats showed skeletal muscle IR as well as decreased SIRT1 and SIRT3 expressions, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), and mitochondrial biogenesis (p < 0.05). SS and IMF mitochondria displayed lower CS, complexes I-V, and antioxidant enzyme activities (p < 0.05). By contrast, moderate (~2.5 folds) SIRT1 overexpression attenuated HFD-induced skeletal muscle IR. This improvement was associated with increased AMPK, PGC-1α, SIRT3, and mtDNA expressions as well as SS and IMF mitochondrial CS and complexes I-V activities. Importantly, SIRT1 overexpression largely restored antioxidant enzyme activities and enhanced complex I but not complexes II-V functions in individual SS and IMF mitochondria. This study suggests that SIRT1 overexpression improved IR at least partly by targeting complex I functions of SS and IMF mitochondria through the activation of SIRT1 and SIRT3.

SIRT1 attenuates high glucose-induced insulin resistance via reducing mitochondrial dysfunction in skeletal muscle cells.

Insulin resistance is often characterized as the most critical factor contributing to the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Sustained high glucose is an important extracellular environment that induces insulin resistance. Acquired insulin resistance is associated with reduced insulin-stimulated mitochondrial activity as a result of increased mitochondrial dysfunction. Silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1) is one member of the SIRT2 (Sir2)-like family of proteins involved in glucose homeostasis and insulin secretion in mammals. Although SIRT1 has a therapeutic effect on metabolic deterioration in insulin resistance, it is still not clear how SIRT1 is involved in the development of insulin resistance. Here, we demonstrate that pcDNA3.1 vector-mediated overexpression of SIRT1 attenuates insulin resistance in the high glucose-induced insulin-resistant skeleton muscle cells. These beneficial effects were associated with ameliorated mitochondrial dysfunction. Further studies have demonstrated that SIRT1 restores mitochondrial complex I activity leading to decreased oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. Furthermore, SIRT1 significantly elevated the level of another SIRT which is named SIRT3, and SIRT3 siRNA-suppressed SIRT1-induced mitochondria complex activity increments. Taken together, these results showed that SIRT1 improves insulin sensitivity via the amelioration of mitochondrial dysfunction, and this is achieved through the SIRT1-SIRT3-mitochondrial complex I pathway.

Association between the XRCC1 polymorphisms and thyroid cancer risk: a meta-analysis from case-control studies.

BACKGROUND: The previous published data on the association between the X-ray repair cross-conplementation group 1 (XRCC1) polymorphisms and thyroid cancer risk remained controversial. Hence, we performed a meta-analysis on all available studies that provided 1729 cases and 3774 controls (from 11 studies) for XRCC1 Arg399Gln, 1040 cases and 2487 controls for Arg194Trp (from 7 studies), and 1432 cases and 3356 controls for Arg280His (from 8 studies). METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: PubMed, CNKI, and EMBASE database were searched to identify relevant studies. Overall, no significant association was found between XRCC1 Arg399Gln (recessive model: OR = 0.95, 95% CI = 0.77-1.15; dominant model: OR = 0.89, 95% CI = 0.75-1.05; homozygote model: OR = 0.92, 95% CI = 0.69-1.23; Heterozygote model: OR = 0.91, 95% CI = 0.80-1.03; additive model: OR = 0.93, 95% CI = 0.81-1.07), Arg194Trp (recessive model: OR = 1.41, 95% CI = 0.62-3.23; dominant model: OR = 1.01, 95% CI = 0.77-1.34; homozygote model: OR = 1.42, 95% CI = 0.55-3.67; Heterozygote model: OR = 1.03, 95% CI = 0.85-1.26; additive model: OR = 1.08, 95% CI = 0.81-1.42), and Arg280His (recessive model: OR = 1.08, 95% CI = 0.56-2.10; dominant model: OR = 1.01, 95% CI = 0.84-1.22; homozygote model: OR = 1.00, 95% CI = 0.51-1.96; Heterozygote model: OR = 1.04, 95% CI =0.75-1.42; additive model: OR = 1.03, 95% CI = 0.86-1.23) and thyroid cancer risk when all the eligible studies were pooled into the meta-analysis. In the further stratified and sensitivity analyses, significant association was still not found in these three genetic polymorphisms. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: In summary, this meta-analysis indicates that XRCC1 Arg399Gln, Arg280His, and Arg194Trp are not associated with thyroid cancer.