Visceral fat correlates with insulin secretion and sensitivity independent of BMI and subcutaneous fat in Chinese with type 2 diabetes.

Aim: Clinical heterogeneity exists in overall obesity and abdominal obesity in terms of insulin secretion and sensitivity. Further, the impact of visceral fat (VF) on the first- and second-phase insulin secretion (FPIS and SPIS) is controversial. We aim to investigate insulin secretion and sensitivity in Chinese patients with T2DM according to different BMI and VF levels. Methods: This study enrolled 300 participants. A dual bioelectrical impedance analyzer was used to assess the visceral and subcutaneous fat area (VFA and SFA). VF levels were categorized as normal or high, with the cutoff value of 100 cm2. FPIS and SPIS were evaluated by arginine stimulation test and standardized steamed bread meal tolerance test, respectively. ß-cell function (HOMA2-ß), insulin resistance (HOMA2-IR), and Gutt's insulin sensitivity index (Gutt-ISI) were also calculated. Spearman's correlation analysis and multivariate linear regression analysis were adopted for statistical analysis. Results: Participants were categorized into four groups: normal weight-normal VF, normal weight-high VF, overweight/obese-normal VF and overweight/obese-high VF. Multivariate linear regression showed that both VFA and SFA were correlated with FPIS, HOMA2-IR and Gutt-ISI after controlling for gender and diabetes duration. After further adjustment for BMI and VFA, some associations of SFA with insulin secretion and sensitivity disappeared. After adjustment for gender, diabetes duration, BMI and SFA, VFA was positively correlated with FPIS, SPIS and HOMA2-IR. Subjects with overweight/obese-high VF were more likely to have higher FPIS, HOMA2-IR and lower Gutt-ISI (all p < 0.05). Conclusion: VF affects both FPIS and SPIS, and worsens insulin sensitivity independent of BMI and subcutaneous fat in Chinese patients with T2DM. Clinical trial registration: http://www.chictr.org.cn, identifier ChiCTR2200062884.

Implication of adipocytes from subcutaneous adipose tissue and fatty acids in skin inflammation caused by λ-carrageenin in gilthead seabream (Sparusaurata).

The role of subcutaneous adipose tissue adipocytes and the effects of fatty acids on carrageenan-induced skin inflammation in gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) were studied. Fish were injected intramuscularly with phosphate-buffered saline (control) or λ-carrageenin (1%), and skin samples collected at the injection site at 3 and 6 h post-injection (p.i.) were processed for histological study. In addition, the presence and levels of lipid classes, fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) and eicosanoids were evaluated in the skin samples obtained from the injected areas. Histological results indicated an increase in adipocyte area in fish sampled at 3 h p.i. with λ-carrageenin compared to fish in the control group. Furthermore, the frequency of adipocytes between 4500 and 5000 µm2 was increased at 6 h in the λ-carrageenin group compared to the control group. Analysis of lipid classes found that fish injected with λ-carrageenan showed increased free fatty acid (FFA) and sphingomyelin content at 3 and 6 h, respectively, compared to the control group. An increase in saturated fatty acids (SFA), n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), and a decrease in the values of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), n-3 PUFA and minor fatty acids were observed in fish skin at 6 h after λ-carrageenin injection, with respect to the values obtained in the control group. Regarding the analysis of eicosanoids, an increase in hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (5-HETE) was detected in the skin of fish at 6 h post-carrageenin injection compared to the control group. The presented results indicate the contribution of adipocytes and fatty acids in the development and regulation of the inflammatory response triggered by λ-carrageenin in gilthead seabream skin.

Explaining Unsaturated Fatty Acids (UFAs), Especially Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid (PUFA) Content in Subcutaneous Fat of Yaks of Different Sex by Differential Proteome Analysis.

Residents on the Tibetan Plateau intake a lot of yak subcutaneous fat by diet. Modern healthy diet ideas demand higher unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs), especially polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) content in meat. Here, the gas chromatography (GC) and tandem mass tag (TMT) proteomic approaches were applied to explore the relationship between the proteomic differences and UFA and PUFA content in the subcutaneous fat of yaks with different sex. Compared with male yaks (MYs), the absolute contents of UFAs, monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) and PUFAs in the subcutaneous fat of female yaks (FYs) were all higher (p < 0.01); the relative content of MUFAs and PUFAs in MY subcutaneous fat was higher, and the value of PUFAs/SFAs was above 0.4, so the MY subcutaneous fat is more healthy for consumers. Further studies showed the transcriptional regulation by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta (PPARD) played a key role in the regulation of UFAs, especially PUFA content in yaks of different sex. In FY subcutaneous fat, the higher abundance of the downstream effector proteins in PPAR signal, including acyl-CoA desaturase (SCD), elongation of very-long-chain fatty acids protein 6 (ELOVL6), lipoprotein lipase (LPL), fatty acid-binding protein (FABP1), very-long-chain (3R)-3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydratase 3 (HACD3), long-chain fatty acid CoA ligase 5 (ACSL5) and acyl-CoA-binding protein 2 (ACBP2), promoted the UFAs' transport and synthesis. The final result was the higher absolute content of c9-C14:1, c9-C18:1, c9,c12-C18:2n-6, c9, c12, c15-C18:3n-3, c5, c8, c11, c14, c17-C20:5n-3, c4, c7, c10, c13, -c16, c19-C22:6n-3, UFAs, MUFAs and PUFAs in FY subcutaneous fat. Further, LPL, FABP1, HACD3, ACSL1 and ACBP2 were the potential biomarkers for PUFA contents in yak subcutaneous fat. This study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms associated with UFA contents in yak subcutaneous fat.

Genetic and cytometric analyses of subcutaneous adipose tissue in patients with hemophilia and HIV-associated lipodystrophy.

BACKGROUND: The authors recently performed plastic surgeries for a small number of patients with hemophilia, HIV infection, and morphologic evidence of lipodystrophy. Because the pathophysiological mechanism of HIV-associated lipodystrophy remains to be elucidated, we analyzed subcutaneous adipose tissues from the patients. METHODS: All six patients had previously been treated with older nucleoside analogue reverse-transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs; stavudine, didanosine or zidovudine). Abdominal and inguinal subcutaneous fat samples were obtained from the HIV+ patients with hemophilia and HIV- healthy volunteers (n = 6 per group), and analyzed via DNA microarray, real-time PCR, flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The time from initial NRTI treatment to collecting samples were 21.7 years in average. Cytometric analysis revealed infiltration of inflammatory M1 macrophages into HIV-infected adipose tissue and depletion of adipose-derived stem cells, possibly due to exhaustion following sustained adipocyte death. Genetic analysis revealed that adipose tissue from HIV+ group had increased immune activation, mitochondrial toxicity, chronic inflammation, progressive fibrosis and adipocyte dysfunction (e.g. insulin resistance, inhibited adipocyte differentiation and accelerated apoptosis). Of note, both triglyceride synthesis and lipolysis were inhibited in adipose tissue from patients with HIV. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provide important insights into the pathogenesis of HIV-associated lipodystrophy, suggesting that fat redistribution may critically depend on adipocytes' sensitivity to drug-induced mitochondrial toxicity, which may lead either to atrophy or metabolic complications.

Heterogeneous miRNA-mRNA Regulatory Networks of Visceral and Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue in the Relationship Between Obesity and Renal Clear Cell Carcinoma.

Background: Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is one of the most lethal urologic cancer. Associations of both visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) with ccRCC have been reported, and underlying mechanisms of VAT perhaps distinguished from SAT, considering their different structures and functions. We performed this study to disclose different miRNA-mRNA networks of obesity-related ccRCC in VAT and SAT using datasets from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA); and find out different RNAs correlated with the prognosis of ccRCC in VAT and SAT. Methods: We screened out different expressed (DE) mRNAs and miRNAs of obesity, in both VAT and SAT from GEO datasets, and constructed miRNA-mRNA networks of obesity-related ccRCC. To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of RNAs in networks of obesity-related ccRCC in both VAT and SAT, Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analyses were conducted using TCGA datasets. Spearman correlation analyses were then performed to find out RNA pairs with inverse correlations. We also performed Cox regression analyses to estimate the association of all DE RNAs of obesity with the overall survival. Results: 136 and 185 DE mRNAs of obesity in VAT and SAT were found out. Combined with selected DE miRNAs, miRNA-mRNA networks of obesity-related ccRCC were constructed. By performing ROC analyses, RNAs with same trend as shown in networks and statistically significant ORs were selected to be paired. Three pairs were finally remained in Spearman correlation analyses, including hsa-miR-182&ATP2B2, hsa-miR-532&CDH2 in VAT, and hsa-miR-425&TFAP2B in SAT. Multivariable Cox regression analyses showed that several RNAs with statistically significant adjusted HRs remained consistent trends as shown in DE analyses of obesity. Risk score analyses using selected RNAs showed that the overall survival time of patients in the low-risk group was significantly longer than that in the high-risk group regardless of risk score models. Conclusions: We found out different miRNA-mRNA regulatory networks of obesity-related ccRCC for both VAT and SAT; and several DE RNAs of obesity-related ccRCC were found to remain consistent performance in terms of ccRCC prognosis. Our findings could provide valuable evidence on the targeted therapy of obesity-related ccRCC.

Carbon stable isotopes, fatty acids and the use of NIRS to differentiate IBERIAN pigs.

This study explores the viability of the application of Near Infrared Spectrometry (NIR) for the rapid prediction of the ratio of 13C/12C stable isotopes and fatty acid composition in Iberian pigs. The potential use of this technique for distinguishing samples according to the duration of the montanera period was also studied. Subcutaneous fat samples from 50% and 100% Iberian pigs allowed to feed freely during different montanera periods were analyzed: 24 biopsies were taken prior to the montanera and 106 samples were taken after this feeding period. The results show significant correlations between δ13C (‰) and several fatty acids. Furthermore, it is possible to differentiate samples taken from pigs reared using different feeding regimes by analyzing the data obtained from the NIR spectra or by applying an Orthogonal Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (OPLS-DA) on data on δ13C (‰) and fatty acids in subcutaneous fat.

Subcutaneous adipose tissue composition and function are unaffected by liraglutide-induced weight loss in adults with type 1 diabetes.

Adipose tissue is the primary energy reservoir of the human body, which also possesses endocrine functions. The glucagon-like peptide agonist liraglutide produces weight loss, although the specific effects on adipose tissue are unknown. We aimed to characterize the white adipose tissue composition and pericellular fibrosis of subcutaneous adipose tissue in response to liraglutide treatment. Furthermore, we explored the level of circulating free fatty acids, cluster of differentiation 163 (CD163) macrophage marker, leptin and adiponectin. Thirty-nine adults with type 1 diabetes and polyneuropathy were randomly assigned to 26 weeks of liraglutide or placebo treatment. Biopsies of subcutaneous tissue were formalin-fixed stained with picrosirius red to visualize collagen or immunohistochemically stained for CD163. Serum concentrations of free fatty acids, CD163, leptin and adiponectin were assessed with immunoassays or multiplex panels. In comparison with placebo, liraglutide induced weight loss (3.38 kg, 95% CI -5.29; -1.48, P < 0.001), but did not cause any differences in cell size, distribution of CD163-positive cells, pericellular fibrosis and serum levels of free fatty acids, CD163, leptin or adiponectin (all P < 0.1). Additionally, no associations between weight loss, cell size and serum markers were found (all P > 0.08). In conclusion, despite liraglutide's effect on weight loss, sustained alterations in subcutaneous adipose tissue did not seem to appear.

White adipose tissue-infiltrated CD11b+ myeloid cells are a source of S100A4, a new potential marker of hepatic damage.

CONTEXT: The endocrine and immunological properties of subcutaneous vs visceral adipose tissue (sWAT and vWAT, respectively) have turned a milestone in the study of metabolic diseases. The cytokine S100A4 is increased in obesity and has a role in adipose tissue dysfunction. However, the cellular source and its potential role in hepatic damage in obesity has not been elucidated. OBJECTIVE: We aim to study the regulation of S100A4 in immune cells present in sWAT and vWAT, as well as its potential role as a circulating marker of hepatic inflammation and steatosis. DESIGN: A cohort of 60 patients with obesity and distinct metabolic status was analyzed. CD11b+ myeloid cells and T cells were isolated from sWAT and vWAT by magnetic-activating cell sorting, and RNA was obtained. S100A4 gene expression was measured, and correlation analysis with clinical data was performed. Liver biopsies were obtained from 20 patients, and S100A4 circulating levels were measured to check the link with hepatic inflammation and steatosis. RESULTS: S100A4 gene expression was strongly upregulated in sWAT- vs vWAT-infiltrated CD11b+ cells, but this modulation was not observed in T cells. S100A4 mRNA levels from sWAT (and not from vWAT) CD11b+ cells positively correlated with glycemia, triglycerides, TNF-α gene expression and proliferation markers. Finally, circulating S100A4 directly correlated with liver steatosis and hepatic inflammatory markers. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that sWAT-infiltrated CD11b+ cells could be a major source of S100A4 in obesity. Moreover, our correlations identify circulating S100A4 as a potential novel biomarker of hepatic damage and steatosis.

Clinical significance of increased peripheral venous blood adipocyte-specific protein FABP4 after joint replacement.

A new method of diagnosing fat embolism (FE) at the molecular level was proposed, and the diagnostic value of adipocyte-specific protein fatty acid-binding protein 4 (Homo sapiens [human]) gene ID = 2167 (FABP4) for FE was preliminarily explored. Eight joint replacement patients, 5 internal medicine patients, and 6 healthy persons were recruited. Serum of internal medicine patients, healthy people, and patients before and 24 hours after joint replacement were taken as study samples. Subcutaneous adipose, intra-articular adipose and intramedullary yellow bone marrow of patients undergoing joint replacement were taken as study samples. The level of FABP4 in the above samples was detected by enzyme-linked immunoassay. Normal distribution was tested. Paired sample T test was used for self-control. Univariate analysis of variance was used for multigroup comparison.There was no significant difference in serum FABP4 level between healthy persons, medical patients, and preoperative patients. The FABP4 level in yellow bone marrow and subcutaneous adipose was significantly higher than that in serum of healthy people, medical patients, and preoperative patients. FABP4 level in the serum after joint replacement was significantly higher than that before joint replacement. FABP4 may be a specific indicator of FE diagnosis, but further studies are needed to confirm its clinical value.

Distinct abdominal and gluteal adipose tissue transcriptome signatures are altered by exercise training in African women with obesity.

The differential associations of adipose depots with metabolic risk during obesity have been proposed to be controlled by environmental and genetic factors. We evaluated the regional differences in transcriptome signatures between abdominal (aSAT) and gluteal subcutaneous adipose tissue (gSAT) in obese black South African women and tested the hypothesis that 12-week exercise training alters gene expression patterns in a depot-specific manner. Twelve young women performed 12-weeks of supervised aerobic and resistance training. Pre- and post-intervention measurements included peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak), whole-body composition and unbiased gene expression analysis of SAT depots. VO2peak increased, body weight decreased, and body fat distribution improved with exercise training (p < 0.05). The expression of 15 genes, mainly associated with embryonic development, differed between SAT depots at baseline, whereas 318 genes were differentially expressed post-training (p < 0.05). Four developmental genes were differentially expressed between these depots at both time points (HOXA5, DMRT2, DMRT3 and CSN1S1). Exercise training induced changes in the expression of genes associated with immune and inflammatory responses, and lipid metabolism in gSAT, and muscle-associated processes in aSAT. This study showed differences in developmental processes regulating SAT distribution and expandability of distinct depots, and depot-specific adaptation to exercise training in black South African women with obesity.

Adipose tissue macrophage burden, systemic inflammation, and insulin resistance.

Adipose tissue inflammation, as defined by macrophage accumulation, is proposed to cause insulin resistance and systemic inflammation. Because the strength of this relationship for humans is unclear, we tested whether adipose tissue macrophage (ATM) burden is correlated with these health indicators. Using immunohistochemistry, we measured abdominal subcutaneous CD68+ (total ATM), CD14+ (proinflammatory/M1), and CD206+ (anti-inflammatory/M2) ATM in 97 volunteers (BMI 20-38 kg/m2, in addition to body composition, adipocyte size, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, ADIPO-IR, adipose tissue insulin resistance measured by palmitate, plasma lipids, TNF, and IL-6 concentrations. There were several significant univariate correlations between metabolic parameters to IL-6 and ATM per 100 adipocytes, but not ATM per gram tissue; adipocyte size was a confounding variable. We used matching strategies and multivariate regression analyses to investigate the relationships between ATM and inflammatory/metabolic parameters independent of adipocyte size. Matching approaches revealed that the groups discordant for CD206 but concordant for adipocyte size had significantly different fasting insulin and IL-6 concentrations. However, groups discordant for adipocyte size but concordent for ATM differeded in that visceral fat, plasma triglyceride, glucose, and TNF concentrations were greater in those with large adipocytes. Multivariate regression analysis indicated that indexes of insulin resistance and fasting triglycerides were predicted by body composition; the predictive value of ATM per 100 adipocytes or per gram tissue was variable between males and females. We conclude that the relationship between ATM burden and metabolic/inflammatory variables is confounded by adipocyte size/body composition and that ATM do not predict insulin resistance, systemic inflammation, or dyslipidemia. ATM may primarily play a role in tissue remodeling rather than in metabolic pathology.

Research Note: Effect of packaging atmosphere on the fatty acid profile of intramuscular, subcutaneous fat, and odor of goose meat.

The aim of the study was to investigate changes of the fatty acid profile in the intramuscular and subcutaneous fat as well as odor sensory evaluation of goose packaged under different conditions of modified atmosphere (vacuum and high-oxygen modified atmosphere of 80% O2 and 20% CO2 composition) and stored under refrigeration (4°C) for 11 D. Packaging in a high-oxygen modified atmosphere had a negative impact on goose meat quality due to the reduction of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), PUFA/saturated fatty acids (SFA) and the increase of SFA, which means a substantial loss of its nutritional value. Goose meat can be stored for 11 D without changes in the fatty acid profile, provided that a vacuum is used that limits oxygen exposure. At the end of storage, a better sensory evaluation of the odor intensity in the vacuum-packed samples was also observed in comparison to high oxygen modified atmosphere. Vacuum packaging turned out to be a better method for preserving fatty acid profile and the odor of goose meat during 11 D of storage.

Association of leptin genotype with growth performance, adipocyte cellularity, meat quality, and fatty acid profile in beef steers fed flaxseed or high-oleate sunflower seed diets with or without triticale dried distiller's grains.

Leptin genotypes can be identified as homozygous normal (CC), homozygous mutant (TT), and heterozygous (CT) based on a single-nucleotide polymorphism in exon 2 of the leptin gene, which has been associated with feed intake and fat deposition in cattle. The experiment was designed as 2 × 2 × 2 factorial with three main factors: (1) genotype (CT or TT) and diets fed 2) with or without triticale dried distiller's grains with solubles (DDG), and 3) with either flaxseed (FS) or high-oleate sunflower seed (SS). Evaluations included growth performance, subcutaneous fat deposition, adipocyte cellularity, meat quality, and fatty acid (FA) profile of various depots. Beef steers (n = 40, 459 ± 31 kg) of either CT or TT genotypes were housed in individual pens with ad libitum access to one of the four diets: 75% steam-rolled barley + 10% barley silage with 10% FS or SS (non-DDG diets, NDG) and 46.5% barley + 10% barley silage + 30% DDG, with 8.5% FS or SS, all on a dry matter basis. Growth performance, ultrasound subcutaneous fat thickness, rib eye area (REA), and plasma FA were measured prior to and during the finishing period. At slaughter, samples of subcutaneous fat, perirenal fat, and Longissimus thoracis (LT) muscle were collected for FA analysis and carcass and meat quality were measured. Compared with CT cattle, TT tended to have less (P = 0.06) C18:2-c9,t11 (rumenic acid) in plasma and subcutaneous fat and a greater proportion (P < 0.05) of C18:0 in subcutaneous, perirenal, and LT fat. Cattle with TT genotype also tended (P < 0.1) to have more total saturated and less unsaturated (USFA) and monounsaturated fats (MUFA) and had less (P = 0.04) linoleic acid in LT. Ultrasound fat thickness, REA, and average diameter of adipocytes in subcutaneous fat at 12 wk were not affected (P > 0.39) by genotype. Generally, carcass and meat quality were similar (P > 0.1) among diets, although adding FS tended to increase (P = 0.06) total USFA of subcutaneous fat including omega-3 FA (P < 0.001). For the high-fat diets evaluated, CT cattle would have more potential to produce beef with enhanced health benefits than would TT cattle.

Authentication of Iberian pork official quality categories using a portable near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) instrument.

A portable near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) instrument was evaluated for the discrimination of individual Iberian pig carcasses into the four official quality categories (defined by a combination of genotype and feeding regime). Spectra were obtained scanning four anatomical locations (live animal skin, carcass surface, fresh meat and subcutaneous fat samples) at a commercial abattoir, using a handheld micro electro mechanical system instrument. The best assignments into official quality categories with the NIRS measurements in the carcass surface and subcutaneous fat were able to correctly classify 75.9% and 73.8% of the carcasses, respectively. Moreover, 93.2% and 93.4% of carcasses were correctly classified according to feeding regimes by using the spectra from fresh meat and subcutaneous fat samples. The results suggest that, using subcutaneous fat samples, a portable NIRS could be used in commercial abattoirs as a tool to support the control of official quality category assignment in Iberian pig carcasses.

Targeted lipidomics and transcriptomics profiling reveal the heterogeneity of visceral and subcutaneous white adipose tissue.

AIMS: The depot-specific differences in lipidome of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) reflect heterogeneity of white adipose tissue (WAT), which plays a central role in its distinct response to outside stimuli. However, the detailed lipidome of depot-specific WAT is largely unknown, especially the minor constitutes including phospholipid and sphingolipid. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To investigate this field, we applied a high-coverage targeted lipidomics approach of VAT and SAT in male C57BL/6J mice to compare the basal level of their lipid profiles. Applying microarray and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, we analyzed the transcriptome of twodepot-specific WAT and verified the differences in individual genes. KEY FINDINGS: In total, 342 lipid species from 19 lipid classes were identified. Our results showed the composition of TAG and FFA were different in length of chain and saturation. Interestingly, low abundance phospholipid, sphingolipid and cardiolipin were significantly higher in SAT. Lipid correlation network analysis vindicated that TAG and phospholipid formed distinct subnet and had more connections with other lipid species. Enriched ontology analysis of gene screened from LIPID MAPS and microarray suggested the differences were mainly involved in lipid metabolism, insulin resistance and inflammatory response. SIGNIFICANCE: Our comprehensive lipidomics and transcriptomics analyses revealed differences in lipid composition and lipid metabolism of two depot-specific WAT, which would offer new insights into the investigation of heterogeneity of visceral and subcutaneous white adipose tissue.

Androstenedione and testosterone but not progesterone are potential biomarkers of pregnancy in Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) approaching parturition.

The blubber steroid hormone profiles of 52 female humpback whales migrating along the east coast of Australia were investigated for seasonal endocrine changes associated with reproduction. Individuals were randomly sampled during two stages of the annual migration: before reaching the breeding grounds (northward migration; June/July), and after departing from the breeding grounds (southward migration; September/October). Assignment of reproductive status of the sampled individuals was based on season, single-hormone ranks and multi-variate analysis of the hormonal profiles. High concentrations of progesterone (>19 ng/g, wet weight), recognised as an indicator of pregnancy in this species, were only detected in one sample. However, the androgens, testosterone and androstenedione were measured in unusually high concentrations (1.6-12 and 7.8-40 ng/g wet weight, respectively) in 36% of the females approaching the breeding grounds. The absence of a strong accompanying progesterone signal in these animals raises the possibility of progesterone withdrawal prior to parturition. As seen with other cetacean species, testosterone and androstenedione could be markers of near-term pregnancy in humpback whales. Confirmation of these androgens as alternate biomarkers of near-term pregnancy would carry implications for improved monitoring of the annual fecundity of humpback whales via non-lethal and minimally invasive methods.

Relationships between visceral/subcutaneous adipose tissue FABP4 expression and coronary atherosclerosis in patients with metabolic syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Cytoplasmic fatty acid-binding proteins facilitate the transport of lipids to specific compartments in cells. Fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4), also known as aP2 or A-FABP, plays a key role in the development of atherosclerosis, insulin resistance, obesity, and metabolic syndrome (MS). The FABP4 polymorphisms are associated with protein expression changes in vitro and metabolic and vascular alterations in vivo. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between FABP4 messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression levels in epicardial (EAT), pericardial (PAT), and subcutaneous adipose tissues (SAT), and the extent of coronary atherosclerosis in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients with MS. Furthermore, the relationship between the extent of coronary atherosclerosis and epicardial adipose tissue volume (EATV) and FABP4 gene variations was evaluated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 37 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting because of CAD (MS CAD group) and 23 non-MS patients undergoing heart valve surgery (control group) were included. Coronary angiography was performed for all patients and the extent of coronary atherosclerosis was assessed using the Sullivan's scoring system. The mRNA expression levels of FABP4 gene in EAT, PAT, and SAT, and FABP4 polymorphisms were analyzed using the quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). RESULTS: An increased FABP4 expression was observed in EAT and PAT of MS CAD group compared to controls. In the MS CAD group, FABP4 mRNA expression levels in EAT was 2.8-fold higher compared to PAT. The expression of FABP4 in EAT was positively correlated with the extent of atherosclerosis and EATV in MS CAD group (r = 0.588, P= 0.001, r = 0.174, P = 0.001, respectively). There were no correlations between PAT and SAT versus the extent of atherosclerosis and EATV. The FABP4 EAT mRNA expression levels were found to significantly increase in mutant allele carriers of rs1054135, whereas they significantly decreased in mutant allele carriers of rs77878271 (T-87C) in MS CAD group (P < 0.05). The extent of atherosclerosis was also found to be significantly associated with rs1054135 (P < 0.05). A cut-off point of 57.5 cm3 EATV was used indicating the presence of CAD with a significant area under the curve of 0.783%, 98% sensitivity, and 100% specificity (95% CI 0.620-0.880; P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our study results suggest that FABP4 expression in EAT is strongly associated with the extent of atherosclerosis and EATV in MS CAD patients.

Effects of dietary fat sources on the intramuscular and subcutaneous adipose tissue fatty acid composition, and consumer acceptability of lamb.

BACKGROUND: Lamb diets can alter the fatty acid (FA) profile of muscle and adipose tissue, which may affect the sensory quality and consumer acceptability of the meat. In this study, lambs received one of four pre-slaughter diets: a barley / maize / soya-based concentrate (C), supplemented with a saturated fat source (Megalac®) (SAT), or supplemented with protected linseed oil (PLO); or a by-product (citrus pulp / distillers' grain / soya-based) diet (BPR). Intramuscular FAs and adipose tissue branched-chain FAs were measured and consumer evaluation (hedonic liking and attribute intensity) was undertaken with cooked lamb. RESULTS: Compared to the other diets, the BPR diet resulted in a higher muscle concentration and a greater proportion of C18:2n-6, and greater proportions of conjugated linoleic acid (c9,t11-C18:2) and n-6 polyunsaturated FAs (PUFA), whereas the PLO diet resulted in higher muscle proportions of C18:0 and saturated FAs, higher concentrations of C18:3n-3 and n-3 PUFA, and a lower n-6 to n-3 ratio. The consumer acceptability of lamb was not affected by the pre-slaughter diets. CONCLUSION: Changes in the FA profile of lamb muscle and adipose tissue through the inclusion of sources of saturated fat, protected linseed oil, or by-products in the pre-slaughter diet did not result in consumer detection of significant effects on the acceptability of the cooked meat. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

The Molecular Characteristics of the FAM13A Gene and the Role of Transcription Factors ACSL1 and ASCL2 in Its Core Promoter Region.

The gene family with sequence similarity 13 member A (FAM13A) has recently been identified as a marker gene in insulin sensitivity and lipolysis. In this study, we first analyzed the expression patterns of this gene in different tissues of adult cattle and then constructed a phylogenetic tree based on the FAM13A amino acid sequence. This showed that subcutaneous adipose tissue had the highest expression in all tissues except lung tissue. Then we summarized the gene structure. The promoter region sequence of the gene was successfully amplified, and the -241/+54 region has been identified as the core promoter region. The core promoter region was determined by the unidirectional deletion of the 5' flanking promoter region of the FAM13A gene. Based on the bioinformatics analysis, we examined the dual luciferase activity of the vector constructed by the mutation site, and the transcription factors ACSL1 and ASCL2 were found as transcriptional regulators of FAM13A. Moreover, electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) further validated the regulatory role of ACSL1 and ASCL2 in the regulation of FAM13A. ACSL1 and ASCL2 were finally identified as activating transcription factors. Our results provide a basis for the function of the FAM13A gene in bovine adipocytes in order to improve the deposition of fat deposition in beef cattle muscle.

Short Communication: The potential of portable near infrared spectroscopy for assuring quality and authenticity in the food chain, using Iberian hams as an example.

This communication assesses the use of a portable near infrared (NIR) instrument to measure quantitative (fatty acid profile) properties and qualitative ('Premium' and 'Non-premium') categories of individual Iberian pork carcasses at the slaughterhouse. Acorn-fed Iberian pigs have more unsaturated fats than pigs fed conventional compound feed. Recent advances in miniaturisation have led to a number of handheld NIR devices being developed, allowing processing decisions to be made earlier, significantly reducing time and costs. The most common methods used for assessing quality and authenticity of Iberian hams are analysis of the fatty acid composition of subcutaneous fat using gas chromatography and DNA analysis. In this study, NIR calibrations for fatty acids and classification as premium or non-premium ham, based on carcass fat measured in situ, were developed using a portable NIR spectrometer. The accuracy of the quantitative equations was evaluated through the standard error of cross validation or standard error of prediction of 0.84 for palmitic acid (C16:0), 0.94 for stearic acid (C18:0), 1.47 for oleic acid (C18:1) and 0.58 for linoleic acid (C18:2). Qualitative calibrations provided acceptable results, with up to 98% of samples (n = 234) correctly classified with probabilities ⩾0.9. Results indicated a portable NIR instrument has the potential to be used to measure quality and authenticity of Iberian pork carcasses.