Distinct Dose-Dependent Association of Free Fatty Acids with Diabetes Development in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Patients

Background@#Excessive delivery of free fatty acids (FFAs) to the liver promotes steatosis and insulin resistance (IR), with IR defined as reduced glucose uptake, glycogen synthesis and anti-lipolysis stimulated by normal insulin levels. Whether the associations between FFAs and diabetes development differ between patients with and without nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) remains unclear. @*Methods@#Consecutive subjects (2,220 NAFLD subjects and 1,790 non-NAFLD subjects according to ultrasound imaging) were enrolled from the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University between 2009 and 2019. The homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated. @*Results@#There was an approximate J-shaped relationship between FFA levels and HOMA-IR in the NAFLD group. Higher FFA concentration quartiles were associated with higher risks of IR (odds ratio [OR], 9.24; 95% confidence interval [CI], 6.43 to 13.36), prediabetes (OR, 10.48; 95% CI, 5.66 to 19.39), and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM; OR, 19.43; 95% CI, 12.75 to 29.81) in the NAFLD group but not in the non-NAFLD group. The cut-off points for the FFA levels increased in a stepwise manner in discriminating IR, prediabetes and T2DM (573, 697, and 715 μmol/L) in the NAFLD group but not in non-NAFLD individuals. @*Conclusion@#A distinct dose-dependent relationship of FFA levels was found with IR, prediabetes and T2DM in NAFLD patients. Screening serum FFA levels in NAFLD patients would be valuable in preventing diabetes development.

Distinct Dose-Dependent Association of Free Fatty Acids with Diabetes Development in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Patients

Background@#Excessive delivery of free fatty acids (FFAs) to the liver promotes steatosis and insulin resistance (IR), with IR defined as reduced glucose uptake, glycogen synthesis and anti-lipolysis stimulated by normal insulin levels. Whether the associations between FFAs and diabetes development differ between patients with and without nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) remains unclear. @*Methods@#Consecutive subjects (2,220 NAFLD subjects and 1,790 non-NAFLD subjects according to ultrasound imaging) were enrolled from the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University between 2009 and 2019. The homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated. @*Results@#There was an approximate J-shaped relationship between FFA levels and HOMA-IR in the NAFLD group. Higher FFA concentration quartiles were associated with higher risks of IR (odds ratio [OR], 9.24; 95% confidence interval [CI], 6.43 to 13.36), prediabetes (OR, 10.48; 95% CI, 5.66 to 19.39), and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM; OR, 19.43; 95% CI, 12.75 to 29.81) in the NAFLD group but not in the non-NAFLD group. The cut-off points for the FFA levels increased in a stepwise manner in discriminating IR, prediabetes and T2DM (573, 697, and 715 μmol/L) in the NAFLD group but not in non-NAFLD individuals. @*Conclusion@#A distinct dose-dependent relationship of FFA levels was found with IR, prediabetes and T2DM in NAFLD patients. Screening serum FFA levels in NAFLD patients would be valuable in preventing diabetes development.

Epidemiology of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in some regions of China / 临床肝胆病杂志

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has replaced viral hepatitis and become the most important chronic liver disease in the world. Abdominal ultrasound remains the main method for the diagnosis of NAFLD in China. The studies in China showed that in the last two decades, the prevalence rate of NAFLD was 13%-43% and tended to increase year by year, and the new cases accounted for about 4% each year, with a certain proportion of patients with non-obese NAFLD. There is a significant difference in prevalence rate between the populations from different regions, with a higher prevalence rate of NAFLD in the well-developed southeast coastal regions where people have a similar lifestyle to those in Western countries. Metabolic disorders, such as type 2 diabetes, obesity, hyperlipidemia, hyperuricemia, and hypertension, are risk factors for NAFLD. National-wide large-sample epidemiological investigation is still needed in China to help support the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of NAFLD.

Establishment of a new human glioma cell line and analysis of its biological characteristics / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish a new glioma cell line and analyze its biological characteristics, and to provide a useful cellular tool with new features for cancer research.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Glioma tissue was taken from surgical specimen clinical of a clinical patient. Primary culture was carried out, and a cell line (SHG139) was established after 10 passages. Immunofluorescence staining was performed to detect the expression of proteins, and cell proliferation and cycle were detected by flow cytometry method (FCM). The biological characteristics of SHG139 cells were detected by chromosome karyotype analysis. SHG139s glioma cells derived from SHG139 glioma cell line were cultured with neural stem cell medium. Then stem cell markers were determined. SHG139s cells were induced with serum-containing medium, and their expression of A2B5, GFAP, β-III tubulin, and GalC was detected. Intracranial xenograft tumor of both SHG139 glioma cells and SHG139s glioma stem cell spheres was generated in rats.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The expressions of A2B5, GalC, GFAP, S-100, and vimentin in the 20 and 60 passages of SHG139 cells were positive, consistent with the immunohistochemical results and pathological features. SHG139 cells proliferated significantly within 24 h after subculture, and their total number of chromosomes was 68 and mostly multiploid. They were positive for A2B5 (84.12±9.96)%, nestin (73.86±5.01)%, and NG2 (73.37±2.09)%. SHG139s cells were induced, and the ratio of positive cells of GFAP, β-III tubulin and GalC was (92.89±2.24)%, (64.85±4.09)% and (33.57±4.14)%, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>SHG139 is an astroglioma cell line, from which SHG139s cells can be successfully obtained by culture with NSCM. SHG139s cells are of A2B5(+)/CD133(-) GSCs subgroup cells, with potentials of self-renewal and multi-directional differentiation. Compared with the intracranial SHG139 xenograft tumor, the intracranial SHG139s xenograft tumor is more malignant and aggressive.</p>

miR-16 inhibits glioma cell invasion through regulating NF-κB1/MMP-9 signaling pathway / 中华神经医学杂志

Objective To explore the microRNA-16 (miR-16) and nuclear-transcription factor-κB1 (NF-κB1) expressions in human brain gliomas and their correlations with cell invasion and growth of malignant gliomas SHG44,U87 and U373.Methods (1) Twenty-nine cases of human glioma tissue samples and 6 normal brain tissues,collected in our hospital from January 2000 to January 2011,were chosen in our study; quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to determine the expressions ofmiR-16 and NF-κB1 in these tissues.(2) In vitro cultured U87,U373 and SHG44 cells were divided into blank-control group,nonsense sequence transfected group and miR-16 mimics transfected group; 48 h after the transfection,qRT-PCR was used to detect the expressions of miR-16 and NF-κB1; tmnswell assay was used to observe the cell invasion capability; 72 h after the transfection,Western blotting was employed to detect the protein expressions of NF-κB1,matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP-9) and MMP-2.(3) Luciferase reporter assay was used to detect the target regulating role of miR-16 in NF-κB1 gene.(4) U87 cells were used as negative control group,and U87 cells carried stably expressed miR-16 gene were implanted into intracranial and subcutaneous nude mice (U87-miR-16 group); immunofluorescence was used to detect the MMP-9 expression,and immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the protein expressions of Ki-67,NF-κ B1 and MMP-9; subcutaneous tumor volume was measured and the growth curve was drawn.Results (1) The qPCR results showed that the expression of miR-16 in human brain glioma tissues was significantly lower than that in normal brain tissues; and gradually decreased miR-16 expressions were noted in gliomas of graded Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ and Ⅳ (P＜0.05); NF-κB1 expression in human brain glioma tissues was significantly higher than that in normal brain tissues; and gradually increased NF-κB1 expressions were noted in gliomas of graded Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ and Ⅳ (P＜0.05).(2) As compared with those in the blank-control group and nonsense sequence transfected group,miR-16 mimics transfected group had significantly increased miR-16 expression,decreased NF-κB1 mRNA expression,decreased invasiveness,and decreased protein expressions of NF-κB1 and MMP-9 (P＜0.05).(3) Luciferase reporter assay showed that the fluorescence normalized ratio in the pMIR-NF-κB1 group was signfcaintly higher than that in the pMIR-NF-κB1+pre-miR-16 group (P＜0.05).(4) As compared with the negative control group,the U87-miR-16 group on the 24-42 d of implantation had significantly smaller volume of tumors (P＜0.05),and lower MMP9 expression,and NF-κB1,MMP-9 and Ki-67 expressions (the proliferation index of Ki-67:13.91％ and 32.98％).Conclusion MiR-16 inhibits glioma cell invasion and growth through down-mgulating NF-κB1 and MMP-9 expressions.