Does NUCB2/Nesfatin-1 Influence Eating Behaviors in Obese Patients with Binge Eating Disorder? Toward a Neurobiological Pathway.

Nesfatin-1 is a new anorexigenic neuropeptide involved in the regulation of hunger/satiety, eating, and affective disorders. We aimed to investigate nesfatin-1 secretion in vitro, in murine adipose cells, and in human adipose fat samples, as well as to assess the link between circulating nesfatin-1 levels, NUCB2 and Fat Mass and Obesity Gene (FTO) polymorphisms, BMI, Eating Disorders (EDs), and pathological behaviors. Nesfatin-1 secretion was evaluated both in normoxic fully differentiated 3T3-L1 mouse adipocytes and after incubation under hypoxic conditions for 24 h. Omental Visceral Adipose tissue (VAT) specimens of 11 obese subjects, and nesfatin-1 serum levels' evaluation, eating behaviors, NUCB2 rs757081, and FTO rs9939609 polymorphisms of 71 outpatients seeking treatment for EDs with different Body Mass Index (BMI) were studied. Significantly higher levels of nesfatin-1 were detected in hypoxic 3T3-L1 cultured adipocytes compared to normoxic ones. Nesfatin-1 was highly detectable in the VAT of obese compared to normal-weight subjects. Nesfatin-1 serum levels did not vary according to BMI, sex, and EDs diagnosis, but correlations with grazing; emotional, sweet, and binge eating; hyperphagia; social eating; childhood obesity were evident. Obese subjects with CG genotype NUCB2 rs757081 and AT genotype FTO rs9939609 polymorphisms had higher nesfatin-1 levels. It could represent a new biomarker of EDs comorbidity among obese patients.

Methods to Study Protein-Binding to Pseudogene Transcripts.

One of the most commonly described biological feature of processed pseudogenes is the ability to influence the expression of their parental coding genes. As evidenced in several studies, the high sequence similarity between these RNA pairs sets up a certain level of competition for posttranscriptional regulators, including, among others, RNA-binding proteins (RBPs). RBPs may affect, positively or negatively, the stability of bound mRNAs, so that, if an overexpressed pseudogene competes with its homologous coding gene, the downstream protein synthesis would change, with potential pathological consequences. Given these premises, a rigorous and comprehensive understanding of interactions between pseudogene-parental gene RNA pairs and RBPs could provide further insights into the biological bases of complex diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes, identifying novel predictive and/or prognostic biomarkers.Herein, we detail easily adaptable protocols of plasmid-based molecular cloning and RNA-electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) used in our laboratory for determining the interaction between a cytoplasmatic stabilizing protein (αCP1) and the pseudogene-parental gene RNA pair HMGA1-p /HMGA1. We also offer a general overview of RNA immunoprecipitation procedures and present novel bioinformatic tools for predicting RBPs binding sites on pseudogene transcripts.

Metabolic Alterations Predispose to Seizure Development in High-Fat Diet-Treated Mice: the Role of Metformin.

The link between epilepsy and type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and/or metabolic syndrome (MetS) has been poorly investigated. Therefore, we tested whether a high-fat diet (HFD), inducing insulin-resistant diabetes and obesity in mice, would increase susceptibility to develop generalized seizures induced by pentylentetrazole (PTZ) kindling. Furthermore, molecular mechanisms linked to glucose brain transport and the effects of the T2DM antidiabetic drug metformin were also studied along with neuropsychiatric comorbidities. To this aim, two sets of experiments were performed in CD1 mice, in which we firstly evaluated the HFD effects on some metabolic and behavioral parameters in order to have a baseline reference for kindling experiments assessed in the second section of our protocol. We detected that HFD predisposes towards seizure development in the PTZ-kindling model and this was linked to a reduction in glucose transporter-1 (GLUT-1) expression as observed in GLUT-1 deficiency syndrome in humans but accompanied by a compensatory increase in expression of GLUT-3. While we confirmed that HFD induced neuropsychiatric alterations in the treated mice, it did not change the development of kindling comorbidities. Furthermore, we propose that the beneficial effects of metformin we observed towards seizure development are related to a normalization of both GLUT-1 and GLUT-3 expression levels. Overall, our results support the hypothesis that an altered glycometabolic profile could play a pro-epileptic role in human patients. We therefore recommend that MetS or T2DM should be constantly monitored and possibly avoided in patients with epilepsy, since they could further aggravate this latter condition.

Obesity-related hypoxia via miR-128 decreases insulin-receptor expression in human and mouse adipose tissue promoting systemic insulin resistance.

BACKGROUND: Insulin resistance in visceral adipose tissue (VAT), skeletal muscle and liver is a prominent feature of most patients with obesity. How this association arises remains poorly understood. The objective of this study was to demonstrate that the decrease in insulin receptor (INSR) expression and insulin signaling in VAT from obese individuals is an early molecular manifestation that might play a crucial role in the cascade of events leading to systemic insulin resistance. METHODS: To clarify the role of INSR and insulin signaling in adipose tissue dysfunction in obesity, we first measured INSR expression in VAT samples from normal-weight subjects and patients with different degrees of obesity. We complemented these studies with experiments on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice, and in human and murine adipocyte cultures, in both normoxic and hypoxic conditions. FINDINGS: An inverse correlation was observed between increasing body mass index and decreasing INSR expression in VAT of obese humans. Our results indicate that VAT-specific downregulation of INSR is an early event in obesity-related adipose cell dysfunction, which increases systemic insulin resistance in both obese humans and mice. We also provide evidence that obesity-related hypoxia in VAT plays a determinant role in this scenario by decreasing INSR mRNA stability. This decreased stability is through the activation of a miRNA (miR-128) that downregulates INSR expression in adipocytes. INTERPRETATION: We present a novel pathogenic mechanism of reduced INSR expression and insulin signaling in adipocytes. Our data provide a new explanation linking obesity with systemic insulin resistance. FUNDING: This work was partly supported by a grant from Nutramed (PON 03PE000_78_1) and by the European Commission (FESR FSE 2014-2020 and Regione Calabria).

MicroRNA-1281 as a Novel Circulating Biomarker in Patients With Diabetic Retinopathy.

Objective: Recently, the role of circulating miRNAs as non-invasive biomarkers for the identification and monitoring of diabetes microvascular complications has emerged. Herein, we aimed to: identify circulating miRNAs differentially expressed in patients with and without diabetic retinopathy (DR); examine their predictive value; and understand their pathogenic impact. Methods: Pooled serum samples from randomly selected matched patients with type 2 diabetes, either with or without DR, were used for initial serum miRNA profiling. Validation of the most relevant miRNAs was thereafter conducted by RT-qPCR in an extended sample of patients with DR and matched controls. Results: Following miRNA profiling, 43 miRNAs were significantly up- or down-regulated in patients with DR compared with controls. After individual validation, 5 miRNAs were found significantly overexpressed in patients with DR. One of them, miR-1281, was the most up-regulated and appeared to be specifically related to DR. Furthermore, secreted levels of miR-1281 were increased in high glucose-cultured retinal cells, and there was evidence of a potential link between glucose-induced miR-1281 up-regulation and DR. Conclusion: Our findings suggest miR-1281 as a circulating biomarker of DR. Also, they highlight the pathogenic significance of miR-1281, providing insights for a new potential target in treating DR.

Mediterranean Diet Nutrients to Turn the Tide against Insulin Resistance and Related Diseases.

Insulin resistance (IR), defined as an attenuated biological response to circulating insulin, is a fundamental defect in obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D), and is also linked to a wide spectrum of pathological conditions, such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), cognitive impairment, endothelial dysfunction, chronic kidney disease (CKD), polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and some endocrine tumors, including breast cancer. In obesity, the unbalanced production of pro- and anti-inflammatory adipocytokines can lead to the development of IR and its related metabolic complications, which are potentially reversible through weight-loss programs. The Mediterranean diet (MedDiet), characterized by high consumption of extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO), nuts, red wine, vegetables and other polyphenol-rich elements, has proved to be associated with greater improvement of IR in obese individuals, when compared to other nutritional interventions. Also, recent studies in either experimental animal models or in humans, have shown encouraging results for insulin-sensitizing nutritional supplements derived from MedDiet food sources in the modulation of pathognomonic traits of certain IR-related conditions, including polyunsaturated fatty acids from olive oil and seeds, anthocyanins from purple vegetables and fruits, resveratrol from grapes, and the EVOO-derived, oleacein. Although the pharmacological properties and clinical uses of these functional nutrients are still under investigation, the molecular mechanism(s) underlying the metabolic benefits appear to be compound-specific and, in some cases, point to a role in gene expression through an involvement of the nuclear high-mobility group A1 (HMGA1) protein.

Innate and Adaptive Immunity Linked to Recognition of Antigens Shared by Neural Crest-Derived Tumors.

In the adult, many embryologic processes can be co-opted by during cancer progression. The mechanisms of divisions, migration, and the ability to escape immunity recognition linked to specific embryo antigens are also expressed by malignant cells. In particular, cells derived from neural crests (NC) contribute to the development of multiple cell types including melanocytes, craniofacial cartilage, glia, neurons, peripheral and enteric nervous systems, and the adrenal medulla. This plastic performance is due to an accurate program of gene expression orchestrated with cellular/extracellular signals finalized to regulate long-distance migration, proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and survival. During neurulation, prior to initiating their migration, NC cells must undergo an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in which they alter their actin cytoskeleton, lose their cell-cell junctions, apicobasal polarity, and acquire a motile phenotype. Similarly, during the development of the tumors derived from neural crests, comprising a heterogeneous group of neoplasms (Neural crest-derived tumors (NCDTs)), a group of genes responsible for the EMT pathway is activated. Here, retracing the molecular pathways performed by pluripotent cells at the boundary between neural and non-neural ectoderm in relation to the natural history of NCDT, points of contact or interposition are highlighted to better explain the intricate interplay between cancer cells and the innate and adaptive immune response.

Innate Immunity: A Common Denominator between Neurodegenerative and Neuropsychiatric Diseases.

The intricate relationships between innate immunity and brain diseases raise increased interest across the wide spectrum of neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders. Barriers, such as the blood-brain barrier, and innate immunity cells such as microglia, astrocytes, macrophages, and mast cells are involved in triggering disease events in these groups, through the action of many different cytokines. Chronic inflammation can lead to dysfunctions in large-scale brain networks. Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and frontotemporal dementia, are associated with a substrate of dysregulated immune responses that impair the central nervous system balance. Recent evidence suggests that similar phenomena are involved in psychiatric diseases, such as depression, schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder. The present review summarizes and discusses the main evidence linking the innate immunological response in neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases, thus providing insights into how the responses of innate immunity represent a common denominator between diseases belonging to the neurological and psychiatric sphere. Improved knowledge of such immunological aspects could provide the framework for the future development of new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.

Long-Term Effectiveness and Safety of SGLT-2 Inhibitors in an Italian Cohort of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

BACKGROUND: SGLT-2 (sodium-glucose cotransporter-2) inhibitors are a novel class of oral hypoglycemic agents for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Herein, we aimed to assess the long-term effectiveness and safety of SGLT-2 inhibitors in a Southern Italy population of subjects affected by T2DM. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 408 diabetic patients treated with one of the three SGLT-2 inhibitors currently available in Italy (dapagliflozin, empagliflozin, and canagliflozin), either alone or in combination with other antidiabetic drugs, were retrospectively assessed at baseline, during, and after 18 months of continuous therapy. RESULTS: Treatment with SGLT-2 inhibitors resulted in a median decrease in HbA1c of 0.9%, with a percentage of decrement of 12 in relation to the baseline value, followed by a significant reduction (P < 0.001) in fasting plasma glucose. Variations in HbA1c occurred independently of the baseline clinical or biochemical characteristics. In addition, treatment with SGLT-2 inhibitors reduced body weight (P < 0.008) and decreased diastolic blood pressure (P = 0.004). With regard to safety outcomes, 66 patients out of 91 stopped SGLT-2 inhibitors during follow-up because of chronic or recurring genital infections, while the rest experienced other adverse events, such as urinary tract infections, polyuria, nausea, hypotension, dizziness, acute coronary event, worsening of glycemic control status, and rapid deterioration of renal function. CONCLUSION: In our patients' population, the glycometabolic effects of SGLT-2 inhibitors were durable and comparable to those observed in multicenter randomized controlled trials. This notwithstanding safety concerns must be raised regarding the frequent occurrence of genitourinary infections and the risk of a rapid decline of renal function in patients with evidence of volume depletion and/or receiving other medications which can adversely affect kidney function.

First Trimester Combined Test (FTCT) as a Predictor of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus.

Background-The first trimester combined test (FTCT) is an effective screening tool to estimate the risk of fetal aneuploidy. It is obtained by the combination of maternal age, ultrasound fetal nuchal translucency (NT) measurement, and the maternal serum markers free ß-human chorionic gonadotropin (ß-hCG) and pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A). However, conflicting data have been reported about the association of FTCT, ß-hCG, or PAPP-A with the subsequent diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Research design and methods-2410 consecutive singleton pregnant women were retrospectively enrolled in Calabria, Southern Italy. All participants underwent examinations for FTCT at 11-13 weeks (plus 6 days) of gestation, and screening for GDM at 16-18 and/or 24-28 weeks of gestation, in accordance with current Italian guidelines and the International Association Diabetes Pregnancy Study Groups (IADPSG) glycemic cut-offs. Data were examined by univariate and logistic regression analyses. Results-1814 (75.3%) pregnant women were normal glucose tolerant, while 596 (24.7%) were diagnosed with GDM. Spearman univariate analysis demonstrated a correlation between FTCT values and subsequent GDM diagnosis (ρ = 0.048, p = 0.018). The logistic regression analysis showed that women with a FTCT <1:10000 had a major GDM risk (p = 0.016), similar to women with a PAPP-A <1 multiple of the expected normal median (MoM, p = 0.014). Conversely, women with ß-hCG ≥2.0 MoM had a reduced risk of GDM (p = 0.014). Conclusions-Our findings indicate that GDM susceptibility increases with fetal aneuploidy risk, and that FTCT and its related maternal serum parameters can be used as early predictors of GDM.

Anti-Apoptotic and Anti-Oxidant Proteins in Glioblastomas: Immunohistochemical Expression of Beclin and DJ-1 and Its Correlation with Prognosis.

DJ-1 deglycase is a protein with anti-oxidative and anti-apoptotic properties and its role in oncogenesis is controversial. Indeed in primary breast cancer and non-small-cell lung carcinoma, its higher expression was shown in more aggressive tumors while in other neoplasms (e.g., pancreatic adenocarcinoma), higher expression was related to better prognosis. Beclin has a relevant role in autophagy and cellular death regulation, processes that are well known to be impaired in neoplastic cells. DJ-1 shows the ability to modulate signal transduction. It can modulate autophagy through many signaling pathways, a process that can mediate either cell survival or cell death depending on the circumstances. Previously, it has been suggested that the involvement of DJ-1 in autophagy regulation may play a role in tumorigenesis. The aim of our study was to investigate the link between DJ-1 and Beclin-1 in glioblastoma through the immunohistochemical expression of such proteins and to correlate the data obtained with prognosis. Protein expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry and the immunoscores were correlated with clinicopathologic parameters. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were generated. A statistically significant association between DJ-1 score and recurrence (p = 0.0189) and between the former and Isocitrate Dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) mutation (p = 0.0072) was observed. Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis revealed that a higher DJ-1 score was associated with longer overall survival (p = 0.0253, ĸ2 = 5.005). Furthermore, an unexpected direct correlation (p = 0.0424, r = 0.4009) between DJ-1 and Beclin score was evident. The most significant result of the present study was the evidence of high DJ-1 expression in IDH-mutant tumors and in cases with longer overall survival. This finding could aid, together with IDH1, in the identification of glioblastomas with better prognosis.

Brain-Behavior-Immune Interaction: Serum Cytokines and Growth Factors in Patients with Eating Disorders at Extremes of the Body Mass Index (BMI) Spectrum.

Alterations of the immune system are known in eating disorders (EDs), however the importance of cytokine balance in this context has not been clarified. We compared cytokines and growth factors at opposite ends of BMI ranges, in 90 patients classified in relation to BMI, depressive and EDs comorbidities. Serum concentrations of interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-1ß, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and epidermal growth factor (EGF) were determined by a biochip analyzer (Randox Labs). Differences were calculated through ANOVA. Possible predictors of higher cytokine levels were evaluated through regression analysis. IL-1α, IL-10, EGF, and IFN-γ were altered individuals with anorexia nervosa (AN) and binge eating disorder (BED). Night-eating was associated with IL-8 and EGF levels, IL-10 concentrations with post-dinner eating and negatively with sweet-eating, long fasting with higher IFN-γ levels. IL-2 increase was not linked to EDs, but to the interaction of depression and BMI. Altogether, for the first time, IL-1α, IL-10, EGF, and IFN-γ were shown to differ between AN and HCs, and between AN and individuals with obesity with or without BED. Only IL-2 was influenced by depression. Dysfunctional eating behaviors predicted abnormal concentrations of IL-10, EGF, IL-8 and IFN-γ.

Oleacein Prevents High Fat Diet-Induced Adiposity and Ameliorates Some Biochemical Parameters of Insulin Sensitivity in Mice.

Oleacein is one of the most abundant polyphenolic compounds of olive oil, which has been shown to play a protective role against several metabolic abnormalities, including dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and glucose intolerance. Herein, we investigated the effects of oleacein on certain markers of adipogenesis and insulin-resistance in vitro, in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, and in vivo in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice. During the differentiation process of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes into adipocytes, oleacein strongly inhibited lipid accumulation, and decreased protein levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) and fatty acid synthase (FAS), while increasing Adiponectin levels. In vivo, treatment with oleacein of C57BL/6JOlaHsd mice fed with HFD for 5 and 13 weeks prevented the increase in adipocyte size and reduced the inflammatory infiltration of macrophages and lymphocytes in adipose tissue. These effects were accompanied by changes in the expression of adipose tissue-specific regulatory elements such as PPARγ, FAS, sterol regulatory element-binding transcription factor-1 (SREBP-1), and Adiponectin, while the expression of insulin-sensitive muscle/fat glucose transporter Glut-4 was restored in HFD-fed mice treated with oleacein. Collectively, our findings indicate that protection against HFD-induced adiposity by oleacein in mice is mediated by the modulation of regulators of adipogenesis. Protection against HFD-induced obesity is effective in improving peripheral insulin sensitivity.

Long-Term Effectiveness of Liraglutide for Weight Management and Glycemic Control in Type 2 Diabetes.

Background: Liraglutide is the first glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) based on the human GLP-1 sequence, with potential weight loss benefits, approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2D) mellitus. Herein, we aimed to assess the 5-year effectiveness of Liraglutide in the management of weight and glycometabolic control in a Southern Italian cohort of overweight/obese T2D patients, who were naïve to GLP-1 RAs. Patients and Methods: Forty overweight or obese patients treated with Liraglutide at doses up to 1.8 mg/day, in combination with one or more oral antidiabetic agents, were retrospectively assessed at baseline, during, and after 60 months of continuous therapy. Results: After 5 years of Liraglutide treatment, body weight decreased from 92.1 ± 20.5 kg to 87.3 ± 20.0 Kg (p < 0.001), with a mean reduction of 5.0 ± 7.0 Kg and a body mass index (BMI) decrement of -2.0 ± 3.1 Kg/m2. On Spearman's univariate analysis, change in body weight was correlated with female gender and baseline BMI. Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) decreased from 7.9 ± 0.9% at baseline to 7.0 ± 0.7% at the end of the study period (p < 0.001), followed by a significant reduction in fasting plasma glucose. No significant differences emerged in other biochemical parameters, despite a trend toward improvement in lipid profile. Notwithstanding encouraging effects on several markers of cardiovascular disease (CVD), increments in the 5- and 10-year risk for the first atherosclerotic cardiovascular event were documented, as four incident cases of myocardial infarction. Conclusions: Prolonging treatment with Liraglutide can lead to durable benefits in relation to weight and glycemic control, with a greater impact on women. These results extend and corroborate previous observations, suggesting that gender per se may modulate the response to Liraglutide. Despite favorable effects on some established CVD risks factors, the long-term role of Liraglutide in primary prevention of CVD in patients with T2D remains controversial.

Transcriptional Regulation of Glucose Metabolism: The Emerging Role of the HMGA1 Chromatin Factor.

HMGA1 (high mobility group A1) is a nonhistone architectural chromosomal protein that functions mainly as a dynamic regulator of chromatin structure and gene transcription. As such, HMGA1 is involved in a variety of fundamental cellular processes, including gene expression, epigenetic regulation, cell differentiation and proliferation, as well as DNA repair. In the last years, many reports have demonstrated a role of HMGA1 in the transcriptional regulation of several genes implicated in glucose homeostasis. Initially, it was proved that HMGA1 is essential for normal expression of the insulin receptor (INSR), a critical link in insulin action and glucose homeostasis. Later, it was demonstrated that HMGA1 is also a downstream nuclear target of the INSR signaling pathway, representing a novel mediator of insulin action and function at this level. Moreover, other observations have indicated the role of HMGA1 as a positive modulator of the Forkhead box protein O1 (FoxO1), a master regulatory factor for gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis, as well as a positive regulator of the expression of insulin and of a series of circulating proteins that are involved in glucose counterregulation, such as the insulin growth factor binding protein 1 (IGFBP1), and the retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4). Thus, several lines of evidence underscore the importance of HMGA1 in the regulation of glucose production and disposal. Consistently, lack of HMGA1 causes insulin resistance and diabetes in humans and mice, while variations in the HMGA1 gene are associated with the risk of type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome, two highly prevalent diseases that share insulin resistance as a common pathogenetic mechanism. This review intends to give an overview about our current knowledge on the role of HMGA1 in glucose metabolism. Although research in this field is ongoing, many aspects still remain elusive. Future directions to improve our insights into the pathophysiology of glucose homeostasis may include epigenetic studies and the use of "omics" strategies. We believe that a more comprehensive understanding of HMGA1 and its networks may reveal interesting molecular links between glucose metabolism and other biological processes, such as cell proliferation and differentiation.

Cross-talk among HMGA1 and FoxO1 in control of nuclear insulin signaling.

As a mediator of insulin-regulated gene expression, the FoxO1 transcription factor represents a master regulator of liver glucose metabolism. We previously reported that the high-mobility group AT-hook 1 (HMGA1) protein, a molecular switch for the insulin receptor gene, functions also as a downstream target of the insulin receptor signaling pathway, representing a critical nuclear mediator of insulin function. Here, we investigated whether a functional relationship existed between FoxO1 and HMGA1, which might help explain insulin-mediated gene transcription in the liver. To this end, as a model study, we investigated the canonical FoxO1-HMGA1-responsive IGFBP1 gene, whose hepatic expression is regulated by insulin. By using a conventional GST-pull down assay combined with co-immunoprecipitation and Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) analyses, we provide evidence of a physical interaction between FoxO1 and HMGA1. Further investigation with chromatin immunoprecipitation, confocal microscopy, and Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching (FRAP) technology indicated a functional significance of this interaction, in both basal and insulin-stimulated states, providing evidence that, by modulating FoxO1 transactivation, HMGA1 is essential for FoxO1-induced IGFBP1 gene expression, and thereby a critical modulator of insulin-mediated FoxO1 regulation in the liver. Collectively, our findings highlight a novel FoxO1/HMGA1-mediated mechanism by which insulin may regulate gene expression and metabolism.

Effects of Oleacein on High-Fat Diet-Dependent Steatosis, Weight Gain, and Insulin Resistance in Mice.

Many reports indicate that the protective action of nutraceuticals in the Mediterranean diet, against metabolic and cardiovascular diseases, can be attributed to the action of polyphenolic components of extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO). Here, we evaluated the protective effects of oleacein, one of the most abundant secoiridoids in EVOO, on the damages/metabolic alterations caused by high-fat diet (HFD) in male C57BL/6JolaHsd mice. After 5 weeks of treatment with 20 mg/kg of oleacein, body weight, glycemia, insulinemia, serum lipids, and histologic examination of liver tissue indicated a protective action of oleacein against abdominal fat accumulation, weight gain, and liver steatosis, with improvement of insulin-dependent glucose and lipid metabolism. Both serum parameters and hepatic histologic examination were altered in mice fed with HFD. By contrast, in the animals that received oleacein, plasma glucose, cholesterol and triglyceride serum levels, and liver histology were similar to controls fed with normocaloric diet. In addition, protein levels of FAS, SREBP-1, and phospho-ERK in liver were positively modulated by oleacein, indicating an improvement in liver insulin sensitivity. In a group of obese mice, treatment with oleacein determined a light, but still significant reduction of the increase in body weight, mainly due to lesser liver steatosis enlargement, associated with reduced levels of SREBP-1 and phospho-ERK and lower levels of total serum cholesterol; in these animals, altered plasma glucose and triglyceride serum levels were not reverted by oleacein. These results indicate that HFD-related hepatic insulin resistance may be partially prevented by oral administration of oleacein, suggesting a protective role of this nutraceutical against diet-dependent metabolic alterations. Additional studies are necessary to check whether oleacein can be used as an adjuvant to improve insulin sensitivity in humans.

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Cardiovascular Disease: Genetic and Epigenetic Links.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) is a common metabolic disorder predisposing to diabetic cardiomyopathy and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD), which could lead to heart failure through a variety of mechanisms, including myocardial infarction and chronic pressure overload. Pathogenetic mechanisms, mainly linked to hyperglycemia and chronic sustained hyperinsulinemia, include changes in metabolic profiles, intracellular signaling pathways, energy production, redox status, increased susceptibility to ischemia, and extracellular matrix remodeling. The close relationship between type 2 DM and CVD has led to the common soil hypothesis, postulating that both conditions share common genetic and environmental factors influencing this association. However, although the common risk factors of both CVD and type 2 DM, such as obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, inflammation, and thrombophilia, can be identified in the majority of affected patients, less is known about how these factors influence both conditions, so that efforts are still needed for a more comprehensive understanding of this relationship. The genetic, epigenetic, and environmental backgrounds of both type 2 DM and CVD have been more recently studied and updated. However, the underlying pathogenetic mechanisms have seldom been investigated within the broader shared background, but rather studied in the specific context of type 2 DM or CVD, separately. As the precise pathophysiological links between type 2 DM and CVD are not entirely understood and many aspects still require elucidation, an integrated description of the genetic, epigenetic, and environmental influences involved in the concomitant development of both diseases is of paramount importance to shed new light on the interlinks between type 2 DM and CVD. This review addresses the current knowledge of overlapping genetic and epigenetic aspects in type 2 DM and CVD, including microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs, whose abnormal regulation has been implicated in both disease conditions, either etiologically or as cause for their progression. Understanding the links between these disorders may help to drive future research toward an integrated pathophysiological approach and to provide future directions in the field.

Secretome Analysis of Hypoxia-Induced 3T3-L1 Adipocytes Uncovers Novel Proteins Potentially Involved in Obesity.

In the obese state, as adipose tissue expands, adipocytes become hypoxic and dysfunctional, leading to changes in the pattern of adipocyte-secreted proteins. To better understand the role of hypoxia in the mechanisms linked to obesity, we comparatively analyzed the secretome of murine differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes exposed to normoxia or hypoxia for 24 h. Proteins secreted into the culture media were precipitated by trichloroacetic acid and then digested with trypsin. The peptides were labeled with dimethyl labeling and analyzed by reversed phase nanoscale liquid chromatography coupled to a quadrupole Orbitrap mass spectrometer. From a total of 1508 identified proteins, 109 were differentially regulated, of which 108 were genuinely secreted. Factors significantly downregulated in hypoxic conditions included adiponectin, a known adipokine implicated in metabolic processes, as well as thrombospondin-1 and -2, and matrix metalloproteinase-11, all multifunctional proteins involved in extracellular matrix (ECM) homeostasis. Findings were validated by Western blot analysis. Expression studies of the relative genes were performed in parallel experiments in vitro, in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes, and in vivo, in fat tissues from obese versus lean mice. Our observations are compatible with the concept that hypoxia may be an early trigger for both adipose cell dysfunction and ECM remodeling.