Investigating Visfatin gene Polymorphism rs4730153 with Insulin Resistance and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Diseases in Iranian Population.

Background: Visfatin is known as one of the adipokines associated with the development of inflammation, but its role in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty liver is less known so far. We aimed to investigate the association between visfatin gene polymorphism rs4730153 and insulin resistance and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Methods: This case-control study was performed on 80 patients with NAFLD as well as 80 healthy participants as controls referred to Amir Al-Momenin and Bouali hospitals in Tehran. Genotyping was performed using PCR-RFLP method. Plasma concentrations of visfatin and insulin were measured using ELISA kit. The fasting blood glucose, TC, TG, LDL-C, HDL-C, ALT, AST, SBP, DBP, and BMI levels were measured using the standard methods. Statistical analysis was also performed using SPSS software. Results: A significant difference was found in Visfatin level in the patients with NAFLD compared to this level in healthy individuals. The levels of HDL-C and LDL-C in healthy individuals and triglyceride in patients for GG, AG, and AA genotypes carriers also were significantly different. There was a significant relationship between rs4730153 polymorphism and insulin resistance; however, no association was found between this polymorphism and NAFLD. Notably, Visfatin showed a significant association with age (all individuals), body mass index (healthy individuals), insulin, and HOMA (in patients). Conclusion: Visfatin levels reduced in patients with NAFLD. Moreover, rs4730153 polymorphism was indicated to be associated with both lipid metabolism and insulin resistance, but no association was found between this polymorphism and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Serum adiponectin and cortisol levels are not affected by studied ADIPOQ gene variants: Tehran lipid and glucose study.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a major public health concern in developed and even developing countries worldwide. Adiponectin is a protein secreted by adipose tissue that modulates many metabolic processes and plays a vital role in obesity. This study aimed to determine the association of four variants of the ADIPOQ gene with serum adiponectin, cortisol levels and obesity status. METHODS: This case-control study was performed on 164 obese individuals compared by 156 control from the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study (TLGS). Standard procedures obtained anthropometric measures and metabolic parameters. Cortisol and adiponectin levels were measured by ELISA method. rs1501299, rs266729, rs17300539, and rs17366743 on the ADIPOQ gene were genotyped using the PCR-RFLP. The correlation between adiponectin gene SNPs and obesity were calculated by Additive, dominant, and recessive genetic models. Pearson's or Spearman's found correlations between adiponectin levels and metabolic and anthropometric variables. Data were analyzed using SPSS software Version 20. RESULTS: Adiponectin and cortisol levels were significantly lower in obese subjects compared to the control group (p < 0.05). There was a significant negative correlation between serum adiponectin level and BMI, waist circumference (WC), waist-hip ratio, hip circumference (HC), Fasting blood sugar (FBS) Triglyceride (TG), Total cholesterol (TC), Systolic blood pressure (SBP), Diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (r = - 0.147, r = - 0.324, r = 0.371, r = - 0.179, r = - 0.299, r = - 0.277, r = - 0.041, r = - 0.134, and r = - 0.149, respectively). A positive correlation was found between adiponectin and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (r = 0.29), but no significant correlations were found between adiponectin and Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C) and cortisol. ADIPOQ variant rs1501299 was significantly associated with cortisol levels in subjects with BMI ≥ 25 (P-value =0.039). CONCLUSIONS: Adiponectin and cortisol levels were associated with obesity. No ADIPOQ gene variants and haplotypes were associated with cortisol, Adiponectin, and obesity.

Metal removal capability of two cyanobacterial species in autotrophic and mixotrophic mode of nutrition.

BACKGROUND: Cyanobacteria are ecologically significant prokaryotes that can be found in heavy metals contaminated environments. As their photosynthetic machinery imposes high demands for metals, homeostasis of these micronutrients has been extensively considered in cyanobacteria. Recently, most studies have been focused on different habitats using microalgae leads to a remarkable reduction of an array of organic and inorganic nutrients, but what takes place in the extracellular environment when cells are exposed to external supplementation with heavy metals remains largely unknown. METHODS: Here, extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) production in strains Nostoc sp. N27P72 and Nostoc sp. FB71 was isolated from different habitats and thenthe results were compared and reported. RESULT: Cultures of both strains, supplemented separately with either glucose, sucrose, lactose, or maltose showed that production of EPS and cell dry weight were boosted by maltose supplementation. The production of EPS (9.1 ± 0.05 µg/ml) and increase in cell dry weight (1.01 ± 0.06 g/l) were comparatively high in Nostoc sp. N27P72 which was isolated from lime stones.The cultures were evaluated for their ability to remove Cu (II), Cr (III), and Ni (II) in culture media with and without maltose. The crude EPS showed metal adsorption capacity assuming the order Ni (II) > Cu (II) > Cr (III) from the metal-binding experiments.Nickel was preferentially biosorbed with a maximal uptake of 188.8 ± 0.14 mg (g cell dry wt) -1 crude EPS. We found that using maltose as a carbon source can increase the production of EPS, protein, and carbohydrates content and it could be a significant reason for the high ability of metal absorbance. FT-IR spectroscopy revealed that the treatment with Ni can change the functional groups and glycoside linkages in both strains. Results of Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) were used to determine the biochemical composition of Nostoc sp. N27P72, showed that strong Ni (II) removal capability could be associated with the high silicon containing heterocyclic compound and aromatic diacid compounds content. CONCLUSION: The results of this studyindicatede that strains Nostoc sp. N27P72 can be a good candidate for the commercial production of EPS and might be utilized in bioremediation field as an alternative to synthetic and abiotic flocculants.

Association of vaspin rs2236242 gene polymorphism with serum vaspin level, insulin resistance and diabetes in an Iranian diabetic/pre-diabetic population.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, the role of vaspin as an insulin-sensitizer has been studied widely. This is the investigation that examined the association of vaspin polymorphism rs2236242 on the vaspin level and the risk of type 2 diabetes and insulin-resistant Iranian pre-diabetic/diabetic population. METHODS: A case-control study was conducted on 160 participants includes 80 participants holding (FBG) fasting blood glucose 3.88-5.55 (mmol/L) in the normal group, and 80 participants holding FBG≥5.55 (mmol/L) in a diabetic/pre-diabetic group. The serum vaspin and insulin were determined with ELISA (enzyme-linked assay) and biochemical variables by standard method. Tetra arms amplification system for the vaspin gene was performed. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS software version 20. RESULTS: The means of age, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), FBG, and vaspin were significantly different between normal and type 2 diabetic/impaired fasting blood group (P-value<0.05). rs2236242 showed association with Hip circumference (P-value<0.05). A significant association between allele A of rs2236242 with type 2 diabetes was seen (P-value<0.001). The vaspin levels showed a negative correlation with FBG (r =-0.296, P=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Allele A of rs2236242 is a protective risk for type 2 diabetes, but no association of rs2236242 with insulin resistance was seen. The lower level of vaspin is a predictor for the progression of type 2 diabetes.

Association between adiponectin rs17300539 and rs266729 gene polymorphisms with serum adiponectin level in an Iranian diabetic/pre-diabetic population.

OBJECTIVE: Adiponectin is an adipokine that is mostly secreted from adipose tissues and has a significant role in the improvement of insulin resistant and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This study is conducted to examine the association of rs17300539 and rs266729 with T2DM and serum adiponectin level in Iranian population. METHOD: A case-control study was conducted on 80 individuals with fasting plasma glucose (FPG) >100 (mg/dl) as diabetic-pre-diabetic group, and 80 individuals with fasting plasma glucose 70-100 (mg/dl) as control group. DNA extraction was done on samples and genotyping method was performed by PCR-RFLP. RESULT: The frequency of GA genotype in rs17300539 (diabetic/pre-diabetic 35.5%, control 11.3%, (OR [95%CI]=4.18[1.8-9.6]; p=0.001) and allele A (diabetic/pre-diabetic 31%, control 9%, (OR [95% CI]=4.67[2-10.7]) was significantly more in diabetic/pre-diabetic group compared to control group. The difference in the genotype frequency for rs266729 in diabetic group compared to that in control was not significant. The levels of adiponectin in diabetic cases had no difference compared to the control group in both polymorphisms. The rs266729 was not associated with any metabolic parameter except waist circumference (p=0.03), however, rs17300539 shows association only with fasting plasma glucose, triglyceride, and total cholesterol (p=0.007, 0.039, 0.0032, respectively). CONCLUSION: Our findings showed that there is an association between rs17300539 with the increase of T2DM but rs266729 showed no association with the risk of T2DM. Allele A of rs17300539 increased the risk of diabetes. There is no association between adiponectin level and both polymorphisms.