Role of CCKa-receptors in post-prandial LES function in morbidly obese subjects

BACKGROUND: Endothelial dysfunction and inflammation are present in both type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obesity. In this paper we compared the role of weight loss and of glycaemic control in determining circulating levels of ICAM-1, endothelin-1 (ET-1), and E-selectin in patients with morbid (grade 3) obesity. METHODS AND RESULTS: ICAM-1, E-selectin, and ET-1 were higher in obese patients (n=96) than in lean controls (n=30); among obese patients, the three molecules were higher in T2DM patients (n=26) than in patients with normal (NGT, n=43) or impaired (IGT, n=27) glucose tolerance. Sixty-eight obese patients had a significant weight loss induced by bariatric surgery, and showed a significant decrease in blood glucose, HbA1c and all molecules, so that ICAM-1, E-selectin, and ET-1 were not different in NGT, IGT and T2DM patients, and in lean controls; in 13 patients with a small weight loss induced by diet, changes were not significant, in spite of a significant reduction in blood glucose and HbA1c. At stepwise regression, changes in ICAM-1, ET-1, and E-selectin significantly correlated only with change in body mass index. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that weight loss is more important than glycaemic control in regulating circulating levels of ICAM-1, ET-1, E-selectin in morbidly obese subjects.

Download Full-text

Inter-Tissue and Intra-Tissue Co-Expression Networks in Human Metabolism: Morphological Evaluation of the Link Between Transcription Factors ERβ and NFAT in Morbid Obesity

Current Diabetes Reviews ◽

10.2174/1573399816666200430112958 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

pp. 63-80

Author(s):

Athina Chasapi ◽

Kostas Balampanis ◽

Eleni Kourea ◽

Fotios Kalfaretzos ◽

Vaia Lambadiari ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Morbid Obesity ◽

Adipose Tissue ◽

Clinicopathological Parameters ◽

Morbidly Obese ◽

Human Metabolism ◽

Activated T Cells ◽

Alcoholic Fatty Liver ◽

Morphological Evaluation ◽

Underlying Mechanisms

Background: Estrogen receptor β (ERβ) plays an important role in human metabolism and some of its metabolic actions are mediated by a positive “cross-talk” with Nuclear Factor of Activated T cells (NFAT) and the key metabolic transcriptional coregulator Transcriptional Intermediary Factor 2 (TIF2). Introduction: Our study is an “in situ” morphological evaluation of the communication between ERβ, NFAT and TIF2 in morbid obesity. Potential correlations with clinicopathological parameters and with the presence of diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) were also explored. The aim of the present study was to determine the role of ERβ and NFAT in the underlying pathophysiology of obesity and related comorbidities. We have investigated the expression of specific proteins using immunochemistry methodologies. Methods: Our population consists of 50 morbidly obese patients undergoing planned bariatric surgery, during which biopsies were taken from visceral adipose tissue (VAT), subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), skeletal muscle (SM), extramyocellular adipose tissue (EMAT) and liver and the differential protein expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Results: We demonstrated an extensive intra- and inter-tissue co-expression network, which confirms the tissue-specific and integral role of each one of the investigated proteins in morbid obesity. Moreover, a beneficial role of ERβ and NFATc1 against NAFLD is implicated, whereas the distinct roles of TIF2 still remain an enigma. Conclusions: We believe that our findings will shed light on the complex underlying mechanisms and that the investigated biomarkers could represent future targets for the prevention and therapy of obesity and its comorbidities.

Download Full-text

Changes in the Composition and Function of Lipoproteins after Bariatric Surgery in Patients with Severe Obesity

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm10081716 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (8) ◽

pp. 1716

Author(s):

Idoia Genua ◽

Núria Puig ◽

Inka Miñambres ◽

Sonia Benítez ◽

Pedro Gil ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bariatric Surgery ◽

Lipid Profile ◽

Healthy Subjects ◽

Control Group ◽

Morbidly Obese ◽

Qualitative Properties ◽

Ldl Particles ◽

Obese Subjects ◽

Lipoprotein Composition ◽

Qualitative Characteristics

The effect of bariatric surgery on lipid profile and the qualitative characteristics of lipoproteins was analyzed in morbidly obese subjects. Thirteen obese patients underwent bariatric surgery. Plasma samples were obtained before surgery and at 6 and 12 months after the intervention. Thirteen healthy subjects comprised the control group. Lipid profile, hsCRP, and the composition and functional characteristics of VLDL, LDL, and HDL were assessed. At baseline, plasma from subjects with obesity had more triglycerides, VLDLc, and hsCRP, and less HDLc than the control group. These levels progressively normalized after surgery, although triglyceride and hsCRP levels remained higher than those in the controls. The main differences in lipoprotein composition between the obese subjects and the controls were increased apoE in VLDL, and decreased cholesterol and apoJ and increased apoC-III content in HDL. The pro-/anti-atherogenic properties of LDL and HDL were altered in the subjects with obesity at baseline compared with the controls, presenting smaller LDL particles that are more susceptible to modification and smaller HDL particles with decreased antioxidant capacity. Bariatric surgery normalized the composition of lipoproteins and improved the qualitative characteristics of LDL and HDL. In summary, patients with obesity present multiple alterations in the qualitative properties of lipoproteins compared with healthy subjects. Bariatric surgery reverted most of these alterations.

Download Full-text

An Overview of Adipose Tissue ACE2 Modulation by Diet and Obesity. Potential Implications in COVID-19 Infection and Severity

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22157975 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (15) ◽

pp. 7975

Author(s):

Saioa Gómez-Zorita ◽

Iñaki Milton-Laskibar ◽

Laura García-Arellano ◽

Marcela González ◽

María P. Portillo

Keyword(s):

Adipose Tissue ◽

Protective Role ◽

Inflammatory Factors ◽

Current Evidence ◽

Disease Outcomes ◽

Lower Activation ◽

Two Factors ◽

Obese Subjects ◽

Ace2 Gene

The present review is aimed at analysing the current evidence concerning the potential modulation of obesity and/or diet in adipose tissue ACE2. Additionally, the potential implications of these effects on COVID-19 are also addressed. The results published show that diet and obesity are two factors that effectively influence the expression of Ace2 gene in adipose tissue. However, the shifts in this gene do not always occur in the same direction, nor with the same intensity. Additionally, there is no consensus regarding the implications of increased adipose tissue ACE2 expression in health. Thus, while in some studies a protective role is attributed to ACE2 overexpression, other studies suggest otherwise. Similarly, there is much debate regarding the role played by ACE2 in COVID-19 in terms of degree of infection and disease outcomes. The greater risk of infection that may hypothetically derive from enhanced ACE2 expression is not clear since the functionality of the enzyme seems to be as important as the abundance. Thus, the greater abundance of ACE2 in adipose tissue of obese subjects may be counterbalanced by its lower activation. In addition, a protective role of ACE2 overexpression has also been suggested, associated with the increase in anti-inflammatory factors that it may produce.

Download Full-text

Differences in Salivary Proteins as a Function of PROP Taster Status and Gender in Normal Weight and Obese Subjects

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules26082244 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 26 (8) ◽

pp. 2244

Author(s):

Melania Melis ◽

Mariano Mastinu ◽

Stefano Pintus ◽

Tiziana Cabras ◽

Roberto Crnjar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Food Preferences ◽

Specific Weight ◽

Normal Weight ◽

Nutrition Status ◽

Salivary Proteins ◽

Specific Proteins ◽

Obese Subjects ◽

And Gender ◽

Cystatin Sn

Taste plays an important role in processes such as food choices, nutrition status and health. Salivary proteins contribute to taste sensitivity. Taste reduction has been associated with obesity. Gender influences the obesity predisposition and the genetic ability to perceive the bitterness of 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP), oral marker for food preferences and consumption. We investigated variations in the profile of salivary proteome, analyzed by HPLC-ESI-MS, between sixty-one normal weight subjects (NW) and fifty-seven subjects with obesity (OB), based on gender and PROP sensitivity. Results showed variations of taste-related salivary proteins between NW and OB, which were differently associated with gender and PROP sensitivity. High levels of Ps-1, II-2 and IB-1 proteins belonging to basic proline rich proteins (bPRPs) and PRP-1 protein belonging to acid proline rich proteins (aPRPs) were found in OB males, who showed a lower body mass index (BMI) than OB females. High levels of Ps-1 protein and Cystatin SN (Cyst SN) were found in OB non-tasters, who had lower BMI than OB super-tasters. These new insights on the role of salivary proteins as a factor driving the specific weight gain of OB females and super-tasters, suggest the use of specific proteins as a strategic tool modifying taste responses related to eating behavior.

Download Full-text

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in non-obese patients

Sleep And Breathing ◽

10.1007/s11325-021-02412-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Caterina Antonaglia ◽

Giovanna Passuti

Keyword(s):

Obstructive Sleep Apnea ◽

Sleep Apnea ◽

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome ◽

Sleep Apnea Syndrome ◽

Obese Patients ◽

Obstructive Sleep ◽

Obese Subjects ◽

Apnea Syndrome ◽

Symptoms And Signs

AbstractObstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is characterized by symptoms and signs of more than 5 apneas per hour (AHI) at polysomnography or 15 or more apneas per hour without symptoms. In this review, the focus will be a subgroup of patients: adult non-obese subjects with OSA and their specific features. In non-obese OSA patients (patients with BMI < 30 kg/m2), there are specific polysomnographic features which reflect specific pathophysiological traits. Previous authors identified an anatomical factor (cranial anatomical factors, retrognatia, etc.) in OSA non-obese. We have hypothesized that in this subgroup of patients, there could be a non-anatomical pathological prevalent trait. Little evidence exists regarding the role of low arousal threshold. This factor could explain the difficulty in treating OSA in non-obese patients and emphasizes the importance of a specific therapeutic approach for each patient.

Download Full-text