scholarly journals Programming of obesity and pediatric metabolic syndromes: a review in light of epigenetic modulation

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Liana Carla Albuquerque Peres Martinho

Obesity is a multifactorial health problem characterized by the excessive accumulation of fat in the body and affects approximately 338 million children and adolescents worldwide. For this reason, this study consisted of a literature review to investigate how the causes and treatments of pediatric obesity are being addressed in light of epigenetic modulation as a factor in metabolic programming. For this, preferentially original articles published in English between the years 2017 to 2021 in the PubMed and Scholar Google databases were searched using the epigenetics descriptors; epigenetic modulation; child obesity; metabolic syndrome, combined with each other. A total of 54,000 articles were returned to searches in PubMed and 16,107,000 in Scholar Google. Fewer than 500 studies jointly addressed epigenetics and aspects of obesity or metabolic syndromes in childhood. Only 14 works matched the search criteria. The most discussed epigenetic mechanism in the literature is DNA methylation, whose rates observed mainly in CpG islands of promoter regions in several genes contribute to the prevention and early diagnosis of obesity and other pediatric comorbidities even before birth, based on the correlation between the epigenetic marks, maternal and paternal health and anthropometric indices. Although experimental studies on infant metabolic programming are scarce, existing knowledge suggests that environmental, nutritional, and energy expenditure changes are capable of modulating the epigenome and reversing marks that induce susceptibility to metabolic comorbidities.

Biomics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 504-509
Author(s):  
A. A. Akishina ◽  
Yu. E. Vorontsova ◽  
R. O. Cherezov ◽  
E. E. Kuvaeva ◽  
O. B. Simonova ◽  
...  

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), is an important ligand-dependent transcription factor, which retained its structural and functional features during evolution. AHR target genes play a key role in detoxification, in the regulation of the development and maintenance of eukaryotic homeostasis. The high conservatism of human AHR allowed us to study its functions in vivo using transgenic Drosophila melanogaster lines with an inducible human AHR gene. It is believed that Drosophila AHR homolog isn't activated by exogenous ligands, so human AHR can be tissue-specific activated in the body of a transgenic fly. This allows us to analyze the transcription level of AHR target genes in various organs and tissues. Unexpectedly we found that exogenous AHR ligands can increase as well as decrease the transcription levels of the AHR target genes, including genes that control proliferation, motility, polarization, and programmed cell death. We hypothesized that the absence of the expected increase in the transcription of some AHR target genes was caused by its epigenetic silencing. This hypothesis was confirmed in the experiments using histone lysine-N-methyltransferase inhibitors and with Drosophila null mutation of the methyltransferase Pc gene. As a result a new epigenetic mechanism of modulation of human aryl hydrocarbon receptor target genes transcription was discovered. Since exogenous AHR ligands and small molecule inhibitors of epigenetic modifiers are often used as pharmaceutical anticancer drugs, our findings may have significant implications in designing new combinations of therapeutic treatments for oncological diseases.


Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 2392
Author(s):  
Giovanna Spatari ◽  
Alessandro Allegra ◽  
Mariella Carrieri ◽  
Giovanni Pioggia ◽  
Sebastiano Gangemi

Benzene carcinogenic ability has been reported, and chronic exposure to benzene can be one of the risk elements for solid cancers and hematological neoplasms. Benzene is acknowledged as a myelotoxin, and it is able to augment the risk for the onset of acute myeloid leukemia, myelodysplastic syndromes, aplastic anemia, and lymphomas. Possible mechanisms of benzene initiation of hematological tumors have been identified, as a genotoxic effect, an action on oxidative stress and inflammation and the provocation of immunosuppression. However, it is becoming evident that genetic alterations and the other causes are insufficient to fully justify several phenomena that influence the onset of hematologic malignancies. Acquired epigenetic alterations may participate with benzene leukemogenesis, as benzene may affect nuclear receptors, and provoke post-translational alterations at the protein level, thereby touching the function of regulatory proteins, comprising oncoproteins and tumor suppressor proteins. DNA hypomethylation correlates with stimulation of oncogenes, while the hypermethylation of CpG islands in promoter regions of specific tumor suppressor genes inhibits their transcription and stimulates the onset of tumors. The discovery of the systems of epigenetic induction of benzene-caused hematological tumors has allowed the possibility to operate with pharmacological interventions able of stopping or overturning the negative effects of benzene.


Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 816
Author(s):  
Priya Ramarao-Milne ◽  
Olga Kondrashova ◽  
Sinead Barry ◽  
John D. Hooper ◽  
Jason S. Lee ◽  
...  

Genetic and epigenetic factors contribute to the development of cancer. Epigenetic dysregulation is common in gynaecological cancers and includes altered methylation at CpG islands in gene promoter regions, global demethylation that leads to genome instability and histone modifications. Histones are a major determinant of chromosomal conformation and stability, and unlike DNA methylation, which is generally associated with gene silencing, are amenable to post-translational modifications that induce facultative chromatin regions, or condensed transcriptionally silent regions that decondense resulting in global alteration of gene expression. In comparison, other components, crucial to the manipulation of chromatin dynamics, such as histone modifying enzymes, are not as well-studied. Inhibitors targeting DNA modifying enzymes, particularly histone modifying enzymes represent a potential cancer treatment. Due to the ability of epigenetic therapies to target multiple pathways simultaneously, tumours with complex mutational landscapes affected by multiple driver mutations may be most amenable to this type of inhibitor. Interrogation of the actionable landscape of different gynaecological cancer types has revealed that some patients have biomarkers which indicate potential sensitivity to epigenetic inhibitors. In this review we describe the role of epigenetics in gynaecological cancers and highlight how it may exploited for treatment.


2015 ◽  
Vol 813-814 ◽  
pp. 830-835
Author(s):  
Akkaraju H. Kiran Theja ◽  
Rayapati Subbarao

The drawbacks associated with bio-fuels can be minimized by making modifications to combustion chamber. Modification of combustion chamber is achieved by providing an air gap in between the crown and the body of the piston with the top crown made of low thermal conductivity material. Experimentation is carried on a diesel engine with brass as piston crown material and karanja as test fuel, which is found to be a better alternative fuel based on the tests carried out prior to modification. Investigations are carried out on the performance of the engine with modified combustion chamber consisting of air gap insulated piston with 2 mm air gap with brass crown when fuelled with karanja oil. Comparative studies are made between the two configurations of engine with and without modification at an injection timing of 29obTDC. Performance, heat balance and emission plots are made with respect to brake power. Fuel consumption increased with modification. The mechanical and volumetric efficiencies are similar in both the cases. Indicated and brake thermal efficiencies got reduced with modification. But, it is good to see that HC and CO emissions are showing positive trend. Thus, the present investigation hints the possibility of improvements while making piston modification and providing air gap insulation.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pilar Mata Tutor ◽  
Catherine Villoria Rojas ◽  
María Benito Sánchez

Decomposition is a natural process that begins approximately four minutes after death and continues until the body is degraded to simpler biochemical components which are gradually recycled back to the environment. This process is dependent on extrinsic and intrinsic factors. Embalming is a chemical preservation technique that aims to preserve the external appearance of the body in good condition for an indeterminate period. In Spain, there is a lack of experimental studies carried out to analyse the variables that affect decomposition in embalmed bodies, therefore, in accordance with the conclusions reached by previous authors, it is hypothesised that embalmed bodies show quantifiable characteristics during the late stage decomposition which distinguish them from control, unembalmed, cadavers. An anthropological and statistical analysis was performed on 14 individuals from Cementerio Sur de Madrid exhumed after ten years according to the Mortuary Health Law of the Autonomous Region of Madrid. The preliminary results obtained showed that there is a qualitative and statistically significant relationship between the variables evaluated, being the presence or absence of soft tissue the most notable difference. The mortuary or thanatopraxy treatments performed before the burial and the microenvironmental conditions of the burial positively influence the soft tissue preservation on embalmed bodies. These results contribute to the understanding about the decomposition rate of an embalmed cadavers in cemeteries, and the related extrinsic variables.


1996 ◽  
Vol 17 (12) ◽  
pp. 448-448
Author(s):  
Philip O. Ozuah

Wilson disease (hepatolenticular degeneration) is an autosomal recessive, inherited disorder of copper metabolism resulting in excessive accumulation of copper in the liver, brain, and other organs of the body. The manifestations of the disease are related directly to this accumulation of copper. Copper homeostasis normally is a product of the balance between intestinal absorption of dietary copper and hepatic biliary excretion of excess copper. In Wilson disease, incorporation of hepatic copper into ceruloplasmin is defective and excretion of copper in the bile is reduced. A low level of ceruloplasmin, which until a few years ago was erroneously considered to be the basis for the disease, is a consequence of the underlying metabolic defect.


2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 72-78

The article presents the results of laboratory studies to assess the toxicological parameters of montmorillonite clay from the Pogadaevskoye deposit in the West Kazakhstan region in order to use them as an aluminosilicate sorbent in the composition of feeds that reduce the negative effects of mycotoxins on the body of animals and birds. The relevance of research is associated with the cultivation of healthy and highly productive animals and poultry in order to ensure the food security of the Republic of Kazakhstan.The studies carried out to assess the toxicological parameters of montmorillonite clay in order to use them as an aluminosilicate sorbent in experimental animals (rabbits and white rats) allowed the following results to be obtained: Visual study of the intensity of erythema when exposed to the test substance on the skin of rabbits showed their absence (0 points). The study of the intensity of edema (an increase in the thickness of the skin clutch of rabbits) when exposed to the test substance on the skin of rabbits showed no reaction (0 points). Studies evaluating the irritating effect of the test substances on the mucous membranes of the eyes of rabbits by symptoms of damage showed the absence of hyperemia (0 points). Weak eyelid edema (1 point), the minimum amount of discharge in the corner of the eye (1 point). The results of studies on the classification assessment of the test substance for the severity of the irritant effect on the eyes of rabbits showed that the average total score of the severity of the irritative effect corresponds to 1 point. A comprehensive analysis of the results obtained on the basis of scientific and experimental studies to assess the toxicological indicators of montmorillonite clay from the Pogadaevskoye deposit in relation to irritating effects on the skin and mucous membranes of experimental animals (rabbits) showed their harmlessness.


Author(s):  
В. В. Кулик ◽  
В. Г. Бабийчук

В работе изучено влияние разных режимов ритмических экстремальных холодовых воздействий на состояние вегетативной регуляции сердечного ритма у молодых и старых крыс. По данным спектрального анализа вариабельности сердечного ритма установлено, что у молодых крыс использование температурных режимов ритмических экстремальных холодовых воздействий, РЭХВ (-120 °С; -120 °С; -120 °С) и (-60 °С; -120 °С; -120 °С) значительно повышало адаптационные возможности организма за счет активации собственных гомеостатических регуляторных систем. При этом комбинированный режим РЭХВ (-60 °С; -120 °С; -120 °С) оказался наиболее оптимальным для старых животных, поскольку его применение не сопровождалось чрезмерной активацией симпатико-адреналовой системы на ранних этапах экспериментальных исследований в отличие от режима (-120 °С; -120 °С; -120 °С). Кроме того, использование данного режима охлаждения способствовало статистически значимому увеличению показателей общей мощности спектра нейрогуморальной регуляции не столько за счет повышения активности гуморально-метаболического звена регуляции, преобладание которого характерно для пожилого возраста, сколько благодаря увеличению тонуса вегетативных центров, причем парасимпатические влияния на миокард превалировали над симпатическими. The influence of various rhythmic extreme cold effects on the state of autonomic regulation of heart rate in young and aged rats was studied. According to the spectral analysis of heart rate variability, it has been found that in young rats, using rhythmic extreme cold exposures (RECE) temperature regimens of (-120 °С; -120 °С; -120 °С) and (-60 °С; -120 °С; -120 °С) significantly increased adaptive capabilities of the body due to the activation of its own homeostatic regulatory systems. At the same time, the combined regimen of RECE (-60 °С; -120 °С; -120 °С) occurred to be the most optimal for aged animals, since its use was not accompanied with an excessive activation of sympathoadrenal system at the early stages of experimental studies, in contrast to the regimen (-120 °С; -120 °С; -120 °С). In addition, the use of this cooling mode contributed to a statistically significant increase in the total power of spectrum of neurohumoral regulation not so much due to a rise in activity of humoral-metabolic regulation link, the prevalence of which is characteristic of an old age, but due to an increase in the tone of vegetative centers, herewith the parasympathetic effects on the myocardium prevailed sympathetic ones.


Author(s):  
SHAPOVALOVA Nataliia ◽  
VEZHLIVTSEVA Svitlana ◽  
ANTIUSHKO Dmytro

Background. The deficiency of essential nutrients in the human body is the root cause of reduced efficiency, general resistance of the body to various diseases. That is an urgent problem in the context of the spread of coronavirus infection. In this regard, the search for opportunities to meet the needs of the population in food products that contain biologically active substances (BAS) through the use of high-value and at the same time available plant raw materials is extremely important. Marigolds attract special attention among such raw materials. The aim of the work is to study the chemical composition and evaluate the consumer properties of Tagetes L. varieties, zoned in the Kiev region, to prove the possibility of increasing the biological value of pasta by adding to their recipe powder from marigold inflorescences. Materials and methods. The object of research is pasta of B group (noodles). Inflorescences of marigolds of different varieties gathered during the flowering period in July-September 2019–2020 in the territory of Vasylkiv and Obukhiv districts of Kyiv region, Ukraine were used as enriching plant raw materials. The quality of finished pasta was assessed by organoleptic and physicochemical indexes (moisture content and titratable acidity). The content of mineral elements in the fine powder of marigold inflorescences was determined on the EXHERT-3L device, the quantitative composition and BAS identification – by spectrophotometric analysis on the device Specord-200 Analytic Jena UV-vis. The integrated quality index of pasta products was calculated taking into account the importance factors of individual indexes. Results. Comparing the obtained results, we can state that all the studied varieties – Gold Kopfen, Orange Flame, Hawaii, Equinox are characterized by high biological value, regardless of the area of collection. As a result of calculated and experimental studies it was determined that the addition of 7 % of the supplement does not provide the required supply of vitamins and minerals. Replacing the flour in the recipe by 20 % significantly improves the mineral composition, but deteriorates the taste and aromatic properties of pasta. The most optimal and rational amount of added additive is 15 %, as it improves the organoleptic properties of pasta and enriches their BAS. Conclusion. The usage of non-traditional vegetable raw materials, in particular powder from marigold inflorescences, which is rich in biologically active substances, allows not only to expand the range, improve the quality of finished products, but also increase the biological value of the product. The optimal amount of additive –powder from marigold inflorescences, was defined. It is 15 % by weight of flour in the production of noodles. This concentration allows not only to improve the organoleptic properties, but also to increase the content of biologically active substances – vitamins, micro- and macronutrients. The usage of non-traditional natural raw materials (powder from marigold inflorescences) allows to abandon artificial colorsand give the finished pasta a pleasant colorand aroma.


2015 ◽  
Vol 113 (7) ◽  
pp. 1032-1039 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huan-Ling Yu ◽  
Shan Dong ◽  
Li-Fang Gao ◽  
Li Li ◽  
Yuan-Di Xi ◽  
...  

An epigenetic mechanism has been suggested to explain the effects of the maternal diet on the development of disease in offspring. The present study aimed to observe the effects of a maternal high-lipid, high-energy (HLE) diet on the DNA methylation pattern of male offspring in mice. Female C57BL/6J mice were fed an HLE diet during gestation and lactation. The genomic DNA methylations at promoter sites of genes in the liver, mRNA and protein levels of selected genes related to lipid and glucose metabolism were measured by microarray, real-time PCR and Western blot. The results indicated that the percentage of methylated DNA in offspring from dams that were fed an HLE diet was significantly higher than that from dams that were fed a chow diet, and most of these genes were hypermethylated in promoter regions. The nuclear protein content and mRNA levels of hypermethylated genes, such as PPARγ and liver X receptor α (LXRα), were decreased significantly in offspring in the HLE group. The results suggested that the DNA methylation profile in adult offspring livers was changed by the maternal HLE diet during gestation and lactation.


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