Review
Environmental Sciences
Diana Moroni-Gonzalez, Victor Enrique Sarmiento-Ortega, Alfonso Diaz, Eduardo Brambila, Samuel Trevino
Summary: Cadmium is recognized as a toxic agent in acute and chronic poisoning cases and environmental exposure situations. It accumulates in the liver and kidney, mainly through oxidative stress and inflammation, and is associated with metabolic diseases. The pancreas-liver-adipose axis is particularly affected by cadmium accumulation. This review aims to establish the molecular and cellular mechanisms linking cadmium to carbohydrate, lipid, and endocrine impairments that contribute to insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, prediabetes, and diabetes.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rojina Ranjit, Holly Van Remmen, Bumsoo Ahn
Summary: Sarcopenia, the progressive loss of muscle mass and dysfunction, affects the elderly and has negative effects on their quality of life. However, no pharmacological therapies are currently available for this condition. Recent studies have shown that ghrelin, a gut-released hormone, has protective effects on skeletal muscle. In this study, it was found that unacylated ghrelin can reduce muscle atrophy and contractile dysfunction.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Camilla O. D. Araujo, Renan M. Montenegro, Amanda P. Pedroso, Virginia O. Fernandes, Ana Paula D. R. Montenegro, Annelise B. de Carvalho, Lila M. Oyama, Carla S. C. Maia, Eliane B. Ribeiro
Summary: This study found that patients with congenital generalized lipodystrophy (CGL) have appetite disturbances compared to eutrophic individuals, with lower fasting acylated ghrelin levels and no physiological drop after meal intake. These disturbances seem to play a role in hunger attenuation and satiety, but not in acute satiation.
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Shaoying Zhang, Dan Wan, Mengchen Zhu, Guihu Wang, Xurui Zhang, Na Huang, Jian Zhang, Chongyu Zhang, Qi Shang, Chen Zhang, Xi Liu, Fanfan Liang, Chunyan Zhang, Guangyao Kong, Jing Geng, Libo Yao, Shemin Lu, Yongyan Chen, Zongfang Li
Summary: This study found that splenic monocyte-derived macrophages migrate to the liver and shift to macrophages, exacerbating liver fibrosis. These findings reveal the important role of the spleen-liver axis in hepatic pathogenesis.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Anna Whitehead, Fynn N. Krause, Amy Moran, Amanda D. V. MacCannell, Jason L. Scragg, Ben D. McNally, Edward Boateng, Steven A. Murfitt, Samuel Virtue, John Wright, Jack Garnham, Graeme R. Davies, James Dodgson, Jurgen E. Schneider, Andrew J. Murray, Christopher Church, Antonio Vidal-Puig, Klaus K. Witte, Julian L. Griffin, Lee D. Roberts
Summary: The study identifies a group of metabolites synthesized in brown adipose tissue that can influence the metabolism of fat tissue and skeletal muscle, with anti-obesity effects in mouse models of obesity and diabetes. Brown and beige adipose tissue appear to have a significant impact on systemic metabolism through secreted signals.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Viktorija Avilkina, Christophe Chauveau, Olfa Ghali Mhenni
Summary: Mammalian sirtuins are crucial enzymes that regulate various biological processes and are well characterized in metabolic tissues. Their role in bone activity is important for maintaining bone homeostasis. Understanding the crosstalk between sirtuins, metabolic organs, and bone may contribute to the development of therapeutic strategies for metabolic diseases and osteoporosis.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Andrea Barrientos-Riosalido, Laia Bertran, Merce Vilaro-Blay, Carmen Aguilar, Salome Martinez, Marta Paris, Fatima Sabench, David Riesco, Jessica Binetti, Daniel Del Castillo, Cristobal Richart, Teresa Auguet
Summary: The objective of this study was to assess the involvement of OLFM2 in NAFLD mediated by the adipose-tissue-liver axis. OLFM2 expression in SAT was enhanced in MO individuals and in the presence of NAFLD. Additionally, OLFM2 expression in VAT decreased in the presence of NASH and exhibited a positive correlation with adiponectin levels.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Khaled Benchoula, Ishwar S. Parhar, Wong Eng Hwa
Summary: Obesity is a complex disease resulting from an imbalance between energy expenditure and food intake, with sedentary lifestyles and overeating contributing to a rise in obesity and type 2 diabetes cases. The mechanisms of these diseases and their interactions are still unclear, with ongoing research aiming to clarify these aspects. VGF peptide and its derivatives may play a role in the development of obesity and diabetes, though conflicting studies on the function of VGF have been reported.
PHARMACOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Shuai Chen, Peng Song, Yu Wang, Zeng Wang, Jiaming Xue, Yicheng Jiang, Yan Zhou, Jie Zhao, Liming Tang
Summary: This study identified 164 differentially expressed circular RNAs, among which circMAPK9 was closely related to the BMI of obese individuals. Further investigations revealed that circMAPK9 competed with hsa-miR-1322, weakening its inhibitory effect on FTO and promoting adipogenesis.
Article
Microbiology
Jianfei Pan, Linya Chui, Tianxia Liu, Qiantao Zheng, Xuexue Liu, Lulu Liu, Ying Zhao, Lilan Zhang, Min Song, Jianlin Han, Jiaojiao Huang, Chaohua Tang, Cong Tao, Jianguo Zhao, Yanfang Wang
Summary: This study investigated the impact of UCP1 ectopic expression on fecal microbiota composition and metabolites, and its effect on fat deposition. Bacteria such as Oscillospira and Coprococcus, as well as the metabolite HDCA, were found to be increased in feces of UCP1 pigs, showing a negative correlation with backfat thickness. Fecal microbiota transplantation in mice phenocopied the UCP1 pigs, indicating the involvement of fecal microbes in regulating host lipid metabolism.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Adriana Izquierdo-Lahuerta
Summary: Recent studies have shown the important role of the PTHrP/PTH1R axis in the regulation of adipose tissue, participating in adipogenesis and remodeling, with potential therapeutic effects on obesity and its complications, diabetes, and other related diseases.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yiming Hu, Cheng Li, Yingyong Hou
Summary: It has been found that liver glycogen alpha particles in diabetic patients are more fragile in comparison to those in healthy individuals, and restoring these fragile glycogen particles to a normal state may contribute to the improvement of diabetes. Resistant starch (RS) shows potential benefits for diabetes management through interactions with the gut microbiota, but its effects on glycogen fragility are not fully understood.
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Menghua Zhu, Hongyu Li, Yue Yin, Min Ding, Cyriac Abby Philips, Fernando Gomes Romeiro, Xingshun Qi
Summary: Both excessive deficiency and accumulation of subcutaneous adipose tissues negatively influence the outcomes of cirrhotic patients.
JOURNAL OF CACHEXIA SARCOPENIA AND MUSCLE
(2023)
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Mario Perello, Suzanne L. Dickson, Jeffrey M. Zigman, Lorenzo Leggio
Summary: The stomach-derived peptide ghrelin, discovered in 1999, is an endogenous agonist of the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR) and plays key roles in various physiological functions. Its non-acylated form, desacyl-ghrelin, has a less well-understood physiological role. To establish a consistent nomenclature, experts in the field have proposed using the terms ghrelin and desacyl-ghrelin for the hormones, GHSR for the receptor, and LEAP2 for a recently recognized GHSR antagonist/inverse agonist.
JOURNAL OF NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Lionne N. Grootjen, Gwenaelle Diene, Catherine Molinas, Veronique Beauloye, T. Martin Huisman, Jenny A. Visser, Patric J. D. Delhanty, Gerthe F. Kerkhof, Maithe Tauber, Anita C. S. Hokken-Koelega
Summary: Children with Prader-Willi syndrome show a gradual increase in the AG/UAG ratio as they age, with AG levels remaining stable and UAG levels decreasing throughout different nutritional phases. The increase in AG/UAG ratio occurs before the onset of excessive weight gain and hyperphagia in children with PWS.
HORMONE RESEARCH IN PAEDIATRICS
(2023)
Correction
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lucia Recinella, Annalisa Chiavaroli, Giustino Orlando, Claudio Ferrante, Guya Diletta Marconi, Iacopo Gesmundo, Riccarda Granata, Renzhi Cai, Wei Sha, Andrew V. Schally, Luigi Brunetti, Sheila Leone
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2020)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lucia Recinella, Annalisa Chiavaroli, Valentina Di Valerio, Serena Veschi, Giustino Orlando, Claudio Ferrante, Iacopo Gesmundo, Riccarda Granata, Renzhi Cai, Wei Sha, Andrew Schally, Rossano Lattanzio, Luigi Brunetti, Sheila Leone
Summary: The newly synthesized GHRH antagonists MIA-690 and MR-409 have shown potent pharmacological effects in colon inflammation models, reducing sensitivity to nociceptive stimuli and decreasing the impact of acute and persistent inflammatory stimuli in mice.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Iacopo Gesmundo, Barbara Pardini, Eleonora Gargantini, Giacomo Gamba, Giovanni Birolo, Alessandro Fanciulli, Dana Banfi, Noemi Congiusta, Enrica Favaro, Maria Chiara Deregibus, Gabriele Togliatto, Gaia Zocaro, Maria Felice Brizzi, Raul M. Luque, Justo P. Castano, Maria Alessandra Bocchiotti, Simone Arolfo, Stefania Bruno, Rita Nano, Mario Morino, Lorenzo Piemonti, Huy Ong, Giuseppe Matullo, Juan M. Falcon-Perez, Ezio Ghigo, Giovanni Camussi, Riccarda Granata
Summary: Healthy adipocyte-derived EVs are beneficial for beta cell survival and function, while EVs from inflamed adipocytes cause beta cell death and dysfunction. Lean adipocyte-derived EVs have similar beneficial effects, whereas EVs from obese adipose tissue are harmful for beta cells. Differential expression of miRNAs and alterations in signaling pathways and gene expression in recipient beta cells were observed, suggesting that adipocyte-derived EVs may influence beta cell fate and function depending on the physiological and pathological state of adipose tissue.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lucia Recinella, Annalisa Chiavaroli, Giustino Orlando, Claudio Ferrante, Serena Veschi, Alessandro Cama, Guya Diletta Marconi, Francesca Diomede, Iacopo Gesmundo, Riccarda Granata, Renzhi Cai, Wei Sha, Andrew V. Schally, Luigi Brunetti, Sheila Leone
Summary: Anxiety and depression are suggested to increase the risk for PTSD, while GHRH analogs may have therapeutic effects on mood disorders including PTSD by modulating inflammatory and oxidative status and affecting neural pathways.
MOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lucia Recinella, Annalisa Chiavaroli, Giustino Orlando, Claudio Ferrante, Iacopo Gesmundo, Riccarda Granata, Renzhi Cai, Wei Sha, Andrew Schally, Luigi Brunetti, Sheila Leone
Summary: The study found that MIA-690 increased food intake and body weight, while also elevating hypothalamic hormone and neurotransmitter levels and reducing serotonin levels. MR-409 had no significant effects on these markers.
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Lorenzo Marinelli, Fabio Lanfranco, Giovanna Motta, Marco Zavattaro
Summary: Erectile dysfunction is a common issue in men with COPD, caused by various factors including hormonal imbalance, smoking, inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, chronic hypoxia, psychiatric disorders, and medications. This can significantly impact the quality of life for COPD patients, but healthcare providers often do not address sexual health concerns due to patients' reluctance to discuss intimate issues.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Iacopo Gesmundo, Giuseppina Granato, Antonio C. Fuentes-Fayos, Clara Alvarez, Carlos Dieguez, Maria Chiara Zatelli, Noemi Congiusta, Dana Banfi, Nunzia Prencipe, Sheila Leone, Luigi Brunetti, Justo P. Castano, Raul M. Luque, Renzhi Cai, Wei Sha, Ezio Ghigo, Andrew Schally, Riccarda Granata
Summary: Various studies have shown that GHRH antagonists have inhibitory activities in experimental cancers, and this study found that MIA-602 and MIA-690 have anti-tumor effects in PAs by reducing cell growth and promoting cell death, suggesting they may be considered as new therapeutic options for the treatment of PAs.
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Lucia Recinella, Annalisa Chiavaroli, Serena Veschi, Valentina Di Valerio, Rossano Lattanzio, Giustino Orlando, Claudio Ferrante, Iacopo Gesmundo, Riccarda Granata, Renzhi Cai, Wei Sha, Andrew V. Schally, Luigi Brunetti, Sheila Leone
Summary: The MIAMI class GHRH antagonist MIA-690 was shown to suppress the progression and growth of colorectal cancer (CRC) by reducing inflammatory and oxidative markers, modulating apoptotic and oncogenic pathways, and improving survival rates in mice. Further research is needed to explore the translation of these findings into clinical applications.
BIOMEDICINE & PHARMACOTHERAPY
(2022)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
D. Pasquali, P. Chiodini, V. Simeon, A. Ferlin, L. Vignozzi, G. Corona, F. Lanfranco, V. Rochira, A. E. Calogero, M. Bonomi, R. Pivonello, G. Balercia, A. Pizzocaro, V. A. Giagulli, P. Salacone, A. Aversa, G. Accardo, M. Maggi, A. Lenzi, A. Isidori, C. Foresta, E. A. Jannini, A. Garolla
Summary: This study is the only national database in Italy that collects clinical and hormonal data of KS patients. Results showed that typical KS patients in Italy are overweight, with small testes, and elevated levels of LH and FSH. Only 25.5% of them are diagnosed with metabolic syndrome. Early detection and timely treatment are essential.
JOURNAL OF ENDOCRINOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Loredana Bergandi, Umberto Lucia, Giulia Grisolia, Iris Chiara Salaroglio, Iacopo Gesmundo, Riccarda Granata, Romano Borchiellini, Antonio Ponzetto, Francesca Silvagno
Summary: The study developed a thermodynamic biochemical model to select the resonant frequency affecting different types of cancer, and demonstrated its effects in vitro. It investigated the cellular response to ELF electromagnetic wave in 3D cell culture models, finding that ELF-EMF can hinder cancer cell growth and alter metabolism.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Iacopo Gesmundo, Francesca Pedrolli, Nicoletta Vitale, Alessia Bertoldo, Giulia Orlando, Dana Banfi, Giuseppina Granato, Ramesh Kasarla, Federico Balzola, Silvia Deaglio, Renzhi Cai, Wei Sha, Mauro Papotti, Ezio Ghigo, Andrew Schally, Riccarda Granata
Summary: This study found that GHRH antagonist MIA-690 enhances the antitumor effect of cisplatin and pemetrexed in pleural mesothelioma by inhibiting proliferative and oncogenic pathways, as well as reducing inflammatory pathways and expression of oxidative, angiogenic, tumorigenic markers, and growth factors.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
A. M. Isidori, A. Aversa, A. Calogero, A. Ferlin, S. Francavilla, F. Lanfranco, R. Pivonello, V Rochira, G. Corona, M. Maggi
Summary: The diagnosis of adult-onset hypogonadism should be based on clinical and biochemical parameters. Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) can improve sexual function and body composition, particularly in simpler and aging patients. More research is needed to better understand the long-term efficacy and safety of TRT.
JOURNAL OF ENDOCRINOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Marina Boido, Iacopo Gesmundo, Anna Caretto, Francesca Pedrolli, Roberta Schellino, Sheila Leone, Renzhi Cai, Wei Sha, Ezio Ghigo, Andrew V. Schally, Alessandro Vercelli, Riccarda Granata
Summary: The study shows that MR-409 has protective effects on SMN Delta 7 mice, indicating its potential as a promising drug for the treatment of SMA.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Carlo Ceruti, Alessandro Cicerale, Matteo Diano, Mattia Sibona, Caterina Guiot, Giovanna Motta, Chiara Crespi, Anna Gualerzi, Fabio Lanfranco, Mauro Bergui, Federico D'Agata
Summary: Previous studies have shown that there are sex-related differences in brain activation when individuals observe their own bodies and faces. However, a comprehensive paradigm examining multiple aspects of embodied self-identity is lacking. In this study, we used fMRI to investigate the differences in brain activation between males and females during the observation of body silhouettes, morphed faces, and dynamic transformations. Our results revealed differential sexual activations in areas linked to self-identity and the ability to attribute mental states. These findings support previous research and highlight the need for further exploration with a larger sample size.
Article
Hematology
Marco Zavattaro, Francesco Felicetti, Danilo Faraci, Matilde Scaldaferri, Chiara Dellacasa, Alessandro Busca, Margherita Dionisi-Vici, Francesco Cattel, Giovanna Motta, Luisa Giaccone, Ezio Ghigo, Emanuela Arvat, Fabio Lanfranco, Benedetto Bruno, Enrico Brignardello
Summary: This study evaluated the prevalence of testicular dysfunction and sexual impairment in males who underwent allogeneic stem cell transplantation in adulthood. The results showed a higher prevalence of these complications in this patient population compared to the general population, especially in relation to the severity of chronic graft-versus-host disease.
TRANSPLANTATION AND CELLULAR THERAPY
(2021)
