Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Mirko Parasiliti-Caprino, Martina Bollati, Fabio Dario Merlo, Ezio Ghigo, Mauro Maccario, Simona Bo
Summary: Studies have shown that MR may play an important role in adipose tissue dysfunction in obese patients, leading to adipokine dysregulation and chronic inflammation. Investigating the role of MR antagonists in preventing metabolic changes in obesity can explore their potential application in obesity-related complications.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Amanda J. Croft, Conagh Kelly, Dongqing Chen, Tatt Jhong Haw, Aaron L. Sverdlov, Doan T. M. Ngo
Summary: Obesity is associated with various metabolic disorders and cardiovascular diseases, causing increased hospitalizations, morbidity, and mortality. Dysfunction of adipose tissue due to chronic nutrient stress can lead to oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation, hypoxia, and insulin resistance. This study aimed to reduce adipose tissue oxidative stress by overexpressing the antioxidant mitochondrial catalase (mCAT) in adipose tissue to improve systemic metabolic function. The results showed that the AdipoQ-mCAT mice were protected from further metabolic impairment under obesogenic dietary conditions compared to obese wild-type mice, highlighting the critical role of physiological H2O2 signaling in metabolism and adipose tissue function.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alejandro Hinojosa-Moscoso, Anna Motger-Alberti, Elena De la Calle-Vargas, Marian Marti-Navas, Carles Biarnes, Maria Arnoriaga-Rodriguez, Gerard Blasco, Josep Puig, Diego Luque-Cordoba, Feliciano Priego-Capote, Jose Maria Moreno-Navarrete, Jose Manuel Fernandez-Real
Summary: Excess iron is associated with dysfunction in adipose tissue and insulin resistance. In this study, it was found that markers of iron status were linked to changes in abdominal adipose tissue over one year. These associations were mainly observed in women and non-obese subjects, and were independent of insulin sensitivity.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Bulbul Ahmed, Rifat Sultana, Michael W. Greene
Summary: This review discusses the potential mechanisms behind obesity-associated insulin resistance, such as dysfunctional adipose tissue, excessive release of free fatty acids, and the impact of lipotoxicity on cellular dysfunction leading to systemic inflammation and disruption of the insulin signaling pathway. It highlights that hepatic insulin resistance is the primary event that triggers peripheral tissue insulin resistance.
BIOMEDICINE & PHARMACOTHERAPY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ruimin Liu, Yinying Han, Chenglong Huang, Mengqian Hou, Rui Cheng, Shujin Wang, Xi Li, Jie Tian
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the potential roles of adipokine chemerin on high fat-induced cardiac dysfunction. Chemerin supplementation reversed the lipid-induced abnormalities in lipid-overload cardiomyocytes. Adipocyte-derived chemerin might function as an endogenous cardioprotective factor against obese-related cardiomyopathy.
Review
Cell Biology
Zhaohua Cai, Yijie Huang, Ben He
Summary: Obesity is a global epidemic associated with chronic low-grade inflammation. Macrophages play a crucial role in obesity-associated inflammation. Recent research has provided insights into the diverse roles of adipose tissue macrophages (ATMs) in obesity and comorbidities. This review summarizes the characterization of different subpopulations of ATMs in obesity, the extensive crosstalk between adipocytes and ATMs, and the extended crosstalk within adipose tissue between perivascular mesenchymal cells and ATMs.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Haiyan Zhou, Xinyi Peng, Jie Hu, Liwen Wang, Hairong Luo, Junyan Zhang, Yacheng Zhang, Guobao Li, Yujiao Ji, Jingjing Zhang, Juli Bai, Meilian Liu, Zhiguang Zhou, Feng Liu
Summary: The study reveals that high-fat diet suppresses DsbA-L expression in adipose tissue-resident T cells, leading to reduced T cell mitochondrial function. T cell-specific knockout of DsbA-L enhances thermogenesis in BAT and protects against obesity, hepatosteatosis, and insulin resistance. DsbA-L deficiency in T cells reduces IFN-gamma production and activates protein kinase A, promoting BAT thermogenesis.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Robert Hauffe, Michaela Rath, Wilson Agyapong, Wenke Jonas, Heike Vogel, Tim J. Schulz, Maria Schwarz, Anna P. Kipp, Matthias Bluher, Andre Kleinridders
Summary: The intake of high-fat diets leads to obesity, oxidative stress, inflammation, and insulin resistance. The trace element selenium can protect against the development of diet-induced insulin resistance. However, selenium might not be able to attenuate insulin resistance in the presence of obesity.
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Guangzhen He, Jiaowei Gu, Huawei Wang, Siyuan Cheng, Qing Xiong, Mengting Ke, Yong Hu, Jieyuan Feng, Linyang Song, Zheng Liu, Yancheng Xu
Summary: This study investigated the role of Nr2e1 expression in adipose tissues of obese mice and its impact on insulin resistance and chronic inflammation. The findings suggest that upregulation of Nr2e1 may contribute to increased inflammation and insulin resistance in obesity. Deletion of Nr2e1 resulted in lower body weight and fat mass in obese mice, but also led to heightened inflammatory cytokine secretion and impaired insulin sensitivity. Further research revealed that Nr2e1 deletion affected the expression of insulin signaling molecules and NF kappa B pathway-related factors in visceral adipose tissues. Nr2e1 may serve as a potential target for improving insulin sensitivity and inflammation in obesity.
Article
Physiology
Xishuai Wang, Xuejie Yi, Donghui Tang
Summary: The study found that regular aerobic exercise can protect against high-fat diet-induced pulmonary fibrosis and improve obesity-related insulin resistance, chronic low-grade inflammation, and oxidative stress imbalance.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Immunology
Weizheng Liang, Yanxu Qi, Hongyang Yi, Chenyu Mao, Qingxue Meng, Hao Wang, Chunfu Zheng
Summary: Macrophages, a population of immune cells, play a vital role in antigen presentation and inflammatory response. Their plasticity and heterogeneity allow them to polarize into different phenotypes under different conditions. Adipose tissue macrophages (ATMs) have been found to be closely related to metabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes. This article summarizes the factors affecting the polarization of ATMs and explores their potential as targets for immunotherapy in preventing and treating metabolic diseases.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Chak Kwong Cheng, Huanyu Ding, Minchun Jiang, Huiyong Yin, Maik Gollasch, Yu Huang
Summary: Perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) refers to the aggregate of adipose tissue surrounding the vasculature, exhibiting the phenotypes of white, beige and brown adipocytes. PVAT is actively involved in the regulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis and inflammation in the vascular system. The phenotype-genotype of PVAT varies in different regions of the vasculature and plays a role in cardiovascular pathogenesis. Treatments targeting PVAT may provide new therapeutic insights for cardiovascular diseases.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Fatima O. Martins, Joana F. Sacramento, Elena Olea, Bernardete F. Melo, Jesus Prieto-Lloret, Ana Obeso, Asuncion Rocher, Paulo Matafome, Emilia C. Monteiro, Silvia Conde
Summary: Several studies have shown a connection between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and insulin resistance. This study investigated the effects of chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) on metabolic deregulation and adipose tissue dysfunction, as well as the impact of obesity on CIH-induced metabolic disturbances. The results suggest that adipose tissue dysfunction may not be the main trigger for initial dysmetabolism in CIH.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xinbo Zhou, Junjie Zhang, Jian Shen, Baojing Cheng, Chongpeng Bi, Qingquan Ma
Summary: This study investigated the impact of BCAA supplements, specifically leucine and valine, on lipid metabolism and related disorders. The results showed that leucine and valine decreased lipid accumulation, altered fatty acid composition, and improved glucose homeostasis and inflammation.
Article
Immunology
Hui Zhou, Xiyan Liao, Qin Zeng, Haowei Zhang, Jianfeng Song, Wanyu Hu, Xiaoxiao Sun, Yujin Ding, Dandan Wang, Yalun Xiao, Tuo Deng
Summary: Accumulation and activation of immunocytes in adipose tissues are important in obesity-induced inflammation and insulin resistance. Chemokines, especially CCL5, play a crucial role in recruiting immunocytes to adipose tissue during obesity. CCL5 deficiency exacerbates adipose inflammation and impairs insulin sensitivity in obese mice. This study provides insights into the role of CCL5 in obesity-induced adipose inflammation.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Julia H. Goedecke, Kim A. Nguyen, Clement Kufe, Maphoko Masemola, Tinashe Chikowore, Amy E. Mendham, Shane A. Norris, Nigel J. Crowther, Fredrik Karpe, Tommy Olsson, Andre Pascal Kengne, Lisa K. Micklesfield
Summary: This study demonstrates for the first time that the IDF Europid WC thresholds are not appropriate for an African population, and African-specific WC thresholds perform better than the IDF Europid thresholds to predict incident dysglycaemia and T2D.
DIABETES OBESITY & METABOLISM
(2022)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Clement N. Kufe, Lisa K. Micklesfield, Maphoko Masemola, Tinashe Chikowore, Andre P. Kengne, Fredrik Karpe, Shane A. Norris, Nigel J. Crowther, Tommy Olsson, Julia H. Goedecke
Summary: Despite higher rates of overweight/obesity in Black South African women, the prevalence of type 2 diabetes does not differ between genders. This study found that men had lower insulin sensitivity and beta-cell function compared to women, and the association between adiposity and diabetes risk was stronger in men. These findings suggest that Black African men are at greater risk for type 2 diabetes with increasing adiposity.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Siphiwe N. Dlamini, Shane A. Norris, Amy E. Mendham, Asanda Mtintsilana, Kate A. Ward, Tommy Olsson, Julia H. Goedecke, Lisa K. Micklesfield
Summary: Although appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM) and handgrip strength (HGS) are key components of sarcopenia, their underlying biological mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate associations of circulating biomarkers with ASM and HGS in middle-aged black South Africans. The results showed that most biomarkers were associated with ASM and not HGS, and the associations of biomarkers with ASM and HGS displayed sex-specificity in middle-aged black South Africans. It is suggested that future research should consider sexual dimorphism in the pathophysiology of sarcopenia for the development of sex-specific treatment and diagnostic methods.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Clement N. Kufe, Julia H. Goedecke, Maphoko Masemola, Tinashe Chikowore, Melikhaya Soboyisi, Antonia Smith, Kate Westgate, Soren Brage, Lisa K. Micklesfield
Summary: This study found that reducing fasting and 2-hour glucose levels, improving insulin sensitivity, insulin clearance, and beta-cell function are associated with total movement volume. In both men and women, replacing sedentary time with moderate-to-vigorous physical activity time can lower blood glucose levels and improve insulin sensitivity.
BMJ OPEN DIABETES RESEARCH & CARE
(2022)
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Julia H. Goedecke, Amy E. Mendham
Summary: Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest projected rates of increase in type 2 diabetes, with socioenvironmental and lifestyle factors possibly interacting with genetic factors to alter the pathophysiology. The pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes in Black Africans is different from that in their European counterparts. However, current understanding of the disease is largely based on studies involving predominantly White European participants. This review summarizes existing knowledge and data on non-pharmacological interventions exploring the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes in sub-Saharan Africa, while also highlighting factors that may influence its pathogenesis.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Amy E. Mendham, Lisa K. Micklesfield, Fredrik Karpe, Andre Pascal Kengne, Tinashe Chikowore, Clement N. Kufe, Maphoko Masemola, Nigel J. Crowther, Shane A. Norris, Tommy Olsson, Solve Elmstahl, Tove Fall, Lars Lind, Julia H. Goedecke
Summary: Using a targeted proteomics approach, this study aimed to identify and validate circulating proteins associated with impaired glucose metabolism and type 2 diabetes in a Black South African cohort. The results identified 34 proteins associated with type 2 diabetes, of which 11 were associated with measures of type 2 diabetes pathophysiology. This study highlights the similarity of biomarkers between different populations and emphasizes the need for validation in African cohorts.
Letter
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Julia H. H. Goedecke, Carmen Pheiffer, Amy E. E. Mendham
Article
Physiology
Samuel M. Higham, Amy E. Mendham, Simon Rosenbaum, Nicholas G. Allen, Greg Smith, Antony Stadnyk, Rob Duffield
Summary: This study found that implementing combined aerobic and resistance exercise training programs in academic institutions can effectively reduce fat mass, Android fat mass, and visceral adipose tissue in inactive academics, while increasing lean mass and aerobic capacity. This suggests that exercise training can improve metabolic syndrome and reduce the risk of cardiometabolic disease.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Sport Sciences
Lindokuhle P. P. Phiri, Lisa K. K. Micklesfield, Amy E. E. Mendham, Julia H. H. Goedecke, Anniza de Villiers
Summary: Black South African women have a higher acceptance of larger body sizes but still show interest in community-based exercise programs. Economic factors play an important role in participation, while improving mental well-being can increase their attraction and retention in exercise programs.
FRONTIERS IN SPORTS AND ACTIVE LIVING
(2022)
Article
Sport Sciences
Lisa K. Micklesfield, Kate Westgate, Antonia Smith, Clement N. Kufe, A. M. Y. E. Mendham, T. I. M. Lindsay, Katrien Wijndaele, Julia H. Goedecke, Soren Brage
Summary: This study described the physical activity behaviors of middle-age South African men and women and developed a method of combining hip and thigh accelerometery signals to quantify and describe these behaviors. The study found that men spent more time in moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity and sitting/lying, while women spent more time standing. Age, weight, and socioeconomic status were associated with physical activity behaviors.
MEDICINE & SCIENCE IN SPORTS & EXERCISE
(2022)