Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Hang-Bing Dai, Hong-Yu Wang, Fang-Zheng Wang, Pei Qian, Qing Gao, Hong Zhou, Ye-Bo Zhou
Summary: This study demonstrates the protective effects of ADM against IR, inflammation, and oxidative stress in adipocytes, as well as its regulatory effects on these factors in obese rats. These findings suggest that ADM may have the potential to prevent obesity-related metabolic disorders.
ACTA DIABETOLOGICA
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Maria Sofia Molonia, Antonio Speciale, Claudia Muscara, Federica Lina Salamone, Antonella Saija, Francesco Cimino
Summary: This study found that micromolar concentrations of α-lipoic acid (ALA) have anti-obesity, anti-inflammatory, and anti-insulin resistance effects on adipocytes. ALA reduces fat accumulation, inflammation, and insulin resistance through regulating molecular pathways. It suggests that ALA plays an important role as a pharmacological supplement in the prevention of conditions linked to obesity and metabolic syndrome.
NATURAL PRODUCT RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Maria Sofia Molonia, Cristina Occhiuto, Claudia Muscara, Antonio Speciale, Giuseppe Ruberto, Laura Siracusa, Mariateresa Cristani, Antonella Saija, Francesco Cimino
Summary: This study examined the effects of a D-pinitol-rich methanolic extract from liquorice leaves on adipocytes exposed to palmitic acid, showing its potential in reducing lipid deposition and improving insulin sensitivity. The research suggests that liquorice leaves extract could be a promising candidate for preventing metabolically induced inflammation, commonly associated with metabolic disorders.
NATURAL PRODUCT RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Farah Gulzar, Shadab Ahmad, Sushmita Singh, Pawan Kumar, Aditya Sharma, Akhilesh K. Tamrakar
Summary: This study demonstrates that activation of NOD1 in adipocytes can affect lipid metabolism in hepatocytes by promoting lipolysis and inflammatory responses. This effect is associated with enhanced transport of fatty acids and increased triglyceride synthesis rate in hepatocytes. Additionally, NOD1 activation induces inflammatory response and impairs insulin signaling in hepatocytes.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Malgorzata Malodobra-Mazur, Dominika Lewon, Aneta Cierzniak, Marta Okulus, Anna Gliszczynska
Summary: The study demonstrated the beneficial effects of cinnamic acid and 3-methoxycinnamic acid on insulin action. Furthermore, the phospholipid derivatives 1,2-dicinnamoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine and 1-cinnamoyl-2-palmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine showed even stronger improvement in insulin sensitivity in insulin-resistant adipocytes, providing more benefits.
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Babalwa Unice Jack, Mokadi Mamushi, Amsha Viraragavan, Stephanie Dias, Carmen Pheiffer
Summary: This study aimed to develop a model of dysregulated lipid metabolism and inflammation by treating 3T3 L1 adipocytes with TNF alpha, LPS, and PA. The results showed that the dysregulation of lipid metabolism and inflammation in adipocytes was mainly attributed to TNF alpha rather than LPS and PA. Therefore, exposing 3T3 L1 adipocytes to TNF alpha could serve as an in vitro model for studying adipocyte dysfunction in obesity.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Domenico Sergi, Natalie Luscombe-Marsh, Leonie K. Heilbronn, Mark Birch-Machin, Nenad Naumovski, Lilla Lionetti, Christopher G. Proud, Mahinda Y. Abeywardena, Nathan O'Callaghan
Summary: The study demonstrates that EPA can prevent low-grade inflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction induced by nutrient excess, while improving insulin signaling pathway. This suggests that EPA may help preserve skeletal muscle metabolic health.
JOURNAL OF NUTRITION
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Caihua Wang, Xiaofang Li, Wei Zhang, Wenxuan Liu, Ziwei Lv, Runlin Gui, Man Li, Yujia Li, Xiomin Sun, Ping Liu, Xiaobin Fan, Shiyao Yang, Yuyan Xiong, Lu Qian
Summary: In this study, we found that ethanolamine-phosphate phospho-lyase (ETNPPL) mediates insulin resistance in hepatocytes by inhibiting autophagic flux. Our cell experiments showed that ETNPPL expression is upregulated in response to high-fat diet and silencing ETNPPL can improve hepatocyte insulin resistance. Moreover, overexpression of ETNPPL leads to insulin resistance and increases ROS levels through activating ARG2. Finally, we found that disrupting ETNPPL with quercetin can alleviate fatty acid-induced insulin resistance in hepatocytes.
FREE RADICAL BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xu Hong, Yi Zhou, Zhiyuan Zhu, Yuting Li, Zuo Li, Yuheng Zhang, Xinxin Hu, Fuhai Zhu, Yong Wang, Mingliang Fang, Yichao Huang, Tong Shen
Summary: This study demonstrates a significant association between BPA exposure and risk of obesity, as well as elevated levels of IL-17A in human adipose tissue. Animal experiments further confirm that BPA exposure exacerbates weight gain, insulin resistance, and inflammation in adipose tissue. Genetically modified mice with altered IL-17A gene show reversed inflammatory response and improved insulin sensitivity. Mediation analysis in humans suggests that IL-17A plays a mediating role in the association between BPA exposure and obesity risk.
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Hee-Hoon Kim, Young-Ri Shim, Ha Neul Kim, Keungmo Yang, Tom Ryu, Kyurae Kim, Sung Eun Choi, Min Jeong Kim, Chaerin Woo, Katherine Po Sin Chung, Song Hwa Hong, Hyemi Shin, Jae Myoung Suh, Youngae Jung, Geum-Sook Hwang, Won Kim, Seok-Hwan Kim, Hyuk Soo Eun, Je Kyung Seong, Won-Il Jeong
Summary: Obesity-induced hypoxic stress in white adipose tissue leads to inflammation and interferon-y (IFN-y) production by natural killer (NK) cells. This study reveals that hypoxia promotes glutamate excretion and CXCL12 expression in white adipocytes, recruiting CXCR4+ NK cells. The spatial proximity between adipocytes and NK cells induces IFN-y production by stimulating metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5), which triggers inflammatory activation of macrophages and increases xCT and CXCL12 expression in adipocytes. Inhibition of xCT, mGluR5, or IFN-y receptor in adipocytes or NK cells alleviates obesity-related metabolic disorders in mice and elevated glutamate/mGluR5 and CXCL12/CXCR4 levels are observed in obese patients, suggesting a potential therapeutic target for obesity-related metabolic disorders.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Francisco Diaz-Saez, Carla Blanco-Sinfreu, Adria Archilla-Ortega, David Sebastian, Montserrat Romero, Maria Isabel Hernandez-Alvarez, Silvia Mora, Xavier Testar, Wifredo Ricart, Jose Manuel Fernandez-Real, Jose Maria Moreno-Navarrete, Julian Aragones, Marta Camps, Antonio Zorzano, Anna Guma
Summary: The downregulation of Nrg4 in adipocytes impairs insulin action, likely due to decreased insulin receptor and Glut4 proteins, while also increasing proinflammatory cytokine expression and upregulating proteins involved in autophagy. Restoring lysosomal activity can partially reverse these effects, indicating that Nrg4 plays a role in maintaining insulin responsiveness and regulating autophagy.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Stefano Quarta, Egeria Scoditti, Maria Annunziata Carluccio, Nadia Calabriso, Giuseppe Santarpino, Fabrizio Damiano, Luisa Siculella, Martin Wabitsch, Tiziano Verri, Claudia Favari, Daniele Del Rio, Pedro Mena, Raffaele De Caterina, Marika Massaro
Summary: Recent evidence suggests that regular coffee drinkers have a lower risk of metabolic syndrome, obesity, and diabetes. Trigonelline and its pyrolysis product N-methylpyridinium (NMP) have shown to promote glucose uptake and reduce adipose dysfunction in inflamed adipocytes, potentially improving the inflammatory and dysmetabolic milieu associated with obesity.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ye-Eun Shin, Ji Won Choi, Yong Il Park, Hye-Kyeong Kim
Summary: This study investigated the effects of 7,8-dihydroxyflavone (7,8-DHF), a flavone found in plants, on the inflammatory response and insulin resistance induced by the interaction between adipocytes and macrophages. The results showed that 7,8-DHF can counteract the changes induced by this interaction and effectively improve the responsiveness of adipocytes to insulin.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Cuizhe Wang, Xiaolong Chu, Yuchun Deng, Jingzhou Wang, Tongtong Qiu, Jiaojiao Zhu, Xin Yang, Chongge Pan, Jianyu Xiong, Jianxin Xie, Yongsheng Chang, Jun Zhang
Summary: Both PA and OA inhibit KLF15 expression through GPR120, leading to abnormal glucose metabolism in adipocytes. Notably, the inhibition of KLF15 expression by PA depends on phosphorylation of p38 MAPK.
NUTRITION & METABOLISM
(2021)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Zeltzin Ceja-Galicia, Diana Calderon-DuPont, Alberto Daniel, Luz Maria Chiu, Andrea Diaz-Villasenor
Summary: This study evaluated the expression of leptin and adiponectin in mature 3T3-L1 adipocytes exposed to palmitate, arsenite, or both. The results showed that the secretion of leptin and adiponectin was decreased, which could result in reduced satiety and decreased insulin sensitivity.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Romina Bashllari, Maria Sofia Molonia, Claudia Muscara, Antonio Speciale, Peter J. Wilde, Antonella Saija, Francesco Cimino
Summary: This study investigated the intracellular mechanisms involved in FFAs modulation of intestinal epithelial lipotoxicity and the protective effects of cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3G) in Caco-2 cells using a novel experimental model.
ARCHIVES OF PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Maria Sofia Molonia, Cristina Occhiuto, Claudia Muscara, Antonio Speciale, Giuseppe Ruberto, Laura Siracusa, Mariateresa Cristani, Antonella Saija, Francesco Cimino
Summary: This study examined the effects of a D-pinitol-rich methanolic extract from liquorice leaves on adipocytes exposed to palmitic acid, showing its potential in reducing lipid deposition and improving insulin sensitivity. The research suggests that liquorice leaves extract could be a promising candidate for preventing metabolically induced inflammation, commonly associated with metabolic disorders.
NATURAL PRODUCT RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Antonio Speciale, Claudia Muscara, Maria Sofia Molonia, Giovanni Toscano, Francesco Cimino, Antonella Saija
Summary: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterized by chronic inflammation of the gut, and new plant-derived therapies may offer alternative treatments. Cynara cardunculus leaves, a source of bioactive polyphenols, have positive effects on the digestive tract, potentially useful for preventing and treating inflammatory intestinal diseases.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Antonio Speciale, Claudia Muscara, Maria Sofia Molonia, Mariateresa Cristani, Francesco Cimino, Antonella Saija
Summary: Liver cancer is a common cause of cancer mortality worldwide. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are conventional therapies, but their toxicity limits their efficacy. Using glycyrrhetinic acid as a ligand to target liver cells can improve drug delivery systems and enhance treatment efficacy.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Marcello Condorelli, Antonio Speciale, Francesco Cimino, Claudia Muscara, Enza Fazio, Luisa D'Urso, Carmelo Corsaro, Giulia Neri, Angela Maria Mezzasalma, Giuseppe Compagnini, Fortunato Neri, Antonina Saija
Summary: Gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) are highly regarded for their biocompatible nature and extensive biomedical applications. In our research, we investigated the bioproperties of functionalized Au NPs using LCCs for the first time. Results showed that the Au@LCC samples significantly reduced TNF gene expression and induced higher levels of heme oxygenase-1 gene expression compared to the 1:1 dispersion.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nunzio Iraci, Carmelo Corsaro, Salvatore Giofre, Giulia Neri, Angela Maria Mezzasalma, Martina Vacalebre, Antonio Speciale, Antonina Saija, Francesco Cimino, Enza Fazio
Summary: In recent years, there has been an increasing focus on developing new antiviral products from artificial synthesis processes using nanomaterials and natural matrices. Advanced computational approaches have also played a crucial role in repurposing therapeutics and reducing the time required for new drug discovery, especially during pandemics.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Maryem Bouabidi, Federica Lina Salamone, Chemseddoha Gadhi, Hafida Bouamama, Antonio Speciale, Giovanna Ginestra, Luana Pulvirenti, Laura Siracusa, Antonia Nostro, Mariateresa Cristani
Summary: This study investigates the bioactivity of extracts from two Moroccan Cistus species as potential coadjuvants in the treatment of mild acne vulgaris. The extracts contain various polyphenols and exhibit good antibacterial activity, particularly against Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis, and Propionibacterium acnes, which are the main acne-causing bacteria.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Carmelo Corsaro, Marcello Condorelli, Antonio Speciale, Francesco Cimino, Giuseppe Forte, Francesco Barreca, Salvatore Spadaro, Claudia Muscara, Manuela D'Arrigo, Giovanni Toscano, Luisa D'Urso, Giuseppe Compagnini, Fortunato Neri, Antonina Saija, Enza Fazio
Summary: The synthesis of contaminant-free silver@linear carbon chains (Ag@LCCs) nanohybrid systems, at different Ag/LCCs ratios, by pulsed laser ablation was investigated. The ablation products were characterized using UV-Vis optical absorption, micro-Raman spectroscopy, and transmission mode scanning electron microscopy. The experimental results were supported by theoretical simulations. Moreover, the bioproperties of the Ag@LCCs nanosystems were studied for wound-healing activity, and it was found that Ag@LCC nanohybrids exhibited good antibacterial properties and had enhanced interaction with mammalian cells, suggesting their potential application in wound healing.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Maria Sofia Molonia, Claudia Muscara, Antonio Speciale, Federica Lina Salamone, Gregorio Costa, Grazia Vento, Antonella Saija, Francesco Cimino
Summary: This study reveals that low concentrations of antimony exposure during preadipocyte differentiation have obesogenic effects, leading to metabolic dysfunction, activation of inflammatory response, and disturbance of endoplasmic reticulum homeostasis.
FOOD AND CHEMICAL TOXICOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Andrea Citarella, Laura Ielo, Claudio Stagno, Mariateresa Cristani, Claudia Muscara, Vittorio Pace, Nicola Micale
Summary: In this study, a series of alpha,alpha-difluoromethyl-heteroaromatic ketones were synthesized via a conceptually intuitive Weinreb amide acylative transfer. These compounds were evaluated as potential COX-inhibitors and showed good activity and selectivity index against both COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes. Furthermore, they exhibited no significant toxicity in NIH/3T3 cells.
ORGANIC & BIOMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yuri Nagaoka, Kotone Oshiro, Yuta Yoshino, Toshiyuki Matsunaga, Satoshi Endo, Akira Ikari
Summary: This study investigated the effect of intercellular adhesion molecule CLDN1 on the anticancer drug sensitivity of small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) cells. It was found that overexpression of CLDN1 decreased the sensitivity of SCLC cells to anticancer drugs and enhanced their migratory capacity through the activation of the TGF-81/EMT signaling pathway. Treatment with EMT inhibitors showed potential in overcoming the reduced sensitivity to anticancer drugs in CLDN1-overexpressing SCLC cells.
ARCHIVES OF BIOCHEMISTRY AND BIOPHYSICS
(2024)