Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Saori Kakehi, Yoshifumi Tamura, Shin-Ichi Ikeda, Naoko Kaga, Hikari Taka, Noriko Ueno, Tetsuya Shiuchi, Atsushi Kubota, Keishoku Sakuraba, Ryuzo Kawamori, Hirotaka Watada
Summary: Physical inactivity impairs muscle insulin sensitivity, potentially through increased intramyocellular diacylglycerol and PKC ε activity, reduced phosphorylation of IR β and Akt, and enhanced activity of Lipin1.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-ENDOCRINOLOGY AND METABOLISM
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Carolyn Chee, Chris E. Shannon, Aisling Burns, Anna L. Selby, Daniel Wilkinson, Kenneth Smith, Paul L. Greenhaff, Francis B. Stephens
Summary: Increasing muscle total carnitine content in older men can enhance fat oxidation and intramyocellular lipid utilization during exercise. However, this intervention did not lead to improvements in resting insulin-stimulated whole-body or skeletal muscle glucose disposal. Further research is needed to explore the potential metabolic benefits of carnitine supplementation in older adults with impaired lipid turnover.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Tingxizi Liang, Di Wen, Guojun Chen, Amanda Chan, Zhaowei Chen, Hongjun Li, Zejun Wang, Xiao Han, Liping Jiang, Jun-Jie Zhu, Zhen Gu
Summary: The lipid droplets in adipocytes have been demonstrated to be a controllable and biocompatible vehicle for delivering anticancer drugs, enhancing the therapeutic effect of cancer photodynamic therapy through various pathways. Loading a lipid-conjugated photosensitizer into the lipid droplets reduces its IC50 value by 6.0-fold. In vivo results show that engineered lipid droplets effectively inhibit tumor growth with minimal side effects.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Miguel A. Bermudez, Maria A. Balboa, Jesus Balsinde
Summary: Lipid droplets, previously seen as static storage organelles, are now recognized as dynamic structures involved in key processes like lipid metabolism, cellular homeostasis, and signaling. Circulating monocytes may interact with products released by endothelial cells in atherosclerotic plaques, potentially acquiring a foamy phenotype before differentiating into macrophages. Arachidonic acid, released in significant amounts into the bloodstream, acts as a potent inducer of neutral lipid synthesis and lipid droplet formation in circulating monocytes.
Review
Oncology
Pengxiang Zhao, Zichen Zhao, Ziwei Yu, Lupeng Chen, Yi Jin, Jian Wu, Zhuqing Ren
Summary: The study and synthesis of membrane organelles, particularly lipid droplets (LDs), are important for understanding molecular and metabolic processes and for applications in synthetic biology and drug delivery. LDs play a central role in cellular lipid metabolism and have been linked to metabolic diseases. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying LD functions are not fully understood. Synthetic biology offers new approaches to investigate LDs and has provided significant advancements in protein binding, lipid function, membrane dynamics, and enzymatic reactions.
CLINICAL AND TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Editorial Material
Cell Biology
Maeve Long, Thomas G. McWilliams
Summary: Mitophagy induced by iron depletion leads to cellular metabolome rewiring and lipid droplet biosynthesis through DGAT1, promoting mitochondrial turnover. Inhibition of DGAT1 restricts mitophagy due to lysosomal dysfunction. Genetic depletion of DGAT1 in Drosophila impairs neuronal mitophagy and locomotor function, highlighting the physiological relevance.
Review
Virology
Yafei Qu, Weili Wang, Maggie Z. X. Xiao, Yuejuan Zheng, Qiming Liang
Summary: As intracellular parasites, viruses exploit cellular machinery and manipulate cellular metabolism pathways to replicate themselves. They also exploit cellular lipid metabolism by targeting the biogenesis, hydrolysis, and lipophagy of lipid droplets (LDs) during viral infection. This review summarizes the current understanding of how different viruses modulate cellular LDs, with a focus on Hepatitis C virus, Dengue virus, and SARS-CoV-2.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Rodrigo Fernandez-Verdejo, Lorena Malo-Vintimilla, Juan Gutierrez-Pino, Antonio Lopez-Fuenzalida, Pablo Olmos, Pablo Irarrazaval, Jose E. Galgani
Summary: The study compared individuals with low and high metabolic flexibility in response to an oral glucose tolerance test and found that while metabolic health markers were similar between the two groups, individuals with high metabolic flexibility had higher diastolic blood pressure, enhanced circulating triglyceride clearance, and increased subcutaneous fat.
FRONTIERS IN NUTRITION
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Sevde Puza, Stefanie Caesar, Chetan Poojari, Michael Jung, Ralf Seemann, Jochen S. Hub, Bianca Schrul, Jean-Baptiste Fleury
Summary: Lipid droplets (LDs) are organelles derived from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane and play a crucial role in lipid storage. The distribution of proteins between phospholipid bilayer and LD monolayer membranes is determined by the collective properties of protein-intrinsic and lipid-mediated features. In this study, researchers produced a freestanding phospholipid bilayer using microfluidics and observed the insertion of micrometer-sized LDs into the bilayer. They found that the LDs presented a lens shape and there was a diffusion barrier between the LD monolayer and the bilayer. This barrier may influence the partitioning of proteins between the ER membrane and LDs in living cells.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Raziel Rojas-Rodriguez, Lori Lyn Price, Jessica Somogie, Sylvie Hauguel-deMouzon, Satish C. Kalhan, Patrick M. Catalano
Summary: Maternal lipid metabolism during pregnancy, especially in late pregnancy, is highly correlated with neonatal adiposity. Late pregnancy basal and clamp glycerol turnover (GLYTO) are significantly associated with neonatal adiposity and explain around 40% of the variation.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY & METABOLISM
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zhao-Ling Qin, Qiu-Feng Yao, Hao Ren, Ping Zhao, Zhong-Tian Qi
Summary: Lipid droplets (LDs) are dynamic organelles with multiple functions, including their involvement in viral replication. This review discusses the biogenesis and functions of LDs and explores the role of LDs in Zika virus infection as well as the potential application in developing antiviral drugs.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Physiology
Sudip Bajpeyi, Jehu N. Apaflo, Victoria Rosas, Keisha Sepulveda-Rivera, Armando Varela-Ramirez, Jeffrey D. Covington, Jose E. Galgani, Eric Ravussin
Summary: The study aimed to investigate the impact of acute long-duration exercise on skeletal muscle lipid droplet morphology, GLUT4, perilipin 3, and perilipin 5 expressions. The results showed that after acute endurance exercise, lipid droplet size decreased, total intramyocellular lipid content tended to reduce, the density of smaller lipid droplets in the peripheral sarcoplasmic region increased, and larger lipid droplets decreased. However, there were no significant changes in GLUT4, perilipin 3, and perilipin 5 protein levels.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sebastian Andone, Lenard Farczadi, Silvia Imre, Rodica Balasa
Summary: This study aimed to analyze the impact of an extended lipid profile, including fatty acids as potential neuroprotective biomarkers, on the outcome of ischemic stroke patients. The results revealed a negative correlation between serum cholesterol and triglycerides with the prognosis of stroke patients, while eicosapentaenoic acid showed potential neuroprotective effects in preventing severe ischemic stroke.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Ulla Kampmann, Esben S. Lauritzen, Niels Grarup, Niels Jessen, Torben Hansen, Niels Moller, Julie Stoy
Summary: The study found that acute administration of high doses of melatonin may reduce insulin sensitivity, especially in certain genotype carriers.
JOURNAL OF PINEAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Paulina Lipinska, Piotr Pawlak, Ewelina Warzych
Summary: Mammalian embryo development is influenced by several metabolic processes, particularly energy metabolism. The storage of lipids during preimplantation stages may affect the quality of embryos. This study aimed to characterize lipid droplets (LD) during different developmental stages in bovine and porcine embryos, as well as embryos from in vitro fertilization (IVF) and parthenogenetic activation (PA). The results showed that lipid parameters differed between IVF and PA bovine embryos at crucial stages of development, suggesting dysregulation of lipid metabolism in PA embryos. Additionally, bovine embryos exhibited higher lipid content during the early genome activation (EGA) stage and lower lipid content during the blastocyst stage compared to porcine embryos, indicating species-dependent energy demands. Overall, lipid droplet parameters vary significantly among developmental stages, species, and genome origin.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Jan-Frieder Harmsen, Jakob Wefers, Daniel Doligkeit, Luc Schlangen, Bas Dautzenberg, Pascal Rense, Dirk van Moorsel, Joris Hoeks, Esther Moonen-Kornips, Marijke C. M. Gordijn, Wouter D. van Marken Lichtenbelt, Patrick Schrauwen
Summary: The study found that bright lighting during the day and dim lighting at night can alter postprandial substrate handling, energy expenditure, and thermoregulation of overweight insulin-resistant individuals. Differences in light intensity have effects on various metabolic parameters and body temperature, indicating the importance of the indoor light environment for metabolic health in at-risk populations.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Charlotte Andriessen, Ciaran E. Fealy, Anna Veelen, Sten M. M. van Beek, Kay H. M. Roumans, Niels J. Connell, Julian Mevenkamp, Esther Moonen-Kornips, Bas Havekes, Vera B. Schrauwen-Hinderling, Joris Hoeks, Patrick Schrauwen
Summary: This study investigated the effects of time-restricted eating (TRE) on hepatic glycogen levels and insulin sensitivity in individuals with type 2 diabetes. The results showed that a 10 h TRE regimen improved 24 h glucose homeostasis in free-living adults with type 2 diabetes, but did not affect insulin sensitivity or hepatic glycogen levels.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Froukje Vanweert, Michael Neinast, Edmundo Erazo Tapia, Tineke van de Weijer, Joris Hoeks, Vera B. Schrauwen-Hinderling, Megan C. Blair, Marc R. Bornstein, Matthijs K. C. Hesselink, Patrick Schrauwen, Zoltan Arany, Esther Phielix
Summary: This study used NaPB to lower plasma BCAA levels in patients with T2D and found that it improved peripheral insulin sensitivity, muscle mitochondrial oxidative capacity, and whole-body insulin-stimulated carbohydrate oxidation while reducing plasma BCAA and glucose levels.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sten M. M. van Beek, Yvonne M. H. Bruls, Froukje Vanweert, Ciaran E. Fealy, Niels J. J. Connell, Gert Schaart, Esther Moonen-Kornips, Johanna A. A. Jorgensen, Frederic M. Vaz, Ellen T. H. C. Smeets, Peter J. J. Joris, Anne Gemmink, Riekelt H. H. Houtkooper, Matthijs K. C. Hesselink, Tore Bengtsson, Bas Havekes, Patrick Schrauwen, Joris Hoeks
Summary: In a study conducted on healthy young men, it was found that two weeks of treatment with the beta 2-agonist clenbuterol improved insulin-stimulated glucose disposal. This suggests that beta 2-agonist treatment may have therapeutic potential for type 2 diabetes.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Rodrigo F. Mancilla, Lucas Lindeboom, Lotte Grevendonk, Joris Hoeks, Tim R. Koves, Deborah M. Muoio, Patrick Schrauwen, Vera Schrauwen-Hinderling, Matthijs K. C. Hesselink
Summary: This study investigated the PCr on-kinetics in metabolically compromised and older individuals, and found that their PCr on-kinetics were significantly slower. This slower kinetics was associated with low CrAT protein activity, low acetylcarnitine content, and compromised physical function.
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Sten van Beek, Dzhansel Hashim, Tore Bengtsson, Joris Hoeks
Summary: Exposure to low ambient temperatures improves glucose homeostasis, primarily through adaptations in skeletal muscle and white adipose tissue in humans. However, the exact physiological and molecular mechanisms underlying these improvements remain to be fully established. Cold exposure holds great promise as a novel lifestyle approach to improve glucose homeostasis in insulin resistant individuals.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBESITY
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Brenna Osborne, Lauren E. Wright, Amanda E. Brandon, Ella Stuart, Lewin Small, Joris Hoeks, Patrick Schrauwen, David A. Sinclair, Magdalene K. Montgomery, Gregory J. Cooney, Nigel Turner
Summary: This study investigated whether specific overexpression of SIRT3 in skeletal muscle could prevent high-fat diet-induced muscle insulin resistance. The results showed that overexpression of SIRT3 did not alleviate muscle insulin resistance induced by high-fat diet and intramuscular triglyceride content was increased. These findings indicate that muscle-specific overexpression of SIRT3 has only minor effects on the acute development of skeletal muscle insulin resistance in high-fat-fed rats.
JOURNAL OF ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Anna Veelen, Charlotte Andriessen, Yvo Op den Kamp, Edmundo Erazo-Tapia, Marlies de Ligt, Julian Mevenkamp, Johanna A. Jorgensen, Esther Moonen-Kornips, Gert Schaart, Russell Esterline, Bas Havekes, Jan Oscarsson, Vera B. Schrauwen-Hinderling, Esther Phielix, Patrick Schrauwen
Summary: SGLT2i treatment can cause glucosuria and trigger beneficial metabolic adaptations in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. This study found that SGLT2i also have beneficial metabolic effects in prediabetic insulin resistant individuals. This is of interest for patients without diabetes because SGLT2i can reduce the risk for progression of heart failure and chronic kidney disease.
METABOLISM-CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Vera H. W. de Wit-Verheggen, Vera B. Schrauwen-Hinderling, Kim Brouwers, Johanna A. Joergensen, Gert Schaart, Anne Gemmink, Emmani B. M. Nascimento, Matthijs K. C. Hesselink, Joachim E. Wildberger, Patrique Segers, David Montaigne, Bart Staels, Patrick Schrauwen, Lucas Lindeboom, Joris Hoeks, Tineke van de Weijer
Summary: This study aimed to investigate whether the phosphocreatine/adenosine triphosphate (PCr/ATP) ratio can be used as an in vivo marker for cardiac mitochondrial function. The findings showed no correlation between the PCr/ATP ratio and mitochondrial function, suggesting that cardiac energy status may not solely rely on mitochondrial function. Interpretation should be done in the appropriate context in cardiac metabolic studies.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Physiology
Rodrigo Mancilla, Diego Pava-Mejia, Nynke van Polanen, Vera de Wit, Maaike Bergman, Lotte Grevendonk, Johanna Jorgensen, Esther Kornips, Joris Hoeks, Matthijs K. C. Hesselink, Vera B. B. Schrauwen-Hinderling
Summary: Mitochondria are essential for cellular energy production and can be assessed using invasive and noninvasive markers. Complex V protein content and citrate synthase activity are the best invasive markers for reflecting skeletal muscle mitochondrial capacity, while exercise efficiency and PCr recovery postexercise are the best noninvasive markers.
PHYSIOLOGICAL REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Vera H. W. de Wit-Verheggen, Froukje Vanweert, Juho Raiko, Viktor Lienard, Gert Schaart, Anne Gemmink, Emmani B. M. Nascimento, Matthijs K. C. Hesselink, Joachim E. Wildberger, Roel Wierts, Peter J. Joris, Joel Haas, David Montaigne, Bart Staels, Esther Phielix, Patrick Schrauwen, Vera B. Schrauwen-Hinderling, Tineke van de Weijer
Summary: The objective of this study was to determine the direct effects of the PPARa agonist ciprofibrate on cardiac and hepatic metabolism, as well as its potential to improve insulin sensitivity and cardiac function in insulin-resistant individuals. The results showed that ciprofibrate treatment increased hepatic lipid accumulation but had no effect on whole-body insulin sensitivity and cardiac function.
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Georges E. Janssens, Lotte Grevendonk, Bauke V. Schomakers, Ruben Zapata Perez, Michel van Weeghel, Patrick Schrauwen, Joris Hoeks, Riekelt H. Houtkooper
Summary: The interest in combating aging has grown due to the increased risk of disease and impaired health associated with aging. However, the lack of simple, interpretable, and accessible biological aging scores is a major obstacle. In this study, PhysiAge was developed as a physiological aging score based on five accessible parameters. PhysiAge was found to be a better predictor of mortality and muscle aging markers compared to calendar age alone. Furthermore, a metabolic signature of decelerated aging was identified using PhysiAge and blood plasma metabolomic profiles. PhysiAge provides an accessible way to track and intervene in aging trajectories, and identifies potential metabolic factors involved in human aging.
Article
Neurosciences
Jan-Frieder Harmsen, Marit Kotte, Ivo Habets, Frederieke Bosschee, Koen Frenken, Johanna A. Jorgensen, Soraya de Kam, Esther Moonen-Kornips, Jochem Cissen, Daniel Doligkeit, Tineke van de Weijer, Edmundo Erazo-Tapia, Mijke Buitinga, Joris Hoeks, Patrick Schrauwen
Summary: This study aimed to test if exercise training can reinforce diurnal variation in whole-body and skeletal muscle metabolism in men with insulin resistance. The results showed that 12 weeks of high-intensity interval training improved body composition and exercise capacity, reduced plasma glucose levels, but did not change free fatty acid and triacylglycerol levels. Additionally, exercise training modified the diurnal variation of muscle clock gene expression and increased mitochondrial respiration, while 24-hour substrate metabolism and energy expenditure remained unchanged.
JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-LONDON
(2023)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Charlotte Andriessen, Daniel Doligkeit, Esther Moonen-Kornips, Marco Mensink, Matthijs K. C. Hesselink, Joris Hoeks, Patrick Schrauwen
Summary: The study found that energy expenditure has a day-night rhythm, while the day-night rhythm of carbohydrate and fat oxidation is mainly influenced by food intake. After an extended period of fasting, the absolute rate of fat oxidation rapidly increases, while carbohydrate oxidation gradually decreases.
CLINICAL NUTRITION
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Georges E. Janssens, Lotte Grevendonk, Ruben Zapata Perez, Bauke Schomakers, Johan de Vogel-van den Bosch, Jan M. W. Geurts, Michel van Weeghel, Patrick Schrauwen, Riekelt H. Houtkooper, Joris Hoeks
Summary: This study reveals the impact of aging on skeletal muscle function and metabolism, as well as the association between (lack of) physical activity and age-related decline in muscle function. The levels of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD(+)) were found to be significantly lower in older adults, and this decrease was more pronounced in physically impaired individuals. However, exercise-trained older individuals had NAD(+) levels similar to those of younger individuals, indicating a positive effect of physical activity on NAD(+) abundance and muscle functioning.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Liujun Chen, Lisha Li, Donghong Cui, Yiheng Huang, Haibin Tong, Haleh Zabihi, Shuxia Wang, Yadan Qi, Ted Lakowski, Lin Leng, Suixin Liu, Hong Wu, Lawrence H. Young, Richard Bucala, Dake Qi
Summary: Attenuation of adipose hormone sensitive lipase (HSL) may impair lipolysis and exacerbate obesity. Cytokine macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) plays a role in regulating adipose HSL and adipocyte hypertrophy. Both intracellular and extracellular MIF have opposing effects on HSL, but extracellular action predominates to downregulate HSL and exacerbate obesity development during high-fat diet (HFD).
MOLECULAR METABOLISM
(2024)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Mengyang Tang, Yi Zhang, Rong Zhang, Yuemei Zhang, Jiangfei Zheng, Daixi Wang, Xinyu Wang, Jing Yan, Cheng Hu
Summary: This study aimed to explore the role of GPSM1 in POMC neurons and the underlying mechanisms in metabolic homeostasis. Through various molecular, biochemical, immunofluorescent, immunohistochemical analyses, and cell culture studies, the study revealed the pathophysiological role of GPSM1 in POMC neurons and its regulation of POMC neuron activity.
MOLECULAR METABOLISM
(2024)