Heat acclimation increases mitochondrial respiration capacity of C2C12 myotubes and protects against LPS-mediated energy deficit

This work investigated the effect of a 6-day heat acclimation (HA) protocol on myotube metabolic responses at baseline and in response to a subsequent lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge. C2C12 myotubes were incubated for 2 h/day at 40 °C for 6 days (HA) or maintained at 37 °C (C). Following 24-h recovery, myotubes were challenged with 500 ng/ml LPS for 2 h, then collected for analysis of protein markers of mitochondrial biogenesis and macronutrient storage. Functional significance of these changes was confirmed with mitochondrial respiration and glycolytic measurements on a Seahorse XF-96 analyzer. HA stimulated mitochondrial biogenesis and increased indicators of mitochondrial content [SIRT1 (+?62%); PGC-1α (+?57%); NRF-1 (+?40%); TFAM (+?141%); CS (+?25%); CytC (+?38%); all p?<?0.05]. Altered lipid biosynthesis enzymes [p-ACCa:ACC (+?59%; p?=?0.04) and FAS (??86%; p?<?0.01)] suggest fatty acid generation may have been downregulated, whereas increased GLUT4 (+?69%; p?<?0.01) and LDH-B (+?366%; p?<?0.01) suggest aerobic glycolytic capacity may have been improved. Mitochondrial biogenesis signaling in HA myotubes was suppressed by 500 ng/ml LPS (PGC-1α, NRF-1, TFAM; all p?> 0.05) but increased LDH-B (+?30%; p?=?0.02) and CPT-1 (+?55%; p?<?0.01) suggesting improved catabolic function. Basal respiration was increased in HA myotubes (+?8%; p?<?0.01) and HA myotubes maintained elevated basal respiration during LPS challenge (+?8%; p?<?0.01). LPS reduced peak respiration in C myotubes (??6%; p?<?0.01) but did not impair peak respiration in HA myotubes (p?>?0.05). Oxidative reliance was elevated in HA over that in control (+?25%; p?<?0.01) and in HA?+?LPS over C?+?LPS (+?30%; p?<?0.01). In summary, HA stimulated mitochondrial biogenesis in C2C12 myotubes. HA myotubes exhibited (1) elevated basal/peak mitochondrial respiration capacities; (2) greater oxidative reliance; and (3) protection against LPS-mediated respiration impairment. Collectively, these data suggest HA may improve aerobic metabolism in skeletal muscle and protect against LPS-mediated energy deficit.     

The Effects of Dietary Chromium(III) Picolinate on Growth Performance, Vital Signs, and Blood Measurements of Pigs During Immune Stress

This experiment used 24 pigs (26.0 kg) to investigate the effects of dietary chromium (Cr) on pigs challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Following 35 days of diet exposure, the immune stress treatments were: (1) phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) injection and no Cr, (2) LPS injection and no Cr, (3) LPS injection and Cr 1,000 ppb, and (4) LPS injection and Cr 2,000 ppb. At 0 h, PBS or LPS was injected intraperitoneally in each pig. During the first 12 h post-injection, pigs challenged with LPS lost 951 g, while the PBS group gained 170 g (p?<?0.001). Compared with the PBS group, LPS-challenged pigs consumed less feed (p?<?0.01) during the first 24 h. The LPS group had higher rectal temperature at 2 and 4 h and higher respiratory rate at 1.3 and 8.5 h than the PBS group (p?<?0.05). Plasma collected at 3 h had higher cortisol (p?<?0.001) and lower glucose (p?<?0.05) concentrations in the LPS group than the PBS group. However, supplemental Cr did not affect the response variables. Overall, the LPS challenge affects growth performance, vital signs, and plasma variables, but dietary Cr is unable to moderate stress-related effects associated with an LPS challenge.     

Reproductive axis response to repeated lipopolysaccharide administration in peripubertal female rats

Immune system disorders are often accompanied by alterations in the reproductive axis. Several reports have shown that administration of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) has central inflammatory effects and activates cytokine release in the hypothalamus where the luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (Gn-RH) neurons are located. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of repeated LPS administration on the neuroendocrine mechanisms of control of the reproductive axis in peripubertal female rats (30-day-old rats). With this aim, LPS (50 μg/kg weight) was administered to the animals during 25, 27 and 29 days of age and sacrificed on 30 day of life. Gn-RH, γ?amino butyric acid (GABA) and glutamic acid (GLU), two amino acids involved in the regulation of Gn-RH secretion, hypothalamic content were measured. LH and estradiol serum levels were also determined and the day of vaginal opening examined. The results showed a significant increase in Gn-RH and GLU content (p?<?0.0001), shared by a reduction of GABA one (p?<?0.0001). LH and estradiol serum levels were decreased (p?<?0.01, p?<?0.001) and delay in the day of vaginal opening was also observed in treated animals. Present results show that repeated LPS administration impaired reproductive function, modifying the neuroendocrine mechanisms of control of the axis in peripubertal female rats.     

Skeletal muscle post-conditioning by diazoxide, anti-oxidative and anti-apoptotic mechanisms

Pretreatment with diazoxide, K_ATP channel opener, increases tissue tolerance against ischemia reperfusion (IR) injury. In clinical settings pretreatment is rarely an option therefore we evaluated the effect of post-ischemic treatment with diazoxide on skeletal muscle IR injury. Rats were treated with either saline, diazoxide (K_ATP opener; 40?mg/kg) or 5-hydroxydecanoate (5-HD; mitochondrial K_ATP inhibitor; 40?mg/kg) after skeletal muscle ischemia (3?h) and reperfusion (6, 24 or 48?h). Tissue contents of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities, Bax and Bcl-2 protein expression and muscle histology were determined. Apoptosis was examined (24 and 48?h) after ischemia. IR induced severe histological damage, increased MDA content and Bax expression (24 and 48?h; p?<?0.01) and decreased CAT and SOD activities (6 and 24?h, p?<?0.01 and 48?h, p?<?0.05), with no significant effect on Bcl-2 expression. Diazoxide reversed IR effects on MDA (6 and 24?h; p?<?0.05), SOD (6 and 24?h; p?<?0.01) and CAT (6 and 48?h, p?<?0.05 and 24?h p?<?0.01) and tissue damage. Diazoxide also decreased Bax (24 and 48?h; p?<?0.05) and increased Bcl-2 protein expression (24 and 48?h; p?<?0.01). Post-ischemic treatment with 5-HD had no significant effect on IR injury. Number of apoptotic nuclei in IR and 5-HD treated groups significantly increased (p?<?0.001) while diazoxide decreased apoptosis (p?<?0.01). The results suggested that post-ischemic treatment with diazoxide decrease oxidative stress in acute phase which modulates expression of apoptotic proteins in the late phase of reperfusion injury. Involvement of KATP channels in this effect require further evaluations.     

The Effect of Dietary Organic Chromium on Specific Growth Rate, Tissue Chromium Concentrations, Enzyme Activities and Histology in Common Carp, Cyprinus carpio L.

A 63-day feeding trial was carried out to investigate the effect of three levels of Cr yeast (0.5, 1.0 and 2.0?mg Cr/kg) on the utilization of diets containing 38.5?% of maize starch or dextrin in common carp, Cyprinus carpio L. (initial mean body mass 14?±?0.3?g) in an auto circulator system at 25?±?0.5?°C. A two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that the final body mass (FBM), percentage mass gain (%MG), specific growth rate (SGR) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were significantly (P?<?0.05) affected by the two sources of variation (carbohydrate source and Cr level). In general, fish fed on a diet containing starch and fortified with 0.5?mg Cr/kg performed significantly higher FBM (47.23?g), %MG (225.11), SGR (1.91) and lower value of FCR (1.24) compared to fish fed on the other diets. Carp fed on 2.0?mg Cr/kg with maize starch and 1.0?mg Cr/kg with dextrin-based diet showed a significant reduction (P?<?0.05) in whole body lipid content as confirmed by a two-way ANOVA. Fish fed on a maize starch-based diet supplemented with 0.5 and 1.0?mg Cr/kg recorded the highest activities for hexokinase enzyme. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity was neither affected by Cr concentration nor by dietary carbohydrate source. Fish fed on dextrin-based diets accumulated higher Cr in the whole tissue compared to fish fed on starch-based diets. Normal histological structures in the liver and gut tissues were observed in all groups. The present data clearly showed that dietary Cr yeast was safe in the fish diet at the levels tested.     

Prognostic Value of Blood Zinc, Iron, and Copper Levels in Critically Ill Children with Pediatric Risk of Mortality Score III

We aimed to explore the association of blood Zn, Fe, and Cu concentrations and changes in the pediatric risk of mortality (PRISM) score in critically ill children, to predict prognosis. We included 31 children (22 boys and 9 girls, 1 month to 5 years old), who had been admitted to the intensive care unit of our hospital and who were critically ill according to PRISM score of III. Another 20 children (12 boys, 8 girls, 3 months to 5 years old) who were brought to the hospital for a health checkup were included as controls. We recorded clinical data, time in the intensive care unit, prognosis, and PRISM III score for critically ill children. Blood Cu, Zn, and Fe values were measured by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrophotometry. Zn and Fe levels were significantly lower in patients than in controls (all p?<?0.05). Cu levels differed between patients and controls, but not significantly (p?>?0.05). In ill children, blood Zn and Fe concentrations were inversely correlated with PRISM III score (Zn: r?=??0.36; Fe: r?=??0.50, both p?<?0.05), with no significant correlation of blood Cu level and PRISM III score (r?=??0.13, p?>?0.05). Serious illness in children may lead to decreased Zn and Fe blood concentrations. Zn and Fe supplements may be beneficial for critically ill children.     

Circadian Variation in the Response to Experimental Endotoxemia and Modulatory Effects of Exogenous Melatonin

Disturbances in circadian rhythms are commonly observed in the development of several medical conditions and may also be involved in the pathophysiology of sepsis. Melatonin, with its antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects, is known to modulate the response to endotoxemia. In this paper, we investigated the circadian variation with or without melatonin administration in an experimental endotoxemia model based on lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to six groups receiving an intraperitoneal injection of either LPS (5?mg/kg), LPS?+?melatonin (1?mg/kg), or LPS?+?melatonin (10?mg/kg) at either daytime or nighttime. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) was analyzed in liver samples collected after decapitation. Furthermore, inflammatory plasma markers (cytokines interleukin [IL]-6, IL-10) and oxidative plasma markers (ascorbic acid [AA], dehydroascorbic acid [DHA], and malondialdehyde [MDA]) were analyzed before and 5?h after the onset of endotoxemia. There were significant higher levels of SOD (p?<?0.05), IL-6 (p?<?0.01), and IL-10 (p?<?0.05) during nighttime endotoxemia compared with daytime. At daytime, melatonin 1 and 10?mg reduced the levels of MDA and increased SOD, IL-6, IL-10, and DHA (p?<?0.05). At nighttime, melatonin reduced the levels of MDA and increased DHA (p?<?0.05). Additionally, 10?mg melatonin resulted in lower levels of AA during daytime (p?<?0.05). No dose relationship of melatonin was observed. The results showed that the response induced by experimental endotoxemia was dependent on time of day. Melatonin administration modulated the inflammatory and oxidative stress responses induced by endotoxemia and also resulted in higher levels of antioxidants during daytime. The effect of circadian time on the endotoxemia response and possible modulatory effects of melatonin need further investigations in a human endotoxemia model.     

Altered Trace Mineral Milieu Might Play An Aetiological Role in the Pathogenesis of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Insulin resistance is a very common associate of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Pathophysiology in relation with the essential elements including copper, magnesium, zinc, manganese, chromium, and calcium has been reported in women with insulin resistance. This prospective study was designed to explore whether the women with PCOS do exhibit altered serum element levels in association with/without insulin resistance. One hundred and thirty-two women with PCOS and forty-six control women were studied. Women with PCOS were further divided based on the presence of insulin resistance (insulin resistant: n?=?50; non-insulin resistant: n?=?82). In all women, basal levels of gonadotropins, prolactin, testosterone, insulin, glucose, and the six different elements were measured. Serum levels of testosterone (p?<?0.001), luteinizing hormone (p?<?0.05), and fasting insulin (p?<?0.004) were significantly higher in the PCOS population compared to controls as well as PCOS women without insulin resistance. Women with PCOS exhibited a significantly high calcium (p?<?0.04) and lower manganese levels (p?<?0.002) when compared to controls. However, the PCOS women with insulin resistance exhibited significantly lower serum levels of magnesium and chromium (p?<?0.04), in addition to higher levels of zinc and copper (p?<?0.04). The differences in calcium (p?<?0.03) and manganese levels (p?<?0.0001) became aggravated with the presence of insulin resistance when compared to control as well as PCOS women without insulin resistance. In PCOS-associated insulin resistance, circulating serum magnesium (r?=??0.31; p?<?0.03) and chromium (r?=??0.38; p?<?0.006) status significantly correlated with fasting insulin levels. We conclude that imbalanced element status may be a key foundation for insulin resistance in PCOS. The findings in this study should be investigated with further trials in order to obtain new insights into PCOS.     

Blood Metals Concentration in Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetics

Mechanisms for the onset of diabetes and the development of diabetic complications remain under extensive investigations. One of these mechanisms is abnormal homeostasis of metals, as either deficiency or excess of metals, can contribute to certain diabetic outcomes. Therefore, this paper will report the blood levels of chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), selenium (Se), and zinc (Zn) in subjects with type 1 diabetes (n?=?192, mean age 48.8 years, mean disease duration 20.6 years), type 2 diabetes (n?=?68, mean age 68.4 years, mean disease duration 10.2 years), and in control subjects (n?=?59, mean age 57.2 years), and discuss the results indicating their possible role in diabetes. The metal concentrations were measured by sector field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry after microwave-induced acid digestion of blood samples. The accuracy was checked using a blood-based certified reference material, and recoveries of all elements were in the range of 92–101 % of certified values. Type 1 diabetes was found to be associated with Cr (p?=?0.02), Mn (p?<?0.001), Ni (p?<?0.001), Pb (p?=?0.02), and Zn (p?<?0.001) deficiency, and type 2 diabetes with Cr (p?=?0.014), Mn (p?<?0.001), and Ni (p?<?0.001) deficiency. These deficiencies were appreciated also subdividing the understudied patients for gender and age groups. Furthermore, in type 1 diabetes, there was a positive correlation between Pb and age (p?<?0.001, ρ?=?0.400) and Pb and BMI (p?<?0.001, ρ?=?0.309), while a negative correlation between Fe and age (p?=?0.002, ρ?=??0.218). In type 2 diabetes, there was a negative correlation between Fe and age (p?=?0.017, ρ?=??0.294) and Fe and BMI (p?=?0.026, ρ?=??0.301). Thus, these elements may play a role in both forms of diabetes and combined mineral supplementations could have beneficial effects.     

Manganese Alters Rat Brain Amino Acids Levels

Manganese (Mn) is an essential element and it acts as a cofactor for a number of enzymatic reactions, including those involved in amino acid, lipid, protein, and carbohydrate metabolism. Excessive exposure to Mn can lead to poisoning, characterized by psychiatric disturbances and an extrapyramidal disorder. Mn-induced neuronal degeneration is associated with alterations in amino acids metabolism. In the present study, we analyzed whole rat brain amino acid content subsequent to four or eight intraperitoneal injections, with 25?mg MnCl₂/kg/day, at 48-h intervals. We noted a significant increase in glycine brain levels after four or eight Mn injections (p?<?0.05 and p?<?0.01, respectively) and arginine also after four or eight injections (p?<?0.001). Significant increases were also noted in brain proline (p?<?0.01), cysteine (p?<?0.05), phenylalanine (p?<?0.01), and tyrosine (p?<?0.01) levels after eight Mn injections vs. the control group. These findings suggest that Mn-induced alterations in amino acid levels secondary to Mn affect the neurochemical milieu.     

210Po Activity and Concentrations of Selected Trace Elements (As, Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb, Zn) in the Muscle Tissue of Tunas Thunnus albacares and Katsuwonus pelamis from the Eastern Pacific Ocean

Daily mineral intake (DMI) of Cu and Zn, percentage weekly intake (PWI) of As, Cd, Hg, Pb, and doses of ²¹⁰Po were estimated by using their elemental concentration in muscle of two tuna species and the average tuna consumption in Mexico. Skipjack tuna Katsuwonus pelamis had significantly (p?<?0.05) higher levels of As (1.38???g?g^?1 dw) and Cu (1.85???g?g^?1 dw) than yellowfin tuna Thunnus albacares, whereas Pb concentrations (0.18???g?g^?1 dw) were significantly (p?<?0.05) higher in T. albacares. The sequence of elemental concentrations in both species was Zn?>?Cu?>?As?>?Hg?>?Pb?>?Cd. In T. albacares, concentrations of Cd and Pb in muscle tissue were positively correlated (p?<?0.05) with weight of specimens, while Cu was negatively correlated. DMI values were below 10?%. PWI figures (<2?%) are not potentially harmful to human health. ²¹⁰Po concentration in T. albacares and K. pelamis accounts for 13.5 to 89.7?% of the median individual annual dose (7.1???Sv) from consumption of marine fish and shellfish for the world population.     

Effect of short-chain fatty acids on the expression of genes involved in short-chain fatty acid transporters and inflammatory response in goat jejunum epithelial cells

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) produced by microbial fermentation of dietary fibers are utilized by intestinal epithelial cells to provide an energy source for the ruminant. Although the regulation of mRNA expression and inflammatory response involved in SCFAs is established in other animals and tissues, the underlying mechanisms of the inflammatory response by SCFAs in goat jejunum epithelial cells (GJECs) have not been understood. Therefore, the objective of the study is to investigate the underlying mechanisms of the effects of SCFAs on SCFA transporters and inflammatory response in GJECs. These results showed that the acetate, butyrate, and SCFA concentration were markedly reduced in GJECs (p?<?0.01). In addition, the propionate concentration was significantly decreased in GJECs (p?<?0.05). The mRNA abundance of monocarboxylate transporter 1 (MCT1), MCT4, NHE1, and putative anion transporter 1 (PAT1) was elevated (p?<?0.05) by 20 mM SCFAs at pH 7.4 compared with exposure to the pH group. The anion exchanger 2 (AE2) was increased (p?<?0.05) by 20 mM SCFAs at pH 6.2. The mRNA abundance of vH⁺ ATPase B subunit (vH⁺ ATPase) was attenuated by SCFAs. For inflammatory responses, IL-1β and TNF-α were increased with SCFAs (p?<?0.05). In addition, IκBα involved in NF-κB signaling pathways was disrupted by SCFAs. Consistently, p-p65 signaling molecule was enhanced by adding SCFAs. However, IL-6 was attenuated by adding SCFAs (p?<?0.05). Furthermore, p-ErK1/2 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway was downregulated by adding SCFAs. In conclusion, these novel findings demonstrated that mRNA abundance involved in SCFA absorption is probably associated to SCFAs and pH value, and mechanism of the inflammatory response by SCFAs may be involved in NF-κB and p-ErK1/2 MAPK signaling pathways in GJECs. These pathways may mediate protective inflammation response in GJECs.     

Integrative ecological health assessments of an acid mine stream and in situ pilot tests for wastewater treatments

The impact of acid mine drainage (AMD) on a regional stream was evaluated using chemical analysis, biotic/ecological integrity (IBI), and habitat assessments along with the necropsy-based tissue analysis. In situ remediation tests were conducted for wastewater treatment using waste oyster shells. Monsoon rains caused the sloughing of AMD sediments, resulting in high acidity and turbidity. Friedman's two-way ANOVA showed that IBI values were significantly (p < 0.05) lower in the AMD-impacted sites than in the control and had an inverse relationship with pH. Tissue analysis revealed that all of the treatments, T1–T3, caused significant tissue damage (ANOVA; F = 11.949, p < 0.008), compared to the control. The in situ water treatment plant neutralized acid and removed 85–99% of Fe, Al, and Zn ions (χ² = 4.0–11.1, p < 0.05). Together, these approaches may be used as a key methodology for the integrative assessment and treatment of AMD-impacted water.     

Estimation of Copper and Iron Burden in Biological Samples of Various Stages of Hepatitis C and Liver Cirrhosis Patients

There is accumulative evidence that the metabolism of iron (Fe) and copper (Cu) is altered in human due to infections, indicating that both elements have roles in pathogenesis and progress of viral diseases. In the present study, the correlation of Cu and Fe was evaluate in biological samples (serum and scalp hair) of hepatitis C (hepatitis C virus (HCV)) patients of both genders at different stages. For comparative study, the scalp hair and serum samples of healthy individuals of same age group (30–50 years) and socioeconomic status were collected. The biological samples were analyzed for Fe and Cu by atomic absorption spectroscopy after microwave-assisted acid digestion. The validity and accuracy of methodology were checked by certified reference materials of same matrixes. The levels of Cu and Fe in biological samples were enhanced in hepatic disorder patients, including acute (after diagnosis test, anti-HCV sero-positive) hepatic fibrosis and liver cirrhosis as compared to healthy referents. The difference was significant (p?<?0.01) in the case of liver cirrhotic patients. It was observed that the data of Cu and Fe in referents and patients of both genders had normal distributions. The inter-elemental correlation (r) among Cu vs Fe in serum and scalp hair samples of referents and patients were not significant in both genders (p?>?0.1) except in the first stage of HCV (p?<?0.1). It was concluded that the increase of Cu and Fe content in human body seems to contribute to the development of cirrhosis in patients with viral hepatitis C.     

In vitro effect of FGIN-1-27, a ligand to 18 kDa mitochondrial translocator protein,in human osteoblast-like cells

Ligands of 18 kDa mitochondrial translocator protein (TSPO) differ in their cellular effects. We hypothesize that different TSPO ligands might exert different cellular responses. Therefore, following previous studies that showed different cellular responses to two specific TSPO ligands, PK 11195 and protoporphyrin IX, in human osteoblast-like cells in vitro, we now report the cellular response to another specific TSPO ligand, FGIN-1-27 (10^?5 M) (MW 436 kDa), in order to characterize the effects of each TSPO ligand. We found in primary culture of the human osteoblast-like cells that cell numbers were decreased by an average of 30 % (p?<?0.001) following exposure to 10^?5 M of FGIN-1-27 in comparison to vehicle controls. Cellular [¹⁸F]-FDG incorporation and ATP content were suppressed, by an average of 43 % (p?<?0.001) and 83 % (p?<?0.001), respectively. Mitochondrial mass and ΔΨm increased by an average of 26 % (p?<?0.01) and 425 % (p?<?0.0001) respectively. Lactate dehydrogenase activity was enhanced in culture media by 60 % (p?<?0.05), indicating overall cell death, while no increase in apoptotic levels was observed. Cellular proliferation, as determined by BrdU assay, was not affected. Synthesis of mRNA of TSPO, VDAC 1, and hexokinase 2 decreased in 0.3, 0.3 and 0.5 fold respectively, with accompanying decreases in protein expression of TSPO and Voltage Dependent Anion Channel 1 by 23 % (p?<?0.001) and 98 % (p?<?0.001), respectively, but without changes in hexokinase 2 protein expression. Thus it appears that 10^?5 M FGIN-1-27 reduces cell viability, cell metabolism, and mitochondrial function. Previously we found similar effects of PK 11195 on mitochondrial function and cell metabolism and of protoporphyrin IX on cell death in primary osteoblast-like cells.     

Weight loss and regain in obese individuals: a link with adipose tissue metabolism indices?

This study was performed to examine whether changes in subcutaneous adipose tissue (SCAT) metabolism indices after weight loss were related to the magnitude of weight regain. Nine men and ten premenopausal women whose body mass index ranged from 30 to 42 kg/m², 35–48 years old, were studied before and after a 15-week weight loss program, as well as at a 17–22-month follow-up period. Although body composition was evaluated at all study periods, abdominal and femoral SCAT-lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) activities, and α2- and β-adrenoceptors (ARs) were measured before and after weight loss, exclusively. Although the SCAT-LPL activity did not change after weight loss in men, it tended to decrease in the femoral depot of women (p?=?0.06). SCAT-HSL activity remained unchanged after weight reduction in men, while the post-weight loss lipase activity tended to be higher in both regions of women (p?=?0.06). Although the post-weight loss number of β-ARs was higher irrespective of the fat depot (0.001?<?p?<?0.05), the number of α2-ARs was increased in the femoral (p?<?0.05), but not in the abdominal SCAT (p?=?0.08) after weight reduction, in men. Neither the α2- nor the β-AR density changed after weight reduction, in women. Abdominal SCAT-LPL activity after weight reduction was negatively related to weight regain indices, in women (?0.65?<?Rhô?<??0.75; 0.01?<?p?<?0.05). Both the post-weight loss abdominal SCAT α2-AR density and the α2-/β-AR balance were positively associated with weight regain indices, in men (0.69?<?Rhô?<?0.88; 0.01?<?p?<?0.05). These results suggest that selected SCAT metabolism indices could predict failure to weight loss maintenance, in both genders.     

Association between circulating levels of heat-shock protein 27 and aggressive periodontitis

Heat-shock protein (Hsp) 27 is a major intracellular molecular chaperone and controller of intracellular responses to inflammatory signals. In the extracellular space, recombinant Hsp27 has been described to exert anti-inflammatory activities. The aim of this study was to assess the association between circulating levels of Hsp27 and different types of periodontitis. Pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and the stress proteins Hsp27 and Hsp60 with proposed anti- and pro-inflammatory properties, respectively, were measured by two-site ELISA in the serum of patients with aggressive periodontitis (AgP, n?=?30), chronic periodontitis (CP, n?=?29) and periodontally healthy controls (H, n?=?28). Furthermore, Hsp27 and Hsp60 levels were also measured longitudinally in 12 AgP patients at 6 time points up to 3 months after treatment. AgP patients had lower levels of Hsp27 compared to CP patients and healthy subjects (adjusted one-way ANOVA, p?<?0.001, followed by post hoc Tukey HSD comparisons), while no differences in levels of Hsp60 or cytokines between the three groups were detected. In CP patients and H subjects, the systemic Hsp27 levels correlated with Hsp60 (r?=?0.43, p?<?0.001; r?=?0.59, p?<?0.001, respectively) and with pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α (r?=?0.48, p?<?0.001; r?=?0.55, p?<?0.001, respectively) and IL-6 (r?=?0.44, p?<?0.01). However, no such correlations were detected in AgP cases. No consistent temporal patterns of changes of Hsp27 concentration were detected across AgP patients following periodontal treatment. This study provides the first evidence that Hsp27 may be differentially expressed and regulated in AgP patients as compared with CP patients and healthy individuals.     

Effects of High Zinc Levels on the Lipid Synthesis in Rat Hepatocytes

Zinc deficiency impairs the hepatic lipid metabolism. Previous studies were focused on the negative effects of zinc deficiency on the hepatic lipid metabolism. A few studies investigated the effects of high zinc levels on the lipid metabolism in hepatocytes. In this study, rat hepatocytes were cultured and treated with different and high concentrations of zinc to investigate the effects of high zinc levels on the lipid synthesis in hepatocytes in vitro. The levels of hepatocytes functional markers, including alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase, and albumin, were significantly higher in the zinc treatment groups than in the control group (p?<?0.05, p?<?0.01). The mRNA and protein levels of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c (SREBP-1c) were significantly higher in the zinc treatment groups than in the control group (p?<?0.05, p?<?0.01). Furthermore, the mRNA expression levels of acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 (ACC1) and fatty acid synthase (FAS) were significantly higher in the medium- and high-dose zinc treatment groups than in the control group (p?<?0.01). The mRNA levels of stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD-1) were significantly higher in the high-dose group (p?<?0.01). These results indicate that high levels of zinc increase hepatocytes activity and SREBP-1c expression, which upregulate the expression of ACC1, FAS, and SCD-1, thereby improving the lipid metabolism in the hepatocytes.