低氧诱导脂肪组织纤维化的研究进展

肥胖状态下,白色脂肪组织持续扩张引起组织缺氧,激活低氧诱导因子1α(HIF-1α)。HIF-1α可刺激纤维化基因表达,启动脂肪组织纤维化进程。脂肪组织纤维化可募集和活化M1型巨噬细胞,导致脂肪组织慢性炎症。HIF-1α还可同时刺激炎症基因表达,进而募集和活化M1型巨噬细胞,引起脂肪组织慢性炎症。脂肪组织慢性炎症又进一步促进了脂肪组织纤维化的发展。脂肪组织纤维化促使过量的甘油三酯异位沉积于肝脏等内脏组织,导致多种代谢性疾病的发生发展。     

脂肪因子与代谢综合征关系的研究进展

代谢综合症是一系列代谢和心血管功能失调的临床特征,包括中心性肥胖、高血压、血脂异常、高血糖及胰岛素抵抗等,其发病机制及如何预防及控制代谢综合症正日益成为目前的学术热点。目前已经公认,脂肪不仅是能量存储器官,也是一个重要的内分泌器官。脂肪组织分泌的生物活性分子被称为脂肪因子。近年来的研究表明,脂肪因子广泛参与肥胖、2型糖尿病、高血压病及心血管疾病等一系列代谢相关性疾病的病理生理过程。脂肪因子能通过介导一系列的信号转导通路,并广泛参与机体复杂的代谢平衡网络的调节。脂肪因子的失衡能导致机体发生对胰岛素敏感性改变等一系列的生物学反应,从而在肥胖和代谢综合症的病理过程中发挥重要的作用。本文综述了脂肪因子与代谢综合征的关系的研究进展。     

脂肪组织氧化应激与运动干预

脂肪组织在调控代谢稳态和运动适应中扮演着重要的角色。肥胖引起的脂肪组织氧化应激是2型糖尿病与代谢综合征等的重要病理特征,是促进脂肪组织炎症和胰岛素抵抗的重要机制。氧化应激可以引起脂肪细胞趋化因子表达,募集炎症细胞浸润脂肪组织,炎症细胞分泌大量的炎症因子,并促进了局部和系统的胰岛素抵抗与慢性炎症。运动对肥胖相关的慢性代谢病的有效干预与运动的抗氧化效应相关。本文总结了氧化应激在脂肪组织炎症和胰岛素抵抗中的作用,以及运动对脂肪组织氧化应激的调控。     

脂肪细胞特性及其在肥胖相关炎症中的作用

在肥胖症中,脂肪组织中低度慢性炎症的积累可导致脂肪组织功能障碍和全身能量代谢失衡。低度全身炎症可能与一些代谢紊乱或心血管疾病和其他慢性疾病的恶化有关。脂肪细胞具有复杂的生物学特性,能够选择性地激活不同的代谢途径以响应环境刺激。研究表明,脂肪细胞在适当的刺激下可以容易地分化和去分化,从而根据代谢需要将自身转化成不同的表型。虽然其潜在的机制尚未完全明了,但脂肪细胞大小的增加和在过量喂养下不能储存甘油三酯对代谢功能失调至关重要,并表现为以炎症和凋亡途径激活及促炎脂肪因子分泌为特征。在肥胖症中,脂肪因子分泌的改变、脂肪细胞失衡和脂肪酸释放到循环系统中,有助于维持免疫细胞的激活和浸润到组织器官。最近研究发现,脂肪细胞还参与调节与肥胖炎症相关的巨噬细胞、中性粒细胞和调节性T细胞等免疫细胞的活性。了解脂肪细胞调节途径和去分化过程可能有助于研究抑制肥胖相关炎症和相关代谢紊乱的新策略。     

肿瘤微环境中脂肪细胞分泌因子对肿瘤细胞的作用

肿瘤微环境是由肿瘤局部浸润的巨噬细胞、成纤维细胞、脂肪细胞以及其所分泌的活性因子等与肿瘤细胞共同构成的局部内环境。肿瘤的发生和转移与肿瘤细胞所处的微环境密切相关。近年研究发现,脂肪组织是一个代谢活跃的分泌器官,可分泌多种与肿瘤相关脂肪因子。在多种类型肿瘤的恶化过程中,肿瘤微环境中的脂肪细胞代谢和分泌作用受到广泛的重视。随着对脂肪细胞病理学研究的深入,肿瘤微环境中的脂肪细胞对肿瘤恶化所起的重要作用已逐渐凸现出来,本文着重阐述了脂肪组织病理学变化所引发的体内相关代谢紊乱,以及其所导致的脂肪细胞分泌因子的变化对肥胖相关癌症发生发展的影响,深入探讨了脂肪细胞功能障碍所诱发的代谢紊乱对肿瘤生物学的影响。     

运动干预对肥胖机体体内瘦素等脂肪细胞因子作用的影响

肥胖是近年主要的流行病之一,是危害健康的全球公共卫生问题。肥胖是一种慢性低度全身性炎症,伴随着一些炎性细胞的浸润和改变,并存在脂肪细胞因子分泌紊乱。瘦素是由白色脂肪细胞分泌的一种蛋白类激素,也是促炎细胞因子,在调控体内能量与代谢等方面发挥重要作用。运动干预会使肥胖机体体内促炎因子(瘦素、TNF-α、IL-6)水平含量降低,抗炎因子(脂联素)水平含量升高。运动能够延缓肥胖机体体内炎症反应的发生。本文以体内瘦素的生理功能及作用机制为中心,系统综述了运动对肥胖性慢性炎症的调节,主要包括脂肪细胞因子瘦素、脂联素、IL-6、TNF-α,以此探讨运动干预减重降脂和减轻慢性炎症反应的机制,为防治慢性代谢性疾病提供新视角。     

脂肪组织中自噬信号通路及其功能

细胞自噬是一种真核生物中高度保守的代谢过程,包括巨自噬、微自噬以及分子伴侣介导的自噬等。自噬过程可以清除受损的细胞器,降解糖原、脂类和蛋白质等生物大分子物质,供细胞重新利用,维持细胞内代谢平衡。自噬障碍与多种疾病的病理发生过程息息相关,包括肿瘤、2型糖尿病、肥胖、骨骼肌病以及神经退行性疾病等。脂肪组织是人体脂质储存的重要场所,广泛分布于全身各处,如内脏和皮下等。脂肪组织通过储存冗余脂肪并分泌脂肪因子,防止脂肪的异位堆积和脂毒性的发生,维持机体的脂质稳态。近期的许多研究表明,自噬进程深度参与脂肪细胞的细胞分化与能量代谢。因此,深入探究脂肪组织自噬过程与机体脂质稳态的调控关系,有利于揭示机体脂质平衡的内在机制,为新型药物靶点的开发提供扎实的理论依据和数据支持。本文就近年来关于自噬影响脂肪组织脂质代谢的最新研究进展作一综述。     

肥胖与慢性炎症的研究进展

肥胖常伴随着一系列代谢综合征的发生,肥胖引起的慢性炎症因为与各种代谢综合征的密切联系而成为目前的研究热点。慢性炎症的发生很复杂,涉及多个组织、器官和系统,并且炎症的发生会反过来影响组织的功能。目前针对慢性炎症发生机制的研究结果显示脂肪因子和免疫系统、内质网应激、细胞自噬作用以及内毒素的作用等形成的信号网络参与了慢性炎症的触发和发展。本文就慢性炎症与肥胖关联的几种可能发生机制的最新研究进展作一简要综述。     

NLRP3炎症小体在脂肪组织纤维化中的作用及运动干预研究进展

脂肪组织纤维化是指白色脂肪组织细胞外基质的过度沉积，是代谢功能障碍的重要诱因，探究其发生机理对代谢相关疾病的防治意义重大。研究表明，NLRP3炎症小体与脂肪组织纤维化关联密切，但其机制尚未完全厘清。作为一种防治慢病的有效策略，运动可通过抑制NLRP3炎症小体活化减轻炎症反应，从而缓解炎症相关疾病的发生与发展。本文就NLRP3炎症小体的生物学特性以及与脂肪组织纤维化的关系进行归纳梳理，总结分析运动通过NLRP3炎症小体调节脂肪组织纤维化的可能机理，以期为脂肪组织炎症相关疾病的防治提供理论参考依据。     

Regulation of inflammation in the adipose tissue in cancer cachexia: effect of exercise

The paraneoplastic syndrome of cachexia is considered a degenerative chronic inflammatory disease, being deeply related to the increase of pro‐inflammatory factors, especially tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF‐α). It is known that the adipose tissue is affected by cachexia and contributing with the secretion of pro‐inflammatory factors which reach the adjacent tissues and the circulation. The effect of pro‐inflammatory factors is balanced by the effect of anti‐inflammatory factors, such as interleukin 10 (IL‐10). The IL‐10/TNF‐α ratio has been recently postulated as a marker for the assessment of the degree of inflammation, which correlates with disease‐associated morbidity and mortality. In order to counteract inflammation in chronic disease, our group has currently adopted chronic endurance exercise in models of cancer cachexia and chronic heart failure. Since it is clear that white adipose tissue is strongly implicated in the secretion of both pro‐ and anti‐inflammatory factors in disease, we chose to address its contribution to cachexia‐related inflammation and the effect of endurance training on the capacity of cytokine expression and secretion by this tissue. Our results show an enhancement of IL‐10 adipose tissue content, and increased IL‐10/TNF‐α ratio induced by endurance training. The mechanisms are discussed. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Bilobalide attenuates hypoxia induced oxidative stress,inflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunctions in 3T3-L1 adipocytes via its antioxidant potential

Abstract

Excessive expansion of white adipose tissue leads to hypoxia which is considered as a key factor responsible for adipose tissue dysfunction in obesity. Hypoxia induces inflammation, insulin resistance, and other obesity related complications. So the hypoxia-signalling pathway is expected to provide a new target for the treatment of obesity-associated complications. Inhibition or downregulation of the HIF-1 pathway could be an effective target for the treatment of obesity related hypoxia. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of hypoxia on functions of 3T3-L1 adipocytes emphasising on oxidative stress, antioxidant status, inflammation and mitochondrial functions. We have also evaluated the protective role of bilobalide, a bioactive from Gingko biloba, on hypoxia induced alterations. The results revealed that hypoxia significantly altered all the vital parameters of adipocyte biology like HIF-1α expression (103.47% ↑), lactate and glycerol release (184.34% and 69.1% ↑, respectively), reactive oxygen species (ROS) production (432.53% ↑), lipid and protein oxidation (376.6% and 566.6% ↑, respectively), reduction in antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase and catalase) status, secretion of inflammatory markers (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β and IFN-γ) and mitochondrial functions (mitochondrial mass, membrane potential, permeability transition pore integrity, superoxide generation). Bilobalide significantly protected adipocytes from adverse effects of hypoxia in a dose-dependent manner by attenuating oxidative stress, inflammation and protecting mitochondria. Acriflavine (HIF-1 inhibitor) was used as positive control. On the basis of this study, a detailed investigation is needed to delineate the mechanism of action of bilobalide to develop it as therapeutic target for obesity.     

Amyloid precursor protein and proinflammatory changes are regulated in brain and adipose tissue in a murine model of high fat diet-induced obesity

Background

Middle age obesity is recognized as a risk factor for Alzheimer''s disease (AD) although a mechanistic linkage remains unclear. Based upon the fact that obese adipose tissue and AD brains are both areas of proinflammatory change, a possible common event is chronic inflammation. Since an autosomal dominant form of AD is associated with mutations in the gene coding for the ubiquitously expressed transmembrane protein, amyloid precursor protein (APP) and recent evidence demonstrates increased APP levels in adipose tissue during obesity it is feasible that APP serves some function in both disease conditions.

Methodology/Principal Findings

To determine whether diet-induced obesity produced proinflammatory changes and altered APP expression in brain versus adipose tissue, 6 week old C57BL6/J mice were maintained on a control or high fat diet for 22 weeks. Protein levels and cell-specific APP expression along with markers of inflammation and immune cell activation were compared between hippocampus, abdominal subcutaneous fat and visceral pericardial fat. APP stimulation-dependent changes in macrophage and adipocyte culture phenotype were examined for comparison to the in vivo changes.

Conclusions/Significance

Adipose tissue and brain from high fat diet fed animals demonstrated increased TNF-α and microglial and macrophage activation. Both brains and adipose tissue also had elevated APP levels localizing to neurons and macrophage/adipocytes, respectively. APP agonist antibody stimulation of macrophage cultures increased specific cytokine secretion with no obvious effects on adipocyte culture phenotype. These data support the hypothesis that high fat diet-dependent obesity results in concomitant pro-inflammatory changes in brain and adipose tissue that is characterized, in part, by increased levels of APP that may be contributing specifically to inflammatory changes that occur.     

Myeloid cell-derived hypoxia-inducible factor attenuates inflammation in unilateral ureteral obstruction-induced kidney injury

Renal fibrosis and inflammation are associated with hypoxia, and tissue pO(2) plays a central role in modulating the progression of chronic kidney disease. Key mediators of cellular adaptation to hypoxia are hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1 and -2. In the kidney, they are expressed in a cell type-specific manner; to what degree activation of each homolog modulates renal fibrogenesis and inflammation has not been established. To address this issue, we used Cre-loxP recombination to activate or to delete both Hif-1 and Hif-2 either globally or cell type specifically in myeloid cells. Global activation of Hif suppressed inflammation and fibrogenesis in mice subjected to unilateral ureteral obstruction, whereas activation of Hif in myeloid cells suppressed inflammation only. Suppression of inflammatory cell infiltration was associated with downregulation of CC chemokine receptors in renal macrophages. Conversely, global deletion or myeloid-specific inactivation of Hif promoted inflammation. Furthermore, prolonged hypoxia suppressed the expression of multiple inflammatory molecules in noninjured kidneys. Collectively, we provide experimental evidence that hypoxia and/or myeloid cell-specific HIF activation attenuates renal inflammation associated with chronic kidney injury.     

The osteopontin level in liver, adipose tissue and serum is correlated with fibrosis in patients with alcoholic liver disease

Background

Osteopontin (OPN) plays an important role in the progression of chronic liver diseases. We aimed to quantify the liver, adipose tissue and serum levels of OPN in heavy alcohol drinkers and to compare them with the histological severity of hepatic inflammation and fibrosis.

Methodology/Principal Findings

OPN was evaluated in the serum of a retrospective and prospective group of 109 and 95 heavy alcohol drinkers, respectively, in the liver of 34 patients from the retrospective group, and in the liver and adipose tissue from an additional group of 38 heavy alcohol drinkers. Serum levels of OPN increased slightly with hepatic inflammation and progressively with the severity of hepatic fibrosis. Hepatic OPN expression correlated with hepatic inflammation, fibrosis, TGFβ expression, neutrophils accumulation and with the serum OPN level. Interestingly, adipose tissue OPN expression also correlated with hepatic fibrosis even after 7 days of alcohol abstinence. The elevated serum OPN level was an independent risk factor in estimating significant (F≥2) fibrosis in a model combining alkaline phosphatase, albumin, hemoglobin, OPN and FibroMeter® levels. OPN had an area under the receiving operator curve that estimated significant fibrosis of 0.89 and 0.88 in the retrospective and prospective groups, respectively. OPN, Hyaluronate (AUROC: 0.88), total Cytokeratin 18 (AUROC: 0.83) and FibroMeter® (AUROC: 0.90) estimated significance to the same extent in the retrospective group. Finally, the serum OPN levels also correlated with hepatic fibrosis and estimated significant (F≥2) fibrosis in 86 patients with chronic hepatitis C, which suggested that its elevated level could be a general response to chronic liver injury.

Conclusion/Significance

OPN increased in the liver, adipose tissue and serum with liver fibrosis in alcoholic patients. Further, OPN is a new relevant biomarker for significant liver fibrosis. OPN could thus be an important actor in the pathogenesis of this chronic liver disease.     

Adipose Tissue Is a Neglected Viral Reservoir and an Inflammatory Site during Chronic HIV and SIV Infection

Two of the crucial aspects of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection are (i) viral persistence in reservoirs (precluding viral eradication) and (ii) chronic inflammation (directly associated with all-cause morbidities in antiretroviral therapy (ART)-controlled HIV-infected patients). The objective of the present study was to assess the potential involvement of adipose tissue in these two aspects. Adipose tissue is composed of adipocytes and the stromal vascular fraction (SVF); the latter comprises immune cells such as CD4⁺ T cells and macrophages (both of which are important target cells for HIV). The inflammatory potential of adipose tissue has been extensively described in the context of obesity. During HIV infection, the inflammatory profile of adipose tissue has been revealed by the occurrence of lipodystrophies (primarily related to ART). Data on the impact of HIV on the SVF (especially in individuals not receiving ART) are scarce. We first analyzed the impact of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infection on abdominal subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissues in SIVmac251 infected macaques and found that both adipocytes and adipose tissue immune cells were affected. The adipocyte density was elevated, and adipose tissue immune cells presented enhanced immune activation and/or inflammatory profiles. We detected cell-associated SIV DNA and RNA in the SVF and in sorted CD4⁺ T cells and macrophages from adipose tissue. We demonstrated that SVF cells (including CD4⁺ T cells) are infected in ART-controlled HIV-infected patients. Importantly, the production of HIV RNA was detected by in situ hybridization, and after the in vitro reactivation of sorted CD4⁺ T cells from adipose tissue. We thus identified adipose tissue as a crucial cofactor in both viral persistence and chronic immune activation/inflammation during HIV infection. These observations open up new therapeutic strategies for limiting the size of the viral reservoir and decreasing low-grade chronic inflammation via the modulation of adipose tissue-related pathways.     

Lipid-heparin infusion suppresses the IL-10 response to trauma in subcutaneous adipose tissue in humans

An imbalance between pro‐ and anti‐inflammatory cytokine productions in adipose tissue is thought to contribute to chronic, systemic, low‐grade inflammation and consequently to an increased risk of cardiovascular complications in obese and type 2 diabetic patients. Nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA), whose serum levels are elevated in such patients, have been shown to interfere with cytokine production in vitro. In order to evaluate the effects of elevated NEFA levels on cytokine production in adipose tissue in vivo we used an 18‐gauge open‐flow microperfusion (OFM) catheter to induce local inflammation in the subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) of healthy volunteers and to sample interstitial fluid (IF) specifically from the inflamed tissue. In two crossover studies, nine subjects received either an intravenous lipid‐heparin infusion to elevate circulating NEFA levels or saline over a period of 28 h. The former increased the circulating levels of triglycerides (TGs), NEFA, glucose, and insulin over the study period. NEFA effects on locally induced inflammation were estimated by measuring the levels of a panel adipokines in the OFM probe effluent. Interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), IL‐8, tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) and monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 (MCP‐1) levels increased during the study period but were not affected by lipid‐heparin infusion. In contrast, the level of IL‐10, an anti‐inflammatory cytokine, was significantly reduced during the final hour of lipid‐heparin infusion (saline: 449.2 ± 105.9 vs. lipid‐heparin: 65.4 ± 15.4 pg/ml; P = 0.02). These data provide the first in vivo evidence that elevated NEFA can modulate cytokine production by adipose tissue.