Effects of the amino acid derivatives, β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate,taurine, and N-methyltyramine,on triacylglycerol breakdown in fat cells

Journal of Physiology and Biochemistry - Various amino acid (AA) metabolites are used as supplements to facilitate metabolic control and enhance responsiveness of insulin-sensitive tissues....     

Extra virgin olive oils increase hepatic fat accumulation and hepatic antioxidant protein levels in APOE-/- mice

We assessed the effects of Picual and Arbequina olive oil, rich and poor in polyphenols, respectively, on plasma lipid and glucose metabolism, hepatic fat content, and the hepatic proteome in female Apoe-/- mice. Both olive oils increased hepatic fat content and adipophilin levels (p < 0.05), though Picual olive oil significantly decreased plasma triglycerides (p < 0.05). Proteomics identified a range of hepatic antioxidant enzymes that were differentially regulated by both olive oils as compared with palm oil. We found a clear association between olive oil consumption and differential regulation of adipophilin and betaine homocysteine methyl transferase as modulators of hepatic triglyceride metabolism. Therefore, our "systems biology" approach revealed hitherto unrecognized insights into the triglyceride-lowering and anti-atherogenic mechanisms of extra virgin olive oils, wherein the up-regulation of a large array of anti-oxidant enzymes may offer sufficient protection against lesion development and diminish oxidative stress levels instigated by hepatic steatosis.     

The Apolipoprotein E Polymorphism rs7412 Associates with Body Fatness Independently of Plasma Lipids in Middle Aged Men

Background

The apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene is polymorphic, encoding one of 3 common alleles (ε2, ε3, ε4) produced from combinations of 2 non-synonymous SNPs (rs429358 and rs7412). APOE plays an important role controlling plasma lipids but its association with adipocyte functionality and body fatness remains to be determined.

Methods

We analyzed fasting plasma lipids and genotyped the two main APOE-SNPs (rs429358 and rs7412), both located in the fourth exon of the APOE, in 4660 Caucasian middle-aged men free of cardiovascular disease.

Results

The rs7412 SNP, which determines the APOE2 isoform, was significantly associated with Body Mass Index (BMI) and Waist Girth (WG) in a multivariate model accounting for age, smoking status and plasma lipids. BMI and WG were highest in TT homozygotes and lowest in CC homozygotes. This effect was independent of the rs429358 SNP, which failed to show any association with the BMI and WG variables. The odds ratio of being obese (BMI>30) for individuals carrying the APOε2 allele, present in 14% of the cohort and defined by the rs7412 SNP, was also significant in this multivariate model, with an OR of 1.27 (95% CI: 1.01–1.59).

Conclusions

This study provides an evidence of a lipid-independent association between the APOE SNP rs7412 and body fatness surrogates, BMI and WG, in a large cohort of middle-aged males.     

Maresin 1 regulates insulin signaling in human adipocytes as well as in adipose tissue and muscle of lean and obese mice

Journal of Physiology and Biochemistry - Maresin 1 (MaR1) is a DHA-derived pro-resolving lipid mediator. The present study aimed to characterize the ability of MaR1 to prevent the alterations...