OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of high-fat (HF) diet and exercise on the expressions of asprosin and CTRP6 in adipose tissues in different regions of rats during mid-gestation. METHODS: Pregnant SD rats were fed on a standard chow diet or a high-fat (60% fat content) diet for 14 days starting on gestation day (GD) 1. Starting from GD3, the rats fed either on normal or high-fat diet in the exercise groups (CH-RW and HF-RW groups) were allowed access to the running wheels for voluntary running, and those in sedentary groups (CH-SD and HF-SD groups) remained sedentary. At the end of the 14 days, adipose tissues were sampled from different regions of the rats for detecting the mRNA and protein expressions of asprosin and CTRP6 using RT-qPCR and Western blotting. RESULTS: The mRNA expression of asprosin in retroperitoneal adipose tissues was significantly higher in HF-RW group than in the other 3 groups ( CONCLUSIONS High-fat diet and exercise during mid-gedtation can affect the expression levels of asprosin and CTRP6 in adipose tissues of rats in a site-specific manner.
Adipokines ; Animals ; Blood Glucose ; Diet, High-Fat/adverse effects* ; Female ; Intra-Abdominal Fat ; Pregnancy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Adipokines/blood* ; Adult ; Biomarkers/blood* ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Semen/chemistry* ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: The levels of erythrocyte polyunsaturated fatty acids (FAs) may be associated with obesity, metabolic syndrome, and cancer. Thus, we investigated the association between erythrocyte n−3 and n−6 FA composition, body mass index (BMI), and biochemical profiles. METHODS: The body composition, dietary intake, and blood parameters, including serum lipid, glucose, insulin, adipokines, oxidative stress, and erythrocyte FA, were assessed in 66 overweight and obese women (average age, 43.4 years). We also classified the participants into the overweight, obese, and morbidly obese (MO) groups based on the BMI values of 23, 25, and 30 kg/m₂, respectively. Erythrocyte FA was measured via gas chromatography. RESULTS: The serum glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels of the participants in the overweight, obese, and MO groups were not significantly different. However, the serum insulin, high-density lipoprotein, cholesterol and leptin levels were significantly different. The erythrocyte n−6/n−3 ratios of the overweight, obese, and MO groups were 2.4, 2.5, and 2.8, respectively. These data were consistent with the dietary n−6/n−3 ratio findings. Moreover, the erythrocyte n−6/n−3 ratio was correlated with serum insulin levels. CONCLUSIONS: As the severity of obesity increased, the levels of insulin and leptin and the ratio of dietary n−6/n−3 increased, which was consistent with erythrocyte FA. These results indicate that erythrocyte FA may be a predictive biomarker for the increased prevalence of obesity, insulin resistance, leptin resistance, and risk of developing metabolic disorders.
Adipokines ; Blood Glucose ; Body Composition ; Cholesterol ; Chromatography, Gas ; Erythrocyte Membrane* ; Erythrocytes* ; Fatty Acids ; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated* ; Female ; Glucose ; Humans ; Insulin ; Insulin Resistance ; Leptin ; Lipoproteins ; Obesity ; Overweight* ; Oxidative Stress ; Prevalence ; Triglycerides

BACKGROUND: Slit2 is a new secreted protein from adipose tissue that improves glucose hemostasis in mice; however, there is no study about the serum levels and precise role of Slit2 in human. The aim of this study is to explore the serum level of Slit2 in human, and to identify the role of Slit2 in diabetes mellitus (DM). METHODS: The participants of this study consist of 38 subjects with newly diagnosed DM, and 75 healthy subjects as a control group. Serum Slit2 levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Relationship between circulating Slit2 and diabetic related factors was investigated in diabetic group compared with non-diabetic group. Additionally, the correlations between the serum level of Slit2 and diverse metabolic parameters were analyzed. RESULTS: Circulating Slit2 level was more decreased in diabetic group than in control group, but there was no significant difference statistically. Interestingly, serum levels of Slit2 were significantly negatively correlated to the serum concentrations of fasting glucose (coefficient r=–0.246, P=0.008), the serum concentrations of postprandial glucose (coefficient r=–0.233, P=0.017), and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c; coefficient r=–0.357, P<0.001). CONCLUSION: From our study, the first report of circulating Slit2 levels in human, circulating Slit2 level significantly negatively correlated with serum glucose and HbA1c. Our results suggest that the circulating Slit2 may play a role in maintainence of glucose homeostasis in human, even though exact contribution and mechanism are not yet known.
Adipokines ; Adipose Tissue ; Adipose Tissue, Brown ; Animals ; Blood Glucose ; Diabetes Mellitus* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Fasting ; Glucose ; Healthy Volunteers ; Hemoglobin A, Glycosylated ; Hemostasis ; Homeostasis ; Humans* ; Mice

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have shown that omentin-1 derived from adipokines can affect physiological regulations and some metabolic dis-eases such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). METHODS: The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of 12 weeks of aerobic (cycle ergometer), resistance, and combined exercises on omentin-1 level, glucose and insulin resistance indices in overweight middle age women with T2DM. In this study, 60 overweight middle age diabetic women were selected using simple random sampling and they were assigned to three groups of aerobic exercise (n=12), resistant exercise (n=12) and combined exercise (n=13), and one control group (n=15). Exercises were done in a three times per week sessions for a total of 12 weeks. Blood samples were collected before each exercise session and 24 hours after of the last session. RESULTS: Present study showed that fasting blood sugar decreased significantly in all intervention groups, while homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) decreased only in the aerobic and combined exercises groups. Furthermore, there was a significant increase in the omentin-1 level only in the combined exercise group. CONCLUSION: Compared to aerobic and resistance exercises, 12 weeks of combined exercise was more efficient in improving HOMA-IR and increasing serum omentin-1 among women with T2DM.
Adipokines ; Blood Glucose ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Exercise* ; Fasting ; Female ; Glucose ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance* ; Insulin* ; Middle Aged ; Overweight ; Social Control, Formal

Vitamin D is an important steroid hormone, which has a wide biological effect and is the protective factor against cardiovascular disease and other diseases. At present, the etiology and pathogenesis of Kawasaki disease (KD) remain unknown, but recent studies have shown that vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency is associated with KD. Vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency may affect KD via its influence on inflammatory response, adipokine, endothelial function, platelet function, and DNA methylation and increase the risk of coronary artery lesions. This article reviews the research advances in the association between vitamin D and KD and possible mechanisms of action.
Adipokines ; physiology ; Animals ; Blood Platelets ; physiology ; DNA Methylation ; Epithelial Cells ; physiology ; Humans ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome ; etiology ; Vitamin D Deficiency ; complications

BACKGROUND: Systemic inflammation in psoriasis causes insulin resistance and cardiovascular diseases. Adipokines are adipose-tissue-derived factors that are involved in metabolic processes. It is thought that these adipokines are associated with the development of psoriasis. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the changes in adipokine levels, insulin resistance, hypertension, and dyslipidemia over a 12-week period. METHODS: The study comprised 35 psoriasis patients and 50 controls. Blood samples were obtained twice from the patients, one sample at the start and one at the end of a 12-week follow-up period. The following parameters were assessed in both groups: serum fasting glucose, fasting insulin, homeostasis model assessment-estimated insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index, serum lipids, adiponectin, leptin, resistin, chemerin, omentin, vaspin, visfatin, retinol-binding protein 4, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels; blood pressure; body mass index; and the psoriasis area severity index (PASI) scores. RESULTS: The patients showed an improvement in the PASI score and a significant decrease in serum hs-CRP, omentin, and chemerin values. Moreover, at the start of the follow-up, the psoriasis patients had significantly lower levels of adiponectin and visfatin and significantly higher levels of vaspin and resistin than those of the control group. Visfatin levels correlated negatively with low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and cholesterol, while vaspin and omentin levels correlated positively with diastolic blood pressure. Decreased adiponectin levels correlated negatively with diastolic blood pressure and LDL. CONCLUSION: Plasma levels of adipokines might be useful for evaluating the disease activity of psoriasis and its comorbidities.
Adipokines* ; Adiponectin ; Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; C-Reactive Protein ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cholesterol ; Comorbidity ; Dyslipidemias* ; Fasting ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glucose ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Inflammation ; Insulin Resistance* ; Insulin* ; Leptin ; Lipoproteins ; Metabolism ; Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase ; Plasma ; Psoriasis* ; Resistin

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Corn silk (CS) extract contains large amounts of maysin, which is a major flavonoid in CS. However, studies regarding the effect of CS extract on cholesterol metabolism is limited. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the effect of CS extract on cholesterol metabolism in C57BL/6J mouse fed high-fat diets. MATERIALS/METHODS: Normal-fat group fed 7% fat diet, high-fat (HF) group fed 25% fat diet, and high-fat with corn silk (HFCS) group were orally administered CS extract (100 mg/kg body weight) daily. Serum and hepatic levels of total lipids, triglycerides, and total cholesterol as well as serum free fatty acid, glucose, and insulin levels were determined. The mRNA expression levels of acyl-CoA: cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT), cholesterol 7-alpha hydroxylase (CYP7A1), farnesoid X receptor (FXR), lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT), low-density lipoprotein receptor, 3-hyroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoA reductase), adiponectin, leptin, and tumor necrosis factor α were determined. RESULTS: Oral administration of CS extract with HF improved serum glucose and insulin levels as well as attenuated HF-induced fatty liver. CS extracts significantly elevated mRNA expression levels of adipocytokines and reduced mRNA expression levels of HMG-CoA reductase, ACAT, and FXR. The mRNA expression levels of CYP7A1 and LCAT between the HF group and HFCS group were not statistically different. CONCLUSIONS: CS extract supplementation with a high-fat diet improves levels of adipocytokine secretion and glucose homeostasis. CS extract is also effective in decreasing the regulatory pool of hepatic cholesterol, in line with decreased blood and hepatic levels of cholesterol though modulation of mRNA expression levels of HMG-CoA reductase, ACAT, and FXR.
Adipokines ; Adiponectin ; Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Blood Glucose ; Cholesterol* ; Diet ; Diet, High-Fat* ; Fatty Liver ; Glucose ; Homeostasis ; Insulin ; Leptin ; Metabolism* ; Mice* ; Oxidoreductases ; Phosphatidylcholine-Sterol O-Acyltransferase ; Receptors, Lipoprotein ; RNA, Messenger ; Silk* ; Sterol O-Acyltransferase ; Triglycerides ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Zea mays*

The advantages of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) on insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have been well established. However, the molecular mechanisms of the anti-diabetic action of MUFAs remain unclear. This study examined the anti-hyperglycemic effect and explored the molecular mechanisms involved in the actions of fish oil- rich in MUFAs that had been acquired from hybrid catfish (Pangasius larnaudii×Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) among experimental type 2 diabetic rats. Diabetic rats that were fed with fish oil (500 and 1,000 mg/kg BW) for 12 weeks significantly reduced the fasting plasma glucose levels without increasing the plasma insulin levels. The diminishing levels of plasma lipids and the muscle triglyceride accumulation as well as the plasma leptin levels were identified in T2DM rats, which had been administrated with fish oil. Notably, the plasma adiponectin levels increased among these rats. The fish oil supplementation also improved glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity and pancreatic histological changes. Moreover, the supplementation of fish oil improved insulin signaling (p-Akt(Ser473) and p-PKC-ζ/λ(Thr410/403)), p-AMPK(Thr172) and membrane GLUT4 protein expressions, whereas the protein expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and nuclear NF-κB) as well as p-PKC-θ(Thr538) were down regulated in the skeletal muscle. These data indicate that the effects of fish oil-rich in MUFAs in these T2DM rats were partly due to the attenuation of insulin resistance and an improvement in the adipokine imbalance. The mechanisms of the anti-hyperglycemic effect are involved in the improvement of insulin signaling, AMPK activation, GLUT4 translocation and suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokine protein expressions.
Adipokines ; Adiponectin ; AMP-Activated Protein Kinases ; Animals ; Blood Glucose ; Catfishes ; Cytokines ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Fasting ; Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated ; Fish Oils ; Glucose ; Glucose Transporter Type 4 ; Insulin ; Insulin Resistance ; Leptin ; Membranes ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Plasma ; Rats* ; Triglycerides

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association between CHI3L1 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and the susceptibility to childhood asthma.

METHODSA total of 316 children diagnosed with asthma between January 2011 and October 2013 and 297 healthy children were selected as asthma group and control group respectively. Peripheral blood samples were collected from all subjects. Chemiluminescence and flow cytometry were applied to measure total IgE level and the percentage of eosinophils. ELISA was used to measure YKL-40 level. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood hemocytes, and the genotype and allele frequencies at CHI3L1 SNPs rs4950928, rs10399805, and rs883125 were determined by MALDI-TOP mass spectrometry.

RESULTSThe total IgE and YKL-40 levels were significantly higher in the asthma group than in the control group (P<0.05), while the percentage of eosinophils showed no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05). The frequency of GG genotype at rs883125 in the asthma group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). For rs4950928, the asthma group had a significantly lower frequency of CC genotype (P<0.05) but a significantly higher frequency of CG genotype (P<0.05) compared with the control group. In the asthma group, the patients with GG and CG genotypes at rs4950928 had significantly increased total IgE and YKL-40 levels compared with those with CC genotype at this locus (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSYKL-40 is a potential molecular biomarker for the primary diagnosis of childhood asthma. CHI3L1 SNPs rs4950928 and rs883125 may be associated with childhood asthma. G allele at rs4950928 may increase the risk of childhood asthma.

Adipokines ; blood ; genetics ; Asthma ; etiology ; genetics ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Chitinase-3-Like Protein 1 ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Infant ; Lectins ; blood ; genetics ; Male ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide