Integrative Molecular Phenotyping
INTEGRATIVE MOLECULAR
PHENOTYPING
WHEELOCK LABORATORY
DEPARTMENT OF MEDICAL
BIOCHEMISTRY AND BIOPHYSICS
WHEELOCK LABORATORY
DEPARTMENT OF MEDICAL
BIOCHEMISTRY AND BIOPHYSICS
WHEELOCK LABORATORY
DEPARTMENT OF MEDICAL
BIOCHEMISTRY AND BIOPHYSICS
WHEELOCK LABORATORY
DEPARTMENT OF MEDICAL
BIOCHEMISTRY AND BIOPHYSICS
WHEELOCK LABORATORY
DEPARTMENT OF MEDICAL
BIOCHEMISTRY AND BIOPHYSICS
WHEELOCK LABORATORY

PubMed

Ammonia inhibits energy metabolism in astrocytes in a rapid and glutamate dehydrogenase 2-dependent manner.

Mon, 14/09/2020 - 05:43
Ammonia inhibits energy metabolism in astrocytes in a rapid and glutamate dehydrogenase 2-dependent manner. Dis Model Mech. 2020 Sep 11;: Authors: Drews L, Zimmermann M, Westhoff P, Brilhaus D, Poss RE, Bergmann L, Wiek C, Brenneisen P, Piekorz RP, Mettler-Altmann T, Weber APM, Reichert AS Abstract Astrocyte dysfunction is a primary factor in hepatic encephalopathy (HE) impairing neuronal activity under hyperammonemia. In particular the early events causing ammonia-induced toxicity to astrocytes are not well understood. Using established cellular HE models, we show that mitochondria rapidly undergo fragmentation in a reversible manner upon hyperammonemia. Further, within a timescale of minutes mitochondrial respiration and glycolysis were hampered which occurred in a pH-independent manner. Using metabolomics an accumulation of numerous amino acids, including branched chain amino acids and glucose was observed. Metabolomic tracking of 15N-labeled ammonia showed rapid incorporation of 15N into glutamate and glutamate-derived amino acids. Downregulating human GLUD2, encoding mitochondrial glutamate dehydrogenase 2 (GDH2), inhibiting GDH2 activity by SIRT4 overexpression, and supplementing cells with glutamate or glutamine alleviated ammonia-induced inhibition of mitochondrial respiration. Metabolomic tracking of 13C-glutamine showed that hyperammonemia can inhibit anaplerosis of TCA-cycle intermediates. Contrary to its classical anaplerotic role, we show that under hyperammonemia GDH2 rather catalyzes the removal of ammonia by reductive amination of α-ketoglutarate which efficiently and rapidly inhibits the TCA-cycle. Overall, we propose a critical GDH2-dependent mechanism in HE models that on the one hand helps to remove ammonia but on the other hand impairs energy metabolism in mitochondria rapidly. PMID: 32917661 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

The use of Lactobacillus plantarum 299v (DSM 9843) in cancer patients receiving home enteral nutrition - study protocol for a randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled trial.

Mon, 14/09/2020 - 05:43
The use of Lactobacillus plantarum 299v (DSM 9843) in cancer patients receiving home enteral nutrition - study protocol for a randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled trial. Nutr J. 2020 Sep 11;19(1):98 Authors: Kaźmierczak-Siedlecka K, Folwarski M, Skonieczna-Żydecka K, Ruszkowski J, Makarewicz W Abstract BACKGROUND: Nutritional treatment is one of the most important components of multidisciplinary anti-cancer therapy. Home enteral nutrition is considered as a safe procedure, however, it may be associated with the risk of side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhoea. It is uncertain whether diarrhoea is the result of the enteral formula administration or gut dysbiosis. One of the methods which may be used to alter the composition of gut microbiota is the administration of a probiotic strain. Lactobacillus plantarum 299v ingestion was found to diminish the adverse events of irritable bowel syndrome and Clostridium difficile infection - entities that share the symptoms with enteral nutrition side effects. Therefore, the primary aim of this study is to determine the effect of Lactobacillus plantarum 299v on prevention of weight loss of cancer patients receiving home enteral nutrition. The secondary aims are to evaluate the role of this probiotic strain in the improvement of nutritional status, enteral nutrition tolerance, and patients' quality of life. METHODS: Forty patients with cancer receiving home enteral nutrition will be enrolled in this clinical trial and randomized to receive one capsule of Lactobacillus plantarum 299v (Sanprobi IBS®) twice a day or placebo for 12 weeks in a double-blind manner. Laboratory tests (the level of albumin, total protein, transferrin, and total lymphocyte count), anthropometric parameters (body mass, the content of fat mass, muscle mass, and total body water), Nutritional Risk Screening (NRS 2002), enteral nutrition tolerance as well as quality of life will be measured. Measurements will be obtained at the baseline and after 4 and 12 weeks of treatment. DISCUSSION: The adverse events observed during administration of enteral nutrition have an negative impact on enteral formula tolerance and as a consequence patients' quality of life. The previous studies have demonstrated that probiotics may reduce the gastrointestinal symptoms related to enteral nutrition. Thus, administration of Lactobacillus plantarum 299v may be effective in improvement of nutritional status, enteral nutrition tolerance, and quality of life of cancer patients receiving home enteral nutrition. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03940768 . PMID: 32917221 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Food Intake REstriction for Health OUtcome Support and Education (FIREHOUSE) Protocol: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Mon, 14/09/2020 - 05:43
Food Intake REstriction for Health OUtcome Support and Education (FIREHOUSE) Protocol: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Sep 09;17(18): Authors: Kwon S, Riggs J, Crowley G, Lam R, Young IR, Nayar C, Sunseri M, Mikhail M, Ostrofsky D, Veerappan A, Zeig-Owens R, Schwartz T, Colbeth H, Liu M, Pompeii ML, St-Jules D, Prezant DJ, Sevick MA, Nolan A Abstract Fire Department of New York (FDNY) rescue and recovery workers exposed to World Trade Center (WTC) particulates suffered loss of forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1). Metabolic Syndrome increased the risk of developing WTC-lung injury (WTC-LI). We aim to attenuate the deleterious effects of WTC exposure through a dietary intervention targeting these clinically relevant disease modifiers. We hypothesize that a calorie-restricted Mediterranean dietary intervention will improve metabolic risk, subclinical indicators of cardiopulmonary disease, quality of life, and lung function in firefighters with WTC-LI. To assess our hypothesis, we developed the Food Intake REstriction for Health OUtcome Support and Education (FIREHOUSE), a randomized controlled clinical trial (RCT). Male firefighters with WTC-LI and a BMI > 27 kg/m2 will be included. We will randomize subjects (1:1) to either: (1) Low Calorie Mediterranean (LoCalMed)-an integrative multifactorial, technology-supported approach focused on behavioral modification, nutritional education that will include a self-monitored diet with feedback, physical activity recommendations, and social cognitive theory-based group counseling sessions; or (2) Usual Care. Outcomes include reduction in body mass index (BMI) (primary), improvement in FEV1, fractional exhaled nitric oxide, pulse wave velocity, lipid profiles, targeted metabolic/clinical biomarkers, and quality of life measures (secondary). By implementing a technology-supported LoCalMed diet our FIREHOUSE RCT may help further the treatment of WTC associated pulmonary disease. PMID: 32916985 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Precision Medicine: Steps along the Road to Combat Human Cancer.

Mon, 14/09/2020 - 05:43
Precision Medicine: Steps along the Road to Combat Human Cancer. Cells. 2020 Sep 09;9(9): Authors: Nassar SF, Raddassi K, Ubhi B, Doktorski J, Abulaban A Abstract The diagnosis and treatment of diseases such as cancer is becoming more accurate and specialized with the advent of precision medicine techniques, research and treatments. Reaching down to the cellular and even sub-cellular level, diagnostic tests can pinpoint specific, individual information from each patient, and guide providers to a more accurate plan of treatment. With this advanced knowledge, researchers and providers can better gauge the effectiveness of drugs, radiation, and other therapies, which is bound to lead to a more accurate, if not more positive, prognosis. As precision medicine becomes more established, new techniques, equipment, materials and testing methods will be required. Herein, we will examine the recent innovations in assays, devices and software, along with next generation sequencing in genomics diagnostics which are in use or are being developed for personalized medicine. So as to avoid duplication and produce the fullest possible benefit, all involved must be strongly encouraged to collaborate, across national borders, public and private sectors, science, medicine and academia alike. In this paper we will offer recommendations for tools, research and development, along with ideas for implementation. We plan to begin with discussion of the lessons learned to date, and the current research on pharmacogenomics. Given the steady stream of advances in imaging mass spectrometry and nanoLC-MS/MS, and use of genomic, proteomic and metabolomics biomarkers to distinguish healthy tissue from diseased cells, there is great potential to utilize pharmacogenomics to tailor a drug or drugs to a particular cohort of patients. Such efforts very well may bring increased hope for small groups of non-responders and those who have demonstrated adverse reactions to current treatments. PMID: 32916938 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

metabolomics; +28 new citations

Sat, 12/09/2020 - 23:32
28 new pubmed citations were retrieved for your search. Click on the search hyperlink below to display the complete search results: metabolomics These pubmed results were generated on 2020/09/12PubMed comprises more than millions of citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books. Citations may include links to full-text content from PubMed Central and publisher web sites.

metabolomics; +28 new citations

Sat, 12/09/2020 - 14:30
28 new pubmed citations were retrieved for your search. Click on the search hyperlink below to display the complete search results: metabolomics These pubmed results were generated on 2020/09/12PubMed comprises more than millions of citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books. Citations may include links to full-text content from PubMed Central and publisher web sites.

metabolomics; +21 new citations

Sat, 12/09/2020 - 08:26
21 new pubmed citations were retrieved for your search. Click on the search hyperlink below to display the complete search results: metabolomics These pubmed results were generated on 2020/09/12PubMed comprises more than millions of citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books. Citations may include links to full-text content from PubMed Central and publisher web sites.

metabolomics; +41 new citations

Thu, 10/09/2020 - 14:14
41 new pubmed citations were retrieved for your search. Click on the search hyperlink below to display the complete search results: metabolomics These pubmed results were generated on 2020/09/10PubMed comprises more than millions of citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books. Citations may include links to full-text content from PubMed Central and publisher web sites.

metabolomics; +27 new citations

Wed, 09/09/2020 - 14:05
27 new pubmed citations were retrieved for your search. Click on the search hyperlink below to display the complete search results: metabolomics These pubmed results were generated on 2020/09/09PubMed comprises more than millions of citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books. Citations may include links to full-text content from PubMed Central and publisher web sites.

metabolomics; +23 new citations

Tue, 08/09/2020 - 13:55
23 new pubmed citations were retrieved for your search. Click on the search hyperlink below to display the complete search results: metabolomics These pubmed results were generated on 2020/09/08PubMed comprises more than millions of citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books. Citations may include links to full-text content from PubMed Central and publisher web sites.

Effects of sulfur fumigation and heating desulfurization on quality of medicinal herbs evaluated by metabolomics and glycomics: Codonopsis Radix, a pilot study.

Tue, 08/09/2020 - 10:54
Related Articles Effects of sulfur fumigation and heating desulfurization on quality of medicinal herbs evaluated by metabolomics and glycomics: Codonopsis Radix, a pilot study. J Pharm Biomed Anal. 2020 Aug 23;191:113581 Authors: Xu F, Kong M, Xu JD, Xu J, Jiang Y, Li SL Abstract Sulfur fumigation and heating desulfurization are used together in the post-harvest processing of many medicinal herbs. However, little is known about the effects of sulfur fumigation on saccharide components, nor about the effects of heating desulfurization on all herbal constituents. In this study, metabolomics and glycomics were integrated to investigate the effects of these two processes on the chemistry of Codonopsis Radix (CR) as a pilot study. The results showed that both sulfur fumigation and heating desulfurization significantly changed the non-saccharide small-molecule metabolome and the glycome of CR in different ways. Chemical mechanisms, such as esterification, glycosidic hydrolysis, esterolysis, amide bond hydrolysis, oxidation and dehydration, are proposed to be involved. These facts strongly inspire that, in addition to investigations of how sulfur fumigation impacts non-saccharide small-molecule metabolites, researches on heating desulfurization and saccharides should be conducted so as to enable accurate, comprehensive evaluation of the quality of sulfur-fumigated herbs. PMID: 32892083 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Dysregulated lipid and fatty acid metabolism link perfluoroalkyl substances exposure and impaired glucose metabolism in young adults.

Tue, 08/09/2020 - 10:54
Related Articles Dysregulated lipid and fatty acid metabolism link perfluoroalkyl substances exposure and impaired glucose metabolism in young adults. Environ Int. 2020 Sep 03;145:106091 Authors: Chen Z, Yang T, Walker DI, Thomas DC, Qiu C, Chatzi L, Alderete TL, Kim JS, Conti DV, Breton CV, Liang D, Hauser ER, Jones DP, Gilliland FD Abstract BACKGROUND: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) exposure is ubiquitous among the US population and has been linked to adverse health outcomes including cardiometabolic diseases, immune dysregulation and endocrine disruption. However, the metabolic mechanism underlying the adverse health effect of PFASs exposure is unknown. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this project is to investigate the association between PFASs exposure and altered metabolic pathways linked to increased cardiometabolic risk in young adults. METHODS: A total of 102 young adults with 82% overweight or obese participants were enrolled from Southern California between 2014 and 2017. Cardiometabolic outcomes were assessed including oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) measures, body fat and lipid profiles. High-resolution metabolomics was used to quantify plasma exposure levels of three PFAS congeners and intensity profiles of the untargeted metabolome. Fasting concentrations of 45 targeted metabolites involved in fatty acid and lipid metabolism were used to verify untargeted metabolomics findings. Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression (BKMR) was used to examine the associations between PFAS exposure mixture and cardiometabolic outcomes adjusting for covariates. Mummichog pathway enrichment analysis was used to explore PFAS-associated metabolic pathways. Moreover, the effect of PFAS exposure on the metabolic network, including metabolomic profiles and cardiometabolic outcomes, was investigated. RESULTS: Higher exposure to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was associated with higher 30-minute glucose levels and glucose area under the curve (AUC) during the OGTT (p < 0.001). PFAS exposure was also associated with altered lipid pathways, which contributed to the metabolic network connecting PFOA and higher glucose levels following the OGTT. Targeted metabolomics analysis indicated that higher PFOA exposure was associated with higher levels of glycerol (p = 0.006), which itself was associated with higher 30-minute glucose (p = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: Increased lipolysis and fatty acid oxidation could contribute to the biological mechanisms linking PFAS exposure and impaired glucose metabolism among young adults. Findings of this study warrants future experimental studies and epidemiological studies with larger sample size to replicate. PMID: 32892005 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Plasma metabolomic profiles in liver cancer patients following stereotactic body radiotherapy.

Tue, 08/09/2020 - 10:54
Related Articles Plasma metabolomic profiles in liver cancer patients following stereotactic body radiotherapy. EBioMedicine. 2020 Sep 03;59:102973 Authors: Ng SSW, Jang GH, Kurland IJ, Qiu Y, Guha C, Dawson LA Abstract BACKGROUND: Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) is an effective treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study sought to identify differentially expressed plasma metabolites in HCC patients at baseline and early during SBRT, and to explore if changes in these metabolites early during SBRT may serve as biomarkers for radiation-induced liver injury and/or tumour response. METHODS: Forty-seven HCC patients were treated with SBRT on previously published prospective trials. Plasma samples were collected at baseline and after one to two fractions of SBRT, and analysed by GC/MS and LC/MS for untargeted and targeted metabolomics profiling, respectively. FINDINGS: Sixty-nine metabolites at baseline and 62 metabolites after one to two fractions of SBRT were differentially expressed, and strongly separated the Child Pugh (CP) B from the CP A HCC patients. These metabolites are associated with oxidative stress and alterations in hepatic cellular metabolism. Differential upregulation of serine, alanine, taurine, and lipid metabolites early during SBRT from baseline was noted in the HCC patients who demonstrated the greatest increase in CP scores at three months post SBRT, suggesting that high protein and lipid turnover early during SBRT may portend increased clinical liver toxicity. Twenty annotated metabolites including fatty acids, glycerophospholipids, and acylcarnitines were differentially upregulated early during SBRT from baseline and separated patients with complete/partial response from those with stable disease at three months post SBRT. INTERPRETATION: Dysregulation of amino acid and lipid metabolism detected early during SBRT are associated with subsequent clinical liver injury and tumour response in HCC. PMID: 32891936 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Elevated levels of circulating short-chain fatty acids and bile acids in type 2 diabetes are linked to gut barrier disruption and disordered gut microbiota.

Tue, 08/09/2020 - 10:54
Related Articles Elevated levels of circulating short-chain fatty acids and bile acids in type 2 diabetes are linked to gut barrier disruption and disordered gut microbiota. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2020 Sep 03;:108418 Authors: Zhao L, Lou H, Peng Y, Chen S, Fan L, Li X Abstract AIMS: Studies have shown that destruction of the intestinal barrier in type 2 diabetes (T2D) leads to increased absorption of macromolecules from intestinal. We previously exhibited that short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and bile acids (BAs) were significantly decreased in faeces of T2D patients. In the current study, we extended these findings by focusing on the interactions between intestinal barrier and clinical characteristics, gut microbiota, SCFAs and BAs. METHODS: 65 T2D patients and 35 healthy controls were recruited, targeted metabolomics was used to evaluate the SCFAs and BAs in their serum samples. The serum zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) was measured by ELISA to evaluate intestinal barrier. RESULTS: Compared with the healthy controls, the serum concentrations of total SCFA, acetate and propionate were significantly increased in the T2D patients, and certain BAs were also significantly increased. In addition, the higher levels of serum ZO-1 suggested a "leaky gut" in T2D patients. The ZO-1 was comprehensively correlated with clinical characteristics, gut microbiota, SCFAs and BAs. CONCLUSION: SCFAs and BAs were excessively absorbed from the intestinal through the leaky gut, leading to higher levels of circulating SCFAs and BAs in T2D patients, and that the leaky gut might be caused by the disordered gut microbiota. PMID: 32891692 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

metabolomics; +19 new citations

Sun, 06/09/2020 - 13:36
19 new pubmed citations were retrieved for your search. Click on the search hyperlink below to display the complete search results: metabolomics These pubmed results were generated on 2020/09/06PubMed comprises more than millions of citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books. Citations may include links to full-text content from PubMed Central and publisher web sites.

metabolomics; +17 new citations

Sat, 05/09/2020 - 13:25
17 new pubmed citations were retrieved for your search. Click on the search hyperlink below to display the complete search results: metabolomics These pubmed results were generated on 2020/09/05PubMed comprises more than millions of citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books. Citations may include links to full-text content from PubMed Central and publisher web sites.

Salivary metabolome of children and adolescents under peritoneal dialysis.

Fri, 04/09/2020 - 22:24
Related Articles Salivary metabolome of children and adolescents under peritoneal dialysis. Clin Oral Investig. 2020 Sep 02;: Authors: Freitas-Fernandes LB, Fidalgo TKS, de Almeida PA, Souza IPR, Valente AP Abstract OBJECTIVE: To study the influence of peritoneal dialysis (PD) on the salivary metabolite profile of children and adolescents with renal failure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Healthy children/adolescents (n = 31; mean age: 12.18 ± 3.76) and children/adolescents subjected to PD (n = 12; mean age: 10.10 ± 4.25) were recruited. Oral health status assessed by the dmft/DMFT and Volpe-Manhold calculus indices. The 1H spectra were acquired in a 600-MHz Bruker nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer and were subjected to multivariate analysis using partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), orthogonal PLS-DA (O-PLS-DA), and univariate analysis through chi-square and t tests (SPSS 20.0, IL, USA), with a significance level of p < 0.05. RESULTS: A similar caries pattern (p = 0.57; chi-square test) was observed between the healthy (dmft = 0.72 ± 1.28 and DMFT 0.93 ± 2.30) and PD groups (dmft = 2.14 ± 3.67, DMFT 0.33 ± 0.71) and dental calculus (p > 0.05, t test). PLS-DA and O-PLS-DA were able to distinguish both groups (ACC = 0.85, R2 = 0.80, Q2 = 0.15). Salivary metabolites decrease in creatine, propionate, and sugar levels in the PD group and an increase in creatinine, butyrate, and lactate levels when compared with the healthy group. CONCLUSIONS: Children and adolescents subjected to PD have a different salivary metabolic profile from that of their healthy subjects. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Complications of peritoneal dialysis procedures could be monitored by proper knowledge of saliva characteristics as predictors of peritonitis-related outcome. The use of metabolomics in pediatric nephrology may be an innovative methodology for the early diagnosis and monitoring of kidney diseases. PMID: 32880015 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Metabolic alterations in Parkinson's disease astrocytes.

Fri, 04/09/2020 - 22:24
Related Articles Metabolic alterations in Parkinson's disease astrocytes. Sci Rep. 2020 Sep 02;10(1):14474 Authors: Sonninen TM, Hämäläinen RH, Koskuvi M, Oksanen M, Shakirzyanova A, Wojciechowski S, Puttonen K, Naumenko N, Goldsteins G, Laham-Karam N, Lehtonen M, Tavi P, Koistinaho J, Lehtonen Š Abstract In Parkinson`s disease (PD), the loss of dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta is associated with Lewy bodies arising from the accumulation of alpha-synuclein protein which leads ultimately to movement impairment. While PD has been considered a disease of the DA neurons, a glial contribution, in particular that of astrocytes, in PD pathogenesis is starting to be uncovered. Here, we report findings from astrocytes derived from induced pluripotent stem cells of LRRK2 G2019S mutant patients, with one patient also carrying a GBA N370S mutation, as well as healthy individuals. The PD patient astrocytes manifest the hallmarks of the disease pathology including increased expression of alpha-synuclein. This has detrimental consequences, resulting in altered metabolism, disturbed Ca2+ homeostasis and increased release of cytokines upon inflammatory stimulation. Furthermore, PD astroglial cells manifest increased levels of polyamines and polyamine precursors while lysophosphatidylethanolamine levels are decreased, both of these changes have been reported also in PD brain. Collectively, these data reveal an important role for astrocytes in PD pathology and highlight the potential of iPSC-derived cells in disease modeling and drug discovery. PMID: 32879386 [PubMed - in process]

Decreases in Circulating Concentrations of Short-Chain Acylcarnitines are Associated with Systolic Function Improvement After Decompensated Heart Failure.

Fri, 04/09/2020 - 22:24
Related Articles Decreases in Circulating Concentrations of Short-Chain Acylcarnitines are Associated with Systolic Function Improvement After Decompensated Heart Failure. Int Heart J. 2020 Sep 02;: Authors: Chen WS, Liu MH, Cheng ML, Wang CH Abstract Impaired fatty acid metabolism is associated with heart failure (HF) prognosis. However, specific changes in acylcarnitine profiles and their potential clinical value have not been well explored in patients recovering from acute decompensation.This study recruited 79 HF patients hospitalized because of acute decompensation with a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of < 40% and 51 normal controls. Patients were dichotomized into two groups, namely, the "improved (IMP) " and the "non-improved (NIMP) " groups, as defined by the changes in LVEF from baseline to 12 months after discharge. Mass spectrometry was used to quantify the acylcarnitine concentrations at baseline and 6 and 12 months after discharge. The IMP and NIMP groups contained 42 and 37 patients, respectively. At baseline, HF patients had higher plasma concentrations of specific long-, medium-, and short-chain acylcarnitines compared to normal controls. From baseline to 12 months post-discharge, the IMP group showed significant decreases in long- and short-chain acylcarnitine concentrations, but significant increases in medium-chain acylcarnitines. In the NIMP group, none of the acylcarnitines significantly decreased, and significant increases were noted in long-, medium-, and short-chain acylcarnitines. Generalized estimating equations demonstrated that nine acylcarnitines could discriminate the IMP group from the NIMP group, including three long-chain (C18:1, C16, and C16:1) and six short-chain acylcarnitines (C5, C5-OH, C4, C4:1-DC, C3, and C2). After adjusting for age, the six short-chain acylcarnitines remained significant. Changes in short-chain acylcarnitine profiles are independently associated with the improvement in cardiac systolic function after acute decompensation. PMID: 32879261 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

SMOC1 is a glucose-responsive hepatokine and therapeutic target for glycemic control.

Fri, 04/09/2020 - 22:24
Related Articles SMOC1 is a glucose-responsive hepatokine and therapeutic target for glycemic control. Sci Transl Med. 2020 Sep 02;12(559): Authors: Montgomery MK, Bayliss J, Devereux C, Bezawork-Geleta A, Roberts D, Huang C, Schittenhelm RB, Ryan A, Townley SL, Selth LA, Biden TJ, Steinberg GR, Samocha-Bonet D, Meex RCR, Watt MJ Abstract Intertissue communication is a fundamental feature of metabolic regulation, and the liver is central to this process. We have identified sparc-related modular calcium-binding protein 1 (SMOC1) as a glucose-responsive hepatokine and regulator of glucose homeostasis. Acute intraperitoneal administration of SMOC1 improved glycemic control and insulin sensitivity in mice without changes in insulin secretion. SMOC1 exerted its favorable glycemic effects by inhibiting adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP)-cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA)-cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) signaling in the liver, leading to decreased gluconeogenic gene expression and suppression of hepatic glucose output. Overexpression of SMOC1 in the liver or once-weekly intraperitoneal injections of a stabilized SMOC1-FC fusion protein induced durable improvements in glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in db/db mice, without adverse effects on adiposity, liver histopathology, or inflammation. Furthermore, circulating SMOC1 correlated with hepatic and systemic insulin sensitivity and was decreased in obese, insulin-resistant humans. Together, these findings identify SMOC1 as a potential pharmacological target for the management of glycemic control in type 2 diabetes. PMID: 32878981 [PubMed - in process]

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