Endocrine Abstracts

Determining the sequence of events controlling preadipocyte commitment and subsequent terminal differentiation into adipocytes is critical to gain insight into brown and white fat physiology and metabolic dysfunction. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important regulators of gene expression and emerging evidence supports their involvement in adipogenesis and adipose metabolism. The aim of this study is to 1) identify miRNAs that modulate differentiation or function of white and brown adi...

Appreciation of hormonal control over mitochondrial function has increased over recent decades. Mitochondria adapt to the cellular environment through a variety of mechanisms; mitochondrial dynamics (fusion, fission, transfer) or through the signalling of a variety of proteins to induce mitophagy, depending on the cell stressor. In parallel, nuclear receptors and the production of their steroid hormone ligands within mitochondria have been a reoccurring incidental measurement....

Background: The presence of brown adipose tissue (BAT) in adults offers an opportunity to examine inflammatory factors that may affect metabolic function in states of obesity. Gut-derived lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which is elevated in obesity, and initiates the innate immune response in white adipose tissue, has not been fully studied in BAT. The interactions between LPS, TLR4 and ß3-adrenergic receptors in BAT is unknown. ß3-adrenergic receptor ligands as CL 316,243...

Dietary fat has been correlated with obesity since it induces the proliferation and differentiation of pre-adipocytes. However it has become clear that the effect of fat on human health depends on the composition and the nature of fatty acids. Arachidonic acid (AA) is a major omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) with a controversial role in adipocyte differentiation. We investigated the effect of a brief AA exposure on pre-adipocyte differentiation. We show that a short t...

Dietary fat has been correlated with obesity since it induces the proliferation and differentiation of pre-adipocytes. Now it has become clear that the effect of fat on human health depends on the composition and the nature of fatty acids. Arachidonic acid (AA) is a major omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) with a controversial role in adipocyte differentiation. We investigated the effect on pre-adipocyte differentiation after a brief exposure to AA.<p class="abstext...

Improved knowledge of adipogenesis is necessary to gain insight into brown and white fat physiology. Interest in adipocyte differentiation has increased markedly over the past few years with emphasis on intersection between microRNAs (miRNAs) and the transcriptional cascade that controls adipogenesis and metabolic dysfunction. The aim of this study is to identify miRNAs that regulate white and brown adipocyte differentiation and define miRNA action in a stem cell model of adip...

Introduction: Central obesity is a significant risk factor for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), with omental adipose tissue (AT) particularly involved in such risk. Additionally, obesity can cause low-level gut-derived endotoxemia, which may drive metabolic dysfunction in AT through mitochondrial damage and reduced BRITE (brown-in-white) adipocytes. Bariatric surgery reduces obesity and may prevent such dysfunction. This study investigated whether endotoxin: 1) impairs mitocho...

Background: Obesity-linked metabolic disorders are a worldwide health concern affecting about one third of women of reproductive age. The programming events in utero impact the risk of predisposition to obesity and metabolic diseases. Maternal B12 deficiency is associated with higher cord lipids. B12 has a potential epigenetic role and therefore may perpetuate an intergenerational cycle of obesity through its effects on placental function and fetal metabolism. Therefore, we hy...

Background: Dysfunctional adipose tissue in obesity is known to contribute to metabolic diseases, including type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This may be due to increased gut-derived endotoxemia (LPS) reducing brown adipose tissue (BAT) activity and altering mitochondrial function. However, the effect of LPS on BAT activity in 3D culture models has not been studied, despite giving a better representation of in-vivo tissue. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of LPS o...

Vitamin B12 (B12) is an essential micronutrient required for several metabolic reactions. Animal and clinical studies show that B12-deficiency is associated with metabolic syndrome. Given the key metabolic role of adipose tissue, we investigated whether B12 deficiency may affect triglyceride synthesis and lipid metabolism leading to adipose tissue inflammation. The AbdSc pre-adipocyte cell line (Chub-S7) and human AbdSc primary pre-adipocytes were differentiated under differen...