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Query: UMLS:C0028754 (obesity)
124,988 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Pathogenesis of the atherosclerotic process is deemed as multifactorial. To the most important risk factors, besides certain family predisposition, there belongs hypercholesterolemia, arterial hypertension, obesity, diabetes mellitus, smoking and others. In the last years there are more and more data about the role of inflammation and infection in the whole development of atherosclerosis. The witness for this hypothesis is the findings of high parameters of inflammation in involved vessels as well as in the blood of atherosclerosis suffering persons. Opinions about the inflammation theory appear from the 90th. Local sterile inflammation in the subendotelium of the middle and big arteries has been proved to consist of specific immune reaction (activation of the T-lymphocytes) as well as nonspecific characteristic by elevated monocytes in the artery wall during the whole process of atherogenesis. Inflammation in the plaque can trigger and hold several factors engaged in the atherosclerotic process, such as oxidized LDL cholesterol, elevated production of various superoxides, activated macrophages, activated T-lymphocytes, cytokines (IL-1, IL-6, interferon gamma) and lipoprotein Lp (a). In this inflammation process levels of CRP (acute phase protein), fibrinogen and erythrocyte sedimentation are elevated as a reaction of the organism to nonspecific chronic infections. Because of this it is thought that elevated fibrinogen and erythrocyte sedimentation are markers of the cardiovascular risk. Some papers deal with antiinflammatory effects of statins, because these lower CRP levels so they also lower atherosclerotic risk through not only lowering of cholesterol levels. Also asprine, as an antiinflammation agent, changing the CRP levels, would be of benefit for patients with vascular disease because its antiaggregation and antiinflammatory effects. ACE inhibitors are also antiinflamatory through blocking of tissue production of angiotensin II (artery wall and atherosclerotic plaque). Enzymatic inhibitors changing angiotensin can also have a partial antiinflammatory effect. The infection theory is supported also by tracing of some microorganisms in the atherosclerotic plaque or in the blood, as e.g. Helicobacter pylori or Chlamydia pneumoniae; to the autoimmune origin is indicated the presence of the specific immunity reaction against heat shock proteins (HSP) or oxidized LDL. This infection theory offers new therapy possibilities. Therefore eradication for example by antibiotics can lead to stabilization of the atherosclerotic plaque with positive consequences, as it was discovered by many studies.
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PMID:[The role of infection and inflammation in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis]. 1219 10

Leptin, the adipocyte-secreted hormone, exerts its main function as regulator of food intake and energy expenditure through central effects at the hypothalamic level. However, it appeared that this cytokine-like peptide has also direct effects on other peripheral tissues and cell types. Remarkable effects have been demonstrated on the immune function in vivo and in vitro. Monocytes are one of the target cells of leptin, and we have demonstrated that secretion of L-1Ra, an IL-1 receptor antagonist, is induced by leptin. In human obesity leptin and IL-1Ra levels are elevated, and these levels are decreased after weight loss. It is discussed that IL-1Ra may contribute to central leptin resistance.
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PMID:Immunomodulatory actions of leptin. 1224 22

The weight gain and visceral obesity associated with Cushing's syndrome (CS) has been linked to elevated plasma leptin levels, although the mechanism behind a central leptin resistance in these patients is unknown. Several studies describe interactions among the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, leptin, and the IL-1 system. To investigate these interactions, we have evaluated changes in regional fat distribution, by DEXA, and the role of circulating cortisol, leptin, IL-1beta, and IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra), in relation to these changes, in 27 (19 DEXA; 27 serum measurements) patients with CS, before and after surgical treatment (mean follow-up, 31 months; range, 5-80), and compared them with measurements of age-, sex-, and body mass index-matched healthy controls (also obtained longitudinally). We found that surgical treatment caused a decrease in all fat parameters, without changing lean body mass, and these changes were significantly larger than the so-called natural changes occurring in control subjects. These changes in CS patients were paralleled by decreases in cortisol, leptin, and IL-1Ra, whereas IL-1beta increased. Stepwise linear regression showed that serum IL-1Ra was strongly associated with regional fat distribution, and especially truncal fat mass, both at baseline and during treatment. In conclusion, the present study shows that treatment significantly changes body composition in CS patients by decreasing fat mass, especially in the truncal region, without major effects on lean body mass. We also show that circulating IL-1Ra is strongly associated with these changes, signifying a relationship among the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, IL-1 system, and regional fat distribution in these patients.
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PMID:Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist is associated with fat distribution in endogenous Cushing's syndrome: a longitudinal study. 1267 28

IL-1 is a proinflammatory cytokine that plays important roles in inflammation. However, the role of this cytokine under physiological conditions is not known completely. In this paper, we analyzed the role of IL-1 in maintaining body weight because IL-1 receptor antagonist-deficient (IL-1Ra-/-) mice, in which excess IL-1 signaling may be induced, show a lean phenotype. Body fat accumulation was impaired in IL-1Ra-/- mice, but feeding behavior, expression of hypothalamic factors involved in feeding control, energy expenditure, and heat production were normal. When IL-1Ra-/- mice were treated with monosodium glutamate (MSG), which causes obesity in wild-type mice by ablating cells in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus, they were resistant to obesity, indicating that excess IL-1 signaling antagonizes the effect of MSG-sensitive neuron deficiency. IL-1Ra-/- mice showed decreased weight gain when they were fed the same amount of food as wild-type mice, and lipid accumulation remained impaired even when they were fed a high-fat diet. Interestingly, serum insulin levels and lipase activity were low in IL-1Ra-/- mice, and the insulin levels were low in contrast to wild-type mice after MSG treatment. These observations suggest that IL-1 plays an important role in lipid metabolism by regulating insulin levels and lipase activity under physiological conditions.
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PMID:IL-1 plays an important role in lipid metabolism by regulating insulin levels under physiological conditions. 1297 54

Ideally, treatment is based on etiology, if possible on pathophysiology, and in practice on anatomical and clinical findings. A systematic search for the etiological factors of osteoarthritis (OA) shows that the various mechanisms are frequently associated. Etiological treatments are rare. We may mention acetabular tectoplasty in hip dysplasia with minimal joint space narrowing. Valgus osteotomy would also be indicated for early medial tibiofemoral OA in genu varum if we had definite proof that, if left untreated, this deformity inevitably leads to clinically severe OA. This is not the case. One of the limitations of this etiological treatment lies in the fact that we do not know which patients are at risk of developing painful OA. Instead, certain risk factors for OA are known, so that primary and secondary prevention of the disease is possible. While age, sex and genetic predisposition are not amenable to preventive action, the same does not apply to the following factors: obesity, sports, and occupational activity. Thanks to in vitro studies of cultured normal and osteoarthritic chondrocytes and to experimental models of OA in animals, the pathophysiological mechanisms of OA are beginning to be better known. The prospect thus arises of "therapeutic manipulations" of precise pharmacological targets, even if it is still too soon to speak of true pathophysiological treatment of this disease. For instance, various interventions along the IL-1 pathway can be envisaged and have all been tested in animals. In practice, treating OA means taking into consideration its various signs: pain which appears to be mechanical and more or less chronic, joint stiffness, instability, effusion, and--the consequence of these symptoms--the professional, social and personal handicap of the patient. The treatment of OA must be approached from a global perspective, associating whenever possible symptomatic treatment, disease-modifying treatment, education and rehabilitation. In other words, the treatment of OA requires an overall approach, associating pharmacological and non-pharmacological modalities.
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PMID:The therapeutic approach to osteoarthritis. 1470 6

Adipose tissue is the source of production and site of action of several pro- and antiinflammatory cytokines. We have recently shown that white adipose tissue (WAT) is a major producer of the antiinflammatory IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra). Because IL-1Ra serum levels are elevated 7-fold in human obesity and an excess of this protein has been implicated in the acquired resistance to leptin and insulin, we investigated the regulation of IL-1Ra in human WAT. We demonstrate that IL-1Ra is mainly produced by adipocytes, rather than the stromal fraction of WAT, and that IL-1alpha and beta, as well as interferon-beta (IFN-beta), strongly up-regulate the expression and secretion of IL-1Ra in WAT. Moreover, human WAT expresses the receptors and proteins known to be required for the action of IL-1 (IL-1 receptor type I, IL-1 receptor accessory protein) and IFN-beta (IFN-alpha/beta receptor subunits 1 and 2). Finally, human WAT actively secretes these regulatory cytokines, suggesting that they up-regulate IL-1Ra through a local autocrine/paracrine action, which is hypothesized to play a regulatory role in adipogenesis and metabolism.
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PMID:Regulatory effects of interleukin (IL)-1, interferon-beta, and IL-4 on the production of IL-1 receptor antagonist by human adipose tissue. 1518 Oct 37

To investigate the mechanisms underlying long-term resistance of the A/J mouse strain to diet-induced obesity, we studied, over a period of 4 wk, the expression of uncoupling proteins in brown adipose tissue and the expression of hypothalamic neuropeptides known to regulate energy homeostasis and then used microarray analysis to identify other potentially important hypothalamic peptides. Despite increased caloric intake after 2 days of high-fat feeding, body weights of A/J mice remained stable. On and after 1 wk of high-fat feeding, A/J mice adjusted their food intake to consume the same amount of calories as mice fed a low-fat diet; thus their body weight and insulin, corticosterone, free fatty acid, and glucose levels remained unchanged for 4 wk. We found no changes in hypothalamic expression of several orexigenic and/or anorexigenic neuropeptides known to play an important role in energy homeostasis for the duration of the study. Uncoupling protein-2 mRNA expression in brown adipose tissue, however, was significantly upregulated after 2 days of high-fat feeding and tended to remain elevated for the duration of the 4-wk study. Gene array analysis revealed that several genes are up- or downregulated in response to 2 days and 1 wk of high-fat feeding. Real-time PCR analysis confirmed that expression of the hypothalamic IL-1 pathway (IL-1beta, IL-1 type 1 and 2 receptors, and PPM1b/PP2C-beta, a molecule that has been implicated in the inhibition of transforming growth factor-beta-activated kinase-1-mediated IL-1 action) is altered after 2 days, but not 1 wk, of high-fat feeding. The role of additional molecules discovered by microarray analysis needs to be further explored in the future.
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PMID:Short-term resistance to diet-induced obesity in A/J mice is not associated with regulation of hypothalamic neuropeptides. 1536 55

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) is a ligand-dependent nuclear receptor and regulates adipogenesis and fat metabolism. PPARgamma is activated by fatty acid derivatives and some synthetic compounds such as the thiazolidinediones. In addition, certain cytokines were known to affect the transactivation function of PPARgamma. However, the molecular mechanism of the functional interaction between PPARgamma and cytokine signaling remains unclear. We found that combined treatment of PPARgamma and cytokines (IL-1 or TNF-alpha) inhibited adipogenesis and induced osteoblastgenesis in bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells. Furthermore, we showed that the ligand dependent transactivation function of PPARgamma was suppressed by IL-1 and TNF-alpha. This suppression was mediated through NF-kappaB activated by the TAK1/TAB1-NIK cascade, a downstream cascade triggered with IL-1 or TNF-alpha signaling. Thus, we have identified a molecular mechanism of functional cross-talk between PPARgamma and cytokine signaling that may provide a theoretical basis for development of novel therapeutical strategies and design of novel compounds for treatment of obesity, diabetes, and some other chronic diseases.
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PMID:Nuclear receptors as targets for drug development: crosstalk between peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma and cytokines in bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells. 2414 68

Inflammation contributes to insulin resistance in diabetes and obesity. Mouse Pelle-like kinase (mPLK, homolog of human IL-1 receptor-associated kinase (IRAK)) participates in inflammatory signaling. We evaluated IRS-1 as a novel substrate for mPLK that may contribute to linking inflammation with insulin resistance. Wild-type mPLK, but not a kinase-inactive mutant (mPLK-KD), directly phosphorylated full-length IRS-1 in vitro. This in vitro phosphorylation was increased when mPLK was immunoprecipitated from tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha-treated cells. In NIH-3T3(IR) cells, wild-type mPLK (but not mPLK-KD) co-immunoprecipitated with IRS-1. This association was increased by treatment of cells with TNF-alpha. Using mass spectrometry, we identified Ser(24) in the pleckstrin homology (PH) domain of IRS-1 as a specific phosphorylation site for mPLK. IRS-1 mutants S24D or S24E (mimicking phosphorylation at Ser(24)) had impaired ability to associate with insulin receptors resulting in diminished tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS-1 and impaired ability of IRS-1 to bind and activate PI-3 kinase in response to insulin. IRS-1-S24D also had an impaired ability to mediate insulin-stimulated translocation of GLUT4 in rat adipose cells. Importantly, endogenous mPLK/IRAK was activated in response to TNF-alpha or interleukin 1 treatment of primary adipose cells. In addition, using a phospho-specific antibody against IRS-1 phosphorylated at Ser(24), we found that interleukin-1 or TNF-alpha treatment of Fao cells stimulated increased phosphorylation of endogenous IRS-1 at Ser(24). We conclude that IRS-1 is a novel physiological substrate for mPLK. TNF-alpha-regulated phosphorylation at Ser(24) in the pleckstrin homology domain of IRS-1 by mPLK/IRAK represents an additional mechanism for cross-talk between inflammatory signaling and insulin signaling that may contribute to metabolic insulin resistance.
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PMID:Phosphorylation of Ser24 in the pleckstrin homology domain of insulin receptor substrate-1 by Mouse Pelle-like kinase/interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase: cross-talk between inflammatory signaling and insulin signaling that may contribute to insulin resistance. 1584 59

An increasing number of researchers of the metabolic syndrome assume that many mechanisms are involved in its complex pathophysiology such as an increased sympathetic activity, disorders of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis, the action of chronic subclinical infections, proinflammatory cytokines, and the effect of adipocytokines or psychoemotional stress. An increasing body of scientific research in this field confirms the role of the neurotrophins and mastocytes in the pathogenesis of inflammatory and immune diseases. Recently it has been proved that neurotrophins and mastocytes have metabotrophic effects and take part in the carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. In the early stage of the metabolic syndrome we established a statistically significant increase in the plasma levels of the nerve growth factor. In the generalized stage the plasma levels of the neutrophines were statistically decreased in comparison to those in the healthy controls. We consider that the neurotrophin deficit is likely to play a significant pathogenic role in the development of the metabolic anthropometric and vascular manifestations of the generalized stage of MetSyn. We suggest a hypothesis for the etiopathogenesis of the metabolic syndrome based on the neuro-immuno-endocrine interactions. The specific pathogenic pathways of MetSyn development include: (1) increased tissue and plasma levels of proinflammatory cytokines Interleukin-1(IL-1), Interleukin-6 (IL-6 ) and tumor necrosis factor - alpha (TNF-alpha) caused by inflammatory and/or emotional distress; (2) increased plasma levels of neurotrophin - nerve growth factor (NGF) caused by the high IL-1, IL-6 and TNFalpha levels; (3) high plasma levels of NGF which enhance activation of: the autonomous nerve system--vegetodystonia (disbalance of neurotransmitters); Neuropeptide Y (NPY)--enhanced feeding, obesity and increased leptin plasma levels; hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis--increased corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and cortisol (hormonal disbalance); immune cells--increased number and degranulation of mastocytes (MC)--immunological disbalance; (4) as a result of 1-3 insulin resistance is exhibited leading to diabetes mellitus. The hypothesis is confirmed by results obtained after 6-month nonsteroid anti-inflammatory treatment of patients with MetSyn. These results are reported in a separate publication.
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PMID:Metabolic syndrome--neurotrophic hypothesis. 1654 15


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