Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0028754 (obesity)
 124,988 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Fatty acids and their metabolites regulate gene expression and immunological pathways. Furthermore, obese individuals frequently have increased circulating fatty acid concentrations, and localized inflammation in adipose tissue may facilitate the systemic inflammation associated with the insulin resistance of obesity. Although palmitate induces inflammation (i.e., activates proinflammatory pathways) in myotubes, the effects of fatty acids on inflammatory processes in adipocytes have not been established. Therefore, we examined the potential for palmitate, laurate, and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) to modulate inflammation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Palmitate, but not DHA or laurate, induced nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB)-driven luciferase activity and interleukin-6 (IL-6) expression (P < 0.05). Inhibition of fatty acyl Co-A synthase (FACS) with triacsin C suppressed palmitate-induced NF-kappaB activation (P < 0.05), but caused an additive increase in palmitate-induced IL-6 expression (P < 0.05). Disrupting mitogen-activated protein kinase/Erk kinase (MEK) and protein kinase C (PKC) activity with U0126 and Bisindolylmaleimide (Bis), respectively, suppressed palmitate-induced IL-6 expression (P < 0.05), but had no effect on NF-kappaB reporter gene activity (P > 0.05). However, the phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3K) inhibitor, wortmannin, alone and additively with palmitate, activated the NF-kappaB reporter gene and induced IL-6 expression (P < 0.05). Palmitate also induced the mRNA expression of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) (P < 0.05), but the increase in mRNA abundance was not reflected in a greater protein concentration in the media (P > 0.05). These data indicate that palmitate induces inflammation in adipocytes, and that this is not a generalized effect of all SFA. Furthermore, PI3K may act constitutively to suppress inflammation. Consequently, inhibition of this enzyme may promote and exacerbate the inflammation in adipose tissue that is associated with obesity and insulin resistance.
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PMID:Palmitate activates the NF-kappaB transcription factor and induces IL-6 and TNFalpha expression in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. 1604 6

Chronic surplus of dietary consumption, typical to obesity, results in overflow of fat to non-adipose tissues. Intracellular accumulation of fat in non-adipose tissues is associated with cellular dysfunction and cell death and ultimately contributes to the pathogenesis of chronic diseases. The influence of fat overflow on the exocrine pancreas is not known. The purpose of this research was to study the lipotoxic and lipoapoptotic effect of prolonged (72 h) long chain saturated palmitic fatty acid (0.1 mM) on the survival of exocrine pancreas AR42J cells. We demonstrate that chronic exposure of AR42J cells to palmitic acid results in significant increase in triglycerides accumulation (up to 25% of cells area), compared to untreated cultures. Lipid accumulation prompted a typical apoptotic process, demonstrated by both DNA fragmentation and condensed chromatin appearance (DAPI staining). Quantitative real-time PCR studies demonstrated that prolonged palmitic acid supplementation induced down-regulation of the anti-apoptotic Bcl2 mRNA levels (22%) and up-regulation of the pro-apoptotic Bax mRNA levels (300%), leading to disruption of the pro/anti apoptotic balance (Bax/Bcl2=3). No major change was detected in iNOS mRNA expression. In conclusion, prolonged exposure to saturated palmitic acid induces lipoapoptosis in exocrine pancreatic AR42J cells, through disturbance of the Bax/Bcl-2 balance.
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PMID:Palmitate induced lipoapoptosis of exocrine pancreas AR42J cells. 1653 73

Diagnostic tools for early identification of subjects at high risk for type 2 diabetes and other obesity-related disorders are important in prevention of these diseases. Nonesterified fatty acids (NEFAs) have been suggested to serve as a prediagnostic marker of diabetes and obesity-related disorders. In the current study, we developed a sensitive and reproducible micro method for quantification of NEFA in less than 10 microl whole blood. The method involves only two steps: (i) conversion of NEFA to fatty acid acyl-coenzyme A (acyl-CoA) esters using an acyl-CoA synthetase and (ii) quantification of the formed acyl-CoA esters with a fluorescent biosensor based on bovine acyl-CoA binding protein (ACBP). Lys50 of ACBP was mutagenized to a cysteine residue that was covalently modified with 6-bromoacetyl-2-dimethylaminonaphthalene to make a fluorescent acyl-CoA indicator (FACI-50). FACI-50 exhibits high fluorescence emission yield with maximum at 490 nm in the presence of CoA when excited at 387 nm. The addition of palmitoyl-CoA to a CoA-saturated FACI-50 lowered fluorescence emission by eightfold. Ethanol extract from 1 microl whole blood was incubated with ATP, CoA, and FACI-50. Following background fluorescence reading, NEFAs were converted to acyl-CoA by the acyl-CoA synthetase and the NEFA content was calculated from fluorescence emission changes using palmitic acid as external standard. The FACI-50 NEFA method was compared with two commercially available methods for quantification of NEFA.
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PMID:Micro method for determination of nonesterified fatty acid in whole blood obtained by fingertip puncture. 1681 38

Cell dysfunction and death induced by lipid accumulation in nonadipose tissues, or lipotoxicity, may contribute to the pathogenesis of obesity and type 2 diabetes. However, the mechanisms leading to lipotoxic cell death are poorly understood. We recently reported that, in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and in H9c2 cardiomyoblasts, lipid overload induced by incubation with 500 muM palmitate leads to intracellular accumulation of reactive oxygen species, which subsequently induce endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and cell death. Here, we show that palmitate also impairs ER function through a more direct mechanism. Palmitate was rapidly incorporated into saturated phospholipid and triglyceride species in microsomal membranes of CHO cells. The resulting membrane remodeling was associated with dramatic dilatation of the ER and redistribution of protein-folding chaperones to the cytosol within 5 h, indicating compromised ER membrane integrity. Increasing beta-oxidation, through the activation of AMP-activated protein kinase, decreased palmitate incorporation into microsomes, decreased the escape of chaperones to the cytosol, and decreased subsequent caspase activation and cell death. Thus, palmitate rapidly increases the saturated lipid content of the ER, leading to compromised ER morphology and integrity, suggesting that impairment of the structure and function of this organelle is involved in the cellular response to fatty acid overload.
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PMID:Disruption of endoplasmic reticulum structure and integrity in lipotoxic cell death. 1696 Feb 61

JNKs are attractive targets for treatment of obesity and type-2 diabetes. A sustained increase in JNK activity was observed in dietary and genetic models of obesity in mice, whereas JNK deficiency prevented obesity-induced insulin resistance. A similar insulin-sensitizing effect was seen upon treatment of obese mice with JNK inhibitors. We now demonstrate that treatment with the saturated fatty acid palmitic acid results in sustained JNK activation and insulin resistance in primary mouse hepatocytes and pancreatic beta-cells. In the latter, palmitic acid treatment inhibits glucose-induced insulin gene transcription, in part, by interfering with autocrine insulin signaling through phosphorylation of insulin-receptor substrates 1 and 2 at sites that interfere with binding to activated insulin receptors. This mechanism may account for the induction of central insulin resistance by free fatty acids.
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PMID:Saturated fatty acids inhibit induction of insulin gene transcription by JNK-mediated phosphorylation of insulin-receptor substrates. 1705 Jun 83

The elevation of free fatty acids (FFAs), observed in childhood obesity results in intramyocellular lipid (IMCL) accumulation with consequent insulin resistance. Using in vitro differentiated myotubes from normal weight pre-pubertal children (n = 8), we examined the effects of saturated (palmitate) and unsaturated (oleate) FFAs on insulin-stimulated AKT phosphorylation (pAKT) and IMCL accumulation. Palmitate decreased pAKT (Mean [SEM] % change pAKT with palmitate 750 microM vs. control; pThr308 site -50.5% [28.7] and pSer473 site -38.7% [11.7]; P < 0.001) with no effect on IMCL formation. Equimolar bromopalmitate did not effect pAKT and blocking ceramide production abolished the palmitate-induced reduction in signalling, suggesting that ceramide synthesis is critical for palmitate's actions. Oleate did not effect pAKT (1,000 microM oleate; pSer473 site -3.4% [11.4]; P = NS) but increased IMCL accumulation (+32.3% [7.1%]; P < 0.001). Co-administration of oleate diminished the reduction in pAKT seen with palmitate (+36.4% [23.6] vs. -13.3% [13.6]; P = 0.28), with similar IMCL levels to oleate alone. Co-administration also caused a significant reduction in 14C-ceramide synthesis from 14C-palmitate (101.6 [21.6] vs. 371.5 [122.4] DPM/mg protein; P < 0.001). In summary, palmitate appears to cause insulin resistance in children's myotubes via its metabolism to ceramide, and this process appears unrelated to IMCL formation and is ameliorated by oleate.
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PMID:Fatty acid-induced defects in insulin signalling, in myotubes derived from children, are related to ceramide production from palmitate rather than the accumulation of intramyocellular lipid. 1721 4

Obesity and insulin resistance are associated with enhanced fatty acid utilization, which may play a central role in diabetic cardiomyopathy. We now assess the effect of the saturated fatty acid palmitate (1.2 mmol/l) on Ca(2+) handling, cell shortening, and mitochondrial production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in freshly isolated ventricular cardiomyocytes from normal (wild-type) and obese, insulin-resistant ob/ob mice. Cardiomyocytes were electrically stimulated at 1 Hz, and the signal of fluorescent indicators was measured with confocal microscopy. Palmitate decreased the amplitude of cytosolic Ca(2+) transients (measured with fluo-3), the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+) load, and cell shortening by approximately 20% in wild-type cardiomyocytes; these decreases were prevented by the general antioxidant N-acetylcysteine. In contrast, palmitate accelerated Ca(2+) transients and increased cell shortening in ob/ob cardiomyocytes. Application of palmitate rapidly dissipated the mitochondrial membrane potential (measured with tetra-methyl rhodamine-ethyl ester) and increased the mitochondrial ROS production (measured with MitoSOX Red) in wild-type but not in ob/ob cardiomyocytes. In conclusion, increased saturated fatty acid levels impair cellular Ca(2+) handling and contraction in a ROS-dependent manner in normal cardiomyocytes. Conversely, high fatty acid levels may be vital to sustain cardiac Ca(2+) handling and contraction in obesity and insulin-resistant conditions.
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PMID:Effects of palmitate on Ca(2+) handling in adult control and ob/ob cardiomyocytes: impact of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species. 1722 41

Many factors are involved in infants' health; one of the most important of them may be the kind of early feeding. Recent evidences suggest that breastfeeding, in addition to its well-established beneficial effects during lactation period, provides also beneficial long-term effects, like the protection against infectious and immune-related diseases, a better cognitive development, a decreased risk of metabolic syndrome and of obesity. It has been reported that the early feeding mode affects growth and body composition and it could be considered a critical factor for metabolic development. Human milk is a source of different nutrients and bioactive factors, especially hormones and growth factors like leptin, ghrelin, insulin, insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I) playing a role in food intake regulation, metabolism and body composition. In particular breast milk leptin may provide a physiological explanation for a number of advantages seen in reaching proper growth and energy balance in breast-fed infants compared with formula fed ones. Etiopathogenesis and therapeutic approach in common minor gastrointestinal diseases in infants are important subject of study for pediatricians. Colic, constipation and regurgitation can be considered feeding problems and they might benefit from dietary treatment. Regarding infantile colic, dietary modifications seem to be more suitable than pharmacological treatment in resolving symptoms; also prebiotics and probiotics are useful for this aim. The occurence of constipation is related to the kind of feeding and it is lower in breastfed infants. Moreover formulas with probiotics and beta-palmitic acid could promote a regression of symptoms. A dietary approach may be useful also in regurgitation. Anyway we have to remember that breastfeeding require a supplementation of vitamin D and K for some months and a correct weaning program is needed from the 5th-6th months of life to prevent iron deficiency.
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PMID:[Breast milk: biological constituents for health and well-being in infancy]. 1726 42

Peroxisome proliferator activator receptor-gamma coactivator 1 (PGC-1) is a major candidate gene for diabetes-related metabolic phenotypes, contributing to decreased expression of nuclear-encoded mitochondrial genes in muscle and adipose tissue. We have demonstrated that muscle expression of PGC-1alpha and -beta is reduced in both genetic (Lep(ob)/Lep(ob)) and acquired obesity (high fat diet). In C57BL6 mice, muscle PGC-1alpha expression decreased by 43% (p < 0.02) after 1 week of a high fat diet and persisted more than 11 weeks. In contrast, PGC-1alpha reductions were not sustained in obesity-resistant A/J mice. To identify mediators of obesity-linked reductions in PGC-1, we tested the effects of cellular nutrients in C2C12 myotubes. Although overnight exposure to high insulin, glucose, glucosamine, or amino acids had no effect, saturated fatty acids potently reduced PGC-1alpha and -beta mRNA expression. Palmitate decreased PGC-1alpha and -beta expression by 38% (p = 0.01) and 53% (p = 0.006); stearate similarly decreased expression of PGC-1alpha and -beta by 22% (p = 0.02) and 39% (p = 0.02). These effects were mediated at a transcriptional level, as indicated by an 11-fold reduction of PGC-1alpha promoter activity by palmitate and reversal of effects by histone deacetylase inhibition. Palmitate also (a) reduced expression of tricarboxylic acid cycle and oxidative phosphorylation mitochondrial genes and (b) reduced oxygen consumption. These effects were reversed by overexpression of PGC-1alpha or -beta, indicating PGC-1 dependence. Palmitate effects also required p38 MAPK, as demonstrated by 1) palmitate-induced increase in p38 MAPK phosphorylation, 2) reversal of palmitate effects on PGC-1 and mitochondrial gene expression by p38 MAPK inhibitors, and 3) reversal of palmitate effects by small interfering RNA-mediated decreases in p38alpha MAPK. These data indicate that obesity and saturated fatty acids decrease PGC-1 and mitochondrial gene expression and function via p38 MAPK-dependent transcriptional pathways.
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PMID:Peroxisome proliferator activator receptor gamma coactivator-1 expression is reduced in obesity: potential pathogenic role of saturated fatty acids and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase activation. 1741 3

It is now recognized that cross-talk between adipocytes and adipose tissue stromal cells such as macrophages contributes to local and systemic inflammation. One factor from adipocytes that may participate in this interaction and that is frequently elevated in inflammatory conditions such as obesity, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes is free fatty acids (FFA). To investigate the potential for FFA to enhance macrophage inflammation, we exposed U937 macrophages to physiological levels (150 microM) of FFA. Palmitic acid (PA), the predominant saturated FFA released from adipose tissue, but not unsaturated FFA, induced an approximately 6-fold (p<0.05) increase in IP-10 gene expression (and 2- to 4-fold increases in IL-8, MCP-1, COX-2, and MIG). PA also induced an approximately 2-fold increase (p<0.05) in active NF-kappaB, and two structurally distinct NF-kappaB inhibitors effectively blocked PA-induced IP-10 gene expression. Conditioned medium from PA-treated cells increased lymphocyte migration 41% (p<0.05) which was significantly reduced by IP-10-neutralizing antibody. These results suggest that elevated concentrations of PA commonly present in obese and insulin resistant individuals can increase NF-kappaB-mediated expression of IP-10 in macrophages. These events in turn may lead to an increasing feed-forward loop of chronic inflammation.
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PMID:Palmitic acid induces IP-10 expression in human macrophages via NF-kappaB activation. 1746 67


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