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)

A number of candidate genes have been in implicated in the pathogenesis of obesity in humans. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) is expressed primarily in adipocytes, and elevated levels of this cytokine have been linked to obesity and insulin resistance. Recently, the A allele of a polymorphism at position -308 in the promoter region of TNFalpha (G-308A) has been shown to increase transcription of the gene in adipocytes. We therefore designed this study to test whether obese and non-obese subjects differ in terms of TNFalpha genotype distribution. We also investigated whether the genotypes affect anthropometric parameters, such as body mass index (BMI). The study included 153 obese healthy women and 82 non-obese women. Total fat mass and percent body fat were determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Genomic DNA was extracted and used for NcoI restriction fragment length polymorphism-based genotyping of TNFalpha. No differences were observed in allele and genotype frequencies between obese and non-obese women, and no association of TNFalpha polymorphism with BMI was observed for genotype in the obese women. In addition, age, percent body fat, BMI, and cholesterol levels did not vary with TNFalpha genotype. However, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) was significantly lower in subjects with TNFalpha GA or AA genotypes (0.94 +/- 0.07 vs. 0.92 +/- 0.03, P < 0.005). These results indicate that polymorphism at position -308 of the TNFalpha promoter is not a significant factor for BMI, but affects WHR in obese healthy Korean women.
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PMID:Polymorphism of the tumor necrosis factor alpha gene and waist-hip ratio in obese Korean women. 1565 Mar 31

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is known to participate in the wastage syndrome that accompanies cancer and severe infectious diseases. More recently, a role for TNF-alpha in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity has been shown. Much of the regulatory action exerted by TNF-alpha upon the control of energy stores depends on its action on the hypothalamus. In this study, we show that TNF-alpha activates canonical pro-inflammatory signal transduction pathways in the hypothalamus of rats. These signaling events lead to the transcriptional activation of an early responsive gene and to the induction of expression of cytokines and a cytokine responsive protein such as interleukin-1beta, interleukin-6, interleukin-10 and suppressor of cytokine signalling-3, respectively. In addition, TNF-alpha induces the expression of neurotransmitters involved in the control of feeding and thermogenesis. Thus, TNF-alpha may act directly in the hypothalamus inducing a pro-inflammatory response and the modulation of expression of neurotransmitters involved in energy homeostasis.
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PMID:Tumor necrosis factor-alpha activates signal transduction in hypothalamus and modulates the expression of pro-inflammatory proteins and orexigenic/anorexigenic neurotransmitters. 1663 16

Under-nutrition impairs immune responses, but far less is known about the impact of over-nutrition, such as obesity, on the response to vaccines. We measured the effect of childhood overweight status on inflammatory mediators, circulating immunoglobulins and tetanus antibodies in fifteen overweight children (BMI > 85 age-adjusted percentile) and 15 age-matched normal weight controls. Fitness was measured by a progressive ramp type exercise test. Lean body mass (LBM) and fat mass were determined by DXA. Tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1beta) and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) were used to assess the inflammatory status; and circulating immunoglobulins (IgM, IgA, IgG and IgG subclasses) and specific IgG titer to tetanus were used to assess humoral immunity. Overweight children had higher LBM and percent fat mass, and lower peak VO2 normalized to body weight. IL-6 was significantly higher in the obese children (2.6 +/- 0.3 vs. 1.3 +/- 0.3 pg/ml, in overweight and normal weight children, respectively; p < 0.05). No significant differences were found in TNF-a, IL-1beta and IL-1ra between the groups. No significant differences were found in immunoglobulin levels (IgM, IgA, IgG and IgG subclasses) between the groups. Anti-tetanus IgG antibodies were significantly lower in the overweight children compared to normal weight controls (2.4 +/- 0.6 vs. 4.2 +/- 0.5 IU/ml, in overweight and normal weight children, respectively; p < 0.05). The reduced specific antibody response to tetanus in obese children and adolescent might be due to mechanical factors such as lower relative vaccination dose, or reduced absorption from the injection site due to increased adipose tissue, or related to reduce immune response due to the chronic low grade inflammation expressed by the higher levels of IL-6.
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PMID:Reduced tetanus antibody titers in overweight children. 1669 70

Impaired oxidative phosphorylation is suggested as a factor behind insulin resistance of skeletal muscle in type 2 diabetes. The role of oxidative phosphorylation in adipose tissue was elucidated from results of Affymetrix gene profiling in subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue of eight nonobese healthy, eight obese healthy, and eight obese type 2 diabetic women. Downregulation of several genes in the electron transport chain was the most prominent finding in visceral fat of type 2 diabetic women independent of obesity, but the gene pattern was distinct from that previously reported in skeletal muscle in type 2 diabetes. A similar but much weaker effect was observed in subcutaneous fat. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is a major factor behind inflammation and insulin resistance in adipose tissue. TNF-alpha treatment decreased mRNA expression of electron transport chain genes and also inhibited fatty acid oxidation when differentiated human preadipocytes were treated with the cytokine for 48 h. Thus, type 2 diabetes is associated with a tissue- and region-specific downregulation of oxidative phosphorylation genes that is independent of obesity and at least in part mediated by TNF-alpha, suggesting that impaired oxidative phosphorylation of visceral adipose tissue has pathogenic importance for development of type 2 diabetes.
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PMID:Downregulation of electron transport chain genes in visceral adipose tissue in type 2 diabetes independent of obesity and possibly involving tumor necrosis factor-alpha. 1673 44

In patients with type 2 non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), the biguanide, metformin, exerts its antihyperglycemic effect by improving insulin sensitivity, which is associated with decreased level of circulating free fatty acids (FFA). The flux of FFA and glycerol from adipose tissue to the blood stream primarily depends on the lipolysis of triacylglycerols in the adipocytes. Adipocyte lipolysis is physiologically stimulated by catecholamine hormones. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), a cytokine largely expressed in adipose tissue, stimulates chronic lipolysis, which may be associated with increased systemic FFA and insulin resistance in obesity and NIDDM. In this study, we examined the role of metformin in inhibiting lipolytic action upon various lipolytic stimulations in primary rat adipocytes. Treatment with metformin attenuated TNF-alpha-mediated lipolysis by suppressing phosphorylation of extracellular signal-related kinase 1/2 and reversing the downregulation of perilipin protein in TNF-alpha-stimulated adipocytes. The acute lipolytic response to adrenergic stimulation of isoproterenol was also restricted by metformin. A high concentration of glucose in the adipocyte culture promoted the basal rate of glycerol release and significantly enhanced the lipolytic action stimulated by either TNF-alpha or isoproterenol. Metformin not only inhibits the basal lipolysis simulated by high glucose, but also suppresses the high glucose-enhanced lipolysis response to TNF-alpha or isoproterenol. The antilipolytic action in adipocytes could be the mechanism by which cellular action by metformin reduces systemic FFA concentration and thus improves insulin sensitivity in obese patients and the hyperglycemic conditions of NIDDM.
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PMID:Metformin reduces lipolysis in primary rat adipocytes stimulated by tumor necrosis factor-alpha or isoproterenol. 1690 33

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) mediated attenuation of insulin signaling pathway is an important cause in several disorders like obesity, obesity linked diabetes mellitus. TNF-alpha actions vary depending upon concentration and time of exposure in various cells. In the present study, the effects of long-term TNF-alpha (1 ng/ml) exposure on the components of insulin signaling pathway in HepG2 and HepG2 cells overexpressing constitutively active Akt1/PKB-alpha (HepG2-CA-Akt/PKB) have been investigated. In parental HepG2 cells, TNF-alpha treatment for 24 h reduced the phosphorylation of Akt1/PKB-alpha and GSK-3beta and under these conditions cells also showed reduced insulin responsiveness in terms of Akt1/PKB-alpha and GSK-3beta phosphorylation. TNF-alpha pre-incubated HepG2-CA-Akt/PKB cells showed lower reduction in Akt1/PKB-alpha and GSK-3beta phosphorylation and insulin responsiveness after 24 h as compared to parental HepG2 cells. We report that the long-term TNF-alpha pre-incubation in both parental HepG2 and HepG2-CA-Akt/PKB-alpha cells leads to the reduction in the levels of IRS-1 without altering the levels of IRS-2. In order to understand the reason for the differential insulin resistance in both the cell types, the effect of long-term TNF-alpha treatment on the proteins upstream to Akt/PKB was investigated. TNF-alpha pre-incubation also showed reduced insulin-stimulated Tyr phosphorylation of insulin receptor (IR-beta) in both the cell types, moreover hyperphosphorylation of IRS-1 at Ser 312 residue was observed in TNF-alpha pre-incubated cells. As hyperphosphorylation of IRS-1 at Ser 312 can induce its degradation, it is possible that reduced insulin responsiveness after long-term TNF-alpha pre-incubation observed in this study is due to the decrease in IRS-1 levels.
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PMID:Long-term effects of tumor necrosis factor-alpha treatment on insulin signaling pathway in HepG2 cells and HepG2 cells overexpressing constitutively active Akt/PKB. 1696 Aug 90

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is a multifunctional cytokine that has been implicated as a causative factor in obesity-linked insulin resistance. It is commonly accepted that macrophage-derived TNF-alpha acts in a paracrine manner on adjacent adipocytes to inhibit the expression of various adipocyte genes and to attenuate insulin signaling. Several studies have revealed that signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)5 proteins are modulated during adipogenesis and can modulate the transcription of some adipocyte genes. In this study, we demonstrate that TNF-alpha treatment, in the presence of cycloheximide, also results in the rapid turnover of STAT5A and STAT5B in a process that is independent of STAT5 activation by tyrosine phosphorylation. In addition, STAT5B is more labile than STAT5A under these conditions, suggesting that the COOH terminus of STAT5 may be involved in the turnover of each protein. Initial characterization of the TNF-alpha and cycloheximide-mediated degradation of STAT5 indicates that inhibition of the proteasome stabilizes both forms of STAT5 in the presence of TNF-alpha. In addition, the use of an NF-kappaB inhibitor results in the stabilization of STAT5A in the presence of TNF-alpha and cycloheximide, indicating that the degradation of STAT5 proteins under these conditions may involve the NF-kappaB pathway. STAT5 proteins are abundantly expressed in mature adipocytes and are normally extremely stable proteins under a wide range of conditions. However, our results demonstrate that the potentiation of TNF-alpha-mediated signaling in the presence of cyclohexmide is associated with a significant increase in the degradation of STAT5 proteins in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.
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PMID:Degradation of STAT5 proteins in 3T3-L1 adipocytes is induced by TNF-{alpha} and cycloheximide in a manner independent of STAT5A activation. 1698 55

Current explanations for obesity center around a predisposition in genotype and phenotype, possibly triggered by an inflammatory process or event, and exacerbated by environmental and psychological factors. It is likely that a variety of physiologic factors may act in combination to produce clinical obesity. Leptin resistance may be an important neurochemical cause of obesity; elevated leptin levels have been correlated with weight gain over extended time periods. Genetic studies support the postulate that a gene originating with our cave-dwelling ancestors, critical to survival when food was scare, has evolved into a trigger for obesity and related diseases. A variety of biochemical markers are prevalent in obesity and obesity-linked disease states. C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, and others are elevated in obesity, supporting the hypothesis that inflammation plays a role in the condition. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha is overexpressed in obesity and diabetes, suggesting that it may be part of the link between the 2 conditions.
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PMID:Promising new causal explanations for obesity and obesity-related diseases. 1717 21

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is chronically elevated in adipose tissues of obese rodents and humans. Increased levels of TNF-alpha are implicated in the induction of atherogenic adipokines, such as plasminogen activator inhibitor -1 (PAI-1) and IL-6, and the inhibition of the anti-atherogenic adipokine, adiponectin. In this study, we investigated the effects of resveratrol on TNF-alpha-induced atherogenic changes of the adipokines in 3T3-L1 cells. Exposure to TNF-alpha for 24 h increased PAI-1 and IL-6 secretion and decreased adiponectin secretion. The mRNA expression of adipokines changed in parallel with mRNA expression. Resveratrol effectively reversed the secretion and mRNA expression of the atherogenic adipokines, PAI-1 and IL-6, induced by TNF-alpha. Decreased secretion levels and mRNA expression of adiponectin by TNF-alpha were also recovered by resveratrol treatment. Our results suggest that resveratrol may improve obesity-induced cardiovascular disease, particularly atherosclerosis, by attenuating the TNF-alpha-induced changes of adipokines.
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PMID:Resveratrol inhibits TNF-alpha-induced changes of adipokines in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. 1796 14

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and local activation of the renin-angiotensin system may contribute to insulin resistance and atherosclerosis. In this study, we investigated the involvement of these mediators in the liver. We found that the gene expression of renin-angiotensin system components, together with that of plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1, is upregulated in the liver of patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes. We next examined the role of the renin-angiotensin system on TNF-alpha-induced PAI-1 production in the nonmalignant human hepatocyte cell line THLE-5b. THLE-5b cells expressed genes encoding renin-angiotensin system components including angiotensinogen, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), and angiotensin type 1 (AT(1)) receptor. ACE, angiotensinogen, and angiotensin AT(1) receptor mRNA expression were upregulated time-dependently by TNF-alpha. Moreover, angiotensin AT(1) receptor antagonist dose-dependently inhibited TNF-alpha-induced PAI-1 production. Interestingly, high-dose olmesartan, but not candesartan, reduced the increased expression of the angiotensin AT(1) receptor. These results suggest that TNF-alpha and the local renin-angiotensin system coordinately stimulate PAI-1 production in hepatocytes. Selective angiotensin AT(1) receptor antagonists inhibit both TNF-alpha- and angiotensin II-induced PAI-1 production in hepatocytes, suggesting a cross talk between both systems.
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PMID:Cross talk of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and the renin-angiotensin system in tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 production from hepatocytes. 1807 28


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