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)

In rats, neonatal treatment with monosodium L-glutamate (MSG) induces several metabolic and neuroendocrine abnormalities, which result in hyperadiposity. No data exist, however, regarding neuroendocrine, immune and metabolic responses to acute endotoxemia in the MSG-damaged rat. We studied the consequences of MSG treatment during the acute phase response of inflammatory stress. Neonatal male rats were treated with MSG or vehicle (controls, CTR) and studied at age 90 days. Pituitary, adrenal, adipo-insular axis, immune, metabolic and gonadal functions were explored before and up to 5 h after single sub-lethal i.p. injection of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 150 microg/kg). Our results showed that, during the acute phase response of inflammatory stress in MSG rats: (1) the corticotrope-adrenal, leptin, insulin and triglyceride responses were higher than in CTR rats, (2) pro-inflammatory (TNFalpha) cytokine response was impaired and anti-inflammatory (IL-10) cytokine response was normal, and (3) changes in peripheral estradiol and testosterone levels after LPS varied as in CTR rats. These data indicate that metabolic and neroendocrine-immune functions are altered in MSG-damaged rats. Our study also suggests that the enhanced corticotrope-corticoadrenal activity in MSG animals could be responsible, at least in part, for the immune and metabolic derangements characterizing hypothalamic obesity.
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PMID:Neuroendocrine, metabolic, and immune functions during the acute phase response of inflammatory stress in monosodium L-glutamate-damaged, hyperadipose male rat. 1838 67

Immunomodulation is a process, which alters the immune system of an organism by interfering with its functions. This interference results in either immunostimulation or immunosuppression. An immunomodulator is any substance that helps to regulate the immune system. This "regulation" is a normalization process, so that an immunomodulator helps to optimise immune response. Immunomodulators are becoming very popular in the worldwide natural health industry as these do not tend to boost immunity, but to normalize it. Keeping this in view, major efforts have to be directed to modulate the immune responses, to permit effective treatment of various ailments associated with immune system and thus the development of a safe and effective immunomodulator for clinical us. Leaves of Stevia rebaudiana are a source of several sweet glycosides of steviol. The major glycoside, stevioside, diterpenoid glycoside--is used in oriental countries as a food sweetener. Its medical use is also reported as a heart tonic. Besides, it is used against obesity, hypertension, and stomach burn and to lower uric acid levels. Here in this study, stevioside was tested for its immunomodulatory activity on different parameters of the immune system at three different doses (6.25, 12.5 and 25 mg/kg p.o.) on normal as well as cyclophosphamide treated mice. Stevioside was found effective in increasing phagocytic activity, haemagglutination antibody titre and delayed type hypersensitivity. In parallel, stevioside substantially increase proliferation in the LPS and Con A stimulated B and T cells, respectively. Present study, therefore, reveals that the drug holds promise as immunomodulating agent, which acts by stimulating both humoral as well as cellular immunity and phagocytic function.
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PMID:Immune up regulatory response of a non-caloric natural sweetener, stevioside. 1840 90

Gut microflora is now considered as a key organ involved in host energy homeostasis. Recent data suggest that the alterations of the gut bacteria ecosystem could contribute to the development of metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes and obesity. First, gut microflora may increase energy efficiency of non digested food via the fermentation, thus providing more energy to the host. Secondly, fatty acids flux and storage in the adipose tissue is under the control of the fasting-induced adipocyte factor FIAF, which expression depends on gut microflora. Third, high-fat diet feeding changes gut bacteria profile, leading to a drop in bifidobacteria content, which correlates with a higher LPS plasma levels, thereby participating to the onset of inflammation, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes associated with obesity. Changing gut microflora composition could be a useful tool to prevent or to treat high-fat/low fibres diet-induced metabolic syndrome. double dagger.
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PMID:[Gut microflora is a key player in host energy homeostasis]. 1846 28

Obesity with insulin resistance and alcohol are the most frequent causes of steatohepatitis. This work investigates the contribution of bioactive TNF and Th1 type cytokines in a mouse model of steatohepatitis induced by FAT alone or FAT+EtOH and endotoxin. The extent of liver injury and cytokine activation induced by endotoxin in chronic FAT-fed mice, FAT+EtOH-fed mice, or mice fed standard chow were analyzed. Endotoxin administration to either FAT-fed or FAT+EtOH-fed mice increased serum ALT and AST compared to standard chow mice. Immunoreactive TNF was strongly activated by LPS in FAT-fed and FAT+EtOH-fed mice which presented the highest levels, but low levels were found in standard chow mice. In contrast, bioactive TNF was only present in serum of FAT-fed and in particular the highest levels were found in FAT+EtOH-fed mice. Moreover, soluble TNFR2 but not TNFR1 was found in lower amounts in serum of FAT+EtOH-fed mice compared to FAT-fed mice. Steatohepatitis was associated with increased IL-6, IFN-gamma, and iNOS mRNA and proteins. Data show that a moderately FAT diet and low-dose EtOH concur to generate steatohepatitis and TNF liver expression after LPS. In this model, changes in the regulation of TNF are associated with increased expression of IL-6, IFN-gamma, and iNOS.
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PMID:Fat diet and alcohol-induced steatohepatitis after LPS challenge in mice: role of bioactive TNF and Th1 type cytokines. 1872 87

Obesity is the commonest nutritional disorder of companion animals. In rodents and humans, white adipose tissue is a major endocrine and secretory organ, releasing adipokines linked to inflammation. In this study, we examined whether nerve growth factor (NGF), a target-derived neurotrophin central to the development/maintenance of sympathetic innervation and an inflammatory response protein, is synthesized and secreted by canine adipocytes. NGF mRNA was detected in each of the major fat depots (the subcutaneous, inguinal, gonadal, perirenal, and falciform ligaments) of dogs at similar levels. Canine adipocytes, differentiated from preadipocytes (inguinal depot) in primary culture, expressed the NGF gene and secreted NGF both pre- and post-differentiation. Treatment of the differentiated adipocytes with LPS resulted in a dramatic increase in NGF mRNA levels (20-fold at 24 h) and in NGF protein in the medium (60-fold at 24 h). The proinflammatory cytokine TNFalpha also led to a substantial increase in NGF mRNA levels (11-fold) and protein secretion (16-fold), while IL-6 had little effect. In contrast, dexamethasone decreased both NGF mRNA levels (80%) and protein release (60%). The PPARgamma agonist rosiglitazone also reduced NGF secretion. These results demonstrate that canine white adipocytes synthesize and secrete NGF, the powerful upregulation by LPS and TNFalpha indicating that the neurotrophin is strongly linked to the inflammatory response in canine WAT. Canine adipocytes appear highly sensitive to inflammatory stimuli.
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PMID:NGF gene expression and secretion by canine adipocytes in primary culture: upregulation by the inflammatory mediators LPS and TNFalpha. 1879 83

Moderate alcohol consumption is suggested to be associated with reduced inflammation and morbidity. Human adipose tissue (AT) and obesity is characterised by low-grade inflammation, so the present study wanted to investigate the effects of ethanol on inflammation in human AT in vitro. Subcutaneous human AT was incubated with ethanol [11-88 mM] under non- or LPS-stimulated [50mg/mL] conditions. Protein and mRNA levels of adiponectin, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-alpha, MCP-1, and CD68 were assessed using ELISA and real-time RT-PCR, respectively. Non-stimulated, ethanol incubations up to 24h increased adiponectin release and mRNA expression (p<0.01) and decreased IL-6 release in both short-term [1.5h] (p<0.05) and long-term [24h] (p<0.01) incubations. Ethanol decreased LPS-stimulated IL-6, IL-8, TNF-alpha, and MCP-1 dose-dependently (all p<0.01). Ethanol decreased CD68 mRNA (p<0.001), which correlated with the investigated adipokines (p<0.05) but not adiponectin (p>0.05). In conclusion, ethanol exerts anti-inflammatory effects in human AT, suggesting that ethanol may attenuate whole-body inflammation.
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PMID:Ethanol exerts anti-inflammatory effects in human adipose tissue in vitro. 1884 Apr 98

The melanocortin (MC) receptor type-1 (MC1-R) is the only one of the five MC receptor subtypes expressed in human adipose tissue explants, human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), and MSC-derived adipocytes. Following our recent expression studies (Obesity 2007, 15, 40-49), we now investigated the functional role of MC1-R in these tissues and cells to deduce the coupling state of MC1-R to intracellular output signals in human fat cells and tissue. Expression of MC1-R by undifferentiated and differentiated MSCs was quantified by real-time TaqMan PCR. Intracellular output signals (cAMP, lipolysis, secretion of IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-alpha), as well as effects on the metabolic rate and proliferation of human MSCs were analyzed by standard assays, exposing undifferentiated and differentiated MSCs and, in part, human adipose tissue explants to the potent MC1-R agonist, [Nle(4), D-Phe(7)]-alpha-MSH (NDP-MSH). This agonist induced a weak cAMP signal in MSC-derived adipocytes. However, it did not affect lipolysis in these cells or in adipose tissue explants, nor did it modulate cytokine release and mRNA expression of IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-alpha upon LPS stimulation. In undifferentiated MSCs, NDP-MSH did not alter the metabolic rate, but it showed a significant antiproliferative effect. Therefore, it appears that MC1-R-effector coupling in (differentiated) human adipocytes is too weak to induce a regulatory effect on lipolysis or inflammation; by contrast, MC1-R stimulation in undifferentiated MSCs induces an inhibitory signal on cell proliferation.
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PMID:Weak functional coupling of the melanocortin-1 receptor expressed in human adipocytes. 1894 69

Obesity is known to be the primary causal component in metabolic syndrome. Adipocytes in obese patients exhibit increased oxidative stress via the activation of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-producing systems and inactivation of antioxidant enzymes. Extracellular superoxide dismutase (EC-SOD) is an anti-inflammatory enzyme that protects cells from the damaging effects of ROS. An earlier report showed that plasma EC-SOD levels in type 2 diabetic patients were significantly and inversely related to body mass index and homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance index. Moreover, the administration of pioglitazone, an antidiabetic agent, significantly increased the plasma level of EC-SOD. In this report, the expression of EC-SOD was compared to other adipocytokines in mice 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes. EC-SOD expression levels were increased after the induction of differentiation and then declined, which was similar to adiponectin and transcription factors such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma) and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-alpha (C/EBP-alpha). On the other hand, the expression levels of pro-inflammatory adipocytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and monocyte chemo-attractant protein-1 (MCP-1), increased markedly in the development stage of cells. It was observed that the expression of EC-SOD in differentiated 3T3-L1 cells co-cultured with LPS-stimulated J774 macrophages was up-regulated, while the addition of TNF-alpha down-regulated EC-SOD and adiponectin expression in adipocytes. It is known that infiltrated and activated macrophages produce extracellular ROS at high levels in adipose tissue. It is possible that the expression of EC-SOD in adipocytes was stimulated to protect them from oxidative stress in the co-culture system.
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PMID:Expression of extracellular superoxide dismutase during adipose differentiation in 3T3-L1 cells. 1916 76

Berberine (BBR) has been shown to improve several metabolic disorders, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and dyslipidemia, by stimulating AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). However, the effects of BBR on proinflammatory responses in macrophages are poorly understood. Here we show that BBR represses proinflammatory responses through AMPK activation in macrophages. In adipose tissue of obese db/db mice, BBR treatment significantly downregulated the expression of proinflammatory genes such as TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Consistently, BBR inhibited LPS-induced expression of proinflammatory genes including IL-1beta, IL-6, iNOS, MCP-1, COX-2, and matrix metalloprotease-9 in peritoneal macrophages and RAW 264.7 cells. Upon various proinflammatory signals including LPS, free fatty acids, and hydrogen peroxide, BBR suppressed the phosphorylation of MAPKs, such as p38, ERK, and JNK, and the level of reactive oxygen species in macrophages. Moreover, these inhibitory effects of BBR on proinflammatory responses were abolished by AMPK inhibition via either compound C, an AMPK inhibitor, or dominant-negative AMPK, implying that BBR would downregulate proinflammatory responses in macrophages via AMPK stimulation.
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PMID:Berberine suppresses proinflammatory responses through AMPK activation in macrophages. 1920 54

Morbid obesity is considered a systemic inflammatory state. The objective of this project was to characterize the adipokine, cytokine and chemokine protein profile in serum from control, lean and obese mice. We hypothesized that chemokines and cytokines are altered by caloric restriction and diet-induced obesity as a function of changes in body composition. Six-week-old female C57BL/6N mice (n = 12 per group) were randomized to one of three diets: control (fed ad libitum); lean (30% calorie-restricted regimen relative to control) and diet-induced obese (DIO; high calorie diet, fed ad libitum). Body weight, body composition and food intake were monitored throughout the study. After 10 weeks on the diets, blood samples were collected, and adipokine/cytokine/chemokine serum profiles were measured by antibody array. Lean mice, relative to the control group, displayed increased concentrations of insulin-like growth factor (IGF) binding protein-3, -5 and -6 and adiponectin and decreased IGF-1. These mice also showed increased concentrations of interleukin (IL)-10, IL-12 p40/p70, eotaxin, monocyte chemoattractant protein-5 and SDF-1. In contrast, DIO mice displayed increased leptin, IL-6 and LPS-induced chemokine and decreased concentrations of all chemokines/cytokines measured relative to control mice. As such, these data indicate that DIO may lead to an inflammatory state characterized as a shift towards a T helper lymphocyte type 1-skewed responsiveness. The demonstration of differential adipokine, cytokine and chemokine protein profile in control, lean and DIO mice may have implications for immune responsiveness and risk of disease.
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PMID:Diet-induced adiposity alters the serum profile of inflammation in C57BL/6N mice as measured by antibody array. 1926 13


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