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

The concentrations of glycosylated (G-PRL) and nonglycosylated (non-G-PRL) forms of PRL and GH were measured during pregnancy in pigs of lean and obese (high backfat thickness) lines. Pregnant sows of the two genetic lines were killed, in groups of five to eight, at 60, 75, 90, and 105 days of gestation, and their pituitary glands and plasma were analyzed for the two hormones by immunoblotting, lectin-binding, and RIA techniques. In both lean and obese pigs, pituitary concentrations of G-PRL and non-G-PRL increased with advance in pregnancy, but there were no significant changes in either form of pituitary GH. Plasma concentrations of radioimmunoassayable PRL also increased with advance in pregnancy, with no consistent changes in serum GH concentrations. The dominant PRL constituent in plasma during the second half of pregnancy was G-PRL, and its concentration either increased or remained constant with advance in pregnancy. In contrast, plasma non-G-PRL concentrations decreased with advance in pregnancy in both lines of pigs, resulting in a steady rise in the plasma G-PRL/PRL ratio toward term. Compared to lean pigs, obese pigs had less radioimmunoassayable PRL and GH in their plasma and less GH (glycosylated as well as nonglycosylated) in their pituitary glands, but obese pigs had more G-PRL in their pituitary glands than lean pigs, and their plasma G-PRL levels tended to be higher and non-G-PRL levels lower than those of lean pigs. Pituitary concentrations of non-G-PRL in the two lines of pigs were similar. Overall, the results show a preponderance of G-PRL over non-G-PRL in the plasma of pregnant sows, with a preferential secretion of the glycosylated form during the latter half of pregnancy. Furthermore, they indicate a prevalence of higher G-PRL/PRL ratios in the pituitary glands of obese than lean pigs. These findings raise the possibility of a functional role for the glycosylated variant of PRL in the initiation and/or maintenance of events associated with pregnancy and obesity in the pig.
 ...
PMID:Changes in the glycosylated and nonglycosylated forms of prolactin and growth hormone in lean and obese pigs during pregnancy. 236 78

The effects of inclusion of different levels of raw kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) of high lectin content (27 g/kg meal) in a high-quality (lactalbumin) control diet were tested in nutritional trials on the growth and metabolism of obese Zucker (fafa) rats and their lean littermates in comparison with pair-fed controls. All diets contained 100 g total protein/kg and either 50 g lipids/kg (low fat) or 150 g lipids/kg (moderate fat). The growth of both obese and lean rats on bean diets was retarded by the daily bean intake in a dose-dependent manner. However, most of this was because bean-fed rats contained less body fat than the controls after 10 d. Thus, after feeding low-fat diets containing up to 130 g kidney bean/kg (lectin intake < or = 0.2 g/kg body weight (BW) per d) in both 10 d and 70 d trials, the bodies of obese rats contained less fat but not protein than their pair-fed controls. Moreover, by increasing the lipid content of the diet to 150 g/kg, the level of bean inclusion could be increased to 280 g/kg (lectin intake > or = 0.4 g/kg BW per d) without loss of body protein and skeletal muscle. Although these rats contained more body fat than those which were fed on low-fat diets, their weight reduction could be accounted for exclusively by reduced lipid content. In contrast, significant body protein loss occurred when the same diet of high lectin content was fed to lean littermates. Plasma insulin levels were significantly depressed in the obese Zucker rats on bean diets but the pancreas was not significantly enlarged nor its insulin content changed in 10 d trials. However, significant pancreatic growth occurred on long-term (70 d) bean feeding compared with pair-fed controls. The results suggest that, in addition to animal nutrition, it may also be possible to use the bean lectin as a dietary adjunct or therapeutic agent to stimulate gut function and ameliorate obesity if a safe and effective dose-range can be established for human subjects.
 ...
PMID:Lipid accumulation in obese Zucker rats is reduced by inclusion of raw kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) in the diet. 953 66

Tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1 deficient (TIMP-1(-/-)) mice and wild-type (TIMP-1(+/+)) controls were kept on a standard (SFD) or a high fat diet (HFD) for 15 weeks. At the time of sacrifice, TIMP-1(-/-) mice on HFD had a significantly lower body weight (29 +/- 1.5 versus 41 +/- 1.8 g, p <0.005), and significantly less subcutaneous (0.81 +/- 0.19 versus 1.78 +/- 0.21 g, p <0.05) and gonadal (0.87 +/- 0.17 versus 1.85 +/- 0.18 g, p <0.005) fat mass. These differences were much less pronounced for mice on SFD. On HFD but not on SFD, adipocyte diameters were significantly lower in the adipose tissue of TIMP-1(-/-) mice. Plasma leptin levels in TIMP-1(-/-) mice on HFD were significantly lower as compared to TIMP-1(+/-) mice, and strongly correlated with adipose tissue mass for both genotypes. Staining with an endothelial cell specific lectin revealed a significantly higher blood vessel density, larger stained area and vessel size in adipose tissue of TIMP-1(-/-) mice on HFD. This difference disappeared after normalization to the adipocyte number, suggesting that it does not represent a true enhancement of angiogenesis. Thus, in a murine model of nutritionally induced obesity, TIMP-1 promotes adipose tissue development.
 ...
PMID:Deficiency of tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) impairs nutritionally induced obesity in mice. 1257 3

To investigate a potential role of stromelysin-1 (MMP-3) in development of adipose tissue, 5 week old male MMP-3 deficient mice (MMP-3(-/-)) and wild-type (MMP-3(+/+)) controls were kept on a high fat diet (HFD) for 15 weeks. MMP-3(-/-) mice were hyperphagic and gained more weight than the MMP-3(+/+) mice. At the time of sacrifice, the body weight of the MMP-3(-/-) mice was significantly higher than that of the MMP-3(+/+) mice, as was the weight of the isolated subcutaneous (SC) and gonadal (GON) fat deposits. Significant adipocyte hypertrophy was observed in the GON but not in the SC adipose tissue of MMP-3(-/-) mice. Fasting plasma glucose and cholesterol levels were comparable in both genotypes, whereas triglyceride levels were significantly lower in MMP-3(-/-) mice. Staining with an endothelial cell specific lectin revealed a significantly higher blood vessel density and larger total stained area in the GON adipose tissues of MMP-3(-/-) mice. Thus, in a murine model of nutritionally induced obesity, MMP-3 impairs adipose tissue development, possibly by affecting food intake and/or adipose tissue-related angiogenesis.
 ...
PMID:Enhanced nutritionally induced adipose tissue development in mice with stromelysin-1 gene inactivation. 1266 25

While statin treatment may transiently mobilize endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), the dose-dependent effects of a continuous statin therapy on EPCs in patients with chronic coronary artery disease (CAD) have not been analyzed. In 209 patients with angiographically documented CAD, 144 of which received 10-40 mg/day of statins for >8 weeks, the EPC number was determined by flow cytometry directly (CD34(+)/KDR(+), n=58) and after in vitro-culture (1,1'-dioctadecyl-3,3,3',3'-tetramethylindocarbocyanine-labeled Ac-LDL (DiI-Ac-LDL(+))/lectin(+), n=209). EPC function was assessed by the formation of colony forming units (CFUs). Univariate analysis revealed that the dose of continuous statin therapy inversely correlated with the EPC number. Treatment with 40 mg/day significantly reduced EPC counts. Multivariate analysis unveiled the statin dose and extent of CAD as independent predictors of reduced EPC numbers. Conversely, obesity predicted increased counts, while CFU development was not detectable in all patients and augmented in females and smokers but not in statin-treated patients. Compared with matched controls, statin-treated patients showed significantly reduced absolute and relative EPC counts. In a prospective analysis, initiation of statin therapy significantly diminished the number of circulating and isolated EPCs after 3 but not after 1 month(s). Thus, the statin dose during chronic and continuous treatment independently predicts reduced numbers of circulating as well as isolated EPCs in patients with CAD.
 ...
PMID:Reduced numbers of circulating endothelial progenitor cells in patients with coronary artery disease associated with long-term statin treatment. 1683

The immune response to foreign or self antigens mediates liver damage during viral or autoimmune hepatitis. However, it now appears that also specific antigen-independent liver diseases, where liver damage has been attributed to occur from oxygen radical formation, seem to be mediated by cells of the innate and adaptive immune response. These liver disorders include alcoholic liver disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease or non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, and ischemia/reperfusion injury that impairs the function of liver grafts. Here it seems that breakdown of the gastrointestinal barrier might increase the concentration of bacterial toxins in the portal blood, which then activate cells of the innate immune system, e. g., Kupffer cells, but, depending on the nature of the toxin, probably also conventional T cells. Invariant NKT cells which specifically recognize glycolipid antigens were supposed to become activated during metabolic disorders related to obesity. However, both steatohepatitis as well as ischemia/reperfusion injury are associated with a Th1 cytokine response characterized by IFNgamma and TNFalpha elevation, that might reflect an NKT cell response on the one hand, but also conventional T lymphocytes, in particular CD4 (+) T cells, are critical for the pathophysiology of these disorders. In 1992 we described a model of T cell-dependent liver injury inducible by the T cell-mitogenic lectin concanavalin A. This model of immune-mediated liver injury was intensively used to study pathophysiological immune effector mechanisms as well as cytokine signaling important for hepatocellular apoptosis, inhibition of apoptosis and regeneration. Recently it became evident that the inflammatory response in this model is regulated by specific cytokine signals as well as by immune regulator cells. The immune-regulatory functions of the liver are of particular interest with respect to the scavenger function of this organ, being continuously exposed to foreign antigenic material from the gut which should be eliminated without causing chronic disease.
 ...
PMID:Cellular and cytokine-mediated mechanisms of inflammation and its modulation in immune-mediated liver injury. 1723 22

The effect of temperature and lectin from bacteria of the genues Azospirillum with blocked activity on human adipose tissue cells has been studied. The temperature used was 43.5 +/- 0.5 degrees C. Comparative results are given for the effect of lectin with the blocked and active carbohydrate-binding centers on adipocytes during heating, and the time course of the structural changes of adipocytes is described. When lectin with the active carbohydrate-binding centers was used for treatment, the heat-treated cells of a healthy obesity-prone subject died on the average in 55 +/- 5 min, whereas cells treated with lectin with the L-fucose-blocked carbohydrate-binding centers died in 80 +/- 5 min. The heat-treated cells of a diabetic obesity-prone patient died in 150 +/- 10 min on average when exposed to both active and inactive lectin. Consequently, when the lectin center is blocked with L-fucose, the effectiveness of lectin action on adipose cells of healthy obesity-prone persons decreases.
 ...
PMID:[Role of the carbohydrate-binding center of bacterial lectin in the effect on adipocytes under the influence of increased temperature]. 1790 10

Plasma is an important biological material for biomarker discovery. However, the wide dynamic range in protein concentration remains a major challenge. In this paper, we introduce the development of a proteomic platform for analysis of plasma samples. The method utilizes a double fractionation approach which combines the MARS immunodepletion column with multi-lectin affinity chromatography, M-LAC, to deplete the most abundant proteins in plasma, the majority of which are glycosylated. To determine the suitability of this methodology, we applied the workflow described in this study to a sample set composed of four groups: a control pool and three different disease pools: obesity, diabetes, and hypertension. We were able to identify changes in the level of several proteins; for example, a protein such as angiotensinogen was found to be present at high levels in patients with obesity plus diabetes and hypertension. On the other hand, apolipoprotein CI was shown to be elevated in all disease groups. A review of the literature supported our observation. The methodology presented in this report was shown to be effective for profiling changes in the plasma proteome of subjects with obesity and its associated complications such as diabetes and hypertension.
 ...
PMID:A two step fractionation approach for plasma proteomics using immunodepletion of abundant proteins and multi-lectin affinity chromatography: Application to the analysis of obesity, diabetes, and hypertension diseases. 1830 31

We investigated the association between soluble lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (sLOX-1) levels and obesity in older women. Fifty-one postmenopausal women (10 lean, 22 overweight, and 19 obese) were included in this small retrospective analysis. Plasma sLOX-1 levels were measured using a chemiluminescent enzyme-linked immunoassay. Plasma levels of sLOX-1 were significantly higher in obese women (55.33 +/- 4.49 pg/ml) compared to lean (30.91 +/- 6.19 pg/ml, P = 0.002) and overweight women (38.31 +/- 4.18 pg/ml, P = 0.017). Plasma sLOX-1 levels were positively associated with body weight, BMI, total body fat, and trunk fat. The relationship between sLOX-1 and BMI was attenuated after adjustment for age, hormone replacement therapy, and body fat. In conclusion, obese women have higher sLOX-1 levels, which may reflect increased LOX-1 expression in adipose tissue.
Obesity (Silver Spring) 2008 Jun
PMID:Elevated soluble lectin-like oxidized LDL receptor-1 (sLOX-1) levels in obese postmenopausal women. 1838 96

Lectins are a structurally diverse class of (glyco)proteins which bind mono- and oligosaccharides with high specificity and in a reversible way. For many years, the unique sugar binding properties of plant lectins have been exploited for the development of biochemical tools for glycoprotein isolation and characterisation, and the use of lectins as a glycoprofiling tool has became much more sophisticated with the advent of lectin microarrays, in which a panel of lectins are immobilized on a single chip for glycomic analysis. Among the numerous lectins studied so far, those from legumes represent the largest family. They can be present at relatively high amounts depending on genetic as well as environmental factors, and are accumulated especially in the seeds. For this reason, some lectins as the phytohemagglutinin from the common bean Phaseolus vulgaris constitute a possible risk, since consumption of raw or incorrectly processed beans has been shown to cause outbreaks of gastroenteritis, nausea and diarrhoea. On the other hand, for these anti-nutritional properties, bean extracts enriched in lectins or in lectin-related amylase inhibitors are also finding a growing use as active ingredients of "weight-blockers" in dietetic preparations for obesity treatment. Current methods to determine the lectin levels in foods are based on immunoenzymatic or toxicity tests, which are largely aspecific. Very recently, the availability of proteomic methodologies has allowed to start development and validation of sensitive and specific assays for detecting trace amounts of harmful lectins in either raw or processed foods. In this review, the main aspects of current and perspective applications of mass spectrometry and proteomic technologies to the structural characterisation of legumes are presented, with focus on issues related to detection, identification, and quantification of phytohemagglutinins relevant for their biochemical, immunological and toxicological aspects.
 ...
PMID:Proteomic approaches to study structure, functions and toxicity of legume seeds lectins. Perspectives for the assessment of food quality and safety. 1921 48


1 2 3 4 5 Next >>