Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0311277 (abdominal obesity)
 2,792 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The metabolic syndrome (MetS) is an insulin-resistant state characterized by a cluster of cardiovascular risk factors, including abdominal obesity, hyperglycemia, elevated blood pressure and combined dyslipidemia. In this review, we discuss the potential of farnesoid X receptor (FXR) agonists in the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED), a multifactorial disorder often comorbid with MetS. FXR not only regulates lipid and glucose homeostasis but also influences endothelial function and atherosclerosis, suggesting a regulatory role for this hormone nuclear receptor in the cardiovascular complications associated with the MetS, including ED. MetS induces ED via several mechanisms, and in particular through endothelial dysfunction in penile vessels. In a high-fat diet rabbit model of MetS, a 3-month treatment with the potent and selective FXR agonist INT-747 restores endothelium-dependent relaxation in isolated cavernous tissue, normalizing responsiveness to acetylcholine and to electrical field stimulation. Accordingly, eNOS expression in the penis is greatly up-regulated by INT-747 treatment. Experiments in a rat model of chemically-induced type 1 diabetes further demonstrate that INT-747 treatment preserves erectile function induced by electrical stimulation of the cavernous nerve. These results add a new facet to the pleiotropic activities mediated by FXR, and reveal novel beneficial effects of FXR activation with potential clinical relevance. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Translating nuclear receptors from health to disease.
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PMID:Farnesoid X receptor activation improves erectile dysfunction in models of metabolic syndrome and diabetes. 2105 55

Abnormally elevated lipid and glucose levels due to the disruption of metabolic homeostasis play causative roles in the development of metabolic diseases. A cluster of metabolic conditions, including dyslipidemia, abdominal obesity, and insulin resistance, is referred to as metabolic syndrome, which has been increasing globally at an alarming rate. The primary nuclear bile acid receptor, Farnesoid X Receptor (FXR, NR1H4), plays important roles in controlling lipid and glucose levels by regulating expression of target genes in response to bile acid signaling in enterohepatic tissues. In this review, I discuss how signal-dependent FXR transcriptional activity is dynamically regulated under normal physiological conditions and how it is dysregulated in metabolic disease states. I focus on the emerging roles of post-translational modifications (PTMs) and transcriptional cofactors in modulating FXR transcriptional activity and pathways. Dysregulation of nuclear receptor transcriptional signaling due to aberrant PTMs and cofactor interactions are key determinants in the development of metabolic diseases. Therefore, targeting such abnormal PTMs and transcriptional cofactors of FXR in disease states may provide a new molecular strategy for development of pharmacological agents to treat metabolic syndrome. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Translating nuclear receptors from health to disease.
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PMID:Regulation of FXR transcriptional activity in health and disease: Emerging roles of FXR cofactors and post-translational modifications. 2113 Jan 62