Lupine as a potential agent against diet-induced obesity through adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase pathway: crude oil versus nanoemulsion formulations

Obesity represents a major challenge to the pharmaceutical community due to the minimal availability of anti-obesity drugs and the drawbacks of current weight-loss agents. The study described herein presents lupine oil, in two pharmaceutical formulations, as a potential anti-obesity agent via its effect on different physiological, biochemical, and hormonal parameters. Rats were divided into two groups; one group was continued on a standard commercial rodent diet and served as the non-obese control. The other group was fed a high-fat diet for 7 weeks to prepare an obese rat model. Then, the obese rats were divided into groups to receive 100 mg/kg of the crude lupine oil or nanoemulsion for 10 or 20 days. Lupine oil showed a potent body weight-reducing effect and improved insulin resistance. The oil altered obesity-induced hyperlipidemia and it enhanced the leptin/adiponectin/AMPK hormonal system in epididymal fat, serum, and liver, to which all the above physiological activities could be attributed. The nanoemulsion formulation of lupine oil significantly amplified the activity for all the above physiological and hormonal parameters when compared to the crude oil formulation. Lupine oil nanoemulsion could be used as a potential drug against diet-induced obesity.

Adiponectin is protective against endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced apoptosis of endothelial cells in sepsis

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is a critical molecular mechanism involved in the pathogenesis of sepsis. Hence, strategies for alleviating this stress may be essential for preventing cardiovascular injuries under sepsis. Adiponectin is secreted by adipocytes and its levels are decreased in sepsis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the protective effects of adiponectin treatment on endothelial cells and its mechanism. Male Wistar rats underwent cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) before being treated with adiponectin (72 and 120 μg/kg). The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) in plasma, histological structure, and apoptosis of endothelial cells were evaluated. In vitro, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were treated with adiponectin at 10 and 20 μg/mL for 24 h after stimulation by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), ultrastructure, rate of apoptosis, the expression of inositol-requiring enzyme 1α (IRE1α) protein, and its downstream molecules (78 kDa glucose-regulated protein (GRP78), C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP), and caspase-12) were detected. The results showed that the levels of MDA and ROS induced by CLP or LPS stimulation were increased. Furthermore, endothelial cell apoptosis was increased under sepsis. The IRE1α pathway was initiated, as evidenced by activated IRE1α, increased GRP78, and up-regulated CHOP and caspase-12 in HUVECs. Following treatment with adiponectin, the number of apoptotic endothelial cells was markedly decreased. These findings demonstrated that treatment with adiponectin decreased apoptosis of endothelial cells caused by sepsis by attenuating the ER stress IRE1α pathway activated by oxidative stress.

Adiponectin inhibits oxidization-induced differentiation of T helper cells through inhibiting costimulatory CD40 and CD80

Adiponectin is a multifunctional adipokine that has several oligomeric forms in the blood stream, which broadly regulates innate and acquired immunity. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to observe the differentiation of T helper (Th) cells and expression of costimulatory signaling molecules affected by adiponectin. The mRNA and protein expression levels of adiponectin and its receptors in oxidized low density lipoprotein cholesterol-treated endothelial cells were assayed by real time PCR and immunofluorescence. The endothelial cells were then treated with adiponectin with or without adipoR1 or adipoR2 siRNA and co-cultured with T lymphocytes. The distribution of Th1, Th2 and Th17 subsets were assayed by flow cytometry. The effects of adiponectin on costimulatory signaling molecules HLA-DR, CD80, CD86 and CD 40 was also assayed by flow cytometry. The results showed that endothelial cells expressed adiponectin and its receptor adipoR1 and adipoR2, but not T-cadherin. Adiponectin suppressed Th1 and Th17 differentiation through adipoR1 receptor, contributed to the inhibition of CD80 and CD40, and inhibited differentiation of Th1 and Th17 by inhibiting antigen presenting action.

Efeito da restrição calórica e do treinamento resistido em marcadores de resistência à insulina de ratas ovariectomizadas / Effect of calorie restriction and strength training on markers of insulin resistance in ovariectomized rats

Neste estudo, avaliamos o efeito da restrição calórica e do treinamento resistido na massa corporal e na sensibilidade à insulina de ratas ovariectomizadas. 80 ratas fêmeas da linhagem Holtzman foram distribuídas em 8 grupos (n=10 cada): ovariectomizado (OVX), ovariectomizado com restrição calórica (OVX RC), ovariectomizado com treinamento resistido (OVX TR), ovariectomizado com restrição calórica e treinamento resistido (OVX TR+RC), Sham operado (SHAM), Sham com restrição calórica (SHAM RC), sham com treinamento resistido (SHAM TR), sham com restrição calórica e treinamento resistido (SHAM TR+RC). Após 13 semanas de intervenção, foram analisados: massa corporal, gordura corporal; concentrações sanguíneas de glicose, insulina e adiponectina; conteúdo de AKT total e fosforilada, pi3k e Glut 4 (nos tecidos adiposos subcutâneo e retroperitoneal). As ratas ovariectomizadas (OVX, OVX RC, OVX TR e OVX TR+RC) apresentaram maior massa corporal e gordura corporal quando comparadas ao grupo SHAM. As concentrações de glicose e insulina foram semelhantes em todos os grupos experimentais, porém a concentração de adiponectina foi menor nos grupos ovariectomizados (OVX, OVX RC, OVX TR e OVX TR+RC), quando comparados ao grupo SHAM. A RC e o TR aumentaram a concentração de adiponectina quando comparado ao grupo OVX. Não houve diferença entre os grupos em relação à via de sinalização da insulina nos tecidos adiposos subcutâneo e retroperitoneal. Concluímos que a ovariectomia causa aumento de massa e gordura corporal, levando à menor concentração de adiponectina, e que a RC e o TR alteram estas modificações

In this study, we evaluated the effect of calorie restriction and strength training on the body weight and insulin sensitivity of ovariectomized rats. Eighty female Holtzman rats were divided into eight groups (n=10 per group): ovariectomized (OVX), ovariectomized plus calorie restriction (OVX-CR), ovariectomized plus strength training (OVX-ST), ovariectomized plus strength training and calorie restriction (OVX-ST+CR), sham operated (SHAM), sham plus calorie restriction (SHAM-CR), sham plus strength training (SHAM-ST), and sham plus strength training and calorie restriction (SHAM-ST+CR). The following variables were analyzed after 13 weeks of intervention: body weight; body fat; blood concentrations of glucose, insulin and adiponectin; total and phosphorylated AKT content; pi3k and Glut 4 (in subcutaneous and retroperitoneal adipose tissues). Ovariectomized rats (OVX, OVX-CR, OVX-ST, and OVX-ST+CR) had a higher body weight and body fat than SHAM animals. Glucose and insulin concentrations were similar in all experimental groups, but adiponectin concentration was lower in the ovariectomized groups (OVX, OVX-CR, OVX-ST, and OVX-ST+CR) when compared to the SHAM group. Calorie restriction and ST increased the concentration of adiponectin when compared to the OVX group. There was no difference between groups in terms of insulin signaling in subcutaneous or retroperitoneal adipose tissue. We conclude that ovariectomy increases body weight and body fat, reducing adiponectin concentration, and that CR and ST alter these modifications

The role of adiponectin in the production of IL-6, IL-8, VEGF and MMPs in human endothelial cells and osteoblasts: implications for arthritic joints

This study was performed to evaluate the contribution of adiponectin to the production of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 and MMP-13 in human endothelial cells and osteoblasts in arthritic joints. Cultured human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs) and osteoblasts were stimulated with adiponectin (1 or 10 mug ml-1) or IL-1beta (0.1 ng ml-1) in the presence or absence of hypoxia for 24 h. The protein expression patterns were examined by analyzing culture supernatants using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Adiponectin significantly stimulated the production of VEGF, MMP-1 and MMP-13 in osteoblasts but not in endothelial cells, whereas it significantly stimulated the production of IL-6 and IL-8 in both endothelial cells and osteoblasts. The increase in VEGF production induced by adiponectin was significantly greater than that induced by IL-1beta. The production of IL-6 and IL-8 in adiponectin-stimulated endothelial cells was approximately 10-fold higher than that in IL-1beta-stimulated endothelial cells; in osteoblasts, adiponectin-induced IL-6 and IL-8 secretion was approximately twofold higher than that induced by IL-1beta. In addition, IL-8 production in endothelial cells was approximately sevenfold higher than in osteoblasts. However, IL-6 levels were similar between the two cell types, suggesting that adiponectin may be involved in the production of IL-8 in endothelial cells, which may have an important role in neutrophil recruitment to arthritic joints. Furthermore, the increases in protein expression induced by adiponectin were differentially regulated by hypoxia. In conclusion, adiponectin has a more important role than does IL-1beta in the production of mediators that drive synovitis and joint destruction in endothelial cells and osteoblasts at physiological concentrations.

Annexin A6 is highly abundant in monocytes of obese and type 2 diabetic individuals and is downregulated by adiponectin in vitro

Adiponectin stimulates cholesterol efflux in macrophages and low adiponectin may in part contribute to disturbed reverse cholesterol transport in type 2 diabetes. Monocytes express high levels of annexin A6 that could inhibit cholesterol efflux and it was investigated whether the atheroprotective effects of adiponectin are accompanied by changes in annexin A6 levels. Adiponectin reduces annexin A6 protein whereas mRNA levels are not affected. Adiponectin-mediated activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha) and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) does not account for reduced annexin A6 expression. Further, fatty acids and lipopolysaccharide that are elevated in obesity do not influence annexin A6 protein levels. Annexin A6 in monocytes from overweight probands or type 2 diabetic patients is significantly elevated compared to monocytes of normal-weight controls. Monocytic annexin A6 positively correlates with body mass index and negatively with systemic adiponectin of the blood donors. Therefore, the current study demonstrates that adiponectin reduces annexin A6 in monocytes and thereby may enhance cholesterol efflux. In agreement with these in vitro finding an increase of monocytic annexin A6 in type 2 diabetes monocytes was observed.

Adiponectin and thiazolidinedione targets CRTC2 to regulate hepatic gluconeogenesis

During fasting periods, hepatic glucose production is enhanced by glucagon to provide fuels for other organs. This process is mediated via cAMP-dependent induction of the CREB regulated transcriptional coactivator (CRTC) 2, a critical transcriptional activator for hepatic gluconeogenesis. We have previously shown that CRTC2 activity is regulated by AMP activated protein kinase (AMPK) family members. Here we show that adiponectin and thiazolidinedione directly regulate AMPK to modulate CRTC2 activity in hepatocytes. Adiponectin or thiazolidinedione lowered glucose production from primary hepatocytes. Treatment of both reagents reduced gluconeogenic gene expression as well as cAMP-mediated induction of CRE reporter, suggesting that these reagents directly affect CREB/CRTC2- dependent transcription. Furthermore, adiponectin or thiazolidinedione mediated repression of CRE activity is largely blunted by co-expression of phosphorylation defective mutant CRTC2, underscoring the importance of serine 171 residue of this factor. Taken together, we propose that adiponectin and thiazolidinedione promote the modulation of AMPK-dependent CRTC2 activity to influence hepatic gluconeogenesis.