The Role of microRNA in the Regulation of Cortisol Metabolism in the Adipose Tissue in the Course of Obesity.

The similarity of the clinical picture of metabolic syndrome and hypercortisolemia supports the hypothesis that obesity may be associated with impaired expression of genes related to cortisol action and metabolism in adipose tissue. The expression of genes encoding the glucocorticoid receptor alpha (GR), cortisol metabolizing enzymes (HSD11B1, HSD11B2, H6PDH), and adipokines, as well as selected microRNAs, was measured by real-time PCR in adipose tissue from 75 patients with obesity, 19 patients following metabolic surgery, and 25 normal-weight subjects. Cortisol levels were analyzed by LC-MS/MS in 30 pairs of tissues. The mRNA levels of all genes studied were significantly (p < 0.05) decreased in the visceral adipose tissue (VAT) of patients with obesity and normalized by weight loss. In the subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), GR and HSD11B2 were affected by this phenomenon. Negative correlations were observed between the mRNA levels of the investigated genes and selected miRNAs (hsa-miR-142-3p, hsa-miR-561, and hsa-miR-579). However, the observed changes did not translate into differences in tissue cortisol concentrations, although levels of this hormone in the SAT of patients with obesity correlated negatively with mRNA levels for adiponectin. In conclusion, although the expression of genes related to cortisol action and metabolism in adipose tissue is altered in obesity and miRNAs may be involved in this process, these changes do not affect tissue cortisol concentrations.

Frailty and Survivability of Polish Caucasian Nonagenarians and Centenarians.

Frailty is a major geriatric problem leading to an increased risk of disability and death. Prevention, identification, and treatment of frailty are important challenges in gerontology and public health. The study aimed to estimate the prevalence of the frailty phenotype (FP) among the oldest-old Polish Caucasians and investigate the relationship between the FP and mortality. Baseline data were collected from 289 long-lived individuals, including 87 centenarians and 202 subjects aged 94-99. Mortality was obtained from population registers over the following 5 years. Sixty percent of subjects were classified as frail, 33% as prefrail, and 7% as robust. Frailty was more common in women than men and among centenarians than nonagenarians. During the 5-year observation period, 92.6% of the frail women and all frail men died, while mortality rates were lower among prefrail, 78.8% and 66.7%, and robust individuals, 60% and 54.5%, respectively. In the survival analysis, frailty was the strongest negative risk factor: HR = 0.328 (95% CI: 0.200-0.539). The inability to perform handgrip strength measurement was an additional predictor of short survival. In conclusion, the FP is prevalent in nonagenarians and centenarians and correlates with lower survivability. Future studies should address differences between unavoidable age-associated frailty and reversible disability in long-lived individuals.

AGER-1 Long Non-Coding RNA Levels Correlate with the Expression of the Advanced Glycosylation End-Product Receptor, a Regulator of the Inflammatory Response in Visceral Adipose Tissue of Women with Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

The advanced glycosylation end-product receptor (AGER) is involved in the development of metabolic inflammation and related complications in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Tissue expression of the AGER gene (AGER) is regulated by epigenetic mediators, including a long non-coding RNA AGER-1 (lncAGER-1). This study aimed to investigate whether human obesity and T2DM are associated with an altered expression of AGER and lncAGER-1 in adipose tissue and, if so, whether these changes affect the local inflammatory milieu. The expression of genes encoding AGER, selected adipokines, and lncAGER-1 was assessed using real-time PCR in visceral (VAT) and subcutaneous (SAT) adipose tissue. VAT and SAT samples were obtained from 62 obese (BMI > 40 kg/m2; N = 24 diabetic) and 20 normal weight (BMI = 20-24.9 kg/m2) women, while a further 15 SAT samples were obtained from patients who were 18 to 24 months post-bariatric surgery. Tissue concentrations of adipokines were measured at the protein level using an ELISA-based method. Obesity was associated with increased AGER mRNA levels in SAT compared to normal weight status (p = 0.04) and surgical weight loss led to their significant decrease compared to pre-surgery levels (p = 0.01). Stratification by diabetic status revealed that AGER mRNA levels in VAT were higher in diabetic compared to non-diabetic women (p = 0.018). Elevated AGER mRNA levels in VAT of obese diabetic patients correlated with lncAGER-1 (p = 0.04, rs = 0.487) and with interleukin 1ß (p = 0.008, rs = 0.525) and resistin (p = 0.004, rs = 0.6) mRNA concentrations. In conclusion, obesity in women is associated with increased expression of AGER in SAT, while T2DM is associated with increased AGER mRNA levels and pro-inflammatory adipokines in VAT.

Epigenetic Regulation of Estrogen Receptor Genes' Expressions in Adipose Tissue in the Course of Obesity.

Estrogen affects adipose tissue function. Therefore, this study aimed at assessing changes in the transcriptional activity of estrogen receptor (ER) α and ß genes (ESR1 and ESR2, respectively) in the adipose tissues of obese individuals before and after weight loss and verifying whether epigenetic mechanisms were involved in this phenomenon. ESR1 and ESR2 mRNA and miRNA levels were evaluated using real-time PCR in visceral (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) of 78 obese (BMI > 40 kg/m2) and 31 normal-weight (BMI = 20−24.9 kg/m2) individuals and in 19 SAT samples from post-bariatric patients. ESR1 and ESR2 methylation status was studied using the methylation-sensitive digestion/real-time PCR method. Obesity was associated with a decrease in mRNA levels of both ERs in SAT (p < 0.0001) and ESR2 in VAT (p = 0.0001), while weight loss increased ESR transcription (p < 0.0001). Methylation levels of ESR1 and ESR2 promoters were unaffected. However, ESR1 mRNA in the AT of obese subjects correlated negatively with the expression of hsa-miR-18a-5p (rs = −0.444), hsa-miR-18b-5p (rs = −0.329), hsa-miR-22-3p (rs = −0.413), hsa-miR-100-5p (rs = −0.371), and hsa-miR-143-5p (rs = −0.289), while the expression of ESR2 in VAT correlated negatively with hsa-miR-576-5p (rs = −0.353) and in SAT with hsa-miR-495-3p (rs = −0.308). In conclusion, obesity-associated downregulation of ER mRNA levels in adipose tissue may result from miRNA interference.

Vitamin D Receptor Gene Expression in Adipose Tissue of Obese Individuals is Regulated by miRNA and Correlates with the Pro-Inflammatory Cytokine Level.

Background: Given the role that vitamin D (VD) plays in the regulation of the inflammatory activity of adipocytes, we aimed to assess whether obesity changes the expression of VD-related genes in adipose tissue and, if so, to investigate whether this phenomenon depends on microRNA interference and how it may influence the local inflammatory milieu. Methods: The expression of genes encoding VD 1α-hydroxylase (CYP27B1), 24-hydroxylase (CYP24A1) and receptor (VDR), selected interleukins and microRNAs was evaluated by real-time PCR in visceral (VAT) and in subcutaneous (SAT) adipose tissues of 55 obese (BMI > 40 kg/m2) and 31 normal-weight (BMI 20-24.9 kg/m2) individuals. Results: VDR mRNA levels were higher, while CYP27B1 levels were lower in adipose tissues of obese patients than in those of normal-weight controls (VAT: P = 0.04, SAT: P < 0.0001 and VAT: P = 0.004, SAT: P = 0.016, respectively). The expression of VDR in VAT of obese subjects correlated negatively with levels of miR-125a-5p (P = 0.0006, rs = -0.525), miR-125b-5p (P = 0.001, rs = -0.495), and miR-214-3p (P = 0.009, rs = -0.379). Additionally, VDR mRNA concentrations in visceral adipose tissues of obese subjects correlated positively with mRNA levels of interleukins: 1ß, 6 and 8. Conclusions: We observed obesity-associated up-regulation of VDR and down-regulation of CYP27B mRNA levels in adipose tissue. VDR expression correlates with the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and may be regulated by miRNAs.

Adiponectin/resistin interplay in serum and in adipose tissue of obese and normal-weight individuals.

BACKGROUND: The interplay between adiponectin and resistin, the two adipokines of opposite effects, may determine the metabolic profile of obese individuals and development of obesity-related complications. The current study was conducted to assess how adiponectin/resistin interplay in sera and adipose tissues may influence the metabolic profile of obese and normal-weight subjects. METHODS: Concentrations of adiponectin and resistin were measured on protein level by immunoassay in visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissues from 50 obese (body mass index > 40 kg/m2) and 28 normal-weight (body mass index 20-24.9 kg/m2) individuals. Simultaneously expression of ADIPOQ and RETN (encoding adiponectin and resistin, respectively) was assessed on mRNA level by real-time PCR. RESULTS: ADIPOQ mRNA (P = 0.0001) and adiponectin protein (P = 0.0013) levels were lower, while RETN mRNA (P = 0.0338) and resistin (P < 0.0001)-higher in subcutaneous adipose tissues of obese subjects. ADIPOQ and RETN mRNA levels did not correlate with protein concentrations in the investigated adipose tissues. In obesity adiponectin serum concentrations correlated positively with ADIPOQ mRNA in subcutaneous adipose tissue (P = 0.005) and negatively with protein levels in visceral adipose tissue (P = 0.001). Obesity was associated with higher adiponectin-resistin index value in sera (P < 0.0001) and decreased in subcutaneous adipose tissue (P < 0.001), but only adiponectin-resistin index measured in sera was significantly higher in obese with the metabolic syndrome (P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Obesity affects synthesis of adiponectin and resistin mainly in subcutaneous adipose tissue. The adiponectin-resistin index assessed in the adipose tissues has a different prognostic value compared to the adiponectin-resistin index in serum and does not reflect a metabolic risk in obese individuals.

NGS Reveals Molecular Pathways Affected by Obesity and Weight Loss-Related Changes in miRNA Levels in Adipose Tissue.

Both obesity and weight loss may cause molecular changes in adipose tissue. This study aimed to characterize changes in adipose tissue miRNome in order to identify molecular pathways affected by obesity and weight changes. Next generation sequencing (NGS) was applied to identify microRNAs (miRNAs) differentially expressed in 47 samples of visceral (VAT) and subcutaneous (SAT) adipose tissues from normal-weight (N), obese (O) and obese after surgery-induced weight loss (PO) individuals. Subsequently miRNA expression was validated by real-time PCR in 197 adipose tissues and bioinformatics analysis performed to identify molecular pathways affected by obesity-related changes in miRNA expression. NGS identified 344 miRNAs expressed in adipose tissues with ≥5 reads per million. Using >2 and <-2 fold change as cut-offs we showed that the expression of 54 miRNAs differed significantly between VAT-O and SAT-O. Equally, between SAT-O and SAT-N, the expression of 20 miRNAs differed significantly, between SAT-PO and SAT-N the expression of 79 miRNAs differed significantly, and between SAT-PO and SAT-O, the expression of 61 miRNAs differed significantly. Ontological analyses disclosed several molecular pathways regulated by these miRNAs in adipose tissue. NGS-based miRNome analysis characterized changes of the miRNA profile of adipose tissue, which are associated with changes of weight possibly responsible for a differential regulation of molecular pathways in adipose tissue when the individual is obese and after the individual has lost weight.

Interleukins 6 and 15 Levels Are Higher in Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue, but Obesity Is Associated with Their Increased Content in Visceral Fat Depots.

Excess adiposity is associated with chronic inflammation, which takes part in the development of obesity-related complications. The aim of this study was to establish whether subcutaneous (SAT) or visceral (VAT) adipose tissue plays a major role in synthesis of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Concentrations of interleukins (IL): 1ß, 6, 8 and 15 were measured at the protein level by an ELISA-based method and on the mRNA level by real-time PCR in VAT and SAT samples obtained from 49 obese (BMI > 40 kg/m²) and 16 normal-weight (BMI 20-24.9 kg/m²) controls. IL-6 and IL-15 protein concentrations were higher in SAT than in VAT for both obese (p = 0.003 and p < 0.0001, respectively) and control individuals (p = 0.004 and p = 0.001, respectively), while for IL-1ß this was observed only in obese subjects (p = 0.047). What characterized obese individuals was the higher expression of IL-6 and IL-15 at the protein level in VAT compared to normal-weight controls (p = 0.047 and p = 0.016, respectively). Additionally, obese individuals with metabolic syndrome had higher IL-1ß levels in VAT than did obese individuals without this syndrome (p = 0.003). In conclusion, concentrations of some pro-inflammatory cytokines were higher in SAT than in VAT, but it was the increased pro-inflammatory activity of VAT that was associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome.