Fibroblastic reticular cells in lymph node potentiate white adipose tissue beiging through neuro-immune crosstalk in male mice.

Lymph nodes (LNs) are always embedded in the metabolically-active white adipose tissue (WAT), whereas their functional relationship remains obscure. Here, we identify fibroblastic reticular cells (FRCs) in inguinal LNs (iLNs) as a major source of IL-33 in mediating cold-induced beiging and thermogenesis of subcutaneous WAT (scWAT). Depletion of iLNs in male mice results in defective cold-induced beiging of scWAT.

Adipose-targeted triiodothyronine therapy counteracts obesity-related metabolic complications and atherosclerosis with negligible side effects.

Thyroid hormone (TH) is a thermogenic activator with anti-obesity potential. However, systemic TH administration has no obvious clinical benefits on weight reduction. Herein we selectively delivered triiodothyronine (T3) to adipose tissues by encapsulating T3 in liposomes modified with an adipose homing peptide (PLT3).

Hepatocyte-Secreted Autotaxin Exacerbates Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Through Autocrine Inhibition of the PPARα/FGF21 Axis.

Background & Aims: The prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has reached epidemic proportions globally as a result of the rapid increase in obesity. However, there is no Food and Drug Administration-approved pharmacotherapy available for NAFLD. This study investigated the role of autotaxin, a secreted enzyme that hydrolyzes lysophosphatidylcholine to produce lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), in the pathogenesis of NAFLD and to explore whether genetic or pharmacologic interventions targeting autotaxin ameliorate NAFLD.

TLR5 Supports Development of Placental Labyrinthine Zone in Mice.

Toll plays an important role in innate immunity and embryonic development in lower-ranked animals, but in mammals, the homolog toll-like receptors (TLR) are reported to facilitate postnatal development of immunity only. Here, we discovered a role of TLR5 in placental development. was highly transcribed during the placenta-forming and functional phases.

Intercellular and inter-organ crosstalk in browning of white adipose tissue: molecular mechanism and therapeutic complications.

Adipose tissue (AT) is highly plastic and heterogeneous in response to environmental and nutritional changes. The development of heat-dissipating beige adipocytes in white AT (WAT) through a process known as browning (or beiging) has garnered much attention as a promising therapeutic strategy for obesity and its related metabolic complications. This is due to its inducibility in response to thermogenic stimulation and its association with improved metabolic health.

Adipocyte Fatty Acid Binding Protein Promotes the Onset and Progression of Liver Fibrosis via Mediating the Crosstalk between Liver Sinusoidal Endothelial Cells and Hepatic Stellate Cells.

Development of liver fibrosis results in drastic changes in the liver microenvironment, which in turn accelerates disease progression. Although the pathological function of various hepatic cells in fibrogenesis is identified, the crosstalk between them remains obscure. The present study demonstrates that hepatic expression of adipocyte fatty acid binding protein (A-FABP) is induced especially in the liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) in mice after bile duct ligation (BDL).

Fatty acid binding protein 4 promotes autoimmune diabetes by recruitment and activation of pancreatic islet macrophages.

Both innate and adaptive immune cells are critical players in autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing β cells in type 1 diabetes. However, the early pathogenic events triggering the recruitment and activation of innate immune cells in islets remain obscure. Here we show that circulating fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4) level was significantly elevated in patients with type 1 diabetes and their first-degree relatives and positively correlated with the titers of several islet autoantibodies.

Conducting Concurrent Electroencephalography and Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Recordings with a Flanker Task.

Concurrent EEG and fNIRS recordings offer an excellent opportunity to gain a full understanding of the neural mechanism of cognitive processing by inspecting the relationship between the neural and hemodynamic signals. EEG is an electrophysiological technology that can measure the rapid neuronal activity of the cortex, whereas fNIRS relies on the hemodynamic responses to infer brain activation. The combination of EEG and fNIRS neuroimaging techniques can identify more features and reveal more information associated with the functioning of the brain.

A-FABP mediates adaptive thermogenesis by promoting intracellular activation of thyroid hormones in brown adipocytes.

The adipokine adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (A-FABP) has been implicated in obesity-related cardio-metabolic complications. Here we show that A-FABP increases thermogenesis by promoting the conversion of T4 to T3 in brown adipocytes. We find that A-FABP levels are increased in both white (WAT) and brown (BAT) adipose tissues and the bloodstream in response to thermogenic stimuli.

Hirsutenone Directly Targets PI3K and ERK to Inhibit Adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 Preadipocytes.

Adipogenesis is a key driver of the expansion of adipose tissue mass that causes obesity. Hirsutenone (HST) is an active botanical diarylheptanoid present in Alnus species. In this study, we evaluated the effects of HST on adipogenesis, its mechanisms of action and the molecular targets involved.