Publications by authors named "Ellen Lenaers"

Genistein, a natural food compound mainly present in soybeans, is considered a potent antioxidant and to improve glucose homeostasis. However, its mechanism of action remains poorly understood. Here, we analyzed whether genistein could antagonize the progression of the hyperinsulinemic normoglycemic state (pre-diabetes) toward full-blown T2DM in Zucker Diabetic Fatty (ZDF) rats by decreasing mitochondrial oxidative stress and improving skeletal muscle oxidative capacity.

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UCP3's exact physiological function in lipid handling in skeletal and cardiac muscle remains unknown. Interestingly, etomoxir, a fat oxidation inhibitor and strong inducer of UCP3, is proposed for treating both diabetes and heart failure. We hypothesize that the upregulation of UCP3 upon etomoxir serves to protect mitochondria against lipotoxicity.

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A low fat oxidative capacity has been linked to muscle diacylglycerol (DAG) accumulation and insulin resistance. Alternatively, a low fat oxidation rate may stimulate glucose oxidation, thereby enhancing glucose disposal. Here, we investigated whether an ethyl-2-[6-(4-chlorophenoxy)hexyl]-oxirane-2-carboxylate (etomoxir)-induced inhibition of fat oxidation leads to muscle fat storage and insulin resistance.

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Cross-sectional human studies have associated mitochondrial dysfunction to type 2 diabetes. We chose Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats as a model of progressive insulin resistance to examine whether intrinsic mitochondrial defects are required for development of type 2 diabetes. Muscle mitochondrial function was examined in 6-, 12-, and 19-week-old ZDF (fa/fa) and fa/+ control rats (n = 8-10 per group) using respirometry with pyruvate, glutamate, and palmitoyl-CoA as substrates.

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Setting: A disordered lipid metabolism is implicated in the development of skeletal muscle insulin resistance. Lipid droplet proteins of the PAT [perilipin, adipocyte differentiation-related protein (ADRP), and TIP47] family have been shown to regulate lipid accumulation and intracellular metabolism in other tissues.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the role of the PAT proteins OXPAT and ADRP in skeletal muscle lipid metabolism and their putative role in modulating insulin sensitivity.

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Objective: A lower in vivo mitochondrial function has been reported in both type 2 diabetic patients and first-degree relatives of type 2 diabetic patients. The nature of this reduction is unknown. Here, we tested the hypothesis that a lower intrinsic mitochondrial respiratory capacity may underlie lower in vivo mitochondrial function observed in diabetic patients.

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Currently inherited or acquired skeletal muscle mitochondrial dysfunction is linked to dysregulated fatty acid metabolism, resulting in increased levels of intramyocellular lipids (IMCLs) and lipid intermediates, inducing insulin resistance. The present study aimed to clarify the order of changes in IMCL levels and skeletal muscle mitochondrial function during the development of type 2 diabetes in Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats. IMCL levels and skeletal muscle oxidative capacity were determined in vivo, using localized (1)H magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and dynamic (31)P MRS, respectively.

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