Approaches to nutritional research using organoids; fructose treatment induces epigenetic changes in liver organoids.

Nutritional researches have successfully used animal models to gain new insights into nutrient action. However, comprehensive descriptions of their molecular mechanisms of action remain elusive as appropriate in vitro evaluation systems are lacking. Organoid models can mimic physiological structures and reproduce in vivo functions, making them increasingly utilized in biomedical research for a better understand physiological and pathological phenomena.

Association between DNA methylation levels of thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) and changes in glycemic traits: a longitudinal population-based study.

Thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) plays an important role in glucose metabolism, and its expression is regulated by DNA methylation (DNAm). Although the association between TXNIP DNAm and type 2 diabetes mellitus has been demonstrated in studies with a cross-sectional design, prospective studies are needed. We therefore examined the association between TXNIP DNAm levels and longitudinal changes in glycemic traits by conducting a longitudinal study involving 169 subjects who underwent two health checkups in 2015 and 2019.

Impact of maternal fructose intake on liver stem/progenitor cells in offspring: Insights into developmental origins of health and disease.

Aims: The developmental origin of health and disease (DOHaD) theory postulates that poor nutrition during fetal life increases the risk of disease later in life. Excessive fructose intake has been associated with obesity, diabetes, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and maternal fructose intake during pregnancy has been shown to affect offspring health. In this study, we investigated the effects of high maternal fructose intake on the liver stem/progenitor cells of offspring.

Serum carotenoid levels are positively associated with DNA methylation of thioredoxin-interacting protein.

Carotenoids have been reported to exert protective effects against age-related diseases via changes in DNA methylation. Although lower DNA methylation is associated with age-related diseases, only a few studies have investigated the factors influencing DNA methylation. Carotenoids may be a factor linking TXNIP to specific pathophysiological functions.

Interaction between Prenatal and Postnatal Exposure to High-Fructose Corn Syrup Increases Gene Expression of Tnfa in Hippocampus of Offspring.

Concerns about the negative intergenerational effects of excessive fructose intake are being raised, with evidence suggesting that prenatal fructose intake increases susceptibility to metabolic and cognitive dysfunction later in life. In the present study, we hypothesized that prenatal and postnatal fructose intake acts synergistically to impact on hippocampus of adult offspring. Female Sprague-Dawley rats received distilled water or 20% high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) solution in addition to standard chow throughout gestation and lactation.

The Ratio of miR-122 to miR-20a (miR-122/miR-20a) Is a Useful Minimally Invasive Biomarker for Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Detection.

The increasing prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become a global health problem. NAFLD has few initial symptoms and may be difficult to detect early, so there is need for a minimally invasive early detection marker. We hypothesized that miR-122 and miR-20a levels combined, as the miR-122/miR-20a ratio might detect NAFLD more sensitively.

Integration of methylation quantitative trait loci (mQTL) on dietary intake on DNA methylation levels: an example of n-3 PUFA and ABCA1 gene.

Background: Epigenetic studies have reported relationships between dietary nutrient intake and methylation levels. However, genetic variants that may affect DNA methylation (DNAm) pattern, called methylation quantitative loci (mQTL), are usually overlooked in these analyses. We investigated whether mQTL change the relationship between dietary nutrient intake and leukocyte DNAm levels with an example of estimated fatty acid intake and ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1).

Laboratory analysis of glucose, fructose, and sucrose contents in Japanese common beverages for the exact assessment of beverage-derived sugar intake.

Objectives: The adverse health effects of consuming sugar-sweetened beverages have been studied worldwide. However, no recent report on the actual sugar contents of Japanese sugar-sweetened beverages is available. Therefore, we analyzed the glucose, fructose, and sucrose contents of common Japanese beverages.

High-fructose corn syrup intake increases hepatic mitochondrial DNA copy number and methylation in adolescent rats.

High-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is consumed worldwide. However, it has been demonstrated that an increased intake of sweetened beverages, including those sweetened using fructose, is associated with the development of childhood obesity. It is unknown why the negative effects of fructose are stronger in young persons than in elderly individuals.

Effects of High-Fructose Corn Syrup Intake on Glucocorticoid Metabolism in Rats During Childhood, Adolescence and Adulthood.

The consumption of high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) has been increasing in recent decades, especially among children. Some reports suggest that children and adolescents are more sensitive to the adverse effects of fructose intake than adults. However, the underlying mechanism of the difference in vulnerability between adolescence and adulthood have not yet been elucidated.

Intake of vegetables and fruits rich in provitamin A is positively associated with aryl hydrocarbon receptor repressor DNA methylation in a Japanese population.

DNA methylation can be affected by numerous lifestyle factors, including diet. Tobacco smoking induces aryl hydrocarbon receptor repressor (AHRR) DNA hypomethylation, which increases the risk of lung and other cancers. However, no lifestyle habits that might increase or restore percentage of AHRR DNA methylation have been identified.

Association between the Extent of Peripheral Blood DNA Methylation of and Accumulation of Adiposity in community-dwelling Women: The Yakumo Study.

Introduction: DNA methylation in the CpG sites of intron 1 of is associated with body mass index (BMI). This cross-sectional study investigated correlations between DNA methylation of and BMI or adiposity parameters in the Japanese population.

Method: DNA methylation of was quantified via pyrosequencing.

Differential effects of excess high-fructose corn syrup on the DNA methylation of hippocampal neurotrophic factor in childhood and adolescence.

Consumption of fructose-containing beverages such as high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is increasing, raising concerns about the negative effects of excessive fructose intake. A recent report indicated that excess HFCS intake impairs hippocampal function. In this study, we focused on neurotrophic factors (NFs) in the hippocampus from the viewpoint of epigenetics to clarify the adverse effects of fructose.

High-fructose corn syrup intake has stronger effects on the transcription level of hepatic lipid metabolism-related genes, via DNA methylation modification, in childhood and adolescence than in other generations.

Aims: This study aimed to analyze differences in sensitivity to hepatic lipid metabolism at different ages, through DNA methylation, using an experimental rat model of high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) intake.

Main Methods: The experimental was divided into three periods: childhood and adolescence (postnatal day (PD) 21-60), young adulthood (PD61-100), and adulthood (PD101-140). Rats in the different age groups were assigned to receive either water (C: control group) or 20% HFCS solution (H: HFCS-fed group).

Circulating microRNA-27a and -133a are negatively associated with incident hypertension: a five-year longitudinal population-based study.

Background: Previous cross-sectional studies have shown that several circulating microRNA levels are associated with hypertension, but there are no prospective studies among general populations.

Objective: We evaluated the impact of circulating inflammatory- and oxidative stress-responsive microRNAs on changes in blood pressure and the development of hypertension in normotensive Japanese.

Method: The study subjects were 84 normotensive participants (33 men and 51 women) who were given a health examination in both 2012 and 2017.

Increased risk of cancer mortality by smoking-induced aryl hydrocarbon receptor repressor DNA hypomethylation in Japanese population: A long-term cohort study.

Background: Smoking is well known to be a major risk factor for cancer, and to decrease the levels of aryl hydrocarbon receptor repressor (AHRR) DNA methylation. AHRR is a key regulator for AHR signaling, which is involved in chemical metabolism and cancer development. Therefore, smoking-induced AHRR DNA hypomethylation may be associated with cancer development.

Association of drinking behaviors with DNA methylation levels in leukocytes among the general Japanese population.

: Thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) controls the cellular redox balance by binding to and inhibiting the expression and function of thioredoxin. DNA methylation of the gene is involved in the regulation of TXNIP mRNA expression. Changes in DNA methylation levels are associated with the development of various diseases such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the serum of persons with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

The increasing prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a global health problem. In recent years, the inhibitory effect of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) on diabetes mellitus and fatty liver has been clarified. The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between serum BDNF and NAFLD which caused by abnormal metabolism of glucose and lipids.

Maternal high-fructose corn syrup consumption causes insulin resistance and hyperlipidemia in offspring via DNA methylation of the Pparα promoter region.

There are concerns about the negative effects of fructose intake during pregnancy on the next generation. We have previously reported that offspring from dams fed with fructose during gestation and lactation demonstrate abnormal lipid metabolism in the liver. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanism of the effects of maternal high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) consumption on offspring.

Maternal fructose intake predisposes rat offspring to metabolic disorders via abnormal hepatic programming.

Given that fructose consumption has increased by more than 10-fold in recent decades, it is possible that excess maternal fructose consumption causes harmful effects in the next generation. This study attempted to elucidate the mechanism of the harmful effects of excessive maternal fructose intake from the perspective of offspring liver function. Female rats during gestation and lactation were fed water containing fructose, and their offspring were fed normal water.

DNA methylation level of the gene encoding thioredoxin-interacting protein in peripheral blood cells is associated with metabolic syndrome in the Japanese general population.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is cluster of metabolic diseases, including abdominal obesity, hyperglycemia, high blood pressure, and dyslipidemia, that directly escalate the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. Thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) is a binding protein for thioredoxin, a molecule that is a key inhibitor of cellular oxidation, and thus regulates the cellular redox state. Epigenetic alteration of the TXNIP-encoding locus has been associated with components of MetS.

Maternal fructose consumption downregulates hippocampal catalase expression via DNA methylation in rat offspring.

Some studies have demonstrated that excessive fructose consumption negatively impact brain function. Recently, the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease hypothesis - which suggests that maternal nutritional status during gestation and lactation can alter offspring phenotype - has received much attention. In a previous study, we demonstrated that maternal fructose consumption increases levels of lipid peroxides in hippocampi of offspring.

Evaluation of red blood cell parameters provided by the UF-5000 urine auto-analyzer in patients with glomerulonephritis.

Objectives: The microscopic examination of hematuria, a cardinal symptom of glomerulonephritis (GN), is time-consuming and labor-intensive. As an alternative, the fully automated urine particle analyzer UF-5000 can interpret the morphological information of the glomerular red blood cells (RBCs) using parameters such as UF-5000 small RBCs (UF-%sRBCs) and Lysed-RBCs.

Methods: Hematuria samples from 203 patients were analyzed using the UF-5000 and blood and urine chemistries to determine the cut-off values of RBC parameters for GN and non-glomerulonephritis (NGN) classification and confirm their sensitivity to the IgA nephropathy and non-IgA nephropathy groups.