Epigenetic suppression of creatine kinase B in adipocytes links endoplasmic reticulum stress to obesity-associated inflammation.

In white adipose tissue, disturbed creatine metabolism through reduced creatine kinase B (CKB) transcription contributes to obesity-related inflammation. However, the mechanisms regulating CKB expression in human white adipocytes remain unclear. By screening conditions perturbed in obesity, we identified endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress as a key suppressor of CKB transcription across multiple cell types.

Reduced adipocyte glutaminase activity promotes energy expenditure and metabolic health.

Glutamine and glutamate are interconverted by several enzymes and alterations in this metabolic cycle are linked to cardiometabolic traits. Herein, we show that obesity-associated insulin resistance is characterized by decreased plasma and white adipose tissue glutamine-to-glutamate ratios. We couple these stoichiometric changes to perturbed fat cell glutaminase and glutamine synthase messenger RNA and protein abundance, which together promote glutaminolysis.

Transcriptional determinants of lipid mobilization in human adipocytes.

Defects in adipocyte lipolysis drive multiple aspects of cardiometabolic disease, but the transcriptional framework controlling this process has not been established. To address this, we performed a targeted perturbation screen in primary human adipocytes. Our analyses identified 37 transcriptional regulators of lipid mobilization, which we classified as (i) transcription factors, (ii) histone chaperones, and (iii) mRNA processing proteins.

Impaired phosphocreatine metabolism in white adipocytes promotes inflammation.

The mechanisms promoting disturbed white adipocyte function in obesity remain largely unclear. Herein, we integrate white adipose tissue (WAT) metabolomic and transcriptomic data from clinical cohorts and find that the WAT phosphocreatine/creatine ratio is increased and creatine kinase-B expression and activity is decreased in the obese state. In human in vitro and murine in vivo models, we demonstrate that decreased phosphocreatine metabolism in white adipocytes alters adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase activity via effects on adenosine triphosphate/adenosine diphosphate levels, independently of WAT beigeing.

An index to measure the activity attitude of broilers in extensive system.

In organic poultry production it is important to rear animals with a dynamic attitude to take advantage of outdoor areas. Farmers are reluctant to use such strains due to their lower productivity and older slaughtering age. However, fast growing lines grown in organic system often suffer poor health and welfare conditions.

The bright and the dark sides of L-carnitine supplementation: a systematic review.

Background: L-carnitine (LC) is used as a supplement by recreationally-active, competitive and highly trained athletes. This systematic review aims to evaluate the effect of prolonged LC supplementation on metabolism and metabolic modifications.

Methods: A literature search was conducted in the MEDLINE (via PubMed) and Web of Science databases from the inception up February 2020.

Organic carbon pools and soil biological fertility are affected by land use intensity in Mediterranean ecosystems of Sardinia, Italy.

Soil quality is mainly studied from the chemical and physical point of view, whereas soil biochemical and microbiological parameters are relatively more scarcely explored to assess the effect of management practices. This study aimed to evaluate soil organic carbon (SOC) and its pools; soil microbial activity parameters; and the Biological Fertility Index (BFI), in six land uses characteristics of the Mediterranean basin in north-eastern Sardinia. These land uses differed in management intensity and consisted of: tilled vineyard (TV), no tilled grassed vineyard (GV), former vineyards (FV), hay crop and pasture (HC and PA), cork oak forest (CO).