Serum Leucine-Rich Alpha-2 Glycoprotein 1 Levels in Patients with Lipodystrophy Syndromes.

Serum concentrations of leucine-rich alpha-2 glycoprotein 1 (LRG1) are elevated in several cardio-metabolic and inflammatory diseases. LRG1 also plays an important role in the development of hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance. In lipodystrophies (LDs), severe cardio-metabolic complications can be observed.

Renal function is a major predictor of circulating acyl-CoA-binding protein/diazepam-binding inhibitor.

Objective: Acyl-CoA-binding protein (ACBP)/diazepam-binding inhibitor has lately been described as an endocrine factor affecting food intake and lipid metabolism. ACBP is dysregulated in catabolic/malnutrition states like sepsis or systemic inflammation. However, regulation of ACBP has not been investigated in conditions with impaired kidney function, so far.

Leptin treatment has vasculo-protective effects in lipodystrophic mice.

Lipodystrophy syndromes (LDs) are characterized by loss of adipose tissue, metabolic complications such as dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and fatty liver disease, as well as accelerated atherosclerosis. As a result of adipose tissue deficiency, the systemic concentration of the adipokine leptin is reduced. A current promising therapeutic option for patients with LD is treatment with recombinant leptin (metreleptin), resulting in reduced risk of mortality.

Using soil-moisture drought indices to evaluate key indicators of agricultural drought in semi-arid Mediterranean Southern Africa.

Droughts are natural disasters that globally affect large numbers of people each year. While different forms of drought exist, their severity and extent are dependent on critical points of onset. Understanding these onsets is crucial for water, food and energy security, as well as to develop climate change adaptation strategies.

Leptin Improves Parameters of Brown Adipose Tissue Thermogenesis in Lipodystrophic Mice.

Lipodystrophy syndromes (LD) are a heterogeneous group of very rare congenital or acquired disorders characterized by a generalized or partial lack of adipose tissue. They are strongly associated with severe metabolic dysfunction due to ectopic fat accumulation in the liver and other organs and the dysregulation of several key adipokines, including leptin. Treatment with leptin or its analogues is therefore sufficient to reverse some of the metabolic symptoms of LD in patients and in mouse models through distinct mechanisms.

Future snow projections in a small basin of the Western Himalaya.

Snow is a crucial component of the hydrological cycle in the Western Himalaya. Water from snowmelt is used in various sectors in downstream regions, thus playing a critical role in securing the livelihoods of millions of people. In this study, we investigated the future evolution of snow cover and snowmelt in the Panjshir catchment of Afghanistan, a sub-basin of the Indus, in the Western Himalaya.

The Effect of FGF21 and Its Genetic Variants on Food and Drug Cravings, Adipokines and Metabolic Traits.

Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is a regulator of addictive behavior. Increasing evidence suggests an impact of FGF21 on eating behavior, food and drug cravings and on other adipokines like insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) or adiponectin. We investigated the association of serum FGF21 and genetic variants with aspects of food and drug craving and obesity related metabolic parameters including serum adipokine levels.

Increased Growth Differentiation Factor 15 in Patients with Hypoleptinemia-Associated Lipodystrophy.

Similar to obesity, lipodystrophy (LD) causes adipose tissue dysfunction and severe metabolic complications. Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) belongs to the transforming growth factor β superfamily and is dysregulated in metabolic disease including obesity and diabetes mellitus. Circulating levels in LD and the impact of leptin treatment have not been investigated so far.

Pro-neurotensin depends on renal function and is related to all-cause mortality in chronic kidney disease.

Background: Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have a high risk of premature cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and show increased mortality. Pro-neurotensin (Pro-NT) was associated with metabolic diseases and predicted incident CVD and mortality. However, Pro-NT regulation in CKD and its potential role linking CKD and mortality have not been investigated, so far.

The brown fat-secreted adipokine neuregulin 4 is decreased in human and murine chronic kidney disease.

Objective: Neuregulin 4 (NRG4) has recently been introduced as a novel brown adipose tissue (BAT)-secreted adipokine with beneficial metabolic effects in mice. However, regulation of Nrg4 in end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has not been elucidated, so far.

Design/methods: Serum NRG4 levels were quantified by ELISA in 60 subjects with ESKD on chronic hemodialysis as compared to 60 subjects with an estimated glomerular filtration rate >50 mL/min/1.

Circulating Pro-Neurotensin in gestational diabetes mellitus.

Background And Aims: Pro-Neurotensin (NT), a stable surrogate parameter of NT, has recently been introduced as a peptide predicting the development of obesity, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, and cardiovascular mortality. However, regulation of Pro-NT in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) remains uninvestigated.

Methods And Results: Pro-NT was quantified in 74 women with GDM, 74 healthy, gestational age-matched, pregnant controls, as well as in a second cohort comprising of 74 healthy, non-pregnant control women, using a chemiluminometric sandwich immunoassay.

Leptin decreases circulating inflammatory IL-6 and MCP-1 in mice.

Leptin influences inflammation and immune response. Dose-dependent effects of leptin on biomarkers of inflammation have not been studied in vivo, so far. Leptin-deficient low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) knockout (LDLR ;ob/ob) female mice were treated with three different leptin doses or saline for 12 weeks.

Leptin restores markers of female fertility in lipodystrophy.

Objectives: Female reproductive dysfunction occurs in patients with pathological loss of adipose tissue, i.e. lipodystrophy (LD).

The brown-fat-secreted adipokine neuregulin 4 is decreased in gestational diabetes mellitus.

Aims: Neuregulin 4 has recently been recognized as a novel adipokine secreted by brown adipose tissue (BAT), with beneficial effects on murine insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis. Yet, thus far, neither regulation of neuregulin 4 in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) nor its longitudinal changes in the peripartum period have been elucidated.

Methods: Circulating neuregulin 4 levels were measured by ELISA in 74 women with GDM and 74 healthy, gestational-age-matched controls.

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) specific vaspin expression is increased after obesogenic diets and cold exposure and linked to acute changes in DNA-methylation.

Objective: Several studies have demonstrated anti-diabetic and anti-obesogenic properties of visceral adipose tissue-derived serine protease inhibitor (vaspin) and so evoked its potential use for treatment of obesity-related diseases. The aim of the study was to unravel physiological regulators of vaspin expression and secretion with a particular focus on its role in brown adipose tissue (BAT) biology.

Methods: We analyzed the effects of obesogenic diets and cold exposure on vaspin expression in liver and white and brown adipose tissue (AT) and plasma levels.

FSTL3 is increased in renal dysfunction.

Background: Follistatin-like 3 (FSTL3) is a novel cytokine that regulates insulin sensitivity and counteracts activin/myostatin signalling. In the present study, regulation of FSTL3 in renal dysfunction was investigated in both human chronic kidney disease (CKD) and acute kidney dysfunction (AKD). Furthermore, mFSTL3 expression was analysed in insulin-sensitive tissues in a mouse model of CKD.

Hedgehog signalling in myeloid cells impacts on body weight, adipose tissue inflammation and glucose metabolism.

Aims/hypothesis: Recently, hedgehog (Hh) was identified as a crucial player in adipose tissue development and energy expenditure. Therefore, we tested whether Hh ligands are regulated in obesity. Further, we aimed at identifying potential target cells of Hh signalling and studied the functional impact of Hh signalling on adipose tissue inflammation and glucose metabolism.

Regulation of the novel adipokines/ hepatokines fetuin A and fetuin B in gestational diabetes mellitus.

Objective: Fetuin B has recently been introduced as a novel adipokine/hepatokine which is significantly increased in hepatic steatosis and mediates impaired insulin action, as well as glucose intolerance. However, regulation of fetuin B in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), as well as its longitudinal changes in the peripartum period, have not been elucidated, so far.

Design And Methods: Circulating fetuin A and fetuin B were quantified in 74 women with GDM and 74 healthy and gestational age-matched controls by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay during pregnancy (median gestational age: 201days).

Adipocyte and epidermal fatty acid-binding protein serum concentrations in patients with lipodystrophy.

Objective: Lipodystrophy (LD) syndromes are associated with diabetes mellitus, hypertriglyceridemia, and coronary artery disease. One pathogenetic factor of LD is dysregulation of several adipokines. However, the insulin resistance- and dyslipidemia-promoting adipokines adipocyte (AFABP) and epidermal (EFABP) fatty acid-binding protein have not been investigated in non-HIV-associated LD so far.

Thyroid hormone status defines brown adipose tissue activity and browning of white adipose tissues in mice.

The present study aimed to determine the effect of thyroid hormone dysfunction on brown adipose tissue activity and white adipose tissue browning in mice. Twenty randomized female C57BL/6NTac mice per treatment group housed at room temperature were rendered hypothyroid or hyperthyroid. In-vivo small animal F-FDG PET/MRI was performed to determine the effects of hypo- and hyperthyroidism on BAT mass and BAT activity.

Progranulin is increased in human and murine lipodystrophy.

Aims: Lipodystrophies (LD) are genetic or acquired disorders sharing the symptom of partial or complete adipose tissue deficiency and a dysregulation of adipokines including leptin and adiponectin. Progranulin, an adipokine with proinflammatory and insulin resistance-inducing characteristics, has not been investigated in LD so far.

Methods: Circulating progranulin was determined in LD patients (N=37) and in age-, gender-, and body mass index-matched healthy control subjects (N=37).

Serum concentrations of fibroblast growth factor 21 are elevated in patients with congenital or acquired lipodystrophy.

Objective: Patients with lipodystrophy (LD) suffer from loss of subcutaneous adipose tissue accompanied by dysregulation of several adipocyte-secreted factors. However, regulation of adipocyte-expressed fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 21 which acts in an insulin-mimetic, lipid-lowering, and anti-atherogenic manner has not been investigated in non-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) LD.

Material And Methods: Circulating serum FGF21 levels were quantified in 37 patients with non-HIV LD and 37 controls matched for age, gender, and body mass index.