Onion and Apple Functional Ingredients Intake Improves Antioxidant and Inflammatory Status and Vascular Injury in Obese Zucker Rats.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of onion and apple functional ingredients in homozygous (fa/fa) obese Zucker rats. Rodents were fed three diets: standard diet [obese control (OC) group], standard diet containing 10% onion [obese onion 10% (OO) group] and standard diet containing 10% apple [obese apple 10% (OA) group] for 8 weeks. Food intake and body weight gain were higher in obese than in lean rats.

DPP4 Promotes Human Endothelial Cell Senescence and Dysfunction via the PAR2-COX-2-TP Axis and NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation.

Background: Abnormal accumulation of senescent cells in the vessel wall leads to a compromised vascular function contributing to vascular aging. Soluble DPP4 (dipeptidyl peptidase 4; sDPP4) secretion from visceral adipose tissue is enhanced in obesity, now considered a progeric condition. sDPP4 triggers vascular deleterious effects, albeit its contribution to vascular aging is unknown.

Pharmacological Blockade of NLRP3 Inflammasome/IL-1β-Positive Loop Mitigates Endothelial Cell Senescence and Dysfunction.

The clinical relevance of IL-1β in chronic inflammation underlying atherosclerosis has been reinforced by recent evidence associating pharmacological inhibition of the cytokine with lower cardiovascular risk. Previously, we have demonstrated a direct involvement of IL-1β in endothelial senescence. Therefore, this can be a key mechanism contributing to the sterile inflammatory milieu associated with aging, termed inflammaging.

Preventing Oxidative Stress in the Liver: An Opportunity for GLP-1 and/or PASK.

The liver's high metabolic activity and detoxification functions generate reactive oxygen species, mainly through oxidative phosphorylation in the mitochondria of hepatocytes. In contrast, it also has a potent antioxidant mechanism for counterbalancing the oxidant's effect and relieving oxidative stress. PAS kinase (PASK) is a serine/threonine kinase containing an N-terminal Per-Arnt-Sim (PAS) domain, able to detect redox state.