An IL-6 promoter variant (-174 G/C) augments IL-6 production and alters skeletal muscle transcription in response to exercise in mice.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is produced and secreted by skeletal muscle cells during exercise and plays an important role in mediating metabolic responses to exercise. The promoter region of the IL-6 gene contains a common genetic variant (-174 G/C, rs1800795), which may alter responses to exercise training. To isolate the impact of this gene variant on exercise-induced IL-6 expression and skeletal muscle transcription responses following exercise, we generated knock-in mice with a GG or variant CC genotype for the murine homolog of rs1800795.

A Mediterranean dietary pattern intervention does not improve cardiometabolic risk but does improve quality of life and body composition in an Aotearoa New Zealand population at increased cardiometabolic risk: A randomised controlled trial.

Aims: To test if a New Zealand food-based Mediterranean diet (NZMedDiet) with behavioural intervention improves cardiometabolic health and wellbeing.

Methods: A randomised controlled trial comparing 12 weeks of the NZMedDiet to usual diet in participants with increased cardiometabolic risk (metabolic syndrome severity score [MetSSS] > 0.35).

The population-specific Thr44Met OCT3 coding variant affects metformin pharmacokinetics with subsequent effects on insulin sensitivity in C57Bl/6J mice.

Aims/hypothesis: Metformin is an important first-line treatment for type 2 diabetes and acts by increasing the body's ability to dispose of glucose. Metformin's efficacy can be affected by genetic variants in the transporters that regulate its uptake into cells. The SLC22A3 gene (also known as EMT; EMTH; OCT3) codes for organic cation transporter 3 (OCT3), which is a broad-specificity cation transporter that also transports metformin.

A Polynesian-specific SLC22A3 variant associates with low plasma lipoprotein(a) concentrations independent of apo(a) isoform size in males.

Lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) is a low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-like particle in which the apolipoprotein B component is covalently linked to apolipoprotein(a) (apo(a)). Lp(a) is a well-established independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Plasma Lp(a) concentrations vary enormously between individuals and ethnic groups.