Analysis of Inflammatory Gene Expression Profile of Peripheral Blood Leukocytes in Type 2 Diabetes

Vitamin K3 promotes CCL5 expression to recruit preadipocytes deposition to skeletal muscle

Intramuscular fat (IMF), also known as ectopic fat deposits in skeletal muscle. Researches of IMF mainly focus on increasing the number and size of intramuscular adipocytes in situ. However, recent studies have shown that chemokines secreted by skeletal muscle recruit adipocytes to increase intramuscular fat content. Chemokine ligand 5 (CCL5), a member of chemokine family, is involved in the regulation of cell migration, inflammatory responses, and energy metabolism. In this study, we determined Vitamin K3 (VK3) enhanced Ccl5 transcription and expression, thus resulting in increased preadipocyte migration. VK3-injected vastus lateralis (VL) was observed an increased CCL5 concentration and IMF deposition, whereas blockade of the CCL5/CCR5 axis decreased IMF deposition.VK3 treatment also increased the body weight and VL ratio in mice. In summary, VK3, which targets CCL5, is expected to be a novel pharmacological regulator for promoting IMF content.

Enhanced production of interleukin-29 and related genes are associated with T helper 1 cell parameters in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

OBJECTIVE

The production of interleukin (IL)-29 andthe genes related to IL-29 signaling pathway (STAT1, NF-κB, and NFATc1), and T helper (Th) 1 cells (T-bet, IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-2) were evaluated in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Correlations between IL-29 and diabetes parameters, and between gene expression in IL-29 pathway and Th1 cells were also examined.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

41 newly diagnosed patients with T2DM and 41 healthy controls were recruited. CD4⁺ T cells were purifed and the production of IL-29 in the supernatant of anti- CD3 and anti- CD28 activated Th cells was detected using ELISA. The expression of IL-29- and Th1- related genes was determined with real-time PCR.

RESULTS

The secretion of IL-29 and the expression levels of NF-κB, NFATc1, IFN-γ, and TNF-α in Th cells were seen to be increased in diabetes persons compared to controls. Positive connections between IL-29 with hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) were found in diabetes persons. IL-29 was positively correlated with NFATc1 and TNF-α. NFATc1 was positively related to TNF-α.

CONCLUSION

Abnormal expression levels of IL-29- and Th1- related genes are linked with T2DM pathogenesis. IL-29 may amplify the expression of Th1-specific genes especially TNF-α by upregulating NFATc1 expression.

Investigation of the Correlation Between the Polymorphism/Expression Level of RANTES and Its Receptor CCR5 Gene Promoter and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to explore relationship among RANTES -28 (rs2280788) C/G polymorphism or CCR5 59029 (rs1799987) A/G polymorphism, level of self-expression, and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Clinical data were collected from 92 subjects with normal blood glucose (NC) and 97 patients with T2DM (DM). CCR5 levels on the surface of monocyte/lymphocyte and plasma RANTES levels were detected by flow cytometry. TaqMan real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR was used to detect genetic polymorphisms of RANTES rs2280788 and CCR5 rs1799987.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in frequencies of CCR5 rs1799987 genotype and A/G allele and frequencies of RANTES rs2280788 genotype and C/G allele, between subjects in NC and DM group (P > 0.05). Plasma RANTES level in DM group was significantly lower than NC group (P < 0.05), and difference came from patients with T2DM using insulin and subjects with normal blood glucose. CCR5 levels on the surface of monocytes and lymphocytes of patients in DM group were higher than NC group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in CCR5 level on the surface of monocytes and lymphocytes (or plasma RANTES level) among different genotypes of CCR5 rs1799987 (or RANTES rs2280788) (P > 0.05). RANTES level was positively correlated with age and TC and negatively correlated with diabetes course and HbA1c. CCR5 level on the surface of monocytes was positively correlated with drinking years, HbA1c, course of diabetes, and negatively correlated with TC. CCR5 on lymphocyte surface was positively correlated with diabetes course, smoking years, HbA1c, and negatively correlated with LDL, TC, HDL (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

RANTES -28 (rs2280788) C/G polymorphism or CCR5 59029 (rs1799987) A/G polymorphism may not be associated with T2DM of Han nationality in Kunming and cannot affect RANTES and CCR5 expression. RANTES and CCR5 levels may be related to T2DM but may also be affected by age, blood lipids, HbA1c, diabetes course, drugs, and other factors.

Modulatory effects of R10 fraction of garlic (Allium sativum L.) on hormonal levels, T cell polarization, and fertility-related genes in mice model of polycystic ovarian syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an inflammatory endocrine-metabolic disorder related to reproductive system characterized by polycystic ovarian morphology, androgen excess, and chronic anovulation. Current treatments haven't been very successful in PCOS treatment and the problem still remains as a challenge. Therefore, new approaches should be applied to overcome the disease. Previous studies demonstrated immunomodulatory effects of R10 fraction of garlic in the treatment of inflammatory conditions such as cancer. Considering previous studies suggesting immunomodulatory therapy for PCOS, therapeutic effects of R10 fraction was evaluated in a mouse model of PCOS. To do so, PCOS was developed by intramuscular injection of estradiol valerate. Treatment with R10 fraction, isolated from garlic, was performed and the alterations in hormonal levels (estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone), T cell polarization markers (IFN-γ, IL-4, and IL-17), and expression of fertility-related genes (Gpx3 and Ptx3) were evaluated. The results showed that hormonal levels were elevated in PCOS model comparing to normal animals but were markedly modulated after treatment with R10 fraction. Moreover, a severe disturbance in T cell polarization with a significant reduction of fertility-related genes expression were detected in PCOS-induced ovaries. Treatment with R10 fraction also represented modulatory effects on T cell polarization by increasing IL-4 and decreasing IL-17 and IFN-γ levels. Accordingly, fertility-related genes were also modulated following treatment with R10 fraction in PCOS. Our study elucidated that R10 fraction of garlic possess immunomodulatory effects alleviating PCOS symptoms. This approach could be adjusted to give rise the optimum therapeutic results and considered as a candidate therapeutic approach for PCOS.

The Chemokine Systems at the Crossroads of Inflammation and Energy Metabolism in the Development of Obesity

Obesity is characterized as a complex and multifactorial excess accretion of adipose tissue accompanied with alterations in the immune and metabolic responses. Although the chemokine systems have been documented to be involved in the control of tissue inflammation and metabolism, the dual role of chemokines and chemokine receptors in the pathogenesis of the inflammatory milieu and dysregulated energy metabolism in obesity remains elusive. The objective of this review is to present an update on the link between chemokines and obesity-related inflammation and metabolism dysregulation under the light of recent knowledge, which may present important therapeutic targets that could control obesity-associated immune and metabolic disorders and chronic complications in the near future. In addition, the cellular and molecular mechanisms of chemokines and chemokine receptors including the potential effect of post-translational modification of chemokines in the regulation of inflammation and energy metabolism will be discussed in this review.

Design, synthesis and bioactivity evaluation of thiazolidinedione derivatives as partial agonists targeting PPARγ

Thiazolidinedione (TZD) is a novel peroxides proliferator activated receptor γ (PPARγ) agonist with many side effects. Herein, we developed a series of novel TZD analogues as partial agonists targeting PPARγ. The study of anti-hyperglycemic activity and anti-inflammatory activity enabled us to identify a novel compound, 4 g, which quickly recover the blood glucose of mice at the concentration of 100 mg/kg, and show similar anti-inflammatory activity to ibuprofen at the concentration of 20 mg/kg. The competitive binding assay confirmed direct binding of 4 g to the LBD of PPARγ with IC₅₀ being 1790 nM, and dose-dependently increased the transcriptional activity of PPARγ. Besides, through computer-aided drug design software simulation docking, it was found that compound 4 g showed the best binding ability to target protein PPARγ. Furthermore, because of the introduction of benzene containing group at N3 position, the stability of H12 in the active pocket is reduced and the stability of H3 and β-fold is increased, showing the characteristics of some PPARγ agonists, based on the docking model analysis. Together, these results suggest that 4 g is a promising PPARγ agonist that deserves further investigation.

Chemokines in Prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes: A Meta-Analysis

Background

A growing number of studies found inconsistent results on the role of chemokines in the progression of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and prediabetes (PDM). The purpose of this meta-analysis was to summarize the results of previous studies on the association between the chemokines system and T2DM/PDM.

Methods

We searched in the databases, PubMed, Web of Science, Embase and Cochrane Library, for eligible studies published not later than March 1, 2020. Data extraction was performed independently by 2 reviewers, on a standardized, prepiloted form. Group differences in chemokines concentrations were summarized using the standardized mean difference (SMD) with a 95% confidence interval (CI), calculated by performing a meta-analysis using the random-effects model.

Results

We identified 98 relevant studies that investigated the association between 32 different chemokines and T2DM/PDM. Altogether, these studies involved 14,708 patients and 14,574 controls. Results showed that the concentrations of CCL1, CCL2, CCL4, CCL5, CCL11, CXCL8, CXCL10 and CX3CL1 in the T2DM patients were significantly higher than that in the controls, while no difference in these concentrations was found between the PDM patients and controls.

Conclusion

Progression of T2DM may be associated with elevated concentrations of chemokines.

Meta-Analysis Registration

PROSPERO, identifier CRD42019148305.

Cancer Signaling Transcriptome Is Upregulated in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

We aimed to explore the differences in the whole transcriptome of peripheral blood mononuclear cells between elderly individuals with and without type 2 diabetes (T2D). We conducted a microarray-based transcriptome analysis of 19 individuals with T2D and 15 without. Differentially expressed genes according to linear models were submitted to the Ingenuity Pathway Analysis system to conduct a functional enrichment analysis. We established that diseases, biological functions, and canonical signaling pathways were significantly associated with T2D patients when their logarithms of Benjamini–Hochberg-adjusted p-value were >1.30 and their absolute z-scores were >2.0 (≥2.0 meant “upregulation” and ≤ −2.0 “downregulation”). Cancer signaling pathways were the most upregulated ones in T2D (z-score = 2.63, −log(p-value) = 32.3; 88.5% (n = 906) of the total differentially expressed genes located in these pathways). In particular, integrin (z-score = 2.52, −log(p-value) = 2.03) and paxillin (z-score = 2.33, −log(p-value) = 1.46) signaling pathways were predicted to be upregulated, whereas the Rho guanosine diphosphate (Rho-GDP) dissociation inhibitor signaling pathway was predicted to be downregulated in T2D individuals (z-score = −2.14, −log(p-value) = 2.41). Our results suggest that, at transcriptional expression level, elderly individuals with T2D present an increased activation of signaling pathways related to neoplastic processes, T-cell activation and migration, and inflammation.

Chemokine Receptor 5, a Double-Edged Sword in Metabolic Syndrome and Cardiovascular Disease

The key characteristic of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is endothelial dysfunction, which is likely the consequence of inflammation. It is well demonstrated that chemokines and their receptors play a crucial role in regulating inflammatory responses, and recently, much attention has been paid to chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) and its ligands. For example, CCR5 aggravates the inflammatory response in adipose tissue by regulating macrophage recruitment and M1/M2 phenotype switch, thus causing insulin resistance and obesity. Inhibition of CCR5 expression reduces the aggregation of pro-atherogenic cytokines to the site of arterial injury. However, targeting CCR5 is not always effective, and emerging evidence has shown that CCR5 facilitates progenitor cell recruitment and promotes vascular endothelial cell repair. In this paper, we provide recent insights into the role of CCR5 and its ligands in metabolic syndrome as related to cardiovascular disease and the opportunities and roadblocks in targeting CCR5 and its ligands.