Spotlight on very-low-density lipoprotein as a driver of cardiometabolic disorders: Implications for disease progression and mechanistic insights

From genes to clinic: Genomic and cross-sectional cohort analysis of oxidative stressors and lipid metabolism in European ancestry

BACKGROUND

The link between oxidative stress and lipid metabolism is widely studied, but their causal relationship in the general population remains unclear.

METHODS

We utilized weighted regression and propensity score matching (PSM) models to investigate the relationship between endogenous oxidative stress markers (serum bilirubin and uric acid) and lipid metabolism in 11,087 participants of European ancestry from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) during the period from 2005 to 2018. Additionally, we performed a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis using Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) summary statistics from individuals of European ancestry (n = 997 to 575,531) to explore the genetic causal relationship between oxidative stress markers and lipid metabolism profiles (n = 20,430).

RESULTS

Weighted regression showed that serum uric acid significantly increased high cholesterol (OR = 1.11, 95 % CI = 1.06-1.15, P < 0.001) and high triglycerides (OR = 1.25, 95 % CI = 1.20-1.30, P < 0.001). PSM analysis confirmed that serum uric acid increased the incidence of high triglycerides (OR = 1.57, 95 % CI = 1.35-1.82, P < 0.001). Additionally, a strong bidirectional genetic relationship was found between oxidative stress markers and lipid metabolism. For example, serum uric acid increased serum triglycerides (β = 0.1904, Se = 0.05, P < 0.001) and decreased total cholesterol in very large HDL (β = -0.1298, Se = 0.039, P < 0.001). Conversely, total cholesterol reduced direct bilirubin levels (β = -0.1707, Se = 0.018, P < 0.001). No significant horizontal pleiotropy was detected by MR-Egger intercept.

CONCLUSION

Our findings demonstrate a robust genetic and population-based association between oxidative stress markers and lipid metabolism, suggesting potential therapeutic targets for lipid disorders based on endogenous oxidative stressors.

VLDL lipidomics reveals hepatocellular lipidome changes in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease

BACKGROUND

The production of VLDL is one of the primary mechanisms through which liver cells regulate intracellular lipid homeostasis. We hypothesize that the disease characteristics of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) differentially impact VLDL lipid composition. This study comprehensively examines the relationship between VLDL-lipidome and MASLD histology and disease-associated genetics, aiming to define MASLD-related VLDL changes.

METHODS

We performed untargeted lipidomics on serum VLDL particles in a cohort of biopsy-proven MASLD patients to examine the relationship between VLDL-lipidome and MASLD disease features as well as MASLD-related genetic variants.

RESULTS

Among 1514 detected lipid species in VLDL, triglyceride (TG), phosphatidylcholine (PC), and ceramide (Cer) were the top classes. Moderate to severe hepatic steatosis was associated an increase in VLDL-TG, especially those with palmitic acid (C16:0). A unified acyl chain distribution analysis revealed that steatosis was associated with increases in TGs with saturated and monounsaturated fatty acyl chains, but decreases in polyunsaturated fatty acyl chains, a pattern that was not mirrored in acyl chains from VLDL-PC or VLDL-Cer. Lobular inflammation was associated with reductions in lipids with polyunsaturated acyl chains, particularly docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6). Meanwhile, patients with advanced liver fibrosis (stages 3-4) had reductions in VLDL-TGs with both saturated and polyunsaturated acyl chains and overall enrichment in Cer species. Furthermore, MASLD-associated genetic variants in PNPLA3, TM6SF2, GPAM, HSD17B13, and MTARC1 demonstrated distinct VLDL-lipidomic signatures in keeping with their biology in lipoprotein metabolism.

CONCLUSIONS

Hepatic steatosis and liver fibrosis in MASLD are associated with distinct VLDL-lipidomic signatures, respectively. This relationship is further modified by MASLD-genetics, suggesting a differential impact of pathogenic features on hepatocellular lipid homeostasis.

Lipoprotein-inspired in situ activatable photo-theranostic nitrobenzoselenadiazole-cholesterol for overcoming glioblastoma

Photo-theranostic materials are designed for both diagnostic imaging and therapeutic applications under specific light sources, particularly in translational medicine. While various photo-theranostic materials have been developed for disease treatment, their cooperative effects on biologically abundant species, such as proteins, have rarely been studied in terms of biological activity. In this work, we disclose a photo-theranostic agent (named NBSD-Chol) based on nitrobenzoselenadiazole (NBSD) and cholesterol (Chol), which is activatable in situ through lipoprotein hybridization. NBSD-Chol demonstrates outstanding potential for cancer imaging and photodynamic therapy (PDT) due to its unique properties, including (i) tumor targeting after oral uptake, (ii) tumor visualization under light irradiation for image-guided surgery, (iii) superior PDT effects, and (iv) downgrading hazard ratios (HR) related to clinically critical proteins. Overall, this work contributes to advancing translational medicine by developing innovative treatments for cancer using visible light, ushering in a new era of intraoperative technology and photodynamic fluorescence-guided surgical agents.

MAIT Cells Promote Cholesterol Excretion Pathways Mitigating Atherosclerosis

BACKGROUND

Previous clinical studies have indicated reduced circulating mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells in individuals with coronary artery disease. However, the precise role and underlying mechanisms of MAIT cells in this context remain unclear. Immune homeostasis plays a pivotal role in the development of atherosclerosis. This study explores the impact of MAIT cells on atherosclerosis.

METHODS

Vα19+/- Ldlr-/- mice, characterized by a high MAIT cell frequency, and MAIT cell deficient MR1-/- (major histocompatibility complex-related molecule 1) Ldlr-/- mice and their respective controls were used. Starting at 6 weeks of age, mice were subjected to a 1% cholesterol diet for 16 weeks. Additionally, the study analyzed circulating MAIT cell frequency and cholesterol levels in 68 patients with hypercholesterolemia.

RESULTS

In Vα19+/- Ldlr-/- mice, increased MAIT cells demonstrated a protective effect against atherosclerosis by reducing VLDL-C (very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol) levels through heightened cholesterol excretion. This effect was accompanied by elevated jejunal ABCB1a, ABCG5, and ABCG8 expression, mediated by augmented levels of Liver X receptor transcription and activation, likely through intestinal IL-22 (interleukin-22) signaling. Conversely, cholesterol reduction mediated by intestinal cholesterol excretion was blocked by inhibition of MAIT cells. Moreover, MAIT cell-deficient MR1-/- Ldlr-/- mice exhibited elevated total cholesterol levels and increased atherosclerotic lesions. In patients with hypercholesterolemia, circulating MAIT cell frequency displayed negative correlations with VLDL-C levels and positive correlations with HDL-C (high-density lipoprotein cholesterol) levels.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings demonstrate a new mechanism for plasma VLDL-C clearance by MAIT cell-mediated cholesterol excretion. The results provide further evidence that immunity is involved in cholesterol homeostasis. Targeting intestinal immunity to regulate cholesterol homeostasis holds promise as a new cholesterol-lowering modality to prevent atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

Unraveling the triglyceride-glucose index: a key predictor of liver fat content and the amplifying role of BMI: evidence from a large physical examination data

Background

The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index is associated with the severity of metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MASLD), but its link to liver fat content is not fully understood. This study investigates the relationship between the TyG index and liver fat content and explores the role of body mass index (BMI) as a mediator.

Methods

This cross-sectional study analyzed data from 12,750 participants who underwent health screenings at the first affiliated hospital of Xinxiang Medical University between January 2018 and December 2023. The TyG index, derived as Ln [triglycerides (mg/dl) * fasting plasma glucose (mg/dl)/2], was the independent variable, while liver fat content, measured by quantitative computed tomography (QCT), was the dependent variable. Participants were grouped into tertiles based on their TyG index. Univariate and multivariate analyses, smooth curve fitting (generalized additive models), threshold effect analysis, and subgroup analyses were used to assess the TyG-liver fat content relationship. BMI's mediating effect was also examined.

Results

Liver fat content increased steadily across TyG index tertiles. After adjusting for confounders, the TyG index remained independently associated with liver fat content [β = 1.42, 95% CI: 1.26-1.57]. Participants in the highest TyG tertile (T3) had a 1.58-fold higher liver fat content compared to those in the lowest tertile (T1) (95% CI: 1.37-1.80, P<0.001). A generalized additive model showed a nonlinear relationship between TyG index and liver fat content. When the TyG index ≤ 7.39, liver fat content increased gradually (β = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.50-0.99, P<0.001). Beyond this threshold, liver fat content rose sharply (β = 2.19, 95% CI: 1.92-2.46, P<0.001). Subgroup analysis indicated that the association between TyG index and liver fat content was stronger at higher BMI levels (P for interaction < 0.001). Mediation analysis revealed that BMI accounted for 26.68% of the observed effect.

Conclusion

The TyG index is positively associated with liver fat content in a nonlinear manner, with BMI amplifying this effect. These results suggest that the TyG index may be a useful marker for predicting liver fat content, and managing weight could help slow the progression of MASLD.

Metabolic Profiling of Individuals with Missing Teeth and Tooth Loss

Missing teeth have been linked to incident cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and all-cause mortality. Our previous study revealed that signs of oral infections and inflammatory conditions (i.e., periodontal disease and dental caries) are associated with disadvantageous features of circulating metabolites. This study investigates whether missing teeth and tooth loss, the end points of these diseases, are associated with similar metabolic features. The 2 Finnish population-based studies Health-2000 (n = 6,197) and FINRISK-97 (n = 6,050) were included, as was Parogene (n = 465), a cohort of patients with an indication for coronary angiography. The number of teeth was recorded in clinical examinations. Serum concentrations of 157 metabolites were determined by a nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy-based method. Health-2000 participants (n = 3,371) provided follow-up serum samples, and 1,186 of them participated in a repeated oral examination 11 y after the baseline. Linear regression models adjusted for age, sex, smoking, body mass index, and diabetes were fitted to the number of teeth and metabolite measures. The results from the separate cohorts were combined in a fixed-effects meta-analysis. We also analyzed whether the number of teeth at baseline and tooth loss during follow-up were associated with changes in metabolite concentrations. Missing teeth were associated with increased very-low-density lipoprotein-related measures and triglyceride concentrations, as well as with decreased high-density lipoprotein parameters and small particle size. Missing teeth also had an association with low levels of unsaturated fatty acids (FAs), including omega-3 and omega-6 FAs, and elevated proportions of monounsaturated and saturated FAs. The number of teeth at baseline predicted changes in several concentrations, such as measures related to intermediate-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, and FAs, but no associations with tooth loss during the 11-y follow-up were observed. To conclude, missing teeth are associated with adverse metabolic features characterized by systemic inflammation and several risk factors for cardiometabolic diseases.

Changes in triglyceride-rich lipoprotein particle profiles in response to one-week on a low fat or Mediterranean diet by TCF7L2 rs7903146 genotype: a randomized crossover dietary intervention trial

BACKGROUND

The TCF7L2 gene is a significant genetic factor contributing to the risk of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases (CVD). We previously found that subjects with the TT genotype of TCF7L2 rs7903146 variant, who consume a low-fat diet (LF) had a higher incidence of stroke than subjects with the CC genotype. Yet this association was abolished in subjects with the TT genotype who consumed a Mediterranean-type diet (MetD). However, the mechanism by which MetD diet modulates the association between TCF7L2 and CVD risk is unclear. This study aims to validate these findings under real-world conditions and clinical practice to elucidate the biological mechanisms involved in this correlation.

METHODS

Thirty-five participants with BMI ranging from 27 to 34 kg/m2 were recruited based on rs7903146 genotype. Of those consented to participate, 21 had the CC and 14 had the TT genotype. Participants were randomly assigned to two dietary intervention groups, ensuring an equal distribution of CC and TT carriers. Each participant followed one of two diets (LF or MetD) for one week, followed by a 10-day washout period before switching to the other diet for one week. Blood samples were collected before and after each diet for metabolomic analysis using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The differential effect of the diets on triglyceride-rich lipoproteins was determined based on TCF7L2 genotype.

RESULTS

The MetD significantly reduced triglyceride-rich lipoprotein concentrations compared to the LF diet. After consuming the LF diet, TT carriers exhibited more small VLDL particles, potentially contributing to CVD risk compared to CC carriers. However, this difference in risk was not observed with the MetD. Furthermore, the order in which the two diets were crossed affected the triglyceride-rich lipoprotein profile, with LF-MetD regimen showing a stronger effect on triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (TRL) levels than the MetD-LF regimen.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that rs7903146 TT carriers benefit more from a MetD than a LF diet in terms of their triglyceride-rich lipoprotein profile, which may reduce their risk of CVD. These results support the notion that genotype is a factor in determining the extent to which the MetD affects cardiovascular health.

Application of attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy in semi-quantification of blood lipids and characterization of the metabolic syndrome

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

Dyslipidemia, a hallmark of metabolic syndrome (MetS), contributes to atherosclerotic and cardiometabolic disorders. Due to days-long analysis, current clinical procedures for cardiotoxic blood lipid monitoring are unmet. This study used AI-assisted attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy to identify MetS and precisely quantify multiple blood lipid levels with a blood sample of 0.5 µl and the assaying time is approximately 10 minutes.

METHODS

ATR-FTIR spectroscopy with 1738 data points in the spectral range of 4000-650 cm-1 was used to analyze the blood samples. An adaptive synthetic technique was used to establish a prevalence-balanced dataset. LDL-C, HDL-C, TG, VLDL-C, and cholesterol levels were defined as the predicted targets of lipid absorption profiles. Linear regression (LR), gradient boosting regression tree (GBT), and histogram-based gradient boosting regression tree (HGBTR) were used to train the models. Lipid profile value prediction was evaluated using R2 and MAE, whereas MetS prediction was evaluated using area under the ROC curve.

RESULTS

A total of 150 blood samples from 25 individuals without MetS and 25 with MetS yielded 491 spectral measurements. In the regression models, HGBT best predicted the targets of TG, CHOL, HDL-C, LDL-C, and VLDL-C with R2 values of 0.854 (0.12), 0.684 (0.08), 0.758 (0.10), and 0.419 (0.11), respectively. The classification model with the greatest AUC was RF (0.978), followed by HGBT (0.972) and GBT (0.967).

CONCLUSION

The results of this study revealed that predicting MetS and determining blood lipid levels with high R2 values and limited errors are feasible for monitoring during therapy and intervention.

Emerging Biomarkers and Determinants of Lipoprotein Profiles to Predict CVD Risk: Implications for Precision Nutrition

Biomarkers constitute a valuable tool to diagnose both the incidence and the prevalence of chronic diseases and may help to inform the design and effectiveness of precision nutrition interventions. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) continues to be the foremost cause of death all over the world. While the reasons that lead to increased risk for CVD are multifactorial, dyslipidemias, plasma concentrations of specific lipoproteins, and dynamic measures of lipoprotein function are strong biomarkers to predict and document coronary heart disease incidence. The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the biomarkers and emerging approaches that can be utilized to characterize lipoprotein profiles as predictive tools for assessing CVD risk, including the assessment of traditional clinical lipid panels, measures of lipoprotein efflux capacity and inflammatory and antioxidant activity, and omics-based characterization of lipoprotein composition and regulators of lipoprotein metabolism. In addition, we discuss demographic, genetic, metagenomic, and lifestyle determinants of lipoprotein profiles-such as age, sex, gene variants and single-nucleotide polymorphisms, gut microbiome profiles, dietary patterns, physical inactivity, obesity status, smoking and alcohol intake, and stress-which are likely to be essential factors to explain interindividual responses to precision nutrition recommendations to mitigate CVD risk.

Relation of skinfold thickness with the serum lipids, glucose and blood pressure among Indian sedentary office workers

BACKGROUND

Serum glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides and high-density lipoproteins (HDL) are established cardiovascular disease (CVD) markers, however accessibility to these markers is less in individuals from low-middle income countries. The non-invasive CVD risk marker especially skinfold measured fat percentages are less explored for its relevance with established serum biochemistry markers.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted in 70 sedentary office workers (aged 30-40 years) who were healthy. Peripheral fat percentages were estimated from four skinfold thickness measurements and biochemistry markers were measured and analysed using standard laboratory measurements. Blood pressure was also measured. Multivariate linear regression models were drawn to establish the association between the non-invasive and invasive CVD risk markers.

RESULTS

The skinfold measured fat percentage was negatively associated with the HDL (coefficient β = -0.15, standard error SE = 0.07, p < 0.05). No significant relation between the other biochemistry parameters with the skinfold thickness. Age and BMI were found to be mediating the above relationship.

CONCLUSIONS

Skinfold thickness derived fat percentage is associated with the few of the CVD markers (especially HDL). Age and BMI are crucial mediating factors for the fat measurement. Skinfold measurements could be included as part of routine primary care screening for CVD risk, alongside invasive biochemistry parameters.

Periodontitis adversely affects lipoprotein subfractions - results from the cohort study SHIP-TREND: Periodontitis adversely affects lipoprotein subfractions

AIM

We aimed to investigate the medium-term associations of periodontitis and the number of missing teeth with serum lipoproteins and their plasma subfractions using follow-up data from the population-based Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP-TREND).

METHODS

A total of 2,058 participants with 7-year follow-up data underwent periodontal examinations, serum lipid panel tests, and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) spectroscopy of plasma lipoproteins and their subfractions. Generalized models with gamma distribution and loglink were used to analyze associations between periodontal variables and lipoproteins and their subfractions, adjusting for confounders using propensity score weighting.

RESULTS

Periodontal variables were consistently associated with elevated follow-up serum levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. When plasma lipoprotein subfractions were evaluated, periodontal variables were associated with elevated levels of triglycerides and cholesterol-enriched apolipoprotein B-containing lipoprotein particles, particularly small dense low-density lipoprotein, very-low-density lipoprotein and intermediate density lipoprotein. In addition, altered high-density lipoprotein particle composition was observed, suggesting potential functional changes.

CONCLUSION

This study provides evidence for causal effects of periodontitis on conventional serum lipids and plasma lipoprotein subfractions. As the underlying biological mechanisms are not fully understood, further research is needed.

Human-induced pluripotent stem cell-based hepatic modeling of lipid metabolism-associated TM6SF2-E167K variant

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

TM6SF2 rs58542926 (E167K) is related to an increased prevalence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease. Conflicting mouse study results highlight the need for a human model to understand this mutation's impact. This study aims to create and characterize a reliable human in vitro model to mimic the effects of the TM6SF2-E167K mutation for future studies.

APPROACH AND RESULTS

We used gene editing on human-induced pluripotent stem cells from a healthy individual to create cells with the TM6SF2-E167K mutation. After hepatocyte-directed differentiation, we observed decreased TM6SF2 protein expression, increased intracellular lipid droplets, and total cholesterol, in addition to reduced VLDL secretion. Transcriptomics revealed the upregulation of genes involved in lipid, fatty acid, and cholesterol transport, flux, and oxidation. Global lipidomics showed increased lipid classes associated with endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, apoptosis, and lipid metabolism. In addition, the TM6SF2-E167K mutation conferred a proinflammatory phenotype with signs of mitochondria and ER stress. Importantly, by facilitating protein folding within the ER of hepatocytes carrying TM6SF2-E167K mutation, VLDL secretion and ER stress markers improved.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicate that induced hepatocytes generated from human-induced pluripotent stem cells carrying the TM6SF2-E167K recapitulate the effects observed in human hepatocytes from individuals with the TM6SF2 mutation. This study characterizes an in vitro model that can be used as a platform to identify potential clinical targets and highlights the therapeutic potential of targeting protein misfolding to alleviate ER stress and mitigate the detrimental effects of the TM6SF2-E167K mutation on hepatic lipid metabolism.

Nonsevere Burn Induces a Prolonged Systemic Metabolic Phenotype Indicative of a Persistent Inflammatory Response Postinjury

Globally, burns are a significant cause of injury that can cause substantial acute trauma as well as lead to increased incidence of chronic comorbidity and disease. To date, research has primarily focused on the systemic response to severe injury, with little in the literature reported on the impact of nonsevere injuries (<15% total burn surface area; TBSA). To elucidate the metabolic consequences of a nonsevere burn injury, longitudinal plasma was collected from adults (n = 35) who presented at hospital with a nonsevere burn injury at admission, and at 6 week follow up. A cross-sectional baseline sample was also collected from nonburn control participants (n = 14). Samples underwent multiplatform metabolic phenotyping using 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry to quantify 112 lipoprotein and glycoprotein signatures and 852 lipid species from across 20 subclasses. Multivariate data modeling (orthogonal projections to latent structures-discriminate analysis; OPLS-DA) revealed alterations in lipoprotein and lipid metabolism when comparing the baseline control to hospital admission samples, with the phenotypic signature found to be sustained at follow up. Univariate (Mann-Whitney U) testing and OPLS-DA indicated specific increases in GlycB (p-value < 1.0e-4), low density lipoprotein-2 subfractions (variable importance in projection score; VIP > 6.83e-1) and monoacyglyceride (20:4) (p-value < 1.0e-4) and decreases in circulating anti-inflammatory high-density lipoprotein-4 subfractions (VIP > 7.75e-1), phosphatidylcholines, phosphatidylglycerols, phosphatidylinositols, and phosphatidylserines. The results indicate a persistent systemic metabolic phenotype that occurs even in cases of a nonsevere burn injury. The phenotype is indicative of an acute inflammatory profile that continues to be sustained postinjury, suggesting an impact on systems health beyond the site of injury. The phenotypes contained metabolic signatures consistent with chronic inflammatory states reported to have an elevated incidence postburn injury. Such phenotypic signatures may provide patient stratification opportunities, to identify individual responses to injury, personalize intervention strategies, and improve acute care, reducing the risk of chronic comorbidity.

Expression of hepatic genes involved in bile acid metabolism in dairy cows with fatty liver

Bile acids are cholesterol-derived molecules that are primarily produced in the liver. In nonruminants with fatty liver, overproduction of bile acids is associated with liver injury. During the transition period, fatty liver is a metabolic disorder that can affect up to 50% of high-producing dairy cows. The purpose of this study was to provide a comprehensive evaluation on hepatic bile acid metabolism in dairy cows with fatty liver by assessing expression changes of genes involved in bile acid synthesis, export and uptake. The serum activities of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and glutamate dehydrogenase and concentration of total bile acids were all greater, whereas serum concentration of total cholesterol was lower in cows with fatty liver than in healthy cows. Content of total bile acids was higher but total cholesterol was slightly lower in liver tissues from fatty liver cows than from healthy cows. The hepatic mRNA abundance of cholesterol 7a-hydroxylase (CYP7A1), hydroxy-delta-5-steroid dehydrogenase, 3 β- and steroid delta-isomerase 7 (HSD3B7) and sterol 12α-hydroxylase (CYP8B1), enzymes involved in the classic pathway of bile acid synthesis, was higher in fatty liver cows than in healthy cows. Compared with healthy cows, the hepatic mRNA abundance of alternative bile acid synthesis pathway-related genes sterol 27-hydroxylase (CYP27A1) and oxysterol 7α-hydroxylase (CYP7B1) did not differ in cows with fatty liver. The protein and mRNA abundance of bile acid transporter bile salt efflux pump (BSEP) were lower in the liver of dairy cow with fatty liver. Compared with healthy cows, the hepatic mRNA abundance of bile acid transporters solute carrier family 51 subunit α (SLC51A), ATP binding cassette subfamily C member 1 (ABCC1) and 3 (ABCC3) was greater in cows with fatty liver, whereas the solute carrier family 51 subunit β (SLC51B) did not differ. The expression of genes involved in bile acid uptake, including solute carrier family 10 member 1 (NTCP), solute carrier organic anion transporter family member 1A2 (SLCO1A2) and 2B1 (SLCO2B1) was upregulated in dairy cows with fatty liver. Furthermore, the hepatic protein and mRNA abundance of bile acid metabolism regulators farnesoid X receptor (FXR) and small heterodimer partner (SHP) were lower in cows with fatty liver than in healthy cows. Overall, these data suggest that inhibition of FXR signaling pathway may lead to the increased bile acid synthesis and uptake and decreased secretion of bile acids from hepatocytes to the bile, which elevates hepatic bile acids content in dairy cows with fatty liver. As the hepatotoxicity of bile acids has been demonstrated on nonruminant hepatocytes, it is likely that the liver injury is induced by increased hepatic bile acids content in dairy cows with fatty liver.

Royal Jelly: Biological Action and Health Benefits

Royal jelly (RJ) is a highly nutritious natural product with great potential for use in medicine, cosmetics, and as a health-promoting food. This bee product is a mixture of important compounds, such as proteins, vitamins, lipids, minerals, hormones, neurotransmitters, flavonoids, and polyphenols, that underlie the remarkable biological and therapeutic activities of RJ. Various bioactive molecules like 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-HDA), antibacterial protein, apisin, the major royal jelly proteins, and specific peptides such as apisimin, royalisin, royalactin, apidaecin, defensin-1, and jelleins are characteristic ingredients of RJ. RJ shows numerous physiological and pharmacological properties, including vasodilatory, hypotensive, antihypercholesterolaemic, antidiabetic, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-aging, neuroprotective, antimicrobial, estrogenic, anti-allergic, anti-osteoporotic, and anti-tumor effects. Moreover, RJ may reduce menopause symptoms and improve the health of the reproductive system, liver, and kidneys, and promote wound healing. This article provides an overview of the molecular mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of RJ in various diseases, aging, and aging-related complications, with special emphasis on the bioactive components of RJ and their health-promoting properties. The data presented should be an incentive for future clinical studies that hopefully will advance our knowledge about the therapeutic potential of RJ and facilitate the development of novel RJ-based therapeutic opportunities for improving human health and well-being.

Associations of Lifestyle Patterns with Glucose and Lipid Metabolism in Finnish Adults at Increased Risk of Type 2 Diabetes

SCOPE

Various lifestyle and sociodemographic factors have been associated with risk factors for type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, their combined associations with T2D risk factors have been studied much less.

MATERIALS AND RESULTS

This study investigates cross-sectional associations of lifestyle patterns with T2D risk factors among 2925 adults at increased risk participating in the Stop Diabetes study. Lifestyle patterns are determined using principal component analysis (PCA) with several lifestyle and sociodemographic factors. The associations of lifestyle patterns with measures of glucose and lipid metabolism and serum metabolites analyzed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy are studied using linear regression analysis. "Healthy eating" pattern is associated with better glucose and insulin metabolism, more favorable lipoprotein and fatty acid profiles and lower serum concentrations of metabolites related to inflammation, insulin resistance, and T2D. "High socioeconomic status and low physical activity" pattern is associated with increased serum concentrations of branched-chain amino acids, as are "Meat and poultry" and "Sleeping hours" patterns. "Snacks" pattern is associated with lower serum concentrations of ketone bodies.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results show, in large scale primary care setting, that healthy eating is associated with better glucose and lipid metabolism and reveal novel associations of lifestyle patterns with metabolites related to glucose metabolism.

The Efficacy of Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus Supplementation in Managing Body Weight and Blood Lipids of People with Overweight: A Randomized Pilot Trial

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus (L. bulgaricus) in improving body weight, obesity-related outcomes, and lipid profiles of overweight people. Thirty-six overweight participants were randomly assigned to either a probiotic or a placebo group. A placebo powder or L. bulgaricus powder (containing 1 × 108 colony-forming unit (CFU) of the probiotic) was administered daily for 12 weeks. Body composition was determined, and blood tests were performed before and after the intervention. L. bulgaricus supplementation under the present condition did not affect the body weight, fat percentage, or body mass index (BMI) of the participants, while it resulted in a notable decrease in blood triglyceride (TG) levels, which corresponded to a lowering of the TG proportion in the composition of large VLDL (L-XXL sized fractions) and HDL (M and L fractions) in the probiotic-treated group. These results suggest that L. bulgaricus supplementation under the current conditions may not be helpful for losing weight, but it has the potential to decrease blood TG levels by modulating TG accumulation in or transport by VLDL/HDL in obese patients. L. bulgaricus supplements may have health-promoting properties in preventing TG-related diseases in overweight people.

Systemic Metabolic Signatures of Oral Diseases

Systemic metabolic signatures of oral diseases have been rarely investigated, and prospective studies do not exist. We analyzed whether signs of current or past infectious/inflammatory oral diseases are associated with circulating metabolites. Two study populations were included: the population-based Health-2000 (n = 6,229) and Parogene (n = 452), a cohort of patients with an indication to coronary angiography. Health-2000 participants (n = 4,116) provided follow-up serum samples 11 y after the baseline. Serum concentrations of 157 metabolites were determined with a nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy-based method. The associations between oral parameters and metabolite concentrations were analyzed using linear regression models adjusted for age, sex, number of teeth, smoking, presence of diabetes, and education (in Health-2000 only). The number of decayed teeth presented positive associations with low-density lipoprotein diameter and the concentrations of pyruvate and citrate. Negative associations were found between caries and the unsaturation degree of fatty acids (FA) and relative proportions of docosahexaenoic and omega-3 FAs. The number of root canal fillings was positively associated with very low-density lipoprotein parameters, such as diameter, cholesterol, triglycerides, and number of particles. Deepened periodontal pockets were positively associated with concentrations of cholesterol, triglycerides, pyruvate, leucine, valine, phenylalanine, and glycoprotein acetyls and negatively associated with high-density lipoprotein (HDL) diameter, FA unsaturation degree, and relative proportions of omega-6 and polyunsaturated FAs. Bleeding on probing (BOP) was associated with increased concentrations of triglycerides and glycoprotein acetyls, as well as decreased proportions of omega-3 and omega-6 FAs. Caries at baseline predicted alterations in apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins and HDL-related metabolites in the follow-up, and both caries and BOP were associated with changes in HDL-related metabolites and omega-3 FAs in the follow-up. Signs of current or past infectious/inflammatory oral diseases, especially periodontitis, were associated with metabolic profiles typical for inflammation. Oral diseases may represent a modifiable risk factor for systemic chronic inflammation and thus cardiometabolic disorders.

Use of Olives-derived Phytochemicals for Prevention and Treatment of Atherosclerosis: An Update

Mediterranean diet is frequently associated with longevity and a lower incidence of adverse cardiovascular events because of the biological activities and health effects of olives - its key component. Olive oil, olive leaf extract, fruits and different by-products contain many bioactive components that exert anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic activities. In this review, we focus on the recent studies exploring molecular mechanisms underlying the cardioprotective properties of different olive oils, olive leave extracts, and specific micro-constituents (such as oleuropein, tyrosol, hydroxytyrosol and others) in vitro on rodent models and in clinical trials on human subjects. Particularly, hydroxytyrosol and oleuropein were identified as the major bioactive compounds responsible for the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-platelet aggregation and anti-atherogenic activities of olive oil. In total, the discussed results demonstrated a positive association between the consumption of olive oil and improvement in outcomes in atherosclerosis, diabetes, myocardial infarction, heart failure, hypertension and obesity.

Association of lipid composition and unsaturated fatty acids of VLDL with atrial remodeling in metabolic syndrome

Subjects with metabolic syndrome (MetS) commonly have atrial remodeling, which indicates a risk for atrial fibrillation. This study determined MetS-related changes in lipid components in very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), which has been shown to cause atrial remodeling, the effect of statins on these changes, and the correlation between atrial remodeling and VLDL lipid compositions. Blood samples were collected from 12 non-MetS and 27 sex- and age-matched MetS subjects. Fourteen patients with MetS (MetS-off statin) discontinued statin therapy 14 days before the study, while the remaining 13 remained on it (MetS-on statin). The VLDLs were isolated and processed for mass-based lipid profiling. Lipidomic analyses were performed and associated with atrial remodeling markers measured using standard echocardiography and electrocardiography. Compared with the VLDL components of the non-MetS group, glucosyl/galactosyl ceramide, lyso-phosphatidylcholine, lyso-phosphatidylethanolamine, and triglycerides were enriched in the MetS-off statin group. Statin therapy attenuated all abnormally abundant lipid classes in MetS, except for triglycerides. In addition, lyso-phosphatidylcholine, lyso-phosphatidylethanolamine, and triglycerides were significantly correlated with atrial dilatation, and the latter two were also correlated with the PR interval. Enrichment of double bonds, which indicate unsaturated fatty acids, was also significantly correlated with atrial remodeling and P-wave duration. This study suggests that the pathological lipid payload of MetS-VLDL may contribute to atrial remodeling in patients.