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Yang T, Liu S, Ma H, Lai H, Wang C, Ni K, Lu Y, Li W, Hu X, Zhou Z, Lou C, He D. Carnitine functions as an enhancer of NRF2 to inhibit osteoclastogenesis via regulating macrophage polarization in osteoporosis. Free Radic Biol Med 2024; 213:174-189. [PMID: 38246515 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2024.01.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Osteoporosis, which manifests as reduced bone mass and deteriorated bone quality, is common in the elderly population. It is characterized by persistent elevation of macrophage-associated inflammation and active osteoclast bone resorption. Currently, the roles of intracellular metabolism in regulating these processes remain unclear. In this study, we initially performed bioinformatics analysis and observed a significant increase in the proportion of M1 macrophages in bone marrow with aging. Further metabolomics analysis demonstrated a notable reduction in the expression of carnitine metabolites in aged macrophages, while carnitine was not detected in osteoclasts. During the differentiation process, osteoclasts took up carnitine synthesized by macrophages to regulate their own activity. Mechanistically, carnitine enhanced the function of Nrf2 by inhibiting the Keap1-Nrf2 interaction, reducing the proteasome-dependent ubiquitination and degradation of Nrf2. In silico molecular ligand docking analysis of the interaction between carnitine and Keap1 showed that carnitine binds to Keap1 to stabilize Nrf2 and enhance its function. In this study, we found that the decrease in carnitine levels in aging macrophages causes overactivation of osteoclasts, ultimately leading to osteoporosis. A decrease in serum carnitine levels in patients with osteoporosis was found to have good diagnostic and predictive value. Moreover, supplementation with carnitine was shown to be effective in the treatment of osteoporosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Yang
- The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Lishui Municipal Central Hospital, 289 Kuocang Road, Lishui, Zhejiang, 323000, PR China
| | - Shijie Liu
- The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Lishui Municipal Central Hospital, 289 Kuocang Road, Lishui, Zhejiang, 323000, PR China
| | - Haiwei Ma
- The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Lishui Municipal Central Hospital, 289 Kuocang Road, Lishui, Zhejiang, 323000, PR China
| | - Hehuan Lai
- The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Lishui Municipal Central Hospital, 289 Kuocang Road, Lishui, Zhejiang, 323000, PR China
| | - Chengdi Wang
- The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Lishui Municipal Central Hospital, 289 Kuocang Road, Lishui, Zhejiang, 323000, PR China
| | - Kainan Ni
- The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Lishui Municipal Central Hospital, 289 Kuocang Road, Lishui, Zhejiang, 323000, PR China
| | - Yahong Lu
- The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Lishui Municipal Central Hospital, 289 Kuocang Road, Lishui, Zhejiang, 323000, PR China
| | - Weiqing Li
- The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Lishui Municipal Central Hospital, 289 Kuocang Road, Lishui, Zhejiang, 323000, PR China
| | - Xingyu Hu
- The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Lishui Municipal Central Hospital, 289 Kuocang Road, Lishui, Zhejiang, 323000, PR China
| | - Zhiguo Zhou
- The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Lishui Municipal Central Hospital, 289 Kuocang Road, Lishui, Zhejiang, 323000, PR China
| | - Chao Lou
- The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Lishui Municipal Central Hospital, 289 Kuocang Road, Lishui, Zhejiang, 323000, PR China.
| | - Dengwei He
- The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Lishui Municipal Central Hospital, 289 Kuocang Road, Lishui, Zhejiang, 323000, PR China.
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Huang X, Zhao JV. The Associations of Genetically Predicted Plasma Alanine with Coronary Artery Disease and its Risk Factors: A Mendelian Randomization Study. Am J Clin Nutr 2023; 118:1020-1028. [PMID: 37640107 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2023.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alanine is an amino acid commonly used as a nutritional supplement and plays a key role in the glucose-alanine cycle. Plasma alanine has been associated in observational studies with a higher risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) and unhealthier lipid profiles. However, evidence from large randomized controlled trials is lacking. OBJECTIVES Using Mendelian randomization (MR), we assessed the unconfounded associations of plasma alanine with CAD and CAD risk factors. METHODS We applied single nucleotide polymorphisms that were strongly (P < 5 ×10-8) associated with plasma alanine as genetic instruments to large genome-wide association studies of CAD (63,108 cases; 296,901 controls), diabetes (90,612 cases; 583,493 controls), glucose (515,538 participants), lipids (low-density lipoprotein [LDL] cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein [HDL] cholesterol, triglycerides, total cholesterol, and apolipoprotein B) (>1.1 million participants), blood pressure (BP) (757,601 participants), and body mass index (682,137 participants). Given the potential sex disparity, we also conducted sex-specific analyses. MR estimates per standard deviation increase in alanine concentrations were obtained using inverse variance weighting followed by sensitivity analyses using weighted median, MR-Egger, MR-Pleiotropy RESidual Sum and Outlier, and MR-Robust Adjusted Profile Score. RESULTS Genetically predicted plasma alanine was not associated with CAD but with a higher risk of diabetes (odds ratio [OR]: 1.35; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.06, 1.72), higher glucose (β: 0.11; 95% CI: 0.02, 0.19), LDL cholesterol (β: 0.08; 95% CI: 0.04, 0.12), triglycerides (β: 0.25; 95% CI: 0.13, 0.38), total cholesterol (β: 0.14; 95% CI: 0.08, 0.20), apolipoprotein B (β: 0.12; 95% CI: 0.03, 0.21), and BP (β: 1.17; 95% CI: 0.31, 2.04 for systolic BP: β: 0.97; 95% CI: 0.49, 1.45 for diastolic BP) overall. The positive associations of serum alanine with LDL cholesterol and triglycerides were more notable in women than in men. CONCLUSIONS Alanine or factors affecting alanine may have causal effects on diabetes, blood glucose, lipid profiles, and BP but not on CAD. Further studies are needed to clarify possible mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Huang
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Jie V Zhao
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
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Mai Z, Mao H. Causal effects of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease on cerebral cortical structure: a Mendelian randomization analysis. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1276576. [PMID: 38027213 PMCID: PMC10646496 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1276576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Previous studies have highlighted changes in the cerebral cortical structure and cognitive function among nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients. However, the impact of NAFLD on cerebral cortical structure and specific affected brain regions remains unclear. Therefore, we aimed to explore the potential causal relationship between NAFLD and cerebral cortical structure. Methods We conducted a Mendelian randomization (MR) study using genetic predictors of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), NAFLD, and percent liver fat (PLF) and combined them with genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary statistics from the ENIGMA Consortium. Several methods were used to assess the effect of NAFLD on full cortex and specific brain regions, along with sensitivity analyses. Results At the global level, PLF nominally decreased SA of full cortex; at the functional level, ALT presented a nominal association with reduced SA of parahippocampal gyrus, TH of pars opercularis, TH of pars orbitalis, and TH of pericalcarine cortex. Besides, NAFLD presented a nominal association with reduced SA of parahippocampal gyrus, TH of pars opercularis, TH of pars triangularis and TH of pericalcarine cortex, but increased TH of entorhinal cortex, lateral orbitofrontal cortex and temporal pole. Furthermore, PLF presented a nominal association with reduced SA of parahippocampal gyrus, TH of pars opercularis, TH of cuneus and lingual gyrus, but increased TH of entorhinal cortex. Conclusion NAFLD is suggestively associated with atrophy in specific functional regions of the human brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiliang Mai
- Department of Digestive Medicine, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Anatomy, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Hua Mao
- Department of Digestive Medicine, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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Riguene E, Theodoridou M, Barrak L, Elrayess MA, Nomikos M. The Relationship between Changes in MYBPC3 Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism-Associated Metabolites and Elite Athletes' Adaptive Cardiac Function. J Cardiovasc Dev Dis 2023; 10:400. [PMID: 37754829 PMCID: PMC10531821 DOI: 10.3390/jcdd10090400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Athletic performance is a multifactorial trait influenced by a complex interaction of environmental and genetic factors. Over the last decades, understanding and improving elite athletes' endurance and performance has become a real challenge for scientists. Significant tools include but are not limited to the development of molecular methods for talent identification, personalized exercise training, dietary requirements, prevention of exercise-related diseases, as well as the recognition of the structure and function of the genome in elite athletes. Investigating the genetic markers and phenotypes has become critical for elite endurance surveillance. The identification of genetic variants contributing to a predisposition for excellence in certain types of athletic activities has been difficult despite the relatively high genetic inheritance of athlete status. Metabolomics can potentially represent a useful approach for gaining a thorough understanding of various physiological states and for clarifying disorders caused by strength-endurance physical exercise. Based on a previous GWAS study, this manuscript aims to discuss the association of specific single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located in the MYBPC3 gene encoding for cardiac MyBP-C protein with endurance athlete status. MYBPC3 is linked to elite athlete heart remodeling during or after exercise, but it could also be linked to the phenotype of cardiac hypertrophy (HCM). To make the distinction between both phenotypes, specific metabolites that are influenced by variants in the MYBPC3 gene are analyzed in relation to elite athletic performance and HCM. These include theophylline, ursodeoxycholate, quinate, and decanoyl-carnitine. According to the analysis of effect size, theophylline, quinate, and decanoyl carnitine increase with endurance while decreasing with cardiovascular disease, whereas ursodeoxycholate increases with cardiovascular disease. In conclusion, and based on our metabolomics data, the specific effects on athletic performance for each MYBPC3 SNP-associated metabolite are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emna Riguene
- College of Medicine, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar; (E.R.); (L.B.); (M.A.E.)
| | - Maria Theodoridou
- Biomedical Research Center (BRC), Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar;
| | - Laila Barrak
- College of Medicine, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar; (E.R.); (L.B.); (M.A.E.)
| | - Mohamed A. Elrayess
- College of Medicine, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar; (E.R.); (L.B.); (M.A.E.)
- Biomedical Research Center (BRC), Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar;
| | - Michail Nomikos
- College of Medicine, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar; (E.R.); (L.B.); (M.A.E.)
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Shi W, Huang X, Schooling CM, Zhao JV. Red meat consumption, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur Heart J 2023; 44:2626-2635. [PMID: 37264855 DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehad336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Revised: 04/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023] Open
Abstract
AIMS Observational studies show inconsistent associations of red meat consumption with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes. Moreover, red meat consumption varies by sex and setting, however, whether the associations vary by sex and setting remains unclear. METHODS AND RESULTS This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to summarize the evidence concerning the associations of unprocessed and processed red meat consumption with CVD and its subtypes [coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, and heart failure], type two diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and to assess differences by sex and setting (western vs. eastern, categorized based on dietary pattern and geographic region). Two researchers independently screened studies from PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and the Cochrane Library for observational studies and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published by 30 June 2022. Forty-three observational studies (N = 4 462 810, 61.7% women) for CVD and 27 observational studies (N = 1 760 774, 64.4% women) for diabetes were included. Red meat consumption was positively associated with CVD [hazard ratio (HR) 1.11, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.05 to 1.16 for unprocessed red meat (per 100 g/day increment); 1.26, 95% CI 1.18 to 1.35 for processed red meat (per 50 g/day increment)], CVD subtypes, T2DM, and GDM. The associations with stroke and T2DM were higher in western settings, with no difference by sex. CONCLUSION Unprocessed and processed red meat consumption are both associated with higher risk of CVD, CVD subtypes, and diabetes, with a stronger association in western settings but no sex difference. Better understanding of the mechanisms is needed to facilitate improving cardiometabolic and planetary health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenming Shi
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 7 Sassoon Road, Southern District, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Xin Huang
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 7 Sassoon Road, Southern District, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - C Mary Schooling
- School of Public Health and Health Policy, City University of New York, 55 W 125th St, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Jie V Zhao
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 7 Sassoon Road, Southern District, Hong Kong SAR, China
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Zhou S, Wei T, Liu X, Liu Y, Song W, Que X, Xing Y, Wang Z, Tang Y. Causal effects of COVID-19 on structural changes in specific brain regions: a Mendelian randomization study. BMC Med 2023; 21:261. [PMID: 37468885 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-023-02952-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous studies have found a correlation between coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and changes in brain structure and cognitive function, but it remains unclear whether COVID-19 causes brain structural changes and which specific brain regions are affected. Herein, we conducted a Mendelian randomization (MR) study to investigate this causal relationship and to identify specific brain regions vulnerable to COVID-19. METHODS Genome-wide association study (GWAS) data for COVID-19 phenotypes (28,900 COVID-19 cases and 3,251,161 controls) were selected as exposures, and GWAS data for brain structural traits (cortical thickness and surface area from 51,665 participants and volume of subcortical structures from 30,717 participants) were selected as outcomes. Inverse-variance weighted method was used as the main estimate method. The weighted median, MR-Egger, MR-PRESSO global test, and Cochran's Q statistic were used to detect heterogeneity and pleiotropy. RESULTS The genetically predicted COVID-19 infection phenotype was nominally associated with reduced cortical thickness in the caudal middle frontal gyrus (β = - 0.0044, p = 0.0412). The hospitalized COVID-19 phenotype was nominally associated with reduced cortical thickness in the lateral orbitofrontal gyrus (β = - 0.0049, p = 0.0328) and rostral middle frontal gyrus (β = - 0.0022, p = 0.0032) as well as with reduced cortical surface area of the middle temporal gyrus (β = - 10.8855, p = 0.0266). These causal relationships were also identified in the severe COVID-19 phenotype. Additionally, the severe COVID-19 phenotype was nominally associated with reduced cortical thickness in the cuneus (β = - 0.0024, p = 0.0168); reduced cortical surface area of the pericalcarine (β = - 2.6628, p = 0.0492), superior parietal gyrus (β = - 5.6310, p = 0.0408), and parahippocampal gyrus (β = - 0.1473, p = 0.0297); and reduced volume in the hippocampus (β = - 15.9130, p = 0.0024). CONCLUSIONS Our study indicates a suggestively significant association between genetic predisposition to COVID-19 and atrophy in specific functional regions of the human brain. Patients with COVID-19 and cognitive impairment should be actively managed to alleviate neurocognitive symptoms and minimize long-term effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaojiong Zhou
- Department of Neurology & Innovation Center for Neurological Disorders, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Neurological Disorders, 45 Changchun Street, Beijing, 100053, China
| | - Tao Wei
- Department of Neurology & Innovation Center for Neurological Disorders, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Neurological Disorders, 45 Changchun Street, Beijing, 100053, China
| | - Xiaoduo Liu
- Department of Neurology & Innovation Center for Neurological Disorders, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Neurological Disorders, 45 Changchun Street, Beijing, 100053, China
| | - Yufei Liu
- Department of Neurology & Innovation Center for Neurological Disorders, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Neurological Disorders, 45 Changchun Street, Beijing, 100053, China
| | - Weiyi Song
- Department of Neurology & Innovation Center for Neurological Disorders, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Neurological Disorders, 45 Changchun Street, Beijing, 100053, China
| | - Xinwei Que
- Department of Neurology & Innovation Center for Neurological Disorders, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Neurological Disorders, 45 Changchun Street, Beijing, 100053, China
| | - Yi Xing
- Department of Neurology & Innovation Center for Neurological Disorders, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Neurological Disorders, 45 Changchun Street, Beijing, 100053, China.
| | - Zhibin Wang
- Department of Neurology & Innovation Center for Neurological Disorders, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Neurological Disorders, 45 Changchun Street, Beijing, 100053, China.
| | - Yi Tang
- Department of Neurology & Innovation Center for Neurological Disorders, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Neurological Disorders, 45 Changchun Street, Beijing, 100053, China.
- Neurodegenerative Laboratory of Ministry of Education of the Peoples Republic of China, Beijing, China.
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