Inadequate dietary magnesium intake increases atherosclerotic plaque development in rabbits

Epidemiological studies have shown dietary magnesium (Mg) intake and serum Mg levels to be inversely correlated with the development of atherosclerosis. We hypothesized that low levels of Mg would promote atherosclerotic plaque development in rabbits. New Zealand white rabbits (4 months old, n = 22) were fed an atherogenic diet containing 0.12% (−Mg), 0.27% (control), or 0.43% (+Mg) Mg for 8 weeks. Blood samples were obtained at baseline, 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks and were assayed for total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), non-HDL, triglycerides (TG), C-reactive protein, serum Mg, and erythrocyte Mg. Aortas from −Mg had significantly more plaque, with an intima thickness 42% greater than control and 36% greater than +Mg. Serum cholesterol levels rose over time, and at 8 weeks, −Mg had the highest and +Mg the lowest total and non-HDL cholesterol and TG levels, although these results did not reach significance. Over time, serum Mg levels increased, and erythrocyte Mg levels decreased. C-reactive protein significantly increased in all groups at 4 and 6 weeks but returned to baseline levels by 8 weeks. This study supports the hypothesis that inadequate intake of Mg results in an increase in atherosclerotic plaque development in rabbits.     

Human multiple myeloma cells express peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma and undergo apoptosis upon exposure to PPARgamma ligands

Multiple myeloma is essentially an incurable malignancy and it is therefore of great interest to develop new therapeutic approaches. We previously reported that human B cell-lymphomas express the nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) and are killed by PPARgamma ligands. Herein, we investigate the therapeutic potential of PPARgamma ligands for multiple myeloma. The human multiple myeloma cell lines ANBL6 and 8226 express PPARgamma mRNA and protein. The PPARgamma ligands, 15-deoxy-Delta12,14-prostaglandin J2 (15d-PGJ2) and ciglitazone, induced multiple myeloma cell apoptosis as determined by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, and caspase activation. Importantly, the ability of PPARgamma ligands to kill both multiple myeloma cell lines was not abrogated by Interleukin-6 (IL-6), a multiple myeloma growth survival factor. Finally, the RXR ligand 9-cis retinoic acid (9-cis RA) in combination with PPARgamma ligands greatly enhanced multiple myeloma cell killing. These new findings support that PPARgamma ligands may represent a novel therapy for multiple myeloma.     

PPARY2基因Pro12Ala和C1431T多态性及其单倍型与2型糖尿病和肥胖的相关性研究

目的 研究过氧化物体增殖活化受体γ2(peroxisome proliferator activated receptorγ2,PPARγ2)基因Pro12Ala和C1431T多态性及其单倍型与汉族人2型糖尿病、肥胖的关系.方法 应用聚合酶链反应-限制性片段长度多态性的方法,对207例2型糖尿病患者和101名非糖尿病对照者进行PPARγ2基因Pro12Ala和C1431T多态性研究.结果 (1)在非糖尿病对照人群中Aal 12等位基因频率是0.064,T1431等位基因频率是0.252.单倍型分析显示Pro12Ala和C1431T两个位点连锁不平衡(D'=0.63,r2=0.074),组成了3种常见单倍型Pro-C、Pro-T和Ala-T.(2)Pro12Ala和C1431T多态性分布及其单倍型分布频率在2型糖尿病组与对照组组间差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05).(3)Pro12Ala变异与糖尿病患者的血压、血脂相关,地等位基因降低非肥胖糖尿病患者的舒张压(P<0.05),而对肥胖糖尿病患者的血脂水平无保护作用(P<0.05);C1431T多态性与糖尿病患者的超重和肥胖相关,超重和肥胖的糖尿病者T等位基因频率相对较高(P<0.05).结论 Pro12Ala和C1431T多态性可能在汉族人糖尿病发病中不是起主要作用;C1431T多态性与糖尿病患者的超重和肥胖相关.     

The Nutraceutical N-Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) Reveals Widespread Molecular Effects Unmasking New Therapeutic Targets in Murine Varicocele

Varicocele is an age-related disease with no current medical treatments positively impacting infertility. Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) expression is present in normal testis with an involvement in the immunological reactions. The role of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPAR-α), a nuclear receptor, in fertility is still unclear. N-Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), an emerging nutraceutical compound present in plants and animal foods, is an endogenous PPAR-α agonist with well-demonstrated anti-inflammatory and analgesics characteristics. In this model of mice varicocele, PPAR-α and TLR4 receptors’ roles were investigated through the administration of ultra-micronized PEA (PEA-um). Male wild-type (WT), PPAR-α knockout (KO), and TLR4 KO mice were used. A group underwent sham operation and administration of vehicle or PEA-um (10 mg/kg i.p.) for 21 days. Another group (WT, PPAR-α KO, and TLR4 KO) underwent surgical varicocele and was treated with vehicle or PEA-um (10 mg/kg i.p.) for 21 days. At the end of treatments, all animals were euthanized. Both operated and contralateral testes were processed for histological and morphometric assessment, for PPAR-α, TLR4, occludin, and claudin-11 immunohistochemistry and for PPAR-α, TLR4, transforming growth factor-beta3 (TGF-β3), phospho-extracellular signal-Regulated-Kinase (p-ERK) 1/2, and nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor (NLR) family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) Western blot analysis. Collectively, our data showed that administration of PEA-um revealed a key role of PPAR-α and TLR4 in varicocele pathophysiology, unmasking new nutraceutical therapeutic targets for future varicocele research and supporting surgical management of male infertility.     

Effects of di-(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate (DEHP) and its metabolites on fatty acid homeostasis regulating proteins in rat placental HRP-1 trophoblast cells.

Di-(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate (DEHP) is a widely used plasticizer and ubiquitous environmental contaminant. The potential health hazards, including teratogenicity, from exposure to DEHP may be related to the role of DEHP or its metabolites in the trans-activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs). Fetal essential fatty acid (EFA) homeostasis is controlled by directional transfer across the placenta through a highly regulated process, including PPAR activation. Using HRP-1 rat trophoblastic cells, the effects of DEHP and two of its metabolites, mono-(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate (MEHP) and 2-ethylhexanoic acid (EHA), on the mRNA and protein expression of the three known PPAR isoforms (alpha, beta, and gamma), fatty acid transport protein 1 (FATP1), plasma membrane fatty acid binding protein (FABPpm), and the heart cytoplasmic fatty acid binding protein (HFABP) were investigated. This study also investigated the functional effects of exposure on the uptake and transport of six long chain fatty acids (LCFAs): arachidonic acid (AA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), linoleic acid (LA), alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), oleic acid (OA), and stearic acid (SA). In the presence of DEHP, MEHP, and EHA, the expression of PPARalpha, PPARgamma, FATP1, and HFABP were up-regulated in a dose- and time- dependent manner, while PPARbeta and FABPpm demonstrated variable expression. The uptake rates of EFAs (AA, DHA, LA, ALA) increased significantly upon exposure, and the transport of AA (omega-6) and DHA (omega-3) were directionally induced. These results suggest that DEHP, MEHP, and EHA can influence EFA transfer across HRP-1 cells, implying that these compounds may alter placental EFA homeostasis and potentially result in abnormal fetal development.     

共轭亚油酸对肥胖大鼠PPARγ基因表达及血清瘦素水平的影响

目的　研究不同剂量共轭亚油酸 (CLA)对饮食诱导肥胖大鼠PPARγ基因、瘦素、血糖、血脂的影响。方法　选用雄性Wistar大鼠 ,随机分为对照组、高脂组、高脂 +CLA组 (每 10 0g饲料含CLA分别为 0 75g、1 5 0g、3 0 0g) ,于第 12周末处死动物 ,计算脂 体比 ,测定大鼠血糖、血脂及瘦素水平 ,并应用RT PCR的方法检测大鼠白色脂肪组织过氧化物酶体增殖物激活受体γ(PPARγ)的表达水平。结果　CLA可降低肥胖大鼠血糖、甘油三酯 (TG)、总胆固醇 (TC)及瘦素水平 ,增加脂肪组织PPARγmRNA的表达水平。结论　CLA可降低肥胖大鼠血糖、血脂 ,并可通过激活PPARγ下调瘦素水平 ,有改善肥胖大鼠的瘦素抵抗作用。     

海地瓜硫酸软骨素对3T3-L1前脂肪细胞增殖和分化的影响

目的研究海地瓜硫酸软骨素(Acaudina Molpadioideschondroitin sulfate,AM-CHS)对3T3-L1前脂肪细胞增殖和分化的影响,并探讨其作用机制。方法采用传统的鸡尾酒诱导剂诱导分化3T3-L1前脂肪细胞,以MTT法检测AM-CHS对3T3-L1前脂肪细胞及不同分化阶段3T3-L1细胞增殖活性的影响;分别采用油红O染色和甘油三酯(triglycerides,TG)含量测定法评价其对3T3-L1前脂肪细胞分化的影响。采用RT-PCR法检测脂肪细胞中过氧化物酶体增殖体激活受体γ(peroxisome proliferators-activated receptors gamma,PPARγ)、CCAAT增强子结合蛋白α(CCAAT/enhancer bind-ing protein alpha,C/EBPα)、固醇调节元件结合蛋白-1c(ste-rol regulatory element binding protein-1c,SREBP-1c)等分化相关基因的mRNA表达水平。结果 AM-CHS能明显抑制3T3-L1前脂肪细胞和成熟脂肪细胞的增殖,抑制3T3-L1前脂肪细胞的分化过程,以对分化早期的抑制作用最强。RT-PCR结果表明,AM-CHS能明显降低脂肪细胞PPARγ、C/EBPα和SREBP-1c mRNA的表达。结论海地瓜AM-CHS能明显抑制3T3-L1前脂肪细胞的增殖和分化,其作用机制与下调分化相关基因PPARγ、C/EBPα和SREBP-1c的表达有关。     

PPARβ/δ在炎症中的作用

过氧化物酶体增殖物激活受体(peroxisome prolifera-tors-activated receptors,PPARs)是配体激活的转录因子,属于核受体超家族成员。PPARs有3种亚型,即PPARα(NR1C1)、PPARβ/δ(NUC1;NR1C2)和PPARγ(NR1C3)。大量研究表明PPARs广泛参与机体的脂质代谢、糖代谢、能量代谢、血压调节、细胞生长分化及生殖过程,并在炎症过程中发挥重要的作用。近年来,PPARβ/δ在炎症发生中的作用及其调控机制日益受到人们的关注,该文对PPARβ/δ在炎症发生中的作用作一综述。     

过氧化物酶增殖激活型受体γ在大鼠脊髓组织中的表达

目的探讨大鼠脊髓组织损伤后过氧化物酶增殖激活型受体γ（PPARγ）的表达。方法将60只SD大鼠以改良Allen法制作大鼠急性脊髓损伤（SCI）模型,分为假手术组和SCI组。在损伤后1、3、7、14d取材,采用RT-PCR和Western blot法对脊髓损伤区进行PPARγ mRNA和蛋白表达变化的检测。结果假手术组和SCI组均见PPARγ mRNA和蛋白表达。与假手术组相比,SCI组PPARγ mRNA和蛋白的表达明显增多,在第3天达到高峰（P〈0.05）。结论 PPARγ在脊髓损伤后表达增高,可以成为治疗SCI的一个靶点。     

维生素E上调高脂饲料型肥胖大鼠白色脂肪组织过氧化物酶体增殖剂激活受体γ mRNA表达

<正>过氧化物酶体增殖剂激活受体γ(PPARγ)是唯一在脂肪组织中高水平表达的转录因子,也是前脂肪细胞分化过程中重要的调节因子。PPARγ可促进脂质的氧化代谢,降低血脂浓度,并改善2型糖尿病患者的胰岛素敏感性。高脂膳