Adipose Stromal/Stem Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles: Potential Next-Generation Anti-Obesity Agents

Over the last decade, several compounds have been identified for the treatment of obesity. However, due to the complexity of the disease, many pharmacological interventions have raised concerns about their efficacy and safety. Therefore, it is important to discover new factors involved in the induction/progression of obesity. Adipose stromal/stem cells (ASCs), which are mostly isolated from subcutaneous adipose tissue, are the primary cells contributing to the expansion of fat mass. Like other cells, ASCs release nanoparticles known as extracellular vesicles (EVs), which are being actively studied for their potential applications in a variety of diseases. Here, we focused on the importance of the contribution of ASC-derived EVs in the regulation of metabolic processes. In addition, we outlined the advantages/disadvantages of the use of EVs as potential next-generation anti-obesity agents.     

破囊壶菌发酵生产DHA的研究进展

二十二碳六烯酸（DHA）是一种非常重要的多不饱和脂肪酸,能参与人及动物体内多个生理过程。破囊壶菌具有生长迅速、细胞内DHA含量高的特点,是工业化生产DHA的潜力菌。本文主要介绍破囊壶菌DHA代谢通路、影响破囊壶菌生产DHA的因素以及破囊壶菌中试发酵的研究现状。首先,对破囊壶菌合成DHA的两个代谢途径,即脂肪酸合成酶（fatty acid synthesis pathway,FAS）途径和聚酮合酶（polyketide synthesis pathway,PKS）途径进行总结和描述;其次,对影响破囊壶菌发酵生产DHA的三个主要因素（碳氮源、溶氧和温度）进行综述;随后,阐述了破囊壶菌发酵生产DHA的中试放大工艺的研究现状;最后,提出破囊壶菌发酵生产DHA过程中存在的问题,并指出进一步分离获得优质的破囊壶菌菌株、对其代谢途径和关键酶的研究以及中试放大工艺的研究是下一步研究的重点。通过对上述一系列问题进行综述,旨在为利用破囊壶菌工业化生产DHA提供一定的参考。     

Experimental Animal Model Systems for Understanding Salivary Secretory Disorders

Salivary secretory disorders are life-disrupting pathologic conditions with a high prevalence, especially in the geriatric population. Both patients and clinicians frequently feel helpless and get frustrated by the currently available therapeutic strategies, which consist mainly of palliative managements. Accordingly, to unravel the underlying mechanisms and to develop effective and curative strategies, several animal models have been developed and introduced. Experimental findings from these models have contributed to answer biological and biomedical questions. This review aims to provide various methodological considerations used for the examination of pathological fundamentals in salivary disorders using animal models and to summarize the obtained findings. The information provided in this review could provide plausible solutions for overcoming salivary disorders and also suggest purpose-specific experimental animal systems.     

代谢工程调控策略在生物合成氨基酸及其衍生物中的应用

氨基酸的工业化生产已有上百年历史,多用于动物饲料和食品添加剂;很多种类的氨基酸如L-半胱氨酸、β-丙氨酸、S-腺苷甲硫氨酸、4-羟基异亮氨酸和高丝氨酸等也具有很高的应用价值。相较于化工合成或分离提取的方式,利用微生物细胞作为平台生产氨基酸及其衍生物具有绿色安全、可持续等独特的优势。本文综述了近年来微生物合成氨基酸及其衍生物的研究进展,分别介绍了碳源的高效利用、限速步骤的调节、碳通量的调节、转录和反馈抑制调节以及转运调节等代谢调控策略在提高微生物生产氨基酸及其衍生物效率的研究及应用,分析了不同调控策略的优势和缺点,总结了不同氨基酸及其衍生物的应用价值,最后展望了微生物作为细胞工厂生产各类氨基酸及其衍生物的广阔前景。     

肿瘤PET药物的现状和展望

随着正电子发射计算机断层显像技术(PET)的研发,PET药物在肿瘤科学研究及临床应用中具有越来越重要的作用。本文在肿瘤代谢显像、肿瘤细胞凋亡显像、反义显像、受体显像及基因表达监测等方面集中介绍肿瘤PET药物的进展情况及其发展前景。     

甜菜叶片表型与其产质量的关系

甜菜生产用种主要依靠进口,来源不同的品种表型各异,甜菜高产高糖的表型特征,是育种和栽培管理最直观和简捷的指标.本研究利用丰产和高糖两种类型的2对甜菜品种为材料,通过连续两年对不同类型甜菜营养生长期叶片的形态指标进行比较,分析各指标与甜菜产量和含糖的关系.研究结果表明,丰产型甜菜品种在整个生育期的叶片长度和生育前期叶面积...     

Sirtuins Modulation: A Promising Strategy for HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Impairments

HIV-Associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND) is one of the major concerns since it persists in 40% of this population. Nowadays, HAND neuropathogenesis is considered to be caused by the infected cells that cross the brain–blood barrier and produce viral proteins that can be secreted and internalized into neurons leading to disruption of cellular processes. The evidence points to viral proteins such as Tat as the causal agent for neuronal alteration and thus HAND. The hallmarks in Tat-induced neurodegeneration are endoplasmic reticulum stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. Sirtuins (SIRTs) are NAD+-dependent deacetylases involved in mitochondria biogenesis, unfolded protein response, and intrinsic apoptosis pathway. Tat interaction with these deacetylases causes inhibition of SIRT1 and SIRT3. Studies revealed that SIRTs activation promotes neuroprotection in neurodegenerative diseases such Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Therefore, this review focuses on Tat-induced neurotoxicity mechanisms that involve SIRTs as key regulators and their modulation as a therapeutic strategy for tackling HAND and thereby improving the quality of life of people living with HIV.     

Seipin Deficiency as a Model of Severe Adipocyte Dysfunction: Lessons from Rodent Models and Teaching for Human Disease

Obesity prevalence is increasing worldwide, leading to cardiometabolic morbidities. Adipocyte dysfunction, impairing white adipose tissue (WAT) expandability and metabolic flexibility, is central in the development of obesity-related metabolic complications. Rare syndromes of lipodystrophy characterized by an extreme paucity of functional adipose tissue should be considered as primary adipocyte dysfunction diseases. Berardinelli-Seip congenital lipodystrophy (BSCL) is the most severe form with a near absence of WAT associated with cardiometabolic complications such as insulin resistance, liver steatosis, dyslipidemia, and cardiomyopathy. Twenty years ago, mutations in the BSCL2 gene have been identified as the cause of BSCL in human. BSCL2 encodes seipin, an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) anchored protein whose function was unknown back then. Studies of seipin knockout mice or rats demonstrated how seipin deficiency leads to severe lipodystrophy and to cardiometabolic complications. At the cellular levels, seipin is organized in multimers that are particularly enriched at ER/lipid droplet and ER/mitochondria contact sites. Seipin deficiency impairs both adipocyte differentiation and mature adipocyte maintenance. Experiments using adipose tissue transplantation in seipin knockout mice and tissue-specific deletion of seipin have provided a large body of evidence that liver steatosis, cardiomyopathy, and renal injury, classical diabetic complications, are all consequences of lipodystrophy. Rare adipocyte dysfunctions such as in BSCL are the key paradigm to unravel the pathways that control adipocyte homeostasis. The knowledge gathered through the study of these pathologies may bring new strategies to maintain and improve adipose tissue expandability.     

Metabolic Syndrome: Updates on Pathophysiology and Management in 2021

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) forms a cluster of metabolic dysregulations including insulin resistance, atherogenic dyslipidemia, central obesity, and hypertension. The pathogenesis of MetS encompasses multiple genetic and acquired entities that fall under the umbrella of insulin resistance and chronic low-grade inflammation. If left untreated, MetS is significantly associated with an increased risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Given that CVDs constitute by far the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, it has become essential to investigate the role played by MetS in this context to reduce the heavy burden of the disease. As such, and while MetS relatively constitutes a novel clinical entity, the extent of research about the disease has been exponentially growing in the past few decades. However, many aspects of this clinical entity are still not completely understood, and many questions remain unanswered to date. In this review, we provide a historical background and highlight the epidemiology of MetS. We also discuss the current and latest knowledge about the histopathology and pathophysiology of the disease. Finally, we summarize the most recent updates about the management and the prevention of this clinical syndrome.     

Skeletal Muscle Microvascular Dysfunction in Obesity-Related Insulin Resistance: Pathophysiological Mechanisms and Therapeutic Perspectives

Obesity is a worrisomely escalating public health problem globally and one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality from noncommunicable disease. The epidemiological link between obesity and a broad spectrum of cardiometabolic disorders has been well documented; however, the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms are only partially understood, and effective treatment options remain scarce. Given its critical role in glucose metabolism, skeletal muscle has increasingly become a focus of attention in understanding the mechanisms of impaired insulin function in obesity and the associated metabolic sequelae. We examined the current evidence on the relationship between microvascular dysfunction and insulin resistance in obesity. A growing body of evidence suggest an intimate and reciprocal relationship between skeletal muscle microvascular and glucometabolic physiology. The obesity phenotype is characterized by structural and functional changes in the skeletal muscle microcirculation which contribute to insulin dysfunction and disturbed glucose homeostasis. Several interconnected etiologic molecular mechanisms have been suggested, including endothelial dysfunction by several factors, extracellular matrix remodelling, and induction of oxidative stress and the immunoinflammatory phenotype. We further correlated currently available pharmacological agents that have deductive therapeutic relevance to the explored pathophysiological mechanisms, highlighting a potential clinical perspective in obesity treatment.