Advanced Research in Metabolic Syndrome

A special issue of Biomedicines (ISSN 2227-9059). This special issue belongs to the section "Endocrinology and Metabolism Research".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2024 | Viewed by 23542

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
Interests: diabetes; hypercholesterolaemia; microcirculation; heart; retina; brain; blood vessels; pharmacology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue of Biomedicines focuses on advanced research in metabolic syndrome, regardless of whether it is pre-clinical, drug development research on laboratory animals or clinical research carried out with bioactive agents. As metabolic syndrome is highly diverse, affecting many organs (heart, brain, blood vessels, kidney, retina, etc.), and the intertwined diseases of the syndrome such as obesity, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and hypertension pose major challenges themselves, advanced therapeutic approaches developed against the syndrome can be of great benefit. Even less obviously related diseases—such as metabolic syndrome-related dementia types, endocrine function disorders, or microbiome changes—may also be of interest to the readership. Investigations of the prevention and treatment of macro- and microcirculatory damage associated with the different aforementioned diseases of metabolic syndrome are most welcome, but studies on other well-recognized pathways related to the syndrome such as oxidative stress, inflammation, and necro-apopto-autophagy are also welcome.

Dr. Balazs Varga
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • obesity
  • diabetes
  • dyslipidemia
  • hypertension
  • microcirculatory damage
  • ischemia-reperfusion
  • necro-apopto-autophagy
  • laboratory animals
  • bioactive agents

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 1882 KiB  
Article
Association of Circulating Markers of Microbial Translocation and Hepatic Inflammation with Liver Injury in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes
by Leila Gobejishvili, Vatsalya Vatsalya, Diana V. Avila, Yana B. Feygin, Craig J. McClain, Sriprakash Mokshagundam and Shirish Barve
Biomedicines 2024, 12(6), 1227; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12061227 - 31 May 2024
Viewed by 805
Abstract
Background: Virtually the entire spectrum of liver disease is observed in association with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM); indeed, T2DM is now the most common cause of liver disease in the U.S. We conducted a pilot study to investigate the relevance of increased [...] Read more.
Background: Virtually the entire spectrum of liver disease is observed in association with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM); indeed, T2DM is now the most common cause of liver disease in the U.S. We conducted a pilot study to investigate the relevance of increased microbial translocation and systemic inflammation in the development of liver injury in patients with T2DM. Methods: Patients with T2DM (n = 17) and non-diabetic controls (NDC; n = 11) aged 25–80 yrs. participated in this study. Serum levels of endotoxin, calprotectin, soluble CD14 and CD163, and several inflammatory cytokines were measured. In addition to standard liver injury markers, ALT and AST, novel serum markers of liver injury, keratin 18 (K-18) M30 (apoptosis-associated caspase-cleaved keratin 18), and M65 (soluble keratin 18) were evaluated. Statistical analyses were performed using the Mann–Whitney test to assess differences between study groups. Pearson’s correlation analysis was performed to determine the strength of association between two variables using GraphPad Prism 9.5.0 software. Results: Patients with T2DM had significantly higher levels of sCD14 in comparison to NDC, suggesting an increase in gut permeability, microbial translocation, and monocyte/macrophage activation. Importantly, relevant to the ensuing inflammatory responses, the increase in sCD14 in patients with T2DM was accompanied by a significant increase in sCD163, a marker of hepatic Kupffer cell activation and inflammation. Further, a positive correlation was observed between sCD163 and endotoxin and sCD14 in T2DM patients but not in NDC. In association with these changes, keratin 18 (K-18)-based serum markers (M65 and M30) that reflect hepatocyte death were significantly higher in the T2DM group indicating ongoing liver injury. Notably, both M65 and M30 levels correlated with sCD14 and sCD163, suggesting that immune cell activation and hepatic inflammation may be linked to the development of liver injury in T2DM. Conclusions: These findings suggest that the pathogenic changes in the gut–liver axis, marked by increased microbial translocation, may be a major component in the etiology of hepatocyte inflammation and injury in patients with T2DM. However, larger longitudinal studies, including histological evidence, are needed to confirm these observations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Research in Metabolic Syndrome)
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14 pages, 5077 KiB  
Article
The Role of Hypoxia on the Trimethylation of H3K27 in Podocytes
by Johanna Barth, Ivonne Loeffler, Tzvetanka Bondeva, Marita Liebisch and Gunter Wolf
Biomedicines 2023, 11(9), 2475; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines11092475 - 7 Sep 2023
Viewed by 1154
Abstract
Epigenetic alterations contribute to the pathogenesis of chronic diseases such as diabetes mellitus. Previous studies of our group showed that diabetic conditions reduce the trimethylation of H3K27 in podocytes in a NIPP1- (nuclear inhibitor of protein phosphatase 1) and EZH2- (enhancer of zeste [...] Read more.
Epigenetic alterations contribute to the pathogenesis of chronic diseases such as diabetes mellitus. Previous studies of our group showed that diabetic conditions reduce the trimethylation of H3K27 in podocytes in a NIPP1- (nuclear inhibitor of protein phosphatase 1) and EZH2- (enhancer of zeste homolog 2) dependent manner. It has been previously reported that in differentiated podocytes, hypoxia decreases the expression of slit diaphragm proteins and promotes foot process effacement, thereby contributing to the progression of renal disease. The exact mechanisms are, however, not completely understood. The aim of this study was to analyze the role of hypoxia and HIFs (hypoxia-inducible factor) on epigenetic changes in podocytes affecting NIPP1, EZH2 and H3K27me3, in vitro and in vivo. In vivo studies were performed with mice exposed to 10% systemic hypoxia for 3 days or injected with 3,4-DHB (dihydroxybenzoate), a PHD (prolyl hydroxylase) inhibitor, 24 h prior analyses. Immunodetection of H3K27me3, NIPP1 and EZH2 in glomerular podocytes revealed, to the best of our knowledge for the first time, that hypoxic conditions and pharmacological HIFs activation significantly reduce the expression of NIPP1 and EZH2 and diminish H3K27 trimethylation. These findings are also supported by in vitro studies using murine-differentiated podocytes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Research in Metabolic Syndrome)
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16 pages, 3474 KiB  
Article
New Synthesized Activating Transcription Factor 3 Inducer SW20.1 Suppresses Resistin-Induced Metabolic Syndrome
by Tu T. Tran, Wei-Jan Huang, Heng Lin and Hsi-Hsien Chen
Biomedicines 2023, 11(6), 1509; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines11061509 - 23 May 2023
Viewed by 2365
Abstract
Obesity is an emerging concern globally with increasing prevalence. Obesity is associated with many diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, dyslipidemia, and cancer. Thus, effective new antiobesity drugs should be urgently developed. We synthesized SW20.1, a compound that induces activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3) [...] Read more.
Obesity is an emerging concern globally with increasing prevalence. Obesity is associated with many diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, dyslipidemia, and cancer. Thus, effective new antiobesity drugs should be urgently developed. We synthesized SW20.1, a compound that induces activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3) expression. The results of Oil Red O staining and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction revealed that SW20.1 was more effective in reducing lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes than the previously synthesized ST32db, and that it inhibited the expression of the genes involved in adipogenesis and lipogenesis. A chromatin immunoprecipitation assay indicated that SW20.1 inhibited adipogenesis and lipogenesis by binding to the upstream promoter region of resistin at two sites (−2861/−2854 and −241/−234). In mice, the intraperitoneal administration of SW20.1 reduced body weight, white adipocyte weight in different regions, serum cholesterol levels, adipogenesis-related gene expression, hepatic steatosis, and serum resistin levels. Overall, SW20.1 exerts antiobesity effects by inhibiting resistin through the ATF3 pathway. Our study results indicate that SW20.1 is a promising therapeutic drug for diet-induced obesity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Research in Metabolic Syndrome)
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13 pages, 2871 KiB  
Article
The Relationship between Elevated Homocysteine and Metabolic Syndrome in a Community-Dwelling Middle-Aged and Elderly Population in Taiwan
by Yu-Lin Shih, Chin-Chuan Shih, Tzu-Cheng Huang and Jau-Yuan Chen
Biomedicines 2023, 11(2), 378; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines11020378 - 27 Jan 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2078
Abstract
(1) Background: Metabolic syndrome has become a serious health problem in society. Homocysteine is a biomarker for cardiovascular disease. We investigated the relationship between homocysteine levels and metabolic syndrome. (2) Methods: A total of 398 middle-aged and elderly individuals were included in our [...] Read more.
(1) Background: Metabolic syndrome has become a serious health problem in society. Homocysteine is a biomarker for cardiovascular disease. We investigated the relationship between homocysteine levels and metabolic syndrome. (2) Methods: A total of 398 middle-aged and elderly individuals were included in our study. First, we divided the participants into two groups: the metabolic syndrome group and the nonmetabolic syndrome group. Second, according to tertiles of homocysteine levels from low to high, the participants were divided into first, second, and third groups. Pearson’s correlation was then calculated for homocysteine levels and metabolic factors. Scatterplots are presented. Finally, the risk of metabolic syndrome in the second and third groups compared with the first group was assessed by multivariate logistic regression. (3) Results: In our study, the metabolic syndrome group had higher homocysteine levels, and the participants in the third group were more likely to have metabolic syndrome. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that the third group, which had the highest homocysteine level, was associated with metabolic syndrome with an odds ratio of 2.32 compared with the first group after adjusting for risk factors. (4) Conclusions: We concluded that high plasma homocysteine levels were independently associated with MetS in our study population. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Research in Metabolic Syndrome)
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Review

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16 pages, 1041 KiB  
Review
Genetic Insights into Age-Related Macular Degeneration
by Bhumika, Nalini S. Bora and Puran S. Bora
Biomedicines 2024, 12(7), 1479; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12071479 - 4 Jul 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1392
Abstract
One of the major causes of vision impairment among elderly people in developed nations is age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The distinctive features of AMD are the accumulation of extracellular deposits called drusen and the gradual deterioration of photoreceptors and nearby tissues in the [...] Read more.
One of the major causes of vision impairment among elderly people in developed nations is age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The distinctive features of AMD are the accumulation of extracellular deposits called drusen and the gradual deterioration of photoreceptors and nearby tissues in the macula. AMD is a complex and multifaceted disease influenced by several factors such as aging, environmental risk factors, and a person’s genetic susceptibility to the condition. The interaction among these factors leads to the initiation and advancement of AMD, where genetic predisposition plays a crucial role. With the advent of high-throughput genotyping technologies, many novel genetic loci associated with AMD have been identified, enhancing our knowledge of its genetic architecture. The common genetic variants linked to AMD are found on chromosome 1q32 (in the complement factor H gene) and 10q26 (age-related maculopathy susceptibility 2 and high-temperature requirement A serine peptidase 1 genes) loci, along with several other risk variants. This review summarizes the common genetic variants of complement pathways, lipid metabolism, and extracellular matrix proteins associated with AMD risk, highlighting the intricate pathways contributing to AMD pathogenesis. Knowledge of the genetic underpinnings of AMD will allow for the future development of personalized diagnostics and targeted therapeutic interventions, paving the way for more effective management of AMD and improved outcomes for affected individuals. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Research in Metabolic Syndrome)
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13 pages, 767 KiB  
Review
Prediabetes and Cardiometabolic Risk: The Need for Improved Diagnostic Strategies and Treatment to Prevent Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease
by Juan Carlos Lizarzaburu-Robles, William H. Herman, Alonso Garro-Mendiola, Alba Galdón Sanz-Pastor and Oscar Lorenzo
Biomedicines 2024, 12(2), 363; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12020363 - 4 Feb 2024
Viewed by 2105
Abstract
The progression from prediabetes to type-2 diabetes depends on multiple pathophysiological, clinical, and epidemiological factors that generally overlap. Both insulin resistance and decreased insulin secretion are considered to be the main causes. The diagnosis and approach to the prediabetic patient are heterogeneous. There [...] Read more.
The progression from prediabetes to type-2 diabetes depends on multiple pathophysiological, clinical, and epidemiological factors that generally overlap. Both insulin resistance and decreased insulin secretion are considered to be the main causes. The diagnosis and approach to the prediabetic patient are heterogeneous. There is no agreement on the diagnostic criteria to identify prediabetic subjects or the approach to those with insufficient responses to treatment, with respect to regression to normal glycemic values or the prevention of complications. The stratification of prediabetic patients, considering the indicators of impaired fasting glucose, impaired glucose tolerance, or HbA1c, can help to identify the sub-phenotypes of subjects at risk for T2DM. However, considering other associated risk factors, such as impaired lipid profiles, or risk scores, such as the Finnish Diabetes Risk Score, may improve classification. Nevertheless, we still do not have enough information regarding cardiovascular risk reduction. The sub-phenotyping of subjects with prediabetes may provide an opportunity to improve the screening and management of cardiometabolic risk in subjects with prediabetes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Research in Metabolic Syndrome)
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47 pages, 2553 KiB  
Review
Targeting the Metabolic Paradigms in Cancer and Diabetes
by Mira Bosso, Dania Haddad, Ashraf Al Madhoun and Fahd Al-Mulla
Biomedicines 2024, 12(1), 211; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12010211 - 17 Jan 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2281
Abstract
Dysregulated metabolic dynamics are evident in both cancer and diabetes, with metabolic alterations representing a facet of the myriad changes observed in these conditions. This review delves into the commonalities in metabolism between cancer and type 2 diabetes (T2D), focusing specifically on the [...] Read more.
Dysregulated metabolic dynamics are evident in both cancer and diabetes, with metabolic alterations representing a facet of the myriad changes observed in these conditions. This review delves into the commonalities in metabolism between cancer and type 2 diabetes (T2D), focusing specifically on the contrasting roles of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and glycolysis as primary energy-generating pathways within cells. Building on earlier research, we explore how a shift towards one pathway over the other serves as a foundational aspect in the development of cancer and T2D. Unlike previous reviews, we posit that this shift may occur in seemingly opposing yet complementary directions, akin to the Yin and Yang concept. These metabolic fluctuations reveal an intricate network of underlying defective signaling pathways, orchestrating the pathogenesis and progression of each disease. The Warburg phenomenon, characterized by the prevalence of aerobic glycolysis over minimal to no OXPHOS, emerges as the predominant metabolic phenotype in cancer. Conversely, in T2D, the prevailing metabolic paradigm has traditionally been perceived in terms of discrete irregularities rather than an OXPHOS-to-glycolysis shift. Throughout T2D pathogenesis, OXPHOS remains consistently heightened due to chronic hyperglycemia or hyperinsulinemia. In advanced insulin resistance and T2D, the metabolic landscape becomes more complex, featuring differential tissue-specific alterations that affect OXPHOS. Recent findings suggest that addressing the metabolic imbalance in both cancer and diabetes could offer an effective treatment strategy. Numerous pharmaceutical and nutritional modalities exhibiting therapeutic effects in both conditions ultimately modulate the OXPHOS–glycolysis axis. Noteworthy nutritional adjuncts, such as alpha-lipoic acid, flavonoids, and glutamine, demonstrate the ability to reprogram metabolism, exerting anti-tumor and anti-diabetic effects. Similarly, pharmacological agents like metformin exhibit therapeutic efficacy in both T2D and cancer. This review discusses the molecular mechanisms underlying these metabolic shifts and explores promising therapeutic strategies aimed at reversing the metabolic imbalance in both disease scenarios. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Research in Metabolic Syndrome)
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35 pages, 3280 KiB  
Review
Valproate-Induced Metabolic Syndrome
by Natalia A. Shnayder, Violetta V. Grechkina, Vera V. Trefilova, Ilya S. Efremov, Evgenia A. Dontceva, Ekaterina A. Narodova, Marina M. Petrova, Irina A. Soloveva, Liia E. Tepnadze, Polina A. Reznichenko, Mustafa Al-Zamil, Gulnara I. Altynbekova, Anna I. Strelnik and Regina F. Nasyrova
Biomedicines 2023, 11(5), 1499; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines11051499 - 22 May 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3070
Abstract
Valproic acid (VPA) and its salts (sodium calcium magnesium and orotic) are psychotropic drugs that are widely used in neurology and psychiatry. The long-term use of VPA increases the risk of developing adverse drug reactions (ADRs), among which metabolic syndrome (MetS) plays a [...] Read more.
Valproic acid (VPA) and its salts (sodium calcium magnesium and orotic) are psychotropic drugs that are widely used in neurology and psychiatry. The long-term use of VPA increases the risk of developing adverse drug reactions (ADRs), among which metabolic syndrome (MetS) plays a special role. MetS belongs to a cluster of metabolic conditions such as abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, high blood glucose, high serum triglycerides, and low serum high-density lipoprotein. Valproate-induced MetS (VPA-MetS) is a common ADR that needs an updated multidisciplinary approach to its prevention and diagnosis. In this review, we consider the results of studies of blood (serum and plasma) and the urinary biomarkers of VPA-MetS. These metabolic biomarkers may provide the key to the development of a new multidisciplinary personalized strategy for the prevention and diagnosis of VPA-MetS in patients with neurological diseases, psychiatric disorders, and addiction diseases. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Research in Metabolic Syndrome)
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23 pages, 755 KiB  
Review
Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease or Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus—The Chicken or the Egg Dilemma
by Marcin Kosmalski, Agnieszka Śliwińska and Józef Drzewoski
Biomedicines 2023, 11(4), 1097; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines11041097 - 4 Apr 2023
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 5849
Abstract
In clinical practice, we often deal with patients who suffer from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) concurrent with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The etiopathogenesis of NAFLD is mainly connected with insulin resistance (IR) and obesity. Similarly, the latter patients are in the [...] Read more.
In clinical practice, we often deal with patients who suffer from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) concurrent with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The etiopathogenesis of NAFLD is mainly connected with insulin resistance (IR) and obesity. Similarly, the latter patients are in the process of developing T2DM. However, the mechanisms of NAFLD and T2DM coexistence have not been fully elucidated. Considering that both diseases and their complications are of epidemic proportions and significantly affect the length and quality of life, we aimed to answer which of these diseases appears first and thereby highlight the need for their diagnosis and treatment. To address this question, we present and discuss the epidemiological data, diagnoses, complications and pathomechanisms of these two coexisting metabolic diseases. This question is difficult to answer due to the lack of a uniform procedure for NAFLD diagnosis and the asymptomatic nature of both diseases, especially at their beginning stages. To conclude, most researchers suggest that NAFLD appears as the first disease and starts the sequence of circumstances leading ultimately to the development of T2DM. However, there are also data suggesting that T2DM develops before NAFLD. Despite the fact that we cannot definitively answer this question, it is very important to bring the attention of clinicians and researchers to the coexistence of NAFLD and T2DM in order to prevent their consequences. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Research in Metabolic Syndrome)
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