Search Results (3)

Background: Apolipoprotein B (apo B), apolipoprotein C-II (apo C-II), and apolipoprotein C-III (apo C-III) play important roles in very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) metabolism. Whether they influence the relationship between intra-pancreatic fat deposition (IPFD) and VLDL is unknown. The aim was to investigate whether the association between VLDL cholesterol (VLDL-C) and IPFD varies between individuals with and without dysapolipoproteinaemia involving apo B, apo C-II, and apo C-III. Methods: Abdominal magnetic resonance imaging at 3T was performed to quantify IPFD. VLDL-C was measured using the Quantimetrix Lipoprint^® system, whereas apo B, apo C-II, and apo C-III levels were analysed using the MILLIPLEX^® (xMAP) assay. Dysapolipoproteinemia was defined as apolipoprotein levels above the upper quartile of the overall cohort. Univariable and multivariable linear regression analyses were performed, adjusting for age, sex, ethnicity, waist-to-hip ratio, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and insulin resistance. Results: A total of 32 individuals had dysapolipoproteinaemia, whereas 96 had normoapolipoproteinaemia. Among those with dysapolipoproteinaemia involving apo B, apo C-II, and apo C-III, VLDL-C levels were significantly and positively associated with IPFD. In the fully adjusted model, each unit increase in VLDL-C corresponded to a 0.82% (p = 0.011), 1.05% (p = 0.003), and 1.00% (p = 0.005) increase in IPFD, respectively. No significant association between VLDL-C and IPFD was observed in individuals with normoapolipoproteinaemia. Conclusions: Altered apolipoprotein profiles influence the association between VLDL-C and IPFD. Full article

With the increasing use of imaging modalities such as ultrasonography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging, incidental findings of pancreatic abnormalities, including pancreatic cysts and fatty pancreas (FP), have become more common. FP, also referred to as pancreatic steatosis, intra-pancreatic fat deposition, or fatty pancreas disease, is characterized by the accumulation of fat in the pancreas. Although FP has been associated with metabolic syndromes such as obesity and diabetes, its clinical significance remains unclear. Recent evidence suggests that FP may play a role in pancreatic carcinogenesis. Metabolic disorders, including obesity, insulin resistance, and diabetes, have been implicated in the development of FP. Additionally, FP has been linked to an increased risk of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), possibly due to chronic inflammation, lipotoxicity, and an altered pancreatic microenvironment. While early detection of PDAC remains challenging, surveillance strategies for high-risk individuals, such as those with pancreatic cysts, new-onset diabetes, or a genetic predisposition, may be crucial. In this context, FP may be incorporated into this surveillance of high-risk individuals. Some pharmacological interventions, including glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, have shown potential in reducing pancreatic fat accumulation, although further studies are needed to confirm their efficacy. Full article

Ectopic lipid accumulation, including intra-pancreatic fat deposition (IPFD), exacerbates type 2 diabetes risk in susceptible individuals. Dysregulated circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) have been identified as correlating with clinical measures of pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer and type 1 diabetes. The aim of the current study was therefore to examine the association between circulating abundances of candidate miRNAs, IPFD and liver fat deposition as quantified using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spectroscopy (MRS). Asian Chinese (n = 34; BMI = 26.7 ± 4.2 kg/m²) and European Caucasian (n = 34; BMI = 28.0 ± 4.5 kg/m²) females from the TOFI_Asia cohort underwent MRI and MRS analysis of pancreas (MR-%IPFD) and liver fat (MR-%liver fat), respectively, to quantify ectopic lipid deposition. Plasma miRNA abundances of a subset of circulatory miRNAs associated with IPFD and liver fat deposition were quantified by qRT-PCR. miR-21-3p and miR-320a-5p correlated with MR-%IPFD, plasma insulin and HOMA2-IR, but not MR-%liver fat. MR-%IPFD remained associated with decreasing miR-21-3p abundance following multivariate regression analysis. miR-21-3p and miR-320a were demonstrated to be negatively correlated with MR-%IPFD, independent of ethnicity. For miR-21-3p, this relationship persists with the inclusion of MR-%liver fat in the model, suggesting the potential for a wider application as a specific circulatory correlate of IPFD. Full article