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| Open AccessFructose overconsumption impairs hepatic manganese homeostasis and ammonia disposal
Manganese is an essential trace element for the activity of arginase in the process of urea generation and ammonia disposal in the liver. Here, the authors show that fructose overconsumption impairs hepatic Mn homeostasis and ammonia disposal in male mice.
- Jian-Hui Shi
- , Yu-Xia Chen
- & Weiping J. Zhang
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Article
| Open AccessSkeletal muscle-secreted DLPC orchestrates systemic energy homeostasis by enhancing adipose browning
MyoD is a transcription factor expressed in skeletal muscle that plays a critical role in determining myogenic cell fate. Here, Hu et al. reveal a metabolic role of MyoD in orchestrating systemic energy homeostasis by mediating muscle-fat crosstalk through the muscle-secreted lipokine DLPC.
- Xiaodi Hu
- , Mingwei Sun
- & Dahai Zhu
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Article
| Open AccessParabacteroides distasonis ameliorates insulin resistance via activation of intestinal GPR109a
Here, the authors show that the gut commensal Parabacteroides distasonis alleviates insulin resistance via nicotinic acid-intestinal GPR109a axis activation, a process promoted by Dendrobium officinale polysaccharide.
- Yonggan Sun
- , Qixing Nie
- & Shaoping Nie
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Article
| Open AccessA standardized metric to enhance clinical trial design and outcome interpretation in type 1 diabetes
The use of a standardized outcome metric enhances clinical trial interpretation and cross-trial comparison. Here, the authors show the implementation of such a metric using type 1 diabetes trial data, reassess and compare results from these trials, and extend its use to define response to therapy.
- Alyssa Ylescupidez
- , Henry T. Bahnson
- & Carla J. Greenbaum
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Article
| Open AccessPoor sleep and shift work associate with increased blood pressure and inflammation in UK Biobank participants
Circadian disruption is linked to increased blood pressure and heart disease risk. Here, the authors show a positive association between circadian disruption and blood pressure (SBP/DBP) regulation in males and females irrespective of age, weight and inflammatory status.
- Monica Kanki
- , Artika P. Nath
- & Morag J. Young
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Article
| Open AccessDevelopment and validation of an age-sex-ethnicity-specific metabolic syndrome score in the Chinese adults
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) could predict future risk for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), but the traditionally defined dichotomous MetS cannot reflect MetS severity and demographic variations. Here, the authors develop a continuous, age-sex-ethnicity-specific MetS score to better identify CVD risk in a Chinese population.
- Shujuan Yang
- , Bin Yu
- & Peng Jia
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Article
| Open AccessFollicle-stimulating hormone orchestrates glucose-stimulated insulin secretion of pancreatic islets
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is involved in mammalian reproduction, but several studies have suggested a role of FSH and its receptor in extragonadal tissue. Here, the authors show that FSH orchestrates glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) via its receptor on pancreatic β-cells, with pre-menopausal FSH levels dose-dependently promoting GSIS and postmenopausal FSH levels inhibiting this effect.
- Yi Cheng
- , Hong Zhu
- & He-Feng Huang
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Article
| Open AccesseQTL mapping in fetal-like pancreatic progenitor cells reveals early developmental insights into diabetes risk
Fetal development plays an important role in defining adult diabetes risk. Here, authors identified a genetic link between fetal pancreatic gene expression, obesity, and diabetes risk through eQTL mapping of iPSC-derived pancreatic progenitor cells.
- Jennifer P. Nguyen
- , Timothy D. Arthur
- & Kelly A. Frazer
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Article
| Open AccessGut microbiota impacts bone via Bacteroides vulgatus-valeric acid-related pathways
Gut microbiota has been reported to influence osteoporosis risk, but the individual species, and underlying mechanisms, remain largely unknown. Here, the authors identify Bacteroides vulgatus and serum valeric acid as potential targets for osteoporosis prevention/treatment.
- Xu Lin
- , Hong-Mei Xiao
- & Hong-Wen Deng
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Article
| Open AccessZFYVE28 mediates insulin resistance by promoting phosphorylated insulin receptor degradation via increasing late endosomes production
Insulin receptor levels are closely related to insulin sensitivity. Here, the authors show that ZFYVE28 is involved in insulin resistance by promoting the degradation of phosphorylated insulin receptor and ZFYVE28 may be a potential therapeutic target to improve insulin sensitivity.
- Liang Yu
- , Mengchen Xu
- & Yibo Wang
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Article
| Open AccessGenome-wide association study of thyroid-stimulating hormone highlights new genes, pathways and associations with thyroid disease
Thyroid hormones play a critical role in regulation of multiple physiological functions. Here the authors via meta-analyses and detailed variant-to-gene mapping strategies implicate novel genes, pathways and associations for thyroid function and disease.
- Alexander T. Williams
- , Jing Chen
- & Catherine John
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Article
| Open AccessHealthy dietary patterns and the risk of individual chronic diseases in community-dwelling adults
Dietary patterns have been linked to a limited number of major chronic diseases. Here, the authors show greater adherence to healthy dietary patterns, especially Alternate Mediterranean Diet, is associated with a lower risk of most of the 48 tested chronic diseases.
- Xianwen Shang
- , Jiahao Liu
- & Mingguang He
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Article
| Open AccessRING finger protein 13 protects against nonalcoholic steatohepatitis by targeting STING-relayed signaling pathways
The STING-relayed inflammation response has been increasingly identified as one of the key drivers of NAFLD progression. Here the authors show that an E3 ubiquitin ligase, RNF13, can ameliorate NAFLD phenotypes by facilitating the TRIM29-mediated degradation of STING.
- Zhibin Lin
- , Peijun Yang
- & Lin Wang
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Article
| Open AccessMetabolic fingerprinting on retinal pigment epithelium thickness for individualized risk stratification of type 2 diabetes mellitus
The retina’s role in type 2 diabetes is not well understood. Here, the authors show that retinal pigment epithelium thickness, with its metabolic fingerprints, might offer improved predictability and clinical utility beyond traditional indicators.
- Shaopeng Yang
- , Zhuoting Zhu
- & Wei Wang
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Article
| Open AccessTripartite motif containing 26 prevents steatohepatitis progression by suppressing C/EBPδ signalling activation
Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a heterogeneous disease with complicated pathogenesis. Here the authors identify that the E3 ligase TRIM26 confers protection against NASH development via suppression of CCAAT/enhancer binding protein delta (C/EBPδ).
- Minxuan Xu
- , Jun Tan
- & Lianyi Han
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Article
| Open AccessA human antibody against pathologic IAPP aggregates protects beta cells in type 2 diabetes models
β-cell dysfunction in type 2 diabetes is associated with pathological aggregates of IAPP that accumulate in pancreatic islets. Here, the authors describe a novel antibody cloned from healthy elderly donors that selectively targets IAPP oligomers and protects from IAPP toxicity.
- Fabian Wirth
- , Fabrice D. Heitz
- & Jan Grimm
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Article
| Open AccessPAX4 loss of function increases diabetes risk by altering human pancreatic endocrine cell development
A coding variant of the PAX4 transcription factor (p.Arg192His) is uniquely associated with Type 2 Diabetes in East Asian populations. Here, the authors show that two different coding gene variants of PAX4, p.Arg192His and the newly identified p.Tyr186X, can influence pancreatic beta cell development, identity, and function.
- Hwee Hui Lau
- , Nicole A. J. Krentz
- & Adrian Kee Keong Teo
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Article
| Open AccessMetabolic crosstalk between skeletal muscle cells and liver through IRF4-FSTL1 in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis
In this study Guo et al. show that skeletal muscle IRF4-FSTL1 exerts metabolic regulation on the liver via DIP2A/CD14 in NASH. FSTL1 from skeletal muscle that enters the circulation promotes the development of NASH.
- Shanshan Guo
- , Yonghao Feng
- & Xingxing Kong
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Article
| Open AccessMyo9b mutations are associated with altered dendritic cell functions and increased susceptibility to autoimmune diabetes onset
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) results from autoimmune destruction of pancreatic islet β cells. Here the author show, by comparing the diabetes-sensitive NOD mouse strain with its congenic, diabetes-resistant ALR strain, and by genomic analyses of T1D patients and control, that mutations in the Myo9b gene may alter dendritic cells to contribute to autoimmune diabetes onset.
- Jing Zhang
- , Yuan Zou
- & Cong-Yi Wang
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Article
| Open AccessA common East-Asian ALDH2 mutation causes metabolic disorders and the therapeutic effect of ALDH2 activators
A common East Asian-specific defect of an alcohol metabolizing enzyme (ALDH2) causes glucose abnormality, obesity, and fatty liver. Here, the authors show an ALDH2 activator can treat these metabolic disorders in mice.
- Yi-Cheng Chang
- , Hsiao-Lin Lee
- & Lee-Ming Chuang
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Article
| Open AccessGlycerol contributes to tuberculosis susceptibility in male mice with type 2 diabetes
Patients with diabetes mellitus have an increased risk of developing tuberculosis. Here the authors show that increased blood levels of glycerol in mice with type 2 diabetes contributes to their susceptibility to infection, as glycerol is one of the main carbon sources for the bacteria.
- Nuria Martinez
- , Lorissa J. Smulan
- & Hardy Kornfeld
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Article
| Open AccessPhage-microbe dynamics after sterile faecal filtrate transplantation in individuals with metabolic syndrome: a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled clinical trial assessing efficacy and safety
Bacteriophages (phages) can modify the gut microbiome to benefit human health. Here, the authors report the results of a double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, showing that faecal filtrate transplantation (FFT), containing phages from lean healthy donors, is safe and improves glycemic variability in patients with metabolic syndrome, while shifting the gut phage composition.
- Koen Wortelboer
- , Patrick A. de Jonge
- & Hilde Herrema
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Article
| Open AccessNEUROD1 reinforces endocrine cell fate acquisition in pancreatic development
Errors during pancreas development and specification of the endocrine lineage can result in severe neonatal diabetes. Here they show that loss of NEUROD1 leads to disturbances in endocrine cell identity acquisition during pancreas development, with cellular reprogramming occurring at the single-cell level within both α- and β-cell populations.
- Romana Bohuslavova
- , Valeria Fabriciova
- & Gabriela Pavlinkova
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Article
| Open AccessSingle cell multiomic analysis reveals diabetes-associated β-cell heterogeneity driven by HNF1A
The mechanism and disease-relevance of pancreatic b-cell heterogeneity remains elusive. Here the authors show that variable HNF1A-FXYD2 activity drives single b-cell heterogeneity at transcriptomic, epigenomic, and electro-physiological levels, which strongly mark the progression of type 2 diabetes.
- Chen Weng
- , Anniya Gu
- & Yan Li
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Article
| Open AccessImpact of dietary interventions on pre-diabetic oral and gut microbiome, metabolites and cytokines
Here, analyzing data from a six-month clinical trial in pre-diabetes, the authors found 166 of 2,803 measured features, including oral and gut microbiome, metabolites and cytokines, significantly changed in response to dietary interventions; highlighting the microbiome’s role in cardiometabolic health and revealing potential therapeutic avenues.
- Saar Shoer
- , Smadar Shilo
- & Eran Segal
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Article
| Open AccessCancer-cell-secreted miR-204-5p induces leptin signalling pathway in white adipose tissue to promote cancer-associated cachexia
Tumour cells can communicate with cells from distant organs through extracellular vesicles. Here the authors show that breast cancer cells derived exosomal miR-204-5p induce leptin signalling pathway in white adipose tissue to promote cancer-associated cachexia.
- Yong Hu
- , Liu Liu
- & Wei Yan
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Article
| Open AccessImpaired Plakophilin-2 in obesity breaks cell cycle dynamics to breed adipocyte senescence
Plakophilin-2 is a key component of desmosomes required to maintain cardiac tissue cohesion. Here the authors uncover a previously unknown defect in cell cycle and adipocyte senescence due to impaired Plakophilin-2 in subjects with obesity.
- Aina Lluch
- , Jessica Latorre
- & Francisco J. Ortega
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Article
| Open AccessGut microbiota-derived tryptamine and phenethylamine impair insulin sensitivity in metabolic syndrome and irritable bowel syndrome
Here, the authors show a causal role for gut bacteria-derived metabolites tryptamine and phenethylamine in contributing to insulin resistance and the development of metabolic syndrome in patients with irritable bowel syndrome and type 2 diabetes.
- Lixiang Zhai
- , Haitao Xiao
- & Zhao-Xiang Bian
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Article
| Open AccessEndothelial ERα promotes glucose tolerance by enhancing endothelial insulin transport to skeletal muscle
Estrogen has anti-diabetic effects via estrogen receptor alpha (ERα). Here, authors show that via coupled nuclear and non-nuclear actions, ERα in endothelial cells promotes insulin transport to skeletal muscle to foster normal glucose homeostasis.
- Anastasia Sacharidou
- , Ken Chambliss
- & Philip W. Shaul
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Article
| Open AccessCullin-associated and neddylation-dissociated protein 1 (CAND1) alleviates NAFLD by reducing ubiquitinated degradation of ACAA2
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disorder with high morbidity and mortality, and there is no specific drug to treat it. Here, the authors show that the AR-CAND1-ACAA2 axis regulates the development of NAFLD, and enhancing the function of CAND1 is a promising strategy for the development of a therapeutic agent for NAFLD.
- Xiang Huang
- , Xin Liu
- & Zhenwei Pan
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Article
| Open AccessDeterminants of sustained stabilization of beta-cell function following short-term insulin therapy in type 2 diabetes
In early type 2 diabetes, “induction” with short-term insulin therapy followed by “maintenance” with metformin can stabilize beta-cell function. The authors show that initial reversibility of beta-cell dysfunction followed by preserved hepatic insulin sensitivity determine sustained stabilization.
- Ravi Retnakaran
- , Jiajie Pu
- & Bernard Zinman
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Article
| Open AccessEffect of experimental hookworm infection on insulin resistance in people at risk of type 2 diabetes
A beneficial effect of parasitic worms on metabolic health has been postulated based on epidemiological and animal studies. Here, the authors show in a phase I clinical trial that treatment of people at risk of type 2 diabetes with hookworms is safe and may improve key measures of metabolic health.
- Doris R. Pierce
- , Malcolm McDonald
- & Paul R. Giacomin
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| Open AccessA gut feeling for drugs that have metabolic benefits
Resveratrol (REV) is a natural polyphenol with anti-obesity effects. However, the mechanisms remain unclear due to its low bioavailability and the lack of defined membrane-bound or nuclear receptors. Pang and colleagues reported that REV intervention (REV-I) alters gut microbiota and bile acid profile, leading to the inhibition of farnesoid X receptor (FXR) and attenuation of scavenger receptor class B type 1 (SR-B1)-mediated chylomicron secretion. This highlights a therapeutic potential of targeting gut microbiome and intestinal SR-B1 for obesity and diabetes treatment.
- Eryun Zhang
- , Alon Agua
- & Wendong Huang
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Article
| Open AccessDetermining the metabolic effects of dietary fat, sugars and fat-sugar interaction using nutritional geometry in a dietary challenge study with male mice
The role of dietary fat vs sugar in the global obesity epidemic remains controversial. Using Nutritional Geometry methodology, the authors show that, in mice, both fats and sugars could lead to adverse metabolic outcomes, depending on the dietary context.
- Jibran A. Wali
- , Duan Ni
- & Stephen J. Simpson
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Article
| Open AccessPrevalence of diabetic retinopathy and vision-threatening diabetic retinopathy in adults with diabetes in China
Current data on the national distribution of diabetic retinopathy (DR) is lacking. Here, the authors show the national distribution, associated multi-level factors, and visual impairment of DR and vision-threatening DR in Chinese adults with diabetes.
- Xuhong Hou
- , Limin Wang
- & Weiping Jia
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Article
| Open AccessRestoration of PITPNA in Type 2 diabetic human islets reverses pancreatic beta-cell dysfunction
Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is characterized by pancreatic beta-cell failure. Here, the authors show restoration of Phosphatidylinositol transfer protein alpha (PITPNA), a mediator of PtdIns-4-phosphate synthesis in the trans-Golgi network, in human T2D islets reverses impaired insulin granule maturation, exocytosis, and ER stress.
- Yu-Te Yeh
- , Chandan Sona
- & Matthew N. Poy
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Article
| Open AccessIncreased body mass index is linked to systemic inflammation through altered chromatin co-accessibility in human preadipocytes
Preadipocytes contribute to the pro-inflammatory environment in obesity, via unknown mechanisms. Here, comparing monozygotic twin pairs, the authors show that co-accessibility of chromatin in preadipocytes is altered in siblings with higher compared to lower BMI, and that variants in these regions contribute to systemic inflammation via interactions with BMI.
- Kristina M. Garske
- , Asha Kar
- & Päivi Pajukanta
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Article
| Open AccessOpportunistic detection of type 2 diabetes using deep learning from frontal chest radiographs
Traditional type 2 diabetes (T2D) screening methods often depend on age, BMI guidelines and glucose measurements. Here, authors use a deep learning model that leverages chest radiographs and electronic health record data to screen for T2D, highlighting potential for early detection and intervention.
- Ayis Pyrros
- , Stephen M. Borstelmann
- & William Galanter
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Article
| Open AccessModeling and therapeutic targeting of inflammation-induced hepatic insulin resistance using human iPSC-derived hepatocytes and macrophages
Hepatic insulin resistance is an established driver of type 2 diabetes but is difficult to model in vitro. Here researchers use co-culture of hepatocytes and macrophages derived from the same human iPSC line to show how inflammation disrupts insulin-mediated regulation of hepatic glucose metabolism and identify targets for therapy of hepatic insulin resistance.
- Marko Groeger
- , Koji Matsuo
- & Holger Willenbring
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Article
| Open AccessCausal associations between cardiorespiratory fitness and type 2 diabetes
Being fit has been linked to a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, but it is unclear whether this relationship is causal. Using large scale studies with genetic data and measurements of cardiorespiratory fitness, the authors show evidence that higher genetically predicted fitness is causally associated with lower risk of type 2 diabetes independent of adiposity.
- Lina Cai
- , Tomas Gonzales
- & Nicholas J. Wareham
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Article
| Open AccessUBAP2 plays a role in bone homeostasis through the regulation of osteoblastogenesis and osteoclastogenesis
The authors identify UBAP2 as a novel osteoporosis susceptibility gene by performing association studies focusing on coding regions of the genome, and report that it plays a role in bone homeostasis through the regulation of bone remodelling.
- Jeonghyun Kim
- , Bo-Young Kim
- & Seon-Yong Jeong
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Article
| Open AccessVariants in SART3 cause a spliceosomopathy characterised by failure of testis development and neuronal defects
The SART3 gene encodes an RNA-binding protein critical for spliceosome function. Here, the authors find that bi-allelic variants in SART3 underlie a congenital condition characterised by neuro-developmental defects and 46,XY gonadal dysgenesis.
- Katie L. Ayers
- , Stefanie Eggers
- & Andrew H. Sinclair
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Article
| Open AccessSenescent immune cells accumulation promotes brown adipose tissue dysfunction during aging
With increasing age, brown adipose tissue (BAT) becomes characterized by increased adiposity and immune cell infiltration but reduced thermogenic capacity. Here the authors report that bone marrow-derived pro-inflammatory and senescent S100A8+ immune cells accumulate in BAT of male rats and mice during aging and contribute to BAT dysfunction.
- Xu Feng
- , Liwen Wang
- & Haiyan Zhou
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Article
| Open AccessA versatile bioelectronic interface programmed for hormone sensing
Ultrasensitive, real-time profiling of bio-analytes is a prerequisite for precision medicine. Here, the authors present a versatile bio-electronic interface (VIBE) to sense signaling cascade-guided receptor-ligand interactions and show that it can detect hormone levels in blood samples and differentiate individual metabolic conditions.
- Preetam Guha Ray
- , Debasis Maity
- & Martin Fussenegger
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Article
| Open AccessTranscriptional coactivation by EHMT2 restricts glucocorticoid-induced insulin resistance in a study with male mice
Glucocorticoids are known to induce insulin resistance via transcriptional activation of genes related to liver gluconeogenesis and insulin resistance. Here the authors report that in male mice treated with glucocorticoids, the transcriptional co-regulator EHMT2 is involved in the induction of Irs2 (a gene promoting insulin action) to restrict the extent of insulin resistance in the liver.
- Rebecca A. Lee
- , Maggie Chang
- & Jen-Chywan Wang
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Article
| Open AccessIntegrative genomic analyses in adipocytes implicate DNA methylation in human obesity and diabetes
DNA methylation variation is associated with human obesity but a whether it plays a causal role in disease pathogenesis is unclear. Here, the authors perfom an integrative genomic study in human adipocytes to show that DNA methylation variations contribute to obesity and type 2 diabetes susceptibility, revealing underlying genomic and molecular mechanisms.
- Liam McAllan
- , Damir Baranasic
- & William R. Scott
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Article
| Open AccessDNA methylation markers for kidney function and progression of diabetic kidney disease
Epigenetic markers are potential biomarkers for diabetes and related complications. Here, the authors identify CpG sites associated with kidney function and its subsequent decline using both single-site and multisite analyses, which are shown to have functional significance in the kidney.
- Kelly Yichen Li
- , Claudia Ha Ting Tam
- & Ronald C. W. Ma
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Article
| Open AccessResveratrol intervention attenuates chylomicron secretion via repressing intestinal FXR-induced expression of scavenger receptor SR-B1
Resveratrol intervention improves lipid homeostasis, but how it can target multiple organs with very low bioavailability remains elusive. Here, the authors report that gut microbiota-bile acids are linked to the hypolipidemic effect of resveratrol via inhibiting the intestinal FXR/SR-B1 signalling pathway.
- Juan Pang
- , Fitore Raka
- & Tianru Jin
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Article
| Open AccessReduced hepatic bradykinin degradation accounts for cold-induced BAT thermogenesis and WAT browning in male mice
Adipose tissue thermogenesis plays a role in appropriate response to cold exposure through incompletely understood mechanisms. Here the authors report that acute cold exposure increases the serum levels of bradykinin, which induces brown adipose tissue thermogenesis and white adipose tissue browning in male mice.
- Fei Xiao
- , Haizhou Jiang
- & Feifan Guo