N. F. da Silva

Epicardial Adipose Tissue as a Source of Nuclear Factor-κB and c-Jun N-Terminal Kinase Mediated Inflammation in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease

CONTEXT Visceral adipose tissue (AT) is known to confer a significantly higher risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Epicardial AT has been shown to be related to cardiovascular disease and myocardial function through unidentified mechanisms. Epicardial AT expresses an inflammatory profile of proteins; however, the mechanisms responsible are yet to be elucidated. OBJECTIVES The objectives of the study were to: 1) examine key mediators of the nuclear factor-kappaB (NFkappaB) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathways in paired epicardial and gluteofemoral (thigh) AT from coronary artery disease (CAD) and control patients and 2) investigate circulating endotoxin levels in CAD and control subjects. DESIGN Serums and AT biopsies (epicardial and thigh) were obtained from CAD (n = 16) and non-CAD (n = 18) patients. Inflammation was assessed in tissue and serum samples through Western blot, real-time PCR, ELISAs, and activity studies. RESULTS Western blotting showed epicardial AT had significantly higher NFkappaB, inhibitory-kappaB kinase (IKK)-gamma, IKKbeta, and JNK-1 and -2 compared with thigh AT. Epicardial mRNA data showed strong correlations between CD-68 and toll-like receptor-2, toll-like receptor-4, and TNF-alpha. Circulating endotoxin was elevated in patients with CAD compared with matched controls [CAD: 6.80 +/- 0.28 endotoxin unit(EU)/ml vs. controls: 5.52 +/- 0.57 EU/ml; P<0.05]. CONCLUSION Epicardial AT from patients with CAD shows increased NFkappaB, IKKbeta, and JNK expression compared with both CAD thigh AT and non-CAD epicardial AT, suggesting a depot-specific as well as a disease-linked response to inflammation. These studies implicate both NFkappaB and JNK pathways in the inflammatory profile of epicardial AT and highlight the role of the macrophage in the inflammation within this tissue.

Increased plasma ghrelin following infliximab in Crohn’s disease

Background  Ghrelin, a potent orexigenic peptide produced by the stomach, may be affected by circulating inflammatory mediators.

Metabolic endotoxaemia as a mediator of mitochondrial dysfunction in human adipose tissue, alleviated by salicylate

Background and aims: The association between type 2 diabetes and different forms of cognitive impairment is well established. The mechanism behind the association is however still unrevealed. We ha ...

The effects adiposity, diabetic status and depot-specificity on the activation of NFKB on JNK in human abdominal adipose tissue

The President reported that ‘The case for a UN resolution’ had been prepared by the IDF to highlight the need for a United Nations Resolution on diabetes in order to focus attention on the need to stop the growing diabetes epidemic. Dr. Ferrannini reported that ISPAD was a small, but enthusiastic organisation which had recently held a very well-attended meeting in Cambridge, UK. Following information that pediatricians are not attending the EASD Annual Meetings, discussions to organise a pediatric track in the programme of the Annual Meeting have been put forward. Dr. DahlJørgensen has also suggested organising a joint EASD/ ISPAD Postgraduate Course on Pediatric Diabetes in Europe in 2008. The President reported that a joint statement with ADA on guidelines on the treatment of type 2 diabetes was simultaneously published in August in both Diabetologia and Diabetes Care. Drs. R.J. Heine and R. Holman lead an ad-hoc committee from the EASD which also included Dr. S. del Prato and Dr. U. Smith. More details on EASD and EFSD activities were reported in the President’s Address given before the Minkowski Lecture, which is available on the internet under: http://www.easd-lectures.org/copenhagen/index. php?menu=lectures&id=66 and in his speech before the 38th Claude Bernard Lecture, available under: http://www.easd-lectures.org/copenhagen/index. php?menu=lectures&id=72 The President welcomed everyone to the 42nd General Assembly.Type III phosphatidylinositol 4-kinases mediate plasma membrane PIP2 synthesis in insulin-secreting cells

Long-term orlistat treatment reduces endotoxinaemia in fatty liver disease patients

The President reported that ‘The case for a UN resolution’ had been prepared by the IDF to highlight the need for a United Nations Resolution on diabetes in order to focus attention on the need to stop the growing diabetes epidemic. Dr. Ferrannini reported that ISPAD was a small, but enthusiastic organisation which had recently held a very well-attended meeting in Cambridge, UK. Following information that pediatricians are not attending the EASD Annual Meetings, discussions to organise a pediatric track in the programme of the Annual Meeting have been put forward. Dr. DahlJørgensen has also suggested organising a joint EASD/ ISPAD Postgraduate Course on Pediatric Diabetes in Europe in 2008. The President reported that a joint statement with ADA on guidelines on the treatment of type 2 diabetes was simultaneously published in August in both Diabetologia and Diabetes Care. Drs. R.J. Heine and R. Holman lead an ad-hoc committee from the EASD which also included Dr. S. del Prato and Dr. U. Smith. More details on EASD and EFSD activities were reported in the President’s Address given before the Minkowski Lecture, which is available on the internet under: http://www.easd-lectures.org/copenhagen/index. php?menu=lectures&id=66 and in his speech before the 38th Claude Bernard Lecture, available under: http://www.easd-lectures.org/copenhagen/index. php?menu=lectures&id=72 The President welcomed everyone to the 42nd General Assembly.Type III phosphatidylinositol 4-kinases mediate plasma membrane PIP2 synthesis in insulin-secreting cells