Adipokines: a review of biological and analytical principles and an update in dogs,cats, and horses

Abstract: In addition to its role as an energy storage depot, adipose tissue is now recognized as a complex endocrine organ. Adipose tissue releases a variety of factors, termed adipokines, that regulate energy metabolism, cardiovascular function, reproductive status, and immune function. Some of the better‐studied adipokines include leptin, adiponectin, and components of the renin‐angiotensin system such as angiotensinogen. The function of more recently discovered adipokines such as resistin are under intense scrutiny. Abnormal production or regulation of adipokines occurs in obese individuals and is implicated in the development of a variety of associated co‐morbidities including metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis, heart disease, and cancer in people, although evaluation in domestic species is just beginning. Adipokines are now being examined as potential biomarkers for risk assessment for development of complications related to obesity. This article summarizes the function and regulation of some better‐characterized adipokines. It also reviews the current information on the characterization of adipokines in some domestic species in which rates of obesity and obesity‐related disorders are increasing, such as the dog, cat, and horse.     

脂肪和肥胖相关基因与肥胖关系的研究进展

脂肪和肥胖相关(FTO)基因是最近发现的一个与肥胖相关的基因。全基因组关联分析发现:FTO基因内有许多单核苷酸多态性(SNP)位点,这些SNP位点与肥胖的发生密切相关。本文综述了FTO基因的发现、结构和组织表达特征,FTO基因SNP位点与肥胖之间关系,以及FTO基因通过调节摄食来影响肥胖的发生,以期为研究动物的肥胖机制提供一定的参考依据。     

Differences in adipose tissue inflammation and oxidative status in C57BL/6 and ApoE−/− mice fed high fat diet

Apolipoprotein E deficient (Apo E?/?) mice are more resistant to the development of obesity compared to C57BL/6 wild type mice. They also hold a high basal oxidative status due to the loss of antioxidant action of apolipoprotein E. Since obesity is also an inducer of inflammation, we studied the effect of high‐fat diet on obesity and oxidative stress in C57BL/6 and Apo E?/? mice for 9 weeks. The results confirmed that Apo E?/? mice fed high‐fat diet are more resistant to the increase of both body weight and adiposity compared to C57BL/6 mice. Despite this, Apo E?/? mice presented a higher basal oxidative stress that was enhanced by high‐fat diet. Macrophage infiltration, macrophage forming crown‐like structures and proinflammatory adipokines (interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha) were all higher in adipose tissue from Apo E?/? compared to C57BL/6 mice, regardless of diet type. In conclusion, although Apo E?/? mice are more resistant to becoming obese, they develop more severe adipose tissue inflammation companied by its consequences.     

Enhanced Anti-Obesity Activities of Red Mold Dioscorea When Fermented Using Deep Ocean Water as the Culture Water

Deep ocean water (DOW) has, in previous studies, been found to be a novel anti-obesity drink and useful in raising Monascus-produced monascin and ankaflavin levels. This may resolve the limited anti-obesity ability of red mold dioscorea (RMD) known as the Monascus purpureus-fermented Disocorea batatas. This study aims to compare the anti-obesity effect of DOW-cultured RMD (DOW-RMD) and ultra-pure water-cultured RMD (UPW-RMD) in rats fed on a high fat diet. Moreover, the effect of ions composition of DOW and DOW-influenced functional metabolites change of RMD on the differentiation and lipogenesis regulation were investigated using 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes. In the animal test, compared to UPW-RMD, DOW-RMD possessed better ability to inhibit increases in weight gain, and better feed efficiency, body-fat pad and cross-sectional area of adipocytes. In the cell test, the anti-obesity abilities of DOW-RMD in inhibiting PPARγ and C/EBPα expression in differentiation and lipoprotein lipase activity in lipogenesis were contributed to by the DOW-increased monascin and ankaflavin levels and the ions of DOW, respectively.     

Hormonal disturbances associated with obesity in dogs

Obesity is associated with multiple endocrine alterations and changes in the concentration of circulating hormones. However, few studies have explored such alterations in dogs with naturally acquired excess weight. In the present study, we investigated the effect of naturally acquired obesity on cortisol, insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 and prolactin secretion in dogs. Thirty-one overweight dogs were enrolled in the trial. Blood samples were collected before and after adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) injection. Free thyroxine (fT4), cortisol, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), IGF-1, prolactin and fructosamine were assayed. Body weight excess increased significantly with age and neutered dogs were more obese than entire ones. The ACTH stimulation test was within the normal range for 26 of 31 dogs. Prolactinaemia was increased in seven dogs and IGF-1 in six dogs. Twenty dogs had a fructosamine concentration >340 microm. Interestingly, 18 of 31 dogs showed disturbances of thyroid function based on high TSH and/or low fT4 baseline concentration, with 11 dogs showing both. According to these parameters only six of 31 dogs were free of hormonal disturbances. These results revealed the high incidence of such disturbances, especially thyroid dysfunction, in obese, but otherwise apparently healthy dogs. They demonstrate the importance of examining endocrine function during the initial evaluation of obese dogs to avoid failure of any nutritional treatment.     

人参(西洋参)抑制胰脂肪酶活性及其抗肥胖作用

肥胖可引发身体多种代谢异常,造成高血脂症、糖尿病、心脑血管疾病、高血压、动脉粥样硬化、脂肪肝,严重危及人类健康。胰脂肪酶,是水解膳食脂肪的最重要的酶,可水解50%～70%的食物脂肪。通过抑制胰脂肪酶活性可以控制高脂饮食引起的肥胖。人参和西洋参能够抑制胰脂肪酶活性,降低高脂饮食小鼠体重、脂肪组织的重量、血脂和肝脂的作用。本文综述了近年来不同部位的人参及西洋参、不同种类人参皂苷抑制胰脂肪酶活性及其抗肥胖方面的作用。     

Fucoxantin: a treasure from the sea

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 2.3 billion people will be overweight and 700 million obese in 2015. The reasons for this disastrous trend are attributed to the global tendency toward the reduced magnitude of exercise and physical activity and the increased dietary intake of fats, sugars and calories with reduced amount of vitamins and minerals. To prevent life-style-related diseases, like Metabolic Syndrome (MS), researchers' attention is increasingly focusing on some of the so called "functional foods" which may be useful for their prevention and treatment. One of these functional ingredients is fucoxanthin (FX), a characteristic carotenoid present in edible brown seaweeds, such as Undaria pinnatifida (Wakame), Hijikia fusiformis (Hijiki), Laminaria japonica (Ma-Kombu) and Sargassum fulvellum. The increasing popularity of this molecule is certainly due to its anti-obesity effect, primarily detected by murine studies. These works revealed FX mediated induction of uncoupling protein-1 (UCP-1) in abdominal white adipose tissue (WAT) mitochondria, leading to the oxidation of fatty acids and heat production in WAT. Beyond this important role, in recent studies FX has shown a great antioxidant activity, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic and anti-photoaging properties. The aim of this review is to highlight the main effects of FX on human health.