The role of resistin in obesity and diabetes

Increased evidences indicate that resistin is a new hormone secreted from adipose tissue, it is reported to be an important signal molecule linking between obesity, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Many factors can affect the gene expression of resistin. However, the detailed function of resistin still remains mysterious and much work needs to be undertaken.     

Physiological and pathological roles of mast cells in adipose tissue

Mast cells are important cells for the innate immunity that reside in tissues including adipose tissue and are involved in various physiological and pathological processes by producing a range of biological mediators. Adipose tissue not only acts as an energy depot and regulator of energy homeostasis that can deposit excess energy and dissipate energy through heat, but also is an active endocrine organ capable of producing hormones and adipokines. The dysfunction of adipose tissue is highly correlated with metabolic disorders, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus and so on. This review focuses on the physiological and pathological roles of mast cells in adipose tissue.     

CYP450 epoxygenase/EET pathway attenuates adipose inflammation of obese mice through HIF-1α

AIM To investigate the effects of cytochrome P450 （CYP450） epoxygenase/epoxyeicosatrienoic acid （EET） pathway on insulin resistance in obese mice, and to explore the possible mechanisms. METHODS High-fat diet-induced obesity model was established in C57BL/6Cnc mice, and the obese mice were randomly divided into 3 groups, including obesity group （treated with saline; n=10）, EET group （treated with 11,12-EET; n=10） and EET inhibitor 14,15-epoxyeicosa-5（Z）-enoic acid （EEZE） group （n=10）. Normal C57BL/6Cnc mice （n=10） treated with saline served as control. Protein expression of CYP2J2 （one of CYP450 epoxygenases） and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α （HIF-1α） was measured by Western blot. Vessel-like structure was detected by immunofluorescence staining. The serum levels of insulin, tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）, interleukin （IL）-1β, IL-6 and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 （MCP-1） were measured by ELISA. RESULTS In obese mice, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance （HOMA-IR） values were increased, the protein level of CYP2J2 was reduced, and the protein level of HIF-1α was increased in adipose tissues as compared with the controls （P<0.05）. The serum levels of MCP-1, IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α were also significantly increased in obese mice （P<0.05）. After treatment with 11, 12-EET, the HOMA-IR values were decreased compared with vehicle-treated obese mice, HIF-1α expression levels were decreased in the adipose tissue, and the serum levels of MCP-1, IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α were reduced （P<0.05）. Immunohistochemical results of adipose tissue from vehicle-treated obese mice showed a marked decrease in vessel-like structures （CD31-positive） compared with normal control mice （P<0.05）. EET treatment significantly increased the newly formed vessel-like structures in the visceral adipose tissues of obese mice as compared with vehicle-treated obese mice （P<0.05）. CONCLUSION High-fat diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance are closely related to the CYP450 pathway. Exogenous EETs effectively decrease obesity-induced insulin resistance possibly through pro-angiogenesis and attenuation of hypoxia and inflammation.     

Advance in study of batokines

Brown adipose tissue is a type of adipose tissue and is present in all mammals. It is not only the main site for adaptive thermogenesis in vivo, but also secretes and releases many cytokines in the form of endocrine to regulate a variety of metabolic processes and prevent and treat obesity and metabolic diseases. Therefore, identification of the types and effects of brown adipocytokines (batokines) may be crucial for the treatment of a variety of obesity-related metabolic diseases. Based on the latest research progress, batokines and their functions are reviewed.