| 1. |
- Barchetta, Ilaria, et al.
(författare)
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Circulating pro-neurotensin levels predict bodyweight gain and metabolic alterations in children
- 2021
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Ingår i: Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases. - : Elsevier BV. - 0939-4753. ; 31:3, s. 902-910
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background and aims: Neurotensin (NT) is an intestinal peptide released after fat ingestion, which regulates appetite and facilitates lipid absorption. Elevated plasma levels of its stable precursor pro-neurotensin (pro-NT) are associated with type 2 diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular mortality in adult populations; no data on pro-NT and metabolic disease are available in children. Aim of the study was to evaluate plasma pro-NT in relation to the presence of obesity in children, and to test if high pro-NT associates with the development of metabolic impairment later in life. Methods and results: For this longitudinal retrospective study, we studied 151 overweight/obese children undergoing metabolic evaluations at University of Cagliari, Italy. Pro-NT was also assessed in 46 normal-weight, age-, sex-comparable normal-weight children, selected as a reference group. At the baseline, pro-NT was comparable between overweight/obese and normal-weight children and correlated positively with age (p < 0.001), triglycerides (p < 0.001) and inversely with HDL levels (p = 0.008). Plasma pro-NT associated with high triglycerides with OR = 5.9 (95%CI: 1.24–28.1; p = 0.026) after adjustment for multiple confounders. At the 6.5-year follow-up, high basal pro-NT associated with impaired β-cell function to compensate for insulin-resistance (disposition index: r = −0.19, p = 0.035) and predicted bodyweight increase, as indicated by percentage change of standard deviation score BMI (median(95%CI) = +20.8(+4.9-+27.5)% in the highest tertile), independently from age, sex, triglycerides and insulin-resistance (standardized β = 0.24; p = 0.036). Conclusions: Elevated pro-NT levels in children are significantly associated with weight gain later in life and may represent a marker of susceptibility to metabolic impairment in presence of obesity.
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| 2. |
- Barchetta, Ilaria, et al.
(författare)
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Elevated plasma copeptin levels identify the presence and severity of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in obesity
- 2019
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Ingår i: BMC Medicine. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1741-7015. ; 17:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction: Copeptin is the stable surrogate marker of vasopressin (VP), which is released in response to elevated plasma osmolality or low blood pressure. Elevated plasma copeptin levels are associated with higher risk of insulin resistance-related disorders, such as type 2 diabetes (T2DM), metabolic syndrome (MS), and cardiovascular disease, and experimental reduction of circulating VP levels is shown to significantly decrease hepatic fat content in obese rats, independently from body adiposity. However, the association between copeptin and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and steatohepatitis (NAFLD/NASH) in humans has not been explored yet. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between plasma copeptin and the presence/severity of NAFLD/NASH. Methods: For this study, we recruited 60 obese patients candidate to bariatric surgery for clinical purposes in which intraoperative liver biopsies were performed for diagnosing NAFLD/NASH. Circulating copeptin levels were also assessed in 60 age- and sex-comparable non-obese individuals without NAFLD at liver ultrasonography. Plasma copeptin was measured by sandwich immunoluminometric assay (Thermo Fisher Scientific). Results: Obese patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD (53%) had significantly higher copeptin levels than both obese individuals without NAFLD and non-obese subjects (ob/NAFLD+ 9.5 ± 4.9; ob/NAFLD- 6.4 ± 2.6; and non-ob/NAFLD- 7.4 ± 5.1 pmol/L; p = 0.004 and p = 0.01 respectively). Plasma copeptin concentration positively correlated with hepatic macro- and micro-vesicular steatosis (r = 0.36, p = 0.026; r = 0.31, p = 0.05), lobular inflammation (r = 0.37, p = 0.024) and significantly increased throughout degrees of NASH severity, as expressed as absence, borderline, and overt NASH at the liver biopsy (r = 0.35, p = 0.01). Greater circulating copeptin predicted the presence of NASH with OR = 1.73 (95% CI = 1.02-2.93) after multivariate adjustment for age, sex, renal function and presence of T2DM and MS components. Conclusions: Increased plasma copeptin is independently associated with the presence and severity of NAFLD and NASH, pointing to a novel mechanism behind human fatty liver disease potentially modifiable by pharmacological treatment and lifestyle intervention.
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| 3. |
- Barchetta, Ilaria, et al.
(författare)
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Epigenetic changes induced by maternal factors during fetal life : Implication for type 1 diabetes
- 2021
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Ingår i: Genes. - : MDPI AG. - 2073-4425. ; 12:6
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Organ-specific autoimmune diseases, such as type 1 diabetes, are believed to result from T-cell-mediated damage of the target tissue. The immune-mediated tissue injury, in turn, is known to depend on complex interactions between genetic and environmental factors. Nevertheless, the mechanisms whereby environmental factors contribute to the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases remain elusive and represent a major untapped target to develop novel strategies for disease prevention. Given the impact of the early environment on the developing immune system, epigenetic changes induced by maternal factors during fetal life have been linked to a likelihood of developing an autoimmune disease later in life. In humans, DNA methylation is the epigenetic mechanism most extensively investigated. This review provides an overview of the critical role of DNA methylation changes induced by prenatal maternal conditions contributing to the increased risk of immune-mediated diseases on the offspring, with a particular focus on T1D. A deeper understanding of epigenetic alterations induced by environmental stressors during fetal life may be pivotal for developing targeted prevention strategies of type 1 diabetes by modifying the maternal environment.
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| 4. |
- Barchetta, Ilaria, et al.
(författare)
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Neurotensin is a lipid-induced gastrointestinal peptide associated with visceral adipose tissue inflammation in obesity
- 2018
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Ingår i: Nutrients. - : MDPI AG. - 2072-6643. ; 10:4
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Neurotensin (NT) is a 13-amino acid peptide localized in the neuroendocrine cells of the small intestine, which promotes fat absorption and fatty acids translocation in response to lipid ingestion. NT-knock-out mice fed with a high-fat diet are protected from obesity, fatty liver, and the development of insulin-resistance. In humans, higher plasma levels of pro-NT, which is the stable circulating precursor of NT, predict obesity, type 2 diabetes (T2D), and cardiovascular disease. In obesity, the presence of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) inflammation leads to unfavorable metabolic outcomes and is associated with the development of T2D and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). In this study, we investigated the relationship between plasma pro-NT levels and the presence of VAT inflammation in biopsies from 40 morbidly obese subjects undergoing bariatric surgery. We demonstrated that higher proNT levels are significantly associated with greater macrophages infiltration, HIF-1α, WISP-1, and UNC5B expression in VAT (all p < 0.01) due to the diagnosis of T2D and NAFLD. The overall results show that, in obesity, pro-NT is a biomarker of VAT inflammation and insulin-resistance. Additionally, NT may be involved in the development of dysmetabolic conditions likely mediated by increased gut fat absorption and the presence of a proinflammatory milieu in the adipose tissue.
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| 5. |
- Barchetta, Ilaria, et al.
(författare)
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New Insights in the Control of Fat Homeostasis : The Role of Neurotensin
- 2022
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Ingår i: International Journal of Molecular Sciences. - : MDPI AG. - 1661-6596 .- 1422-0067. ; 23:4
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Neurotensin (NT) is a small peptide with pleiotropic functions, exerting its primary actions by controlling food intake and energy balance. The first evidence of an involvement of NT in metabolism came from studies on the central nervous system and brain circuits, where NT acts as a neurotransmitter, producing different effects in relation to the specific region involved. Moreover, newer interesting chapters on peripheral NT and metabolism have emerged since the first studies on the NT-mediated regulation of gut lipid absorption and fat homeostasis. Intriguingly, NT enhances fat absorption from the gut lumen in the presence of food with a high fat content, and this action may explain the strong association between high circulating levels of pro-NT, the NT stable precursor, and the increased incidence of metabolic disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer observed in large population studies. This review aims to provide a synthetic overview of the main regulatory effects of NT on several biological pathways, particularly those involving energy balance, and will focus on new evidence on the role of NT in controlling fat homeostasis, thus influencing the risk of unfavorable cardio–metabolic outcomes and overall mortality in humans.
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| 6. |
- Cimini, Flavia Agata, et al.
(författare)
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High pro‑neurotensin levels in individuals with type 1 diabetes associate with the development of cardiovascular risk factors at follow‑up
- 2022
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Ingår i: Acta Diabetologica. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0940-5429 .- 1432-5233. ; 59:1, s. 49-56
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aims: Neurotensin (NT) is a gut hormone that promotes lipids absorption and controls appetite. Elevated circulating pro-NT, the stable precursor of NT, is associated with cardiovascular (CV) disease, metabolic syndrome (MS) and type 2 diabetes (T2D). Features of MS and insulin resistance are reported also in type 1 diabetes (T1D), with detrimental impact on the overall CV risk profile. Aims of the study were to evaluate plasma pro-NT in T1D patients and to test whether its levels are associated with and/or predictive of CV risk factors and overall risk profile.Methods: For this longitudinal retrospective study, we analyzed clinical data from 41 T1D individuals referring to the diabetes outpatient clinics at Sapienza University of Rome, Italy, collected at the baseline and after 10 years. Fasting plasma pro-NT levels were measured in T1D subjects at the baseline and in 34 age-, sex-, BMI-comparable healthy individuals recruited in the same period.Results: Pro-NT did not differ significantly between patients and controls (median[range] pro-NT: 156.3 [96.6-198.2] vs. 179.4 [139.7-230.7] pmol/L, p = 0.26). In T1D, greater fasting pro-NT associated with poor glycemic control at baseline and predicted increased waist circumference, reduced insulin sensitivity, dyslipidemia and hypertension at 10-year follow-up. High pro-NT predicted 10-year very-high CV risk with adjusted OR = 11 (95%C.I.: 1.4-94.5; p = 0.029).Conclusions: In T1D individuals, elevated pro-NT levels predict the development of adverse metabolic profile, which translates in higher CV risk profile at 10-year follow-up. Pro-NT represents a novel predictor/marker of CV risk factors in adults with T1D.
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| 7. |
- Sarmiento, Luis, et al.
(författare)
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Copy number of the X-linked genes TLR7 and CD40L influences innate and adaptive immune responses
- 2019
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Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Immunology. - : Wiley. - 0300-9475 .- 1365-3083. ; 90:2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The number of the X chromosome–linked genes has been previously suggested to influence immune responses and the development of autoimmune diseases. In the present study, we aimed at evaluating the level of expression of CD40L (an X-linked gene involved in adaptive immunity) and TLR7 (an X-linked gene involved in innate immunity) in a variety of different karyotypes. Those included males, females and patients with X chromosome aneuploidy. Healthy females (46, XX; n = 10) and healthy males (46, XY; n = 10) were compared to females with Turner syndrome (TS) (45, X; n = 11) and males with Klinefelter syndrome (KS) (47, XXY; n = 5). Stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with PMA and ionomycin resulted in higher percentage of CD3 + CD40L+ T cells (P < 0.001) and higher level expression of CD40L in T cell (P < 0.001) in female and KS patients compared with male and TS patients. TLR7-mediated IFN-alpha production by HLADR + CD3− CD19− cells was significantly upregulated in healthy women compared with healthy males, TS and KS patients (P < 0.001). TLR7 agonist-stimulated PBMCs from healthy females and KS patients expressed significantly higher levels of TLR7 mRNA than those from male and TS patients (P < 0.05). The increased expression of the X-linked genes TLR7 and CD40L in healthy females and KS patients suggests that the presence of two X chromosomes plays a major role in enhancing both innate and adaptive immune responses. These results may contribute to the explanation of sex-based differences in immune biology and the sex bias in predisposition to autoimmune diseases.
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| 8. |
- Sarmiento, Luis, et al.
(författare)
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Field strains of Echovirus 6 infect human endocrine and exocrine pancreatic cells and induce pro-inflammatory innate immune responses.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Increasing evidence suggests that type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a combined endocrine-exocrine disease. Human enteroviruses (HEV) have been suggested to induce T1D, but so far evidence on HEV infection in human pancreas has been reported only in islets and ductal cells. Aim of this study was to investigate the capability of HEV strains to infect primary human endocrine and exocrine pancreatic cells and to induce the expression of innate immunity genes in both cell types. Isolated human pancreatic islets and exocrine cells were either mock-infected or inoculated with seven field isolates of Echovirus 6 (E6). Beta-cell tropic strains of E4, E16 and E30 were assayed in primary exocrine cells. Viral infection, replication, virus-induced cytopathic effect (CPE) and expression of innate immunity genes were measured. All the seven strains of E6 replicated in both pancreatic endocrine and exocrine cells with infectious progeny production and appearance of CPE. By contrast, no virus titer increase or CPE were observed in exocrine cells exposed to E4, E16 and E30. Virus particles were found in E6-infected acinar cells, both free in cytoplasm and enclosed in vacuoles. Insulin granules accumulation in proximity to virus particles and beta cells functional impairment were demonstrated in E6-infected islets. Endocrine and exocrine cells responded to E6 infection by upregulating the transcription of genes involved in viral recognition (IF1H1), antiviral defense (OAS1, IFN-β) and inflammation (CXCL10, CCL5). Our results indicate that islets and exocrine pancreatic cells productively support the E6 infection and suggest that HEV-associated T1D may involve both endocrine and exocrine pancreas.
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| 9. |
- Sarmiento-Pérez, Luis, et al.
(författare)
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Echovirus 6 infects human exocrine and endocrine pancreatic cells and induces pro-inflammatory innate immune response
- 2017
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Ingår i: Viruses. - : MDPI AG. - 1999-4915. ; 9:2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Human enteroviruses (HEV), especially coxsackievirus serotype B (CVB) and echovirus (E), have been associated with diseases of both the exocrine and endocrine pancreas, but so far evidence on HEV infection in human pancreas has been reported only in islets and ductal cells. This study aimed to investigate the capability of echovirus strains to infect human exocrine and endocrine pancreatic cells. Infection of explanted human islets and exocrine cells with seven field strains of E6 caused cytopathic effect, virus titer increase and production of HEV protein VP1 in both cell types. Virus particles were found in islets and acinar cells infected with E6. No cytopathic effect or infectious progeny production was observed in exocrine cells exposed to the beta cell-tropic strains of E16 and E30. Endocrine cells responded to E6, E16 and E30 by upregulating the transcription of interferon-induced with helicase C domain 1 (IF1H1), 2ʹ-5ʹ-oligoadenylate synthetase 1 (OAS1), interferon-β (IFN-β), chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 10 (CXCL10) and chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 5 (CCL5). Echovirus 6, but not E16 or E30, led to increased transcription of these genes in exocrine cells. These data demonstrate for the first time that human exocrine cells represent a target for E6 infection and suggest that certain HEV serotypes can replicate in human pancreatic exocrine cells, while the pancreatic endocrine cells are permissive to a wider range of HEV.
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| 10. |
- Sentinelli, Federica, et al.
(författare)
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Neurotensin Gene rs2234762 C>G Variant Associates with Reduced Circulating Pro-NT Levels and Predicts Lower Insulin Resistance in Overweight/Obese Children
- 2023
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Ingår i: International Journal of Molecular Sciences. - : MDPI AG. - 1661-6596 .- 1422-0067. ; 24:7
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Neurotensin (NT) is a small protein implicated in the regulation of energy balance which acts as both a neurotransmitter in the central nervous system and as a gastrointestinal peptide. In the gut, NT is secreted after fat ingestion and promotes the absorption of fatty acids. The circulating levels of its precursor, pro-NT, predicts the presence and development of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. Despite the extensive knowledge on the dynamic changes that occur to pro-NT = after fat load, the determinants of fasting pro-NT are unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the possible genetic regulation of plasma pro-NT. The NT gene (NTS) was sequenced for potential functional variants, evaluating its entire genomic and potentially regulatory regions, in DNA from 28 individuals, stratified by low and high pro-NT levels. The identified variant differently distributed in the two pro-NT subgroups was genotyped in a cohort of nine hundred and thirty-two overweight/obese children and adolescents. A total of seven sequence variations across the NTS gene, none of them located in coding regions, were identified. The rs2234762 polymorphism, sited in the NTS gene promoter, was statistically more frequent in the lowest pro-NTS level group. Carriers of the rs2234762 variant showed lower pro-NT levels, after adjusting for sex, age, BMI, triglycerides and the Tanner stage. Having NTS rs2234762 predicted less pronounced insulin resistance at the 6.5-year follow-up with OR: 0.46 (0.216–0.983), at the logistic regression analysis adjusted for age, sex and BMI. In conclusion, the NTS rs2234762 gene variant is a determinant of reduced circulating pro-NT levels in overweight and obese children, which predisposes this group to a more favorable metabolic profile and a reduced insulin resistance later in life, independently from metabolic confounders.
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