Lipids are the most abundant biomolecules of human plasma, and their balance plays a significant role in health and disease management. Despite the importance of lipids, the studies focused on the comprehensive determination of the plasma lipidome in children are limited. In this study, we investigated the sex, age, and weight-specific changes in the plasma lipidome of nonfasting preadolescent children aged 9-12 years (n = 342) using a nontargeted liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry technique. A total of 219 lipid species were characterized in the plasma samples. Multivariate analysis revealed that boys and girls have similar lipid profiles, but relatively higher levels of capric acid-composed triacylglycerols (TGs) were observed in plasma samples of boys. Saturated fatty acids are the most abundant fatty acyls followed by mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids in the plasma of both boys and girls. Sphingolipids such as ceramides, hexosylceramides, sphingomyelin, and a phospholipid (phosphatidylinositol) were relatively higher in the plasma of a 10-year-old group than other age groups. Plasma levels of TG and phosphatidylserine were increased within age from 9 to 12 years. Furthermore, most of the TG molecular species were increased in the plasma of overweight children compared to the normal range groups. The receiver operating characteristic analysis results show that TG (10:0/10:0/18:1) could be a specific marker for childhood obesity (area under the curve (AUC) = 0.72). Overall, this study highlights the altered plasma lipidome in preadolescent children for sex, age, and percentage of overweight. Early detection of lipid markers for obesity would be a promising target for developing therapeutic strategies.
Paternal exposure to high-fat diets or individual fatty acids (FAs) including arachidonic acid (AA) modifies progeny traits by poorly understood mechanisms. Specific male reproductive system FAs may be involved in paternal inheritance, as they can modify a range of cellular components, including the epigenome. Our objective was to determine FAs in compartments of the male reproductive system that potentially affect ejaculate composition—right and left testicular interstitial fluid (TIF), vesicular gland fluid (VGF), and epididymal adipose tissue (EAT)—in mice exposed to AA or vehicle daily for 10 days (n=9–10/group). Whole blood (WB) and interscapular brown adipose tissue (IBAT) FA profiles were used as reference. AA significantly affected only VGF FAs relative to vehicle, that is, increased and decreased levels of arachidic and docosahexaenoic acid, respectively, versus vehicle (0.28%±0.01% and 0.23%±0.03%, respectively, p=0.049, and 2.42%±0.47% and 3.00%±0.58%, respectively, p=0.041). AA affected distinct FAs in WB. Additionally, we uncovered AA-dependent and AA-independent FA laterality. Myristic acid was higher in AA-exposed left versus right TIF (0.68%±0.35% and 0.60%±0.11%, respectively, p=0.004). Right TIF contained higher oleic and linoleic acid and lower stearic acid than left TIF (29.01%±3.07% and 24.00%±2.18%, respectively, p=0.005; 9.14%±1.88% and 7.05%±1.36%, respectively, p=0.005; and 21.90%±2.92% and 26.01%±2.46%, respectively, p=0.036), irrespective of exposure to AA. The TIF oleic/stearic acid ratio suggested higher Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase 1 activity in the right versus the left testis (1.35±0.32 and 1.00±0.17, respectively, p=1.0×10−4). Multitissue comparisons revealed that TIF and VGF FA profiles were distinct from WB, EAT, or IBAT counterparts, suggesting tissue-specific FA fingerprints. In conclusion, AA modulated selected VGF long-chain FAs that may impact on uterine inflammation and subsequent embryonic development. AA altered local FA synthesis or selective uptake, rather than eliciting passive uptake from WB. Additionally, we uncover a significant laterality of testis FAs that may result in asymmetric sperm cell phenotypes.
Background: G1, a specific agonist targeting the G protein-coupled receptor 30 (GPR30), has demonstrated significant involvement in combating obesity and regulating glucose homeostasis. Nevertheless, the beneficial effects of G1 treatment have solely been investigated in animal models under normal feeding conditions, leaving its therapeutic potential in high-fat feeding scenarios unexplored. Material and Methods: To address this gap, our study employed an ovariectomized high-fat diet mouse model to assess the therapeutic effects of G1 in combating obesity and metabolic dysfunction. Results: The findings revealed that G1 treatment resulted in weight loss, but concurrently led to increased blood glucose levels and insulin resistance. Treatment with G1 resulted in an amplification of fat mobilization and an enhancement of pyruvate carboxylase activity in mice fed a high-fat diet. Moreover, the combined impact of G1 treatment and a high-fat diet on pyruvate metabolism, as well as the regulation of crucial gluconeogenesis enzymes such as pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 (PDK4), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), and glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2), expedites the elevation of blood glucose and the progression of insulin resistance. Conclusions: These findings indicate that G1 treatment is influenced by a high-fat diet, potentially disrupting glucolipid metabolism and promoting insulin resistance alongside its antiobesity effects. Consequently, further investigation is imperative to thoroughly explore this potential toxic side effect of G1 therapy.
The study examined Strychnos pungens Soler. (family LOGANIACEAE) fruit as a potential source of vegetable oil. Ripe fruits collected from a forested site in Zimbabwe were processed to determine the partitioning of fresh and dry fruit biomass. The oil was extracted from the seed coat using a hand-operated screw press, and its physiological properties were analyzed. Seeds contributed the most to the fresh weight of the fruit, followed by the shell and pulp. The seed coat was a significant component of the seeds. The seed coat, but not the pulp of the fruit, was found to contain screw press-extractable oil, the yield of which was substantial, amounting to around 39% of the dry weight of the seed coat. The oil was found to have a high free fatty acid content and a moderate iodine value (83 gI2/100 g), indicating a degree of unsaturation. Furthermore, the oil contained carotenoids and tocols, which serve as antioxidants that help to protect the oil from oxidation. The oil had a high content of monounsaturated oleic acid (78.3%), which is known for its stability and health benefits. The low levels of saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids make it a high oleic oil. The volatile profile of the oil included compounds with pleasant fruity aromas that enhance its flavour and fragrance. The results highlighted the need for waste management strategies if S. pungens is industrialized as an oil crop. Significant waste, including shells, pulp, cake residue, and seed kernels, would need proper handling and valorisation. In summary, the research showed that S. pungens has the potential to be a valuable source of high-quality vegetable oil with good oxidative stability and health benefits, primarily due to its high content of oleic acid and antioxidant compounds.
Triterpenoids have been identified as potential novel lipid-lowering drugs for the treatment of hypertriglyceridemia. This study investigated the potential antilipogenic and/or antilipolytic effects of two triterpenoids (ARM-2 and RA-5) isolated from the stem bark of Protorhus longifolia (Benrh.) Engl. Employing a combination of in silico predictions and in vitro assays, the interactions between these triterpenoids and key proteins involved in lipogenesis and lipolysis were investigated. In silico molecular docking analysis predicted a favourable binding affinity of both triterpenoids to PPARγ, SREBP-1, and AMPK, with lower binding affinity to C/EBPα, pancreatic lipase, and hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL). Both triterpenoids exhibited in vitro inhibition of pancreatic lipase with Ki and IC50 values ranging from 28.7 to 52.9 μM and 27.6 to 35.8 μM, respectively. Total and neutral lipid accumulation in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes and the oleic acid-induced HepG2 cell model was inhibited, with ARM-2 showing better inhibition than RA-5. In the HepG2 model, the inhibitory activity of the two triterpenoids (at 25 and 100 μM) was comparable to 50 μM lovastatin, although the latter was cytotoxic, whereas both ARM-2 and RA-2 lacked cytotoxicity. Associated gene expression was similar to the effect of simvastatin where the expression of SREBP-1, PPARγ, C/EBPα, and HSL was reduced and that of AMPK was unchanged. In vitro studies confirmed that ARM-2 and RA-5 also inhibited adipocyte lipolysis, where the reduction in glycerol release by 25 and 100 μM was similar to 50 μM lovastatin and simvastatin. This study identifies that the triterpenoids, ARM-2 and RA-5, have the potential to modulate lipogenesis and lipolysis.
