Project description:Metabolic dysfunction is a primary feature of Werner syndrome (WS), a human premature aging disease caused by mutations in the gene encoding the Werner (WRN) DNA helicase. WS patients exhibit severe metabolic phenotypes, but the underlying mechanisms are not understood, and whether the metabolic deficit can be targeted for therapeutic intervention has not been determined. Here we report impaired mitophagy and depletion of NAD+, a fundamental ubiquitous molecule, in WS patient samples and WS invertebrate models. WRN regulates transcription of a key NAD+ biosynthetic enzyme nicotinamide nucleotide adenylyltransferase 1 (NMNAT1). NAD+ repletion restores NAD+ metabolic profiles and improves mitochondrial quality through DCT-1 and ULK-1-dependent mitophagy. At the organismal level, NAD+ repletion remarkably extends lifespan and delays accelerated aging, including stem cell dysfunction, in C. elegans and Drosophila melanogaster models of WS. Our findings suggest that accelerated aging in WRN syndrome is mediated by impaired mitochondrial function and mitophagy, and that bolstering cellular NAD+ levels counteracts WS phenotypes.
Project description:Deferasirox (DFX) is an oral iron chelator used to reduce iron overload caused by frequent red blood cell transfusions in anemic myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) patients. To study molecular mechanisms by which DFX improves outcome in MDS, we analyzed gene expression patterns in MDS patients before and after DFX therapy.
Project description:Coenzyme Q10 deficiency syndrome includes a clinically heterogeneous group of mitochondrial diseases characterized by low content of CoQ10 in tissues. The only currently available treatment is supplementation with CoQ10, which improves the clinical phenotype in some patients but does not reverse established damage. We analyzed the transcriptome profiles of fibroblasts from different patients irrespective of the genetic origin of the disease. These cells showed a survival genetic profile apt at maintaining growth and undifferentiated phenotype, promoting anti-apoptotic pathways, and favoring bioenergetics supported by glycolysis and low lipid metabolism. WE conclude that the mitochondrial dysfunction caused byCoQ10 deficiency induces a stable survival adaptation of somatic cells from patients. All samples in triplicate. We compare the gene expresion of human derman fibroblast to fibroblast from 4 different patient diagnosed with the human syndrome of coenzyme Q10 deficiency.
Project description:Gene expression in peripheral blood is shown sufficient to differentiate patients with metabolic disorders from control. The signatures of metabolic syndrome, coronary artery disease and type 2 diabetes also have significant overlap. Microarrays were performed on 35 subjects in the following groups: control (n=9), rheumatoid arthritis (n=6), metabolic syndrome (n= 6), coronary artery disease (n=6) and type 2 diabetes (n=8). Intensity values for each array were normalized to a sum of 10,000.
Project description:Aims/hypothesis: Dietary restriction (DR) reduces adiposity and improves metabolism in patients with one or more symptoms of the metabolic syndrome. Nonetheless, it remains elusive whether the benefits of DR in humans are mediated by calorie or nutrient restriction. This study was conducted to identify whether isocaloric dietary protein restriction is sufficient to confer the beneficial effects of dietary restriction in patients with metabolic syndrome. Methods: We performed a prospective, randomized controlled dietary intervention under constant nutritional and medical supervision. A total of 21 individuals diagnosed with the metabolic syndrome was randomly assigned for caloric restriction (CR; n = 11, mean age 49 ± 8.5 years, female 63%; diet of 5,941 ± 686 KJ per day) or isocaloric dietary protein restriction (PR; n = 10, mean age 51.6 ± 8.9 years, female 50%; diet of 8,409 ± 2,360 KJ per day) and followed for 27 days. Results: Like CR, PR promoted weight loss (-6.6%, P= 0.0041) due to reduction in adiposity (-9.9%, P= 0.0007), associated with reductions in blood glucose (-52.7%, P= 0.0002), lipid levels (cholesterol, -35.4%, P= 0.0010; triglycerides, -39.5% P= 0.0022) and blood pressure (systolic, -37.7 P< 0.0001; diastolic, -73.2% P< 0.0001). PR resulted in enrichment of metabolic pathways related to the immune system such as B cell proliferation, lymphocyte proliferation and leukocyte proliferation in subcutaneous adipose tissue. Hence, a reduction in calorie intake or changes in the gut microbiome are not necessary to confer the metabolic benefits of DR. Instead, a reduction in protein intake with a mild increase in carbohydrate intake to maintain the isocaloric balance of the diet is sufficient to improve metabolic control. Conclusions/interpretation: Protein restriction is sufficient to confer almost the same clinical outcomes as calorie restriction without the need for a reduction in calorie intake. The isocaloric characteristic of the PR intervention makes this approach a more attractive and less drastic dietary strategy in clinical settings and has greater potential to be used as adjuvant therapy for people with the metabolic syndrome.
Project description:Metabolic syndrome is a common and complicated metabolic disorder and defined as a clustering of metabolic risk factors such as insulin resistance or diabetes, obesity, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. The identification of accurate and effective biomarkers is beneficial to the early diagnosis and treatment of metabolic syndrome. Our study firstly detected the plasma miRNA expression profile of MetS patients compared with control group by high-throughput sequencing and integrated bioinformatics approaches. To our best knowledge, our study firstly perform high-throughput sequencing to obtain the circulating microRNA expression data in MetS plasma, and identified several potential plasma biomarkers for MetS.
Project description:Interventions: CRA vs Control:No
Primary outcome(s): Rate of metabolic syndrome;adipokines;visceral fat;Values of metabolic syndrome elements
Study Design: Case-Control study