Omental adipocyte hypertrophy relates to coenzyme Q10 redox state and lipid peroxidation in obese women

Occurrence of oxidative stress in white adipose tissues contributes to its dysfunction and the development of obesity-related metabolic complications. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is the single lipophilic antioxidant synthesized in humans and is essential for electron transport during mitochondrial respiration. To understand the role of CoQ10 in adipose tissue physiology and dysfunction, the abundance of the oxidized and reduced (CoQ10red) isoforms of the CoQ10 were quantified in subcutaneous and omental adipose tissues of women covering the full range of BMI (from 21.5 to 53.2 kg/m2). Lean women displayed regional variations of CoQ10 redox state between the omental and subcutaneous depot, despite similar total content. Obese women had reduced CoQ10red concentrations in the omental depot, leading to increased CoQ10 redox state and higher levels of lipid hydroperoxide. Women with low omental CoQ10 content had greater visceral and subcutaneous adiposity, increased omental adipocyte diameter, and higher circulating interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein levels and were more insulin resistant. The associations between abdominal obesity-related cardiometabolic risk factors and CoQ10 content in the omental depot were abolished after adjustment for omental adipocyte diameter. This study shows that hypertrophic remodeling of visceral fat closely relates to depletion of CoQ10, lipid peroxidation, and inflammation

Les espèces actives de l’oxygène : le yin et le yang de la mitochondrie

Il existe de nombreuses sources d’espèces actives de l’oxygène (EAO) dans la cellule ; malgré l’importance de chacune d’entre elles, la mitochondrie a été choisie comme sujet central de cet article en raison de son rôle primordial dans la bio-énergétique et du fait qu’elle constitue le site majeur de la production cellulaire d’EAO, 80 % de l’anion superoxyde provenant de la chaîne respiratoire. Cette production est indissociable du processus respiratoire et fortement modulée par les conditions environnementales : elle varie notamment selon l’intensité du métabolisme énergétique ou de la pression en oxygène, permettant aux cellules de s’adapter à ces changements environnementaux en activant des voies spécifiques de signalisation. Lorsque cette production d’EAO devient chronique, elle induit des effets délétères, le stress oxydant mitochondrial étant impliqué aussi bien en physiopathologie qu’au cours du vieillissement.Literature on reactive oxygen species (ROS) effects on cell biology and physiopathology is huge and appears to be controversial. This could be explained by the fact that very few studies take into account the real subcellular source of ROS production, their chemical nature and the intensity of their production. In spite of the importance of the other sites of ROS production in the cell, we decided to focus on mitochondrial ROS. Besides their key role in bioenergetics and ATP synthesis, mitochondria are one of the main sites of ROS generation within the cell. 80 % of intracellular superoxide anion is provided by the mitochondrial respiratory chain. Mitochondrial ROS production is closely associated with activity of the respiratory chain and is modulated by environmental factors which can induce constraints on respiratory chain components. Nutrient availability as well as oxygen pressure can both modulate mitochondrial ROS production. When moderately produced, ROS specifically regulate intracellular signalling pathways by reversible oxidation of proteins such as transcription factors or proteins kinases. In this way, they can trigger cell adaptation to environmental changes as modifications of energetic metabolism or hypoxia. Indeed, we demonstrated that mitochondrial ROS act as key elements in the control of white adipose tissue development by specific up-regulation of the anti-adipogenic transcription factor CHOP-10/GADD153. However, when they are produced at high level and in a chronic manner, mitochondrial ROS can also have deleterious effects by massive and irreversible oxidation of their principals targets i.e. lipids, DNA and proteins. In these conditions, mitochondrial ROS are involved in aging process and in pathological situations as metabolic disease

Simultaneous assay of ascorbate and urate antioxidants in human blood serum using PEDOT-based electrocehmical microsensor

An electrochemical microsensor has been developed for the simultaneous assay of ascorbate (AA) and urate (UA) antioxidants in human blood serum. The electrode surface was modified by means of electropolymerized conductive poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) PEDOT organic films. Highly selective responses (detection potential difference more than 250 mV) were obtained for both biomarkers by optimizing the PEDOT thickness. Contrary to most previous studies the analytical performances were recorded by testing the microsensor directly in blood serum without any pretreatment of the samples. Using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) the sensitivity and detection limit were 0.481 µA µM-1 cm-2 and 4.2 µmol L-1 for AA and 1.815 µA µM-1 cm-2 and 2.0 µmol L-1 for UA. The calibration curves were linear in the concentration range 5–200 µmol L-1 for AA and 3–700 µmol L-1 for UA. The accuracy of the sensor was satisfactorily compared with the reference analytical methods provided that the synergic effect between both antioxidants was considered. The sensor response was unmodified in the presence of the major biochemical interfering species

Evidence for Specific Genotype-Dependent Immune Priming in the Lophotrochozoan Biomphalaria glabrata Snail.

International audienceHistorically, the prevailing view in the field of invertebrate immunity was that invertebrates that do not possess acquired adaptive immunity rely on innate mechanisms with low specificity and no memory. Several recent studies have shaken this paradigm and suggested that the immune defenses of invertebrates are more complex and specific than previously thought. Mounting evidence has shown that at least some invertebrates (mainly Ecdysozoa) show high levels of specificity in their immune responses to different pathogens, and that subsequent reexposure may result in enhanced protection (recently called 'immune priming'). Here, we investigated immune priming in the Lophotrochozoan snail species Biomphalaria glabrata, following infection by the trematode pathogen Schistosoma mansoni. We confirmed that snails were protected against a secondary homologous infection whatever the host strain. We then investigated how immune priming occurs and the level of specificity of B. glabrata immune priming. In this report we confirmed that immune priming exists and we identified a genotype-dependent immune priming in the fresh-water snail B. glabrata

Recommendations for the application and follow-up of quality controls in medical laboratories

This is a translation of the paper “Recommendations for the application and follow-up of quality controls in medical biology laboratories” published in French in the journal Annales de Biologie Clinique (Recommandations pour la mise en place et le suivi des contrôles de qualité dans les laboratoires de biologie médicale. Ann Biol Clin (Paris). 2019;77:577-97.). The recommendations proposed in this document are the result of work conducted jointly by the Network of Accredited Medical Laboratories (LABAC), the French Society of Medical Biology (SFBC) and the Federation of Associations for External Quality Assessment (FAEEQ). The different steps of the implementation of quality controls, based on a risk analysis, are described. The changes of reagent or internal quality control (IQC) materials batches, the action to be taken in case of non-conform IQC results, the choice of external quality assessment (EQA) scheme and interpretation of their results as well as the new issue of analyses performed on several automatic systems available in the same laboratory are discussed. Finally, the concept of measurement uncertainty, the robustness of the methods as well as the specificities of near-patient testing and rapid tests are described. These recommendations cannot apply for all cases we can find in medical laboratories. The implementation of an objective alternative strategy, supported with documented evidence, might be equally considered

Mitochondrial Dynamin-Related Protein 1 (DRP1) translocation in response to cerebral glucose is impaired in a rat model of early alteration in hypothalamic glucose sensing

OBJECTIVE: Hypothalamic glucose sensing (HGS) initiates insulin secretion (IS) via a vagal control, participating in energy homeostasis. This requires mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mROS) signaling, dependent on mitochondrial fission, as shown by invalidation of the hypothalamic DRP1 protein. Here, our objectives were to determine whether a model with a HGS defect induced by a short, high fat-high sucrose (HFHS) diet in rats affected the fission machinery and mROS signaling within the mediobasal hypothalamus (MBH). METHODS: Rats fed a HFHS diet for 3 weeks were compared with animals fed a normal chow. Both in vitro (calcium imaging) and in vivo (vagal nerve activity recordings) experiments to measure the electrical activity of isolated MBH gluco-sensitive neurons in response to increased glucose level were performed. In parallel, insulin secretion to a direct glucose stimulus in isolated islets vs. insulin secretion resulting from brain glucose stimulation was evaluated. Intra-carotid glucose load-induced hypothalamic DRP1 translocation to mitochondria and mROS (H2O2) production were assessed in both groups. Finally, compound C was intracerebroventricularly injected to block the proposed AMPK-inhibited DRP1 translocation in the MBH to reverse the phenotype of HFHS fed animals. RESULTS: Rats fed a HFHS diet displayed a decreased HGS-induced IS. Responses of MBH neurons to glucose exhibited an alteration of their electrical activity, whereas glucose-induced insulin secretion in isolated islets was not affected. These MBH defects correlated with a decreased ROS signaling and glucose-induced translocation of the fission protein DRP1, as the vagal activity was altered. AMPK-induced inhibition of DRP1 translocation increased in this model, but its reversal through the injection of the compound C, an AMPK inhibitor, failed to restore HGS-induced IS. CONCLUSIONS: A hypothalamic alteration of DRP1-induced fission and mROS signaling in response to glucose was observed in HGS-induced IS of rats exposed to a 3 week HFHS diet. Early hypothalamic modifications of the neuronal activity could participate in a primary defect of the control of IS and ultimately, the development of diabetes.Rôle des connexines astrocytaires dans le mécanisme de détection hypothalamique du glucose : implication sur le contrôle nerveux du métabolisme énergétiqu

Diabetic β-Cells Can Achieve Self-Protection against Oxidative Stress through an Adaptive Up-Regulation of Their Antioxidant Defenses

Background Oxidative stress (OS), through excessive and/or chronic reactive oxygen species (ROS), is a mediator of diabetes-related damages in various tissues including pancreatic β-cells. Here, we have evaluated islet OS status and β-cell response to ROS using the GK/Par rat as a model of type 2 diabetes. Methodology/Principal Findings Localization of OS markers was performed on whole pancreases. Using islets isolated from 7-day-old or 2.5-month-old male GK/Par and Wistar control rats, 1) gene expression was analyzed by qRT-PCR; 2) insulin secretion rate was measured; 3) ROS accumulation and mitochondrial polarization were assessed by fluorescence methods; 4) antioxidant contents were quantified by HPLC. After diabetes onset, OS markers targeted mostly peri-islet vascular and inflammatory areas, and not islet cells. GK/Par islets revealed in fact protected against OS, because they maintained basal ROS accumulation similar or even lower than Wistar islets. Remarkably, GK/Par insulin secretion also exhibited strong resistance to the toxic effect of exogenous H2O2 or endogenous ROS exposure. Such adaptation was associated to both high glutathione content and overexpression (mRNA and/or protein levels) of a large set of genes encoding antioxidant proteins as well as UCP2. Finally, we showed that such a phenotype was not innate but spontaneously acquired after diabetes onset, as the result of an adaptive response to the diabetic environment. Conclusions The GK/Par model illustrates the effectiveness of adaptive response to OS by beta-cells to achieve self-tolerance. It remains to be determined to what extend such islet antioxidant defenses upregulation might contribute to GK/Par beta-cell secretory dysfunction