Determination of service rate and factors that affect it in intensive dairy farms of Lima, Peru

El presente trabajo tuvo como objetivo determinar la tasa de servicio (TS) de establos de lechería intensiva de Lima, Perú, e identificar los factores que la afectan. Se trabajó con 144 unidades experimentales, denominadas establo-mes. Cada una estuvo conformada por 60 vacas seleccionadas al azar, las cuales debían tener más de 60 días en lactación durante el mes de estudio y su fecha de concepción debía ser después de la fecha de inicio del mes de estudio. Se trabajó con los registros de cuatro establos de las provincias de Huaura, Lima y Cañete en el periodo entre agosto de 2010 y julio de 2013. Se evaluó la posible influencia sobre la TS de los días en lactación (DEL), nivel productivo (NPx), número de partos (NP), porcentaje de vacas con uso de prostaglandinas (%PG), porcentaje de vacas bajo un programa de inseminación artificial a tiempo fijo (%IATF) y del índice temperatura-humedad máximo (ITH Máx). Asimismo, se evaluaron los factores establo, año y frecuencia de ordeño. La TS fue de 44.6%. El %IATF, ITH Max y NP fueron significativos (p<0.05), con coeficientes de regresión de 0.240, -0.655 y -5.858, respectivamente. Así mismo, la interacción establo-año y la variable establo fueron altamente significativas (p<0.001). Se concluye que la TS en los cuatro establos de Lima se encuentra por debajo del ideal y posee un gran potencial de mejora.This study aimed to determine the service rate (TS) in intensive dairy farms in Lima, Peru and to identify the factors affecting it. For this purpose, 144 experimental units (farm-month units) were used. Each unit consisted of 60 randomly selected cows who had more than 60 days in lactation during the study month and their conception date should be after the start date of the study month. Records of four dairy farms in the provinces of Huaura, Huaral, Lima and Cañete in the period of August 2010 to July 2013 were assessed. The effect of days in milk (DEL), production level (NPX), parity (NP), the percentage of inseminated cows by using prostaglandins (%PG), percentage of inseminated cows under fixed-time artificial insemination (%TAI) and maximum temperature-humidity index (THI Max) on service rate were evaluated. Moreover, farm, year, season and milking frequency were evaluated. TS was 44.6%. The %TAI, %THI and NP were highly significant (p<0.05), with a regression coefficient of 0.240, -0655 and -5.858 respectively. Also, the interaction year x farm and farms were highly significant (p<0.001). It is concluded that TS in the four dairy farms in Lima is below the ideal target and therefore, there is a great potential for improvement

Desempeño Reproductivo de Vacas Lecheras con Involución Uterina Retardada bajo Tratamiento Hormonal con Cipionato de Estradiol y Benzoato de Estradiol

The aim of this study was to evaluate the reproductive performance of dairy cows with delayed uterine involution under hormonal treatment with estradiol cypionate (CE2) and estradiol benzoate (BE2) between 36 and 49 days after parturition and a group of dairy cows with normal uterine involution. A total of 349 dairy cows with delayed uterine involution and 127 dairy cows without delayed uterine involution from a commercial farm in Lima, Peru were used. The BE2 treatment consisted of the i.m. application of 3 doses of 5 mg at 2-day interval and the CE2 treatment consisted of the i.m. application of 2 doses of 4 mg at 4-day interval. The parameters evaluated were calving-to-conception interval (IPC), services per conception (NSC), conception rate at first service (P1S) and the pregnancy rate at 200 days (P200D). In addition, the likelihood of get pregnant according to the days in lactation using Cox proportional hazards model. Both the IPC and the NSC were lower in cows treated with CE2 (122.1 days and 1.3 respectively) that in cows treated with BE2 (138.4 days and 1.5, respectively (p<0.05). The P1S and P200D were similar in cows with CE2 (49.3 and 47.7% respectively) and in cows treated with BE2 (36.7 and 50.2% respectively). In addition, cows treated with CE2 were 1.6 times more likely to conceive sooner than cows treated with BE2 (p<0.01). The application of estradiol cypionate in relation to oestradiol benzoate is recommended to improve the reproductive performance in dairy cows with delayed uterine involution.El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el desempeño reproductivo de vacas lecheras con involución uterina retardada y sometidas a dos tratamientos hormonales (cipionato de estradiol [CE2] y benzoato de estradiol [BE2]) entre los 36 a 49 días después del parto y un grupo de vacas con cuernos uterinos involucionados sin tratamiento. Se trabajó con 349 vacas con involución uterina retardada y 127 vacas con cuernos involucionados de un establo lechero comercial en Lima, Perú. El BE2 se aplicó en 3 dosis de 5 mg por animal, vía i.m. interdiaria y el CE2 se aplicó en 2 dosis de 4 mg por animal, vía i.m. en un intervalo de 4 días. Se evaluó el intervalo parto concepción (IPC), el número de servicios por concepción (NSC), la tasa de concepción al primer servicio (P1S) y el porcentaje de preñez a los 200 días (P200d). Además, se evaluó la probabilidad de que las vacas queden preñadas en función a los días en lactación empleando el modelo de riesgos proporcionales de Cox. El IPC y el NSC fueron menores en vacas tratadas con CE2 (122.1 días y 1.3, respectivamente) que en las tratadas con BE (138.4 días y 1.5, respectivamente) (p<0.05). Asimismo, la P1S y el P200d fueron similares en las vacas con CE2 (49.3 y 47.7%, respectivamente) y las tratadas con BE2 (36.7 y 50.2%, respectivamente). Las vacas tratadas conCE tuvieron 1.6 veces más probabilidades de preñar más pronto que las vacas tratadas con BE2 (p<0.01). Se recomienda la aplicación de cipionato de estradiol sobre el benzoato de estradiol para mejorar el desempeño reproductivo de vacas lecheras con involución uterina retardada

Eficacia de la pasteurización y la congelación sobre la inactivación del virus de la leucosis bovina presente en leche

The aim of this work was to evaluate the efficacy of pasteurization and freezing on the inactivation of the bovine leukosis virus present in milk. A bioassay was carried out using 16 sheep. The animals received an intraperitoneal leukocytes inoculum from cow milk with cells infected with bovine leukosis virus (BVL) previously treated with one of the virus inactivation methods. Four study groups were evaluated: a) control group: milk without prior treatment, b) pasteurization group: milk treated by pasteurization, c) 12-hour freezing group: milk treated by freezing for 12 hours, d) 36-hour freezing group: milk treated by freezing for 36 hours. In the week 10 of the inoculation, all animals (4/4) in the control group and 3/4 of the animals in the 12 h freezing group were seropositive for VLB, while no animal was seropositive (0/4) for VLB in the pasteurization and 36-hour freezing groups. Significant differences were found between the pasteurization and 36-hour freezing groups with respect to the control (p=0.029). The results indicate that the 36-hour freezing or pasteurization process is efficient in inactivating the bovine leukosis virus.El objetivo del presente trabajo fue evaluar la eficacia de la pasteurización y la congelación sobre la inactivación del virus de la leucosis bovina presente en leche. Se realizó un bioensayo con 16 ovinos que recibieron, por vía intraperitoneal, un inóculo de leucocitos proveniente de leche bovina con células infectadas por el virus de leucosis bovina (VLB) previamente tratada con uno de los métodos de inactivación del virus. Se evaluaron cuatro grupos de estudio: a) grupo control: leche sin tratamiento previo, b) grupo pasteurización: leche tratada por pasteurización, c) grupo congelación 12 h: leche tratada por congelación durante 12 horas, d) grupo congelación 36 h: leche tratada por congelación durante 36 horas. En la semana 10 de la inoculación, todos los animales (4/4) del grupo control y 3/4 de los animales del grupo congelación 12 h fueron seropositivos al VLB, mientras que ningún animal fue seropositivo (0/4) al VLB en los grupos pasteurización y congelación 36 h. Se encontró diferencias significativas entre los grupos pasteurización y congelación 36 h con respecto al control (p=0.029). Los resultados indican que el proceso de pasteurización o congelación por 36 horas es eficiente para inactivar el virus de leucosis bovina

Genomic variability in Mexican chicken population using Copy Number Variation

Copy number variants (CNVs) are polymorphisms which influence phenotypic variation and are an important source of genetic variability [1]. In Mexico the backyard poultry population is a unique widespread Creole chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) population, an undefined cross among different breeds brought to Mexico from Europe and under natural selection for almost 500 years [2-3]. The aim of this study was to investigate genomic variation in the Mexican chicken population using CNVs.A total of 256 DNA samples genotyped with Axiom® Genome-Wide Chicken Genotyping Array were used in the analyses. The individual CNV calling, based on log-R ratio and B-allele frequency values, was performed using the Hidden Markov Model (HMM) of PennCNV software on the autosomes [4-5]. CNVs were summarized to CNV regions (CNVRs) at a population level (i.e. overlapping CNVs), using BEDTools.The HMM detected a total of 1924 CNVs in the genome of 256 samples resulting, at population level, in 1216 CNV regions, of which 959 gains, 226 losses and 31 complex CNVRs (i.e. containing both losses and gains), covering a total of 47 Mb of sequence length corresponding to 5,12 % of the chicken galGal4 assembly autosome. A comparison among this study and 7 previous reports about CNVs in chicken was performed, finding that the 1,216 CNVRs detected in this study overlap with 617 regions (51%) mapped by others studies. This study allowed a deep insight into the structural variation in the genome of unselected Mexican chicken population, which up to now has not been never genetically characterized with SNP markers. Based on a cluster analysis (pvclust – R package) on CNV markers the population, even if presenting extreme morphological variation, does not resulted divided in differentiated genetic subpopulations. Finally this study provides a CNV map based on the 600K SNP chip array jointly with a genome-wide gene copy number estimates in Mexican chicken population.

Myocardial infarction ´through the window´: dual dynamics for cardiac fibroblasts activation

Activated cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) are responsible for the healing of the heart tissue after a myocardial infarction (MI). Based on high throughput technologies, several groups have recently demonstrated their heterogeneity and a unique role of each subpopulation of CFs during the ventricular remodelling process. This is relevant towards the discovery of personalized treatments to control the initial post-MI healing scar that will contribute to preserve ventricular function and prevent the onset of heart failure. However, little is known about the moment that CFs are activated, and which genes are potentially involved in this process. Using a mouse model for MI and single cell RNA-Seq, we demonstrate that the activation of Reparative Cardiac Fibroblasts (RCFs), the CFs responsible for the healing scar, happens within the first week after MI. Interestingly, our data reveals that all CFs show high expression of the top markers genes for RCF in a specific moment, but only few of them finally evolve to an RCF transcriptomic identity. Furthermore, we describe two different molecular dynamics that could give rise to this activation and, in consequence, the appearance of definitive RCFs. Using Spatial Transcriptomics, we localized the genes related to each dynamic in different anatomical regions of the infarcted heart, but, remarkably, only one persists seven days after MI. These results highlight the existence of a specific “window of activation” of RCFs at the beginning of the ventricular remodelling process. This potential ´therapeutical window´ could allow us to regulate the size of the healing scar and, in consequence, the poor prognosis for patients that have suffered an ischemic event.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Dietary Debaryomyces hansenii promotes skin and skin mucus defensive capacities in a marine fish model

The present study explores the effects of two supplementation levels of Debaryomyces hansenii (1.1% and 2.2%) as a probiotic in a reference low fish meal-based diet on the skin mucosal tissue in Sparus aurata. This study includes the evaluation of fish performance coupled with a holistic study of the skin mucosa: i) a transcriptomic study of the skin tissue, and ii) the evaluation of its secreted mucus both in terms of skin mucosal-associated biomarkers and its defensive capacity by means of co-culture analysis with two pathogenic bacteria. Results showed that after 70 days of diet administration, fish fed the diet supplemented with D. hansenii at 1.1% presented increased somatic growth and a better feed conversion ratio, compared to fish fed the control diet. In contrast, fish fed the diet including 2.2% of the probiotic presented intermediate values. Regarding gene regulation, the probiotic administration at 1.1% resulted in 712 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), among which 53.4% and 46.6% were up- and down-regulated, respectively. In particular, D. hansenii modulated some skin biological processes related to immunity and metabolism. Specifically, D. hansenii administration induced a strong modulation of some immune biological-related processes (61 DEGs), mainly involved in B- and T-cell regulatory pathways. Furthermore, dietary D. hansenii promoted the skin barrier function by the upregulation of anchoring junction genes (23 DEGs), which reinforces the physical defense against potential skin damage. In contrast, the skin showed modulated genes related to extracellular exosome and membrane organization (50 DEGs). This modulated functioning is of great interest, particularly in relation to the increased skin mucus defensive capacity observed in the bacterial co-culture in vitro trials, which could be related to the increased modulation and exudation of the innate immune components from the skin cells into the mucus. In summary, the modulation of innate immune parameters coupled with increased skin barrier function and cell trafficking potentiates the skin's physical barrier and mucus defensive capacity, while maintaining the skin mucosa's homeostatic immune and metabolic status. These findings confirmed the advantages of D. hansenii supplementation in low fish meal-based diets, demonstrating the probiotic benefits on cultured marine species

Finding immunological differences to help diagnosis and early treatment of Kawasaki Disease and MIS-C (Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children)

Resumen del trabajo presentado en el 43 Congreso De La Sociedad Española de Inmunología, celebrado en León (España) del 22 al 24 de septiembre de 2022.The recent COVID-19 pandemic was first thought to spare children from health deprivation caused by infection with SARS-CoV-2. However, soon a new syndrome resembling Kawasaki Disease (KD) was reported: Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C). The aim of this study is to provide new biomarkers for both diseases in order to facilitate diagnosis and reduce the time-lapse until treatment is provided – which will reduce the risk of developing severe cardiovascular complications. An extensive immune system characterization by flow cytometry and serum protein characterization by a multiplex technology (Olink) was performed from fresh blood samples of patients with acute MIS-C (n=19) and KD (n=10). For protein characterization we also analysed recovery samples for these groups (n=19 and n=8, respectively). Besides the already described lymphopenia in MIS-C, we found additional significant immune differences in both groups. Although lymphocyte numbers (cells/ml) were lower in MIS-C, percentages of activated T-CD4+ and T-CD8+ cells were higher compared to KD. Moreover, when comparing activated T cells in MIS-C and KD individually, regulatory T cells (Treg) showed the highest levels. These data suggest a stronger response of T cells in MIS-C, and higher Treg activity in both groups, which could reflect the response to the excessive inflammation. Ratios previously described in other inflammatory conditions were evaluated: MIS-C showed higher neutrophil/lymphocyte and Th17/Treg ratios than KD, suggesting higher inflammatory conditions in this group. In addition, monocyte and dendritic cells (DCs) numbers were decreased in MIS-C relative to KD. Parallel to these inflammatory cellular profiles, we identified increased levels of inflammatory cytokines in plasma of patients during the acute phase of the disease compared to recovery samples. Moreover, IL-6, which is one of the main cytokines involved in cytokine storm in adult COVID-19, was higher in MIS-C suggesting, again, stronger inflammatory conditions in this pathology compared to KD

Gut bacterial diversity and physiological traits of Anastrepha fraterculus Brazilian-1 morphotype males are affected by antibiotic treatment.

Background: The interaction between gut bacterial symbionts and Tephritidae became the focus of several studies that showed that bacteria contributed to the nutritional status and the reproductive potential of its fruit fly hosts. Anastrepha fraterculus is an economically important fruit pest in South America. This pest is currently controlled by insecticides, which prompt the development of environmentally friendly methods such as the sterile insect technique (SIT). For SIT to be effective, a deep understanding of the biology and sexual behavior of the target species is needed. Although many studies have contributed in this direction, little is known about the composition and role of A. fraterculus symbiotic bacteria. In this study we tested the hypothesis that gut bacteria contribute to nutritional status and reproductive success of A. fraterculus males.Methods: Wild and laboratory-reared males were treated with antibiotics (AB) and provided sugar (S) or sugar plus protein (S+P) as food sources. The effect of AB on the gut bacteria diversity was assessed through DGGE and sequencing of the V6-V9 variable region of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene.Results: AB affected the bacterial community of the digestive tract of A. fraterculus, in particular59 bacteria belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae family, which was the dominant bacterial group in the control flies (i.e., non-treated with AB). AB negatively affected parameters directly related to the mating success of laboratory males and their nutritional status. AB also affected males?survival under starvation conditions. The effect of AB on the behaviour and nutritional status of the males depended on two additional factors: the origin of the males and the presence of a proteinaceous source in the diet.Conclusions: our results suggest that A. fraterculus 65 males gut contain symbiotic organisms that are able to exert a positive contribution on A. fraterculus males? fitness, although the physiological mechanisms still need further studies.Fil: Juárez, María Laura. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Agronomía y Zootecnia. Cátedra Terapéutica Vegetal; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán; ArgentinaFil: Pimper, Lida Elena. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución. Laboratorio de Genética de la Estructura Poblacional; ArgentinaFil: Bachmann, Guillermo Enrique. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Genética; ArgentinaFil: Conte, Claudia Alejandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán; ArgentinaFil: Ruiz, María Josefina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán; ArgentinaFil: Goane, Lucía. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán; ArgentinaFil: Medina Pereyra, Pilar. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo; ArgentinaFil: Castro, Felipe. Fundación Miguel Lillo; ArgentinaFil: Salgueiro, Julieta. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Genética; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán; ArgentinaFil: Caldera, Jorge Luis. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Genética; ArgentinaFil: Fernández, Patricia Elena. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Buenos Aires Norte. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Delta del Paraná; ArgentinaFil: Bourtzis, Kostas. Insect Pest Control Laboratory; AustriaFil: Lanzavecchia, Silvia Beatriz. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Genética; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán; ArgentinaFil: Vera, María Teresa. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Agronomía y Zootecnia; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán; ArgentinaFil: Segura, Diego Fernando. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Genética; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán; Argentin

Entomological aspects of Chagas disease in Huallaga and Picota, San Martin, Peru

Introducción: Existe escasa información y no actualizada sobre la presencia de triatominos en el departamento de San Martín, zona amazónica de nuestro país, y es importante actualizarla, ya que hay reportes recientes de casos de enfermedad de Chagas procedentes de la amazonía peruana cuyos vectores serían triatominos silvestres. Objetivos: Conocer la distribución geográfica de triatominos hematófagos en Huallaga y Picota, San Martín, Perú. Determinar los índices entomológicos, sus hábitos alimenticios y caracterizar los tripanosomatídeos que portan. Diseño: Investigación descriptiva observacional. Lugar: Red de Salud Huallaga y Picota, Laboratorio Regional de la Región de Salud San Martín. Laboratorios del Instituto Nacional de Salud. Participantes: Viviendas de 6 distritos de las provincia de Huallaga y 9 de Picota, del Departamento de San Martín. Intervenciones: La búsqueda de triatominos fue en 3 362 viviendas de áreas periurbanas y rurales. Mediante la prueba de precipitina, se determinó la fuente de alimentación. Se aisló tripanosomatídeos mediante infección en ratones Balb/C e inoculación en medio agar sangre, y por PCR se caracterizó el genoma por amplificación del espaciador intergénico del gen miniexón. Principales medidas de resultados: Determinar si Huallaga y Picota, San Martín, Perú, son zonas de riesgo de enfermedad de Chagas. Resultados: En 46 viviendas, de 3 362 muestreadas se capturó 53 triatominos adultos pertenecientes a Rhodnius pictipes (56,6%), Panstrongylus geniculatus (41,5%) y Eratyrus mucronatus (1,9%). Se reporta P. geniculatus por primera vez para las dos provincias. Los índices de infestación para ambas provincias fueron 1,4% y 3,8%, respectivamente, y corresponden al índice de infección natural; mientras que el índice de dispersión fue 30,1%. En R. pictipes se identificó cinco fuentes de alimentación (pollo, humano, perro, cobayo y gato) y en P. geniculatus un perfil alimentario mixto: perro/gato/pollo. Los Trypanosoma spp. aislados de R. pictipes, procedente de Sacanche (Huallaga), corresponden a TCI (350 pb); resultado similar se obtuvo en los 10 clones de este aislamiento. Conclusiones: Los resultados nos indican que, en las localidades estudiadas, R. pictipes y P. geniculatus estarían pasando por un proceso de domiciliación y que en las localidades de Huallaga R. pictipes sería el principal vector de Trypanosoma cruzi TC1; por lo que, dichas localidades estarían consideradas como zonas de riesgo de enfermedad de Chagas.ntroduction: There is little and not recent information on the presence of triatomine bugs in San Martin department, Amazon area of our country where Chagas disease has been reported by wild triatomine insects as vectors. Objectives: To determine the geographic distribution of hematophagous triatomine insects in Huallaga and Picota provinces, San Martin department, Peru. To determine the domiciliary infestation by triatomine vectors indexes, trypano-triatomine infection as well as their dispersion. To determine the insects feeding source and to genetically characterize the tripanosomatidae they carry. Design: Observational and descriptive study. Setting: Health and Laboratories region networks. National Institute of Health laboratories. Participants: Houses from 6 districts of Huallaga province and 9 from Picota province (San Martin department). Interventions: Triatomine insect’s collection was carried out in 3 362 homes located in semi-urban and rural zones accounting for 30% of the total area of studied provinces. Feeding preferences were assessed by a precipitin test using specific antibodies against guinea pig, dog, cat, chicken and human beings sera. Trypanosomes were isolated by inoculation of stool samples from infected insects in Balb/c mice and using axenic culture media. Genetic characterization was done by PCR amplification of the genome by gene intergenic spacer of the miniexon. Main outcome measures: To assess if Huallaga and Picota, San Martin, Peru, are Chagas disease risk areas. Results: In 46 of the 3 368 homes visited, 53 triatomine adults were collected belonging to the species Rhodnius pictipes (56,6%), Panstrongylus geniculatus (41,5%) and Eratyrus mucronatus (1,9%). For the first time, P. geniculatus was reported in both provinces included in the study. Domiciliary infestation index was 1,4%, trypano-triatomine infection index was 3,8% and dispersion index was 30,1%. For R. pictipes 5 sources of food were identified (chicken, human, dog, guinea pig and cat) and for P. geniculatus, a mix feed: dog, cat and chicken. Trypanosoma spp. isolates of R. pictipes from Sacanche (Huallaga) belonged to T. cruzi TCI (350 pb); similar result was obtained in 10 clones studied. Conclusions: Results indicate that R. pictipes and P. geniculatus are undergoing colonization of the regions included in this study. Within the province of Huallaga, R. pictipes is the predominant vector of T. cruzi; therefore these locations must be considered high risk areas for Chagas disease

ANGPTL-4 is Associated with Obesity and Lipid Profile in Children and Adolescents

Angiopoietin-like protein 4 (ANGPTL-4) regulates lipidic metabolism and affects energy homeostasis. However, its function in children with obesity remains unknown. We investigated plasma ANGPTL-4 levels in children and its relationship with body mass index (BMI) and different lipidic parameters such as free fatty acids (FFA). Plasma ANGPTL-4 levels were analyzed in two different cohorts. In the first cohort (n = 150, age 3–17 years), which included children with normal weight or obesity, we performed a cross-sectional study. In the second cohort, which included only children with obesity (n = 20, age 5–18 years) followed up for two years after an intervention for weight loss, in which we performed a longitudinal study measuring ANGPTL-4 before and after BMI-loss. In the cross-sectional study, circulating ANGPTL-4 levels were lower in children with obesity than in those with normal weight. Moreover, ANGPTL-4 presented a negative correlation with BMI, waist circumference, weight, insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance index (HOMA index), triglycerides, and leptin, and a positive correlation with FFA and vitamin-D. In the longitudinal study, the percent change in plasma ANGPTL-4 was correlated with the percent change in FFA, total-cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. This study reveals a significant association of ANGPTL-4 with pediatric obesity and plasma lipid profileThis research was funded by INSTITUTO DE SALUD CARLOS III cofounded by FEDER, grants number PI18/00998, PI15/01272, PI11/02042, PI16/01301, and PI16/00871, and FUNDACIÓN MUTUA MADRILEÑAS