Pollock oil supplementation modulates hyperlipidemia and ameliorates hepatic steatosis in mice fed a high-fat diet

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Hyperlipidemia associated with obesity is closely related to the development of atherosclerosis. Both n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and long-chain monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs; i.e., C20:1 and C22:1 isomers) supplementation modulate risk factors for metabolic syndrome via multiple mechanisms, including the restoration of impaired lipid metabolism. We therefore examined the effects of pollock oil, which contains a considerable amount of n-3 PUFAs as well as long-chain MUFAs, on plasma hyperlipidemia and hepatic steatosis in diet-induced obese mice.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Male C57BL/6J mice (24-26 g) were divided into two groups (n = 10/group) and were fed a high-fat diet containing 32% lard (control group) or 17% lard plus 15% pollock oil (experimental group) for 6 weeks. For both groups, fat comprised 60% of the total caloric intake.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Although body and liver masses for the two groups did not differ significantly, hepatic lipids concentrations (triglycerides and total cholesterols) were lower (<it>P </it>< 0.05) after pollock oil ingestion. After 2 weeks on the specified diets, plasma lipid levels (total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides) significantly decreased (<it>P </it>< 0.05) in the experimental group compared with the control group, although plasma HDL cholesterol levels did not differ. At the end of 6 weeks, plasma adiponectin levels increased (<it>P </it>< 0.05), whereas plasma resistin and leptin levels decreased (<it>P </it>< 0.05) in the experimental mice. Increased levels of long-chain MUFAs and n-3 PUFAs in plasma, liver and adipose tissue by ingesting pollock oil were possibly correlated to these favorable changes. Expression of hepatic genes involved in cholesterol metabolism (<it>SREBP2</it>, <it>HMGCR</it>, and <it>ApoB</it>) and lipogenesis (<it>SREPB1c</it>, <it>SCD-1</it>, <it>FAS</it>, and <it>Acac</it>α) was suppressed in the experimental group, and may have favorably affected hyperlipidemia and hepatic steatosis induced by the high-fat diet.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We demonstrated that pollock oil supplementation effectively improved hyperlipidemia, attenuated hepatic steatosis, and downregulated the express of hepatic genes involved in cholesterol and lipid metabolism in mice with diet-induced obesity.</p

The distribution and number of Leu-7 (CD57) positive cells in lung tissue from patients with pulmonary fibrosis.

Leu-7 positive lymphocytes, including natural killer cells, play an important role in the immune system's surveillance function to prevent the development of cancer. The incidence of lung cancer is significantly high in patients with end-stage pulmonary fibrosis. We hypothesized that the number of Leu-7 positive cells may be decreased in areas of severe pulmonary fibrosis. To demonstrate this, Leu-7 positive cells were immunohistochemically stained in 41 lung specimens obtained from patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and pulmonary fibrosis associated with collagen vascular disorders. The number of Leu-7 positive cells was evaluated according to the pathological findings. In pathologically normal lung, Leu-7 positive cells were mostly found within the capillaries of the septa and rarely in the alveolar space or the stroma. The number of Leu-7 positive cells was 0.69 +/- 0.15 in areas of advanced fibrosis (n = 41), 2.39 +/- 0.60 in areas that had newly developeing fibrosis (n = 41), 1.14 +/- 0.57 in bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia (n = 9), and 1.35 +/- 0.87 in diffuse alveolar damage (DAD) (n = 11). The number of Leu-7 positive cells in areas of newly developing fibrosis (2.39 +/- 0.60) was significantly higher than that in areas of established fibrosis (0.69 +/- 0.15, P &#60; 0.05). Our present study demonstrates a significant decrease in the number of Leu-7 positive cells in areas of advanced fibrosis. This evidence may partly explain the high incidence of lung cancer associated with pulmonary fibrosis.</p

Myofibroblasts proliferation of idiopathic and collagen vascular disorders associated nonspecific interstitial pneumonia.

Nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) has been recognized as a separate histological classification of interstitial lung disease. Similar features are found not only in idiopathic NSIP, but also in NSIP associated with collagen vascular disorder (CVD-NSIP). We examined the clinical symptoms, laboratory findings, and prognosis of 13 cases of idiopathic NSIP and 11 cases of CVD-NSIP. Immunohistochemical staining was performed using the streptavidin/biotin/peroxidase method with anti-alpha-smooth muscle actin antibody. No differences in the distribution of clinical features, laboratory findings, and prognosis were observed between idiopathic NSIP and CVD-NSIP. In immunohistochemical staining of the fibrosing areas, myofibroblasts were observed in 7 of 13 idiopathic NSIP cases, but in 10 of 11 CVD-NSIP cases. With regards to intra-alveolar organization, myofibroblasts were observed in all 10 CVD-NSIP cases, but they were observed in only 2 of 9 idiopathic NSIP cases. We found a significantly higher myofibroblast proliferation in the intra-alveolar organization of CVD-NSIP compared to idiopathic NSIP. Clinically, idiopathic NSIP and CVD-NSIP are similar, but are pathologically different.</p

A Case of Ectopic Renin-secreting Orbital Hemangiopericy-toma Associated with Juvenile Hypertension and Hypokalemia

An unusual case of orbital tumor with high renin content and severe hypertension is described. The patient was a 15-year-old girl with juvenile hypertension (200-140 mmHg) associated with right exophthalmos and hypokalemia. The patient showed extremely high levels of plasma renin activity and plasma aldosterone concentration. No difference was present in plasma renin activity from either side of the renal veins. Preoperatively, hypertension responded to treatment with spironolactone. The tumor could not be completely removed because of intracranial metastasis and infiltration, and the hyperreninemia and secondary hyperaldosteronism persisted. The renin content in the orbital tissue was 1,403-2,225 ng/angiotensin I generated/h/g wet weight of tissue. The postmortem histopathologic diagnosis was orbital hemangiopericytoma. This is the first case of extrarenal (ectopic) renin-secreting (or -producing) hemangiopericytoma of the orbital origin. Furthermore this case is worthy of note in the point of view of the presence of the extrarenal renin-angiotensin system, particularly in the brain.</p