ESPE Abstracts

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNA molecules and play an important role in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression and thereby influence important cellular functions. In adipocytes, miRNAs regulate key processes such as differentiation, inflammation, metabolism, and adipokine secretion. Recently, we found that miR-27a is upregulated under proinflammatory conditions in human adipocytes. Thus, our goal was to better understand the function of miR-27a in a...

Background: Functional studies on uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) are important to identify potential pharmacological targets which interfere with energy metabolism. However, current cell models of human origin are scarce due to limited tissue availability. In this study, we generated human preadipocytes and adipocytes with an overexpression of UCP1 and studied the metabolic function of these cells.Methods: Human Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndrome (SGBS) cells w...

Background: Obesity and metabolic syndrome related co-morbidities are increasingly recognized in children. Reproduction is an important target of obesity complications, including adverse effects on spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis in males. Adipocytokines are key players in various complications of obesity.Objective and hypotheses: The aim was to study the potential effects of adipocytokines on Sertoli cell function and possibly link the findings to t...

Background: Upon excessive expansion, adipose tissue is infiltrated by macrophages and shows increased production of inflammatory cytokines. This chronic low grade inflammation of adipose tissue is involved in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance. A supplementation with resveratrol can reverse the metabolic disturbances of human obesity, in part by mimicking the effects of caloric restriction.Objective and Hypotheses: We hypothesized that the beneficia...

Background: Leptin is produced by adipocytes and regulates central hunger and satiety sensation. While the central leptin effects are well understood, little is known about the regulation of peripheral leptin production. Clinical data demonstrate that leptin levels are rapidly declining upon fasting, suggesting that leptin secretion is acutely regulated by nutrient availability. Although it has been previously shown that leptin secretion is under control by gl...

Recently, we identified Neuritin 1 (NRN1) as preferentially expressed in human white compared to brown adipocyte progenitor cells. In mice, Nrn1 deficiency leads to a reduction in body weight, indicating that it might regulate body weight. In this study, we aim to address the function of NRN1 regarding adipocyte metabolism in vitro and in vivo. We used human SGBS preadipocytes as an in vitro model system. NRN1-deficient cells were generated using len...

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most prevalent cancer in childhood. Over the past decades, survival rates increased, but relapse is still associated with a poor prognosis, especially if the bone marrow (BM) is affected. Marrow adipose tissue (MAT) constitutes a major part of the BM niche, but its impact on normal hematopoiesis versus leukemia initiation, progression and relapse has only recently gained attention. MAT is very sensitive to changes in the patient’s...

Introduction: Obesity is the main public health problem in Mexico. Several factors have been described as explanations, mainly: increased sedentarism and caloric intake. Such environment has been described as “obesogenic”. The aim of this study was to describe the relationship between the components of such obesogenic environment and the adiposity of Mexican children and adolescents.Methods: We carried a population-based cross-sectional study o...

Background: Recently, patients with severe obesity have been described due to functional leptin deficiency. This new entity is characterized by high immunoreactive levels of circulating leptin (Lep), but a reduced bioactivity of the hormone due to defective receptor binding (N Engl J Med 2015;372:48–54). Since these patients can be successfully treated with human recombinant leptin (metreleptin), a diagnostic tool to detect functional leptin deficiency is needed.<p cl...

Background: Adipose tissue is an important endocrine organ. Its secretion profile is robustly changed in the context of obesity fueling the development of comorbidities such as insulin resistance, diabetes mellitus type 2, and atherosclerosis. We have recently shown that the adipose tissue expression of the death ligand TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand TRAIL and its receptors is upregulated in obesity.Objective and Hypotheses: In this project, we in...