published_or_final_version / Medicine / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

<p>Obesity is today a problem that has reached epidemic proportions. One of the causes of obesity is the over-consumption of energy. Fat is the most energy-dense nutrient, where the quality seems to be more important for the development of the metabolic diseases than the quantity. The fatty acid composition in serum lipid fractions can be used to mirror the dietary fat quality.</p><p>Stearoyl-CoA-desaturase (SCD) is an enzyme that converts saturated to monounsaturated fatty acids. A surrogate measure of SCD activity can be estimated as a fatty acid ratio; 16:1/16:0 (palmitoleic acid/palmitic acid) and 18:1/18:0 (oleic acid/stearic acid). The aim of this project was to investigate the intra-day variation in the SCD-ratio in humans eating a standardized diet. The results showed that triacylglycerol and nonesterified fatty acid fractions in serum lipids had a significant variance in the 16:1/16:0 ratio during the day, whereas 18:1/18:0 ratio in the same fractions did not exhibit the same pattern. In this study 16:1/16:0 ratio also seems to be a better marker than 18:1/18:0 ratio for estimating SCD activity. For further evaluation of the intra-day variation there need to be a more long-term study of the SCD-activity for a larger group of subjects.</p>

Resveratrol (RSV) is a natural compound that improves mitochondrial function and metabolic health in animal models. Thus far, RSV’s effects on metabolic outcomes in humans are controversial, and RSV’s acute mechanism has not yet been confirmed in vivo. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of an acute dose of RSV on insulin sensitivity and fatty acid oxidation, and to determine RSV’s mechanism of action in human skeletal muscle and adipose tissue. Overweight males (n=8; BMI, 30.5±3.6; VO2peak, 34.0±7.3 ml/kg) reported to the lab on 2 occasions and were provided a breakfast supplemented with 0.3g of RSV or a placebo pill. Experiments were performed in random order using a double blind crossover design. Gas exchange measures, blood samples, and skeletal muscle and adipose tissue biopsies were obtained before and 2 hours after the supplement meal. RSV acutely improved insulin sensitivity, but had no effect on fatty acid oxidation. Additionally, RSV supplementation had no effect on the intracellular signaling of key proteins proposed to mediate its effects in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue. Taken together, these results suggest a single dose of RSV can acutely enhance insulin sensitivity, but its mechanism of action is not conserved across species, and its intracellular signaling pathway is different in humans than previously thought. Due to its insulin sensitizing effect, RSV retains its clinical value, but further research is required to determine its most useful application for human metabolic health. / Thesis (Master, Kinesiology & Health Studies) -- Queen's University, 2013-06-06 13:30:03.522

Les MICI (maladies inflammatoires chroniques de l'intestin) invalident 200 000 personnes en France. La région Nord-Pas-de-Calais est particulièrement touchée par ces affections et les traitements disponibles pour ces pathologies demeurent coûteux et peu nombreux. Des études récentes ont suggéré que le système endocannabinoïde, exprimé au seing du tractus gastro-intestinal, est une cible thérapeutique prometteuse pour le traitement des MICI. Ce système se compose des récepteurs aux cannabinoïdes CB1 et CB2, des ligands endogènes de ces récepteurs, notamment l'anandamide et le 2-arachidonoylglycérol et des protéines impliquées dans l'anabolisme et le catabolisme des ligands. L'anandamide a présenté des capacités à prévenir la colite induite par le TNBS à des rongeurs. Toutefois, in vivo ce composé possède un temps de demi-vie court et est rapidement dégradé par une amidase à sérine, la FAAH (Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase). Nous avons ainsi envisagé la conception, la synthèse et l'évaluation pharmacologique de nouveau inhibiteurs de la FAAH. L'une de nos molécules, le composé 95, présentant une CI50 sur l'enzyme de 88 nM a ensuite été injectée par voie intrapéritonéale à des souris dont la colite a été induite trois jours plus tard par l'injection intrarectale de TNBS. L'évaluation des scores macroscopiques et microscopiques des dommages causés sur le côlon par l'agent irritant a ensuite été effectuée. L'inflammation du côlon a été significativement réduite chez le groupe de souris ayant été traité par le composé 95, montrant que l'inhibition de la FAAH est une stratégie thérapeutique efficace dans le traitement des MICI. / IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Diseases) invalidate 200 000 persons in France. Nord-Pas-de-Calais region is particularly touched by these diseases and the available treatments for these pathologies are few and expensive. Recent studies have suggested that endocannabinoid system expressed in the gastrointestinal tract, was a promising therapeutic target for the IBD treatment. This system is made up of cannabinoids receptors CB1 and CB2, endogenous ligands of these receptors, notably anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol, and proteins involved in ligands metabolism. Anandamide has shown properties to prevent TNBS-induced colitis in mice. However, in vivo, anandamide possesses a short life time and is rapidly hydrolyzed by a serine amidase, the FAAH (Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase). In this context, we have considered the design, the synthesis and the pharmacological evaluation of new FAAH inhibitors. One of our molecules, compound 95, inhibiting the enzyme with an IC50 value of 88 nM has been injected intraperitonally to mice which the colitis was induced three days later by intrarectal TNBS-administration. The assessment of macroscopic and microscopic scores of colonic damages was undergone. Colonic inflammation was significatively reduced in the group of mice which has been treated by 95, showing evidence that FAAH inhibition was an effective therapeutic target for the treatment of IBD.

Introduction: An increased gluteofemoral adipose tissue (AT) mass is associated with a protective cardiovascular and metabolic risk profile, and effective fatty acid retention in femoral AT has been proposed as a possible mechanism. Catecholamines are important regulators of AT lipolysis and blood flow (ATBF). The aim of the thesis was to investigate regional differences in the adrenergic regulation of fatty acid release and ATBF between abdominal and femoral AT in vivo. Furthermore, in vivo regional fatty acid trafficking was studied in a physiological setting over 24 h. Methods: Regional fatty acid trafficking, along with the measurement of ATBF, was studied with the arterio-venous difference technique and stable isotope tracers in healthy volunteers. Adrenergic agonists (isoprenaline, adrenaline) were infused either locally by microinfusion, or systemically. Local microinfusion of adrenoreceptor antagonists (propranolol, phentolamine) was used to characterize specific adrenoreceptor subtype effects. The trafficking of dietary fatty acids was studied over a 24 h period involving three meals containing stable isotope-labelled fatty acids along with intravenous infusions of another labelled fatty acid. Results: Femoral ATBF and lipolysis was less responsive to adrenergic stimulation with adrenaline compared to abdominal AT. This was due to increased femoral α-adrenoreceptor responsiveness. When studied over 24 h, femoral AT showed a lower lipolysis rate compared to abdominal AT, while dietary fatty acids were extracted more avidly by abdominal AT. Uptake of non-dietary fatty acids (derived from very-low-density lipoproteins or unbound non-esterified fatty acids) was comparable between abdominal and femoral AT. Conclusion: There are fundamental differences in response to adrenergic stimuli between abdominal and gluteofemoral tissues and the ability of femoral AT to trap non-dietary fatty acids may provide protection of other tissues from ectopic fatty acid deposition.

N-Acylphosphatidylethanoiamine (NAPE) is synthesized in the microsomes of cotton seedlings by a mechanism that is possibly unique to plants, the ATP-, Ca2+-, and CoA-independent acylation ofphosphatidylethanolamine (PE) with unesterified free fatty acids (FFAs), catalyzed by NAPE synthase. A photoreactive free fatty acid analogue, 12-[(4- azidosalicyl)amino]dodecanoic acid (ASD), and its 125I-labeled derivative acted as substrates for the NAPE synthase enzyme.

Orientador: Telma Teresinha Berchielli / Coorientador: Juliana Duarte Messana / Banca: Raul Franzolin Neto / Banca: Renata Helena Branco Arnandes / Banca: Roberta Carrilho Canesin / Resumo: O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito de três métodos e quatro tempos de armazenamento da amostra ruminal, sobre a qualidade e rendimento do DNA metagenômico extraído assim como o efeito sobre a composição da comunidade bacteriana ruminal e avaliar o efeito da glicerina bruta (CG) associada ao óleo de soja (OS) na dieta de Novilhos Nelore sobre o consumo, digestibilidade, fermentação, biohidrogenação (BH), microbiota ruminal e fluxo intestinal de ácidos graxos de cadeia longa. No experimento 1 utilizou-se um novilho Nelore equipado com cânula ruminal de silicone como doador de conteúdo ruminal e compreendeu 11 tratamentos: pellet controle (PC), liofilizado controle (LC), P-20: pellet armazenado a -20 ° C por um período de 3, 6 e 12 meses, P-80: pellet armazenado a -80 ° C durante um período de 3, 6 e 12 meses e L-20: amostra liofilizada armazenada a -20 ° C durante um período de 3, 6 e 12 meses. O método L-20 não conseguiu manter o rendimento de DNA durante o armazenamento. O método P-80 apresentou maior rendimento de DNA após 6 meses de armazenamento. Amostras armazenados como pellets (P-20 e P-80) resultaram em menor riqueza Chao 1, ACE e índice Shannon Wiener quando comparado com PC. Enquanto LC e PC apenas foram diferentes na riqueza ACE. O método de armazenamento e tempo de armazenamento influenciou as proporções de 14 ds 17 filos identificado. No método P-20 a proporção de Cianobactérias, Elusimicrobia, Fibrobacteres, Lentisphaerae, Proteobacteria e Espiroquetas ... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The objective of this study was to investigate three methods and four storage times for rumen sampling in terms of quality and yield of extracted metagenomic DNA as well as the composition of the rumen bacterial community, and evaluate the effect of soybean oil (SO) and crude glycerin (CG) association on ruminal fermentation, ruminal biohydrogenation (BH) and ruminal microbial population in Nellore steers. In the experiment 1: One Nellore steer fitted with a ruminal silicone-type cannula was used as a donor of ruminal contents. The experiment comprised 11 experimental groups: pellet control (PC), lyophilized control (LC), P-20: pellet stored frozen at -20 °C for a period of 3, 6, and 12 months, P-80: pellet stored frozen at -80 °C for a period of 3, 6, and 12 months, and L-20: lyophilized sample stored frozen at -20 °C for a period of 3, 6, and 12 months. The L-20 method could not maintain the yield of DNA during storage. In addition, the P-80 group showed a greater yield of metagenomic DNA than the other groups after 6 months of storage. Rumen samples stored as pellets (P-20 and P-80) resulted in lower richness Chao 1, ACE, and Shannon Wiener indices when compared to PC, while LC and PC were only different in richness ACE. The storage method and storage time influenced the proportions of 14 of 17 phyla identified by sequencing. In the P-20 group, the proportion of Cyanobacteria, Elusimicrobia, Fibrobacteres, Lentisphaerae, Proteobacteria, and Spirochaetes phyla identified was lower than 1%. In the P-80 group, there was an increase in the proportion of the Bacteroidetes phylum (p = 0.010); however, the proportion of Actinobacteria, Chloroflexi, SR1, Synergistetes, TM7, and WPS.2 phyla were unchanged compared to the PC group (p > 0.05). The class Clostridium was the most abundant in all stored groups and increased in its proportion, (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

Vinte e oito bovinos Brangus foram usados para se determinar o efeito da suplementação de cobre e selênio no desempenho, características de carcaça, composição de ácidos graxos no músculo Longissimus dorsi (LD) e na concentração de colesterol sérico e no músculo LD . Os tratamentos foram : 1) C(Controle) - sem a suplementação de cobre e selênio; 2) Se - 2 mg Se/kg de matéria seca na forma de selenito de sódio; 3) Cu- 40 mg Cu/kg de matéria seca na forma de sulfato de cobre; 4) Se/Cu- 2 mg Se/kg de matéria seca na forma de selenito de sódio e 40 mg Cu/kg de matéria seca na forma de sulfato de cobre. O ganho de peso diário aumentou com a suplementação de selênio (P<0,05). A eficiência alimentar foi melhor (P<0,05) nos tratamentos selênio, cobre e selênio/cobre, em relação ao controle. A ingestão de matéria seca não foi alterada pelos tratamentos (P>0,05). A espessura de gordura e composição de ácidos graxos do músculo LD não foram influenciados pelos tratamentos (P>0,05). A concentração sérica de colesterol não foi influenciada pelos tratamentos (P>0,05), entretanto, a concentração de colesterol no LD foi menor nos bovinos suplementados com cobre e selênio (P < 0.05). A glutationa peroxidase e GSSG aumentaram (P<0,05) com a suplementação de cobre , selênio ou selênio/cobre (P <0,05). / Twenty eight Brangus steers were used to determine the effects of copper (Cu) and selenium (Se) supplementation on performance, carcass characteristics, Longissimus dorsi muscle fatty acid composition and serum and Longissimus dorsi muscle cholesterol concentrations. Treatments were: 1) control - no supplemental Cu and Se; 2) Se - 2 mg Se/kg DM as sodium selenite; 3) Cu - 40 mg Cu/kg DM as copper sulfate; 4) Se/Cu - 2 mg Se/kg DM as sodium selenite and 40 mg Cu/kg DM as copper sulfate. Daily weight gain increased with selenium supplementation (P<0,05). Feed efficiency was better in selenium, copper and selenium/copper treatments than in the control group. Dry matter intake was not affected by treatments (P>0.05). Backfat and Longissimus dorsi fatty acid concentrations were not affected by treatments (P > 0.05). Serum cholesterol concentration was not affected by treatments (P>0.05), however, Longissimus dorsi cholesterol concentrations were lower in steers supplemented with Cu and Se (P<0.05). GSSG and GSH Px increased (P<0.05) with Cu, Se and Se/Cu supplementation.

Pancreatic beta-cells regulate blood glucose by secreting insulin in response to nutrients. The development of Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) is characterized by elevated insulin secretion in the fasted state and a failure to adequately respond to nutrient influx, particularly glucose. Current dogma states that insulin resistance is the initiating event in the development of T2D, with compensation by beta-cells necessary to maintain glucose homeostasis. An alternative model, which will be a central theme throughout this thesis, is that hypersecretion of insulin is the initiating and sustaining event in the development of T2D. The underlying cause of insulin hypersecretion is unclear. Determining this is important in order to test this alternative model as a viable target for prevention and treatment of T2D. Because of the association between obesity and hyperinsulinemia, we hypothesized that exposure of the β-cell to high levels of nutrients stimulates insulin hypersecretion. We found that chronic incubation of β-cells in high glucose and/or oleate, which mimics nutrient conditions in obesity, lowered the half-maximal response for glucose to stimulate insulin secretion. The degree of the left-shift correlated with lipid stores. We determined that heightened sensitivity of granule exocytosis to Ca2+ was driving this left-shift. Thus glucose, while not necessarily abnormal in obesity, may cause hypersecretion of insulin due to altered sensitivity of the β-cell to this secretagogue. Iron stores are increased in obesity and are predictive of T2D development. We found that iron acutely stimulated both basal and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) in a reactive oxygen species dependent manner. Interestingly, iron did not increase insulin secretion via Ca2+ influx. Thus, both iron and glucose/oleate induce insulin hypersecretion via an aspect of the triggering pathway that is not Ca2+, the putative triggering signal. Previous work in our laboratory documented that exogenous mono-oleoyl-glycerol, an endogenous lipid signaling molecule and food additive, increases basal insulin secretion. We found that inhibition of monoacylglycerol lipase, which increases cellular monacylglycerol species, reduced GSIS, possibly via a reduction in long-chain CoA. Collectively, our works supports the hypothesis that chronic exposure to high nutrient levels drives insulin hypersecretion in obesity. / 2018-06-15T00:00:00Z

Cholecystokinin (CCK) secreting enteroendocrine (EEC) I cells which distribute in gastrointestinal tract play an important role in lipid sensing, digestion and fatty acids uptake. Although a lot of research has been performed, the whole mechanism of fat sensing and fatty acid uptake and hormone expression in the CCK cells is still unclear. Global analysis to characterise the CCK cells is essential. CCK cells have an indistinct morphology, a diffuse distribution and a small percentage of population in the small intestine. However, the generation of genetic fluorescence tagged animal model facilitates the study of these cells. In this thesis, single cell dissociation methods and RT-PCR methodologies for detecting nutrient sensing receptors and fatty acids transporters were established and optimised. Expression of mRNAs for fat sensing GPCRs were detected in mouse duodenal epithelium. Expression of FATP family and CD36 in CCK cells and enterocytes was studied by RT-PCR. FATP2, FATP4 and CD36 mRNA were found in both CCK cells and enterocytes. Cell culture methodologies enabling the study of function (calcium imaging and FACS analysis) were established and optimised by checking the cell viability as a criterion. The methodology combining the immunochemistry and FACS analysis to study the hormone was established but requires further optimisation.