Adiposity has been shown to secrete bioactive cytokines and growth factor known as adipocytokines, they can contribute to obesity, diabetes and complications of diabetes. Visfatin is a novel adipocytokine, and it was shown to exert insulin-mimetic effects in stimulating glucose transport and induced triglyceride accumulation in preadipocytes and triglyceride synthesis from gluvose. Visfatin plasma levels are increased in morbid obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus. These finding indicate that visfatin may play a role in the association between visceral obesity and increased metabolic risk, visfatin gene suggested that genetic variation in the visfatin gene may, indeed, have a minor effect on visceral and subcutaneous visfatin messenger RNA expression profiles and parameters of glucose and insulin metabolism. In this study, we explored the relationships between the plasma level of visfatin and genetic single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of visfatin gene in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with and without macrovascular disease. Plasma visfatin was found to be elevated significantly in T2DM with macrovascular disease patients. Moreover, waist to hip ratio was independently associated with plasma visfatin level. There were statistically significant differences in visfatin -948 G/T genetic variants distribution between T2DM with macrovascular disease and the T2DM control group. The visfatin -948 G/T heterozygotes showed higher mean high-density lipoprotein cholesterol than the carriers of the G allele. The results of the current study indicated that plasma visfatin levels were associated with macrovascular complications in type 2 diabetes. However, the definite roles of visfatin in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance, glucose and lipid metabolism are unclear. The observation of changes in the plasma concentrations of visfatin seen in T2DM and T2DM with macrovascular diseases may exert beneficial effects in understanding roles of visfatin in physiologic activity and metabolic disorder. Further studies are needed to elucidate the mechanisms behind visfatin overexpression in humans.

Adipose tissue secreted proteins (adipokines) have been proposed to form a link between obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D). Resistin and visfatin are two adipokines which have been previously suggested as having roles in the pancreatic islet. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate the regulatory role of the adipokines resistin and visfatin in the pancreatic beta-cell. In order to do this, pancreatic β-cell lines from rat (BRIN-BD11) and mouse (βTC-6) were used to study the effect of exogenous incubation with physiological and pathological concentrations of resistin and visfatin on diverse elements of beta-cell biology including cell viability, gene expression and insulin secretion. In addition to this the expression levels of these two adipokines was also measured in the beta-cell. PCR array analysis showed that resistin and visfatin treatment resulted in significant changes in the expression of key beta-cell specific genes. Interestingly, both resistin and visfatin are highly expressed in the beta-cells. This suggests that the roles of these adipokines are not confined to adipose tissue but also in other endocrine organs. Resistin treatment significantly increased viability of the beta-cells at physiological concentrations however there was no increase with the elevated pathological concentrations. Resistin at elevated concentrations decreased insulin receptor expression in the beta-cells however there was no significant effect at lower concentrations. Both physiological and elevated resistin concentrations did not have any effect on glucose stimulated insulin secretion. Incubation of visfatin induced phosphorylation of insulin receptor and the intracellular signalling MAPK, ERK1/2. Visfatin treatment at 200ng/ml also significantly increased insulin secretion. These effects were replicated by incubation of beta-cells with the product of visfatin’s enzymatic action, nicotinamide mononucleotide and were reversed by visfatin inhibitor FK866. Visfatin treatment at low concentrations did not have any effect on cell viability however the elevated concentrations resulted in a decline. These data indicate that both resistin and visfatin potentially play important roles in beta-cell function and viability and that they form a significant link between adipose tissue and the pancreatic islet in type 2 diabetes.

Introdução: A influência de variantes genéticas dos genes da visfatina e dos recep- tores ?2-adrenérgicos em resposta ao treinamento físico é ainda inconclusiva. Obje- tivos: Verificar os efeitos do treinamento com danças afro-brasileiras por 13 sema- nas sobre parâmetros de saúde de crianças com sobrepeso ou obesidade e a in- fluência das variantes genéticas acima descritas na magnitude de resposta a este treinamento. Materiais e métodos: 30 crianças (9 ± 1,1 anos) realizaram um trei- namento que consistia em 5 minutos de aquecimento a 60% da FCmáx, quatro mo- mentos dez minutos de 70% a 80% da FCmáx intercalados com cinco momentos de dois minutos de recuperação ativa a 60% da FCmáx, 3x/sem, 60 min por sessão. Antes e após o treinamento realizou-se avaliação da composição corporal, índice de massa corporal (IMC), z- score do IMC, circunferência da cintura (CC), relação cintu- ra/estatura (RCE), pressão arterial sistólica (PAS) e diastólica (PAD), capacidade aeróbia e analise da variabilidade da frequência cardíaca (VFC). Análises sanguí- neas foram realizadas para genotipagem, avaliação do perfil lipídico, glicemia, insu- lina e HOMA-IR. A análise estatística foi realizada utilizando modelo de regressão de efeitos mistos. Resultados: Após o treinamento com dança afro-brasileira houve redução significativa (p<0,05) no z-score do IMC (-6,6%), na relação cintura/estatura (-4,8%) e consumo calórico (-15,3%). Considerando os genótipos dos polimorfismos estudados houve uma diminuição significativa no valor do z-score do IMC (-10%) para o genótipo AG do gene do receptor ?2-adrenérgico Arg16Gly, mas nenhuma alteração significativa para os genótipos relacionados aos genes da visfatina e Gln27Glu do receptor ?2-adrenérgico. Conclusão: O treinamento com dança afro- brasileira foi uma estratégia com efeito positivo sobre o score-z do IMC e relação cintura/estatura em crianças com sobrepeso e obesidade. E o genótipo AG do poli- morfismo do receptor ?2-adrenérgico Arg16Gly apresentou melhor resposta ao trei- namento no z-score do IMC, o que pode indicar uma influência genética à resposta ao treinamento. / Introduction: The influences of NAMPT and ?2-adrenergic receptors polymorphisms in response to dance training remain unclear. Objectives: To verify the effects of dance training on health parameters of overweight or obese children and to verify the influence of the genetic variants previously mentioned in response to 13 weeks of training with African-Brazilian dance. Methods: Thirty children (9 ± 1.1 years) per- formed a training that consisted of 10 minutes at 60% of HRmax, four moments from 70% to 80 % of HRmax interspersed with five minutes of active recovery at 60% of HRmax, in total of 60 minutes of training session. Before and after the training body composition, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), physical fitness and heart rate variability (HRV) were evaluat- ed. Blood analyzes were performed for genotyping and evaluation of the lipid profile, glucose, insulin and HOMA-IR. Statistical analysis was performed using a general linear mixed effects model. Results: The African-Brazilian dance training resulted in a significant reduction (p<0.05) in BMI z-score (-6.6%), waist-to-height ratio (-4.8%) and caloric intake (-15.3%). In the analysis of each polymorphism, it was possible to observe a significant decrease in the z-score BMI (-10%) for the AG genotype of the Arg16Gly polymorphism in the ?2-adrenergic receptor gene, but there is no signifi- cant difference for the visfatin and Gln27Glu of the ?2-adrenergic receptor polymor- phisms. Conclusion: Afro-Brazilian dance training was a strategy with a positive ef- fect on BMI-z score and waist-to-height ratio in overweight and obese children. In addition, the AG genotype of the ?2-adrenergic receptor Arg16Gly polymorphism presented a better response to training on the BMI z-score, which can suggest a ge- netic influence on the training response.

Οι λιποκίνες αποτελούν πρωτεϊνικά προϊόντα του λιπώδους ιστού με αυτοκρινείς, παρακρινείς και ενδοκρινείς δράσεις που εμπλέκονται στην παθογένεια της καρδιαγγειακής νόσου. Η τοπική παραγωγή λιποκινών, ειδικά από τον περιαγγειακό λιπώδη ιστό, μπορεί να επηρεάσει τη φυσιολογία και την παθολογία των αγγείων. Το ενδοκανναβινοειδές σύστημα σχετίζεται με τη ρύθμιση της ενδοκρινούς λειτουργίας του λιπώδους ιστού, αλλά και με την παθογένεια της αθηροσκλήρωσης. Μελετήσαμε την έκφραση της αντιπονεκτίνης, της βισφατίνης, της λεπτίνης και των νεότερων λιποκινών χεμερίνης και βασπίνης, καθώς και του υποδοχέα ενδοκανναβινοειδών CB1 σε ανθρώπινο περιαορτικό και επικαρδιακό λιπώδη ιστό, καθώς και τη συσχέτισή τους με την αορτική και τη στεφανιαία αθηροσκλήρωση. Εφαρμόστηκε ανοσοϊστοχημική χρώση για τις λιποκίνες και τον CB1 σε δείγματα ανθρώπινου περιαορτικού, περιστεφανιαίου και επικαρδιακού λίπους της κορυφής της καρδιάς. Οι αθηροσκληρωτικές βλάβες στο παρακείμενο αγγειακό τοίχωμα αξιολογήθηκαν με βάση την κατάταξη του AHA. Οι λιποκίνες εκφράστηκαν στον περιαγγειακό και επικαρδιακό λιπώδη ιστό της κορυφής και – με εξαίρεση την αντιπονεκτίνη – στα αγγειακά λεία μυικά κύτταρα και στα αφρώδη κύτταρα των αθηροσκληρωτικών βλαβών. Ο CB1 εκφράστηκε στον περιαορτικό και επικαρδιακό λιπώδη ιστό, καθώς και στα αορτικά και στεφανιαία αγγειακά λεία μυικά κύτταρα. Η αορτική αθηροσκλήρωση συσχετίστηκε θετικά με την έκφραση της χεμερίνης, της βασπίνης, της βισφατίνης και της λεπτίνης στο περιαορτικό λίπος. Η στεφανιαία αθηροσκλήρωση συσχετίστηκε θετικά με την έκφραση της χεμερίνης και της βασπίνης στο περιστεφανιαίο λίπος. Η έκφραση της αντιπονεκτίνης στο λιπώδη ιστό συσχετίστηκε αρνητικά τόσο με την αορτική όσο και με τη στεφανιαία αθηροσκλήρωση. Η έκφραση λιποκινών στον επικαρδιακό λιπώδη ιστό της κορυφής δε συσχετίστηκε με την αθηροσκλήρωση. Επίσης, η έκφραση του CB1 δε συσχετίστηκε με την αορτική ή με τη στεφανιαία αθηροσκλήρωση. Συμπερασματικά, παρατηρήθηκε: α) διαφορετικό προφίλ έκφρασης της αντιπονεκτίνης, βισφατίνης, λεπτίνης, χεμερίνης, βασπίνης και του CB1 στον περιαορτικό, περιστεφανιαίο και επικαρδιακό λιπώδη ιστό της κορυφής, β) συσχέτιση των λιποκινών, αλλά όχι του CB1, με την αορτική ή και με τη στεφανιαία αθηροσκλήρωση, με χαρακτηριστικό τρόπο για κάθε λιποκίνη. Η τοπική παραγωγή λιποκινών ενδεχομένως επηρεάζει ποικιλοτρόπως την αθηροσκληρωτική διαδικασία σε διαφορετικές θέσεις. / Adipokines are protein products of adipose tissue with autocrine, paracrine and endocrine actions, which have been implicated in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease. Locally produced adipokines, especially by periadventitial adipose tissue, may affect vascular physiology and pathology. The endocannabinoid system has also been implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and in adipose tissue endocrine function regulation. We investigated the expression of adiponectin, visfatin, leptin and novel adipokines chemerin and vaspin, as well as CB1 endocannabinoid receptor, in human periaortic and epicardial adipose tissue, as well as their correlation to aortic and coronary atherosclerosis. Standard immunohistochemical staining for the adipokines and CB1 was performed on samples of human periaortic, pericoronary and apical epicardial adipose tissue. Atherosclerotic lesions of the adjacent vascular wall were assessed using the AHA classification. Adipokines were expressed in periadventitial and apical epicardial adipose tissue and - except for adiponectin - in vascular smooth muscle cells and foam cells in atherosclerotic lesions. CB1 was expressed in periaortic and epicardial adipose tissue, as well as in aortic and coronary vascular smooth muscle cells. Aortic atherosclerosis was positively correlated with chemerin, vaspin, visfatin and leptin periaortic fat expression. Coronary atherosclerosis was positively correlated with chemerin and visfatin pericoronary fat expression. Adipose tissue adiponectin expression was negatively correlated to atherosclerosis in both locations. Expression of adipokines in apical epicardial fat was not associated to atherosclerosis. CB1 expression was not correlated with either aortic or coronary atherosclerosis. Our results show: a) a different expression pattern of adiponectin, visfatin, leptin, chemerin, vaspin and CB1 in periaortic, pericoronary and apical epicardial adipose tissue, b) a correlation of these adipokines - but not CB1 - with either aortic or coronary atherosclerosis or both in a pattern characteristic for each adipokine and suggest that locally produced adipokines might differently affect the atherosclerotic process in different locations.

Orientador: Sergio Alberto Rupp de Paiva / Resumo: A doença hepática gordurosa não alcoólica (DHGNA) é um conjunto de desordens caracterizado pela esteatose macrovesicular no consumo de álcool insuficiente para causar lesão hepática. A disfunção do tecido adiposo e a alteração no padrão de citocinas têm de destacado no desenvolvimento da doença, especialmente a adiponectina, visfatina e resistina. Além disso, a vitamina D parece modular a expressão de citocinas, podendo influenciar o desenvolvimento da doença. O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a associação das alterações histológica com a concentração sérica de adiponectina, visfatina, resistina e vitamina D em pacientes com DHGNA. Foram recrutados 82 pacientes com DHGNA. Foi realizada anamnese clinica e nutricional, avaliação antropométrica e de composição corporal, consumo alimentar, biomarcadores da DHGNA, dosagens séricas de adiponectina, visfatina, resistina, 25hidrovitamina D e biópsia hepática em todos os pacientes no intervalo de no máximo 3 meses. Foi observado na amostra 83% dos pacientes do sexo feminino, maioria branco,s 79% sedentários e 96% obesos. Verificamos associação da adiponectina como fator protetor para fibrose (OR:0,88; 95% CI0,78-1; p=0,05) e da visfatina como fator de risco para fibrose perisinusoidal (OR:2,66; 95% CI:1,3-5,44; p=0,007) e fibrose (OR:2,96; 95% CI1,19-7,35; p=0,02). Em relação à VD, observamos a presença de hipovitaminose D em 60% dos pacientes; com influência da concentração sérica de VD na visfatina como fator de proteção par... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a spectrum of disorders characterized by macrovesicular steatosis without enough alcohol to cause liver damage. The adipose tissue dysfunction and the adipokines pattern changes have been emphasized in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease development, especially adiponectin, resistin and visfatin. In addition, vitamin D may modulate the expression of adipokines, therefore influencing the disease development. The aim of the study was to evaluate the association of serum adiponectin, visfatin, resistin and vitamin D with histological changes in NAFLD patients. Thus, 82 NAFLD patients were enrolled. Nutritional and clinical anamneses, diet, physical activity, anthropometric parameters, a set of biomarkers related to NAFLD were evaluated within a range of 3 months. Out of the 82 patients, 83% were female, most of then whites, 79% sedentary and 96% obese. Adiponectin has been associated as a protective factor for fibrosis (OR: 0.88; 95% CI0,78-1; p = 0.05); while visfatin as a risk factor for perisinusoidal fibrosis (OR: 2.66; 95% CI : 1.3 to 5.44; p = 0.007) and fibrosis (OR: 2.96; 95% CI1,19-7,35; p = 0.02). Vitamin D deficiency was observed in 60% of patients. Vitamin D influences visfatin as a protective factor for non-alcoholic steato-hepatitis (NASH) (OR: 0.84; 95% CI: 0.73 to 0.979; p = 0.025) and resistin as a risk factor for lobular inflammation (OR: 1 13, 95% CI: 1-1.28; p = 0.051). Adipokines are associated with NAFLD hepatic... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Κύριος σκοπός τη παρούσης μελέτης ήταν η εκτίμηση της επίδρασης της οξείας και χρόνιας εντατικής άσκησης και του χρόνιου αρνητικού ενεργειακού ισοζυγίου στα επίπεδα αντιπονεκτίνης, ρεζιστίνης και βισφατίνης. Επιπλέον, μελετήθηκε η συσχέτιση των επιπέδων των ανωτέρω λιποκινών με τα επίπεδα κορτιζόλης και ινσουλίνης, καθώς και με τις παραμέτρους έντασης της άσκησης. Ως μοντέλο ενεργειακής και μεταβολικής ομοιοστασίας χρησιμοποιήθηκαν αθλήτριες Ρυθμικής Γυμναστικής (RGs) υψηλού επιπέδου πρωταθλητισμού, Οι RGs υποβάλλονται σε χρόνια έντονη ψυχολογική και σωματική καταπόνηση, ενώ, στην προσπάθεια για επίτευξη και διατήρηση λεπτού σωματότυπου, υιοθετούν αυστηρές διαιτητικές συνήθειες και χρόνιο αρνητικό ενεργειακό ισοζύγιο. Υλικό και Μέθοδοι Η αδυναμία συλλογής δειγμάτων αίματος από αθλητές κορυφαίου επιπέδου πρωταθλητισμού επέβαλε τη συλλογή και επεξεργασία σιέλου για την πραγματοποίηση των ορμονικών προσδιορισμών. Ως εκ τούτου, προτού ξεκινήσει η υλοποίηση του πρωτοκόλλου της μελέτης (διαμόρφωση πληθυσμού και συλλογή δειγμάτων), σχεδιάστηκε και εκπονήθηκε μια μελέτη με σκοπό την ανίχνευση και τη μέτρηση των συγκεντρώσεών των λιποκινών αντιπονεκτίνη, βισφατίνη και ρεζιστίνη στο σίελο και τη συσχέτιση των συγκεντρώσεων τους στο σίελο με τις αντίστοιχες συγκεντρώσεις στο αίμα. Προσδιορισμός των συγκεντρώσεων λιποκινών στο σίελο Τα επίπεδα των λιποκινών αντιπονεκτίνη, ρεζιστίνη και βισφατίνη προσδιορίσθηκαν στο σάλιο και τον ορρό 50 υγιών άτομα (33 γυναίκες και 17 άνδρες), με ταυτόχρονη μέτρηση των ανθρωπομετρικών χαρακτηριστικών (ύψος και βάρος σώματος, υπολογισμός ΒΜΙ, ποσοστό λιπώδους μάζας) . Η επίδραση της άσκησης και του αρνητικού ενεργειακού ισοζυγίου στην ορμονική ομοιοστασία του λιπώδους ιστού Στη μελέτη συμπεριελήφθησαν 51 RGs υψηλού επιπέδου από 8 Ευρωπαϊκές χώρες, οι οποίες συμμετείχαν στη διοργάνωση «Κύπελλο Καλαμάτας 2010» τον Απρίλιο του 2010 στην Καλαμάτα. Επίσης, η μελέτη συμπεριέλαβε 27 υγιείς γυναίκες, μη αθλήτριες και χωρίς σημαντική διαφορά ως προς την ηλικία σε σύγκριση με τον πληθυσμό των αθλητριών (matched for age) ως πληθυσμό ελέγχου (μάρτυρες). Το πρωτόκολλο της μελέτης περιελάμβανε μη επεμβατικές κλινικές και εργαστηριακές εξετάσεις, καθώς και τη συμπλήρωση ενός ερωτηματολογίου. Ειδικότερα, προσδιορίσθηκαν τα ανθρωπομετρικά χαρακτηριστικά αθλητριών και πληθυσμού ελέγχου, οι αθλήτριες συμπλήρωσαν ένα ερωτηματολόγιο που αφορούσε σε στοιχεία γυναικολογικού και αθλητικού ιστορικού, ενώ συλλέχθηκαν δείγματα σιέλου από τις αθλήτριες και τις μάρτυρες. Οι ορμονικοί προσδιορισμοί στο σίελο αφορούσαν σε μετρήσεις επιπέδων ρεζιστίνης, βισφατίνης, αντιπονεκτίνης, κορτιζόλης και ινσουλίνης σε κατάσταση ηρεμίας και μετά από άσκηση. Αποτελέσματα Προσδιορισμός των συγκεντρώσεων λιποκινών στο σίελο Οι λιποκίνες ρεζιστίνη και αντιπονεκτίνη ανιχνεύονται στο σίελο του ανθρώπου και τα επίπεδά τους συσχετίζονται με τα αντίστοιχα επίπεδα στον ορρό (r=0.441, p=0.003 και r=0.347, p=0.019 αντίστοιχα). Αντίθετα, η λιποκίνη βισφατίνη ανιχνεύεται στο σίελο του ανθρώπου, όμως τα επίπεδά της δε συσχετίζονται με τα αντίστοιχα επίπεδα στον ορρό (r=-0.128, p=0.4431). Η επίδραση της άσκησης και του αρνητικού ενεργειακού ισοζυγίου στην ορμονική ομοιοστασία του λιπώδους ιστού Παρατηρήθηκαν μειωμένα επίπεδα αντιπονεκτίνης (p<0.001) και αυξημένα επίπεδα βισφατίνης (p<0.05) στο σάλιο RGs, ενώ δεν παρατηρήθηκαν διαφορές στα επίπεδα ινσουλίνης, κορτιζόλης και ρεζιστίνης στο σάλιο μεταξύ αθλητριών και πληθυσμού ελέγχου. Στις RGs κορυφαίου επιπέδου η επίδραση της μικρής διάρκειας, έντονης αναερόβιας άσκησης του επίσημου αγώνα οδήγησε σε αύξηση των επιπέδων ινσουλίνης (p<0.001), μείωση των επιπέδων αντιπονεκτίνης και βισφατίνης (p<0.001και p<0.05 αντίστοιχα) και καμιά μεταβολή στα επίπεδα κορτιζόλης και ρεζιστίνης στο σάλιο. Επίσης, καταγράφηκε απουσία διημερήσιας διακύμανσης της κορτιζόλης. Τέλος, τα επίπεδα αντιπονεκτίνης ηρεμίας παρουσίασαν σημαντική συσχέτιση με τις παραμέτρους έντασης της άσκησης. Συμπεράσματα Προσδιορισμός των συγκεντρώσεων λιποκινών στο σίελο Οι λιποκίνες ρεζιστίνη, αντιπονεκτίνη και βισφατίνη ανιχνεύονται στο σίελο του ανθρώπου. Όμως, τα ορμονικά επίπεδα στο σίελο συσχετίζονται με τα αντίστοιχα επίπεδα στον ορρό μόνο για τη ρεζιστίνη και την αντιπονεκτίνη. Η επίδραση της άσκησης και του αρνητικού ενεργειακού ισοζυγίου στην ορμονική ομοιοστασία του λιπώδους ιστού Σε RGs κορυφαίου επιπέδου η χρόνια εντατική άσκηση και το χρόνιο αρνητικό ενεργειακό ισοζύγιο αυξάνουν τα επίπεδα αντιπονεκτίνης και μειώνουν τα επίπεδα βισφατίνης στο σάλιο, ενώ η μικρής διάρκειας, έντονη αναερόβια άσκηση καταστέλλει τα επίπεδα τόσο της αντιπονεκτίνης, όσο και της βισφατίνης στο σάλιο. Επιπλέον, τα επίπεδα αντιπονεκτίνης στο σίελο συσχετίζονται με τη συνήθη ένταση της άσκησης, αντανακλώντας, μάλλον, την επιδείνωση του ενεργειακού ισοζυγίου παρά την κλιμάκωση της έντασης της άσκησης καθαυτής, υποδεικνύοντας έναν πιθανός ρόλο των συγκεντρώσεων αντιπονεκτίνης στο σάλιο στην εκτίμηση της επιδείνωσης του ενεργειακού ισοζυγίου, με ενδεχόμενη χρησιμότητα στην κλινική έρευνα και την ιατρική της άσκησης. / Exercise represents a physical stress challenging homeostasis, disturbing the energy balance and leading to adaptive changes in central and peripheral regulatory mechanisms. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of negative energy balance, acute and chronic exercise on adiponectin, resistin and visfatin levels, their interaction with salivary cortisol and insulin levels and the relationship of the specific adipokines with training frequency and intensity. Elite Rhythmic Gymnasts (RGs) were used as a model of energy homeostasis and metabolism. Elite RGs begin exercise at an early age, undergo physical and psychological stress and adopt negative energy balance to retain a lean physique. The main problem in studying hormonal responses in elite athletes on the field of competition lies on the difficulty in obtaining blood samples. The determination of salivary hormone levels provides a convenient, non-invasive and stress-free alternative to blood analysis. As part of the study design, we invested interest in introducing the methodology for detecting and measuring adipokine levels in saliva and evaluating their association with relative serum levels. Materials and Methods Detection and measurement of adipokine levels in human saliva Resistin, visfatin and adiponectin levels were measured in serum and saliva of 50 healthy adult volunteers (17 male and 33 female) using commercial enzyme immunoassay kits for plasma with minor modifications. The influence of acute and chronic intensive physical training and negative energy balance on salivary adipokine levels in elite RGs The study included 51(fifty one) elite female athletes of RG from 8 European countries, participating in the top level tournament of “Kalamata 2010 Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup” in Kalamata, Greece on April 2010. 24 (twenty four) healthy pubertal girls not engaged in strenuous sports activities were used as controls. The study protocol included noninvasive clinical and laboratory investigations as well as the completion of a questionnaire. The athletes completed a questionnaire including personal data (age of training onset, usual weekly training intensity and number of participations in international championships per year). Baseline and post exercise salivary cortisol, insulin, adiponectin, resistin and visfatin levels were measured. Results Detection and measurement of adipokine levels in human saliva The present study documented the determination of resistin and adiponectin levels in saliva and the significant correlation of salivary with their respective serum levels (r=0.441, p<0.01 and r=0.347, p<0.05, respectively). Moreover, the identification of visfatin in saliva was achieved, but no significant correlation with serum visfatin levels was observed. The influence of acute and chronic intensive physical training and negative energy balance on salivary adipokine levels in elite RGs At baseline, a significant inverse correlation was documented between salivary insulin and adiponectin levels (r=-0.316, p<0.05), after controlling for the effect of age and BMI. Salivary adiponectin levels were higher (p<0.001) and visfatin lower (p<0.05) in RG’s compared with controls, while no significant changes were observed regarding salivary cortisol, insulin and resistin levels. In elite RG’s short term intensive anaerobic exercise led to increased salivary insulin levels (p<0.001), reduced salivary adiponectin (p<0.001) and visfatin levels (p<0.05) and no changes in salivary resistin levels. Moreover, diurnal variation of salivary cortisol was lost. In addition, salivary adiponectin levels are associated with the intensity of training. Conclusions Detection and measurement of adipokine levels in human saliva The adipokines resistin, visfatin and adiponectin can be detected in human saliva. However, significant correlation between salivary and their relative serum levels are documented only for resistin and visfatin, but not for visfatin. The influence of acute and chronic intensive physical training and negative energy balance on salivary adipokine levels in elite RGs. Chronic intensive physical training and negative energy balance up-regulate salivary adiponectin and down-regulate salivary visfatin levels, while acute glucoregulatory response to short term intensive anaerobic exercise down-regulates salivary adiponectin and visfatin levels. Moreover, salivary adiponectin levels are associated with the intensity of training, reflecting the deterioration of energy balance rather than the training stress. Thus, salivary adiponectin could be introduced as a possible marker of significant energy deprivation, with potential usefulness in clinical and sports medicine.

The idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) are a heterogeneous group of chronic muscle diseases with frequent extramuscular organ involvement that contributes to serious prognosis. The presence of autoantibodies and composition of muscle infiltrates both support autoimmune nature of the disease and pathogenic role of B lymphocytes. Besides the traditional diagnostic subgroups, autoantibody characterised phenotype subsets have been identified with presumed similar pathogenic mechanisms. The best known is the antisynthetase syndrome which is characterised by presence of myositis, antisynthetase autoantibodies (with anti-Jo-1 being the most frequent), interstitial lung disease and other extramuscular manifestations. BAFF (B cell-Activating Factor of the TNF Family) is a key factor in B cell homeostasis modulation. In high levels, it allows survival of autoreactive B cell clones and thus participates in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. Its expression is induced by type I interferons (IFN-1). The aim of the PhD thesis was to explore the role of BAFF in pathogenesis of IIMs by analysis of its serum levels, the receptors for BAFF in muscle tissue, their associations to IFN-1 and expression of BAFF gene mRNA transcription variants in peripheral blood cells. Further aspect was to study a possible...

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Alzheimer's disease (AD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are aging-associated diseases that have rising prevalence in all industrialized countries. AD is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive loss of cognitive functions. It is a complex disease which formation involves both genetic factors and environmental factors. The most important marker associated with this disease is the risk allele ε4 in APOE gene. From the latest genome-wide association study emerged another ten candidate genes. As the most significant from those genes appears the minority G allele of rs744373 polymorphism in the gene BIN1. AD is connected with many metabolic and immune disorders. To the markers of interest belongs also the new parameter visfatin which can act as a pro-inflammatory cytokine. T2DM is a chronic disease characterized by raised levels of blood glucose, which is also characterized by neurological disorders. In the case of both of these diseases can be found a large number of metabolic disorders. One of the most important disorders is insulin resistance. This thesis consists of two parts - the biochemical and genetic one. The biochemical part of the thesis studies the visfatin level in patients with AD and healthly control and studies whether visfatin is related to AD. In this part of the...

A obesidade é causada pelo desequilíbrio entre a ingestão alimentar e o gasto energético corporal, com o armazenamento de energia na forma de gordura, no tecido adiposo. A obesidade causa alterações metabólicas, como resistência à insulina e dislipidemia, além de aumento de adipocinas e citocinas pró-inflamatórias. Este trabalho investigou a influência de polimorfismos nos genes da perilipina 1 (PLINl), visfatina (NAMPT) , resistina (RETN) e grelina (GHRL) na adiposidade e no perfil metabólico e inflamatório, antes e após um programa de orientação nutricional. Foram selecionados indivíduos obesos (OB, n=214), sobrepeso (SOB, n=71) e não obesos (NOB, n=69), com idade de 30 a 70 anos. Foram obtidos dados clínicos, antropométricos e de composição corporal. O recordatório de 24h foi aplicado a 87 indivíduos obesos para avaliação de consumo alimentar, antes e após o programa de orientação nutricional. Foi obtido sangue para extração de DNA e para analisar parâmetros laboratoriais (perfil lipídico e glicêmico, marcadores inflamatórios e adipocinas). Polimorfismos dos genes PLINl, NAMPT, RETN e GHRL foram analisados por PCR em tempo real. O grupo OB teve perfil antropométrico alterado e risco aumentado de hipertensão, diabetes tipo 2 e dislipidemia em comparação com os grupos SOB e NOB (p<0,05). As concentrações de glicose, colesterol total, LDL colesterol, VLDL colesterol, triglicérides, apolipoproteína B (ApoB), interleucina 1&#946; (IL-l &#946;) e fator de necrose tumoral alfa (TNF&#945;) foram maiores e as concentrações de HDL colesterol e apolipoproteina AI (apoAI) foram menores, no grupo OB que nos outros grupos (p<0,05). As frequências dos polimorfismos genéticos do grupo total foram similares as de outras populações. Os polimorfismos NAMPT rs1319501 C>T e rs10763861 C>T foram associados com obesidade (p<0,05). Os polimorfismos genéticos não influenciaram o perfil antropométrico do grupo total (p>0,05), mas no grupo de obesos, o polimorfismo GHRL rs4684677 T>A foi relacionado com maior porcentagem de gordura corporal (p=0,043). Após a orientação nutricional, observou-se diminuição da ingestão de calorias e do consumo de carboidratos, gorduras totais, sódio, magnésio e betacaroteno (p<0,05). Os polimorfismos genéticos não influenciaram o perfil antropométrico e o consumo alimentar de obesos, após a orientação nutricional. Em conclusão, polimorfismos dos genes NAMPT e GHRL contribuem para a adiposidade, mas não influenciam o comportamento alimentar e o perfil antropométrico, após orientação nutricional. / Obesity is caused by the imbalance between food intake and body energy expenditure, with the storage of energy in the form of fat, in adipose tissue. Obesity causes metabolic changes, such as insulin resistance and dyslipidemia, and an increase in adipokines and pro-inflammatory cytokines. This work investigated the influence of polymorphisms in the perilipine 1 (PLINI) , visfatin (NAMPT) , resistin (RETN) and ghrelin (GHRL) genes on adiposity and metabolic and inflammatory profile, before and after a nutritional orientation programo Obese (OB, n=214), overweight (SOB, n=71) and nonobese subjects (NOB, n=69), aged 30 to 70 years, were selected. ClinicaI, anthropometric and body composition data were obtained. The 24-hour dietary recall was applied to 87 obese subjects to eva1uate food intake before and after the nutritiona1 orientation programo Blood was obtained for DNA extraction and to analyze 1aboratory parameters (lipid and glycemic profile, inflammatory markers and adipokines). Po1ymorphisms of the PLINI, NAMPT, RETN and GHRL genes were analyzed by real-time PCR. The OB group had altered anthropometric profile and increased risk for hypertension, type 2 diabetes and dyslipidemia in comparison with SOB and NOB groups (p <0.05). Concentrations of glucose, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, VLDL cholesterol, triglycerides, apolipoprotein B (ApoB), interleukin 1&#946; (IL-1&#946;) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF&#945;) were higher and the concentrations ofHDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein AI (apoAI) were lower in the OB than in the other groups (p <0.05). The frequencies of the genetic polymorphisms of the total group were similar to those of other populations. NAMPT rs1319501 C> T and rs10763861 C> T polymorphisms were associated with obesity (p <0.05). Genetic polymorphisms did not influence the anthropometric profile ofthe total group (p> 0.05), but in the obese group, the GHRL rs4684677 T> A polymorphism was related to a higher body fat percentage (p = 0.043). After nutritional orientation, a decrease in calorie intake and in the consumption of carbohydrates, total fats, sodium, magnesium and beta-carotene CP <0.05) were observed. Genetic polymorphisms did not influence the anthropometric profile and the dietary intake of obese individuaIs after nutritional orientation. In conclusion, NAMPT and GHRL gene polymorphisms contribute to adiposity but do not influence dietary behavior and anthropometric profile after nutritional orientation.