Nov 2006
IRIG: Botanicals and Adipogenesis
11/28/2006 08:36
Botanical products are widely used in folk medicines
in the treatment of metabolic or endocrine
diseases. The National Center for Complementary and
Alternative Medicines (NCCAM/NIH) are
supporting research in botanicals.
Now, single botanical compound with known
chemical structure are attracting more attention in
the basic research of metabolic
syndrom. In this regard, we
highlighted a "Nature" paper about
Resveratrol (in variety of fruits, such as grape
skin) in insulin sensitization and longevity in the
last IRIG post. Here, two more examples published in
"Cell Metabolism" are included.
The first is Genipin that was reported to inhibit UCP-2 (uncoupling protein 2) in beta-cells, and protect beta-cell function in type 2 diabetes. The second is Chloroquine, a medicine for treatment of malaria. Chloroquine is reported to activate ATM (Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated) kinase and reduce risk of cardivescular diseases in apoE-/- deficient mice (recommended by Dr. Frank Greenway at PBRC). Both Genipin and Chloroquine are single compounds from the Chinese Herbal Medicines. See attached PDF files.
Mechanisms of adipogenesis is of interest in basic research of obesity. In the current issue of "Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology", there is a review about adipogenesis, which should include new insights in the molecular network controlling adipogenesis. See attached PDF file (provided by Dr. Feng Liu at UTHSC, San Antonio).
by Jianping
—----------------------------------
Jianping Ye, MD
Professor of Molecular Biology
Pennington Biomedical Research Center
Louisiana State University System
6400 Perkins Road
Baton Rouge, LA 70808
Phone: (225) 763-3163
Fax: (225) 763-2525
The first is Genipin that was reported to inhibit UCP-2 (uncoupling protein 2) in beta-cells, and protect beta-cell function in type 2 diabetes. The second is Chloroquine, a medicine for treatment of malaria. Chloroquine is reported to activate ATM (Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated) kinase and reduce risk of cardivescular diseases in apoE-/- deficient mice (recommended by Dr. Frank Greenway at PBRC). Both Genipin and Chloroquine are single compounds from the Chinese Herbal Medicines. See attached PDF files.
Mechanisms of adipogenesis is of interest in basic research of obesity. In the current issue of "Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology", there is a review about adipogenesis, which should include new insights in the molecular network controlling adipogenesis. See attached PDF file (provided by Dr. Feng Liu at UTHSC, San Antonio).
by Jianping
—----------------------------------
Jianping Ye, MD
Professor of Molecular Biology
Pennington Biomedical Research Center
Louisiana State University System
6400 Perkins Road
Baton Rouge, LA 70808
Phone: (225) 763-3163
Fax: (225) 763-2525
|
IRIG: Longevity and Immunity in "Nature"
11/02/2006 21:09
SIRT1 is a longevity protein whose activity is
positively associated with longevity. The chemical
nature of SIRT1 is histone deacetylase. In yeast,
SIRT1 is called Sir2. The function of SIRT1/Sir2 is
increased by caloric restriction. In the
nucleus, SIRT1 regulates gene transcription
through modification of chromatin
structure. SIRT1 in known to regulate
the transcriptional activities of
several nuclear factors including p53, NF-kB,
PPARg, and PGC-1. It was speculated that a
chemical activator of SIRT1 should be able to extend
life span in mammalians. Resveratrol, an extract from
botanicals especially skin of grapes, is one of
the chemical activators of SIRT1. Resveratrol has
been well known for its anti-cancer activities.
In Nature online, it is reported that
resveratrol is able to extend the life span of obese
mice, and the mechanism is associated with insulin
sensitization by resverarol.
See attached PDF
file.
The endocrine function of adipose tissues is well known in obesity field. Leptin and adiponectin are two unique cytokines in the adipose tissue. Many other adipokines (such as TNF-a, IL-6, and MCP1) are also produced by immune cells. A possible interaction between adipose tissue and immune system has been in speculation for some times. However, there is not many good review articles to address the interaction in detail. In the current "Nature Reviews Immunology", such a review is available now. See attached PDF file.
By Jianping at PBRC
—---------------------------------
Jianping Ye, MD
Professor of Molecular Biology
Pennington Biomedical Research Center
Louisiana State University System
6400 Perkins Road
Baton Rouge, LA 70808
Phone: (225) 763-3163
Fax: (225) 763-2525
E-mail: yej@pbrc.edu
The endocrine function of adipose tissues is well known in obesity field. Leptin and adiponectin are two unique cytokines in the adipose tissue. Many other adipokines (such as TNF-a, IL-6, and MCP1) are also produced by immune cells. A possible interaction between adipose tissue and immune system has been in speculation for some times. However, there is not many good review articles to address the interaction in detail. In the current "Nature Reviews Immunology", such a review is available now. See attached PDF file.
By Jianping at PBRC
—---------------------------------
Jianping Ye, MD
Professor of Molecular Biology
Pennington Biomedical Research Center
Louisiana State University System
6400 Perkins Road
Baton Rouge, LA 70808
Phone: (225) 763-3163
Fax: (225) 763-2525
E-mail: yej@pbrc.edu