RUBEN DIAZ RUA

Dr. RUBEN DIAZ RUA


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

7Years (2020-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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21 September 2020 in Antioxidants
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
ZAZaida Abad-Jiménez
Zaida Abad-Jiménez
Sandra López-DomènechSandra López-Domènech
Sandra López-Domènech
RRRUBEN DIAZ RUA
RUBEN DIAZ RUA
FIFrancesca Iannantuoni
Francesca Iannantuoni
SGSegundo Ángel Gómez-Abril
Segundo Ángel Gómez-Abril
Milagros RochaMilagros Rocha
Milagros Rocha
Obesity is a low-grade inflammatory condition affecting a range of individuals, from metabolically healthy obese (MHO) subjects to type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients. Metformin has been shown to display anti-inflammatory properties, though the underlying molecular mechanisms are unclear. To study whether the effects of metformin are mediated by changes in the inflammasome complex and autophagy in visceral adipose tissue (VAT) of obese patients, a biopsy of VAT was obtained from a total of 68 obese patients undergoing gastric bypass surgery. The patients were clustered into two groups: MHO patients and T2D patients treated with metformin. Patients treated with metformin showed decreased levels of all analyzed serum pro-inflammatory markers (TNFα, IL6, IL1β and MCP1) and a downwards trend in IL18 levels associated with a lower production of oxidative stress markers in leukocytes (mitochondrial ROS and myeloperoxidase (MPO)). A reduction in protein levels of MCP1, NFκB, NLRP3, ASC, ATG5, Beclin1 and CHOP and an increase in p62 were also observed in the VAT of the diabetic group. This downregulation of both the NLRP3 inflammasome and autophagy in VAT may be associated with the improved inflammatory profile and leukocyte homeostasis seen in obese T2D patients treated with metformin with respect to MHO subjects and endorses the cardiometabolic protective effect of this drug.