In this study we investigated the effects of ageing on the carbonyl stress (protein carbonyls and 4‐hydroxy‐2‐nonenal groups) and glutathione antioxidant defense in red blood cells (RBCs) of obese Type 2 diabetic patients with/without hypertensive complications. To this purpose the following methods were used: spectrophotometry (protein carbonyls, glutathione and glutathione peroxidase assays), immunofluorescence (4‐hydroxy‐2‐nonenal localization), western blotting (immunodetection of carbonylated proteins). The results showed that compared to RBCs of healthy subjects, in obese Type 2 diabetics, ageing is associated with: (i) an increase in the concentration and expression of carbonylated proteins, a marker of oxidative stress; (ii) a decrease of both non‐enzymatic and enzymatic endogenous glutathione defenses; (iii) a severely disturbed oxidant/antioxidant balance when obesity was associated with hypertension. The simultaneous insults of high blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes conducted to the highest carbonyl strss, exposure of 4‐hydroxy‐2‐nonenal Michel adducts at the outer leaflet of RBCs plasmalemma, and the lowest glutathione antioxidant potential, particularly in elderly patients. These results can explain the gradual age‐dependent diminishment of the detoxification potenital of RBCs that at the old age can not overcome the deleterious effects of the high systemic oxidative stress.

Adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSCs) are pluripotent mesenchymal stem cells found in relatively high percentages in the adipose tissue and able to self-renew and differentiate into many different types of cells. “Extracellular vesicles (EVs), small membrane vesicular structures released during cell activation, senescence, or apoptosis, act as mediators for long distance communication between cells, transferring their specific bioactive molecules into host target cells”. There is a general consensus on how to define and isolate ADSCs, however, multiple separation and characterization protocols are being used in the present which complicate the results’ integration in a single theory on ADSCs’ and their derived factors’ way of action. Metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are mainly caused by abnormal adipose tissue size, distribution and metabolism and so ADSCs and their secretory factors such as EVs are currently investigated as therapeutics in these diseases. Moreover, due to their relatively easy isolation and propagation in culture and their differentiation ability, ADSCs are being employed in preclinical studies of implantable devices or prosthetics. This review aims to provide a comprehensive summary of the current knowledge on EVs secreted from ADSCs both as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutics in diabetes and associated cardiovascular disease, the molecular mechanisms involved, as well as on the use of ADSC differentiation potential in cardiovascular tissue repair and prostheses.

The purpose was to evaluate the effect of platelets on functional properties of late endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), in the direct co-culture conditions, and to investigate the involved mediators, in experimental induced atherosclerosis. The late EPCs obtained from two animal groups, hypertensive-hyperlipidemic (HH) and control (C) hamsters, named late EPCs-HH and late EPCs-C, were co-incubated with or without platelets isolated from both groups. Our results have showed that exposure to platelets from control animals: (i) promoted the late EPCs-C capacity to form colonies and capillary-like structures, and also to proliferate and migrate; (ii) improved the functional properties of late EPCs-HH; (iii) strengthened the direct binding EPCs-platelets; (iv) increased SDF-1α,VEGF, PDGF, and reduced CD40L, IL-1β,-6,-8 levels; and (v) enhanced miR-223 and IGF-1R expressions. Platelets from HH group diminished functional abilities for both EPC types and had opposite effects on these pro-angiogenic and pro-inflammatory molecules. Furthermore, testing the direct effect of miR-223 and IGF-1R on late EPCs disclosed that these molecular factors improve late EPC functional properties in atherosclerosis in terms of stimulation of the proliferation and migration abilities. In conclusion, in vitro exposure to platelets of healthy origins had a positive effect on functional properties of atherosclerotic late EPCs. The most likely candidates mediating EPC-platelet interaction can be SDF-1α, VEGF, CD40L, PDGF, IL-1β,-6,-8, miR-223, and IGF-1R. The current study brings evidences that the presence of healthy origin platelets is of utmost importance on functional improvement of EPCs in atherosclerosis.

Geography is one of the key drivers of the significant variation in the etiopathogenic profile and prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obesity, therefore geographically based data are fundamental for implementing the appropriate interventions. Presently, the selection criteria of T2DM and obesity patients for laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) have not reached a worldwide consensus—highlighting the need for sharing experts’ guidance in the preoperative evaluation, choice of the interventional procedure, perioperative management and patient long-term care. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the impact of LSG on T2DM (T2DM) remission in Romanian obese male patients, based on a multiparametric, prospective investigation. We have conducted a randomized controlled study on 41 obese male participants with the body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m², aged 30–65 years, which were randomly divided in two study groups: one receiving conventional treatment and the second undergoing LSG. The clinical and anthropometrical parameters, resting metabolic rate, general biochemical status, adipocytes profile, gastrointestinal hormones levels, proinflammatory, oxidant and antioxidant profiles were determined at three time points: V1 (baseline), V2 (after six months) and V3 (after 12 months). Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), blood glucose levels, BMI, weight, visceral fat level, HDL-cholesterol, incretin hormones, proinflammatory and the oxidative stress status were significantly improved in the LSG versus conventional treatment group. This is the first study reporting on the evaluation of metabolic surgery impact on Romanian obese male patients with T2DM. Our results confirm that LSG could contribute to T2DM remission in patients with diabesity, but this beneficial effect seems to be critically influenced by the duration of T2DM rather than by the obesity status. Our results show that, in addition to the parameters included in the prediction algorithm, the proinsulin levels, proinsulin/insulin ratio and the visceral fat percentage could bring added value to the assessment of metabolic status.