Context/Objective: Not much is known about the implication of adipokines and different cytokines in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and macrosomia. The purpose of this study was to assess the profile of these hormones and cytokines in macrosomic babies, born to gestational diabetic women. Design/Subjects: A total of 59 women (age, 19–42 yr) suffering from GDM with their macrosomic babies (4.35 ± 0.06 kg) and 60 healthy age-matched pregnant women and their newborns (3.22 ± 0.08 kg) were selected. Methods: Serum adipokines (adiponectin and leptin) were quantified using an obesity-related multiple ELISA microarray kit. The concentrations of serum cytokines were determined by ELISA. Results: Serum adiponectin levels were decreased, whereas the concentrations of leptin, inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-6 and TNF-α, were significantly increased in gestational diabetic mothers compared with control women. The levels of these adipocytokines were diminished in macrosomic babies in comparison with their age-matched control newborns. Serum concentrations of T helper type 1 (Th1) cytokines (IL-2 and interferon-γ) were decreased, whereas IL-10 levels were significantly enhanced in gestational diabetic mothers compared with control women. Macrosomic children exhibited high levels of Th1 cytokines and low levels of IL-10 compared with control infants. Serum IL-4 levels were not altered between gestational diabetic mothers and control mothers or the macrosomic babies and newborn control babies. Conclusions: GDM is linked to the down-regulation of adiponectin along with Th1 cytokines and up-regulation of leptin and inflammatory cytokines. Macrosomia was associated with the up-regulation of Th1 cytokines and the down-regulation of the obesity-related agents (IL-6 and TNF-α, leptin, and adiponectin).

Nutrition transition can be defined as shifts in food habits, and it is characterized by high-fat (chiefly saturated animal fat), hypercaloric and salty food consumption at the expense of dietary fibers, minerals and vitamins. Western dietary patterns serve as a model for studying the impact of nutrition transition on civilization diseases, such as obesity, which is commonly associated with oxidative stress and inflammation. In fact, reactive oxygen species (ROS) overproduction can be associated with nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB)-mediated inflammation in obesity. NF-κB regulates gene expression of several oxidant-responsive adipokines including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Moreover, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which plays a pivotal role in energy homeostasis and in modulation of metabolic inflammation, can be downregulated by IκB kinase (IKK)-dependent TNF-α activation. On the other hand, adherence to a Mediterranean-style diet is highly encouraged because of its healthy dietary pattern, which includes antioxidant nutraceuticals such as polyphenols. Indeed, hydroxycinnamic derivatives, quercetin, resveratrol, oleuropein and hydroxytyrosol, which are well known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, exert anti-obesity proprieties. In this review, we highlight the impact of the most common polyphenols from Mediterranean foods on molecular mechanisms that mediate obesity-related oxidative stress and inflammation. Hence, we discuss the effects of these polyphenols on a number of signaling pathways. We note that Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) dietary polyphenols can de-regulate nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase (NOX) and NF-κB-mediated oxidative stress, and metabolic inflammation. MedDiet polyphenols are also effective in upregulating downstream effectors of several proteins, chiefly AMPK.

The sense of taste informs the body about the quality of ingested foods. Tastant‐mediated signals are generated by a rise in free intracellular calcium levels ([Ca ²⁺ ]i) in the taste bud cells and then are transferred to the gustatory area of brain via connections between the gustatory nerves (chorda tym‐ pani and glossopharyngeal nerves) and the nucleus of solitary tract in the brain stem. We have recently shown that lingual CD36 contributes to fat preference and early digestive secretions in the mouse. We show here that 1 ) the induction of an increase in [Ca ²⁺ ]i by linoleic acid is CD36‐dependent in taste receptor cells, 2) the spontaneous preference for or conversely con ditioned aversion to linoleic acid requires intact gusta tory nerves, and 3) the activation of gustatory neurons in the nucleus of the solitary tract elicited by a linoleic acid deposition on the tongue in wild‐type mice cannot be reproduced in CD36‐null animals. We conclude that the CD36‐mediated perception of long‐chain fatty acids involves the gustatory pathway, suggesting that the mouse may have a “taste“ for fatty foods. This system would constitute a potential physiological advantage under conditions of food scarcity by leading the mouse to select and absorb fatty foods. However, it might also lead to a risk of obesity and associated diseases in a context of constantly abundant food.—Gaillard, D., Laugerette, F., Darcel, N., El‐Yassimi, A., Passilly‐De grace, P., Hichami, A., Khan, N. A., Montmayeur, J.‐P., Besnard, P. The gustatory pathway is involved in CD36‐ mediated orosensory perception of long‐chain fatty acids in the mouse. FASEB J . 22, 1458–1468 (2008)

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes eliminate infected cells upon surface display of antigenic peptides on major histocompatibility complex I molecules. To promote immune evasion, UL49.5 of several varicelloviruses interferes with the pathway of major histocompatibility complex I antigen processing. However, the inhibition mechanism has not been elucidated yet. Within the macromolecular peptide-loading complex we identified the transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP1 and TAP2) as the prime target of UL49.5. Moreover, we determined the active oligomeric state and crucial elements of the viral factor. Remarkably, the last two residues of the cytosolic tail of UL49.5 are essential for endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-associated proteasomal degradation of TAP. However, this process strictly requires additional signaling of an upstream regulatory element in the ER lumenal domain of UL49.5. Within this new immune evasion mechanism, we show for the first time that additive elements of a small viral factor and their signaling across the ER membrane are essential for targeted degradation of a multi-subunit membrane complex.