Probing erythrocytes as sensitive and reliable sensors of metabolic disturbances in the crosstalk between childhood obesity and insulin resistance: findings from an observational study, in vivo challenge tests, and ex vivo incubation assays
Authors' conclusion
Thus, we have demonstrated for the first time that metabolite alterations in erythrocytes represent reliable and sensitive biomarkers to disentangle the metabolic complexity of IR and childhood obesity. This study emphasizes the crucial need of addressing inter-individual variability factors, such as the presence of comorbidities, to obtain a more accurate understanding of obesity-related molecular mechanisms.
Study context
- Population
- Children with obesity with or without insulin resistance (IR), and healthy controls; plasma and erythrocyte samples for metabolomics
- Exposure
- Children with obesity and IR vs children with obesity without IR vs healthy controls
- Outcome
- Plasma and erythrocyte metabolome
Methodological detailsmetabolomics analysis, OGTT challenge, ex vivo erythrocyte incubation with insulin
- Metabolomics analysis
- OGTT challenge
- Ex vivo erythrocyte incubation with insulin
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- Children with concomitant IR showed exacerbated metabolic disturbances: energy homeostasis, amino acid metabolism, oxidative stress, steroid hormone and bile acid synthesis, membrane lipid composition, and exposome-related metabolites (diet, endocrine disruptors, gut microbiota)
- Challenge tests and ex vivo assays: IR impaired metabolic flexibility, with blunted capacity to regulate homeostasis in response to hyperinsulinemia at systemic and erythroid levels
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Original publication
Probing erythrocytes as sensitive and reliable sensors of metabolic disturbances in the crosstalk between childhood obesity and insulin resistance: findings from an observational study, in vivo challenge tests, and ex vivo incubation assays. Cardiovasc Diabetol. Published 11 September 2024. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →