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Macrophage infiltration into adipose tissue (AT) is a hallmark of the chronic inflammatory response in obesity and is supported by an intense monocyte migration towards AT. Although it has been detected an increased proportion of circulating CD16+ monocyte subsets in obese subjects, the mechanisms underlying this effect and the contribution of these cells to the inflamed profile of obese AT are still poorly understood. We investigated whether factors secreted by human obese omental AT could polarize monocytes to CD16+ enriched phenotype, and how these changes could modify their migratory capacity towards adipose tissue itself. We show that explants of human obese omental AT, obtained during bariatric surgery, released higher levels of MIP1-α, TNFα, leptin and also VEGF, together with increasing amounts of microparticles (MP), when compared to explants of lean subcutaneous AT. A higher content of circulating MP derived from preadipocytes and leukocytes was also detected in plasma of obese subjects. Conditioned media or MP released from obese omental AT increased CD16 and CCR5 expression on CD14+CD16- monocytes and augmented their migratory capacity towards the conditioned media from obese omental AT, itself. This effect was inhibited when MIP1-α was neutralized. Additionally, we demonstrate that MP derived from obese omental AT carry and transfer TLR8 to monocytes, thus triggering an increase in CD16 expression in those cells. Our data shows a positive feedback loop between blood monocytes and obese omental AT, which releases chemotactic mediators and TLR8-enriched MP, thus inducing an up-regulation of CD16+ monocytes, favoring leukocyte infiltration in the obese omental AT.

The effects of angiotensin II (Ang II) on vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) are modulated by reactive oxygen species (ROS) and also involve integrin engagement. However, the potential link between alpha1beta1 integrin signaling with NOX system and their combined contribution to Ang II effects on VSMC have not been investigated. We aimed to elucidate the moslecular mechanisms underlying the activation of these two pathways in Ang II effects on VSMC.Ang II-induced VSMC migration (2-fold increase) and proliferation (2.5-fold increase) is modulated by alpha1beta1 integrin, being inhibited by obtustatin, a specific alpha1beta1 integrin blocker. Ang II also stimulates ROS production in VSMC (140%) that is NOX1 dependent, being completely inhibited in NOX1 silenced cells. The ROS production develops in two peaks, and the second peak is maintained by NOX2 activation. Apocynin and obtustatin inhibit the NOX2-associated second peak, but not the first peak of ROS production, which is related to NOX1 activation. Corroborating the involvement of alpha1beta1 integrin, the pretreatment of VSMC with obtustatin impaired Ang II-induced FAK phosphorylation, AKT activation, p21 degradation and the increase of ILK expression. Silencing of ILK blocked cell migration, AKT phosphorylation and the second peak of ROS, but partially inhibits (70%) VSMC proliferation induced by Ang II.The data demonstrate a novel role for NOX2 in Ang II effects on VSMC, and suggest alpha1beta1 integrin and ILK as target molecules to the development of more effective therapeutic interventions in cardiovascular diseases.

Overnutrition during critical developmental periods is believed to be a risk factor for the emergence of metabolic disorders in adulthood. The present study investigated the effects of pups overfeeding during lactation on offspring's insulin secretion. To study the consequences of overnutrition early in life in rats, litter size reduction has been shown to be an appropriate experimental model. To induce early postnatal overnutrition, litter size was reduced to three pups per litter at the third day following birth [overfed group (OG)]. In the control group (CG), the litter size was adjusted to 10 pups per litter. Metabolic parameters and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion were assessed. OG pups ingested more milk at 10 and 21 days and had an augmented food intake at 1 year compared to the CG. Consistently, body weight, body fat, and fasting plasma levels of insulin were higher in 1-year-old OG rats. In addition, OG rats exhibited enhanced insulin secretion, accompanied by elevated content of GLUT-2 in pancreatic islets compared to CG. These findings indicate that early postnatal overnutrition during a critical developmental period in life may program permanent alterations in glucose-stimulated insulin secretion.