The succinate receptor (also known as GPR91) is a G protein-coupled receptor that is closely related to the family of P2Y purinoreceptors. It is expressed in a variety of tissues, including blood cells, adipose tissue, the liver, retina, and kidney. In these tissues, this receptor and its ligand succinate have recently emerged as novel mediators in local stress situations, including ischemia, hypoxia, toxicity, and hyperglycemia. Amongst others, the succinate receptor is involved in recruitment of immune cells to transplanted tissues. Moreover, it was shown to play a key role in the development of diabetic retinopathy. However, most prominently, the role of locally increased succinate levels and succinate receptor activation in the kidney, stimulating the systemic and local renin–angiotensin system, starts to unfold: the succinate receptor is a key mediator in the development of hypertension and possibly fibrosis in diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome. This makes the succinate receptor a promising drug target to counteract or prevent cardiovascular and fibrotic defects in these expanding disorders. Recent development of SUCNR1-specific antagonists opens novel possibilities for research in models for these disorders and may eventually provide novel opportunities for the treatment of patients.

These results highlight the need to promote healthier food selection among the Mexican population when snacking and watching television and healthier food environments at work, school, and on the street.

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BackgroundObesity and diabetes mellitus (DM) are public health concerns in Mexico of top-level priority due to their high prevalence and their growth rate in recent decades. The accumulation of adipose tissue leads to an unbalanced release of pro-oxidant factors, which causes cellular damage and favors the development of comorbidities. Recent evidence suggests that oxidative stress also promotes the accumulation of adipose tissue and the development of insulin resistance. The objective of this study is to evaluate the association between usual intake of antioxidant nutrients, specifically vitamins A, C, E and magnesium with body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and serum glucose concentrations in a representative sample of Mexican adults.MethodologyWe analyzed data on diet, BMI, WC and serum glucose from the Mexican National Health and Nutrition Survey 2012. Analysis included 20- to 65-year-old adults without a known diagnosis of DM (n = 1573). Dietary information was obtained using the five-step multiple-pass method developed by the United States Department of Agriculture and adapted to the Mexican context. Nutrient usual intake distributions were estimated using the Iowa State University method, through the “Software for Intake Distribution Estimation” (PC-Side) v.1.02. Associations were analyzed using multivariate regression models.ResultsHigher dietary magnesium intake was associated with lower markers of adiposity, so that an increase in 10 mg per 1000 kcal/day of magnesium was associated with an average decrease in BMI of 0.72% (95% CI: -1.36, − 0.08) and 0.49 cm (95% CI: -0.92, − 0.07) of WC. Additionally, in women with normal glucose concentrations, an increase in magnesium intake was associated with an average decrease in serum glucose by 0.59% (95% CI: -1.08, − 0.09).ConclusionThe results suggest that magnesium intake is associated with lower BMI, WC and serum glucose in Mexican population. However, more studies are required to elucidate the nature of this association.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12937-018-0422-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The evolutionarily conserved IA1 (Insm1) gene is strongly expressed in the developing nervous system. Here, we show that IA1 is expressed during Xenopus laevis embryogenesis in neural plate primary neurons as well as in a population of uncharacterized anteroventral cells that form in front of the cement gland and that we identified as noradrenergic neurons. We also show that the formation of those anteroventral cells is dependent on BMPs and inhibited by Notch and that it is regulated by the transcription factors Xash1, Phox2, and Hand2. Finally, we provide functional evidence suggesting that IA1 may also play a role in their formation. Together, our results reveal that IA1 constitutes a novel player downstream of Xash1 in the formation of a previously unidentified population of Xenopus noradrenergic primary neurons. Developmental Dynamics 237:2147-2157, 2008.