DNA released from obesity-induced degenerated adipocytes stimulates inflammation in adipose tissue and insulin resistance.

SUMMARYHeterostylous species have two types of flowers, thrum and pin morphs, and these are controlled by a single diallelic locus designated the 'S locus'; fertilization between these two types of flowers is successful. The S gene and the molecular mechanism by which it operates remain to be uncovered, although heterostyly has been studied since the time of Darwin. We compared transcripts and proteins of the thrum and pin flowers of heterostylous flax (Linum grandiflorum) to characterize the molecular differences between them and to elucidate the molecular machinery of heterostyly. Twelve floral morph-related genes were eventually isolated by an integrated study of subtraction and 2D-PAGE analyses, and four genes, TSS1, LgAP1, LgMYB21 and LgSKS1, were predicted to be related to heterostyly. TSS1, a thrum style-specific gene, showed some features suitable for the S gene. Although its biological function is unclear, TSS1 was expressed only in the thrum style and is probably linked to the S locus. LgMYB21, another thrum style gene, would be involved in floral morphogenesis. LgMYB21 was highly expressed in the thrum style, which is shorter than the pin style, and its overexpression in Arabidopsis reduced pistil length. Furthermore, a comparison of transcript and protein accumulations showed no differences in the mRNA accumulation of some thrum-specific proteins, including LgSKS1, suggesting that these are regulated by floral morph-specific post-transcriptional regulation. The Linum S locus regulates not only S specificity but also many floral phenotypes. Dynamic regulation of transcripts and proteins would be necessary for the pleiotropic function of the Linum S locus.

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Scope Fish oil-derived long-chain monounsaturated fatty acids (LCMUFA) containing chain lengths longer than 18 were previously shown to improve cardiovascular disease risk factors in mice. However, it is not known if LCMUFA also exerts anti-atherogenic effects. The main objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of LCMUFA on the development of atherosclerosis in mouse models. Methods and results LDLR-KO mice were fed Western diet supplemented with 2% (w/w) of either LCMUFA concentrate, olive oil, or not (control) for 12 wk. LCMUFA, but not olive oil, significantly suppressed the development of atherosclerotic lesions and several plasma inflammatory cytokine levels, although there were no major differences in plasma lipids between the three groups. At higher doses 5% (w/w) LCMUFA supplementation was observed to reduce pro-atherogenic plasma lipoproteins and to also reduce atherosclerosis in ApoE-KO mice fed a Western diet. RNA sequencing and subsequent qPCR analyses revealed that LCMUFA upregulated PPAR signaling pathways in liver. In cell culture studies, apoB-depleted plasma from LDLR-K mice fed LCMUFA showed greater cholesterol efflux from macrophage-like THP-1 cells and ABCA1-overexpressing BHK cells. Conclusions Our research showed for the first time that LCMUFA consumption protects against diet-induced atherosclerosis, possibly by upregulating the PPAR signaling pathway.