An Isocaloric Nordic Diet Modulates RELA and TNFRSF1A Gene Expression in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells in Individuals with Metabolic Syndrome-A SYSDIET Sub-Study.

Stine Marie Ulven ,Amanda Rundblad,Kirsten B Holven,Janne Hukkanen,Jussi Pihlajamäki,Marjukka Kolehmainen,Matti Uusitupa,Lieselotte Cloetens,Fredrik Rosqvist,Ingrid Dahlman,Ulf Risérus,Björn Åkesson,Peter Arner,Ursula Schwab,Lena Leder,Carsten Carlberg,Vanessa D De Mello,Karl‐Heinz Herzig ,Kaisa Poutanen ,Kjeld Hermansen,Lars Ove Dragsted ,Mari Myhrstad ,Markku J Savolainen ,Inga Þórsdóttir ,Ingibjörg Gunnarsdóttir

doi:10.3390/nu11122932

Abstract

A healthy dietary pattern is associated with a lower risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and reduced inflammation. To explore this at the molecular level, we investigated the effect of a Nordic diet (ND) on changes in the gene expression profiles of inflammatory and lipid-related genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of individuals with MetS. We hypothesized that the intake of an ND compared to a control diet (CD) would alter the expression of inflammatory genes and genes involved in lipid metabolism. The individuals with MetS underwent an 18/24-week randomized intervention to compare a ND with a CD. Eighty-eight participants (66% women) were included in this sub-study of the larger SYSDIET study. Fasting PBMCs were collected before and after the intervention and changes in gene expression levels were measured using TaqMan Array Micro Fluidic Cards. Forty-eight pre-determined inflammatory and lipid related gene transcripts were analyzed. The expression level of the gene tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor superfamily member 1A (TNFRSF1A) was down-regulated (p = 0.004), whereas the nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) subunit, RELA proto-oncogene, was up-regulated (p = 0.016) in the ND group compared to the CD group. In conclusion, intake of an ND in individuals with the MetS may affect immune function.

Highlights

The metabolic syndrome (MetS) includes a cluster of related risk factors causing increased risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)
We have previously shown that exchanging saturated fatty acid (SFA) with polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) reduced total cholesterol and LDL-C by 9% and 11%, respectively, among subjects with slightly elevated cholesterol [29], and changed the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) expression levels of several lipid metabolism-related genes [30]
We found an increased expression of RELA and a reduced expression level of TNFRSF1A in individuals with MetS after the intervention

Summary

Introduction

The metabolic syndrome (MetS) includes a cluster of related risk factors causing increased risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). It is well established that a number of dietary factors modulate gene expression profiles in PBMCs [6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15]. Since these cells play a key role in the process of inflammation and are exposed to many of the same circulating factors as organs and the arterial wall, they may provide information on how the diet influences systemic inflammation and metabolic changes in peripheral tissues [15]

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion