Association between high waist-height ratio and endoplasmic reticulum stress of young adults with insulin resistance

Figure 1 Young individuals with a high waist-to-height ratio have increased cardiometabolic risk. A-E: Peripheral blood was collected from individuals with a waist-to-height ratio (WtHR) < 0.5 (low-WtHR; n = 21) and individuals with a WtHR > 0.5 (high-WtHR; n = 18). The samples were analyzed to determine triglycerides (A), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (B), total cholesterol (C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (D), and the TG/HDL-C ratio (E). The bar graphs indicate the mean ± SEM. ^aP < 0.05 vs low-waist-to-height ratio group; ^bP < 0.005 vs low-waist-to-height ratio group. WtHR: Waist-to-height ratio; TG: Triglyceride; TC: Total cholesterol; LDL-C: Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; HDL-C: High-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

Figure 2 High waist-to-height ratio is associated with insulin resistance in young individuals. Peripheral blood was collected from individuals with a waist-to-height ratio (WtHR) < 0.5 (low-WtHR; n = 21) and individuals with a WtHR > 0.5 (high-WtHR; n = 18). A-C: The samples were analyzed to determine glucose (A), insulin (B), and the Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance was calculated (C). The bar graphs indicate the mean ± SEM. ^aP < 0.05 vs low-waist-to-height ratio group. WtHR: Waist-to-height ratio; HOMA-IR: Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance.

Figure 3 Platelets from young individuals with a high waist-to-height ratio have endoplasmic reticulum stress. Cell lysates from platelet-enriched fractions obtained from blood samples of individuals with a waist-to-height ratio (WtHR) < 0.5 (low-WtHR; n = 8) and platelets from participants with a WtHR > 0.5 (high-WtHR; n = 8) were separated by SDS-PAGE and analyzed by immunoblotting. A and B: Bar graphs and representative immunoblots images of total SERCA and Actin expression (A), PERK and pPERK (B). The bar graphs indicate the mean ± SEM. ^aP < 0.005 vs low-waist-to-height ratio group; ^bP < 0.0005 vs low-waist-to-height ratio group. WtHR: Waist-to-height ratio.

Figure 4 JNK is activated in the platelets of young individuals with a high waist-to-height ratio. Cell lysates from platelet-enriched fractions obtained from blood samples of individuals with a waist-to-height ratio (WtHR) < 0.5 (low-WtHR; n = 8) and platelets from participants with a WtHR > 0.5 (high-WtHR; n = 8) were separated by SDS-PAGE and analyzed by immunoblotting. Bar graphs and representative immunoblots of JNK and pJNK. The bar graph indicates the mean ± SEM. ^aP < 0.05 vs low-waist-to-height ratio group. WtHR: Waist-to-height ratio.