Jose A. Godoy-Lugo

University of Southern California | USC · School of Gerontology

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) affects up to 20% of the world's population. Overactivation of the angiotensin receptor type 1 (AT1) contributes to metabolic dysfunction and increased oxidant production, which are associated with NAFLD and impaired hepatic lipid metabolism. Nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) regulates the...

Background: Air pollution particulate matter (PM) is strongly associated with risks of accelerated cognitive decline, dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Ambient PM batches have variable neurotoxicity by collection site and season, which limits replicability of findings within and between research groups for analysis of mechanisms and interventions....

Increased angiotensin II (Ang II) signaling contributes to insulin resistance and liver steatosis. In addition to ameliorating hypertension, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) improve lipid metabolism and hepatic steatosis, which are impaired with metabolic syndrome (MetS). Chronic blockade of the Ang II receptor type 1 (AT1) increases plasma ang...

The onset of type II diabetes increases the heart’s susceptibility to oxidative damage because of the associated inflammation and diminished antioxidant response. Transcription factor NF-κB initiates inflammation while Nrf2 controls antioxidant defense. Current evidence suggests crosstalk between these transcription factors that may become dysregul...

Inappropriate activation of the renin-angiotensin system decreases glucose uptake in peripheral tissues. Chronic angiotensin receptor type 1 (AT 1 ) blockade increases glucose uptake in skeletal muscle, decreases the abundance of large adipocytes, and macrophage infiltration in adipose. However, the contributions of each tissue to the improvement i...

Purpose Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) can ameliorate metabolic syndrome (MetS)-associated dyslipidemia, hepatic steatosis, and glucose intolerance, suggesting that angiotensin receptor (AT1) over-activation contributes to impaired lipid and glucose metabolism, which is characteristic of MetS. The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in...

Objectives This study explored the effects of diet-induced (almonds vs. crackers) changes on blood transcriptome profiles of young adults. Methods Young adults (age: 18–22 years) were randomly assigned to consume either almonds (2 oz./d, n = 13) or an isocaloric control snack of graham crackers (325 kcal/d, n = 10) daily for 4 weeks. Blood samples...

Insulin resistance increases renal oxidant production by up‐regulating NADPH oxidase 4 (Nox4) expression contributing to oxidative damage and ultimately albuminuria. Inhibition of the renin‐angiotensin system (RAS) and activation of glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1) receptor signaling may reverse this effect. However, whether angiotensin receptor typ...

Hypoxia inducible factor -1 (HIF-1) is a transcriptional factor that regulates the expression of glycolytic genes. The white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) induces a shift in glycolysis that favors viral replication in white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei. HIF-1 is related to the pathogenesis of the WSSV infection through the induction of metabolic change...

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most prevalent liver maladies in the US. NAFLD is associated with obesity, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, insulin resistance, and diabetes; all traits linked to metabolic syndrome, affecting 20% of the US population. Inappropriate hepatic lipid accumulation is associated with metabolic syndrome...

Diabetic hearts are susceptible to damage from inappropriate activation of the renin angiotensin system (RAS) and hyperglycemic events both of which contribute to increased oxidant production. Prolonged elevation of oxidants impairs mitochondrial enzyme function, further contributing to metabolic derangement. Nuclear factor erythriod-2-related fact...

Obesity is associated with an inappropriately activated renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system, suppressed glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), increased renal Na+ reabsorption, and hypertension. To assess the link between GLP-1 and angiotensin receptor type 1 (AT1) signaling on obesity-associated impairment of urinary Na+ excretion (UNaV) and elevated a...

Hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) is a transcriptional factor that induces genes involved in glucose metabolism. HIF-1 is formed by a regulatory α-subunit (HIF-1α) and a constitutive β-subunit (HIF-1β). The white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) induces a shift in glucose metabolism and oxidative stress. HIF-1α is associated with the induction of metabo...

Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is key for anaerobic glycolysis. LDH is induced by the hypoxia inducible factor -1 (HIF-1). HIF-1 induces genes involved in glucose metabolism and regulates cellular oxygen homeostasis. HIF-1 is formed by a regulatory α-subunit (HIF-1α) and a constitutive β-subunit (HIF-1β). The white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) induces a...

Diabetic hearts may be very susceptible to mitochondrial damage during hyperglycemic conditions. These hyperglycemic events are often acute, dietary-derived, and increase oxidant production from a variety of pathways primarily from cellular substrate metabolism. Furthermore, the renin angiotensin system is inappropriately elevated during metabolic...

Betaine Aldehyde Dehydrogenase (betaine aldehyde: NAD(P)⁺ oxidoreductase, (E.C. 1.2.1.8; BADH) catalyze the irreversible oxidation of betaine aldehyde (BA) to glycine betaine (GB) and is essential for polyamine catabolism, γ-aminobutyric acid synthesis, and carnitine biosynthesis. GB is an important osmolyte that regulates the homocysteine levels,...

Thyroid hormones (TH) regulate metabolism, but are typically suppressed during times of stressful physiological conditions, including fasting. Interestingly, prolonged fasting in northern elephant seal pups is associated with reliance on a lipid-based metabolism and increased levels of circulating thyroid hormones that are partially attributed to a...

Pregnancy-induced physiologic cardiac hypertrophy with important changes in the energetic metabolism to support its contractile demands and maintain viability. HIF-1α and PPARγ activates glycolytic and glycerol-lipid biosynthesis genes in response to pathologic hypertrophy, respectively. Therefore, these changes increase the rate of glycolysis and...