Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) is a multifunctional inflammatory cytokine that regulates various cellular and bio-logical processes. Increased levels of TNFα have been im-plicated in a number of human diseases including diabetes and arthritis. Sympathetic nervous system stimulation via the beta2-adrenergic receptor (β2AR) in osteoblasts suppresses osteogenic activity. We previously reported that TNFα up- regulates β2AR expression in murine osteoblastic cells and that this modulation is associated with TNFα inhibition of osteoblast differentiation. In our present study, we explored whether TNFα induces β2AR expression in human osteo-blasts and then identified the downstream signaling path-way. Our results indicated that β2AR expression was increa-sed in Saos-2 and C2C12 cells by TNFα treatment, and that this increase was blocked by the inhibition of NF-κB acti-vation. Chromatin immunoprecipitation and luciferase reporter assay results indicated that NF-κB directly binds to its cog-nate elements on the β2AR promoter and thereby stimulates β2AR expression. These findings suggest that the activation of TNFα signaling in osteoblastic cells leads to an upregu-lation of β2AR and also that TNFα induces β2AR exp-ression in an NF-κB-dependent manner.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the body composition, biochemical parameters, and consumption of convenience foods according to β-3 adrenergic receptor polymorphism in university students. A survey was conducted on a total of 486 students - 189 males and 297 females. Based on a self-reporting method, questionnaires were administered for over 20 minutes, and β-3 adrenergic receptor and blood samples were also analyzed. The genotype frequencies of β-3 adrenergic receptor polymorphism were Trp/Trp homozygote (73.0%) and Trp/Arg heterozygote (27.0%) in male students. For the female students, the distribution of genotypes was Trp/Trp (71.0%) and Trp/Arg (29.0%). There were no differences according to biochemical parameters (ALT, cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and hemoglobin) or body composition. Males with TT genotype frequently ate Ramyon (2.40±0.52), Cup Ramyon (2.37±0.39), Kimchi (2.23±0.61), and frozen meat (2.00±0.44), whereas males with TA genotype ate Fries (frozen food) (1.90±0.79), Smoked meat (1.67±0.81), and Canned fruit (1.64±0.81). Females with TT genotype frequently ate Frozen fries (2.21±0.35), Kimbab (2.12±0.44), and Ramyon (1.85±0.40), whereas females with TA genotype frequently ate Kimchi (1.73±0.98), Fries (frozen food) (1.46±0.26), and Cup Ramyon (1.30±0.34). When questioned about satisfaction about body shape, 22.8 and 60.8% of those with TT genotype answered that they were 'satisfied' or needed to 'lose weight', respectively, whereas 18.0 and 63.9% of those with TA genotype answered that they were 'satisfied' or needed to 'lose weight', respectively. In conclusion, this study found no significant effects in terms of β-3 adrenergic receptor polymorphism, which suggests that health-promoting education needs to be developed so that university students appropriately recognize their bodies and control their weight in desirable ways. Therefore, it is necessary to educate individuals with TT genotype how to buy reasonable foods by understanding the interrelationship between convenience foods and health care and by checking the nutrition index labels on convenience foods. Thus, it is recommended that a health-promoting program be developed for the promotion of healthy lifestyles.