scholarly journals Effects of maternal diet-induced obesity on metabolic disorders and age-associated miRNA expression in the liver of male mouse offspring

Author(s):  
Laís Vales Mennitti ◽  
Asha A. M. Carpenter ◽  
Elena Loche ◽  
Lucas C. Pantaleão ◽  
Denise S. Fernandez-Twinn ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective This study investigated the effect of maternal obesity on aged-male offspring liver phenotype and hepatic expression of a programmed miRNA. Methods A mouse model (C57BL/6 J) of maternal diet-induced obesity was used to investigate fasting-serum metabolites, hepatic lipid content, steatosis, and relative mRNA levels (RT-PCR) and protein expression (Western blotting) of key components involved in hepatic and mitochondrial metabolism in 12-month-old offspring. We also measured hepatic lipid peroxidation, mitochondrial content, fibrosis stage, and apoptosis in the offspring. To investigate potential mechanisms leading to the observed phenotype, we also measured the expression of miR-582 (a miRNA previously implicated in liver cirrhosis) in 8-week-old and 12-month-old offspring. Results Body weight and composition was similar between 8-week-old offspring, however, 12-month-old offspring from obese mothers had increased body weight and fat mass (19.5 ± 0.8 g versus 10.4 ± 0.9 g, p < 0.001), as well as elevated serum levels of LDL and leptin and hepatic lipid content (21.4 ± 2.1 g versus 12.9 ± 1.8 g, p < 0.01). This was accompanied by steatosis, increased Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, and overexpression of p-SAPK/JNK, Tgfβ1, Map3k14, and Col1a1 in the liver. Decreased levels of Bcl-2, p-AMPKα, total AMPKα and mitochondrial complexes were also observed. Maternal obesity was associated with increased hepatic miR-582-3p (p < 0.001) and miR-582-5p (p < 0.05). Age was also associated with an increase in both miR-582-3p and miR-582-5p, however, this was more pronounced in the offspring of obese dams, such that differences were greater in 12-month-old animals (−3p: 7.34 ± 1.35 versus 1.39 ± 0.50, p < 0.0001 and −5p: 4.66 ± 1.16 versus 1.63 ± 0.65, p < 0.05). Conclusion Our findings demonstrate that maternal diet-induced obesity has detrimental effects on offspring body composition as well as hepatic phenotype that may be indicative of accelerated-ageing phenotype. These whole-body and cellular phenotypes were associated with age-dependent changes in expression of miRNA-582 that might contribute mechanistically to the development of metabolic disorders in the older progeny.

Endocrinology ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 155 (10) ◽  
pp. 3970-3980 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather L. Blackmore ◽  
Youguo Niu ◽  
Denise S. Fernandez-Twinn ◽  
Jane L. Tarry-Adkins ◽  
Dino A. Giussani ◽  
...  

Abstract Obese pregnancies are not only associated with adverse consequences for the mother but also the long-term health of her child. Human studies have shown that individuals from obese mothers are at increased risk of premature death from cardiovascular disease (CVD), but are unable to define causality. This study aimed to determine causality using a mouse model of maternal diet–induced obesity. Obesity was induced in female C57BL/6 mice by feeding a diet rich in simple sugars and saturated fat 6 weeks prior to pregnancy and throughout pregnancy and lactation. Control females were fed laboratory chow. Male offspring from both groups were weaned onto chow and studied at 3, 5, 8, and 12 weeks of age for gross cardiac morphometry using stereology, cardiomyocyte cell area by histology, and cardiac fetal gene expression using qRT-PCR. Cardiac function was assessed by isolated Langendorff technology at 12 weeks of age and hearts were analyzed at the protein level for the expression of the β1 adrenergic receptor, muscarinic type-2 acetylcholine receptor, and proteins involved in cardiac contraction. Offspring from obese mothers develop pathologic cardiac hypertrophy associated with re-expression of cardiac fetal genes. By young adulthood these offspring developed severe systolic and diastolic dysfunction and cardiac sympathetic dominance. Importantly, cardiac dysfunction occurred in the absence of any change in corresponding body weight and despite the offspring eating a healthy low-fat diet. These findings provide a causal link to explain human observations relating maternal obesity with premature death from CVD in her offspring.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oana P. Zaharia ◽  
Klaus Strassburger ◽  
Birgit Knebel ◽  
Yuliya Kupriyanova ◽  
Yanislava Karusheva ◽  
...  

<a><b>Objective</b></a>: The rs738409(G) single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing 3 (<i>PNPLA3</i>) gene associates with increased risk and progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). As the recently-described severe insulin-resistant diabetes (SIRD) cluster specifically relates to NAFLD, this study examined whether this SNP differently associates with hepatic lipid content (HCL) and insulin sensitivity in recent-onset diabetes mellitus. <p><b>Research Design and Methods</b>: A total of 917 participants of the German Diabetes Study underwent genotyping, hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamps with stable isotopic tracer dilution and magnetic resonance spectroscopy. </p> <p><b>Results:</b> The G allele associated positively with HCL (β=0.36, p<0.01), independent of age, sex and BMI across the whole cohort, but not in the individual clusters. SIRD exhibited lowest whole-body insulin sensitivity compared to severe insulin-deficient (SIDD), moderate obesity-related (MOD), moderate age-related (MARD) and severe autoimmune diabetes clusters (SAID; all p<0.001). Interestingly, SIRD presented with higher prevalence of the rs738409(G) SNP compared to other clusters and the glucose-tolerant control group (p<0.05). HCL was higher in SIRD [13.6 (5.8;19.1)%] compared to MOD [6.4 (2.1;12.4)%, p<0.05], MARD [3.0 (1.0;7.9)%, p<0.001], SAID [0.4 (0.0;1.5)%, p<0.001] and the glucose tolerant group [0.9 (0.4;4.9)%, p<0.001]. Although the <i>PNPLA3</i> polymorphism did not directly associate with whole-body insulin sensitivity in SIRD, the G allele carriers had higher circulating free fatty acid concentrations and greater adipose-tissue insulin resistance compared to non-carriers (both p<0.001).</p> <b>Conclusions:</b> Members of the severe insulin resistant diabetes cluster are more frequently carriers of the rs738409(G) variant. The SNP-associated adipose-tissue insulin resistance and excessive lipolysis may contribute to their NAFLD.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roel A. van der Heijden ◽  
Martine C. Morrison ◽  
Fareeba Sheedfar ◽  
Petra Mulder ◽  
Marijke Schreurs ◽  
...  

Background.Naturally occurring substances from the flavanol and anthocyanin family of polyphenols have been proposed to exert beneficial effects in the course of obesity. We hypothesized that their effects on attenuating obesity-induced dyslipidemia as well as the associated inflammatory sequelae especially have health-promoting potential.Methods.Male C57BL/6J mice (n=52) received a control low-fat diet (LFD; 10 kcal% fat) for 6 weeks followed by 24 weeks of either LFD (n=13) or high-fat diet (HFD; 45 kcal% fat;n=13) or HFD supplemented with 0.1% w/w of the flavanol compound epicatechin (HFD+E;n=13) or an anthocyanin-rich bilberry extract (HFD+B;n=13). Energy substrate utilization was determined by indirect calorimetry in a subset of mice following the dietary switch and at the end of the experiment. Blood samples were collected at baseline and at 3 days and 4, 12, and 20 weeks after dietary switch and analyzed for systemic lipids and proinflammatory cytokines. Adipose tissue (AT) histopathology and inflammatory gene expression as well as hepatic lipid content were analyzed after sacrifice.Results.The switch from a LFD to a HFD lowered the respiratory exchange ratio and increased plasma cholesterol and hepatic lipid content. These changes were not attenuated by HFD+E or HFD+B. Furthermore, the polyphenol compounds could not prevent HFD-induced systemic rise of TNF-αlevels. Interestingly, a significant reduction inTnfgene expression in HFD+B mice was observed in the AT. Furthermore, HFD+B, but not HFD+E, significantly prevented the early upregulation of circulating neutrophil chemoattractant mKC. However, no differences in AT histopathology were observed between the HFD types.Conclusion.Supplementation of HFD with an anthocyanin-rich bilberry extract but not with the flavanol epicatechin may exert beneficial effects on the systemic early inflammatory response associated with diet-induced obesity. These systemic effects were transient and not observed after prolongation of HFD-feeding (24 weeks). On the tissue level, long-term treatment with bilberry attenuated TNF-αexpression in adipose tissue.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oana P. Zaharia ◽  
Klaus Strassburger ◽  
Birgit Knebel ◽  
Yuliya Kupriyanova ◽  
Yanislava Karusheva ◽  
...  

<a><b>Objective</b></a>: The rs738409(G) single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing 3 (<i>PNPLA3</i>) gene associates with increased risk and progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). As the recently-described severe insulin-resistant diabetes (SIRD) cluster specifically relates to NAFLD, this study examined whether this SNP differently associates with hepatic lipid content (HCL) and insulin sensitivity in recent-onset diabetes mellitus. <p><b>Research Design and Methods</b>: A total of 917 participants of the German Diabetes Study underwent genotyping, hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamps with stable isotopic tracer dilution and magnetic resonance spectroscopy. </p> <p><b>Results:</b> The G allele associated positively with HCL (β=0.36, p<0.01), independent of age, sex and BMI across the whole cohort, but not in the individual clusters. SIRD exhibited lowest whole-body insulin sensitivity compared to severe insulin-deficient (SIDD), moderate obesity-related (MOD), moderate age-related (MARD) and severe autoimmune diabetes clusters (SAID; all p<0.001). Interestingly, SIRD presented with higher prevalence of the rs738409(G) SNP compared to other clusters and the glucose-tolerant control group (p<0.05). HCL was higher in SIRD [13.6 (5.8;19.1)%] compared to MOD [6.4 (2.1;12.4)%, p<0.05], MARD [3.0 (1.0;7.9)%, p<0.001], SAID [0.4 (0.0;1.5)%, p<0.001] and the glucose tolerant group [0.9 (0.4;4.9)%, p<0.001]. Although the <i>PNPLA3</i> polymorphism did not directly associate with whole-body insulin sensitivity in SIRD, the G allele carriers had higher circulating free fatty acid concentrations and greater adipose-tissue insulin resistance compared to non-carriers (both p<0.001).</p> <b>Conclusions:</b> Members of the severe insulin resistant diabetes cluster are more frequently carriers of the rs738409(G) variant. The SNP-associated adipose-tissue insulin resistance and excessive lipolysis may contribute to their NAFLD.


PeerJ ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. e7069 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carola Schedlbauer ◽  
Dominique Blaue ◽  
Martin Gericke ◽  
Matthias Blüher ◽  
Janine Starzonek ◽  
...  

Background Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is known as determining part of human obesity. The impact of body weight (BW) gain on liver metabolism has not been extensively investigated yet. Objectives To investigate hepatic alterations caused by increasing BW in ponies and horses. Animals A total of 19 non-obese equines (10 Shetland ponies, geldings; nine Warmblood horses, geldings). Methods Animals received 200% of their metabolizable maintenance energy requirements for 2 years. Serum alkaline phosphatase, glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and gamma-glutamyl transferase activities and bile acids were analyzed several times during 2 years of hypercaloric diet. Hepatic lipid content and hepatic levels of the interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), cluster of differentiation (CD) 68, IL-1β, lipoprotein lipase (LPL), fatty acid-binding protein 1, chemerin and nuclear factor-κB mRNAs were assessed at the start of the study and after 1 and 2 years of excess energy intake. Results The mean (±SD) BW gain recorded during 2 years of excess energy intake was 29.9 ± 19.4% for ponies and 17 ± 6.74% for horses. The hepatic lipid content was not profoundly affected by increasing BW. Levels of the IL-6, TNFα, CD68 and IL-1β mRNAs did not change during BW gain. Levels of the chemerin mRNA increased significantly in both breeds (ponies: P = 0.02; horses: P = 0.02) in response to BW gain. Significant differences in serum GLDH and AST activities, serum bile acid concentrations and hepatic levels of the LPL mRNA were observed between ponies and horses at the end of the study. Conclusions Chemerin might represent an interesting marker for future equine obesity research. Interestingly, steatosis caused by increasing BW may occur later in the development of obesity in equines than in humans. Additionally, the hepatic metabolism exhibits differences between ponies and horses, which may explain in part the greater susceptibility of ponies to obesity-associated metabolic dysregulations.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timea Kurdiova ◽  
Miroslav Balaz ◽  
Zuzana Kovanicova ◽  
Erika Zemkova ◽  
Martin Kuzma ◽  
...  

AimAfamin is a liver-produced glycoprotein, a potential early marker of metabolic syndrome. Here we investigated regulation of afamin in a course of the metabolic disease development and in response to 3-month exercise intervention.MethodsWe measured whole-body insulin sensitivity (euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp), glucose tolerance, abdominal adiposity, hepatic lipid content (magnetic resonance imaging/spectroscopy), habitual physical activity (accelerometers) and serum afamin (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) in 71 middle-aged men with obesity, prediabetes and newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes. Effects of 3-month exercise were investigated in 22 overweight-to-obese middle-aged individuals (16M/6F).ResultsPrediabetes and type 2 diabetes, but not obesity, were associated with increased serum afamin (p&lt;0.001). Afamin correlated positively with hepatic lipids, fatty liver index and liver damage markers; with parameters of adiposity (waist circumference, %body fat, adipocyte diameter) and insulin resistance (fasting insulin, C-peptide, HOMA-IR; p&lt;0.001 all). Moreover, afamin negatively correlated with whole-body insulin sensitivity (M-value/Insulin, p&lt;0.001). Hepatic lipids and fasting insulinemia were the most important predictors of serum afamin, explaining &gt;63% of its variability. Exercise-related changes in afamin were paralleled by reciprocal changes in insulinemia, insulin resistance and visceral adiposity. No significant change in hepatic lipid content was observed.ConclusionsSubjects with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes had the highest serum afamin levels. Afamin was more tightly related to hepatic lipid accumulation, liver damage and insulin resistance than to obesity.


Diabetologia ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliana de Almeida-Faria ◽  
Daniella E. Duque-Guimarães ◽  
Thomas P. Ong ◽  
Lucas C. Pantaleão ◽  
Asha A. Carpenter ◽  
...  

Abstract Aims/hypothesis Levels of the microRNA (miRNA) miR-126-3p are programmed cell-autonomously in visceral adipose tissue of adult offspring born to obese female C57BL/6J mice. The spectrum of miR-126-3p targets and thus the consequences of its dysregulation for adipocyte metabolism are unknown. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to identify novel targets of miR-126-3p in vitro and then establish the outcomes of their dysregulation on adipocyte metabolism in vivo using a well-established maternal obesity mouse model. Methods miR-126-3p overexpression in 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes followed by pulsed stable isotope labelling by amino acids in culture (pSILAC) was performed to identify novel targets of the miRNA. Well-established bioinformatics algorithms and luciferase assays were then employed to confirm those that were direct targets of miR-126-3p. Selected knockdown experiments were performed in vitro to define the consequences of target dysregulation. Quantitative real-time PCR, immunoblotting, histology, euglycaemic–hyperinsulinaemic clamps and glucose tolerance tests were performed to determine the phenotypic and functional outcomes of maternal programmed miR-126-3p levels in offspring adipose tissue. Results The proteomic approach confirmed the identity of known targets of miR-126-3p (including IRS-1) and identified Lunapark, an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) protein, as a novel one. We confirmed by luciferase assay that Lunapark was a direct target of miR-126-3p. Overexpression of miR-126-3p in vitro led to a reduction in Lunapark protein levels and increased Perk (also known as Eif2ak3) mRNA levels and small interference-RNA mediated knockdown of Lunapark led to increased Xbp1, spliced Xbp1, Chop (also known as Ddit3) and Perk mRNA levels and an ER stress transcriptional response in 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes. Consistent with the results found in vitro, increased miR-126-3p expression in adipose tissue from adult mouse offspring born to obese dams was accompanied by decreased Lunapark and IRS-1 protein levels and increased markers of ER stress. At the whole-body level the animals displayed glucose intolerance. Conclusions/interpretation Concurrently targeting IRS-1 and Lunapark, a nutritionally programmed increase in miR-126-3p causes adipose tissue insulin resistance and an ER stress response, both of which may contribute to impaired glucose tolerance. These findings provide a novel mechanism by which obesity during pregnancy leads to increased risk of type 2 diabetes in the offspring and therefore identify miR-126-3p as a potential therapeutic target. Graphical abstract


Science ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 373 (6554) ◽  
pp. eabj1696
Author(s):  
Charles Brenner

Yoshino et al. (Reports, 11 June 2021, p. 1224) have reported that nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) increases muscle insulin sensitivity in prediabetic women. However, the 13 women who received NMN had hepatic lipid content of 6.3 ± 1.2%, whereas the 12 in the placebo group had 14.8 ± 2.0% (P = 0.003). Given that a target of NMN is liver fat clearance, this was not an effectively randomized trial.


2018 ◽  
Vol 315 (2) ◽  
pp. E218-E228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Difei Wang ◽  
Huiying Cong ◽  
Xiaoli Wang ◽  
Yanli Cao ◽  
Shoichiro Ikuyama ◽  
...  

PycnogenolR (PYC), a combination of active flavonoids derived from French maritime pine bark, is a natural antioxidant that has various pharmacological activities. Here, we investigated the beneficial effect of PYC on diet-induced hepatic steatosis. Apolipoprotein E (ApoE)-deficient male mice were administered PYC at oral doses of 30 or 100 mg·kg−1·day−1 for 2 wk in advance and were then fed a high-cholesterol and -fat diet (HCD) for 8 wk. Biochemical, immunohistochemical, and gene expression analyses were conducted to explore the effect of PYC on lipid metabolism in ApoE-deficient mice on a HCD. Short-term treatment with HCD in ApoE-deficient mice induced hepatic injuries, such as lipid metabolism disorder and hepatic histopathological changes. We found that PYC reduced body weight and the increase of serum lipids that had been caused by HCD. Supplementation of PYC significantly reduced lipid deposition in the liver, as shown by the lowered hepatic lipid content and histopathological lesions. We subsequently detected genes related to lipid metabolism and inflammatory cytokines. The study showed that PYC markedly suppressed the expression of genes related to hepatic lipogenesis, fatty acid uptake, and lipid storage while increasing the lipolytic gene, which thus reduced hepatic lipid content. Furthermore, PYC mainly reduced the expression of inflammatory cytokines and the infiltration of inflammatory cells, which were resistant to the development of hepatic steatosis. These results demonstrate that PYC protects against the occurrence and development of hepatic steatosis and may provide a new prophylactic approach for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Weidong Xu ◽  
Jiayao Li ◽  
Weipeng Qi ◽  
Ye Peng

Apigenin-8-C-glucoside (vitexin), a natural phytochemical contained in hawthorn, has been reported to have versatile beneficial bioactivities, such as antioxidation, anticancer property, and adipogenesis inhibition. The present research aimed to determine the influence of vitexin on insulin resistance elicited by HFD in mice and HepG2 cells. Vitexin markedly alleviated body weight gain and improved glucose and insulin intolerance induced by HFD. Vitexin partially normalized blood glucose, cholesterol, TNF-α, and hepatic lipid content. Moreover, vitexin recovered the reduced glucose uptake induced by glucosamine. The present results indicate that vitexin prevents HFD-induced insulin resistance.


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