Accelerated developmental adipogenesis programs adipose tissue dysfunction and cardiometabolic risk in offspring born to dams with metabolic dysfunction
This study determined if a perturbation in in utero adipogenesis leading to later-life adipose tissue (AT) dysfunction underlies programming of cardiometabolic risk in offspring born to dams with metabolic dysfunction. Female mice heterozygous for the leptin receptor deficiency (Hetdb) had 2.4-fold higher pre-pregnancy fat mass and in late gestation had higher plasma insulin and triglycerides, compared to wild-type (Wt) females (p < 0.05). To isolate the role of the intrauterine milieu, wild-type (Wt) offspring from each pregnancy were studied. Differentiation potential in isolated progenitors and cell size distribution analysis revealed accelerated adipogenesis in Wt pups born to Hetdb dams, accompanied by a higher accumulation of neonatal fat mass. In adulthood, whole-body fat mass by NMR was higher in male (69%) and female (20%) Wt offspring born to Hetdb vs. Wt pregnancies, along with adipocyte hypertrophy and hyperlipidemia (all p < 0.05). Lipidomic analyses by gas chromatography revealed an increased lipogenic index (16:0/18:2n6) after high fat/fructose diet (HFFD). Postprandial insulin, ADIPO-IR and ex vivo AT lipolytic responses to isoproterenol, were all higher in Wt offspring born to Hetdb dams (p < 0.05). Intrauterine metabolic stimuli may direct a greater proportion of progenitors toward terminal differentiation, thereby predisposing to hypertrophy-induced adipocyte dysfunction.