Abstract 6260: Up-Regulated Expression of MicroRNA-143 in Association with Obesity in the Adipose Tissue of Mice Fed High Fat Diet

Circulation ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 118 (suppl_18) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rieko Takanabe ◽  
Koh Ono ◽  
Tomohide Takaya ◽  
Takahiro Horie ◽  
Hiromichi Wada ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Insulin Resistance ◽  
Body Weight ◽  
Adipose Tissue ◽  
High Fat Diet ◽  
Control Cell ◽  
High Fat ◽  
Expression Levels ◽  
Mesenteric Fat ◽  
Regulated Expression

Obesity is the result of an expansion and increase in the number of individual adipocytes. Since changes in gene expression during adipocyte differentiation and hypertrophy are closely associated with insulin resistance and cardiovascular diseases, further insight into the molecular basis of obesity is needed to better understand obesity-associated diseases. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are approximately 17–24nt single stranded RNA, that post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression. MiRNAs control cell growth, differentiation and metabolism, and may be also involved in pathogenesis and pathophysiology of diseases. It has been proposed that miR-143 plays a role in the differentiation of preadipocytes into mature adipocytes in culture. However, regulated expression of miR-143 in the adult adipose tissue during the development of obesity in vivo is unknown. To solve this problem, C57BL/6 mice were fed with either high-fat diet (HFD) or normal chow (NC). Eight weeks later, severe insulin resistance was observed in mice on HFD. Body weight increased by 35% and the mesenteric fat weight increased by 3.3-fold in HFD mice compared with NC mice. We measured expression levels of miR-143 in the mesenteric fat tissue by real-time PCR and normalized with those of 5S ribosomal RNA. Expression of miR-143 in the mesenteric fat was significantly up-regulated (3.3-fold, p<0.05) in HFD mice compared to NC mice. MiR-143 expression levels were positively correlated with body weight (R=0.577, p=0.0011) and the mesenteric fat weight (R=0.608, p=0.0005). We also measured expression levels in the mesenteric fat of PPARγ and AP2, whose expression are deeply involved in the development of obesity, insulin resistant and arteriosclerosis. The expression levels of miR-143 were closely correlated with those of PPARγ (R=0.600, p=0.0040) and AP2 (R=0.630, p=0.0022). These findings provide the first evidence for up-regulated expression of miR-143 in the mesenteric fat of HFD-induced obese mice, which might contribute to regulated expression of genes involved in the pathophysiology of obesity.

scholarly journals Eicosapentaenoic acid actions on adiposity and insulin resistance in control and high-fat-fed rats: role of apoptosis, adiponectin and tumour necrosis factor-α

2007 ◽  
Vol 97 (2) ◽  
pp. 389-398 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia Pérez-Matute ◽  
Nerea Pérez-Echarri ◽  
J. Alfredo Martínez ◽  
Amelia Marti ◽  
María J. Moreno-Aliaga
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Insulin Resistance ◽  
Body Weight ◽  
Adipose Tissue ◽  
Weight Gain ◽  
Body Weight Gain ◽  
Control Diet ◽  
Cafeteria Diet ◽  
High Fat ◽  
Beneficial Effects

n-3 PUFA have shown potential anti-obesity and insulin-sensitising properties. However, the mechanisms involved are not clearly established. The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of EPA administration, one of the n-3 PUFA, on body-weight gain and adiposity in rats fed on a standard or a high-fat (cafeteria) diet. The actions on white adipose tissue lipolysis, apoptosis and on several genes related to obesity and insulin resistance were also studied. Control and cafeteria-induced overweight male Wistar rats were assigned into two subgroups, one of them daily received EPA ethyl ester (1 g/kg) for 5 weeks by oral administration. The high-fat diet induced a very significant increase in both body weight and fat mass. Rats fed with the cafeteria diet and orally treated with EPA showed a marginally lower body-weight gain (P = 0·09), a decrease in food intake (P < 0·01) and an increase in leptin production (P < 0·05). EPA administration reduced retroperitoneal adipose tissue weight (P < 0·05) which could be secondary to the inhibition of the adipogenic transcription factor PPARγ gene expression (P < 0·001), and also to the increase in apoptosis (P < 0·05) found in rats fed with a control diet. TNFα gene expression was significantly increased (P < 0·05) by the cafeteria diet, while EPA treatment was able to prevent (P < 0·01) the rise in this inflammatory cytokine. Adiposity-corrected adiponectin plasma levels were increased by EPA. These actions on both TNFα and adiponectin could explain the beneficial effects of EPA on insulin resistance induced by the cafeteria diet.

scholarly journals Peripancreatic adipose tissue protects against high-fat-diet-induced hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance in mice

2020 ◽  
Vol 44 (11) ◽  
pp. 2323-2334
Author(s):  
Belén Chanclón ◽  
Yanling Wu ◽  
Milica Vujičić ◽  
Marco Bauzá-Thorbrügge ◽  
Elin Banke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Insulin Resistance ◽  
Adipose Tissue ◽  
Hepatic Steatosis ◽  
High Fat Diet ◽  
Obese Mice ◽  
High Fat ◽  
Insulin Levels ◽  
Fat Depots ◽  
Fat Depot

Abstract Background/objectives Visceral adiposity is associated with increased diabetes risk, while expansion of subcutaneous adipose tissue may be protective. However, the visceral compartment contains different fat depots. Peripancreatic adipose tissue (PAT) is an understudied visceral fat depot. Here, we aimed to define PAT functionality in lean and high-fat-diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. Subjects/methods Four adipose tissue depots (inguinal, mesenteric, gonadal, and peripancreatic adipose tissue) from chow- and HFD-fed male mice were compared with respect to adipocyte size (n = 4–5/group), cellular composition (FACS analysis, n = 5–6/group), lipogenesis and lipolysis (n = 3/group), and gene expression (n = 6–10/group). Radioactive tracers were used to compare lipid and glucose metabolism between these four fat depots in vivo (n = 5–11/group). To determine the role of PAT in obesity-associated metabolic disturbances, PAT was surgically removed prior to challenging the mice with HFD. PAT-ectomized mice were compared to sham controls with respect to glucose tolerance, basal and glucose-stimulated insulin levels, hepatic and pancreatic steatosis, and gene expression (n = 8–10/group). Results We found that PAT is a tiny fat depot (~0.2% of the total fat mass) containing relatively small adipocytes and many “non-adipocytes” such as leukocytes and fibroblasts. PAT was distinguished from the other fat depots by increased glucose uptake and increased fatty acid oxidation in both lean and obese mice. Moreover, PAT was the only fat depot where the tissue weight correlated positively with liver weight in obese mice (R = 0.65; p = 0.009). Surgical removal of PAT followed by 16-week HFD feeding was associated with aggravated hepatic steatosis (p = 0.008) and higher basal (p < 0.05) and glucose-stimulated insulin levels (p < 0.01). PAT removal also led to enlarged pancreatic islets and increased pancreatic expression of markers of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and islet development (p < 0.05). Conclusions PAT is a small metabolically highly active fat depot that plays a previously unrecognized role in the pathogenesis of hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance in advanced obesity.

SO023HEPATOCYTE GROWTH FACTOR (HGF) PRECLUDE HIGH-FAT DIET-INDUCED OBESITY AND IMPROVED INSULIN RESISTANCE IN MICE

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (Supplement_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Muratsu ◽  
Yoshiaki Taniyama ◽  
Fumihiro Sanada ◽  
Atsuyuki Morishima ◽  
Katsuhiko Sakaguchi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Insulin Resistance ◽  
Body Weight ◽  
Adipose Tissue ◽  
Growth Factor ◽  
Inflammatory Mediators ◽  
High Fat Diet ◽  
Neutralizing Antibody ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
High Fat

Abstract Background and Aims Obesity and its associated chronic inflammation in adipose tissue initiate insulin resistance, which is related to several pathologies including hypertension and atherosclerosis. Previous reports demonstrated that circulating hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) level was associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes. However, its precise role in obesity and related-pathology is unclear. Method In this experiment, cardiac-specific over-expression of human HGF in mice (HGF-Tg mice) which showed 4-5 times higher serum HGF levels than wild-type mice were used. We chose cardiac specific HGF overexpression, as other strain of HGF transgenic mice such as liver and kidney specific HGF overexpression mice develop cancer and cystic diseases, which are rare in the heart. In the present study, using HGF-Tg mice and anti-HGF neutralizing antibody (HGF-Ab), we explored the role of HGF in obese and insulin resistance induced by high fat diet (HFD) for 14 weeks (200 or 400ug/week). Results With normal chow diet (ND), there were no significant changes in body weight between WT and HGF-Tg mice. While body weight in wild-type mice fed with HFD for 14 weeks was significantly increased accompanied with insulin resistance, HGF-Tg mice prevented body weight gain and insulin resistance. Insulin resistance in obesity arises from the combination of altered functions of insulin target cells (e.g., liver, skeletal muscle, and adipose tissue) and the accumulation of macrophages that secrete pro-inflammatory mediators in adipose tissue. The accumulation of macrophages and elevated levels of inflammatory mediators in adipose tissue were significantly inhibited in HGF-Tg mice as compared to wild-type mice. In the gWAT, the mRNA levels of the mature macrophage marker F4/80, the chemoattractants, MCP-1 and CXCL2, and the inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α and iNOS, were significantly increased in WT mice fed with HFD. However, these levels were markedly reduced in HGF-Tg mice fed with HFD. Additionally, activation of Akt by insulin administration was significantly reduced in the gWAT SM, and liver by HFD; however, this activation was restored in HGF-Tg mice. Moreover, insulin-induced Akt signaling was decreased in HGF-Ab groups as compared to saline group under HFD condition. Importantly, HFD significantly increased the level of HGF mRNA by approximately 2 fold in gWAT, SM, and liver without changing cMet expression. All together, these data indicate that the HGF as one of the systemic gWAT, SM, and liver-derived growth factor plays a role in compensatory mechanism against insulin-resistance through the at least anti-inflammatory effect in adipose tissue. The HFD-induced obesity in wild-type mice treated with HGF-neutralizing antibody showed an exacerbated response to the glucose tolerance test. Conclusion HGF suppresses inflammation in adipose tissue induced by a high-fat diet, and as a result improves systemic insulin resistance. These gain-of-function and loss-of-function studies demonstrated that the elevated HGF level induced by HFD have protective role against obesity and insulin resistance.

scholarly journals Luteolin Improves Insulin Resistance in Postmenopausal Obese Mice by Altering Macrophage Polarization (FS12-01-19)

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yunjung Baek ◽  
Mi Nam Lee ◽  
Dayong Wu ◽  
Munkyong Pae
Keyword(s):  
Insulin Resistance ◽  
Body Weight ◽  
Adipose Tissue ◽  
High Fat Diet ◽  
Ovarian Function ◽  
Body Weight Gain ◽  
Adipose Tissue Inflammation ◽  
High Fat ◽  
Tissue Inflammation ◽  
Ovariectomized Mice

Abstract Objectives Previously, we showed that loss of ovarian function in mice fed high-fat diet exacerbated insulin resistance and adipose tissue inflammation. In the current study, we tested whether consumption of luteolin, an anti-inflammatory flavonoid, could mitigate adipose tissue inflammation and insulin resistance in obese ovariectomized mice. Methods Nine-week-old ovariectomized C57BL/6 mice were fed a low-fat diet (LFD), high-fat diet (HFD), or HFD supplemented with 0.005% luteolin (HFD + L) for 16 weeks. The anti-inflammatory drug salicylate was used as a positive control. Fasting blood glucose, insulin, and insulin resistance index HOMA-IR were measured every 4 weeks. Adipose tissue and spleen were characterized for tissue inflammation by real-time PCR and immune cell populations by flow cytometry after 16 weeks of feeding. Results HFD resulted in more body weight gain than LFD in ovariectomized mice and supplementing HFD with 0.005% luteolin did not affect the body weight gain. In addition, HFD elicited a significant elevation in fat mass, which were comparable between HFD and HFD + L groups. However, luteolin supplementation resulted in a significant decrease in CD11c+ macrophages in gonadal adipose tissue, as well as a trend of decrease in macrophage infiltration. Luteolin supplementation also significantly decreased mRNA expression of inflammatory and M1 markers MCP-1, CD11c, TNF-a, and IL-6, while maintaining expression of M2 marker MGL1. We further found that luteolin treatment protected mice from insulin resistance induced by HFD consumption; this improved insulin resistance was correlated with reductions in CD11c+ adipose tissue macrophages. Conclusions Our findings indicate that dietary luteolin supplementation attenuates adipose tissue inflammation and insulin resistance found in mice with loss of ovarian function coupled with a HFD intake, and this effect may be partly mediated through suppressing M1-like polarization of macrophages in adipose tissue. These results have clinical implication in implementing dietary intervention for prevention of metabolic syndrome associated with postmenopause and obesity. Funding Sources Supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korea government (MSIP) (NRF-2018R1A1A1A05078886).

The Effects of Gymnema sylvestre in High-Fat Diet-Induced Metabolic Disorders

2017 ◽  
Vol 45 (04) ◽  
pp. 813-832 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyeon-Jeong Kim ◽  
Sanghwa Kim ◽  
Ah Young Lee ◽  
Yoonjeong Jang ◽  
Orkhonselenge Davaadamdin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Insulin Resistance ◽  
Body Weight ◽  
Adipose Tissue ◽  
Dietary Supplement ◽  
High Fat Diet ◽  
Liver Steatosis ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
Gymnema Sylvestre ◽  
High Fat

This study used an integrated approach to investigate the effects of Gymnema sylvestre (GS) extract as a functional dietary supplement with a high-fat diet. This approach examined insulin resistance, the dysfunction of adipose tissue, and liver steatosis. Male C57BL/6J mice were fed a normal chow or high-fat diet (HFD) for the acute and chronic study, in addition to GS in different doses (100, 250 and 500[Formula: see text]mg/kg body weight). Their body composition changes, serum lipid and glucose parameters, adipose and liver tissue histology, and gene expression were measured. It was found that GS significantly suppressed the increase of body weight, serum levels of lipid, insulin and leptin, and adipose tissue, and liver inflammation. GS also demonstrated hypoglycemic effects due to the amylase inhibition activity. Our results support the existence of a relationship between the HFD induced insulin resistance, adipose dysfunction and liver steatosis. In conclusion, GS works as a functional dietary supplement with preventative effects against metabolic disorder.

Nutrient-Adjusted High-Fat Diet is Associated with Absence of Periepididymal Adipose Tissue Inflammation: Is there a Link with Adequate Micronutrient Levels?

2013 ◽  
Vol 83 (5) ◽  
pp. 299-310 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monica Yamada ◽  
Marina Maintinguer Norde ◽  
Maria C. Borges ◽  
Tatiane Mieko de Meneses Fujii ◽  
Patrícia Silva Jacob ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Body Weight ◽  
Adipose Tissue ◽  
High Fat Diet ◽  
Adipose Tissue Inflammation ◽  
C Reactive Protein ◽  
High Fat ◽  
Tissue Inflammation ◽  
Reactive Protein ◽  
Tnf Α

The aim of this study was to investigate the real impact of dietary lipids on metabolic and inflammatory response in rat white adipose tissue. Male healthy Wistar rats were fed ad libitum with a control diet (CON, n=12) or with an adjusted high-fat diet (HFD, n=12) for 12 weeks. Oral glucose and insulin tolerance tests were performed during the last week of the protocol. Plasma fatty acid, lipid profile, body adiposity, and carcass chemical composition were analyzed. Plasma concentration of leptin, adiponectin, C-reactive protein (CRP), TNF-α, IL-6, and monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP-1) was measured. Periepididymal adipose tissue was employed to evaluate TNF-α, MCP-1, and adiponectin gene expression as well as NF-κB pathway and AKT proteins. Isocaloric intake of the adjusted HFD did not induce hyperphagia, but promoted an increase in periepididymal (HFD = 2.94 ± 0.77 vs. CON = 1.99 ± 0.26 g/100 g body weight, p = 0.01) and retroperitoneal adiposity (HFD = 3.11 ± 0.81 vs. CON = 2.08 ± 0.39 g/100 g body weight, p = 0.01) and total body lipid content (HFD = 105.3 ± 20.8 vs. CON = 80.5 ± 7.6 g carcass, p = 0.03). Compared with control rats, HFD rats developed glucose intolerance (p=0.01), dyslipidemia (p = 0.02) and exhibited higher C-reactive protein levels in response to the HFD (HFD = 1002 ± 168 vs. CON = 611 ± 260 ng/mL, p = 0.01). The adjusted HFD did not affect adipokine gene expression or proteins involved in inflammatory signaling, but decreased AKT phosphorylation after insulin stimulation in periepididymal adipose tissue (p = 0.01). In this study, nutrient-adjusted HFD did not induce periepididymal adipose tissue inflammation in rats, suggesting that the composition of HFD differently modulates inflammation in rats, and adequate micronutrient levels may also influence inflammatory pathways.

scholarly journals Changes in Adiponectin and Inflammatory Genes in Response to Hormonal Imbalances in Female Mice and Exacerbation of Depot Selective Visceral Adiposity by High-Fat Diet: Implications for Insulin Resistance

Endocrinology ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 148 (12) ◽  
pp. 5667-5679 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui Zhang ◽  
Xinlei Chen ◽  
Jayaprakash Aravindakshan ◽  
M. Ram Sairam
Keyword(s):  
Insulin Resistance ◽  
Adipose Tissue ◽  
Glucose Tolerance ◽  
High Fat Diet ◽  
Visceral Adiposity ◽  
Protein Kinase Activity ◽  
High Fat ◽  
Inflammatory Genes ◽  
Female Mice ◽  
Mesenteric Fat

Early obesity and late onset of insulin resistance associated with hormonal imbalances occur in FSH receptor-deficient follitropin receptor knockout female mice. This study tests the hypothesis that chronic high-fat diet aggravates obesogenic changes in a depot-specific manner and explores some molecular links of hormone imbalances with insulin resistance. In SV 129 mice, hormonal imbalances seem obligatory for exacerbation of diet-induced obesity. Visceral adiposity, glucose intolerance, and lipid disturbances in 9-month follitropin receptor knockout females were associated with decrease in adiponectin signaling. High-molecular-weight plasma adiponectin and adipose tissue adiponectin mRNA were decreased. Adiponectin receptors R1 and R2 mRNA was selectively altered in mesenteric fat but not periuterine fat. R2 decreased in the liver and R1 was higher in muscle. Whereas hepatic adenosine monophosphate T-activated protein kinase activity was down-regulated, both phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and glucose-6-phosphatase enzymes were up-regulated. Longitudinally, diminishing sex hormone signaling in adipose tissue was associated with progressive down-regulation of adiponectin activity and gradual impaired glucose tolerance. Chronic high-fat diet in SV129 wild-type mice did not produce overt obesity but induced visceral fat depot changes accompanied by liver lipid accumulation, high cholesterol, and up-regulation of inflammation gene mRNAs. Thus, TNF-α, C-C motif chemokine receptor-2, and C-C motif chemokine ligand-2 were selectively elevated in mesenteric fat without altering glucose tolerance and adiponectin signaling. Our study highlights adiponectin signaling and regulation to be involved in hormone imbalance-induced insulin resistance and demonstrates selective visceral adipose depot alterations by chronic high-fat diet and induction of inflammatory genes.

scholarly journals The Effects of Poncirus fructus on Insulin Resistance and the Macrophage-Mediated Inflammatory Response in High Fat Diet-Induced Obese Mice

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (12) ◽  
pp. 2858 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mia Kim ◽  
Mi Hyeon Seol ◽  
Byung-Cheol Lee
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Insulin Resistance ◽  
Adipose Tissue ◽  
Kupffer Cells ◽  
High Fat Diet ◽  
Inflammatory Responses ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
Obese Mice ◽  
High Fat ◽  
Epididymal Fat

Obesity is a chronic low-grade inflammatory condition in which hypertrophied adipocytes and adipose tissue immune cells, mainly macrophages, contribute to increased circulating levels of proinflammatory cytokines. Obesity-associated chronic low-grade systemic inflammation is considered a focal point and a therapeutic target in insulin resistance and metabolic diseases. We evaluate the effect of Poncirus fructus (PF) on insulin resistance and its mechanism based on inflammatory responses in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. Mice were fed an HFD to induce obesity and then administered PF. Body weight, epididymal fat and liver weight, glucose, lipid, insulin, and histologic characteristics were evaluated to determine the effect of PF on insulin resistance by analyzing the proportion of macrophages in epididymal fat and liver and measured inflammatory gene expression. PF administration significantly decreased the fasting and postprandial glucose, fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, total-cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. The epididymal fat tissue and liver showed a significant decrease of fat accumulation in histological analysis. PF significantly reduced the number of adipose tissue macrophages (ATMs), F4/80+ Kupffer cells, and CD68+ Kupffer cells, increased the proportion of M2 phenotype macrophages, and decreased the gene expression of inflammatory cytokines. These results suggest that PF could be used to improve insulin resistance through modulation of macrophage-mediated inflammation and enhance glucose and lipid metabolism.

scholarly journals A minor role for lipocalin 2 in high-fat diet-induced glucose intolerance

2011 ◽  
Vol 301 (5) ◽  
pp. E825-E835 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucy S. Jun ◽  
C. Parker Siddall ◽  
Evan D. Rosen
Keyword(s):  
Insulin Resistance ◽  
Body Composition ◽  
Body Weight ◽  
Adipose Tissue ◽  
Insulin Sensitivity ◽  
Glucose Intolerance ◽  
High Fat Diet ◽  
Metabolic Phenotype ◽  
Chow Diet ◽  
High Fat

Adipose tissue controls energy homeostasis and systemic insulin sensitivity through the elaboration of a series of cytokines and hormones, collectively termed “adipokines.” We and others have identified Lcn2 as a novel adipokine, but its exact role in obesity-induced insulin resistance remains controversial. The aim of this study was to examine the metabolic phenotype of Lcn2−/− mice to clarify the role of Lcn2 in metabolism. Male and female Lcn2−/− and wild-type (WT) littermates were placed on either chow or high-fat diet (HFD) to characterize their metabolic phenotype. Studies included body weight and body composition, glucose and insulin tolerance tests, and adipokine expression studies in serum and in white adipose tissue (WAT). Neither chow nor HFD cohorts showed any differences in body weight or body composition. Chow-fed Lcn2−/− mice did not exhibit any difference in glucose homeostasis compared with WT mice. Fasting serum glucose levels were lower in the chow-fed Lcn2−/− mice, but this finding was not seen in the HFD cohort. Serum adiponectin, leptin, resistin, and RBP4 levels were not different between WT and Lcn2−/− on chow diet. HFD-fed male Lcn2−/− mice did display a small improvement in glucose tolerance, but no difference in insulin sensitivity was seen in either male or female Lcn2−/− mice on HFD. We conclude that the global ablation of Lcn2 has a minimal effect on obesity-associated glucose intolerance but does not appear to affect either age- or obesity-mediated insulin resistance in vivo.

Haploinsufficiency of the retinoblastoma protein gene reduces diet-induced obesity, insulin resistance, and hepatosteatosis in mice

2009 ◽  
Vol 297 (1) ◽  
pp. E184-E193 ◽  
Author(s):  
Josep Mercader ◽  
Joan Ribot ◽  
Incoronata Murano ◽  
Søren Feddersen ◽  
Saverio Cinti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Insulin Resistance ◽  
Body Weight ◽  
Adipose Tissue ◽  
Brown Adipose Tissue ◽  
High Fat Diet ◽  
Retinoblastoma Protein ◽  
Brown Adipocyte ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
High Fat ◽  
Brown Adipose

Brown adipose tissue activity dissipates energy as heat, and there is evidence that lack of the retinoblastoma protein (pRb) may favor the development of the brown adipocyte phenotype in adipose cells. In this work we assessed the impact of germ line haploinsufficiency of the pRb gene (Rb) on the response to high-fat diet feeding in mice. Rb+/− mice had body weight and adiposity indistinguishable from that of wild-type (Rb+/+) littermates when maintained on a standard diet, yet they gained less body weight and body fat after long-term high-fat diet feeding coupled with reduced feed efficiency and increased rectal temperature. Rb haploinsufficiency ameliorated insulin resistance and hepatosteatosis after high-fat diet in male mice, in which these disturbances were more marked than in females. Compared with wild-type littermates, Rb+/− mice fed a high-fat diet displayed higher expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)γ as well as of genes involved in mitochondrial function, cAMP sensitivity, brown adipocyte determination, and tissue vascularization in white adipose tissue depots. Furthermore, Rb+/− mice exhibited signs of enhanced activation of brown adipose tissue and higher expression levels of PPARα in liver and of PPARδ in skeletal muscle, suggestive of an increased capability for fatty acid oxidation in these tissues. These findings support a role for pRb in modulating whole body energy metabolism and the plasticity of the adipose tissues in vivo and constitute first evidence that partial deficiency in the Rb gene protects against the development of obesity and associated metabolic disturbances.

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