Abstract
Objectives
Brown adipose tissue (BAT) regulates energy balance through thermogenesis, in part via uncoupling protein -1 (UCP-1). White adipose tissue (WAT), namely subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) can convert to a beige/brite adipose tissue phenotype (browning) under thermogenic conditions such as cold. We previously reported that eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) reduced obesity and glucose intolerance, and increased UCP-1 in BAT of B6 mice at ambient temperature (22°C); and these effects were attenuated at thermoneutral environment (28–30°C). We hypothesized that EPA exerts anti-obesity effects on SAT, including increased browning, adipocyte hypotrophy; and these effects require UCP-1.
Methods
Six-week-old B6 wild type (WT) and UCP-1 knock-out (KO) male mice were maintained at thermoneutral environment and fed high fat diet (HF) with or without 36 g/kg of AlaskOmega EPA-enriched fish oil (800 mg/g) for 14 weeks; and SAT was collected for histological, gene and protein analyses. SAT was also prepared from chow diet-fed WT and KO mice at ambient environment to prepare stroma vascular cells, which were differentiated into adipocytes, treated with 100uM EPA for 48 hours then harvested for mRNA and protein analyses.
Results
KO mice fed HF diets had the highest body weight (P < 0.05) among all groups. EPA reduced fat cell size in both WT and KO mice fed the EPA diet. mRNA levels of fibroblast growth factor-21 (FGF-21) were higher in SAT of WT mice fed EPA compared to WT mice fed HF (P < 0.05), with no differences between the KO genotype. KO mice fed HF diets had lower levels of UCP-3 in SAT compared to WT mice fed HF (P < 0.05), which was rescued only in the KO mice fed EPA (P < 0.05). UCP-1 protein levels were very low in SAT tissues, and UCP-2 mRNA levels were similar across all groups in SAT. Interestingly, EPA significantly (P < 0.05) increased mRNA expression of UCP-2, UCP-3 and FGF21 in differentiated SAT adipocytes from both WT and KO compared to control. Furthermore, UCP-1 mRNA levels were significantly higher in WT adipocytes treated with EPA, compared to non-treated cells (P < 0.05). Additional mechanistic studies are currently underway to further dissect adipose depot differences in EPA effects in WT vs. KO mice.
Conclusions
Our data suggest that EPA increases SAT browning, independently of UCP-1.
Funding Sources
NIH/NCCIH.
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