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Adipose tissue retains an epigenetic memory of obesity after weight loss [CUT&TAG]

ABSTRACT: Reducing body weight to improve metabolic health and related comorbidities is a primary goal in treating obesity. However, maintaining weight loss is a considerable challenge, especially as the body appears to retain an obesogenic memory that defends against body weight changes. Overcoming this barrier for long-term treatment success is difficult because the molecular mechanisms underpinning this phenomenon remain largely unknown. Here, by using single-nuclei RNA-sequencing, we show that both human and mouse adipose tissue retain cellular transcriptional changes after appreciable weight loss. Furthermore, we find persistent obesity-induced alterations in the mouse adipocyte epigenome, negatively affecting their function and response to metabolic stimuli. Mice carrying this obesogenic memory show accelerated rebound weight gain, and the epigenetic memory can explain future transcriptional deregulation in adipocytes in response to further high-fat diet feeding. In summary, our findings indicate the existence of an obesogenic memory, largely based on stable epigenetic changes, in mouse adipocytes, and likely other cell types. These changes appear to prime cells for pathological responses in an obesogenic environment, contributing to the problematic "yo-yo" effect often seen with dieting. Targeting these changes in the future could improve long-term weight management and health outcomes.

ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus

PROVIDER: GSE236577 | GEO | 2024/11/14

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:Objective Obesity is a multidimensional condition that is treatable by the restoration of a lean phenotype; however, some obesity-related outcomes may persist after weight normalization. Among the organs of the human body, the brain possesses a relatively low regenerative capacity and could retain perturbations established as a result of developmental obesity. Calorie restriction (CR) or a restricted ketogenic diet (KD) are successfully used as weight loss approaches, but their impact on obesity-related effects in the brain have not been previously evaluated. Methods We performed a series of experiments in a rat model of developmental obesity induced by a 12-week cafeteria diet, followed by CR to implement weight loss. First, we assessed the impact of obesity on neurogenesis (BrdU incorporation into the hippocampus), cognitive function (water maze), and concomitant changes in hippocampal protein expression (GC/MS-MS, western blot). Next, we repeated these experiments in a rat model of weight loss induced by CR. We also measured mitochondrial enzyme activity in rats after weight loss during the fed or fasting state. By using a modified version of the water maze we evaluated cognitive abilities in rats subjected to weight loss by CR or a restricted KD. Results In this study, obesity affected metabolic processes, upregulated hippocampal NF-κB, and induced proteomic differences which were associated with impaired cognition and neurogenesis. Weight loss improved neurogenesis and enhanced cognition. While the expression pattern of some proteins persisted after weight loss, most of the changes appeared de novo revealing metabolic adjustment by overactivation of citrate synthase and downregulation of ATP synthase. As a consequence of fasting, the activity of these enzymes indicated hippocampal adaptation to negative energy balance during the weight loss phase of CR. Moreover, the effects on cognitive abilities measured after weight loss were negatively correlated with the obesity level and were alleviated by KD, which improved cognition when used as a weight loss approach. Conclusions The study shows that cognition and mitochondrial metabolism in the hippocampus are affected by CR- or KD-induced weight loss.