Project description:We demonstrated that RORa-deficient staggerer mice (RORasg/sg) fed with a high fat diet (HFD) showed reduced adiposity and hepatic triglyceride levels compared to wild type (WT) littermates and were resistant to the development of hepatic steatosis, adipose-associated inflammation, and insulin resistance. Gene expression profiling showed that many genes involved in triglyceride synthesis and storage, including Cidec, Cidea, and Mogat1, were expressed at much lower levels in liver of RORasg/sg mice. In addition to reduced lipid accumulation, inflammation was greatly diminished in white adipose tissue (WAT) of RORasg/sg mice fed with a HFD. The infiltration of macrophages and the expression of many immune-response and pro-inflammatory genes, including those encoding various chemo/cytokines, toll-like receptors, and TNF signaling proteins, were significantly reduced in RORasg/sg WAT. Moreover, RORasg/sg mice fed with a HFD were protected from the development of insulin resistance. Together, these results indicate that RORa plays a critical role in the regulation of several aspects of metabolic syndrome. Therefore, RORa may provide a novel therapeutic target in the management of obesity and associated metabolic diseases. Liver and white adipose tissue (WAT) total RNAs were purified from 5 WT and 5 RORasg/sg (natural deletion of RORa gene in mice) mice fed with a high fat diet for 6 weeks. Then samples were applied on Agilent mouse genome chip.
Project description:We demonstrated that RORa-deficient staggerer mice (RORasg/sg) fed with a high fat diet (HFD) showed reduced adiposity and hepatic triglyceride levels compared to wild type (WT) littermates and were resistant to the development of hepatic steatosis, adipose-associated inflammation, and insulin resistance. Gene expression profiling showed that many genes involved in triglyceride synthesis and storage, including Cidec, Cidea, and Mogat1, were expressed at much lower levels in liver of RORasg/sg mice. In addition to reduced lipid accumulation, inflammation was greatly diminished in white adipose tissue (WAT) of RORasg/sg mice fed with a HFD. The infiltration of macrophages and the expression of many immune-response and pro-inflammatory genes, including those encoding various chemo/cytokines, toll-like receptors, and TNF signaling proteins, were significantly reduced in RORasg/sg WAT. Moreover, RORasg/sg mice fed with a HFD were protected from the development of insulin resistance. Together, these results indicate that RORa plays a critical role in the regulation of several aspects of metabolic syndrome. Therefore, RORa may provide a novel therapeutic target in the management of obesity and associated metabolic diseases.
Project description:The retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor a (RORa) is a member of the NR1 subfamily of orphan nuclear hormone receptors. RORa is an important regulator of various biological processes, including cerebellum development, cancer and circadian rhythm. To determine molecular mechanism by which hepatic deletion of RORa induces obesity and insulin resistance, we performed global transcriptome analysis from high-fat diet (HFD)-fed RORa f/f and RORa LKO mouse liver tissues. This analysis provides insight into molecular mechanisms for RORa in high-fat-diet condition.
Project description:Deletion of the GC receptor (GR) in macrophages in mice, aggravates obesity-related insulin resistance, by reducing anti-inflammatory macrophages, and enhancing adipose tissue inflammation. Consequently, the reduction of anti-inflammatory macrophages leads to exaggerated adipose tissue lipolysis and severe hepatic steatosis. Mechanistically, macrophages deficient for GR show a diminished response to IL-4 driven anti-inflammatory polarization, due to disruption of an epigenetic crosstalk between GC and IL-4 signaling involving synergistic loading of GR and STAT6. Our results demonstrate that GR plays an important role in macrophage polarization during obesity by limiting adipose tissue inflammation and lipolysis to promote insulin sensitivity
Project description:SHP (small heterodimer partner; NR0B2) belongs to the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily, which regulates numerous developmental and metabolic cellular functions. To study physiological function of SHP, we generated congenic SHP-/- mice on C57Bl/6 background. When the congenic SHP-/- mice were challenged with a western diet (harlan, TD.88137) for 22 weeks, they were resistant to diet induced obesity and hepatic steatosis compared to WT controls. However, their hepatic insulin sensitivity was compromised when assessed with phospho-Akt levels after insulin injection. Therefore, we investigated hepatic gene expression using illumina beadchip array to explore mechanisms underneath the unique liver physiology in SHP-/- mice. Livers were collected from C57Bl/6 wild type and C57Bl/6 SHP-/- mice fed chow or western diet. The 1 microgram of total RNA obtained from individual mouse (n=4 per group) and subjected to illumina beadchip gene expression profiling.
Project description:SHP (small heterodimer partner; NR0B2) belongs to the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily, which regulates numerous developmental and metabolic cellular functions. To study physiological function of SHP, we generated congenic SHP-/- mice on C57Bl/6 background. When the congenic SHP-/- mice were challenged with a western diet (harlan, TD.88137) for 22 weeks, they were resistant to diet induced obesity and hepatic steatosis compared to WT controls. However, their hepatic insulin sensitivity was compromised when assessed with phospho-Akt levels after insulin injection. Therefore, we investigated hepatic gene expression using illumina beadchip array to explore mechanisms underneath the unique liver physiology in SHP-/- mice.
Project description:Mice overexpressing reverse tetracycline-transactivator (rtTA) exhibited all four sequelae of metabolic syndrome (visceral obesity insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and hypertension), a pro-inflammatory state and marked hepatic steatosis. Gene expression profiling of the adipose tissue, muscle and liver revealed changes in gene expression of key factors involved in lipid metabolism, insulin resistance, and inflammation.
Project description:Obesity and liver diseases are associated with the disruption of the circadian clock that orchestrates mammalian physiology to optimize nutrient metabolism and storage. We show here that the activity of the circadian clock regulator BMAL1 is perturbed during liver fibrosis in humans. To understand the impact of BMAL1 perturbation in obesity and liver diseases, we assessed the impact of a high fat diet or leptin deficiency on Bmal1 knockout mice. While Bmal1 knockout mice were prone to obesity, they were protected against insulin resistance, hepatic steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis. In addition to direct transcriptional regulation of metabolic programs by BMAL1, we show that adaptation of the growth hormone and sex hormone pathways plays a critical role in this protection. Similar endocrine perturbations correlate with the development of liver fibrosis in humans, suggesting that endocrine perturbation associated with circadian disruption is critical for the pathogenesis of metabolic and liver diseases.
Project description:Obesity and liver diseases are associated with the disruption of the circadian clock that orchestrates mammalian physiology to optimize nutrient metabolism and storage. We show here that the activity of the circadian clock regulator BMAL1 is perturbed during liver fibrosis in humans. To understand the impact of BMAL1 perturbation in obesity and liver diseases, we assessed the impact of a high fat diet or leptin deficiency on Bmal1 knockout mice. While Bmal1 knockout mice were prone to obesity, they were protected against insulin resistance, hepatic steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis. In addition to direct transcriptional regulation of metabolic programs by BMAL1, we show that adaptation disruption of the growth hormone and sex hormone pathways plays a critical role in this protection. Similar endocrine perturbations correlate with the development of liver fibrosis in humans, but were absent in hepatocyte specific Bmal1 knockout mice. This suggestsing that systemic endocrine perturbation associated with circadian disruptionthe disruption of BMAL1 activity is critical for the pathogenesis of metabolic and liver diseases.