Project description:White adipose tissue (WAT) expansion during e.g. obesity reduces oxygen availability in WAT in mice. Little is known on the adaptation of WAT to mild environmental oxygen restriction (OxR). Therefore, we studied metabolic adaptation to acute OxR in fasted, diet-induced moderately obese mice that were exposed to mild hypoxic (12% O2) or normoxic (20.9% O2) conditions for only 6 hours. Adaptation was assessed by determination of amino acids and (acyl)carnitines levels in serum and WAT, and by whole genome expression analysis in WAT. Adaptation was also assessed during the exposure using indirect calorimetry. We found that OxR reduced mitochondrial oxidation at whole-body level, as shown by a reduction in whole-body oxygen consumption and an increase in serum long-chain acylcarnitine levels. WAT did not seem to contribute to this serum profile since only short-chain acylcarnitines were increased in WAT and gene expression analysis indicated an increase in mitochondrial oxidation, based on coordinate down-regulation of Sirt4, Gpam and Chchd3/Minos3. In addition, OxR did not induce oxidative stress in obese WAT, but increased molecular pathways involved in cell growth and proliferation. OxR increased levels of tyrosine, lysine and ornithine in serum and of leucine/isoleucine in WAT. This study shows that OxR limits oxidative phosphorylation at whole-body level, but in WAT compensatory mechanisms seem to operate. The down-regulation of the mitochondria-related genes Sirt4, Gpam, and Chchd3 may be considered as a biomarker profile for WAT mitochondrial reprogramming in response to acute exposure to limited oxygen availability.
Project description:Background: Excessive white adipose tissue (WAT) expansion as in obesity is generally associated with chronic inflammation of WAT, which contributes to obesity associated complications. Low oxygen availability in WAT is hypothesized to be the initiator of this inflammatory response. Hypothesis: We examined the hypothesis that local tissue hypoxia is responsible for the initiation of inflammation in WAT. Research design and methods: Diet-induced obese male C57BL/6JOlaHsd mice, housed at thermoneutrality, were exposed to mild environmental oxygen restriction (OxR, to 13% oxygen) for five days and compared with mice kept at normoxia, after which WAT and serum were collected. Body composition, systemic metabolic parameters, WAT macrophage infiltration (as marker for tissue inflammation) and whole genome microarray analysis, and circulating adipokines were measured. Results: Five days OxR decreased body weight and fat mass, and increased blood levels of haemoglobin and haematocrit, as well as lactate to glucose ratio, which indicated systemic hypoxia. No difference in adipose tissue inflammation was found, which was supported by down regulation of inflammation-associated transcript levels of S100a8, Saa1, and Saa3. Serum metabolomics revealed an increase of branched chain amino acid Valine and propionylcarnitine. Adipokines CCDC3, CCK, and Adiponectin are reduced by OxR on transcript (Cck) or serum protein level (Adiponectin), or both (CCDC3). Conclusions: Mild oxygen restriction does not increase white adipose tissue inflammation in obese mice. However, a systemic adaptation together with a metabolic response in WAT was observed.
Project description:SIRT1 is a NAD+-dependent protein deacetylase. SIRT1 plays key roles in metabolic regulation and adaptation. In this study, we wanted to compare gene expression profile in SIRT1 overexpressing mice to WT mice submitted to different intervention (caloric restriction and exercise training) in different tissues (liver, skeletal muscle, brown and white adipose tissues).
Project description:Leanness is associated with increased lifespan and is linked to favorable metabolic conditions promoting life extension. We show here that deficiency of the lipid synthesis enzyme acyl CoA:diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 (DGAT1), which reduces body fat in mice, promotes longevity. Female DGAT1-deficient mice were protected from age-related increases in body fat, non-adipose tissue triglycerides, and markers of inflammation in white adipose tissue. These metabolic changes were accompanied by an increased mean and maximal lifespan of ~25% and ~10%, respectively. The gene expression profile of DGAT1-deficient mice was not highly correlated with calorie restriction of sex and age matched wild-type littermates. Our findings indicate that loss of DGAT1-mediated lipid synthesis results in leanness, protects against age-related metabolic consequences, and thus extends longevity. Liver gene expression profiles between short-term calorie restricted wild-type (WTCR) and Dgat1 deficient (KO) middle-aged (15-16 mo) female mice were compared to determine if calorie restriction and Dgat1 deficiency rely on common regulatory pathways for the promotion of longevity. Both CR and KO were compared to middle-aged wild-type female littermates fed a standard chow diet ad libitum (WTAL).
Project description:SIRT1 is a NAD+-dependent protein deacetylase. SIRT1 plays key roles in metabolic regulation and adaptation. In this study, we wanted to compare gene expression profile in SIRT1 overexpressing mice to WT mice submitted to different intervention (caloric restriction and exercise training) in different tissues (liver, skeletal muscle, brown and white adipose tissues). SIRT1 transgenic model has already been described (Pfluger et al., 2008). Here we used homozygote transgenic mice which had been backcrossed to C57Bl/6N background. 3 months old WT and SIRT1tg mice were fed with a low fat diet. After sacrifice, total mRNA obtained from brown adipose were used for microarray. Caloric restriction (CR) : everyother day feeding during 3 months Exercise training (EX) : mice were housed in running wheel cages during 10 weeks
Project description:Using standardized, semipurified diets is a crucial factor for reproducibility of experimental nutritional studies. For the purpose of comparability and integration of research, two European consortia, Mitofood and BIOCLAIMS, proposed an AIN-93-based standard reference diet, the standardized BIOCLAIMS low-fat diet (LFD) as well as a high-fat diet (HFD). In order to evaluate the BIOCLAIMS LFD and HFD, we performed short-term (5 days) and long-term (12 weeks) feeding experiments using male C57BL/6 mice. The HFD has the same composition as the LFD except the fat content is increased to 40% energy in exchange for carbohydrates. Both diets were accepted by the animals and proof of principle was given that the BIOCLAIMS HFD increases body weight and body fat and affects glucose homeostasis. Short-term feeding trials (5 days) were performed in order to identify metabolic and molecular parameters which can serve as acute predictors for metabolic disorders due to high-fat diet-induced obesity. We analyzed gene expression in gonadal white adipose tissue of short- and long-term fed animals with whole genome microarrays. The BIOCLAIMS HFD strongly influenced gene expression in white adipose tissue after short- and long-term intervention. A total number of 973 and 4678 transcripts were significantly different between both diets after 5 days feeding and 12 weeks feeding, respectively. A total number of 764 transcripts encoding 549 genes were significantly differentially regulated between LF and HF animals after 12 weeks feeding as well as after 5 days feeding. Of these 549 overlapping genes, a substantial number (434 genes) were expressed at a lower level and 115 genes were expressed at a higher level in the HF mice compared to the LF mice. Without exception, all genes were regulated equally. Pathway analysis revealed a prominent role for genes involved in lipid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism and oxidative phosphorylation. This was confirmed by quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR. The high predictive value of gene expression changes in our short-term study compared to long-term high fat feeding is a promising step to get well-defined, early biomarkers that could shorten animal trials considerably and allow a more rapid and efficient screening of different compounds. C57BL/6J wildtype male mice, aged 12 weeks, received a low-fat diet or a high-fat diet for 5 days or 12 weeks. After sacrification, white adipose tissue depots were dissected, and immediately snap frozen in liquid nitrogen. Total RNA was isolated, quantified and qualified, and subsequently used for global gene expression profiling using Agilent 4x44K microarrays.
Project description:Caloric restriction extends lifespan, an effect once thought to involve attenuation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by aerobic metabolism. However, recent evidence suggests that caloric restriction may in fact raise ROS levels, which in turn provides protection from acute doses of oxidant through a process called adaptation. To shed light on the molecular mechanisms of adaptation, we designed a series of genome-wide deletion fitness screens to identify genes involved in adaptation to hydrogen peroxide.