Project description:Maternal obesity is linked with increased adverse outcomes for mother and fetus. However, the metabolic impact of excessive fat accumulation within the altered hormonal context of pregnancy is not well understood. We used a murine model of obesity, the high fat diet-fed C57BL/6J mouse to determine adipose tissue-mediated molecular mechanisms driving metabolic dysfunction throughout pregnancy. Remarkably, obese mice exhibited a normalization of visceral fat accumulation at late-stage pregnancy (-53%, P<0.001 E18.5) to achieve levels comparable in mass (per gram of body weight) to that of non pregnant, control diet fed mice. Moreover, whilst obese pregnant mice showed a marked glucose intolerance and apparent insulin resistance at mid-stage pregnancy (E14.5), glucose homeostasis converged with that of lean pregnant mice at late-stage pregnancy, suggesting an unexpected amelioration of the worsening metabolic dysfunction in obese pregnant mice. Transcriptomic analysis of the late-stage visceral fat indicated reduced de novo lipogenic drive (Me1, Fasn, Scd1, Dgat2), retinol metabolism (Rdh11, Rbp4) and inflammation (Mcp1, Tnfα) in obese pregnant mice that was confirmed functionally by their lower adipose proinflammatory macrophage density. Elevated expression of estrogen receptor a (ERα) in visceral adipose tissue was identified as potential unifying mechanism for the transcriptional changes and reduced adiposity of late stage obese pregnancy. Support for a role for ERα was provided by experiments showing that the ERα selective agonist PPT suppressed lipogenesis in primary mouse adipocytes and suppressed Me1, Fasn, SCD1 and Dgat2 mRNA levels in mature female human ChubS7 clonal fat cells. Our data reveal a novel role for elevated visceral adipocyte estrogen signaling as a protective mechanism against visceral fat hypertrophy and inflammation in late pregnancy. Pregnant high fat, pregnant control fat, non pregnant high fat, non pregnant control fat. Five biologial replictes each (20 samples).
Project description:To investigate the TVA diet's effect on mouse gut microbiome, we fed C57/BL6 mice with TVA diet or CON diet for 18 days We then collected feces of the mice and performed 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequencing.
Project description:We generate B-cell-specific Tlr9-deficient (Tlr9fl/fl/Cd19Cre+/-, KO) B6 mice and model obesity using a high-fat diet. Compared with control mice, B cell Tlr9-deficient mice exhibited increased weight gain, impaired glucose and insulin tolerance, reduced IL-10-producing B cells and increased inflammation in fat tissues. Tlr9 deficiency affected B cell differentiation, immunoglobulin levels, and T cell subsets. Furthermore, altered gut microbiota in B-cell-specific Tlr9-deficient mice led to a pro-inflammatory status in gut associated lymphoid tissues and glucose metabolism dysregulation. Using 16S rRNA sequencing we report altered gut microbial communities in the KO mice. Indeed, a reduction in Lachnospiraceae, may play a key role in the observed metabolic phenotypes in KO mice. Also, We identify an important network involving Tlr9, Irf4 and Il-10.
Project description:The aim of the study was to characterise the effects of prenatal metformin exposure on a tissue gene expression level in mice. The data consists of two models, regular diet (study I) and high fat diet (study II) model. In both models, metformin (300 mg/kg) or control agent (water) was administered to pregnant female mice from the embryonic day E0.5 untill E17.5. In the high fat diet model, the dams had been on a high fat diet (60% of fat) for one month prior to and during the gestation. The diet was changed to regular diet from E18.5. The pups were sacrificed by decapitation at postnatal day 4 and brain (study I), liver (studies I and II) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (study II) were taken for further microarray analyses.
Project description:Gut intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) are one of the few immune cell populations in the body that expresses glucagon-like 1 receptors (GLP-1R). To test the potential effects of GLP-1 on the gut microbiota through the gut IEL GLP-1R, we performed 16s rRNA seq on the DNA isolated from the fecal pellet of Lck-Cre; Glp1rfl/fl mice (Glp1rTcell-/-) or controls (Glp1rTcell+/+) fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 12 weeks followed by 1 week of HFD plus semaglutide (10 ug/kg) or vehicle treatment. Fecal pellets from a group of age-matched, sex-matched control mice were included as a chow control group.
Project description:The aim of the study was to characterise the effects of prenatal metformin exposure on a tissue gene expression level in mice. The data consists of two models, regular diet (study I) and high fat diet (study II) model. In both models, metformin (300 mg/kg) or control agent (water) was administered to pregnant female mice from the embryonic day E0.5 untill E17.5. In the high fat diet model, the dams had been on a high fat diet (60% of fat) for one month prior to and during the gestation. The diet was changed to regular diet from E18.5. The pups were sacrificed by decapitation at postnatal day 4 and brain (study I), liver (studies I and II) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (study II) were taken for further microarray analyses. In study I,there are 3 replicates in each group of interest: brain_male_ctrl; brain_male_met; liver_male_ctrl; liver_male_met; liver_female_ctrl; liver_female_met. In study II, there are 6 replicates in each group of interest: liver_male_ctrl; liver_male_met; wat_male_ctrl; wat_male_met.
Project description:By regulating digestion and absorption of nutrients and providing a barrier against the external environment the intestine provides a crucial contribution to the maintenance of health. To what extent aging-related changes in the intestinal system contribute to the impaired health of the aging body is still under debate. Young (4 months) and old (21 months) male C57BL/6J mice were fed a control low-fat (10E%) or a high-fat diet (45E%) for 2 weeks. During the intervention gross energy intake and energy excretion in the feces were measured. After sacrifice the small and large intestine were isolated whereby the small intestine was divided in three equal parts. Of each of the isolated segments Swiss rolls were prepared for histological analysis and the luminal content was isolated to examine alterations in the microflora with 16S rRNA Q-PCR. Furthermore, mucosal scrapings were isolated from each segment to determine differential gene expression by microarray analysis and global DNA methylation by pyrosequencing. Digestible energy intake was similar between the two age groups on both the control and the high-fat diet implying that macronutrient metabolism is not affected in 21-month-old mice. This observation was supported by the fact that the microarray analysis on RNA from intestinal scrapings showed no marked changes in expression of genes involved in metabolic processes. Decreased expression of Cubilin was observed in the intestine of 21-month-old mice, which might contribute to aging-induced vitamin B12 deficiency. Furthermore, microarray data analysis revealed enhanced expression of a high number of genes involved in immune response and inflammation in the colon, but not in the small intestine of the 21-month-old mice. Aging-induced global hypomethylation was observed in the colon and the distal part of the small intestine, but not in the first two sections of the small intestine. In 21-month old mice the most pronounced effects of aging was observed in the colon, limited changes were observed in the small intestine. Young (4 months) and old (21 months) C57BL/6J mice were fed a low-fat (10E%) diet or high-fat (45%E) diet for 2 weeks. After the diet intervention period, the animals were killed and scrapings were made of the proximal, middle and distal part of the small intestine. Total RNA was isolated, pooled and subjected to gene expression profiling.