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Song Q, Zhao Z, Liu H, Zhang J, Wang Z, Zhang Y, Ma G, Ge S. Pseudotargeted lipidomics analysis of scoparone on glycerophospholipid metabolism in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis mice by LC-MRM-MS. PeerJ 2024; 12:e17380. [PMID: 38799063 PMCID: PMC11122033 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
As the inflammatory subtype of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the progression of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is associated with disorders of glycerophospholipid metabolism. Scoparone is the major bioactive component in Artemisia capillaris which has been widely used to treat NASH in traditional Chinese medicine. However, the underlying mechanisms of scoparone against NASH are not yet fully understood, which hinders the development of effective therapeutic agents for NASH. Given the crucial role of glycerophospholipid metabolism in NASH progression, this study aimed to characterize the differential expression of glycerophospholipids that is responsible for scoparone's pharmacological effects and assess its efficacy against NASH. Liquid chromatography-multiple reaction monitoring-mass spectrometry (LC-MRM-MS) was performed to get the concentrations of glycerophospholipids, clarify mechanisms of disease, and highlight insights into drug discovery. Additionally, pathologic findings also presented consistent changes in high-fat diet-induced NASH model, and after scoparone treatment, both the levels of glycerophospholipids and histopathology were similar to normal levels, indicating a beneficial effect during the observation time. Altogether, these results refined the insights on the mechanisms of scoparone against NASH and suggested a route to relieve NASH with glycerophospholipid metabolism. In addition, the current work demonstrated that a pseudotargeted lipidomic platform provided a novel insight into the potential mechanism of scoparone action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Song
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei, China
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ziyi Zhao
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei, China
| | - Hu Liu
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei, China
| | - Jinling Zhang
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei, China
| | - Zhiqiang Wang
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, School of Public HealthPublic Health, Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei, China
| | - Yunqi Zhang
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei, China
| | - Guowei Ma
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei, China
| | - Shaoqin Ge
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei, China
- College of Basic Medical Science, Hebei University of Technology, Baoding, Hebei, China
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Ye M, Liu C, Liu J, Lu F, Xue J, Li F, Tang Y. Scoparone inhibits the development of hepatocellular carcinoma by modulating the p38 MAPK/Akt/NF-κB signaling in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease mice. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY 2024; 39:551-561. [PMID: 37436232 DOI: 10.1002/tox.23851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIM The mechanisms underlying the progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) into hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains confusing and the therapeutics approaches are also challenging. Here, we aimed to investigate the effects of scoparone on the treatment of HCC stemmed from NAFLD and the underlying mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS A model of NAFLD-HCC was created in mice, and these mice were treated with scoparone. Biochemical assays were conducted to assess the levels of biochemical markers. Tumors were evaluated through morphological examination. Histopathological analyses were performed using oil red O, Hematoxylin and Eosin, and Masson coloration assays. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and RT-PCR were performed to analyze protein expression and measure mRNA expression levels, respectively. RESULTS Scoparone could ameliorate the pathological alterations observed in NAFLD-HCC mouse model. IHC analysis indicated an upregulation of NF-κB p65 expression in both NAFLD and NAFLD-HCC models, which was subsequently reverted by scoparone administration. Furthermore, scoparone treatment resulted in a reversal of the increased mRNA expression levels of NF-κB target genes, including TNF-α, MCP-1, iNOS, COX-2, NF-κB, and MMP-9, which were originally elevated in the NAFLD-HCC condition. Additionally, scoparone exhibited a capacity to counteract the activation of the MAPK/Akt signaling in the NAFLD-HCC model. CONCLUSION These findings suggest that scoparone holds promise as a potential therapeutic agent for NAFLD-associated HCC, and its model of action may involve the regulation of inflammatory pathways governed by the MAPK/Akt/NF-κB signaling cascade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miaoqing Ye
- Department of Liver Disease, Shaanxi Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Xi'an, China
| | - Chunyan Liu
- First Clinical Medical College, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xian yang, China
| | - Jiaojiao Liu
- Department of Liver Disease, Shaanxi Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Xi'an, China
| | - Fenping Lu
- Literature research institute, Shaanxi Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xi'an, China
| | | | - Fenping Li
- Department of Liver Disease, Shaanxi Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Xi'an, China
| | - Yinghui Tang
- Department of Liver Disease, Shaanxi Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Xi'an, China
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Feng WD, Wang Y, Luo T, Jia X, Cheng CQ, Wang HJ, Zhang MQ, Li QQ, Wang XJ, Li YY, Wang JY, Huang GR, Wang T, Xu AL. Scoparone suppresses mitophagy-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome activation in inflammatory diseases. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2023; 44:1238-1251. [PMID: 36522512 PMCID: PMC10203299 DOI: 10.1038/s41401-022-01028-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent evidence shows that targeting NLRP3 inflammasome activation is an important means to treat inflammasome-driven diseases. Scoparone, a natural compound isolated from the Chinese herb Artemisia capillaris Thunb, has anti-inflammatory activity. In this study we investigated the effect of scoparone on NLRP3 inflammasome activation in inflammatory diseases. In LPS-primed, ATP or nigericin-stimulated mouse macrophage J774A.1 cells and bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs), pretreatment with scoparone (50 μM) markedly restrained canonical and noncanonical NLRP3 inflammasome activation, evidenced by suppressed caspase-1 cleavage, GSDMD-mediated pyroptosis, mature IL-1β secretion and the formation of ASC specks. We then conducted a transcriptome analysis in scoparone-pretreated BMDMs, and found that the differentially expressed genes were significantly enriched in mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolic process, mitochondrial translation and assembly process, as well as in inflammatory response. We demonstrated in J774A.1 cells and BMDMs that scoparone promoted mitophagy, a well-characterized mechanism to control mitochondrial quality and reduce ROS production and subsequent NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Mitophagy blockade by 3-methyladenine (3-MA, 5 mM) reversed the protective effects of scoparone on mitochondrial damage and inflammation in the murine macrophages. Moreover, administration of scoparone (50 mg/kg) exerted significant preventive effects via inhibition of NLRP3 activation in mouse models of bacterial enteritis and septic shock. Collectively, scoparone displays potent anti-inflammatory effects via blocking NLRP3 inflammasome activation through enhancing mitophagy, highlighting a potential action mechanism in treating inflammasome-related diseases for further clinical investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wan-di Feng
- Beijing Research Institute of Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Yao Wang
- Department of Immunology, School of Life Science, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China
- National Key Laboratory of Efficacy and Mechanism on Chinese Medicine for Metabolic Diseases, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Tong Luo
- Department of Immunology, School of Life Science, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Xin Jia
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Cui-Qin Cheng
- Department of Immunology, School of Life Science, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Hao-Jia Wang
- Department of Immunology, School of Life Science, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Mei-Qi Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Qi-Qi Li
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Xue-Jiao Wang
- Department of Immunology, School of Life Science, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Yi-Ying Li
- Department of Immunology, School of Life Science, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Jin-Yong Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Guang-Rui Huang
- Department of Immunology, School of Life Science, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Ting Wang
- Beijing Research Institute of Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China
- National Key Laboratory of Efficacy and Mechanism on Chinese Medicine for Metabolic Diseases, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - An-Long Xu
- Beijing Research Institute of Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China.
- Department of Immunology, School of Life Science, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China.
- National Key Laboratory of Efficacy and Mechanism on Chinese Medicine for Metabolic Diseases, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China.
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Song Q, Liu H, Zhang Y, Qiao C, Ge S. Lipidomics Revealed Alteration of the Sphingolipid Metabolism in the Liver of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Mice Treated with Scoparone. ACS OMEGA 2022; 7:14121-14127. [PMID: 35559132 PMCID: PMC9089391 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c00693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Perturbation in sphingolipid metabolism has been regarded as a risk factor for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) development, predisposing to inflammation, insulin resistance, and weight gain. Scoparone can regulate the level of ceramide in primary hepatocytes and effectively ameliorate hepatic inflammation, apoptosis, steatosis, and fibrogenesis in a mice model of NASH. Nevertheless, the potential effects of scoparone in sphingolipid metabolism, which is dysregulated in NASH, have not been explored so far. To uncover the impact of scoparone on sphingolipid metabolism in NASH and potential therapeutic targets for treating NASH, the liver tissue samples were collected and lipidomics analysis based on UPLC-QTRAP-MRM/MS was carried out. The collected raw data was handled with multivariate data treatment to discover the potential biomarkers in sphingolipid metabolism. Compared to the control group, 22 potential sphingolipid biomarkers were discovered in the NASH group, of which 10 were downregulated and 12 were upregulated. Orally administrated scoparone contributed to the reversal of the levels of these potential biomarkers. Ten differential metabolites showed a tendency of recovery compared to the control group and may be potential targets for scoparone to treat NASH. This study indicated that lipidomics can detect the perturbed sphingolipids to unravel the therapeutic effects of scoparone on NASH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Song
- College
of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hebei University, Baoding 071000, P.R. China
| | - Hu Liu
- College
of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hebei University, Baoding 071000, P.R. China
| | - Yunqi Zhang
- College
of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hebei University, Baoding 071000, P.R. China
| | - Chuanqi Qiao
- College
of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hebei University, Baoding 071000, P.R. China
| | - Shaoqin Ge
- College
of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hebei University, Baoding 071000, P.R. China
- College
of Basic Medical Science, Hebei University, Baoding 071000, P.R. China
- (S.G.). Phone: +86-312-5075644. Fax: +86-312-5075644
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Huang X, Gao Y, Cao H, Li J, Mo S, Li T, Wu J, Guo K, Wei R, Zhang K. Effects of scoparone on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease revealed by RNA sequencing. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:1004284. [PMID: 36157436 PMCID: PMC9500212 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.1004284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Scoparone (SCO) is known to have curative effect of alleviating liver injury. The purpose of this study was to observe the therapeutic effect and possible mechanism of SCO against high-fat diet (HFD) induced non-alcoholic liver disease (NAFLD) through in vivo experiments and RNA sequencing. Male Kunming mice were fed with HFD for 8 weeks to establish a mouse model of NAFLD, and SCO was used to treat NAFLD. Histopathology and biochemical indicators were used to evaluate the liver injury and the efficacy of SCO. RNA sequencing analysis was performed to elucidate the hepatoprotective mechanism of SCO. Finally, the differentially expressed genes of cholesterol synthesis and fatty acid (triglyceride) synthesis pathways were verified by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blot. The histopathological results showed that HFD could lead to significant steatosis in mice, while SCO could alleviate liver steatosis remarkably in NAFLD mice. The determination of biochemical indicators showed that SCO could inhibit the increased serum transaminase activity and liver lipid level induced by HFD. RNA sequencing analysis of liver tissues found that 2742 and 3663 genes were significantly changed by HFD and SCO, respectively. SCO reversed the most of genes involved in cholesterol synthesis and fatty acid (triglyceride) metabolism induced by HFD. the results of the validation experiment were mostly consistent with the RNA sequencing. SCO alleviated liver injury and steatosis in NAFLD mice, which may be closely related to the regulation of cholesterol and fatty acid (triglyceride) metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyan Huang
- Pharmacology Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of High Incidence of Disease, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Diabetic Systems Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China
| | - Ya Gao
- Pharmacology Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of High Incidence of Disease, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Diabetic Systems Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China
| | - Houkang Cao
- Pharmacology Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of High Incidence of Disease, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China
| | - Jun Li
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Siyi Mo
- Pharmacology Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of High Incidence of Disease, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China
| | - Ting Li
- Pharmacology Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of High Incidence of Disease, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China
| | - Jianzhao Wu
- Pharmacology Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of High Incidence of Disease, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China
| | - Kai Guo
- Pharmacology Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of High Incidence of Disease, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China
| | - Riming Wei
- Pharmacology Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of High Incidence of Disease, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Diabetic Systems Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China
- *Correspondence: Riming Wei, ; Kefeng Zhang,
| | - Kefeng Zhang
- Pharmacology Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of High Incidence of Disease, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Diabetic Systems Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China
- *Correspondence: Riming Wei, ; Kefeng Zhang,
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Zhang S, Li Y, Tu Y. Lidocaine attenuates CFA-induced inflammatory pain in rats by regulating the MAPK/ERK/NF-κB signaling pathway. Exp Ther Med 2021; 21:211. [PMID: 33500701 PMCID: PMC7818540 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2021.9643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Lidocaine is a commonly used local anesthetic that also confers analgesic effects, resistance to hyperalgesia and anti-inflammatory properties. The present study aimed to explore the effects of lidocaine on complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced inflammatory pain. In the present study, rats were subcutaneously injected with CFA to investigate the molecular mechanisms associated with lidocaine in an inflammation-induced pain model. Firstly, CFA was subcutaneously injected into the paws of Sprague-Dawley rats, following which lidocaine or saline and the ERK agonist recombinant human epidermal growth factor (rh-EGF) were injected via the tail vein. Rat behavior was then assessed at 0 and 4 h, 1, 4, 7 and 14 days after CFA treatment. Proinflammatory cytokine levels in the serum were measured using ELISA. Western blotting was performed to detect the protein levels of phosphorylated (p)-ERK1/2, ERK1/2 and NF-κB subunits p-p65 and p65. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR was used to measure the mRNA expression of ERK1/2 and p65 in rat spinal cord tissues. The results showed that injection of CFA significantly reduced the mechanical withdrawal threshold, thermal withdrawal latency and the frequency of responses to cold stimulation in rats, whilst promoting tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 levels in addition to ERK1/2, p65 protein phosphorylation. These effects were alleviated by lidocaine treatment. Furthermore, treatment with rh-EGF reversed the protective effects of lidocaine on inflammatory pain caused by CFA. In conclusion, lidocaine inhibits the inflammatory response and pain through the MAPK/ERK/NF-κB pathway in a rat model of pain induced by CFA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuli Zhang
- Department of Pain Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830054, P.R. China
| | - Yan Li
- Department of Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830054, P.R. China
| | - Yingjun Tu
- Department of Orthopaedics, Yili Friendship Hospital, Yining, Xinjiang 835000, P.R. China
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Boudreau A, Richard AJ, Harvey I, Stephens JM. Artemisia scoparia and Metabolic Health: Untapped Potential of an Ancient Remedy for Modern Use. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2021; 12:727061. [PMID: 35211087 PMCID: PMC8861327 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2021.727061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Botanicals have a long history of medicinal use for a multitude of ailments, and many modern pharmaceuticals were originally isolated from plants or derived from phytochemicals. Among these, artemisinin, first isolated from Artemisia annua, is the foundation for standard anti-malarial therapies. Plants of the genus Artemisia are among the most common herbal remedies across Asia and Central Europe. The species Artemisia scoparia (SCOPA) is widely used in traditional folk medicine for various liver diseases and inflammatory conditions, as well as for infections, fever, pain, cancer, and diabetes. Modern in vivo and in vitro studies have now investigated SCOPA's effects on these pathologies and its ability to mitigate hepatotoxicity, oxidative stress, obesity, diabetes, and other disease states. This review focuses on the effects of SCOPA that are particularly relevant to metabolic health. Indeed, in recent years, an ethanolic extract of SCOPA has been shown to enhance differentiation of cultured adipocytes and to share some properties of thiazolidinediones (TZDs), a class of insulin-sensitizing agonists of the adipogenic transcription factor PPARγ. In a mouse model of diet-induced obesity, SCOPA diet supplementation lowered fasting insulin and glucose levels, while inducing metabolically favorable changes in adipose tissue and liver. These observations are consistent with many lines of evidence from various tissues and cell types known to contribute to metabolic homeostasis, including immune cells, hepatocytes, and pancreatic beta-cells. Compounds belonging to several classes of phytochemicals have been implicated in these effects, and we provide an overview of these bioactives. The ongoing global epidemics of obesity and metabolic disease clearly require novel therapeutic approaches. While the mechanisms involved in SCOPA's effects on metabolic, anti-inflammatory, and oxidative stress pathways are not fully characterized, current data support further investigation of this plant and its bioactives as potential therapeutic agents in obesity-related metabolic dysfunction and many other conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anik Boudreau
- Adipocyte Biology Laboratory, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA, United States
| | - Allison J. Richard
- Adipocyte Biology Laboratory, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA, United States
| | - Innocence Harvey
- Adipocyte Biology Laboratory, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA, United States
| | - Jacqueline M. Stephens
- Adipocyte Biology Laboratory, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA, United States
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, United States
- *Correspondence: Jacqueline M. Stephens,
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