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Amor M, Diaz M, Bianco V, Svecla M, Schwarz B, Rainer S, Pirchheim A, Schooltink L, Mukherjee S, Grabner GF, Beretta G, Lamina C, Norata GD, Hackl H, Kratky D. Identification of regulatory networks and crosstalk factors in brown adipose tissue and liver of a cold-exposed cardiometabolic mouse model. Cardiovasc Diabetol 2024; 23:298. [PMID: 39143620 PMCID: PMC11325583 DOI: 10.1186/s12933-024-02397-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 08/07/2024] [Indexed: 08/16/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Activation of brown adipose tissue (BAT) has gained attention due to its ability to dissipate energy and counteract cardiometabolic diseases (CMDs). METHODS This study investigated the consequences of cold exposure on the BAT and liver proteomes of an established CMD mouse model based on LDL receptor-deficient (LdlrKO) mice fed a high-fat, high-sucrose, high-cholesterol diet for 16 weeks. We analyzed energy metabolism in vivo and performed untargeted proteomics on BAT and liver of LdlrKO mice maintained at 22 °C or 5 °C for 7 days. RESULTS We identified several dysregulated pathways, miRNAs, and transcription factors in BAT and liver of cold-exposed Ldlrko mice that have not been previously described in this context. Networks of regulatory interactions based on shared downstream targets and analysis of ligand-receptor pairs identified fibrinogen alpha chain (FGA) and fibronectin 1 (FN1) as potential crosstalk factors between BAT and liver in response to cold exposure. Importantly, genetic variations in the genes encoding FGA and FN1 have been associated with cardiometabolic-related phenotypes and traits in humans. DISCUSSION This study describes the key factors, pathways, and regulatory networks involved in the crosstalk between BAT and the liver in a cold-exposed CMD mouse model. These findings may provide a basis for future studies aimed at testing whether molecular mediators, as well as regulatory and signaling mechanisms involved in tissue adaption upon cold exposure, could represent a target in cardiometabolic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melina Amor
- Gottfried Schatz Research Center, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Medical University of Graz, Neue Stiftingtalstrasse 6/4, Graz, 8010, Austria
| | - Malena Diaz
- Gottfried Schatz Research Center, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Medical University of Graz, Neue Stiftingtalstrasse 6/4, Graz, 8010, Austria
| | - Valentina Bianco
- Gottfried Schatz Research Center, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Medical University of Graz, Neue Stiftingtalstrasse 6/4, Graz, 8010, Austria
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Monika Svecla
- Gottfried Schatz Research Center, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Medical University of Graz, Neue Stiftingtalstrasse 6/4, Graz, 8010, Austria
- Department of Neurosurgery, Charité- Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Birgit Schwarz
- Gottfried Schatz Research Center, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Medical University of Graz, Neue Stiftingtalstrasse 6/4, Graz, 8010, Austria
| | - Silvia Rainer
- Gottfried Schatz Research Center, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Medical University of Graz, Neue Stiftingtalstrasse 6/4, Graz, 8010, Austria
| | - Anita Pirchheim
- Gottfried Schatz Research Center, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Medical University of Graz, Neue Stiftingtalstrasse 6/4, Graz, 8010, Austria
| | - Laszlo Schooltink
- Gottfried Schatz Research Center, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Medical University of Graz, Neue Stiftingtalstrasse 6/4, Graz, 8010, Austria
| | - Suravi Mukherjee
- Gottfried Schatz Research Center, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Medical University of Graz, Neue Stiftingtalstrasse 6/4, Graz, 8010, Austria
| | - Gernot F Grabner
- Gottfried Schatz Research Center, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Medical University of Graz, Neue Stiftingtalstrasse 6/4, Graz, 8010, Austria
| | - Giangiacomo Beretta
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Claudia Lamina
- Department of Genetics and Pharmacology, Institute of Genetic Epidemiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Giuseppe Danilo Norata
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Hubert Hackl
- Institute of Bioinformatics, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Dagmar Kratky
- Gottfried Schatz Research Center, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Medical University of Graz, Neue Stiftingtalstrasse 6/4, Graz, 8010, Austria.
- BioTechMed-Graz, Graz, Austria.
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Powell DR, Doree DD, Shadoan MK, Platt KA, Brommage R, Vogel P, Revelli JP. Mice Lacking Mrs2 Magnesium Transporter are Hypophagic and Thin When Maintained on a High-Fat Diet. Endocrinology 2024; 165:bqae072. [PMID: 38878275 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqae072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
Genes regulating body fat are shared with high fidelity by mice and humans, indicating that mouse knockout (KO) phenotyping might identify valuable antiobesity drug targets. Male Mrs2 magnesium transporter (Mrs2) KO mice were recently reported as thin when fed a high-fat diet (HFD). They also exhibited increased energy expenditure (EE)/body weight and had beiged adipocytes that, along with isolated hepatocytes, demonstrated increased oxygen consumption, suggesting that increased EE drove the thin phenotype. Here we provide our data on these and additional assays in Mrs2 KO mice. We generated Mrs2 KO mice by homologous recombination. HFD-fed male and female Mrs2 KO mice had significantly less body fat, measured by quantitative magnetic resonance, than wild-type (WT) littermates. HFD-fed Mrs2 KO mice did not demonstrate increased EE by indirect calorimetry and could not maintain body temperature at 4 °C, consistent with their decreased brown adipose tissue stores but despite increased beige white adipose tissue. Instead, when provided a choice between HFD and low-fat diet (LFD), Mrs2 KO mice showed a significant 15% decrease in total energy intake resulting from significantly lower HFD intake that offset numerically increased LFD intake. Food restriction studies performed using WT mice suggested that this decrease in energy intake could explain the loss of body fat. Oral glucose tolerance test studies revealed significantly improved insulin sensitivity in Mrs2 KO mice. We conclude that HFD-fed Mrs2 KO mice are thin with improved insulin sensitivity, and that this favorable metabolic phenotype is driven by hypophagia. Further evaluation is warranted to determine the suitability of MRS2 as a drug target for antiobesity therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Deon D Doree
- Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, The Woodlands, TX 77381, USA
| | | | | | | | - Peter Vogel
- Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, The Woodlands, TX 77381, USA
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Taylor BC, Steinthal LH, Dias M, Yalamanchili HK, Ochsner SA, Zapata GE, Mehta NR, McKenna NJ, Young NL, Nuotio-Antar AM. Histone proteoform analysis reveals epigenetic changes in adult mouse brown adipose tissue in response to cold stress. Epigenetics Chromatin 2024; 17:12. [PMID: 38678237 PMCID: PMC11055387 DOI: 10.1186/s13072-024-00536-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Regulation of the thermogenic response by brown adipose tissue (BAT) is an important component of energy homeostasis with implications for the treatment of obesity and diabetes. Our preliminary analyses of RNA-Seq data uncovered many nodes representing epigenetic modifiers that are altered in BAT in response to chronic thermogenic activation. Thus, we hypothesized that chronic thermogenic activation broadly alters epigenetic modifications of DNA and histones in BAT. RESULTS Motivated to understand how BAT function is regulated epigenetically, we developed a novel method for the first-ever unbiased top-down proteomic quantitation of histone modifications in BAT and validated our results with a multi-omic approach. To test our hypothesis, wildtype male C57BL/6J mice were housed under chronic conditions of thermoneutral temperature (TN, 28°C), mild cold/room temperature (RT, 22°C), or severe cold (SC, 8°C) and BAT was analyzed for DNA methylation and histone modifications. Methylation of promoters and intragenic regions in genomic DNA decrease in response to chronic cold exposure. Integration of DNA methylation and RNA expression datasets suggest a role for epigenetic modification of DNA in regulation of gene expression in response to cold. In response to cold housing, we observe increased bulk acetylation of histones H3.2 and H4, increased histone H3.2 proteoforms with di- and trimethylation of lysine 9 (K9me2 and K9me3), and increased histone H4 proteoforms with acetylation of lysine 16 (K16ac) in BAT. CONCLUSIONS Our results reveal global epigenetically-regulated transcriptional "on" and "off" signals in murine BAT in response to varying degrees of chronic cold stimuli and establish a novel methodology to quantitatively study histones in BAT, allowing for direct comparisons to decipher mechanistic changes during the thermogenic response. Additionally, we make histone PTM and proteoform quantitation, RNA splicing, RRBS, and transcriptional footprint datasets available as a resource for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bethany C Taylor
- Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Loic H Steinthal
- USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Nutrition, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Michelle Dias
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Hari Krishna Yalamanchili
- USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Nutrition, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Jan and Dan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Scott A Ochsner
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Gladys E Zapata
- USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Nutrition, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Nitesh R Mehta
- USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Nutrition, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Neil J McKenna
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Nicolas L Young
- Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
- Center for Precision Environmental Health, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
| | - Alli M Nuotio-Antar
- USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Nutrition, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
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Zhang K, Cao J, Zhao Z. Fat accumulation in striped hamsters (Cricetulus barabensis) reflects the temperature of prior cold acclimation. Front Zool 2024; 21:4. [PMID: 38350982 PMCID: PMC10865701 DOI: 10.1186/s12983-024-00523-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Proper adjustments of metabolic thermogenesis play an important role in thermoregulation in endotherm to cope with cold and/or warm ambient temperatures, however its roles in energy balance and fat accumulation remain uncertain. Our study aimed to investigate the effect of previous cold exposure (10 and 0 °C) on the energy budgets and fat accumulation in the striped hamsters (Cricetulus barabensis) in response to warm acclimation. The body mass, energy intake, resting metabolic rate (RMR) and nonshivering thermogenesis (NST), serum thyroid hormone levels (THs: T3 and T4), and the activity of brown adipose tissue (BAT), indicated by cytochrome c oxidase (COX) activity and uncoupling protein 1 (ucp1) expression, were measured following exposure to the cold (10 °C and 0 °C) and transition to the warm temperature (30 °C). RESULTS The hamsters at 10 °C and 0 °C showed significant increases in energy intake, RMR and NST, and a considerable reduction in body fat than their counterparts kept at 21 °C. After being transferred from cold to warm temperature, the hamsters consumed less food, and decreased RMR and NST, but they significantly increased body fat content. Interestingly, the hamsters that were previously exposed to the colder temperature showed significantly more fat accumulation after transition to the warm. Serum T3 levels, BAT COX activity and ucp1 mRNA expression were significantly increased following cold exposure, and were considerably decreased after transition to the warm. Furthermore, body fat content was negatively correlated with serum T3 levels, BAT COX activity and UCP1 expression. CONCLUSION The data suggest that the positive energy balance resulting from the decreased RMR and NST in BAT under the transition from the cold to the warm plays important roles in inducing fat accumulation. The extent of fat accumulation in the warm appears to reflect the temperature of the previous cold acclimation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaiyuan Zhang
- College of Life and Environmental Science, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Water Environment and Marine Biological Resources Protection, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, 325035, China
| | - Jing Cao
- College of Life and Environmental Science, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Water Environment and Marine Biological Resources Protection, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, 325035, China
| | - Zhijun Zhao
- College of Life and Environmental Science, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Water Environment and Marine Biological Resources Protection, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, 325035, China.
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5
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Iida T, Ueda Y, Tsukada H, Fukumoto D, Hamaoka T. Brown adipose tissue evaluation using water and triglyceride as indices by diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. JOURNAL OF BIOPHOTONICS 2024; 17:e202300183. [PMID: 37885352 DOI: 10.1002/jbio.202300183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is related to lipid and glucose metabolism, and BAT evaluation is expected to contribute to disease prevention and treatment. We aimed to establish a BAT evaluation method using simple and non-invasive diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). We acquired diffuse reflectance spectra of BAT using DRS from rats with cold stimulation and analyzed the second-derivative spectra. To predict the amount of triglyceride in BAT from the second-derivative spectra, partial least-squares regression analysis was performed, and we examined whether BAT weight can be predicted from the amount of triglyceride by single regression analysis. By focusing on changes in the amount of triglyceride in BAT with cold stimulation, it was suggested that this amount could be predicted spectroscopically, and the predicted amount of triglyceride could be used to estimate the BAT weight with cold stimulation. If these results can be translated into humans, they may contribute to preventing metabolic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomomi Iida
- Central Research Laboratory, Hamamatsu Photonics K.K., Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Yukio Ueda
- Central Research Laboratory, Hamamatsu Photonics K.K., Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Hideo Tsukada
- Central Research Laboratory, Hamamatsu Photonics K.K., Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Dai Fukumoto
- Central Research Laboratory, Hamamatsu Photonics K.K., Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Takafumi Hamaoka
- Department of Sports Medicine for Health Promotion, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
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6
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Taylor BC, Steinthal LH, Dias M, Yalamanchili HK, Ochsner SA, Zapata GE, Mehta NR, McKenna NJ, Young NL, Nuotio-Antar AM. Histone proteoform analysis reveals epigenetic changes in adult mouse brown adipose tissue in response to cold stress. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.07.30.551059. [PMID: 38328142 PMCID: PMC10849524 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.30.551059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Regulation of the thermogenic response by brown adipose tissue (BAT) is an important component of energy homeostasis with implications for the treatment of obesity and diabetes. Our preliminary analyses uncovered many nodes representing epigenetic modifiers that are altered in BAT in response to chronic thermogenic activation. Thus, we hypothesized that chronic thermogenic activation broadly alters epigenetic modifications of DNA and histones in BAT. Motivated to understand how BAT function is regulated epigenetically, we developed a novel method for the first-ever unbiased top-down proteomic quantitation of histone modifications in BAT and validated our results with a multi-omic approach. To test our hypothesis, wildtype male C57BL/6J mice were housed under chronic conditions of thermoneutral temperature (TN, 28.8°C), mild cold/room temperature (RT, 22°C), or severe cold (SC, 8°C) and BAT was analyzed for DNA methylation and histone modifications. Methylation of promoters and intragenic regions in genomic DNA decrease in response to chronic cold exposure. Integration of DNA methylation and RNA expression data suggest a role for epigenetic modification of DNA in gene regulation in response to cold. In response to cold housing, we observe increased bulk acetylation of histones H3.2 and H4, increased histone H3.2 proteoforms with di- and trimethylation of lysine 9 (K9me2 and K9me3), and increased histone H4 proteoforms with acetylation of lysine 16 (K16ac) in BAT. Taken together, our results reveal global epigenetically-regulated transcriptional "on" and "off" signals in murine BAT in response to varying degrees of chronic cold stimuli and establish a novel methodology to quantitatively study histones in BAT, allowing for direct comparisons to decipher mechanistic changes during the thermogenic response. Additionally, we make histone PTM and proteoform quantitation, RNA splicing, RRBS, and transcriptional footprint datasets available as a resource for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bethany C. Taylor
- Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Loic H. Steinthal
- Children’s Nutrition Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Michelle Dias
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Hari K. Yalamanchili
- Children’s Nutrition Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Scott A. Ochsner
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Gladys E. Zapata
- Children’s Nutrition Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Nitesh R. Mehta
- Children’s Nutrition Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Neil J. McKenna
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Nicolas L. Young
- Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Center for Precision Environmental Health, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
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Ren S, Zhang L, Tang X, Zhao Y, Cheng Q, Speakman JR, Zhang Y. Temporal and spatial variations in body mass and thermogenic capacity associated with alterations in the gut microbiota and host transcriptome in mammalian herbivores. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 907:167776. [PMID: 37848151 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 10/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023]
Abstract
Most wild animals follow Bergmann's rule and grow in body size as cold stress increases. However, the underlying thermogenic strategies and their relationship with the gut microbiota have not been comprehensively elucidated. Herein, we used the plateau pikas as a model to investigate body mass, thermogenic capacity, host transcriptome, gut microbiota and metabolites collected from seven sites ranging from 3100 to 4700 m on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP) in summer and winter to test the seasonal thermogenesis strategy in small herbivorous mammals. The results showed that the increase in pika body mass with altitude followed Bergmann's rule in summer and an inverted parabolic shape was observed in winter. However, physiological parameters and transcriptome profiles indicated that the thermogenic capacity of pikas increased with altitude in summer and decreased with altitude in winter. The abundance of Firmicutes declined, whereas that of Bacteroidetes significantly increased with altitude in summer. Phenylalanine, tyrosine, and proline were enriched in summer, whereas carnitine and succinate were enriched in winter. Spearman's correlation analysis revealed significant positive correlations between Prevotella, Bacteroides, Ruminococcus, Alistipes and Akkermansia and metabolites of amino acids, pika physiological parameters, and transcriptome profiles. Moreover, metabolites of amino acids further showed significant positive correlations with pika physiological parameters and transcriptome profiles. Our study highlights that the changes in body mass and thermogenic capacity with altitude distinctly differentiate small herbivorous mammals between summer and winter on the QTP, and that the gut microbiota may regulate host thermogenesis through its metabolites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shien Ren
- Key Laboratory of Adaptation and Evolution of Plateau Biota, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining 810008, China; Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Ecological Genomics, Xining 810008, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Liangzhi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Adaptation and Evolution of Plateau Biota, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining 810008, China; Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Ecological Genomics, Xining 810008, China
| | - Xianjiang Tang
- Key Laboratory of Adaptation and Evolution of Plateau Biota, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining 810008, China; Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Ecological Genomics, Xining 810008, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yaqi Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Adaptation and Evolution of Plateau Biota, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining 810008, China; Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Ecological Genomics, Xining 810008, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Qi Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Adaptation and Evolution of Plateau Biota, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining 810008, China; Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Ecological Genomics, Xining 810008, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - John R Speakman
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Metabolic Health, Center for Energy Metabolism and Reproduction, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China; Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Yanming Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Adaptation and Evolution of Plateau Biota, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining 810008, China; Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Ecological Genomics, Xining 810008, China.
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8
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Wong CP, Iwaniec UT, Turner RT. Brown adipose tissue but not tibia exhibits a dramatic response to acute reduction in environmental temperature in growing male mice. Bone Rep 2023; 19:101706. [PMID: 37637756 PMCID: PMC10448410 DOI: 10.1016/j.bonr.2023.101706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Mice are typically housed at room temperature (∼22 °C), which is well below their thermoneutral zone and results in cold stress. Chronic cold stress leads to increased adaptive thermogenesis and reductions in cancellous bone volume and bone marrow adipose tissue mass in long bones of growing mice. There is strong evidence that increased neuronal activity initiates the metabolic response of intrascapular brown adipose tissue (BAT) to cold stress, but it is less clear whether bone is regulated through a similar mechanism. Therefore, we compared the short-term response of BAT and whole tibia to a reduction in environmental temperature. To accomplish this, we transferred a group of 6-week-old male mice from 32 °C to 22 °C housing and sacrificed the mice 24 h later. Age-matched controls were maintained at 32 °C. We then evaluated expression levels of a panel of genes related to adipocyte differentiation and fat metabolism in BAT and tibia, and a panel of genes related to bone metabolism in tibia. The decrease in housing temperature resulted in changes in expression levels for 47/86 genes related to adipocyte differentiation and fat metabolism in BAT, including 9-fold and 17-fold increases in Ucp1 and Dio2, respectively. In contrast, only 1/86 genes related to adipocyte differentiation and fat metabolism and 4/84 genes related to bone metabolism were differentially expressed in tibia. These findings suggest that bone, although innervated with sensory and sympathetic neurons, does not respond as rapidly as BAT to changes in environmental temperature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen P. Wong
- Skeletal Biology Laboratory, School of Biological and Population Health Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Urszula T. Iwaniec
- Skeletal Biology Laboratory, School of Biological and Population Health Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
- Center for Healthy Aging Research, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Russell T. Turner
- Skeletal Biology Laboratory, School of Biological and Population Health Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
- Center for Healthy Aging Research, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
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9
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Han X, Sun B, Zhang Q, Teng L, Zhang F, Liu Z. Metabolic regulation reduces the oxidative damage of arid lizards in response to moderate heat events. Integr Zool 2023. [PMID: 37897215 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/29/2023]
Abstract
Climate warming poses a significant threat to species worldwide, particularly those inhabiting arid and semi-arid regions where extreme temperatures are increasingly prevalent. However, empirical studies investigating how moderate heat events affect the physiological processes of arid and semi-arid animals are largely scarce. To address this knowledge gap, we used an arid and semi-arid lizard species (Phrynocephalus przewalskii) as a study system. We manipulated thermal environments to simulate moderate heat events (43.5 ± 0.3°C during the heating period) for lizards and examined physiological and biochemical traits related to survival, metabolism, locomotion, oxidative stress, and telomere length. We found that the body condition and survival of the lizards were not significantly affected by moderate heat events, despite an increase in body temperature and a decrease in locomotion at high test temperatures were detected. Mechanistically, we found that the lizards exhibited down-regulated metabolic rates and enhanced activities of antioxidative enzymes, resulting in reduced oxidative damage and stable telomere length under moderate heat events. Based on these findings, which indicated a beneficial regulation of fitness by physiological and biochemical processes, we inferred that moderate heat events did not have a detrimental effect on the toad-headed agama, P. przewalskii. Overall, our research contributes to understanding the impacts of moderate heat events on arid and semi-arid species and highlights the adaptive responses and resilience exhibited by the toad-headed agama in the face of climate warming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingzhi Han
- College of Wildlife and Protected Areas, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Baojun Sun
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qiong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Liwei Teng
- College of Wildlife and Protected Areas, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
- Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Harbin, China
| | - Fushun Zhang
- Grassland Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China
| | - Zhensheng Liu
- College of Wildlife and Protected Areas, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
- Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Harbin, China
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10
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Yang R, Cao J, Speakman JR, Zhao Z. Limits to sustained energy intake. XXXIII. Thyroid hormones play important roles in milk production but do not define the heat dissipation limit in Swiss mice. J Exp Biol 2023; 226:jeb245393. [PMID: 37767758 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.245393] [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: 12/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
The limits to sustained energy intake set physiological upper boundaries that affect many aspects of human and animal performance. The mechanisms underlying these limits, however, remain unclear. We exposed Swiss mice to either supplementary thyroid hormones (THs) or the inhibitor methimazole during lactation at 21 or 32.5°C, and measured food intake, resting metabolic rate (RMR), milk energy output (MEO), serum THs and mammary gland gene expression of females, and litter size and mass of their offspring. Lactating females developed hyperthyroidism following exposure to supplementary THs at 21°C, but they did not significantly change body temperature, asymptotic food intake, RMR or MEO, and litter and mass were unaffected. Hypothyroidism, induced by either methimazole or 32.5°C exposure, significantly decreased asymptotic food intake, RMR and MEO, resulting in significantly decreased litter size and litter mass. Furthermore, gene expression of key genes in the mammary gland was significantly decreased by either methimazole or heat exposure, including gene expression of THs and prolactin receptors, and Stat5a and Stat5b. This suggests that endogenous THs are necessary to maintain sustained energy intake and MEO. Suppression of the thyroid axis seems to be an essential aspect of the mechanism by which mice at 32.5°C reduce their lactation performance to avoid overheating. However, THs do not define the upper limit to sustained energy intake and MEO at peak lactation at 21°C. Another, as yet unknown, factor prevents supplementary thyroxine exerting any stimulatory metabolic impacts on lactating mice at 21°C.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Yang
- College of Life and Environmental Science, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Water Environment and Marine Biological Resources Protection, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Jing Cao
- College of Life and Environmental Science, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Water Environment and Marine Biological Resources Protection, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - John R Speakman
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Metabolic Health, Center for Energy Metabolism and Reproduction, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 2TZ, UK
| | - Zhijun Zhao
- College of Life and Environmental Science, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Water Environment and Marine Biological Resources Protection, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China
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11
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Neri D, Ramos-Lobo AM, Lee S, Lafond A, Zeltser LM. Rearing mice at 22°C programs increased capacity to respond to chronic exposure to cold but not high fat diet. Mol Metab 2023; 73:101740. [PMID: 37211277 PMCID: PMC10248272 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2023.101740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Rodent models raised at environmental temperatures of 21-22 °C are increasingly switched to thermoneutral housing conditions in adulthood to better capture human physiology. We quantified the developmental effects of rearing mice at an ambient temperature of 22 °C vs. 30 °C on metabolic responses to cold and high fat diet (HFD) in adulthood. METHODS Mice were reared from birth to 8 weeks of age at 22 °C or 30 °C, when they were acclimated to single housing at the same temperature for 2-3 weeks in indirect calorimetry cages. Energy expenditure attributable to basal metabolic rate, physical activity, thermic effect of food, and adaptive cold- or diet-induced thermogenesis was calculated. Responses to cooling were evaluated by decreasing the ambient temperature from 22 °C to 14 °C, while responses to HFD feeding were assessed at 30 °C. Influences of rearing temperature on thermogenic responses that emerge over hours, days and weeks were assessed by maintaining mice in the indirect calorimetry cages throughout the study. RESULTS At an ambient temperature of 22 °C, total energy expenditure (TEE) was 12-16% higher in mice reared at 22 °C as compared to 30 °C. Rearing temperature had no effect on responses in the first hours or week of the 14 °C challenge. Differences emerged in the third week, when TEE increased an additional 10% in mice reared at 22 °C, but mice reared at 30 °C could not sustain this level of cold-induced thermogenesis. Rearing temperature only affected responses to HFD during the first week, due to differences in the timing but not the strength of metabolic adaptations. CONCLUSION Rearing at 22 °C does not have a lasting effect on metabolic adaptations to HFD at thermoneutrality, but it programs an enhanced capacity to respond to chronic cold challenges in adulthood. These findings highlight the need to consider rearing temperature when using mice to model cold-induced thermogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Neri
- Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Angela M Ramos-Lobo
- Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Seoeun Lee
- Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Alexandre Lafond
- Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Lori M Zeltser
- Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA; Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA.
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Marignac G, Pilot-Storck F. Body, ambient and felt temperature: An attempt to resolve a human and mice dilemma. Biochimie 2023:S0300-9084(23)00110-4. [PMID: 37211254 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2023.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Mice thermoneutral zone lies at temperatures much higher than expected when considering the geographical extension of the species. Growing evidence shows that mouse-dependent thermogenesis experimentation needs to cope with temperatures below those at which the animals are most comfortable. The associated physiological changes interfere with experimental results, thereby highlighting the apparently trivial subject of room-temperature. Working at above 25 °C is difficult for researchers and animal care technicians. Herein, we explore alternative solutions related to living habits of wild mice that could improve translation of research on mice to humans. Standard murine environments are often colder than those in laboratory facilities and their behavior is mainly characterized by a gregarious, nesting and exploratory way of life. Optimization of their thermal environment can thus also be achieved by avoiding individual housing and providing high-quality nesting material and devices that would allow locomotor activity, hence muscle thermogenesis. These options have additional relevance in terms of animal welfare. When precise monitoring of the temperature is required, temperature-controlled cabinets can be used for the duration of the experiments. During the manipulation of mice, a heated laminar flow hood or tray could create an optimized microenvironment. The specification of temperature-related data in publications should contain information on the translatability of the described mouse models to humans. Furthermore, publications should describe the premises of the laboratory in relation to housing possibilities and murine behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geneviève Marignac
- Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, EnvA, F-94700, Maisons-Alfort, France.
| | - Fanny Pilot-Storck
- Univ Paris-Est Créteil, INSERM, IMRB, Team Relaix, F-94010, Créteil, France; Lab Animal Science, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, EnvA, IMRB, F-94700, Maisons-Alfort, France
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13
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Grazioso TP, Djouder N. A mechanistic view of the use of cold temperature in the treatment of cancer. iScience 2023; 26:106511. [PMID: 37091251 PMCID: PMC10119757 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/25/2023] Open
Abstract
In their latest article, Seki and colleagues investigate the potential role of cold as a therapeutical option to treat various cancer types, including even clinically untreatable cancers such as pancreatic cancers. The authors suggest that cold exposure may have a tumor-suppressive effect mediated by the activation of brown adipose tissue (BAT), in charge of dissipating heat through non-shivering thermogenesis. In this regard, circulating blood glucose is decreased, restricting the tumor glucose uptake, which is redistributed, favoring BAT uptake to fuel thermogenesis.1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana P. Grazioso
- Molecular Oncology Programme, Growth Factors, Nutrients and Cancer Group, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas, CNIO, Madrid, 28029, Spain
| | - Nabil Djouder
- Molecular Oncology Programme, Growth Factors, Nutrients and Cancer Group, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas, CNIO, Madrid, 28029, Spain
- Corresponding author
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The metabolic cost of physical activity in mice using a physiology-based model of energy expenditure. Mol Metab 2023; 71:101699. [PMID: 36858190 PMCID: PMC10090438 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2023.101699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Physical activity is a major component of total energy expenditure (TEE) that exhibits extreme variability in mice. Our objective was to construct a general, physiology-based model of TEE to accurately quantify the energy cost of physical activity. METHODS Spontaneous home cage physical activity, body temperature, TEE, and energy intake were measured with frequent sampling. The energy cost of activity was modeled considering six contributors to TEE (basal metabolic rate, thermic effect of food, body temperature, cold induced thermogenesis, physical activity, and body weight). An ambient temperature of 35 °C was required to remove the contribution from cold induced thermogenesis. Basal metabolic rate was adjusted for body temperature using a Q10 temperature coefficient. RESULTS We developed a TEE model that robustly explains 70-80% of the variance in TEE at 35 °C while fitting only two parameters, the basal metabolic rate and the mass-specific energy cost per unit of physical activity, which averaged 60 cal/km/g body weight. In Ucp1-/- mice the activity cost was elevated by 60%, indicating inefficiency and increased muscle thermogenesis. The diurnal rhythm in TEE was quantitatively explained by the combined diurnal differences in physical activity, body temperature, and energy intake. CONCLUSIONS The physiology-based model of TEE allows quantifying the energy cost of physical activity. While applied here to mice, the model should be generally valid across species. Due to the effect of body temperature, we suggest that basal metabolic rate measurements be corrected to a reference body temperature, including in humans. Having an accurate cost of physical activity allows mechanistic dissection of disorders of energy homeostasis, including obesity.
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Repeated short excursions from thermoneutrality suffice to restructure brown adipose tissue. Biochimie 2023:S0300-9084(23)00006-8. [PMID: 36657658 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2023.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Given the presence of brown adipose tissue in adult humans, an important issue is whether human brown adipose tissue is recruitable. Cold exposure is the canonical recruitment treatment; however, in experimental animals (mice), recruitment of brown adipose tissue is normally induced by placing the mice in constant cold, a procedure not feasible in humans. For possible translational applications, we have therefore investigated whether shorter daily excursions from thermoneutrality would suffice to qualitatively and quantitatively induce recruitment in mice. Mice, housed at thermoneutrality (30 °C) to mimic human conditions, were transferred every day for 4 weeks to cool conditions (18 °C), for 0, 15, 30, 120 and 420 min (or placed constantly in 18 °C). On the examination day, the mice were not exposed to cold. Very short daily exposures (≤30 min) were sufficient to induce structural changes in the form of higher protein density in brown adipose tissue, changes that may affect the identification of the tissue in e.g. computer tomography and other scan studies. To estimate thermogenic capacity, UCP1 protein levels were followed. No UCP1 protein was detectable in inguinal white adipose tissue. In the interscapular brown adipose tissue, a remarkable two-phase reaction was seen. Very short daily exposures (≤30 min) were sufficient to induce a significant increase in total UCP1 levels. For attainment of full cold acclimation, the mice had, however, to remain exposed to the cold. The studies indicate that marked alterations in brown adipose tissue composition can be induced in mammals through relatively modest stimulation events.
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Fernández-Peña C, Reimúndez A, Viana F, Arce VM, Señarís R. Sex differences in thermoregulation in mammals: Implications for energy homeostasis. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1093376. [PMID: 36967809 PMCID: PMC10030879 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1093376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Thermal homeostasis is a fundamental process in mammals, which allows the maintenance of a constant internal body temperature to ensure an efficient function of cells despite changes in ambient temperature. Increasing evidence has revealed the great impact of thermoregulation on energy homeostasis. Homeothermy requires a fine regulation of food intake, heat production, conservation and dissipation and energy expenditure. A great interest on this field of research has re-emerged following the discovery of thermogenic brown adipose tissue and browning of white fat in adult humans, with a potential clinical relevance on obesity and metabolic comorbidities. However, most of our knowledge comes from male animal models or men, which introduces unwanted biases on the findings. In this review, we discuss how differences in sex-dependent characteristics (anthropometry, body composition, hormonal regulation, and other sexual factors) influence numerous aspects of thermal regulation, which impact on energy homeostasis. Individuals of both sexes should be used in the experimental paradigms, considering the ovarian cycles and sexual hormonal regulation as influential factors in these studies. Only by collecting data in both sexes on molecular, functional, and clinical aspects, we will be able to establish in a rigorous way the real impact of thermoregulation on energy homeostasis, opening new avenues in the understanding and treatment of obesity and metabolic associated diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alfonso Reimúndez
- Department of Physiology, CIMUS, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Félix Viana
- Institute of Neuroscience, University Miguel Hernández (UMH)-CSIC, Alicante, Spain
| | - Victor M. Arce
- Department of Physiology, CIMUS, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- *Correspondence: Rosa Señarís, ; Victor M. Arce,
| | - Rosa Señarís
- Department of Physiology, CIMUS, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- *Correspondence: Rosa Señarís, ; Victor M. Arce,
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