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Su M, Yan Z, Wang Y, Cai J, Dong J, Luo J, Chen D, Liu A, Ye H. Depression Exacerbates Hepatic Steatosis in C57BL/6J Mice by Activating the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis. In Vivo 2024; 38:1677-1689. [PMID: 38936893 PMCID: PMC11215574 DOI: 10.21873/invivo.13618] [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: 02/10/2024] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM Depression is associated with metabolic disorders, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, the mechanisms underlying the interaction between them are still poorly known. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this study, mice on a choline deficiency, L-amino acid-defined, high-fat diet (CDAHFD) developing steatosis were challenged with chronic restraint stress (CRS), a protocol widely used to induce depression. The development of depression and steatosis was evaluated using histopathology analysis, ELISA, q-PCR and Western Blot. RESULTS The contribution of the activated HPA axis to hepatic steatosis progress was fully established, which was validated using a hepatocyte model. Histopathological and biochemical analysis indicated that steatosis was exacerbated by CRS challenge, and behavioral tests indicated that the mice developed depression. Among the screened endocrinal pathways, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis was significantly activated and the synergistic effect of CDAHFD and CRS in activating the HPA axis was observed. In the hypothalamus, expression of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) was increased by 86% and the protein levels of hypothalamic CRH were upregulated by 25% to 33% by CRS treatment. Plasma CRH levels were elevated by 45-56% and plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) levels were elevated by 29-58% by CRS treatment. In the liver, target genes of the HPA axis were activated, accompanied by disruption of the lipid metabolism and progression of steatohepatitis. The lipid metabolism in the Hepa1-6 cell line treated with endogenous corticosterone (CORT) was in accordance with the aforementioned in vivo responses. CONCLUSION Depression aggravated hepatic steatosis in CDAHFD-fed mice by activating the HPA axis. The risk of NAFLD development should be fully considered in depressive patients and improvement of psychotic disorders could be an etiological treatment strategy for them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingli Su
- Department of Gastroenterology, the Affiliated Lihuili Hospital, Ningbo University, Ningbo, P.R. China
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Health Science Center, Ningbo University, Ningbo, P.R. China
| | - Zheng Yan
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Health Science Center, Ningbo University, Ningbo, P.R. China
| | - Ying Wang
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Health Science Center, Ningbo University, Ningbo, P.R. China
| | - Jiacheng Cai
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Health Science Center, Ningbo University, Ningbo, P.R. China
| | - Jia Dong
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Health Science Center, Ningbo University, Ningbo, P.R. China
| | - Jia Luo
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Health Science Center, Ningbo University, Ningbo, P.R. China
| | - Dahua Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology, the Affiliated Lihuili Hospital, Ningbo University, Ningbo, P.R. China
| | - Aiming Liu
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Health Science Center, Ningbo University, Ningbo, P.R. China
| | - Hua Ye
- Department of Gastroenterology, the Affiliated Lihuili Hospital, Ningbo University, Ningbo, P.R. China;
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Manocchio F, Bravo FI, Helfer G, Muguerza B. Cherries with Different Geographical Origins Regulate Neuroprotection in a Photoperiod-Dependent Manner in F344 Rats. Antioxidants (Basel) 2024; 13:72. [PMID: 38247496 PMCID: PMC10812723 DOI: 10.3390/antiox13010072] [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: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 12/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The photoperiod is the main environmental cue that drives seasonal adaptive responses in reproduction, behavior, and metabolism in seasonal animals. Increasing evidence suggests that (poly)phenols contained in fruits can also modulate seasonal rhythms. (Poly)phenol-rich diets are associated with an improvement in cognitive function and neuroprotection due to their anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties. However, it is unknown whether cherries affect neuroprotection in a photoperiod-dependent manner. To test this, F344 rats were exposed to L6 (6 h light/day), L12 (12 h light/day) and L18 (18 h light/day) photoperiods and fed a standard chow diet supplemented with either a control, lyophilized cherry 1 or cherry 2 with distinctive phenolic hallmarks. Physiological parameters (body weight, eating pattern index (EPI), testosterone, T4/T3) and hypothalamic key genes (Dio2, Dio3, Raldh1 and Ghrh) were strongly regulated by the photoperiod and/or fruit consumption. Importantly, we show for the first time that neurotrophs (Bdnf, Sod1 and Gpx1) in the hippocampus are also regulated by the photoperiod. Furthermore, the consumption of cherry 2, which was richer in total flavonols, but not cherry 1, which was richer in total anthocyanins and flavanols, enhanced neuroprotection in the hippocampus. Our results show that the seasonal consumption of cherry with a specific phenolic composition plays an important role in the hippocampal activation of neuroprotection in a photoperiod-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Manocchio
- Nutrigenomics Research Group, Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, C Marcel·lí Domingo s/n, 43007 Tarragona, Spain; (F.M.); (B.M.)
- Nutrigenomics Research Group, Institut d’Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili, C/Marcel·lí Domingo s/n, 43007 Tarragona, Spain
- Center of Environmental, Food and Toxicological Technology (TecnATox), Universitat Rovira i Virgili, 43007 Tarragona, Spain
| | - Francisca Isabel Bravo
- Nutrigenomics Research Group, Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, C Marcel·lí Domingo s/n, 43007 Tarragona, Spain; (F.M.); (B.M.)
- Nutrigenomics Research Group, Institut d’Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili, C/Marcel·lí Domingo s/n, 43007 Tarragona, Spain
- Center of Environmental, Food and Toxicological Technology (TecnATox), Universitat Rovira i Virgili, 43007 Tarragona, Spain
| | - Gisela Helfer
- School of Chemistry and Biosciences, University of Bradford, Richmond Road, Bradford BD7 1DP, UK
| | - Begoña Muguerza
- Nutrigenomics Research Group, Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, C Marcel·lí Domingo s/n, 43007 Tarragona, Spain; (F.M.); (B.M.)
- Nutrigenomics Research Group, Institut d’Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili, C/Marcel·lí Domingo s/n, 43007 Tarragona, Spain
- Center of Environmental, Food and Toxicological Technology (TecnATox), Universitat Rovira i Virgili, 43007 Tarragona, Spain
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Nolan PM, Banks G, Bourbia N, Wilcox AG, Bentley L, Moir L, Kent L, Hillier R, Wilson D, Barrett P, Dumbell R. A missense mutation in zinc finger homeobox-3 (ZFHX3) impedes growth and alters metabolism and hypothalamic gene expression in mice. FASEB J 2023; 37:e23189. [PMID: 37713040 PMCID: PMC7615594 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202201829r] [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: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
A protein altering variant in the gene encoding zinc finger homeobox-3 (ZFHX3) has recently been associated with lower BMI in a human genome-wide association study. We investigated metabolic parameters in mice harboring a missense mutation in Zfhx3 (Zfhx3Sci/+ ) and looked for altered in situ expression of transcripts that are associated with energy balance in the hypothalamus to understand how ZFHX3 may influence growth and metabolic effects. One-year-old male and female Zfhx3Sci/+ mice weighed less, had shorter body length, lower fat mass, smaller mesenteric fat depots, and lower circulating insulin, leptin, and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF1) concentrations than Zfhx3+/+ littermates. In a second cohort of 9-20-week-old males and females, Zfhx3Sci/+ mice ate less than wildtype controls, in proportion to body weight. In a third cohort of female-only Zfhx3Sci/+ and Zfhx3+/+ mice that underwent metabolic phenotyping from 6 to 14 weeks old, Zfhx3Sci/+ mice weighed less and had lower lean mass and energy expenditure, but fat mass did not differ. We detected increased expression of somatostatin and decreased expression of growth hormone-releasing hormone and growth hormone-receptor mRNAs in the arcuate nucleus (ARC). Similarly, ARC expression of orexigenic neuropeptide Y was decreased and ventricular ependymal expression of orphan G protein-coupled receptor Gpr50 was decreased. We demonstrate for the first time an energy balance effect of the Zfhx3Sci mutation, likely by altering expression of key ARC neuropeptides to alter growth, food intake, and energy expenditure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick M Nolan
- MRC Harwell Institute, Mammalian Genetics Unit and Mary Lyon Centre, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - Gareth Banks
- MRC Harwell Institute, Mammalian Genetics Unit and Mary Lyon Centre, Oxfordshire, UK
- Nottingham Trent University, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham, UK
| | - Nora Bourbia
- MRC Harwell Institute, Mammalian Genetics Unit and Mary Lyon Centre, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - Ashleigh G Wilcox
- MRC Harwell Institute, Mammalian Genetics Unit and Mary Lyon Centre, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - Liz Bentley
- MRC Harwell Institute, Mammalian Genetics Unit and Mary Lyon Centre, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - Lee Moir
- MRC Harwell Institute, Mammalian Genetics Unit and Mary Lyon Centre, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - Lee Kent
- MRC Harwell Institute, Mammalian Genetics Unit and Mary Lyon Centre, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - Rosie Hillier
- MRC Harwell Institute, Mammalian Genetics Unit and Mary Lyon Centre, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - Dana Wilson
- The Rowett Institute, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Perry Barrett
- The Rowett Institute, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Rebecca Dumbell
- MRC Harwell Institute, Mammalian Genetics Unit and Mary Lyon Centre, Oxfordshire, UK
- Nottingham Trent University, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham, UK
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