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Kumari R, Ponte ME, Franczak E, Prom JC, O'Neil MF, Sardiu ME, Lutkewitte AJ, Christenson LK, Shankar K, Morris EM, Thyfault JP. VCD-induced menopause mouse model reveals reprogramming of hepatic metabolism. Mol Metab 2024; 82:101908. [PMID: 38432400 PMCID: PMC10944007 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2024.101908] [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: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Menopause adversely impacts systemic energy metabolism and increases the risk of metabolic disease(s) including hepatic steatosis, but the mechanisms are largely unknown. Dosing female mice with vinyl cyclohexene dioxide (VCD) selectively causes follicular atresia in ovaries, leading to a murine menopause-like phenotype. METHODS In this study, we treated female C57BL6/J mice with VCD (160 mg/kg i.p. for 20 consecutive days followed by verification of the lack of estrous cycling) to investigate changes in body composition, energy expenditure (EE), hepatic mitochondrial function, and hepatic steatosis across different dietary conditions. RESULTS VCD treatment induced ovarian follicular loss and increased follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels in female mice, mimicking a menopause-like phenotype. VCD treatment did not affect body composition, or EE in mice on a low-fat diet (LFD) or in response to a short-term (1-week) high-fat, high sucrose diet (HFHS). However, the transition to a HFHS lowered cage activity in VCD mice. A chronic HFHS diet (16 weeks) significantly increased weight gain, fat mass, and hepatic steatosis in VCD-treated mice compared to HFHS-fed controls. In the liver, VCD mice showed suppressed hepatic mitochondrial respiration on LFD, while chronic HFHS resulted in compensatory increases in hepatic mitochondrial respiration. Also, liver RNA sequencing revealed that VCD promoted global upregulation of hepatic lipid/cholesterol synthesis pathways. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that the VCD-induced menopause model compromises hepatic mitochondrial function and lipid/cholesterol homeostasis that sets the stage for HFHS diet-induced steatosis while also increasing susceptibility to obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roshan Kumari
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA; Research Service, Kansas City Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Kansas City, MO, USA; KU Diabetes Institute and Kansas Center for Metabolism and Obesity, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA; Center for Children's Healthy Lifestyles and Nutrition, Kansas City, MO, USA
| | - Michael E Ponte
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA; KU Diabetes Institute and Kansas Center for Metabolism and Obesity, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
| | - Edziu Franczak
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA; Research Service, Kansas City Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Kansas City, MO, USA; KU Diabetes Institute and Kansas Center for Metabolism and Obesity, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
| | - John C Prom
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
| | - Maura F O'Neil
- Department of Pathology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
| | - Mihaela E Sardiu
- Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA; KU Diabetes Institute and Kansas Center for Metabolism and Obesity, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
| | - Andrew J Lutkewitte
- KU Diabetes Institute and Kansas Center for Metabolism and Obesity, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA; Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
| | - Lane K Christenson
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
| | - Kartik Shankar
- Department of Pediatrics, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - E Matthew Morris
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA; KU Diabetes Institute and Kansas Center for Metabolism and Obesity, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA; Center for Children's Healthy Lifestyles and Nutrition, Kansas City, MO, USA.
| | - John P Thyfault
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA; Research Service, Kansas City Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Kansas City, MO, USA; KU Diabetes Institute and Kansas Center for Metabolism and Obesity, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA; Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA; Center for Children's Healthy Lifestyles and Nutrition, Kansas City, MO, USA.
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Stanley S, Devarakonda K, O'Connor R, Jimenez-Gonzalez M, Alvarsson A, Hampton R, Espinoza D, Li R, Shtekler A, Conner K, Bayne M, Garibay D, Martin J, Lehmann V, Wang L, Kenny P. Amygdala-liver signaling orchestrates rapid glycemic responses to stress and drives stress-induced metabolic dysfunction. RESEARCH SQUARE 2024:rs.3.rs-2924278. [PMID: 38585822 PMCID: PMC10996786 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2924278/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Behavioral adaptations to environmental threats are crucial for survival and necessitate rapid deployment of energy reserves. The amygdala coordinates behavioral adaptations to threats, but little is known about its involvement in underpinning metabolic adaptations. Here, we show that acute stress activates medial amygdala (MeA) neurons that innervate the ventromedial hypothalamus (MeAVMH neurons), which precipitates hyperglycemia and hypophagia. The glycemic actions of MeAVMH neurons occur independent of adrenal or pancreatic glucoregulatory hormones. Instead, using whole-body virus tracing, we identify a polysynaptic connection from MeA to the liver, which promotes the rapid synthesis of glucose by hepatic gluconeogenesis. Repeated stress exposure disrupts MeA control of blood glucose and appetite, resulting in diabetes-like dysregulation of glucose homeostasis and weight gain. Our findings reveal a novel amygdala-liver axis that regulates rapid glycemic adaptations to stress and links recurrent stress to metabolic dysfunction.
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Foright RM, McQuillan TE, Frick JM, Minchella PM, Levasseur BM, Tinoco O, Birmingham L, Blankenship AE, Thyfault JP, Christianson JA. Exposure to early-life stress impairs weight-loss maintenance success in mice. Obesity (Silver Spring) 2024; 32:131-140. [PMID: 38131100 PMCID: PMC10751986 DOI: 10.1002/oby.23931] [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: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 09/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The impact of early-life stress on weight-loss maintenance is unknown. METHODS Mice underwent neonatal maternal separation (NMS) from 0 to 3 weeks and were weaned onto a high-fat sucrose diet (HFSD) from 3 to 20 weeks. Calorie-restricted weight loss on a low-fat sucrose diet (LFSD) occurred over 2 weeks to induce a 20% loss in body weight, which was maintained for 6 weeks. After weight loss, half of the mice received running wheels, and the other half remained sedentary. Mice were then fed ad libitum on an HFSD or LFSD for 10 weeks and were allowed to regain body weight. RESULTS NMS mice had greater weight regain, total body weight, and adiposity compared with naïve mice. During the first week of refeeding, NMS mice had increased food intake and were in a greater positive energy balance than naïve mice. Female mice were more susceptible to NMS-induced effects, including increases in adiposity. NMS and naïve females were more susceptible to HFSD-induced weight regain. Exercise was beneficial in the first week of regain in male mice, but, long-term, only those on the LFSD benefited from exercise. As expected, HFSD led to greater weight regain than LFSD. CONCLUSIONS Early-life stress increases weight regain in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca M Foright
- Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Tara E McQuillan
- Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Jenna M Frick
- Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Paige M Minchella
- Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Brittni M Levasseur
- Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Omar Tinoco
- Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Lauryn Birmingham
- Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Anneka E Blankenship
- Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
| | - John P Thyfault
- Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
- Kansas Center for Metabolism and Obesity Research
- Research Service, Kansas City Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Julie A Christianson
- Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
- Kansas Center for Metabolism and Obesity Research
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Kumari R, Ponte ME, Franczak E, Prom JC, O'Neil MF, Sardiu ME, Lutkewitte AJ, Shankar K, Morris EM, Thyfault JP. VCD-induced menopause mouse model reveals reprogramming of hepatic metabolism. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.14.571644. [PMID: 38168213 PMCID: PMC10760158 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.14.571644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Menopause adversely impacts systemic energy metabolism and increases the risk of metabolic disease(s) including hepatic steatosis, but the mechanisms are largely unknown. Dosing female mice with vinyl cyclohexene dioxide (VCD) selectively causes follicular atresia in ovaries, leading to a murine menopause-like phenotype. In this study, we treated female C57BL6/J mice with VCD (160mg/kg i.p. for 20 consecutive days followed by verification of the lack of estrous cycling) to investigate changes in body composition, energy expenditure (EE), hepatic mitochondrial function, and hepatic steatosis across different dietary conditions. VCD treatment induced ovarian follicular loss and increased follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels in female mice, mimicking a menopause-like phenotype. VCD treatment did not affect body composition, or EE in mice on a low-fat diet or in response to a short-term (1-week) high-fat, high sucrose diet (HFHS). However, the transition to a HFHS lowered cage activity in VCD mice. A chronic HFHS diet (16 weeks) significantly increased weight gain, fat mass, and hepatic steatosis in VCD-treated mice compared to HFHS-fed controls. In the liver, VCD mice showed suppressed hepatic mitochondrial respiration on LFD, while chronic HFHS diet resulted in compensatory increases in hepatic mitochondrial respiration. Also, liver RNA sequencing revealed that VCD promoted global upregulation of hepatic lipid/cholesterol synthesis pathways. Our findings suggest that the VCD- induced menopause model compromises hepatic mitochondrial function and lipid/cholesterol homeostasis that sets the stage for HFHS diet-induced steatosis while also increasing susceptibility to obesity.
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Fu Q, Frick JM, O'Neil MF, Eller OC, Morris EM, Thyfault JP, Christianson JA, Lane RH. Early-life stress perturbs the epigenetics of Cd36 concurrent with adult onset of NAFLD in mice. Pediatr Res 2023; 94:1942-1950. [PMID: 37479748 PMCID: PMC10665193 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-023-02714-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common liver diseases in the U.S. and worldwide. The roles of early postnatal life stress (EPLS) and the fatty acid translocase (CD36) on the pathogenesis of adult-onset NAFLD remain unknown. We hypothesized that EPLS, in the form of neonatal maternal separation (NMS), would predispose mice towards developing adult NAFLD, increase hepatic CD36 expression, and differentially methylate Cd36 promoter concurrently. METHODS NMS was performed on mice from postnatal day 1 to 21 and a high-fat/high-sucrose (HFS) diet was started at 4 weeks of age to generate four experimental groups: Naive-control diet (CD), Naive-HFS, NMS-CD, and NMS-HFS. RESULTS NMS alone caused NAFLD in adult male mice at 25 weeks of age. The effects of NMS and HFS were generally additive in terms of NAFLD, hepatic Cd36 mRNA levels, and hepatic Cd36 promoter DNA hypomethylation. Cd36 promoter methylation negatively correlated with Cd36 mRNA levels. Two differentially methylated regions (DMRs) within Cd36 promoter regions appeared to be vulnerable to NMS in the mouse. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that NMS increases the risk of an individual, particularly male, towards NAFLD when faced with a HFS diet later in life. IMPACT The key message of this article is that neonatal maternal separation and a postweaning high-fat/high-sucrose diet increased the risk of an individual, particularly male, towards NAFLD in adult life. What this study adds to the existing literature includes the identification of two vulnerable differentially methylated regions in hepatic Cd36 promoters whose methylation levels very strongly negatively correlated with Cd36 mRNA. The impact of this article is that it provides an early-life environment-responsive gene/promoter methylation model and an animal model for furthering the mechanistic study on how the insults in early-life environment are "transmitted" into adulthood and caused NAFLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Fu
- Department of Research Administration, Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, MO, USA
| | - Jenna M Frick
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
| | - Maura F O'Neil
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
| | - Olivia C Eller
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
| | - E Matthew Morris
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
| | - John P Thyfault
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
- Research Service, Kansas City VA Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
| | - Julie A Christianson
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
| | - Robert H Lane
- Department of Administration, Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, MO, USA.
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Foright RM, McQuillan TE, Frick JM, Minchella PM, Levasseur BM, Tinoco O, Birmingham L, Blankenship AE, Thyfault JP, Christianson JA. Exposure to early life stress impairs weight loss maintenance success in mice. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.19.549724. [PMID: 37503190 PMCID: PMC10370125 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.19.549724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Early life stress increases obesity risk, but its impact on weight loss maintenance is unknown. Mice underwent neonatal maternal separation (NMS) from 0-3 weeks and were weaned onto high fat sucrose diet (HFSD) from 3-20 weeks. Calorie-restricted weight loss on a low fat sucrose diet (LFSD) occurred over 2 weeks to induce a 20% loss in body weight, which was maintained for 6 weeks. After weight loss, half the mice received running wheels (EX) the other half remained sedentary (SED). Mice were then fed ad libitum on HFSD or LFSD for 10 weeks and allowed to regain body weight. NMS mice had greater weight regain, total body weight and adiposity compared to naïve mice. During the first week of refeeding, NMS mice had increased food intake and were in a greater positive energy balance than naïve mice, but total energy expenditure was not affected by NMS. Female mice were more susceptible to NMS-induced effects, including increases in adiposity. NMS and naïve females were more susceptible to HFSD-induce weight regain. Exercise was beneficial in the first week of regain in male mice, but long-term only those on LFSD benefited from EX. As expected, HFSD led to greater weight regain than LFSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca M Foright
- Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Tara E McQuillan
- Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Jenna M Frick
- Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Paige M Minchella
- Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Brittni M Levasseur
- Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Omar Tinoco
- Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Lauryn Birmingham
- Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Anneka E Blankenship
- Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
| | - John P Thyfault
- Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
- Kansas Center for Metabolism and Obesity Research
- Research Service, Kansas City Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Julie A Christianson
- Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
- Kansas Center for Metabolism and Obesity Research
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