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Soni S, Tabatabaei Dakhili SA, Ussher JR, Dyck JRB. The therapeutic potential of ketones in cardiometabolic disease: impact on heart and skeletal muscle. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2024; 326:C551-C566. [PMID: 38193855 PMCID: PMC11192481 DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00501.2023] [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: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
β-Hydroxybutyrate (βOHB) is the major ketone in the body, and it is recognized as a metabolic energy source and an important signaling molecule. While ketone oxidation is essential in the brain during prolonged fasting/starvation, other organs such as skeletal muscle and the heart also use ketones as metabolic substrates. Additionally, βOHB-mediated molecular signaling events occur in heart and skeletal muscle cells, and via metabolism and/or signaling, ketones may contribute to optimal skeletal muscle health and cardiac function. Of importance, when the use of ketones for ATP production and/or as signaling molecules becomes disturbed in the presence of underlying obesity, type 2 diabetes, and/or cardiovascular diseases, these changes may contribute to cardiometabolic disease. As a result of these disturbances in cardiometabolic disease, multiple approaches have been used to elevate circulating ketones with the goal of optimizing either ketone metabolism or ketone-mediated signaling. These approaches have produced significant improvements in heart and skeletal muscle during cardiometabolic disease with a wide range of benefits that include improved metabolism, weight loss, better glycemic control, improved cardiac and vascular function, as well as reduced inflammation and oxidative stress. Herein, we present the evidence that indicates that ketone therapy could be used as an approach to help treat cardiometabolic diseases by targeting cardiac and skeletal muscles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shubham Soni
- Cardiovascular Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Seyed Amirhossein Tabatabaei Dakhili
- Cardiovascular Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - John R Ussher
- Cardiovascular Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Jason R B Dyck
- Cardiovascular Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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Tabatabaei Dakhili SA, Yang K, Locatelli CAA, Saed CT, Greenwell AA, Chan JSF, Chahade JJ, Scharff J, Al-Imarah S, Eaton F, Crawford PA, Gopal K, Mulvihill EE, Ussher JR. Ketone ester administration improves glycemia in obese mice. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2023; 325:C750-C757. [PMID: 37575059 DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00300.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
During periods of prolonged fasting/starvation, the liver generates ketones [i.e., β-hydroxybutyrate (βOHB)] that primarily serve as alternative substrates for ATP production. Previous studies have demonstrated that elevations in skeletal muscle ketone oxidation contribute to obesity-related hyperglycemia, whereas inhibition of succinyl CoA:3-ketoacid CoA transferase (SCOT), the rate-limiting enzyme of ketone oxidation, can alleviate obesity-related hyperglycemia. As circulating ketone levels are a key determinant of ketone oxidation rates, we tested the hypothesis that increases in circulating ketone levels would worsen glucose homeostasis secondary to increases in muscle ketone oxidation. Accordingly, male C57BL/6J mice were subjected to high-fat diet-induced obesity, whereas their lean counterparts received a standard chow diet. Lean and obese mice were orally administered either a ketone ester (KE) or placebo, followed by a glucose tolerance test. In tandem, we conducted isolated islet perifusion experiments to quantify insulin secretion in response to ketones. We observed that exogenous KE administration robustly increases circulating βOHB levels, which was associated with an improvement in glucose tolerance only in obese mice. These observations were independent of muscle ketone oxidation, as they were replicated in mice with a skeletal muscle-specific SCOT deficiency. Furthermore, the R-isomer of βOHB produced greater increases in perifusion insulin levels versus the S-isomer in isolated islets from obese mice. Taken together, acute elevations in circulating ketones promote glucose-lowering in obesity. Given that only the R-isomer of βOHB is oxidized, further studies are warranted to delineate the precise role of β-cell ketone oxidation in regulating insulin secretion.NEW & NOTEWORTHY It has been demonstrated that increased skeletal muscle ketone metabolism contributes to obesity-related hyperglycemia. Since increases in ketone supply are key determinants of organ ketone oxidation rates, we determined whether acute elevations in circulating ketones following administration of an oral ketone ester may worsen glucose homeostasis in lean or obese mice. Our work demonstrates the opposite, as acute elevations in circulating ketones improved glucose tolerance in obese mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyed Amirhossein Tabatabaei Dakhili
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Alberta Diabetes Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Kunyan Yang
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Alberta Diabetes Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Cassandra A A Locatelli
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Christina T Saed
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Alberta Diabetes Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Amanda A Greenwell
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Alberta Diabetes Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Jordan S F Chan
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Alberta Diabetes Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Jadin J Chahade
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Alberta Diabetes Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Jared Scharff
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Alberta Diabetes Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Shahad Al-Imarah
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Alberta Diabetes Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Farah Eaton
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Alberta Diabetes Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Peter A Crawford
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
| | - Keshav Gopal
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Alberta Diabetes Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Erin E Mulvihill
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - John R Ussher
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Alberta Diabetes Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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Song Z, Yan A, Guo Z, Zhang Y, Wen T, Li Z, Yang Z, Chen R, Wang Y. Targeting metabolic pathways: a novel therapeutic direction for type 2 diabetes. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1218326. [PMID: 37600949 PMCID: PMC10433779 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1218326] [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: 05/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a prevalent metabolic disease that causes multi-organ complications, seriously affecting patients' quality of life and survival. Understanding its pathogenesis remains challenging, with current clinical treatment regimens often proving ineffective. Methods In this study, we established a mouse model of T2DM and employed 16s rDNA sequencing to detect changes in the species and structure of gut flora. Additionally, we used UPLC-Q-TOF-MS to identify changes in urinary metabolites of T2DM mice, analyzed differential metabolites and constructed differential metabolic pathways. Finally, we used Pearman correlation analysis to investigate the relationship between intestinal flora and differential metabolites in T2DM mice, aiming to elucidate the pathogenesis of T2DM and provide an experimental basis for its clinical treatment. Results Our findings revealed a reduction in both the species diversity and abundance of intestinal flora in T2DM mice, with significantly decreased levels of beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus and significantly increased levels of harmful bacteria such as Helicobacter pylori. Urinary metabolomics results identified 31 differential metabolites between T2DM and control mice, including Phosphatidylcholine, CDP-ethanolamine and Leukotriene A4, which may be closely associated with the glycerophospholipid and arachidonic acid pathways. Pearman correlation analysis showed a strong correlation between dopamine and gonadal, estradiol and gut microbiota, may be a novel direction underlying T2DM. Conclusion In conclusion, our study suggests that alterations in gut microbiota and urinary metabolites are characteristic features of T2DM in mice. Furthermore, a strong correlation between dopamine, estradiol and gut microbiota, may be a novel direction underlying T2DM, the aim is to provide new ideas for clinical treatment and basic research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihui Song
- State Key Laboratory of Component-based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
- Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - An Yan
- Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Zehui Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Component-based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
- Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Yuhang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Component-based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
- Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Tao Wen
- State Key Laboratory of Component-based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
- Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Zhenzhen Li
- State Key Laboratory of Component-based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
- Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Zhihua Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Component-based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
- Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Rui Chen
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Yi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Component-based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
- Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
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