IGF-I contributes to glucose homeostasis in the Berlin Fat Mouse Inbred line

Effect of adipocyte-derived IGF-I on adipose tissue mass and glucose metabolism in the Berlin Fat Mouse

Besides liver, IGF-I is expressed in adipose tissue. However, the effects of this local IGF-I on adipose tissue and metabolism are unclear. We generated adipocyte-specific knock-out mice on the background of the Berlin Fat Mouse Inbred (BFMI) line to evaluate the contribution of adipocyte-IGF-I on glucose metabolism and adipose tissue development. BFMI mice are obese, non-diabetic with elevated plasma insulin and IGF-I concentration. The knock-out in adipocytes led to a total white adipose tissue expression of 50-60% due to unaltered Igf-1 expression in stromavascular cells. The lack of IGF-I from adipocytes did not alter plasma IGF-I concentration. BFMI^Chr3-Igf-I-KO^Q-AT mice had reduced adipose tissue mass in most depots. During oral glucose tolerance tests, BFMI^Chr3-Igf-I-KO^Q-AT mice showed an impaired glucose clearance (p = .03). Interestingly, insulin action was enhanced during insulin tolerance tests (p = .05). In conclusion, adipocyte-specific IGF-I ablation in obese BFMI mice results in reduced adipose tissue mass and thereby alters glucose metabolism.

Fine mapping a major obesity locus (jObes1) using a Berlin Fat Mouse × B6N advanced intercross population

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

The Berlin Fat Mouse Inbred line 860 is a model for juvenile obesity. Previously, a recessive major effect locus (jObes1) on chromosome 3 between 34 and 44 Mb has been found to be responsible for 39% of the variance of total fat mass at 10 weeks in a (BFMI860 x C57BL/6NCrl) F₂ population. The aim of this study was fine mapping of the jObes1 locus.

SUBJECTS/METHODS

An advanced intercross line (AIL) was generated from the initial F₂ mapping population. Three hundred and forty-four male mice of generation 28 were excessively phenotyped and genotyped using the MegaMuga mouse chip containing 22 164 informative single-nucleotide polymorphisms. Expression of candidate genes was investigated in gonadal adipose tissue, liver and whole brain from mice of different genotype classes. Classical genetic complementation tests were performed to test candidate genes.

RESULTS

The high mapping resolution of the AIL reduced the confidence interval for jObes1 from 10 to 0.37 Mb between 36.48 and 36.85 Mb. This region was highly significantly (logarithm (base 10) of odds (LOD) score after Benjamini and Hochberg correction (LOD_(BH))>50) associated with total fat mass starting at puberty (6 weeks). Male homozygous carriers of the jObese1 BFMI allele had 3 g more fat than the other genotypes. Surprisingly, this genotype class showed lower body mass until weaning at 3 weeks (LOD_(BH)=3.2). The mapped interval contains four genes. Bbs7, the most likely candidate gene that also caused obesity in the complementation test was differentially expressed in all tissues examined, whereas the neighboring cyclin A2 (Ccna2) gene showed differential expression in gonadal adipose tissue.

CONCLUSIONS

Using an AIL, the confidence interval for jObes1 could be 27-fold reduced by finding chromosomal recombinations. Although Bbs7 is the most likely obesity gene in the jObes1 region, neighboring genes cannot be entirely excluded. Further examinations are needed to enlighten the mechanism leading to physiological consequences on body mass and fat mass in juvenile animals.

Secretion pathway of liver IGF-1 via JAK2/STAT3 in chick embryo under the monochromatic light

This study reveals mechanism of monochromatic light on the IGF-1 secretion of chick embryo liver. The chick embryos were incubated and exposed to continuous red, green, blue light or a dark environment. Compared to other light-treated groups, green light increased IGF-1 and melatonin concentrations both in plasma and liver, and Mel1a, Mel1b and Mel1c receptors expressions in liver but decreased p-JAK2, p-STAT3 and ROS in liver. IGF-1 had a positive correlation with melatonin, but a negative relevance with p-JAK2 and p-STAT3. In vitro, the IGF-1 level in the hepatocyte supernatant was enhanced by melatonin with lower p-JAK2/p-STAT3 and ROS levels, which was suppressed by Mel1c antagonist but not Mel1a/Mel1b or Mel1b antagonists. AG490 (JAK/STAT inhibitor) promoted role of melatonin-Mel1c modulated IGF-1 secretion. These results suggest the antioxidant effect of melatonin mediated the green light-enhanced IGF-1 secretion of chick embryo liver through Mel1c receptor to inhibit the JAK2/STAT3 pathway.

Relationship between obesity phenotypes and genetic determinants in a mouse model for juvenile obesity

Obesity, a state of imbalance between lean mass and fat mass, is important for the etiology of diseases affected by the interplay of multiple genetic and environmental factors. Although genome-wide association studies have repeatedly associated genes with obesity and body weight, the mechanisms underlying the interaction between the muscle and adipose tissues remain unknown. Using 351 mice (at 10 wk of age) of an intercross population between Berlin Fat Mouse Inbred (BFMI) and C57BL/6NCrl (B6N) mice, we examined the causal relationships between genetic variations and multiple traits: body lean mass and fat mass, adipokines, and bone mineral density. Furthermore, evidence from structural equation modeling suggests causality among these traits. In the BFMI model, juvenile obesity affects lean mass and impairs bone mineral density via adipokines secreted from the white adipose tissues. While previous studies have indicated that lean mass has a causative effect on adiposity, in the Berlin Fat Mouse model that has been selected for juvenile obesity (at 9 wk of age) for >90 generations, however, the causality is switched from fat mass to lean mass. In addition, linkage studies and statistical modeling have indicated that quantitative trait loci on chromosomes 5 and 6 affect both lean mass and fat mass. These lines of evidence indicate that the muscle and adipose tissues interact with one another and the interaction is modulated by genetic variations that are shaped by selections. Experimental examinations are necessary to verify the biological role of the inferred causalities.

The age of attaining highest body weight correlates with lifespan in a genetically obese mouse model

Obesity has been associated with a higher risk of mortality, whereas caloric restriction reduces the risk. In this study, we examined how body weight development during life affects lifespan in a mouse model for obesity. Therefore, mice of the Berlin Fat Mouse Inbred line were set on either a standard or a high-fat diet (HFD). Median lifespans of standard diet-fed mice were 525 and 539 days for males and female animals, respectively. HFD feeding further decreased lifespan by increasing the risk of mortality. Our data provide evidence that the highest body weight reached in lifetime has only a minor effect on lifespan. More important is the age when the highest body weight is reached, which was positively correlated with lifespan (r=0.77, P<0.0001). Likewise, the daily gain of body weight was negatively correlated with the age of death (r=−0.76, P<0.0001). These data indicate that rapid weight gain in early life followed by rapid weight loss affect lifespan more than the body weight itself. These data suggest that intervention strategies to prevent rapid weight gain are of high impact for a long lifespan.