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Brinker EJ, Towns TJ, Watanabe R, Ma X, Bashir A, Cole RC, Wang X, Graff EC. Direct activation of the fibroblast growth factor-21 pathway in overweight and obese cats. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1072680. [PMID: 36756310 PMCID: PMC9900002 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1072680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Feline obesity is common, afflicting ~25-40% of domestic cats. Obese cats are predisposed to many metabolic dyscrasias, such as insulin resistance, altered blood lipids, and feline hepatic lipidosis. Fibroblast Growth Factor-21 (FGF21) is an endocrine hormone that mediates the fat-liver axis, and in humans and animals, FGF21 can ameliorate insulin resistance, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and obesity. Activation of the FGF21 pathway may have therapeutic benefits for obese cats. Methods In this preliminary cross-sectional study, ad libitum fed, purpose-bred, male-neutered, 6-year-old, obese and overweight cats were administered either 10 mg/kg/day of an FGF21 mimetic (FGF21; n = 4) or saline (control; n = 3) for 14 days. Body weight, food, and water intake were quantified daily during and 2 weeks following treatment. Changes in metabolic and liver parameters, intrahepatic triglyceride content, liver elasticity, and gut microbiota were evaluated. Results Treatment with FGF21 resulted in significant weight loss (~5.93%) compared to control and a trend toward decreased intrahepatic triglyceride content. Cats treated with FGF21 had decreased serum alkaline phosphatase. No significant changes were noted in liver elasticity, serum, liver, or metabolic parameters, or gut microbiome composition. Discussion In obese and overweight cats, activation of the FGF21 pathway can safely induce weight loss with trends to improve liver lipid content. This exploratory study is the first to evaluate the FGF21 pathway in cats. Manipulation of the FGF21 pathway has promising potential as a therapeutic for feline obesity. Further studies are needed to see if FGF21-pathway manipulation can be therapeutic for feline hepatic lipidosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily J. Brinker
- Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, United States,Scott Ritchey Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, United States
| | - T. Jordan Towns
- Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, United States,Scott Ritchey Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, United States
| | - Rie Watanabe
- Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, United States
| | - Xiaolei Ma
- Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, United States,School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Adil Bashir
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Samuel Ginn College of Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, United States
| | - Robert C. Cole
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, United States
| | - Xu Wang
- Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, United States,Scott Ritchey Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, United States,Center for Advanced Science, Innovation and Commerce, Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station, Auburn, AL, United States,HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville, AL, United States
| | - Emily C. Graff
- Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, United States,Scott Ritchey Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, United States,*Correspondence: Emily C. Graff ✉
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Cha J, Kim J, Ko J, Kim J, Eom K. Effects of Confounding Factors on Liver Stiffness in Two-Dimensional Shear Wave Elastography in Beagle Dogs. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:827599. [PMID: 35155659 PMCID: PMC8830801 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.827599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Two-dimensional shear wave elastography (2D-SWE) is a powerful technique that can non-invasively measure liver stiffness to assess hepatic fibrosis. Purpose This study aimed to identify the effects of confounding factors, including anesthesia, breathing, and scanning approach, on liver stiffness when performing 2D-SWE in dogs. Materials and Methods Nine healthy Beagle dogs were included in this study. Hepatic 2D-SWE was performed, and liver stiffness was compared between conscious and anesthetized states, free-breathing and breath-holding conditions, and intercostal and subcostal approaches. For the anesthetized state, the breath-holding condition was subdivided into seven phases, which included forced-expiration (5 and 10 mL/kg), end-expiration (0 cm H2O), and forced-inspiration (5, 10, 15, and 20 cm H2O), and liver stiffness was compared among these phases. Changes in liver stiffness were compared between intercostal and subcostal approaches according to breathing phases. Results No significant difference was observed in liver stiffness between the conscious and anesthetized states or between the free-breathing and breath-holding conditions. No significant difference was noted in liver stiffness among the breathing phases, except for forced-inspiration with high airway pressure (15 and 20 cm H2O in the intercostal approach and 10, 15, and 20 cm H2O in the subcostal approach), which was associated with significantly higher liver stiffness (p < 0.05). Liver stiffness was significantly higher in the subcostal approach than in the intercostal approach (p < 0.05). Changes in liver stiffness were significantly higher in the subcostal approach than in the intercostal approach in all forced-inspiratory phases (p < 0.05). Conclusion In conclusion, when performing 2D-SWE in dogs, liver stiffness is unaffected by anesthesia and free-breathing. To avoid inadvertent increases in liver stiffness, the deep inspiratory phase and subcostal approach are not recommended. Thus, liver stiffness should be interpreted considering these confounding factors.
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