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Marková I, Hüttl M, Miklánková D, Šedová L, Šeda O, Malínská H. The Effect of Ovariectomy and Estradiol Substitution on the Metabolic Parameters and Transcriptomic Profile of Adipose Tissue in a Prediabetic Model. Antioxidants (Basel) 2024; 13:627. [PMID: 38929066 PMCID: PMC11200657 DOI: 10.3390/antiox13060627] [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: 04/23/2024] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Menopause brings about profound physiological changes, including the acceleration of insulin resistance and other abnormalities, in which adipose tissue can play a significant role. This study analyzed the effect of ovariectomy and estradiol substitution on the metabolic parameters and transcriptomic profile of adipose tissue in prediabetic females of hereditary hypertriglyceridemic rats (HHTgs). The HHTgs underwent ovariectomy (OVX) or sham surgery (SHAM), and half of the OVX group received 17β-estradiol (OVX+E2) post-surgery. Ovariectomy resulted in weight gain, an impaired glucose tolerance, ectopic triglyceride (TG) deposition, and insulin resistance exemplified by impaired glycogenesis and lipogenesis. Estradiol alleviated some of the disorders associated with ovariectomy; in particular, it improved insulin sensitivity and reduced TG deposition. A transcriptomic analysis of perimetrial adipose tissue revealed 809 differentially expressed transcripts in the OVX vs. SHAM groups, mostly pertaining to the regulation of lipid and glucose metabolism, and oxidative stress. Estradiol substitution affected 1049 transcripts with overrepresentation in the signaling pathways of lipid metabolism. The principal component and hierarchical clustering analyses of transcriptome shifts corroborated the metabolic data, showing a closer resemblance between the OVX+E2 and SHAM groups compared to the OVX group. Changes in the adipose tissue transcriptome may contribute to metabolic abnormalities accompanying ovariectomy-induced menopause in HHTg females. Estradiol substitution may partially mitigate some of these disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irena Marková
- Centre for Experimental Medicine, Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, 140 21 Prague, Czech Republic; (M.H.); (D.M.); (H.M.)
| | - Martina Hüttl
- Centre for Experimental Medicine, Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, 140 21 Prague, Czech Republic; (M.H.); (D.M.); (H.M.)
| | - Denisa Miklánková
- Centre for Experimental Medicine, Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, 140 21 Prague, Czech Republic; (M.H.); (D.M.); (H.M.)
| | - Lucie Šedová
- Institute of Biology and Medical Genetics, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital, 121 08 Prague, Czech Republic; (L.Š.); (O.Š.)
| | - Ondřej Šeda
- Institute of Biology and Medical Genetics, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital, 121 08 Prague, Czech Republic; (L.Š.); (O.Š.)
| | - Hana Malínská
- Centre for Experimental Medicine, Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, 140 21 Prague, Czech Republic; (M.H.); (D.M.); (H.M.)
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2
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Massa MG, Scott RL, Cara AL, Cortes LR, Vander PB, Sandoval NP, Park JW, Ali SL, Velez LM, Wang HB, Ati SS, Tesfaye B, Reue K, van Veen JE, Seldin MM, Correa SM. Feeding neurons integrate metabolic and reproductive states in mice. iScience 2023; 26:107918. [PMID: 37817932 PMCID: PMC10561062 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Balance between metabolic and reproductive processes is important for survival, particularly in mammals that gestate their young. How the nervous system coordinates this balance is an active area of study. Herein, we demonstrate that somatostatin (SST) neurons of the tuberal hypothalamus alter feeding in a manner sensitive to metabolic and reproductive states in mice. Whereas chemogenetic activation of SST neurons increased food intake across sexes, ablation decreased food intake only in female mice during proestrus. This ablation effect was only apparent in animals with low body mass. Fat transplantation and bioinformatics analysis of SST neuronal transcriptomes revealed white adipose as a key modulator of these effects. These studies indicate that SST hypothalamic neurons integrate metabolic and reproductive cues by responding to varying levels of circulating estrogens to modulate feeding differentially based on energy stores. Thus, gonadal steroid modulation of neuronal circuits can be context dependent and gated by metabolic status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan G. Massa
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California – Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Neuroscience Interdepartmental Doctoral Program, University of California – Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Rachel L. Scott
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California – Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Alexandra L. Cara
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California – Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Laura R. Cortes
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California – Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Paul B. Vander
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California – Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Norma P. Sandoval
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California – Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Jae W. Park
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California – Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Sahara L. Ali
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California – Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Leandro M. Velez
- Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Huei-Bin Wang
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California – Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Shomik S. Ati
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California – Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Bethlehem Tesfaye
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California – Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Karen Reue
- Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - J. Edward van Veen
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California – Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Marcus M. Seldin
- Department of Biological Chemistry, School of Medicine, University of California – Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Stephanie M. Correa
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California – Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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Christensen A, Pike CJ. Effects of APOE Genotype and Western Diet on Metabolic Phenotypes in Female Mice. Metabolites 2023; 13:metabo13020287. [PMID: 36837905 PMCID: PMC9959618 DOI: 10.3390/metabo13020287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Western diets high in sugars and saturated fats have been reported to induce metabolic and inflammatory impairments that are associated with several age-related disorders, including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and type 2 diabetes (T2D). The apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype is associated with metabolic and inflammatory outcomes that contribute to risks for AD and T2D, with the APOE4 genotype increasing risks relative to the more common APOE3 allele. In this study, we investigated the impacts of the APOE genotype on systemic and neural effects of the Western diet. Female mice with knock-in of human APOE3 or APOE4 were exposed to control or Western diet for 13 weeks. In the control diet, we observed that APOE4 mice presented with impaired metabolic phenotypes, exhibiting greater adiposity, higher plasma leptin and insulin levels, and poorer glucose clearance than APOE3 mice. Behaviorally, APOE4 mice exhibited worse performance in a hippocampal-dependent learning task. In visceral adipose tissue, APOE4 mice exhibited generally higher expression levels of macrophage- and inflammation-related genes. The cerebral cortex showed a similar pattern, with higher expression of macrophage- and inflammation-related genes in APOE4 than APOE3 mice. Exposure to the Western diet yielded modest, statistically non-significant effects on most metabolic, behavioral, and gene expression measures in both APOE genotypes. Interestingly, the Western diet resulted in reduced gene expression of a few macrophage markers, specifically in APOE4 mice. The observed relative resistance to the Western diet suggests protective roles of both female sex and young adult age. Further, the data demonstrate that APOE4 is associated with deleterious systemic and neural phenotypes and an altered response to a metabolic stressor, findings relevant to the understanding of interactions between the APOE genotype and risks for metabolic disorders.
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Chen HH, Hsu HT, Liao MH, Teng MS. Effects of Sex and Obesity on LEP Variant and Leptin Level Associations in Intervertebral Disc Degeneration. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232012275. [PMID: 36293132 PMCID: PMC9603873 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232012275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Revised: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD), for which obesity and genetics are known risk factors, is a chronic process that alters the structure and function of the intervertebral discs (IVD). Circulating leptin is positively correlated with body weight and is often measured to elucidate the pathogenesis of IVD degeneration. In this study, we examined the associations of LEP single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) genetic and environmental effects with IVDD. A total of 303 Taiwanese patients with IVDD (mean age, 58.6 ± 12.7 years) undergoing cervical discectomy for neck pain or lumbar discectomy for back pain were enrolled. Commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits measured the circulating plasma leptin levels. TaqMan SNP genotyping assays genotyped the LEP SNPs rs2167270 and rs7799039. Leptin levels were significantly increased in obese individuals (p < 0.001) and non-obese or obese women (p < 0.001). In the dominant model, recoded minor alleles of rs2167270 and rs7799039 were associated with higher leptin levels in all individuals (p = 0.011, p = 0.012). Further, the association between these LEP SNPs and leptin levels was significant only in obese women (p = 0.025 and p = 0.008, respectively). There was an interaction effect between sex and obesity, particularly among obese women (interaction p = 0.04 and 0.02, respectively). Our findings demonstrate that these SNPs have sex-specific associations with BMI in IVDD patients, and that obesity and sex, particularly among obese women, may modify the LEP transcription effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsing-Hong Chen
- Division of Neurosurgery, Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, New Taipei City 23142, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, Buddhist Tzu Chi University, Hualien 97004, Taiwan
| | - Hsien-Ta Hsu
- Division of Neurosurgery, Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, New Taipei City 23142, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, Buddhist Tzu Chi University, Hualien 97004, Taiwan
| | - Mei-Hsiu Liao
- Department of Research, Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, New Taipei City 23142, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Sheng Teng
- Department of Research, Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, New Taipei City 23142, Taiwan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +886-2-6628-9779 (ext. 5790); Fax: +886-2-6628-9009
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Dickerson H, Tessier V, Davis E, Solis E, Armstrong T, Healy-La Price J. Body temperature patterns and energy balance hormones in free-living thirteen-lined ground squirrels (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus) from different latitudes. Physiol Biochem Zool 2022; 95:500-516. [DOI: 10.1086/721443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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6
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Shiffler JA, Goerger KA, Gorres-Martens BK. Estrogen receptor α activation modulates the gut microbiome and type 2 diabetes risk factors. Physiol Rep 2022; 10:e15344. [PMID: 35698449 PMCID: PMC9193963 DOI: 10.14814/phy2.15344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Revised: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Estradiol and exercise can decrease risk factors associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D) including total body weight gain and abdominal fat gain. Estradiol functions through estrogen receptor (ER) α and ERβ. Some studies suggest that activation of ERα may provide protection against T2D. Female Wistar rats were ovariectomized and fed a high‐fat diet for 10 weeks and divided into the following 5 experimental groups: (1) no treatment (control), (2) exercise, (3) estradiol, (4) propylpyrazoletriyl (a selective ERα agonist), and (5) diarylpropionitrile (a selective ERβ agonist). ERα activation decreased the abundance of Firmicutes, and ERα and ERβ activation increased the abundance of Bacteroidetes. ERα activation decreased food consumption, and ERα and ERβ activation increased voluntary activity. Exercise was the only treatment to decrease the blood glucose and serum insulin levels. ERα activation, but not ERβ, increased hepatic protein expression of ACC and FAS and decreased hepatic protein expression of LPL. ERα activation also decreased hepatic mRNA expression of PPARα and PPARγ. This study elucidates the functions of estradiol by assessing specific activation of ERα and ERβ. As obesity increases the abundance of Firmicutes and decreases the abundance of Bacteroidetes, our study shows that ERα activation can restore the gut microbiome to non‐obese abundances. This study further provides novel insights into ERα’s role in hepatic fat metabolism via regulation of ACC, FAS, LPL, PPARα, and PPARγ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janelle A Shiffler
- Exercise and Sport Sciences Department, Augustana University, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA
| | - Krista A Goerger
- Biology Department, University of Sioux Falls, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA
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Steiner BM, Berry DC. The Regulation of Adipose Tissue Health by Estrogens. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:889923. [PMID: 35721736 PMCID: PMC9204494 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.889923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Obesity and its' associated metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and cardiometabolic disorders are significant health problems confronting many countries. A major driver for developing obesity and metabolic dysfunction is the uncontrolled expansion of white adipose tissue (WAT). Specifically, the pathophysiological expansion of visceral WAT is often associated with metabolic dysfunction due to changes in adipokine secretion profiles, reduced vascularization, increased fibrosis, and enrichment of pro-inflammatory immune cells. A critical determinate of body fat distribution and WAT health is the sex steroid estrogen. The bioavailability of estrogen appears to favor metabolically healthy subcutaneous fat over visceral fat growth while protecting against changes in metabolic dysfunction. Our review will focus on the role of estrogen on body fat partitioning, WAT homeostasis, adipogenesis, adipocyte progenitor cell (APC) function, and thermogenesis to control WAT health and systemic metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Daniel C. Berry
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
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Yokota‐Nakagi N, Omoto S, Tazumi S, Kawakami M, Takamata A, Morimoto K. Estradiol replacement improves high-fat diet-induced insulin resistance in ovariectomized rats. Physiol Rep 2022; 10:e15193. [PMID: 35238495 PMCID: PMC8892597 DOI: 10.14814/phy2.15193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Revised: 01/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The role of 17β-estradiol (E2) in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced alteration of the protein kinase B (Akt) signaling pathway in ovariectomized (OVX) rats is unclear. Therefore, we examined whether chronic estrogen replacement restores HFD-induced impairment in insulin sensitivity by its effects concomitant with alterations in the Akt isoform 2 (Akt2) and Akt substrate of 160 kDa (AS160) phosphorylation in muscles of OVX rats. Nine-week-old female Wistar rats underwent ovariectomy under anesthesia; after 4 weeks, subcutaneous implantation of either E2 or placebo (PL) pellets was performed, and HFD feeding was initiated. Intravenous glucose tolerance tests were performed to assess insulin sensitivity. Following insulin injection into rats' portal vein, the liver and gastrocnemius muscle were dissected for insulin signaling analysis. We observed that HFD increased energy intake and body weight in the PL group; however, it was temporarily decreased in the E2 group. Adipose tissue accumulation was larger in HFD-fed rats than in normal chow diet (NCD)-fed rats in the PL group; however, this difference was not observed in the E2 group. HFD reduced insulin sensitivity in the PL group only. In vivo insulin stimulation increased Akt2 phosphorylation in the muscles of NCD-fed rats in both groups. In contrast, HFD affected insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of Akt2 and AS160 in the muscles of rats in the PL group but not in the E2 group. Our data suggest that E2 replacement improves HFD-induced insulin resistance, and this effect is accompanied by the alterations in the Akt2 and AS160 phosphorylation in insulin-stimulated muscles of OVX rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoko Yokota‐Nakagi
- Department of Environmental HealthFaculty of Human Life and EnvironmentNara Women’s UniversityNaraJapan
- Department of Health and NutritionFaculty of Health ScienceKyoto Koka Women’s UniversityKyotoJapan
| | - Sayo Omoto
- Department of Environmental HealthFaculty of Human Life and EnvironmentNara Women’s UniversityNaraJapan
| | - Shoko Tazumi
- Department of Environmental HealthFaculty of Human Life and EnvironmentNara Women’s UniversityNaraJapan
| | - Mizuho Kawakami
- Department of Environmental HealthFaculty of Human Life and EnvironmentNara Women’s UniversityNaraJapan
| | - Akira Takamata
- Department of Environmental HealthFaculty of Human Life and EnvironmentNara Women’s UniversityNaraJapan
| | - Keiko Morimoto
- Department of Environmental HealthFaculty of Human Life and EnvironmentNara Women’s UniversityNaraJapan
- Department of Health and NutritionFaculty of Health ScienceKyoto Koka Women’s UniversityKyotoJapan
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9
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Kaster K, Patton J, Clayton S, Wauson E, Giles J, Tran QK. A novel assay to assess the effects of estrogen on the cardiac calmodulin binding equilibrium. Life Sci 2022; 290:120247. [PMID: 34954214 PMCID: PMC8779721 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2021.120247] [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: 10/04/2021] [Revised: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
AIMS The Ca2+-binding protein calmodulin (CaM) modulates numerous target proteins but is produced insufficiently to bind all of them, generating a limiting CaM equilibrium. Menopause increases cardiac morbidity; however, it is unknown if the cardiac CaM equilibrium is affected by estrogen. We devised an assay to assess the effects of ovariectomy and estrogen treatment on the cardiac CaM equilibrium. MATERIALS AND METHODS Sprague-Dawley rats received sham surgery or ovariectomy, followed by 2-week treatment with vehicle or 17β-estradiol. Ca2+-saturated left ventricular (LV) lysates were processed through CaM sepharose columns, which retained CaM-binding proteins unoccupied by endogenous CaM. Eluants therefrom were subjected to a competitive binding assay against purified CaM and a CaM biosensor to assess the amounts of unoccupied CaM-binding sites. LV cellular composition was assessed by immunohistochemistry. KEY FINDINGS LV eluants processed from sham animals reduce biosensor response by ~32%, indicating baseline presence of unoccupied CaM-binding sites and a limiting CaM equilibrium. Ovariectomy exacerbates the limiting CaM equilibrium, reducing biosensor response by ~65%. 17β-estradiol treatment equalizes the difference between sham and ovariectomized animals. These changes reflect whole tissue responses and are not mirrored by changes in total surface areas of cardiomyocytes and fibroblasts. Consistently, Ca2+-dependent, but not Ca2+-independent, interaction between CaM and the cardiac inositol trisphosphate receptor (IP3R) is reduced following ovariectomy and is restored by subsequent 17β-estradiol treatment. SIGNIFICANCE Our assay provides a new parameter to assess tissue CaM equilibrium. The exacerbated limiting CaM equilibrium following estrogen loss may contribute to cardiac morbidity and is prevented by estrogen treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle Kaster
- Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, Des Moines University Osteopathic Medical Center, IA 50312, United States
| | - John Patton
- Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, Des Moines University Osteopathic Medical Center, IA 50312, United States
| | - Sarah Clayton
- Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, Des Moines University Osteopathic Medical Center, IA 50312, United States
| | - Eric Wauson
- Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, Des Moines University Osteopathic Medical Center, IA 50312, United States
| | - Jennifer Giles
- Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, Des Moines University Osteopathic Medical Center, IA 50312, United States
| | - Quang-Kim Tran
- Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, Des Moines University Osteopathic Medical Center, IA 50312, United States.
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Torres Irizarry VC, Jiang Y, He Y, Xu P. Hypothalamic Estrogen Signaling and Adipose Tissue Metabolism in Energy Homeostasis. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:898139. [PMID: 35757435 PMCID: PMC9218066 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.898139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Obesity has become a global epidemic, and it is a major risk factor for other metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes and cardiometabolic disease. Accumulating evidence indicates that there is sex-specific metabolic protection and disease susceptibility. For instance, in both clinical and experimental studies, males are more likely to develop obesity, insulin resistance, and diabetes. In line with this, males tend to have more visceral white adipose tissue (WAT) and less brown adipose tissue (BAT) thermogenic activity, both leading to an increased incidence of metabolic disorders. This female-specific fat distribution is partially mediated by sex hormone estrogens. Specifically, hypothalamic estrogen signaling plays a vital role in regulating WAT distribution, WAT beiging, and BAT thermogenesis. These regulatory effects on adipose tissue metabolism are primarily mediated by the activation of estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) in neurons, which interacts with hormones and adipokines such as leptin, ghrelin, and insulin. This review discusses the contribution of adipose tissue dysfunction to obesity and the role of hypothalamic estrogen signaling in preventing metabolic diseases with a particular focus on the VMH, the central regulator of energy expenditure and glucose homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria C. Torres Irizarry
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Yuwei Jiang
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
- *Correspondence: Yuwei Jiang, ; Yanlin He, ; Pingwen Xu,
| | - Yanlin He
- Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Louisiana State University System, Baton Rouge, LA, United States
- *Correspondence: Yuwei Jiang, ; Yanlin He, ; Pingwen Xu,
| | - Pingwen Xu
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
- *Correspondence: Yuwei Jiang, ; Yanlin He, ; Pingwen Xu,
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11
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Modulation of the Gut Microbiota Structure with Probiotics and Isoflavone Alleviates Metabolic Disorder in Ovariectomized Mice. Nutrients 2021; 13:nu13061793. [PMID: 34070274 PMCID: PMC8225012 DOI: 10.3390/nu13061793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Revised: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The decrease in ovarian hormone secretion that occurs during menopause results in an increase in body weight and adipose tissue mass. Probiotics and soy isoflavones (SIFs) could affect the gut microbiota and exert anti-obesity effects. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of probiotics and a diet containing SIF (SIF diet) on ovariectomized mice with menopausal obesity, including the gut microbiome. The results demonstrate that Bifidobacterium longum 15M1 can reverse menopausal obesity, whilst the combination of Lactobacillus plantarum 30M5 and a SIF diet was more effective in alleviating menopausal lipid metabolism disorder than either components alone. Probiotics and SIFs play different anti-obesity roles in menopausal mice. Furthermore, 30M5 alters the metabolites of the gut microbiota that increase the circulating estrogen level, upregulates the expression of estrogen receptor α in abdominal adipose tissue and improves the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). A SIF diet can significantly alter the structure of the fecal bacterial community and enrich the pathways related to SCFAs production. Moreover, 30M5 and a SIF diet acted synergistically to effectively resolve abnormal serum lipid levels in ovariectomized mice, and these effects appear to be associated with regulation of the diversity and structure of the intestinal microbiota to enhance SCFAs production and promote estrogen circulation.
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12
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Fleischer AW, Schalk JC, Wetzel EA, Hanson AM, Sem DS, Donaldson WA, Frick KM. Long-term oral administration of a novel estrogen receptor beta agonist enhances memory and alleviates drug-induced vasodilation in young ovariectomized mice. Horm Behav 2021; 130:104948. [PMID: 33571507 PMCID: PMC8680219 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2021.104948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Revised: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Development of estrogen therapies targeting the β (ERβ) but not α (ERα) estrogen receptor is critically needed for the treatment of negative menopausal symptoms, as ERα activation increases health risks like cancer. Here, we determined the effects of long-term oral treatment with EGX358, a novel highly selective ERβ agonist, on memory, vasodilation, and affect in young ovariectomized mice. Mice were orally gavaged daily for 9 weeks with vehicle, 17β-estradiol (E2), the ERβ agonist diarylpropionitrile (DPN), or EGX358 at doses that enhance memory when delivered acutely. Tail skin temperature was recorded as a proxy for vasodilation following injection of vehicle or senktide, a tachykinin receptor 3 agonist used to model hot flashes. Anxiety-like behavior was assessed in the open field (OF) and elevated plus maze (EPM), and depression-like behavior was measured in the tail suspension (TST) and forced swim tests (FST). Finally, memory was assessed in object recognition (OR) and object placement (OP) tasks. E2, DPN, and EGX358 reduced senktide-mediated increases in tail skin temperature compared to vehicle. All three treatments also enhanced memory in the OR and OP tasks, whereas vehicle did not. Although E2 increased time spent in the center of the OF, no other treatment effects were observed in the OF, EPM, TST, or FST. These data suggest that long-term ERβ activation can reduce hot flash-like symptoms and enhance spatial and object recognition memories in ovariectomized mice. Thus, the highly selective ERβ agonist EGX358 may be a promising avenue for reducing menopause-related hot flashes and memory dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron W Fleischer
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53211, United States of America.
| | - Jayson C Schalk
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53211, United States of America.
| | - Edward A Wetzel
- Department of Chemistry, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI 53201-1881, United States of America.
| | - Alicia M Hanson
- Department Pharmaceutical Sciences, Concordia University Wisconsin, Mequon, WI 53097, United States of America; Center for Structure-Based Drug Design and Development, Concordia University Wisconsin, Mequon, WI 53097, United States of America.
| | - Daniel S Sem
- Department Pharmaceutical Sciences, Concordia University Wisconsin, Mequon, WI 53097, United States of America; Center for Structure-Based Drug Design and Development, Concordia University Wisconsin, Mequon, WI 53097, United States of America.
| | - William A Donaldson
- Department of Chemistry, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI 53201-1881, United States of America.
| | - Karyn M Frick
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53211, United States of America.
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