Unsaturated fatty acids as mediators of anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotical response in liver, skeletal muscle and white adipose tissue of obese and diabetic animals induced by high-fat diet: The role of GPR120 receptor.

• Grant number: 12/06872-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: September 01, 2012
• End date: July 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Dennys Esper Corrêa Cintra
• Grantee: Vanessa de Oliveira
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Aplicadas (FCA). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Limeira , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Obesity is currently one of the most important public health problems, being considered a disease out of control. Associated to obesity and insulin resistance, the chronic and low-grade inflammatory process is the common denominator, which can act as trigger or enhancer in the metabolic disorders genesis. The current understanding of these phenomena emerged the "metaflammation" denomination, where pro-inflammatory peptides are present and have been responsible for molecular orchestration culminating in metabolic chaos. Currently was identified in liver cells and adipose tissue in rodents the G protein coupled 120 receptor (GPR-120) as well as its intracellular signaling cascade. This receptor is responsible for the recognition of unsaturated fatty acids omega-3 (É3) and omega-9 (É9), and as mediator of potent anti-inflammatory responses exerted by these compounds. However, this hypothesis still remains to be clarified. Recently, our group has demonstrated the existence and functionality of this receptor and its mechanism in the CNS, where treatment with É3 or 9 was able to restore control of hunger and reverse insulin resistance in neurons controlling hunger and thermogenesis in obese and diabetics animals . The purpose of this project is to describe the existence and functionality of this receptor, mediated by omega-3 and 9 in peripheral tissues such as muscle, liver and adipose tissue, which are profoundly affected by insulin resistance seen in states of obesity and type 2 diabetes.