Characterization of the inflammatory profile in obese mice on high fat diet rich in saturated fatty acids

• Grant number: 12/25094-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2013
• End date: July 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Antonio Carlos Cicogna
• Grantee: Caroline Soares Adorni
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FMB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

According to Calich & Vaz, inflammation can be defined as a defense mechanism in response to tissue aggression. The inflammatory response is triggered by chemical mediators that are responsible for the inflammatory cells' chemotaxis in an attempt to destroy the aggressor agent and repair tissue damage. These mediators are represented by a group of proteins called cytokines that are released due to different stimuli and may perform anti and pro-inflammatory functions being mainly secreted by cells of the immune system, vascular, stroma, and adipose tissue, which is the largest energy reservoir of the organism. Studies have shown that adipocyte has endocrine functions, which respond by secreting bioactive molecules, called adipokines. They participate in the pathophysiological changes that occur in obesity, which has been often associated with systemic inflammation, increased pro-inflammatory cytokines, and decreased levels of one anti-inflammatory adipokine, the adiponectin. Recent studies in our laboratory showed that the inflammatory profile of obese mice fed a high-fat diet, rich in unsaturated fatty acids, for 15 weeks did not change serum and myocardial concentration of anti and pro-inflammatory cytokines. The authors hypothesized the response was dependent on the fatty acids type and exposure time to induce obesity. It is well established in the literature the association of saturated fatty acids and increased cardiovascular disease risk. Given the data found in our laboratory, the association between harmful fatty acids and heart, and the lack of studies in the literature that examined the relationship among long periods of obesity, saturated fatty acids, and inflammatory profile, the purpose of this study is to test the hypothesis that obesity-induced by saturated fatty acids results in increased pro-inflammatory adipokines, with consequent reduction of the anti-inflammatory ones. (AU)