Characterization of adipokines, energy expenditure and vascular phenotype in female and male mice with metabolic syndrome

• Grant number: 22/04867-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): October 01, 2022
• Effective date (End): January 31, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Nutrition - Nutrition Biochemistry
• Principal Investigator: Camila Renata Corrêa
• Grantee: Gabriela Souza Barbosa
• Supervisor: Thiago Bruder do Nascimento
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FMB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil
• Research place: University of Pittsburgh (Pitt), United States
• Associated to the scholarship: 21/01069-0 - Analysis of pro and anti-inflammatory adipocines in the different fat deposits of rats with metabolic syndrome, BP.IC

Abstract

The current nutritional transition process added to a sedentary lifestyle has been associated with the remodeling and expansion of adipose tissue, so called obesity. The various substances produced by this tissue are called adipokines, and include hormones and other proteins such as cytokines, in this case called adipocytokines, among them are interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-± (TNF-±) and interleukin-10. In the body, we have fat deposits, and studies report that the accumulation of fat can increase the inflammatory state, contributing to the evolution of the metabolic syndrome, which is already recognized as a worldwide public health problem. The literature already exposes some studies that focused on investigating the participation of differences in adipose inflammation, the development of obesity and risk factors for cardiometabolic diseases but, although prevalence of obesity is greater in women than in men, the discrepancy in quality and profile of adipose tissue is not fully understood. Objective: Characterize in males and females the parameters of adipokine secretion in different fat deposits, energy expenditure and vascular phenotype in an experimental model of metabolic syndrome. Materials and methods: Female and Male Mice (n = 32) with 6 weeks of age will be used which will be distributed in four groups [Lean female (LF), lean male (LM), obese female (OF), and obese male (OM)] to receive a standard diet (10 kcal%) or high fat diet (HFD - 60 kcal%) for 12 weeks. After 11 weeks of high fat diet treatment, mice will be placed in a Comprehensive Laboratory Animal Monitoring System (CLAMS) for energy expenditure analyze. At the end of 12 weeks, circulating hormones, leptin, adiponectin and insulin, and lipid profile will be measured, as well as adiposity levels. The adipose tissue inflammation and morphology will be studied via RT-PCR and techniques of histology. We will also analyze vascular reactivity via wire myograph and vascular and cardiac. With our study, we expect to have a full metabolic and cardiovascular characterization in female and male mice, as well as to dissect a possible sex discrepancy. (AU)