Investigation of the association between physical exercise and treatment with fluoroquinolone compounds in the prevention of obesity and its comorbidities

• Grant number: 24/02090-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: July 01, 2024
• End date: February 28, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - Physiology of Organs and Systems
• Principal Investigator: Marcelo Alves da Silva Mori
• Grantee: João Pedro Mazzi
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 21/08354-2 - The interplay between the immune system and metabolism as a key determinant of the aging process, AP.TEM

Abstract

Obesity is one of the largest public health problems around the world, mainly due to its increase over the past few years. Overweight and obesity are relevant risk factors for various diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, and cancer. The increase in fat accumulation and changes in glucose homeostasis are closely related to the development of these pathologies. Currently, physical exercise is considered an important factor in obesity treatment, and its association with dietary, surgical and pharmacological interventions are indispensable. Physical training acts not only in decreasing fat mass, but also in increasing skeletal muscle tissue, which plays a key role in regulating glucose homeostasis and energy expenditure, thus improving various metabolic parameters. This integrative action proves to be a great strategy to mitigate obesity and improve the control of glucose homeostasis, but it is still underexplored in the development of anti-obesity drugs. Previous studies have shown that fluoroquinolone compounds can be effective against obesity. Beyond their action on adipose tissue, data from our group show that skeletal muscle tissue is a potential candidate to mediate the positive metabolic effects of these compounds. Therefore, the characterization of the mechanisms of action of these compounds in skeletal muscle and the investigation of the affected metabolic pathways, as well as the study of the association between fluoroquinolone compounds and physical exercise, and their potential synergistic effect, are of utmost relevance, and can pave the way for the development of future treatments for obesity.