EVALUATION OF CERAMIDE PATHWAY MODULATION IN RESPONSE TO CONSUMPTION OF A HIGH INTERESTERIFIED FAT DIET IN MICE

• Grant number: 24/10814-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: November 01, 2024
• End date: February 29, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Nutrition - Nutrition Biochemistry
• Principal Investigator: Marciane Milanski Ferreira
• Grantee: Beatriz Piatezzi Siqueira
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Aplicadas (FCA). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Limeira , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 13/07607-8 - OCRC - Obesity and Comorbidities Research Center, AP.CEPID

Abstract

Recently, interesterified fat has been used as an alternative to trans fats. Interesterification is a process performed through chemical or enzymatic methods, which rearranges the fatty acids on the glycerol molecule without changing their saturation level. Previous data have shown that consuming interesterified fat affects glycemic homeostasis, promotes activation of inflammatory pathways in various rodent tissues, and alters ceramide profiles in vitro. Additionally, our group's results demonstrated that treatment with myriocin, a potent pharmacological inhibitor of the rate-limiting enzyme SPT, partially restored insulin signaling in immortalized hypothalamic neuron cell lines treated with 2-palmitoyl glycerol (2-PG). However, the comprehensive impact of ceramide synthesis inhibition on lipid profiles and other cellular responses such as endoplasmic reticulum stress remains uncertain in mice subjected to a prolonged diet rich in interesterified fat. Our objective is to evaluate ceramide pathway modulation in response to consumption of a diet high in interesterified fat in mice. We believe that understanding the effect of interesterified fat on rodent food intake may contribute to advancing knowledge in the field and inform discussions on public policies related to the safety of consuming this type of fat found mainly in processed foods.