Fish Oil Supplementation Mitigates High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity: Exploring Epigenetic Modulation and Genes Associated with Adipose Tissue Dysfunction in Mice

Author(s)

Simao, Jussara de Jesus ; Bispo, Andressa Franca de Sousa ; Plata, Victor Tadeu Goncalves ; Armelin-Correa, Lucia Maria ; Alonso-Vale, Maria Isabel Cardoso

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: PHARMACEUTICALS; v. 17, n. 7, p. 19-pg., 2024-07-01.

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of fish oil (FO) treatment, particularly enriched with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), on obesity induced by a high-fat diet (HFD) in mice. The investigation focused on elucidating the impact of FO on epigenetic modifications in white adipose tissue (WAT) and the involvement of adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs). C57BL/6j mice were divided into two groups: control diet and HFD for 16 weeks. In the last 8 weeks, the HFD group was subdivided into HFD and HFD + FO (treated with FO). WAT was removed for RNA and protein extraction, while ASCs were isolated, cultured, and treated with leptin. All samples were analyzed using functional genomics tools, including PCR-array, RT-PCR, and Western Blot assays. Mice receiving an HFD displayed increased body mass, fat accumulation, and altered gene expression associated with WAT inflammation and dysfunction. FO supplementation attenuated these effects, a potential protective role against HFD-induced obesity. Analysis of H3K27 revealed HFD-induced changes in histone, which were partially reversed by FO treatment. This study further explored leptin signaling in ASCs, suggesting a potential mechanism for ASC dysfunction in the obesity-rich leptin environment of WAT. Overall, FO supplementation demonstrated efficacy in mitigating HFD-induced obesity, influencing epigenetic and molecular pathways, and shedding light on the role of ASCs and leptin signaling in WAT dysfunction associated with obesity. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 19/13618-9 - Modulation of Ezh2 expression, and other H3K27 modifiers, by NF-kB transcription factors in adipose cells
• Grantee: Maria Isabel Cardoso Alonso-Vale
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 22/15127-5 - Modulation of NF-kB signaling pathway and repercussions on epigenetic marks in adipose cells: role of Oncotherad®
• Grantee: Andressa Franca de Sousa Bispo
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• FAPESP's process: 19/26240-4 - Signaling pathways affected by fish oil in Adipose tissue-Derived Stem Cells (AdSCs) and adipocytes: correlation with metabolic, endocrine and adipogenic changes that impact its anti-Hypertrophic Obesity properties
• Grantee: Jussara de Jesus Simão
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate