Obesity has a great impact on adipose tissue biology, based on its function as the master regulator in energy balance. The excess of energy affects the adipose tissue with an overstoring of lipids droplets. Brown adipose tissue (BAT) undergoes remodeling, and its activity declines in obese subjects, mainly as a result of the conversion of brown adipocytes to white-like unilocular cells (whitening process). In addition, obesity is associated with endoplasmic reticulum stress in adipose tissue, and free fatty acids induce reactive oxygen species formation. Studies have identified inflammation and immune cell infiltration as contributors to BAT dysfunction. Reduction of oxidative stress and inflammatory processes have been reviewed in animal models of obesity treated with bioactive natural compounds. Thus, we investigated in interscapular BAT (iBAT) the effects of Prunus cerasus L. in obese rats fed with a high-fat diet (HFD) called DIO, an HFD supplemented with seed powder (DS), and with seed powder plus juice (DJS) of tart cherries. Rodents were monitored for 17 weeks of HFD and compared to CHOW rats fed with a standard diet. Morphological staining revealed in DIO rats an enlargement of white adipose tissue in iBAT. Tart cherry supplementation reduced obesity-induced whitening of iBAT both in DS and in DJS, compared to DIO rats. A modulation of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) expression, specifically in brown adipocytes, was detected in obese phenotype and after tart cherries intake. Predictably, based on the brown-to-white conversion in obesity, the gene expression results showed a downregulation of UCP1 in DIO compared to CHOW rats. Moreover, an upregulation of the thermogenic genes was found in the supplemented rats compared to DIO. Metabolic adaptations, endoplasmic reticulum stress, protein carbonylation, and inflammatory process in the BAT were reported in obese rats, modulated by tart cherries supplementation. In addition to our previous results, these data suggest the protective effect of anthocyanins-enriched fruit consumption in obesity.
PROTECTIVE ROLE OF TART CHERRY AGAINST WHITENING OF BROWN ADIPOSE TISSUE OF OBESE RATS
V. Bellitto;S. K. Tayebati;I. Martinelli;P. Roy;G. Nittari;P. Cocci;F. A. Palermo;F. Amenta;D. Tomassoni
;M. G. Gabrielli
2023-01-01
Abstract
Obesity has a great impact on adipose tissue biology, based on its function as the master regulator in energy balance. The excess of energy affects the adipose tissue with an overstoring of lipids droplets. Brown adipose tissue (BAT) undergoes remodeling, and its activity declines in obese subjects, mainly as a result of the conversion of brown adipocytes to white-like unilocular cells (whitening process). In addition, obesity is associated with endoplasmic reticulum stress in adipose tissue, and free fatty acids induce reactive oxygen species formation. Studies have identified inflammation and immune cell infiltration as contributors to BAT dysfunction. Reduction of oxidative stress and inflammatory processes have been reviewed in animal models of obesity treated with bioactive natural compounds. Thus, we investigated in interscapular BAT (iBAT) the effects of Prunus cerasus L. in obese rats fed with a high-fat diet (HFD) called DIO, an HFD supplemented with seed powder (DS), and with seed powder plus juice (DJS) of tart cherries. Rodents were monitored for 17 weeks of HFD and compared to CHOW rats fed with a standard diet. Morphological staining revealed in DIO rats an enlargement of white adipose tissue in iBAT. Tart cherry supplementation reduced obesity-induced whitening of iBAT both in DS and in DJS, compared to DIO rats. A modulation of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) expression, specifically in brown adipocytes, was detected in obese phenotype and after tart cherries intake. Predictably, based on the brown-to-white conversion in obesity, the gene expression results showed a downregulation of UCP1 in DIO compared to CHOW rats. Moreover, an upregulation of the thermogenic genes was found in the supplemented rats compared to DIO. Metabolic adaptations, endoplasmic reticulum stress, protein carbonylation, and inflammatory process in the BAT were reported in obese rats, modulated by tart cherries supplementation. In addition to our previous results, these data suggest the protective effect of anthocyanins-enriched fruit consumption in obesity.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
