Eicosapentaenoic Acid Reduces Adiposity, Glucose Intolerance and Increases Oxygen Consumption Independently of Uncoupling Protein 1.

Abstract

SCOPE:

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) dissipates energy through uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) and has been proposed as an anti-obesity target. It was reported previously that a high-fat (HF) diet enriched in eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) significantly increased UCP1 and other thermogenic markers in BAT. It is hypothesized that these effects are mediated through UCP1-dependent regulation.

METHODS AND RESULTS:

Wild-type (WT) and UCP1 knockout (KO) B6 male mice were housed at thermoneutrality and fed a HF diet, without or with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)-enriched fish oil. HF-fed KO mice were heavier and had higher BAT lipid content than other groups. Protective effects of EPA in WT, previously observed at 22 °C (reduced adiposity, improved glucose tolerance, and increased UCP1), disappeared at thermoneutrality. Mitochondrial proteins, cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COX I), COX I, II, and IV were reduced in the KO mice compared to WT. Unexpectedly, EPA attenuated weight and fat mass gain and improved glucose tolerance in the KO mice. Finally, EPA increased BAT peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1 alpha (PGC1α) protein and gene expression, and whole-body oxygen consumption in KO mice, consistent with increased mitochondria DNA (mtDNA)/nuclear DNA (nucDNA) ratio.

CONCLUSIONS:

EPA rescued the weight gain and glucose intolerance in UCP1 KO mice at thermoneutrality, independent of UCP1; these effects may be mediated in part via increased oxygen consumption and BAT PGC1α.

• Authors: Mandana Pahlavani, Latha Ramalingam, Emily K Miller, Shane Scoggin, Kalhara R Menikdiwela, Nishan S Kalupahana, William T Festuccia, Naima Moustaid-Moussa
• Journal: Molecular nutrition & food research (Mol Nutr Food Res) Vol. 63 Issue 7 Pg. e1800821 (04 2019) ISSN: 1613-4133 [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 30657255 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © 2019 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Chemical References

• Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha
• Ppargc1a protein, mouse
• Ucp1 protein, mouse
• Uncoupling Protein 1
• Eicosapentaenoic Acid
• Oxygen

Topics

• Adipose Tissue (drug effects, metabolism)
• Animals
• Diet, High-Fat (adverse effects)
• Eating (drug effects)
• Eicosapentaenoic Acid (pharmacology)
• Energy Metabolism (drug effects)
• Gene Expression Regulation (drug effects)
• Glucose Intolerance (drug therapy)
• Male
• Mice, Knockout
• Mitochondria (drug effects, metabolism)
• Obesity (metabolism)
• Oxygen (metabolism)
• Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha (genetics, metabolism)
• Temperature
• Uncoupling Protein 1 (genetics, metabolism)
• Weight Gain (drug effects)