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Zhu J, Zhou Y, Jin B, Shu J. Role of estrogen in the regulation of central and peripheral energy homeostasis: from a menopausal perspective. Ther Adv Endocrinol Metab 2023; 14:20420188231199359. [PMID: 37719789 PMCID: PMC10504839 DOI: 10.1177/20420188231199359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Estrogen plays a prominent role in regulating and coordinating energy homeostasis throughout the growth, development, reproduction, and aging of women. Estrogen receptors (ERs) are widely expressed in the brain and nearly all tissues of the body. Within the brain, central estrogen via ER regulates appetite and energy expenditure and maintains cell glucose metabolism, including glucose transport, aerobic glycolysis, and mitochondrial function. In the whole body, estrogen has shown beneficial effects on weight control, fat distribution, glucose and insulin resistance, and adipokine secretion. As demonstrated by multiple in vitro and in vivo studies, menopause-related decline of circulating estrogen may induce the disturbance of metabolic signals and a significant decrease in bioenergetics, which could trigger an increased incidence of late-onset Alzheimer's disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases in postmenopausal women. In this article, we have systematically reviewed the role of estrogen and ERs in body composition and lipid/glucose profile variation occurring with menopause, which may provide a better insight into the efficacy of hormone therapy in maintaining energy metabolic homeostasis and hold a clue for development of novel therapeutic approaches for target tissue diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Zhu
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yier Zhou
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Bihui Jin
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jing Shu
- Reproductive Medicine Center, the First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310006, China
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Marsh ML, Oliveira MN, Vieira-Potter VJ. Adipocyte Metabolism and Health after the Menopause: The Role of Exercise. Nutrients 2023; 15:444. [PMID: 36678314 PMCID: PMC9862030 DOI: 10.3390/nu15020444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Postmenopausal women represent an important target population in need of preventative cardiometabolic approaches. The loss of estrogen following the menopause eliminates protections against metabolic dysfunction, largely due to its role in the health and function of adipose tissue. In addition, some studies associate the menopause with reduced physical activity, which could potentially exacerbate the deleterious cardiometabolic risk profile accompanying the menopause. Meanwhile, exercise has adipocyte-specific effects that may alleviate the adverse impact of estrogen loss through the menopausal transition period and beyond. Exercise thus remains the best therapeutic agent available to mitigate menopause-associated metabolic dysfunction and represents a vital behavioral strategy to prevent and alleviate health decline in this population.
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Queathem ED, Fitzgerald M, Welly R, Rowles CC, Schaller K, Bukhary S, Baines CP, Rector RS, Padilla J, Manrique-Acevedo C, Lubahn DB, Vieira-Potter VJ. Suppression of estrogen receptor beta classical genomic activity enhances systemic and adipose-specific response to chronic beta-3 adrenergic receptor (β3AR) stimulation. Front Physiol 2022; 13:920675. [PMID: 36213237 PMCID: PMC9534559 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.920675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
White adipose tissue (WAT) dysfunction independently predicts cardiometabolic disease, yet there is a lack of effective adipocyte-targeting therapeutics. B3AR agonists enhance adipocyte mitochondrial function and hold potential in this regard. Based on enhanced sensitivity to B3AR-mediated browning in estrogen receptor (ER)alpha-null mice, we hypothesized that ERβ may enhance the WAT response to the B3AR ligand, CL316,243 (CL). Methods: Male and female wild-type (WT) and ERβ DNA binding domain knock-out (ERβDBDKO) mice fed high-fat diet (HFD) to induce obesity were administered CL (1 mg/kg) daily for 2 weeks. Systemic physiological assessments of body composition (EchoMRI), bioenergetics (metabolic chambers), adipocyte mitochondrial respiration (oroboros) and glucose tolerance were performed, alongside perigonadal (PGAT), subcutaneous (SQAT) and brown adipose tissue (BAT) protein expression assessment (Western blot). Mechanisms were tested in vitro using primary adipocytes isolated from WT mice, and from Esr2-floxed mice in which ERβ was knocked down. Statistical analyses were performed using 2 × 2 analysis of variance (ANOVA) for main effects of genotype (G) and treatment (T), as well as GxT interactions; t-tests were used to determine differences between in vitro treatment conditions (SPSS V24). Results: There were no genotype differences in HFD-induced obesity or systemic rescue effects of CL, yet ERβDBDKO females were more sensitive to CL-induced increases in energy expenditure and WAT UCP1 induction (GxT, p < 0.05), which coincided with greater WAT B3AR protein content among the KO (G, p < 0.05). Among males, who were more insulin resistant to begin with (no genotype differences before treatment), tended to be more sensitive to CL-mediated reduction in insulin resistance. With sexes combined, basal WAT mitochondrial respiration trended toward being lower in the ERβDBDKO mice, but this was completely rescued by CL (p < 0.05). Confirming prior work, CL increased adipose tissue ERβ protein (T, p < 0.05, all), an effect that was enhanced in WAT and BAT the female KO (GxT, p < 0.01). In vitro experiments indicated that an inhibitor of ERβ genomic function (PHTPP) synergized with CL to further increase UCP1 mRNA (p = 0.043), whereas full ERβ protein was required for UCP1 expression (p = 0.042). Conclusion: Full ERβ activity appears requisite and stimulatory for UCP1 expression via a mechanism involving non-classical ERβ signaling. This novel discovery about the role of ERβ in adipocyte metabolism may have important clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric D. Queathem
- Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Maggie Fitzgerald
- Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Rebecca Welly
- Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Candace C. Rowles
- Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Kylie Schaller
- Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Shahad Bukhary
- Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Christopher P. Baines
- Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - R. Scott Rector
- Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
- Internal Medicine-Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
- Research Service, Truman VA Memorial Hospital, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Jaume Padilla
- Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
- Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Camila Manrique-Acevedo
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Missouri Columbia School of Medicine, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Dennis B. Lubahn
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Victoria J. Vieira-Potter
- Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
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Ignacio DL, Fortunato RS, Silvestre D, Matta L, de Vansconcelos AL, Carvalho DP, Galina A, Werneck-de-Castro JP, Cavalcanti-de-Albuquerque JP. Physical exercise improves mitochondrial function in ovariectomized rats. J Endocrinol 2022; 254:77-90. [PMID: 35635310 DOI: 10.1530/joe-22-0057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Estrogen deficiency causes metabolic disorders in humans and rodents, including in part due to changes in energy expenditure. We have shown previously that skeletal muscle mitochondrial function is compromised in ovariectomized (Ovx) rats. Since physical exercise is a powerful strategy to improve skeletal muscle mitochondrial content and function, we hypothesize that exercise training would counteract the deficiency-induced skeletal muscle mitochondrial dysfunction in Ovx rats. We report that exercised Ovx rats, at 60-65% of maximal exercise capacity for 8 weeks, exhibited less fat accumulation and body weight gain compared with sedentary controls. Treadmill exercise training decreased muscle lactate production, indicating a shift to mitochondrial oxidative metabolism. Furthermore, reduced soleus muscle mitochondrial oxygen consumption confirmed that estrogen deficiency is detrimental to mitochondrial function. However, exercise restored mitochondrial oxygen consumption in Ovx rats, achieving similar levels as in exercised control rats. Exercise-induced skeletal muscle peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α expression was similar in both groups. Therefore, the mechanisms by which exercise improves mitochondrial oxygen consumption appears to be different in Ovx-exercised and sham-exercised rats. While there was an increase in mitochondrial content in sham-exercised rats, demonstrated by a greater citrate synthase activity, no induction was observed in Ovx-exercised rats. Normalizing mitochondrial respiratory capacity by citrate synthase activity indicates a better oxidative phosphorylation efficiency in the Ovx-exercised group. In conclusion, physical exercise sustains mitochondrial function in ovarian hormone-deficient rats through a non-conventional mitochondrial content-independent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Leão Ignacio
- School of Physical Education and Sports, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Faculdades Integradas IESGO, Formosa, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Soares Fortunato
- Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Diego Silvestre
- School of Physical Education and Sports, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Matta
- Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Denise Pires Carvalho
- Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Antonio Galina
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - João Pedro Werneck-de-Castro
- School of Physical Education and Sports, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
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N-myc Downstream-Regulated Gene 2 (Ndrg2): A Critical Mediator of Estrogen-Induced Neuroprotection Against Cerebral Ischemic Injury. Mol Neurobiol 2022; 59:4793-4804. [PMID: 35622273 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-022-02877-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Growing evidence indicates that estrogen plays a pivotal role in neuroprotection against cerebral ischemia, but the molecular mechanism of this protection is still elusive. N-myc downstream-regulated gene 2 (Ndrg2), an estrogen-targeted gene, has been shown to exert neuroprotective effects against cerebral ischemia in male mice. However, the role of Ndrg2 in the neuroprotective effect of estrogen remains unknown. In this study, we first detected NDRG2 expression levels in the cortex and striatum in both female and male mice with western blot analyses. We then detected cerebral ischemic injury by constructing middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion (MCAO-R) models in Ndrg2 knockout or conditional knockdown female mice. We further implemented estrogen, ERα, or ERβ agonist replacement in the ovariectomized (OVX) Ndrg2 knockout or conditional knockdown female mice, then tested for NDRG2 expression, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) expression, and extent of cerebral ischemic injury. We found that NDRG2 expression was significantly higher in female than in male mice in both the cortex and striatum. Ndrg2 knockouts and conditional knockdowns showed significantly aggravated cerebral ischemic injury in female mice. Estrogen and ERβ replacement treatment (DPN) led to NDRG2 upregulation in both the cortex and striatum of OVX mice. Estrogen and DPN also led to GFAP upregulation in OVX mice. However, the effect of estrogen and DPN in activating astrocytes was lost in Ndrg2 knockout OVX mice and primary cultured astrocytes, but partially retained in conditional knockdown OVX mice. Most importantly, we found that the neuroprotective effects of E2 and DPN against cerebral ischemic injury were lost in Ndrg2 knockout OVX mice but partially retained in conditional knockdown OVX mice. These findings demonstrate that estrogen alleviated cerebral ischemic injury via ERβ upregulation of Ndrg2, which could activate astrocytes, indicating that Ndrg2 is a critical mediator of E2-induced neuroprotection against cerebral ischemic injury.
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White Adipose Tissue Depots Respond to Chronic Beta-3 Adrenergic Receptor Activation in a Sexually Dimorphic and Depot Divergent Manner. Cells 2021; 10:cells10123453. [PMID: 34943961 PMCID: PMC8700379 DOI: 10.3390/cells10123453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Revised: 11/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Beta-3 adrenergic receptor activation via exercise or CL316,243 (CL) induces white adipose tissue (WAT) browning, improves glucose tolerance, and reduces visceral adiposity. Our aim was to determine if sex or adipose tissue depot differences exist in response to CL. Daily CL injections were administered to diet-induced obese male and female mice for two weeks, creating four groups: male control, male CL, female control, and female CL. These groups were compared to determine the main and interaction effects of sex (S), CL treatment (T), and WAT depot (D). Glucose tolerance, body composition, and energy intake and expenditure were assessed, along with perigonadal (PGAT) and subcutaneous (SQAT) WAT gene and protein expression. CL consistently improved glucose tolerance and body composition. Female PGAT had greater protein expression of the mitochondrial uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), while SQAT (S, p < 0.001) was more responsive to CL in increasing UCP1 (S×T, p = 0.011) and the mitochondrial biogenesis induction protein, PPARγ coactivator 1α (PGC1α) (S×T, p = 0.026). Females also displayed greater mitochondrial OXPHOS (S, p < 0.05) and adiponectin protein content (S, p < 0.05). On the other hand, male SQAT was more responsive to CL in increasing protein levels of PGC1α (S×T, p = 0.046) and adiponectin (S, p < 0.05). In both depots and in both sexes, CL significantly increased estrogen receptor beta (ERβ) and glucose-related protein 75 (GRP75) protein content (T, p < 0.05). Thus, CL improves systemic and adipose tissue-specific metabolism in both sexes; however, sex differences exist in the WAT-specific effects of CL. Furthermore, across sexes and depots, CL affects estrogen signaling by upregulating ERβ.
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McKie GL, Wright DC. The confounding effects of sub-thermoneutral housing temperatures on aerobic exercise-induced adaptations in mouse subcutaneous white adipose tissue. Biol Lett 2021; 17:20210171. [PMID: 34186002 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2021.0171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Mice are the most commonly used model organism for human biology, and failure to acknowledge fundamental differences in thermal biology between these species has confounded the study of adipose tissue metabolism in mice and its translational relevance to humans. Here, using exercise biochemistry as an example, we highlight the subtle yet detrimental effects sub-thermoneutral housing temperatures can have on the study of adipose tissue metabolism in mice. We encourage academics and publishers to consider ambient housing temperature as a key determinant in the methodological conception and reporting of all research on rodent white adipose tissue metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greg L McKie
- Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1
| | - David C Wright
- Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1
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