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Christoffersen B, Straarup EM, Lykkegaard K, Fels JJ, Sass-Ørum K, Zhang X, Raun K, Andersen B. FGF21 decreases food intake and body weight in obese Göttingen minipigs. Diabetes Obes Metab 2019; 21:592-600. [PMID: 30328263 DOI: 10.1111/dom.13560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2018] [Revised: 10/14/2018] [Accepted: 10/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
AIMS The aim of this study was to assess the effect of FGF21 on food intake, body weight, body composition, glucose homeostasis, bone mineral density (BMD), cortisol and growth hormone (GH) in obese minipigs. The pig is a unique model for studying FGF21 pharmacology as it does not express UCP1, unlike mice and humans. METHODS Twelve obese Göttingen minipigs with a mean body weight of 91.6 ± 6.7 kg (mean ± SD) received subcutaneously either vehicle (n = 6) or recombinant human FGF21 (n = 6) once daily for 14 weeks (0.1 mg/kg for 9.5 weeks and 0.3 mg/kg for 4.5 weeks). RESULTS Treatment of obese minipigs with FGF21 led to a 50% reduction in food intake and a body weight loss of, on average, 18 kg compared to the vehicle group after 14 weeks of dosing. Glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity, evaluated by intravenous glucose tolerance test, were significantly improved in the FGF21 group compared to the vehicle group at the end of the study. The plasma cortisol profile was unaffected by FGF21, whereas a small decrease in peak GH values was observed in the FGF21-treated animals after 7 to 9.5 weeks of treatment compared to the vehicle group. Whole-body BMD was not affected by 13 weeks of FGF21 dosing. CONCLUSION Despite a lack of UCP-1 in obese minipigs, FGF21 treatment induced a significant weight loss, primarily a result of reduction in food intake, with no adverse effect on BMD or plasma cortisol.
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Starbæk SMR, Brogaard L, Dawson HD, Smith AD, Heegaard PMH, Larsen LE, Jungersen G, Skovgaard K. Animal Models for Influenza A Virus Infection Incorporating the Involvement of Innate Host Defenses: Enhanced Translational Value of the Porcine Model. ILAR J 2018; 59:323-337. [DOI: 10.1093/ilar/ily009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2017] [Revised: 06/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Influenza is a viral respiratory disease having a major impact on public health. Influenza A virus (IAV) usually causes mild transitory disease in humans. However, in specific groups of individuals such as severely obese, the elderly, and individuals with underlying inflammatory conditions, IAV can cause severe illness or death. In this review, relevant small and large animal models for human IAV infection, including the pig, ferret, and mouse, are discussed. The focus is on the pig as a large animal model for human IAV infection as well as on the associated innate immune response. Pigs are natural hosts for the same IAV subtypes as humans, they develop clinical disease mirroring human symptoms, they have similar lung anatomy, and their respiratory physiology and immune responses to IAV infection are remarkably similar to what is observed in humans. The pig model shows high face and target validity for human IAV infection, making it suitable for modeling many aspects of influenza, including increased risk of severe disease and impaired vaccine response due to underlying pathologies such as low-grade inflammation. Comparative analysis of proteins involved in viral pattern recognition, interferon responses, and regulation of interferon-stimulated genes reveals a significantly higher degree of similarity between pig, ferret, and human compared with mice. It is concluded that the pig is a promising animal model displaying substantial human translational value with the ability to provide essential insights into IAV infection, pathogenesis, and immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofie M R Starbæk
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Louise Brogaard
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Harry D Dawson
- Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, Maryland
| | - Allen D Smith
- Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, Maryland
| | - Peter M H Heegaard
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Lars E Larsen
- National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Gregers Jungersen
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Kerstin Skovgaard
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
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Al-Mashhadi AL, Poulsen CB, von Wachenfeldt K, Robertson AK, Bentzon JF, Nielsen LB, Thygesen J, Tolbod LP, Larsen JR, Moestrup SK, Frendéus B, Mortensen B, Drouet L, Al-Mashhadi RH, Falk E. Diet-Induced Abdominal Obesity, Metabolic Changes, and Atherosclerosis in Hypercholesterolemic Minipigs. J Diabetes Res 2018; 2018:6823193. [PMID: 29682581 PMCID: PMC5845503 DOI: 10.1155/2018/6823193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2017] [Revised: 10/13/2017] [Accepted: 12/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Obesity and metabolic syndrome (MetS) are major risk factors for atherosclerotic diseases; however, a causal link remains elusive. Animal models resembling human MetS and its complications, while important, are scarce. We aimed at developing a porcine model of human MetS. METHODS Forty pigs with familial hypercholesterolemia were fed a high fat + fructose diet for 30 weeks. Metabolic assessments and subcutaneous fat biopsies were obtained at 18 and 30 weeks, and fat distribution was assessed by CT-scans. Postmortem, macrophage density, and phenotype in fat tissues were quantified along with atherosclerotic burden. RESULTS During the experiment, we observed a >4-fold in body weight, a significant but small increase in fasting glucose (4.1 mmol/L), insulin (3.1 mU/L), triglycerides (0.5 mmol/L), and HDL cholesterol (2.6 mmol/L). Subcutaneous fat correlated with insulin resistance, but intra-abdominal fat correlated inversely with insulin resistance and LDL cholesterol. More inflammatory macrophages were found in visceral versus subcutaneous fat, and inflammation decreased in subcutaneous fat over time. CONCLUSIONS MetS based on human criteria was not achieved. Surprisingly, visceral fat seemed part of a healthier metabolic and inflammatory profile. These results differ from human findings, and further research is needed to understand the relationship between obesity and MetS in porcine models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Ludvigsen Al-Mashhadi
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University and Department of Cardiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Christian Bo Poulsen
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University and Department of Cardiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | | | | | - Jacob Fog Bentzon
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University and Department of Cardiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Lars Bo Nielsen
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jesper Thygesen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Lars Poulsen Tolbod
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET-Centre, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Jens Rolighed Larsen
- Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Søren Kragh Moestrup
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | | | - Brynjulf Mortensen
- Center for Diabetes Research, Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Hellerup, Denmark
| | - Ludovic Drouet
- Institute of Vessels and Blood, Hospital Lariboisiere, Paris, France
| | - Rozh H. Al-Mashhadi
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University and Department of Cardiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Erling Falk
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University and Department of Cardiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
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Mentzel CMJ, Alkan F, Keinicke H, Jacobsen MJ, Gorodkin J, Fredholm M, Cirera S. Joint Profiling of miRNAs and mRNAs Reveals miRNA Mediated Gene Regulation in the Göttingen Minipig Obesity Model. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0167285. [PMID: 27902747 PMCID: PMC5130236 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0167285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2016] [Accepted: 11/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Obesity and its comorbidities are an increasing challenge for both affected individuals and health care systems, worldwide. In obese individuals, perturbation of expression of both protein-coding genes and microRNAs (miRNA) are seen in obesity-relevant tissues (i.e. adipose tissue, liver and skeletal muscle). miRNAs are small non-coding RNA molecules which have important regulatory roles in a wide range of biological processes, including obesity. Rodents are widely used animal models for human diseases including obesity. However, not all research is applicable for human health or diseases. In contrast, pigs are emerging as an excellent animal model for obesity studies, due to their similarities in their metabolism, their digestive tract and their genetics, when compared to humans. The Göttingen minipig is a small sized easy-to-handle pig breed which has been extensively used for modeling human obesity, due to its capacity to develop severe obesity when fed ad libitum. The aim of this study was to identify differentially expressed of protein-coding genes and miRNAs in a Göttingen minipig obesity model. Liver, skeletal muscle and abdominal adipose tissue were sampled from 7 lean and 7 obese minipigs. Differential gene expression was investigated using high-throughput quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) on 90 mRNAs and 72 miRNAs. The results revealed de-regulation of several obesity and inflammation-relevant protein-coding genes and miRNAs in all tissues examined. Many genes that are known to be de-regulated in obese humans were confirmed in the obese minipigs and several of these genes have target sites for miRNAs expressed in the opposing direction of the gene, confirming miRNA-mediated regulation in obesity. These results confirm the translational value of the pig for human obesity studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline M. Junker Mentzel
- Animal Genetics, Department of Veterinary Clinical and Animal Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
- Center for non-coding RNA in Technology and Health, Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Department of Veterinary Clinical and Animal Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Ferhat Alkan
- Center for non-coding RNA in Technology and Health, Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Department of Veterinary Clinical and Animal Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Helle Keinicke
- Animal Genetics, Department of Veterinary Clinical and Animal Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Mette J. Jacobsen
- Animal Genetics, Department of Veterinary Clinical and Animal Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Jan Gorodkin
- Center for non-coding RNA in Technology and Health, Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Department of Veterinary Clinical and Animal Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Merete Fredholm
- Animal Genetics, Department of Veterinary Clinical and Animal Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
- Center for non-coding RNA in Technology and Health, Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Department of Veterinary Clinical and Animal Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Susanna Cirera
- Animal Genetics, Department of Veterinary Clinical and Animal Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
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