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Velázquez AM, Bentanachs R, Sala-Vila A, Lázaro I, Rodríguez-Morató J, Sánchez RM, Laguna JC, Roglans N, Alegret M. KHK, PNPLA3 and PPAR as Novel Targets for the Anti-Steatotic Action of Bempedoic Acid. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10071517. [PMID: 35884822 PMCID: PMC9312949 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10071517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Revised: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Bempedoic acid (BemA) is an ATP-citrate lyase (ACLY) inhibitor used to treat hypercholesterolemia. We studied the anti-steatotic effect of BemA, and the mechanisms involved, in a model of fatty liver in female rats obtained through the administration of a high-fat diet supplemented with liquid fructose (HFHFr) for three months. In the third month, a group of rats was treated with BemA (30 mg/kg/day) by gavage. Plasma analytes, liver histology, adiposity, and the expression of key genes controlling fatty acid metabolism were determined, and PPAR agonism was explored by using luciferase reporter assays. Our results showed that, compared to HFHFr, BemA-treated rats exhibited lower body weight, higher liver/body weight, and reduced hepatic steatosis. In addition to ACLY inhibition, we found three novel mechanisms that could account for the anti-steatotic effect: (1) reduction of liver ketohexokinase, leading to lower fructose intake and reduced de novo lipogenesis; (2) increased expression of patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing protein 3, a protein related to the export of liver triglycerides to blood; and (3) PPARα agonist activity, leading to increased hepatic fatty acid β-oxidation. In conclusion, BemA may represent a novel approach to treat hepatic steatosis, and therefore to avoid progression to advanced stages of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Magdalena Velázquez
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Food Science, University of Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII 27–31, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (A.M.V.); (R.B.); (R.M.S.); (J.C.L.)
| | - Roger Bentanachs
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Food Science, University of Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII 27–31, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (A.M.V.); (R.B.); (R.M.S.); (J.C.L.)
| | - Aleix Sala-Vila
- Cardiovascular Risk and Nutrition, Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), 08003 Barcelona, Spain; (A.S.-V.); (I.L.)
| | - Iolanda Lázaro
- Cardiovascular Risk and Nutrition, Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), 08003 Barcelona, Spain; (A.S.-V.); (I.L.)
| | - Jose Rodríguez-Morató
- Integrative Pharmacology and Systems Neuroscience Research Group, Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain;
- Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
- Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Rosa María Sánchez
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Food Science, University of Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII 27–31, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (A.M.V.); (R.B.); (R.M.S.); (J.C.L.)
- Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Juan Carlos Laguna
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Food Science, University of Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII 27–31, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (A.M.V.); (R.B.); (R.M.S.); (J.C.L.)
- Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Núria Roglans
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Food Science, University of Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII 27–31, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (A.M.V.); (R.B.); (R.M.S.); (J.C.L.)
- Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Correspondence: (N.R.); (M.A.)
| | - Marta Alegret
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Food Science, University of Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII 27–31, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (A.M.V.); (R.B.); (R.M.S.); (J.C.L.)
- Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Correspondence: (N.R.); (M.A.)
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Bentanachs R, Velázquez AM, Sánchez RM, Alegret M, Laguna JC, Roglans N. Bempedoic acid as a PPARα activator: new perspectives for hepatic steatosis treatment in a female rat experimental model. Clin Investig Arterioscler 2022; 34:57-67. [PMID: 34887111 DOI: 10.1016/j.arteri.2021.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Revised: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In its initial stages, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease presents hypertriglyceridemia and accumulation of lipids in the liver (hepatic steatosis). Bempedoic acid is an ATP:citrate lyase inhibitor that promotes a dual inhibition of the synthesis of cholesterol and fatty acids. However, its effect in the prevention / treatment of hepatic steatosis and hypertriglyceridemia has not been investigated. The aim of our work has been to elucidate whether bempedoic acid, through a mechanism other than ATP:citrate lyase inhibition, reverses these metabolic alterations. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN The study was carried out in female Sprague-Dawley rats fed, for three months, with a high fat diet supplemented with fructose (10% w/v) in drinking water. During the last month, bempedoic acid (30mg/kg/day) was administered to a group of animals. Zoometric and plasmatic parameters were analyzed, gene and protein expression analysis were performed in liver samples and PPAR-PPRE binding activity was determined. RESULTS Our interventional model developed hepatic steatosis and hypertriglyceridemia. Despite an increase in total caloric intake, there was no increase in body weight of the animals. The administration of bempedoic acid significantly reduced hepatic steatosis and promoted a marked hepatocyte hypertrophy. There was a 66% increase in the liver weight of the animals treated with the drug that was not accompanied by modifications in the markers of inflammation, oxidative stress, or endoplasmic reticulum stress. Bempedoic acid activated the peroxisome proliferator activated nuclear receptor (PPARα) and its target genes. CONCLUSIONS Bempedoic acid could be an effective therapy for the treatment of fatty liver and associated cardiovascular risk. Bempedoic acid has other mechanisms of action besides the inhibition of ATP: citrate lyase, such as the activation of PPARα, which could explain the reduction in hepatic steatosis and the increase in liver weight observed in animals treated with the drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roger Bentanachs
- Departament de Farmacologia, Toxicologia i Química Terapèutica, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l'Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, España
| | - Ana Magdalena Velázquez
- Departament de Farmacologia, Toxicologia i Química Terapèutica, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l'Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, España
| | - Rosa María Sánchez
- Departament de Farmacologia, Toxicologia i Química Terapèutica, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l'Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, España; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn), Madrid, España; Institut de Biomedicina (IBUB), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, España
| | - Marta Alegret
- Departament de Farmacologia, Toxicologia i Química Terapèutica, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l'Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, España; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn), Madrid, España; Institut de Biomedicina (IBUB), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, España
| | - Juan Carlos Laguna
- Departament de Farmacologia, Toxicologia i Química Terapèutica, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l'Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, España; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn), Madrid, España; Institut de Biomedicina (IBUB), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, España
| | - Núria Roglans
- Departament de Farmacologia, Toxicologia i Química Terapèutica, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l'Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, España; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn), Madrid, España; Institut de Biomedicina (IBUB), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, España.
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Velázquez AM, Bentanachs R, Sala‐Vila A, Lázaro I, Rodríguez‐Morató J, Sánchez RM, Alegret M, Roglans N, Laguna JC. ChREBP‐driven DNL and PNPLA3 Expression Induced by Liquid Fructose Are Essential in the Production of Fatty Liver and Hypertriglyceridemia in a High‐fat Diet‐fed Rat Model. Mol Nutr Food Res 2022; 66:e2101115. [PMID: 35124887 PMCID: PMC9286604 DOI: 10.1002/mnfr.202101115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Revised: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Scope The aim of this study is to delineate the contribution of dietary saturated fatty acids (FA) versus liquid fructose to fatty liver and hypertriglyceridemia. Methods and Results Three groups of female rats are maintained for 3 months in standard chow (CT); High‐fat diet (46.9% of fat‐derived calories, rich in palmitic and stearic FA, HFD); and HFD with 10% w/v fructose in drinking water (HFHFr). Zoometric parameters, plasma biochemistry, and liver Oil‐Red O (ORO) staining, lipidomics, and expression of proteins involved in FA metabolism are analyzed. Both diets increase ingested calories without modifying body weight. Only the HFHFr diet increases liver triglycerides (x11.0), with hypertriglyceridemia (x1.7) and reduces FA β‐oxidation (x0.7), and increases liver FA markers of DNL (de novo lipogenesis). Whereas HFD livers show a high content of ceramides, HFHFr samples show unchanged ceramides, and an increase in diacylglycerols. Only the HFHFr diet leads to a marked increase in the expression of enzymes involved in DNL and triglyceride metabolism, such as carbohydrate response element binding protein β (ChREBPβ, x3.2), a transcription factor that regulates DNL, and patatin‐like phospholipase domain‐containing 3 (PNPLA3, x2.6), a lipase that mobilizes stored triglycerides for VLDL secretion. Conclusion The addition of liquid‐fructose to dietary FA is determinant in liver steatosis and hypertriglyceridemia production, through increased DNL and PNPLA3 expression, and reduced FA catabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Magdalena Velázquez
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Food Science University of Barcelona Avda Joan XXIII 27–31 Barcelona 08028 Spain
| | - Roger Bentanachs
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Food Science University of Barcelona Avda Joan XXIII 27–31 Barcelona 08028 Spain
| | - Aleix Sala‐Vila
- IMIM‐Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute Barcelona 08003 Spain
- Barcelonaβeta Brain Research Center Pasqual Maragall Foundation Barcelona 08005 Spain
| | - Iolanda Lázaro
- IMIM‐Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute Barcelona 08003 Spain
| | - Jose Rodríguez‐Morató
- Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBEROBN) Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) Madrid 28029 Spain
- IMIM‐Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute Barcelona 08003 Spain
- Department of Experimental and Health Sciences Universitat Pompeu Fabra (CEXS‐UPF) Barcelona 08003 Spain
| | - Rosa M. Sánchez
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Food Science University of Barcelona Avda Joan XXIII 27–31 Barcelona 08028 Spain
- Institute of Biomedicine University of Barcelona Barcelona 08028 Spain
- Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBEROBN) Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) Madrid 28029 Spain
| | - Marta Alegret
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Food Science University of Barcelona Avda Joan XXIII 27–31 Barcelona 08028 Spain
- Institute of Biomedicine University of Barcelona Barcelona 08028 Spain
- Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBEROBN) Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) Madrid 28029 Spain
| | - Núria Roglans
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Food Science University of Barcelona Avda Joan XXIII 27–31 Barcelona 08028 Spain
- Institute of Biomedicine University of Barcelona Barcelona 08028 Spain
- Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBEROBN) Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) Madrid 28029 Spain
| | - Juan Carlos Laguna
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Food Science University of Barcelona Avda Joan XXIII 27–31 Barcelona 08028 Spain
- Institute of Biomedicine University of Barcelona Barcelona 08028 Spain
- Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBEROBN) Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) Madrid 28029 Spain
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Roglans N, Baena M, Sangüesa G, Velázquez AM, Griñán-Ferré C, Pallàs M, Sánchez RM, Alegret M, Laguna JC. Chronic liquid fructose supplementation does not cause liver tumorigenesis but elicits clear sex differences in the metabolic response in Sprague-Dawley rats. Food Nutr Res 2021; 65:7670. [PMID: 34650394 PMCID: PMC8494264 DOI: 10.29219/fnr.v65.7670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 06/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has increased over the last decades and may evolve into hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). As HCC is challenging to treat, knowledge on the modifiable risk factors for NAFLD/HCC (e.g. hyper caloric diets rich in fructose) is essential. Objective and design We used a model of diethyl nitrosamine-induced hepatocarcinogenesis to investigate the liver cancer-promoting effects of a diet supplemented with 10% liquid fructose, administered to male and female rats for 11 months. A subset of the fructose-supplemented rats received resveratrol (RVT) in the last 4 months of treatment. Results and discussion Rat livers showed no de visu or histological evidence of liver tumorigenesis. However, we observed metabolic abnormalities that could be related to cancer development mainly in the female fructose-supplemented rats, such as increases in weight, adiposity and hepatic triglyceride levels, as well as hyperglycaemia, hyperuricemia, hyperleptinemia and a reduced insulin sensitivity index, which were partially reversed by RVT. Therefore, we performed a targeted analysis of 84 cancer-related genes in the female liver samples, which revealed expression changes associated with cancer-related pathways. Analysis of individual genes indicated that some changes increased the risk of hepatocarcinogenesis (Sfrp2, Ccl5, Socs3, and Gstp1), while others exerted a protective/preventive effect (Bcl2 and Cdh1). Conclusion Our data clearly demonstrate that chronic fructose supplementation, as the sole dietary intervention, does not cause HCC development in rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuria Roglans
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Food Science, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Institute of Biomedicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn), Madrid, Spain
| | - Miguel Baena
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Food Science, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Gemma Sangüesa
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Food Science, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ana Magdalena Velázquez
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Food Science, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Institute of Biomedicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Christian Griñán-Ferré
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Food Science, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Institute of Neuroscience (UBNeuro), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mercè Pallàs
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Food Science, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Institute of Neuroscience (UBNeuro), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rosa María Sánchez
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Food Science, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Institute of Biomedicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn), Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Alegret
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Food Science, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Institute of Biomedicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn), Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan Carlos Laguna
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Food Science, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Institute of Biomedicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn), Madrid, Spain
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Velázquez AM, Roglans N, Bentanachs R, Gené M, Sala-Vila A, Lázaro I, Rodríguez-Morató J, Sánchez RM, Laguna JC, Alegret M. Effects of a Low Dose of Caffeine Alone or as Part of a Green Coffee Extract, in a Rat Dietary Model of Lean Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease without Inflammation. Nutrients 2020; 12:nu12113240. [PMID: 33113993 PMCID: PMC7690747 DOI: 10.3390/nu12113240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Revised: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is a highly prevalent condition without specific pharmacological treatment, characterized in the initial stages by hepatic steatosis. It was suggested that lipid infiltration in the liver might be reduced by caffeine through anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and fatty acid metabolism-related mechanisms. We investigated the effects of caffeine (CAF) and green coffee extract (GCE) on hepatic lipids in lean female rats with steatosis. For three months, female Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a standard diet or a cocoa butter-based high-fat diet plus 10% liquid fructose. In the last month, the high-fat diet was supplemented or not with CAF or a GCE, providing 5 mg/kg of CAF. Plasma lipid levels and the hepatic expression of molecules involved in lipid metabolism were determined. Lipidomic analysis was performed in liver samples. The diet caused hepatic steatosis without obesity, inflammation, endoplasmic reticulum stress, or hepatic insulin resistance. Neither CAF nor GCE alleviated hepatic steatosis, but GCE-treated rats showed lower hepatic triglyceride levels compared to the CAF group. The GCE effects could be related to reductions of hepatic (i) mTOR phosphorylation, leading to higher nuclear lipin-1 levels and limiting lipogenic gene expression; (ii) diacylglycerol levels; (iii) hexosylceramide/ceramide ratios; and (iv) very-low-density lipoprotein receptor expression. In conclusion, a low dose of CAF did not reduce hepatic steatosis in lean female rats, but the same dose provided as a green coffee extract led to lower liver triglyceride levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Magdalena Velázquez
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Food Science, University of Barcelona, Avda Joan XXIII 27-31, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (A.M.V.); (N.R.); (R.B.); (M.G.); (R.M.S.)
| | - Núria Roglans
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Food Science, University of Barcelona, Avda Joan XXIII 27-31, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (A.M.V.); (N.R.); (R.B.); (M.G.); (R.M.S.)
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), 28029 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Roger Bentanachs
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Food Science, University of Barcelona, Avda Joan XXIII 27-31, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (A.M.V.); (N.R.); (R.B.); (M.G.); (R.M.S.)
| | - Maria Gené
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Food Science, University of Barcelona, Avda Joan XXIII 27-31, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (A.M.V.); (N.R.); (R.B.); (M.G.); (R.M.S.)
| | - Aleix Sala-Vila
- IMIM-Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, 08003 Barcelona, Spain; (A.S.-V.); (I.L.)
- Barcelonaβeta Brain Research Center, Pasqual Maragall Foundation, 08005 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Iolanda Lázaro
- IMIM-Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, 08003 Barcelona, Spain; (A.S.-V.); (I.L.)
| | - Jose Rodríguez-Morató
- Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), 28029 Madrid, Spain;
- IMIM-Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, 08003 Barcelona, Spain; (A.S.-V.); (I.L.)
- Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (CEXS-UPF), 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rosa María Sánchez
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Food Science, University of Barcelona, Avda Joan XXIII 27-31, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (A.M.V.); (N.R.); (R.B.); (M.G.); (R.M.S.)
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), 28029 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Juan Carlos Laguna
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Food Science, University of Barcelona, Avda Joan XXIII 27-31, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (A.M.V.); (N.R.); (R.B.); (M.G.); (R.M.S.)
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), 28029 Madrid, Spain;
- Correspondence: (J.C.L.); (M.A.); Tel.: +34-93-4024531 (M.A.)
| | - Marta Alegret
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Food Science, University of Barcelona, Avda Joan XXIII 27-31, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (A.M.V.); (N.R.); (R.B.); (M.G.); (R.M.S.)
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), 28029 Madrid, Spain;
- Correspondence: (J.C.L.); (M.A.); Tel.: +34-93-4024531 (M.A.)
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Velázquez AM, Roversi K, Dillenburg-Pilla P, Rodrigues RF, Zárate-Bladés CR, Prediger RDS, Izídio GS. The influence of chromosome 4 on metabolism and spatial memory in SHR and SLA16 rat strains. Behav Brain Res 2019; 370:111966. [PMID: 31125622 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2019.111966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2018] [Revised: 05/13/2019] [Accepted: 05/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The Spontaneously Hypertensive Rat (SHR) has been proposed as a good model to study the pathways related to neurodegenerative diseases and glucose intolerance. Our research group developed the SLA16 (SHR.LEW-Anxrr16) congenic strain, which is genetically identical to the SHR strain, except for a locus on chromosome 4 (DGR). We applied in silico analysis on DGR to evaluate the association of their genes with neurobiological and metabolic pathways. After, we characterized cholesterol, triglycerides, metabolism of glucose and the behavioral performance of young (2 months old) and adult (8 months old) SHR and SLA16 rats in the open field, object location and water maze tasks. Finally, naïve young rats were repeatedly treated with metformin (200 mg/kg; v.o.) and evaluated in the same tests. Bioinformatics analysis showed that DGR presents genes related to glucose metabolism, oxidative damage and neurodegenerative diseases. Young SLA16 presented higher cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose and locomotion in the open field than SHR rats. In adulthood, SLA16 rats presented high triglycerides and locomotion in the open field and impairment on spatial learning and memory. Finally, the treatment with metformin decreased the glucose tolerance curve and also improved long-term memory in SLA16 rats. These results indicate that DGR presents genes associated with metabolic pathways and neurobiological processes that may produce alterations in glucose metabolism and spatial learning/memory. Therefore, we suggest that SHR and SLA16 strains could be important for the study of genes and subsequent mechanisms that produce metabolic glucose alterations and age-related cognitive deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Magdalena Velázquez
- Departamento de Biologia Celular, Embriologia e Genética, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Farmacologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil
| | - Katiane Roversi
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Farmacologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil
| | - Patricia Dillenburg-Pilla
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e do Desenvolvimento, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil
| | | | - Carlos R Zárate-Bladés
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil
| | - Rui Daniel S Prediger
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Farmacologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil
| | - Geison Souza Izídio
- Departamento de Biologia Celular, Embriologia e Genética, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Farmacologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e do Desenvolvimento, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil.
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Sangüesa G, Roglans N, Baena M, Velázquez AM, Laguna JC, Alegret M. mTOR is a Key Protein Involved in the Metabolic Effects of Simple Sugars. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20051117. [PMID: 30841536 PMCID: PMC6429387 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20051117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2019] [Revised: 02/18/2019] [Accepted: 02/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the most important threats to global human health is the increasing incidences of metabolic pathologies (including obesity, type 2 diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease), which is paralleled by increasing consumptions of hypercaloric diets enriched in simple sugars. The challenge is to identify the metabolic pathways affected by the excessive consumption of these dietary components when they are consumed in excess, to unravel the molecular mechanisms leading to metabolic pathologies and identify novel therapeutic targets to manage them. Mechanistic (mammalian) target of rapamycin (mTOR) has emerged as one of the key molecular nodes that integrate extracellular signals, such as energy status and nutrient availability, to trigger cell responses that could lead to the above-mentioned diseases through the regulation of lipid and glucose metabolism. By activating mTOR signalling, excessive consumption of simple sugars (such as fructose and glucose), could modulate hepatic gluconeogenesis, lipogenesis and fatty acid uptake and catabolism and thus lipid deposition in the liver. In the present review we will discuss some of the most recent studies showing the central role of mTOR in the metabolic effects of excessive simple sugar consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gemma Sangüesa
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Food Science, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Núria Roglans
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Food Science, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn), 28029 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Miguel Baena
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Food Science, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Ana Magdalena Velázquez
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Food Science, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Juan Carlos Laguna
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Food Science, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn), 28029 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Marta Alegret
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Food Science, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn), 28029 Madrid, Spain.
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Sangüesa G, Roglans N, Montañés JC, Baena M, Velázquez AM, Sánchez RM, Alegret M, Laguna JC. Chronic Liquid Fructose, but not Glucose, Supplementation Selectively Induces Visceral Adipose Tissue Leptin Resistance and Hypertrophy in Female Sprague-Dawley Rats. Mol Nutr Food Res 2018; 62:e1800777. [DOI: 10.1002/mnfr.201800777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2018] [Revised: 09/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Gemma Sangüesa
- Department of Pharmacology; Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry; School of Pharmacy and Food Science; University of Barcelona; 08028 Barcelona Spain
- Institute of Biomedicine; University of Barcelona; 08028 Barcelona Spain
| | - Núria Roglans
- Department of Pharmacology; Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry; School of Pharmacy and Food Science; University of Barcelona; 08028 Barcelona Spain
- Institute of Biomedicine; University of Barcelona; 08028 Barcelona Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn); Madrid Spain
| | - José Carlos Montañés
- Department of Pharmacology; Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry; School of Pharmacy and Food Science; University of Barcelona; 08028 Barcelona Spain
| | - Miguel Baena
- Department of Pharmacology; Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry; School of Pharmacy and Food Science; University of Barcelona; 08028 Barcelona Spain
- Institute of Biomedicine; University of Barcelona; 08028 Barcelona Spain
| | - Ana Magdalena Velázquez
- Department of Pharmacology; Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry; School of Pharmacy and Food Science; University of Barcelona; 08028 Barcelona Spain
| | - Rosa María Sánchez
- Department of Pharmacology; Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry; School of Pharmacy and Food Science; University of Barcelona; 08028 Barcelona Spain
- Institute of Biomedicine; University of Barcelona; 08028 Barcelona Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn); Madrid Spain
| | - Marta Alegret
- Department of Pharmacology; Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry; School of Pharmacy and Food Science; University of Barcelona; 08028 Barcelona Spain
- Institute of Biomedicine; University of Barcelona; 08028 Barcelona Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn); Madrid Spain
| | - Juan Carlos Laguna
- Department of Pharmacology; Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry; School of Pharmacy and Food Science; University of Barcelona; 08028 Barcelona Spain
- Institute of Biomedicine; University of Barcelona; 08028 Barcelona Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn); Madrid Spain
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Mulder CL, Reusswig PD, Velázquez AM, Kim H, Rotschild C, Baldo MA. Dye alignment in luminescent solar concentrators: I. Vertical alignment for improved waveguide coupling. Opt Express 2010; 18 Suppl 1:A79-A90. [PMID: 20588577 DOI: 10.1364/oe.18.000a79] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) use dye molecules embedded in a flat-plate waveguide to absorb solar radiation. Ideally, the dyes re-emit the absorbed light into waveguide modes that are coupled to solar cells. But some photons are always lost, re-emitted through the face of the LSC and coupled out of the waveguide. In this work, we improve the fundamental efficiency limit of an LSC by controlling the orientation of dye molecules using a liquid crystalline host. First, we present a theoretical model for the waveguide trapping efficiency as a function of dipole orientation. Next, we demonstrate an increase in the trapping efficiency from 66% for LSCs with no dye alignment to 81% for a LSC with vertical dye alignment. Finally, we show that the enhanced trapping efficiency is preserved for geometric gains up to 30, and demonstrate that an external diffuser can alleviate weak absorption in LSCs with vertically-aligned dyes.
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Affiliation(s)
- C L Mulder
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
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Mulder CL, Reusswig PD, Velázquez AM, Kim H, Rotschild C, Baldo MA. Dye alignment in luminescent solar concentrators: I. Vertical alignment for improved waveguide coupling. Opt Express 2010; 18:A79-A90. [PMID: 20607889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) use dye molecules embedded in a flat-plate waveguide to absorb solar radiation. Ideally, the dyes re-emit the absorbed light into waveguide modes that are coupled to solar cells. But some photons are always lost, re-emitted through the face of the LSC and coupled out of the waveguide. In this work, we improve the fundamental efficiency limit of an LSC by controlling the orientation of dye molecules using a liquid crystalline host. First, we present a theoretical model for the waveguide trapping efficiency as a function of dipole orientation. Next, we demonstrate an increase in the trapping efficiency from 66% for LSCs with no dye alignment to 81% for a LSC with vertical dye alignment. Finally, we show that the enhanced trapping efficiency is preserved for geometric gains up to 30, and demonstrate that an external diffuser can alleviate weak absorption in LSCs with vertically-aligned dyes.
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Affiliation(s)
- C L Mulder
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
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