• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.12
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• pp.1023-1028
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• 2015

Whole body energy balance is achieved through the coordinated regulation of energy intake and energy expenditure in various tissues including liver, muscle and adipose tissues. A positive energy imbalance by excessive energy intake or insufficient energy expenditure results in obesity and related metabolic diseases. Although there have been many obesity treatment trials aimed at the reduction of energy intake, these strategies have achieved only limited success because of their associated adverse effects. An ancient neurotransmitter, serotonin is among those traditional pharmacological targets for anti-obesity treatment because it exhibits strong anorectic effect in the brain. However, recent studies suggest the new functions of peripheral serotonin in energy homeostasis ranging from the endocrine regulation by gut-derived serotonin to the autocrine/paracrine regulation by adipocyte-derived serotonin. Here, we discuss the role of serotonin in the regulation of energy homeostasis and introduce peripheral serotonin as a possible target for anti-obesity treatment.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.318-324
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• 2022

PPARγ and C/EBPα are master adipogenic transcription factors (TFs) required for adipose tissue development. They control the induction of many adipocyte genes and the early phase of adipogenesis in the embryonic development of adipose tissue. Adipose tissue continues to expand after birth, which, as a late phase of adipogenesis, requires the lipogenesis of adipocytes. In particular, the liver and adipose tissues are major sites for de novo lipogenesis (DNL), where carbohydrates are primarily converted to fatty acids. Furthermore, fatty acids are esterified with glycerol-3-phosphate to produce triglyceride, a major source of lipid droplets in adipocytes. Hepatic DNL has been actively studied, but the DNL of adipocytes in vivo remains not fully understood. Thus, an understanding of lipogenesis and adipose expansion may provide therapeutic opportunities for obesity, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic diseases. In adipocytes, DNL gene expression is transcriptionally regulated by lipogenesis coactivators, as well as by lipogenic TFs such as ChREBP and SREBP1a. Recent in vivo studies have revealed new insights into the lipogenesis gene expression and adipose expansion. Future detailed molecular mechanism studies will determine how nutrients and metabolism regulate DNL and adipose expansion. This review will summarize recent updates of DNL in adipocytes and adipose expansion in terms of transcriptional regulation.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.537-542
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• 2007

Purpose: Adipose tissue contains a population of pluripotent stem cells capable of differentiating along multiple mesenchymal cell lineages. It is well known that fat depots from different part of our body shows different nature not only in morphological aspect but also physiologic aspect. The authors compared the adipogenic potentials and osteogenic potentials of adipose stem cells from different anatomical sites of human. Methods: After laparotomy by surgery team, the authors isolated these adipose stem cells successfully from 7 men with an average age of 58, and induced differentiation along adipogenic and osteogenic lineages in vitro. On the 14th day, cells cultured in adipogenic media differentiated into adipocytes in vitro, as evidenced by positive Oil Red O staining of lipid vacuoles. On the 21st day, cells cultured in osteogenic media differentiated into osteoblasts in vitro as demonstrated by Alizarin red staining of a calcified extracellular matrix. Results: After exposure to adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation medium, subcutaneous adipose stem cells were found to possess greater adipogenic and osteogenic potentials than cells isolated from visceral adipose tissues. Conclusion: This study indicates that adipogenic and osteogenic potentials of adipose stem cells vary by their anatomical sites, with subcutaneous adipose stem cells exhibiting higher adipogenic and osteogenic potential than those isolated from visceral fat.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.357-365
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• 2012

We have examined the effect of circadian disturbances induced by night shifts (NSs) on the phenotypes of the tibiae and abdominal adipose tissues (ADTs) in a mouse model by using in vivo micro-computed tomography (micro-CT). We found that the volumes of total and visceral ADTs in the night-shifted group of mice were significantly larger (69 and 92%, respectively) than those in the control. The mean polar moment of inertia, cross-sectional thickness, and bone mineral density of the cortical bone in the night-shifted group of mice were less (13, 5, and 3%, respectively) than those in the control. Moreover, the volume and the thickness of growth plates (GPs) of the tibiae in the night-shifted mice were significantly smaller (22 and 20%, respectively) than those in the control. Taken together, our results indicate that disturbances in the mouse circadian rhythms induced by NSs affect the morphological characteristics of cortical bone, the volume and the thickness of GPs, and the volume of ADTs.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.531-538
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• 2017

This study was performed to investigate the effects of garlic on uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) transcriptional regulation of UCP2-luciferase transgenic mice fed on a high fat diet to induce obesity. To examine the transcriptional regulation of UCP2, we generated transgenic mice with a UCP2 promoter (-1,830/+30 bp) containing luciferase as a reporter gene. UCP2-luciferase transgenic mice were fed a 45% high-fat diet for 8 weeks to induce obesity. Subsequently, mice were maintained on either a high-fat control diet (TG-CON), or high-fat diets supplemented with 2% (TG-GL2) or 5% (TG-GL5) garlic for a further 8 weeks. Dietary garlic reduced body weight and energy efficiency ratio in the TG-GL5 group, compared to the TG-CON group. Furthermore, garlic supplementation significantly decreased white adipose tissue fat mass and plasma levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol, and leptin in the TG-GL2 and TG-GL5 groups, compared to the TG-CON group. Specifically, UCP2 promoter activity in metabolic tissues such as liver, white adipose tissue, brown adipose tissue, and skeletal muscle was increased by garlic supplementation. These results suggest that dietary garlic was partially associated with an increase of UCP2 transcriptional activity in metabolic tissues for decreasing obesity.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.298-302
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• 2009

We investigated the anti-obesity effect of berberine in mice fed a high fat diet and focused on the analysis of adipogenesis in epdidymal adipose tissue. Male C57BL/6J mice were divided into three groups, which were fed either a normal diet (Nor), a high fat diet (HFD), or a high fat diet plus orally administered berberine (0.2 g /kg body weight) (HFD+B) for 8 weeks. Relative to mice in the HFD group, mice in the HFD+B group showed significant reductions in weight gain and adipose tissue weight. Serum triglyceride levels in mice from the HFD+B group were significantly lower than those of the HFD mice, as were the levels of serum insulin and leptin. An effect of berberine to reduce epididymal adipose mass was revealed by H&E staining. Berberine inhibited the high fat diet-induced increase in levels of the proteins CD36 and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein $\alpha$ ($C/EBP{\alpha}$) observed in epididymal adipose tissues of mice from the HFD group. These results suggest that berberine has an anti-obesity effect in mice and that the effect is mediated by inhibition of adipogenesis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.39 no.7 s.264
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• pp.511-519
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• 2006

Background: Loss of cardiomyocytes in the myocardial infarction leads to regional contractile dysfunction, and necrotized cardiomyocytes in infracted ventricular tissues are progressively replaced by fibroblasts forming scar tissue. Although cardiomyoplasty, or implantation of ventricular assist device or artificial heart was tried in refractory heart failure, the cardiac transplantation was the only therapeutic modality because these other therapeutic strategies were not permanent. Cell transplantation is tried instead of cardiac transplantation, especially bone marrow is the most popular donated organ. But because bone marrow aspiration procedure is invasive and painful, and it had the fewer amounts of cellular population, the adipose tissue is recommended for harvesting of mesenchymal stem cells. Material and Method: After adipose tissues were extracted from abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue and intra-abdominal adipose tissue individually, the cellular components were obtained by same method. These cellular components were tried to transformation with the various titers of 5-azacytidine to descript the appropriate concentration of 5-azacytidine and possibility of transformation ability of adipose tissue. Group 1 is abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue and Group 2 is intra-abdominal adipose tissue-retroperitoneal adipose tissue and omentum. Cellular components were extracted by collagenase and $NH_4Cl$ et al, and these components were cultured by non-induction media - DMEM media containing 10% FBS and inducted by none, $3{\mu}mol/L,\;6{\mu}mol/L,\;and\;9{\mu}mol/L$ 5-azacytidine after the 1st and 2nd subculture. After 4 weeks incubation, tile cell blocks were made, immunostaining was done with the antibodies of CD34, heavy myosin chain, troponin T, and SMA. Result: Immunostaining of the transformed cells for troponin T was positive in the $6{\mu}mol/L\;&\;9{\mu}mol/L$ 5-azacytidine of Group 1 & 2, but CD34 and heavy myosin chain antibodies were negative and SMA antibody was positive in the $3{\mu}mol/L\;&\;6{\mu}mol/L$ 5-azacytidne of Group 2. Conclusion: These observations confirm that adult mesenchymal stem cells isolated from the abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissues and intra-abdominal adipose tissues can be chemically transformed into cardiomyocytes. This can potentially be a source of autologous cells for myocardial repair.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.9
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• pp.1221-1228
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• 2010

This study aimed to examine the effect of overfeeding on biochemical parameters and lipoprotein-lipase (LPL) mRNA expression in different tissues associated with hepatic lipogenesis in Sichuan white and Landes geese. Fifty healthy male Sichuan white geese and fifty male Landes geese (Cygnus atratus) were hatched on the same day under the same feeding conditions and were selected as experimental animals. After overfeeding for 14 days (from 14 weeks to 16 weeks) and then slaughtering, the biochemical changes of hepatic lipogenesis were evaluated. Results showed that i) in Landes geese, the plasma concentration of glucose was higher (p<0.001), while plasma concentrations of insulin and VLDL were both lower (p<0.01); ii) the LPL mRNA level in pectoralis muscle and leg muscle of the overfed groups in both breeds was higher (p<0.05) than in the control groups; iii) in Sichuan white geese, the proportion of fatty liver weight was positively correlated with plasma triacylglycerols (TG)(p<0.05) and VLDL concentrations (p<0.05), while these correlations were not significant in Landes geese; and iv) the activity of LPL had significant positive correlation with the proportions of lipids in subcutaneous adipose tissue and abdominal adipose tissue in Sichuan white geese, while in Landes geese the correlation was negative (p<0.05) with proportions of lipids in the liver, LPL activity had a significant positive correlation with the proportions of lipids in subcutaneous adipose tissue. These results suggest that the Landes geese have a better ability to use the massive amount of ingested food and to store lipids preferentially in the liver, but the Sichuan white geese have a relatively lower ability to use energetic nutrients and lipid storage is more efficient in the adipose tissues.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.11
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• pp.1655-1661
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• 2007

Prolyl 4-hydroxylase (P4H) plays a central role in collagen synthesis by catalyzing the hydroxylation of the proline residue in the X-Pro-Gly amino acid sequence, and controls the biosynthesis of collagen that influences overall meat quality. In order to verify expression level of the catalytic ${\alpha}$ subunit of P4H, a 2.7 kb clone of the ${\alpha}$ subunit gene for P4H was selected from a cDNA library prepared from the muscular tissue of Sancheong berkshire pigs, and the whole gene sequence was determined. As expression level of the ${\alpha}$ subunit of P4H differed between tissues of pigs, we intended to assess more precisely the level of ${\alpha}$-subunit expression between tissues of Sancheong Berkshire pigs by using RT-PCR. Muscular and adipose tissues were taken from each pig grouped by growth stage (weighing 60, 80, and 110 kg) of Yorkshire and Sancheong Berkshire pigs, and the expression levels of the ${\alpha}$-subunit of P4H were examined. Since there were significant differences in the expression level with respect to variation in growth stage (p<0.01), an attempt was made to identify any influences of pig species and tissue variation. The muscular and adipose tissues of pigs weighing 110 kg showed higher expression levels than pigs weighing 60 kg and 80 kg. In general, significantly higher expression levels were found in muscular than in adipose tissue. The expression levels in Sancheong Berkshire were significantly higher than in Yorkshire pigs (p<0.01 or p<0.05). Since expression level of the ${\alpha}$-subunit of P4H affects the activity of P4H and is connected to the biosynthesis of collagen and increased collagen can improve meat texture, this finding may explain why meat quality of the Sancheong Berkshire pig is acclaimed in Korea. Given the higher expression levels of the ${\alpha}$-subunit gene in adipose than in muscular tissue, and also in the heavier pigs, more intensive studies are required to assess the correlation between expression level of the ${\alpha}$ subunit gene and overall meat quality.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.8.1-8.8
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• 2015

Background: The demand for healthy, lean and consistent meat products containing low saturated fatty acid content and high quality polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), especially long-chain (${\geq}C_{20}$) omega-3 PUFA, has increased in recent times. Fat deposition is altered by both the genetic background and dietary supplements, and this study aimed to assess the effect of dietary Spirulina supplementation levels on the mRNA expression patterns of genes controlling lipid metabolism in the subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and Longissimus dorsi (ld) muscle of Australian crossbred sheep. Methods: Twenty-four weaned lambs belonging to four breeds under the same management conditions were maintained on ryegrass pasture and fed three levels of Spirulina supplement (control, low and high). In terms of nutrient composition, Spirulina is a nutrient-rich supplement that contains all essential amino acids, vitamins and minerals. It also is a rich source of carotenoids and fatty acids, especially gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) that infer health benefits. After slaughter, subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and ld samples were subjected to mRNA extraction and reverse transcription using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) to assess the mRNA expression levels of the Aralkylamine N-acetyltransferase (AANAT), Adrenergic beta-3 receptor (ADRB3), B-cell translocation gene 2 (BTG2) and Fatty acid synthase (FASN) genes, which are associated with lipid metabolism. Results: Both low and high Spirulina supplementation levels strongly up-regulated the transcription of all the selected genes in both SAT and ld tissues (mostly in the subcutaneous adipose), but sheep breed and sex did not influence the gene expression patterns in these tissues. Conclusions: The evidence indicates that high Spirulina supplementation level resulted in a decrease in intramuscular fat content in Australian purebred and crossbred sheep due to the enhanced production of melatonin in sheep muscle tissues and strong up-regulation of mRNA expression of BTG2 in SAT which negatively affected fat deposition. In contrast, low Spirulina supplementation level strongly up-regulated the ADRB3 and FASN genes responsible for fat production. These findings are consistent with the observed phenotypic data suggesting that low Spirulina supplementation level can increase lamb production, with higher long-chain PUFA content.