Mechanisms Mediating Tart Cherry and Fish Oil Metabolic Effects in Diet-Induced (C57BL/6J) and Genetically (TALYHO/Jng) Obese Mice.

Background/objectives: Obesity is a major public health concern that increases the risk of chronic diseases. In obesity, adipose tissue undergoes remodeling, which is associated with chronic low-grade inflammation and disruption of its homeostatic mechanisms including endoplasmic reticulum (ER) function and autophagy. Fish oil (FO) and tart cherry (TC) have known anti-inflammatory properties.

Thermoneutrality Inhibits Thermogenic Markers and Exacerbates Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Mice.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) affects over a third of the US population and 25% globally, with current treatments proving ineffective. This study investigates whether manipulating brown adipose tissue (BAT) and beige fat activity by housing C57BL/6J mice at thermoneutral (27 °C) or standard temperatures (22 °C) impacts NAFLD development. Male mice were fed either a chow diet (CHD) or a "fast food" diet (FFD) for 10 weeks.

Enhancing stability of liposomes using high molecular weight chitosan to promote antioxidative stress effects and lipid-lowering activity of encapsulated lutein in vivo and in vitro.

Lutein is an antioxidant with multiple beneficial functions. However, its therapeutic potential is hampered by its low water solubility and bioavailability. The goal of this study is to compare the stability of lutein-loaded liposomes (Lu-lip) and low (LC)/high molecular weight (HC) chitosan-coated Lu-lip, along with their antioxidant capacity using HO-induced HepG2 cells and their lipid-lowering activity using high-fat diet mice.

Temperature-Dependent Effects of Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) on Browning of Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue in UCP1 Knockout Male Mice.

Uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) plays a central role in thermogenic tissues by uncoupling cellular respiration to dissipate energy. Beige adipocytes, an inducible form of thermogenic cells in subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), have become a major focus in obesity research. We have previously shown that eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) ameliorated high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity by activating brown fat in C57BL/6J (B6) mice at thermoneutrality (30 °C), independently of UCP1.

Eicosapentaenoic Acid Protects against Metabolic Impairments in the APPswe/PS1dE9 Alzheimer's Disease Mouse Model.

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an age-related neurodegenerative disease characterized by amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques. Systemic inflammation and obesity may exacerbate AD pathogenesis. We previously reported anti-inflammatory and anti-obesity effects of EPA in mice.

Beneficial effects of eicosapentaenoic acid on the metabolic profile of obese female mice entails upregulation of HEPEs and increased abundance of enteric Akkermansia muciniphila.

Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) ethyl esters are of interest given their clinical approval for lowering circulating triglycerides and cardiometabolic disease risk. EPA ethyl esters prevent metabolic complications driven by a high fat diet in male mice; however, their impact on female mice is less studied. Herein, we first investigated how EPA influences the metabolic profile of female C57BL/6J mice consuming a high fat diet.

Browning white adipose tissue using adipose stromal cell-targeted resveratrol-loaded nanoparticles for combating obesity.

Enhancing thermogenic energy expenditure via promoting the browning of white adipose tissue (WAT) is a potential therapeutic strategy to manage energy imbalance and the consequent comorbidities associated with excess body weight. Adverse effects and toxicities of currently available methods to induce browning of WAT have retarded exploration of this promising therapeutic approach. Targeted delivery of browning agents to adipose stromal cells (ASCs) in subcutaneous WAT to induce differentiation into beige adipocytes may overcome these barriers.

Recent Advances in Nanoencapsulation of Phytochemicals to Combat Obesity and Its Comorbidities.

An increasing epidemic of obesity has become a serious public health concern primarily because it contributes to pathogenesis of many chronic diseases including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hepatobiliary disease, obstructive sleep apnea, kidney disease, some types of cancer, among others. Consumption of a variety of phytochemicals has emerged as a promising potential for combating obesity and its comorbidities. However, the generally low aqueous solubility, stability, bioavailability, and target specificity of phytochemicals, along with their side-effects and toxicity seen when used at high doses, have restricted their clinical applications.

Anti-atherogenic effects of CD36-targeted epigallocatechin gallate-loaded nanoparticles.

Intimal macrophages play a critical role in atherosclerotic lesion initiation and progression by taking up oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) and promoting inflammatory process. 1-(Palmitoyl)-2-(5-keto-6-octene-dioyl) phosphatidylcholine (KOdiA-PC), a major type of oxidized phosphatidylcholines (PC) found on oxLDL, has a high binding affinity to the macrophage scavenger receptor CD36 and participates in CD36-mediated recognition and uptake of oxLDL by intimal macrophages. We successfully synthesized epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)-loaded nanoparticles (Enano), which were composed of EGCG, PC, (+) alpha-tocopherol acetate, and surfactant.

Beneficial Metabolic Effects of Mirabegron In Vitro and in High-Fat Diet-Induced Obese Mice.

Mirabegron, a 3-adrenergic receptor agonist, has been shown to stimulate the activity of brown fat and increase the resting metabolic rate in humans. However, it is unknown whether mirabegron can reduce body weight and improve metabolic health. We investigated the antiobesity effects of mirabegron using both in vitro and in vivo models.

Resveratrol liposomes and lipid nanocarriers: Comparison of characteristics and inducing browning of white adipocytes.

Trans-resveratrol (R) has a potential to increase energy expenditure via inducing browning in white adipose tissue. However, its low levels of aqueous solubility, stability, and poor bioavailability limit its application. We have successfully synthesized biocompatible, and biodegradable R encapsulated lipid nanocarriers (R-nano), and R encapsulated liposomes (R-lipo).

Potential roles of vitamin E in age-related changes in skeletal muscle health.

Skeletal muscle disorders including sarcopenia are prevalent during the complex biological process of aging. Loss of muscle mass and strength commonly seen in sarcopenia is induced by impaired neuromuscular innervation, transition of skeletal muscle fiber type, and reduced muscle regenerative capacity, all attributable to chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Current literature suggests that vitamin E molecules (α-, β-, γ-, δ-tocopherols and the corresponding tocotrienols) with their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capabilities may mitigate age-associated skeletal dysfunction and enhance muscle regeneration, thus attenuating sarcopenia.

Detection and treatment of atherosclerosis using nanoparticles.

Atherosclerosis is the key pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease, which is a silent killer and a leading cause of death in the United States. Atherosclerosis starts with the adhesion of inflammatory monocytes on the activated endothelial cells in response to inflammatory stimuli. These monocytes can further migrate into the intimal layer of the blood vessel where they differentiate into macrophages, which take up oxidized low-density lipoproteins and release inflammatory factors to amplify the local inflammatory response.

Biocompatible and biodegradable nanoparticles for enhancement of anti-cancer activities of phytochemicals.

Many phytochemicals show promise in cancer prevention and treatment, but their low aqueous solubility, poor stability, unfavorable bioavailability, and low target specificity make administering them at therapeutic doses unrealistic. This is particularly true for (-)-epigallocatechin gallate, curcumin, quercetin, resveratrol, and genistein. There is an increasing interest in developing novel delivery strategies for these natural products.