White adipose tissue (WAT) is critical for whole-body energy metabolism, and its dysfunction leads to various metabolic disorders. In recent years, many studies have suggested that impaired mitochondria may contribute to obesity-related decline in adipose tissue function, but the detailed mechanisms remain unclear. To investigate these mechanisms, we carried out a comprehensive analysis of WAT from mice with diet-induced obesity.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPropolis is a honeybee product with various biological activities, including antidiabetic effects. We previously reported that artepillin C, a prenylated cinnamic acid derivative isolated from Brazilian green propolis, acts as a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) ligand and promotes adipocyte differentiation. In this study, we examined the effect of baccharin, another major component of Brazilian green propolis, on adipocyte differentiation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPeroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1 α (PGC-1α) regulates mitochondrial DNA replication and mitochondrial gene expression by interacting with several transcription factors. White adipose tissue (WAT) mainly comprises adipocytes that store triglycerides as an energy resource and secrete adipokines. The characteristics of WAT vary in response to systemic and chronic metabolic alterations, including obesity or caloric restriction.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAdipocytes, which comprise the majority of white adipose tissue (WAT), are involved in obesity-related pathology via various mechanisms, including disturbed lysosomal enzymatic activity and accumulation of oxidative stress. Sequestosome 1 (SQSTM1/p62) is an autophagy marker that participates in antioxidative responses via the activation of nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-like 2 (NRF2). Trehalose is a non-reducing disaccharide reported to suppress adipocyte hypertrophy in obese mice and improve glucose tolerance in humans.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCaloric restriction (CR) improves whole body metabolism, suppresses age-related pathophysiology, and extends lifespan in rodents. Metabolic remodeling, including fatty acid (FA) biosynthesis and mitochondrial biogenesis, in white adipose tissue (WAT) plays an important role in the beneficial effects of CR. We have proposed that CR-induced mitochondrial biogenesis in WAT is mediated by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α), which is transcriptionally regulated by sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c (SREBP-1c), a master regulator of FA biosynthesis.
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