The contribution of copper to the adipose tissue expansion in obese and diabetic mice

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K20182
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 59040:Nutrition science and health science-related
• Research Institution: Tottori University
• Principal Investigator: ICHIHARA Yoshinori 鳥取大学, 医学部, 助教 (50710711)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 銅 / 肥満 / 糖尿病 / 脂質代謝

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Although it has been shown that serum copper concentrations are elevated in obese and diabetic patients, the effect of copper intervention on the prevention and treatment of obesity and diabetes and its mechanisms remain unresolved. In this study, we evaluated the effects of a copper chelator on obesity and lipid metabolism in high-fat diet-induced obese mice. The findings of this study demonstrate that a copper chelator contributes to the prevention of the development of obesity and diabetes through changes in lipid metabolism in the liver, and the findings of this study suggest that copper might be the possible target for the prevention and treatment of obesity and diabetes.

Free Research Field

薬理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は肥満病態での銅の代謝の変化の可能性と、必須微量元素である銅と脂質代謝の関連を明らかにしたものであり、銅の生体内での意義のさらなる解明に寄与するものである。さらに実験動物モデルを用いて、銅への介入が肥満糖尿病の予防・治療に有効である可能性を示すことができたため、本知見を応用することで、将来の新規の肥満・糖尿病の治療薬の開発に繋がる可能性が考えられる。