Analyzing the mechanisms of healthy adipose tissue expansion

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K16355
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 54040:Metabolism and endocrinology-related
• Research Institution: Kobe University
• Principal Investigator: Hosokawa Yusei 神戸大学, 医学研究科, 医学研究員 (40898350)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 肥満

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We generated mice overexpressing LTA4H, an LTB4-producing enzyme, in adipocytes (hereafter referred to as OE). OE exhibited "healthy adipose tissue expansion" phenotypes, including increased epididymal white adipose tissue weight, decreased liver weight and liver triglyceride content, and preserved insulin sensitivity compared to control (Ctrl) mice on a high fat diet. Using the morbidly obese human database, we evaluated the correlation between adipose tissue Lta4h gene expression and glucose tolerance indices but found no correlation between them. Adipose tissue LTB4 levels were unchanged between OE and Ctrl mice, suggesting that LTB4 is not involved in the OE phenotype. Adipose tissue immune cell infiltration was anti-inflammatory in OE compared to Ctrl mice, suggesting that this change may be related to healthy adipose tissue expansion.

Free Research Field

代謝学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

「脂肪組織においてLTA4HとLTB4の産生量は相関しない」および「LTA4Hが脂肪組織への免疫細胞浸潤に対して抗炎症的に作用する」という結果は今までに報告がなく、十分な学術的意義をもつ。また、詳細な情報を伴うヒト血漿・内臓脂肪組織試料を用いて新規データベースを作成することは、今後様々な肥満症関連因子を評価できる体制の構築につながる。本研究でその基盤が確立されたことの意義は大きいと考えられる。本データベースの完成に伴い、脂肪組織の健康的増大だけではなく、肥満症治療に関わる様々な研究の発展が期待される。