Short-term high-fat diet affects macrophages inflammatory response, early signs of a long-term problem

Obesity is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects millions of people worldwide. Most studies observe the effects of a high-fat diet (HFD) in 10-12 weeks. This work investigated the effects induced by a HFD administered for 6 weeks on the nutritional status of mice and some aspects of the inflammatory response in mouse peritoneal macrophages. Male Swiss Webster mice, 2-3 months of age, were fed a control diet or HFD for 6 weeks. After this period, the mice were euthanized, and peritoneal macrophages were collected for immunoassays and assessment of biochemical parameters. A HFD was associated with increased cholesterol, insulin resistance, C-reactive protein (CRP), leptin, and serum resistin levels. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- stimulated adipocyte cultures of animals subjected to a HFD showed increased production of proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 (IL-1), and interleukin-6 (IL-6). However, peritoneal macrophages of the HFD group showed no changes in the levels of these cytokines. LPS-stimulated peritoneal macrophages from HFD-treated animals showed a reduction in mRNA expression of TNF-α and IL-6, as well as a decrease in expression of the transcription factor nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kB). In conclusion, HFD treatment for 6 weeks induces similar signs to metabolic syndrome and decreases the capacity of peritoneal macrophages to develop an appropriate inflammatory response to a bacterial component

Correction to: High-fat diet or low-protein diet changes peritoneal macrophages function in mice

The original version of this article [1], published on 28 June 2016, contains a mistake. The part labels in Fig. 1 are missing. The corrected version of Fig. 1 is given below.

A participação da autofagia na regulação da célula-tronco hemopoética em camundongos knockouts para Atg7 e transglutaminase 2 / The participation of autophagy in hemopoietic stem cell regulation in mice Knockouts for Atg7 and transglutaminase 2

A desnutrição é um dos principais problemas de saúde pública do mundo, que contribui significativamente para o aumento da morbidade e mortalidade. Estima-se um total de 815 milhões de pessoas subnutridas no mundo, e apesar da melhoria dos recursos alimentares o número de pessoas desnutridas ainda é alarmante. Estudos de nosso laboratório tem demonstrado, em modelo murino de desnutrição proteica, hipoplasia medular com evidências histológicas de alterações na matriz extracelular (MEC) e permanência da célula-tronco hemopoética (CTH) na fase G0/G1 do ciclo celular em camundongos desnutridos. Dados deste trabalho evidenciaram alterações nas proteínas Akt /mTOR, que podem contribuir para o aumento da expressão autofágica nas CTHs e CTPHs (célula-tronco progenitora). A literatura demonstra que desequilíbrios nutricionais e metabólicos podem induzir ativação autofágica. Autofagia é um processo catabólico que participa da manutenção da homeostase celular, da MEC e na regulação das CTHs, dados deste trabalho demonstram diminuição da quantidade de CTH e CTPH em camundongos desnutridos sem a presença do gene Atg7, proteína participativa no processo autofágico. Já camundongos com deleção da transglutaminase 2 (TG2) e submetidos a privação de nutrientes por 24 horas , apresentou diminuição da quantidade de CTH e aumento da diferenciação da CTPH. A TG2 tem participação na impulsão e formação do fagóforo (processo inicial autofágico). Considerando que a desnutrição proteica leva a comprometimento da hemopoese, alterações no ciclo celular das CTHs e hipoplasia medular com pancitopenia periférica e que privação e ou jejum prolongado de nutrientes pode aumentar a atividade autofágica, concluímos nesse projeto que autofagia é importante para regulação da CTH e diferenciação da CTPH, entretanto a desnutrição proteica e privação de nutrientes estimula de maneira diversa o mecanismo de diferenciação da CTH

Malnutrition is one of the world's major public health problems, which contributes significantly to increased morbidity and mortality. An estimated 815 million people are undernourished in the world, and despite the improvement in food resources the number of undernourished people is still alarming. Studies of our laboratory have demonstrated in murine model of protein malnutrition, medullary hypoplasia with histological evidence of extracellular matrix (ECM) changes and hemopoietic stem cell (HSC) stay in the G0/ G1 phase of the cell cycle in malnourished mice. Data from this work showed alterations in Akt / mTOR proteins, which may contribute to the increase of autophagic expression in HSC and HPC (progenitor stem cell). The literature demonstrates that nutritional and metabolic imbalances can induce autophagic activation. Autophagy is a catabolic process that participates in the maintenance of cellular homeostasis, ECM and in the regulation of HSC, data from this work demonstrate a decrease in the amount of HSC and HPC in malnourished mice without the presence of the Atg7 gene, a participatory protein in the autophagic process. Mice with transglutaminase 2 deletion (TG2) and submitted to nutrient deprivation for 24 hours showed a decrease in the amount of HSC and an increase in the differentiation of HPC. TG2 plays a role in the uptake and formation of phagophore (autophagic initial process). Considering that protein malnutrition leads to hemopoiesis, alterations in the cell cycle of HSC and spinal cord hypoplasia with peripheral pancytopenia, and that prolonged nutrient starvation or fasting may increase the autophagic activity, we conclude in this project that autophagy is important for regulation of HSC and differentiation of HPC, however, protein malnutrition and nutrient deprivation stimulate in a different way the mechanism of differentiation of HSC

High-fat diet or low-protein diet changes peritoneal macrophages function in mice

BACKGROUND: Obesity and protein malnutrition are major food problems nowadays, affecting billions of people around the world. The nutrition transition that has occurred in recent decades is changing the nutritional profile, reducing malnutrition and increasing the percentage of obese people. The innate immune response is greatly influenced by diet, with significant changes in both malnutrition and obesity. Therefore, we investigate the effects of protein malnutrition and obesity in nutritional and immunological parameters in mice. RESULTS: Peritoneal macrophages of malnourished animals showed reduced functions of adhesion, spreading, and fungicidal activity; production of hydrogen peroxide and nitric oxide were lower, reflecting changes in the innate immune response. However, the high-fat animals had macrophage functions slightly increased. CONCLUSIONS: Animals subjected to low-protein diet have immunosuppression, and animals subjected to high-fat diet increased visceral adipose tissue and the presence of an inflammatory process with increased peritoneal macrophage activity and similar systemic changes to metabolic syndrome.

Hematological and biochemical reference values for C57BL/6, Swiss Webster and BALB/c mice / Valores de referência hematológicos e bioquímicos para camundongos das linhagens C57BL/6, Swiss Webster e BALB/c

The use of animals in scientific research has contributed significantly to the development of science, promoting various advances in understanding the metabolic machinery and the discovery of treatments and preventive measures applied to human and veterinary medicine. The development and use of alternative methods is encouraged; however, in some situations, the use of animals in accordance with ethical policies is still required. Established hematological and clinical chemistry reference values in laboratory animals are essential to evaluate functional changes; however, there are few data in the literature on these values, being fundamentally a comparative basis. The aim of this investigation was the establishment of hematological and clinical chemistry reference values in common strains/stocks of mice used in animal experimentation. Blood profile (hemogram, reticulocytes and myelogram) and clinical chemistry serum determination of total protein, albumin, glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, calcium and phosphorus were evaluated using C57BL/6, BALB/c and Swiss Webster mice, male, 2-3 months old. The results standardize reference intervals in animals reared in Laboratory Animal Facility, reflecting the expected condition in rodents subjected to scientific research...

O uso de animais na pesquisa científica tem contribuído significativamente para o desenvolvimento da ciência, promovendo vários avanços na compreensão da maquinaria metabólica, bem como a descoberta de tratamentos e medidas preventivas aplicadas à medicina humana e veterinária. O desenvolvimento e utilização de métodos alternativos é encorajado, no entanto, em algumas situações, ainda é necessária a utilização de animais em conformidade com termos éticos. Estabelecer valores de referência hematológicos e bioquímicos para animais de laboratório é essencial para avaliar alterações funcionais, no entanto, existem poucos dados na literatura sobre estes valores, sendo fundamentalmente uma base comparativa. O presente trabalho foi delineado para estabelecer valores de referência hematológicos e bioquímicos em linhagens camundongos utilizados em pesquisa científica. Foram avaliados o perfil sanguíneo (hemograma, reticulócitos e mielograma) e a determinação bioquímica sérica de proteínas totais, albumina, glicose, colesterol, triglicerídeos, cálcio e fósforo. Foram utilizados camundongos C57BL/6, BALB/c e Swiss Webster, do sexo masculino, 2-3 meses de idade. Os resultados padronizam intervalos de referência em camundongos criados em Biotério, refletindo a condição esperada nesses animais submetidos à investigação científica...