Activation of β-adrenergic receptor signaling prevents glucocorticoid-induced obesity and adipose tissue dysfunction in male mice

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Abstract

Elevated serum concentrations of glucocorticoids (GCs) result in excessive lipid accumulation in white adipose tissue (WAT) as well as dysfunction of thermogenic brown adipose tissue (BAT), ultimately leading to the development of obesity and metabolic disease. Here, we hypothesized that activation of the sympathetic nervous system either via cold exposure or the use of a selective b3-adrenergic receptor (b3-AR) agonist alleviates the adverse metabolic effects of chronic GC exposure in rodents. To this end, male 10-wk-old C57BL/6NRj mice were treated with corticosterone via drinking water or placebo for 4 wk while being maintained at 29°C (thermoneutrality), 22°C (room temperature), or 13°C (cold temperature); in a follow-up study mice received a selective b3-AR agonist or placebo with and without corticosterone while being maintained at room temperature. Body weight and food intake were monitored throughout the study. Histological and molecular analyses were performed on white and brown adipose depots. Cold exposure not only preserved the thermogenic function of brown adipose tissue but also reversed GC-induced lipid accumulation in white adipose tissue and corrected GC-driven obesity, hyperinsulinemia, and hyperglycemia. The metabolic benefits of cold exposure were associated with enhanced sympathetic activity in adipose tissue, thus potentially linking an increase in sympathetic signaling to the observed metabolic benefits. In line with this concept, chronic administration of a selective b3-AR agonist reproduced the beneficial metabolic effects of cold adaption during exposure to exogenous GCs. This preclinical study demonstrates the potential of b3-AR as a therapeutic target in the management and prevention of GC-induced metabolic disease. NEW & NOTEWORTHY This preclinical study in mice shows that the b3-adrenergic receptor can be a potential therapeutic approach to counteracting glucocorticoid (GC)-induced obesity and metabolic dysfunction. Both cold acclimation and b3-adrenergic receptor stimulation in a mouse model of excess glucocorticoids were adequate in not only preventing obesity, adiposity, and adipose tissue dysfunction but also correcting hyperinsulinemia, hyperleptinemia, and dyslipidemia.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)514-530
Number of pages17
JournalAmerican Journal of Physiology - Endocrinology and Metabolism
Volume324
Issue number6
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2023
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 37126848
unpaywall 10.1152/ajpendo.00259.2022
Mendeley d0cf50e1-8d3e-3560-9536-bf9d1b0dd0af
ORCID /0000-0003-4306-930X/work/141545250
ORCID /0000-0002-8691-8423/work/142236160
WOS 001008217400001

Keywords

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Keywords

  • adipose tissue, b 3-adrenergic receptor agonist, glucocorticoids, nonshivering thermogenesis, obesity, Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-3/metabolism, Follow-Up Studies, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Obesity/chemically induced, Receptors, Adrenergic, beta/metabolism, Lipids, Male, Adipose Tissue, White/metabolism, Glucocorticoids/pharmacology, Animals, Thermogenesis, Corticosterone/metabolism, Adipose Tissue/metabolism, Adipose Tissue, Brown/metabolism, Mice, Obesity, Glucocorticoids, Nonshivering thermogenesis, B3-adrenergic receptor agonist

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