title: Parasitic nematode-induced modulation of body weight and associated metabolic dysfunction in mouse models of obesity.
abstract: Obesity is associated with a chronic low-grade inflammation characterized by increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines that are implicated in disrupted metabolic homeostasis. Parasitic nematode infection induces a polarized Th2 cytokine response and has been explored to treat autoimmune diseases. We investigated the effects of nematode infection against obesity and the associated metabolic dysfunction. Infection of RIP2-Opa1KO mice or C57BL/6 mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) with Nippostrongylus brasiliensis decreased weight gain and was associated with improved glucose metabolism. Infection of obese mice fed the HFD reduced body weight and adipose tissue mass, ameliorated hepatic steatosis associated with a decreased expression of key lipogenic enzymes/mediators, and improved glucose metabolism, accompanied by changes in the profile of metabolic hormones. The infection resulted in a phenotypic change in adipose tissue macrophages that was characterized by upregulation of alternative activation markers. Interleukin-13 (IL-13) activation of the STAT6 signaling pathway was required for the infection-induced attenuation of steatosis but not for improved glucose metabolism, whereas weight loss was attributed to both IL-13/STAT6-dependent and -independent mechanisms. Parasitic nematode infection has both preventive and therapeutic effects against the development of obesity and associated features of metabolic dysfunction in mice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and the Mucosal Biology Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Zhonghan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Viktoriya
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Grinchuk
authors.forename: Allen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Bolin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: Jennifer A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Bohl
authors.forename: Rex
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Notari
authors.forename: Zhongyan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Hiromi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sesaki
authors.forename: Joseph F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Urban
authors.forename: Terez
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shea-Donohue
authors.forename: Aiping
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D020558:GTP Phosphohydrolases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005937:Glucaric Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D006706:Homeostasis; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009559:Nippostrongylus; D009765:Obesity / Q000469:parasitology*; D053475:Receptor-Interacting Protein Serine-Threonine Kinase 2; D053422:Receptor-Interacting Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D050800:STAT6 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017206:Strongylida Infections / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D015430:Weight Gain
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D018793:Interleukin-13; D050800:STAT6 Transcription Factor; C494100:Stat6 protein, mouse; D053475:Receptor-Interacting Protein Serine-Threonine Kinase 2; D053422:Receptor-Interacting Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; C506255:Ripk2 protein, mouse; D020558:GTP Phosphohydrolases; C498809:Opa1 protein, mouse; D005937:Glucaric Acid