title: Mice that are fed a high-fat diet display increased hepcidin expression in adipose tissue.
abstract: Since the discovery that hepcidin is expressed in the adipose tissue of obese subjects, attention has been increasingly focused on alterations in iron homeostasis that are associated with adiposity. We examined the production of hepcidin, the expression of hepcidin-related genes and the iron content of the adipose tissue in obesity using Swiss mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD). The mice were maintained on a control diet or HFD for 12 or 24 wk, and body weight, adiposity and glucose homeostasis were evaluated. The expression of several genes (hepcidin, TfR1, TfR2, DMT1, FT-heavy, ferroportin, IRP-1, IRP-2 and HIF-1) and the protein expression of hepcidin and IL-6 were quantified. The iron level was assessed using a Prussian blue reaction in paraffin-embedded tissue. After 24 wk on the HFD, we observed increases in the levels of hepcidin in the serum and the visceral adipose tissue. The IL-6 levels also increased in the visceral adipose tissue. Adipocytes isolated from the visceral adipose tissues of lean and obese mice expressed hepcidin at comparable levels; however, isolated macrophages from the stromal vascular fraction expressed higher hepcidin levels. Adipose tissues from obese mice displayed increased tfR2 expression and the presence of iron. Our results indicate that IL-6 and iron may affect the signaling pathways governing hepcidin expression. Thus, the mice fed HFD for 24 wk represent a suitable model for the study of obesity-linked hepcidin alterations. In addition, hepcidin may play local roles in controlling iron availability and interfering with inflammation in adipose tissue.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Pharmacology and Gastroenterology Unit, Sao Francisco University Medical School.
authors.forename: Érica Martins Ferreira
authors.initials: ÉM
authors.lastname: Gotardo
authors.forename: Aline Noronha
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: dos Santos
authors.forename: Renan Akira
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Miyashiro
authors.forename: Sheley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gambero
authors.forename: Thalita
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.forename: Marcelo Lima
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gambero
mesh_terms: D050154:Adiposity; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D059305:Diet, High-Fat / Q000009:adverse effects; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D064451:Hepcidins / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009765:Obesity / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011897:Random Allocation; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D050151:Subcutaneous Fat / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015854:Up-Regulation; D015430:Weight Gain
chemical_list: C579599:Hamp protein, mouse; D064451:Hepcidins; D015850:Interleukin-6; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin; C503641:TFR2 protein, mouse; C577686:interleukin-6, mouse; D007501:Iron