title: Preventing High Fat Diet-induced Obesity and Improving Insulin Sensitivity through Neuregulin 4 Gene Transfer.
abstract: Neuregulin 4 (NRG4), an epidermal growth factor-like signaling molecule, plays an important role in cell-to-cell communication during tissue development. Its function to regulate energy metabolism has recently been reported. This current study was designed to assess the preventive and therapeutic effects of NRG4 overexpression on high fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity. Using the hydrodynamic gene transfer method, we demonstrate that Nrg4 gene transfer in mice suppressed the development of diet-induced obesity, but did not affect pre-existing adiposity and body weight in obese mice. Nrg4 gene transfer curbed HFD-induced hepatic steatosis by inhibiting lipogenesis and PPARγ-mediated lipid storage. Concurrently, overexpression of NRG4 reduced chronic inflammation in both preventive and treatment studies, evidenced by lower mRNA levels of macrophage marker genes including F4/80, Cd68, Cd11b, Cd11c, and macrophage chemokine Mcp1, resulting in improved insulin sensitivity. Collectively, these results demonstrate that overexpression of the Nrg4 gene by hydrodynamic gene delivery prevents HFD-induced weight gain and fatty liver, alleviates obesity-induced chronic inflammation and insulin resistance, and supports the health benefits of NRG4 in managing obesity and obesity-associated metabolic disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Georgia College of Pharmacy, Athens, Georgia, United States of America.
authors.forename: Yongjie
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Georgia College of Pharmacy, Athens, Georgia, United States of America.
authors.forename: Mingming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Georgia College of Pharmacy, Athens, Georgia, United States of America.
authors.forename: Dexi
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D052436:Adipose Tissue, White / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D000818:Animals; D059305:Diet, High-Fat / Q000009:adverse effects; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D006946:Hyperinsulinism / Q000517:prevention & control; D007249:Inflammation / Q000517:prevention & control; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D050155:Lipogenesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D020880:Neuregulins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control; D009765:Obesity / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D022722:Thermogenesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D020880:Neuregulins; C467747:neuregulin-4