Sex differences in subcutaneous adipose tissue redox homeostasis and inflammation markers in control and high-fat diet fed rats

• Published in: Applied physiology, nutrition, and metabolism Vol. 44; no. 7; pp. 720 - 726
• Main Authors: Vasconcelos, Renata Prado, Peixoto, Milena Simões, de Oliveira, Keciany Alves, Ferreira, Andrea Claudia Freitas, Coelho-de-Souza, Andrelina Noronha, Carvalho, Denise P, de Oliveira, Ariclécio Cunha, Fortunato, Rodrigo S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Canada NRC Research Press 01.07.2019; Canadian Science Publishing NRC Research Press
• Subjects: adipose tissue; Adipose tissues; adults; Animals; antioxidant; antioxidant enzymes; Antioxidants; Antioxidants - metabolism; antioxydant; Biomarkers; catalase; Cytokines - blood; Diet; Diet, High-Fat - adverse effects; dimorphisme sexuel; enzyme activity; espèces réactives de l’oxygène; Female; females; Gender differences; glutathione peroxidase; high fat diet; Homeostasis; Homeostasis - physiology; Inflammation; Inflammation - metabolism; interleukin-1beta; interleukin-6; Interleukins; Male; Males; messenger RNA; metabolic diseases; Metabolic disorders; metabolism; NAD(P)H oxidase (H2O2-forming); NADP (coenzyme); NADPH Oxidase 2 - metabolism; NADPH Oxidase 4 - metabolism; Obesity; obésité; Oils & fats; Oxidases; Oxidation-Reduction; Oxidative stress; pathophysiology; Rats; Rats, Wistar; reactive oxygen species; Reactive Oxygen Species - metabolism; RNA; Rodents; Sex Characteristics; sexual dimorphism; Subcutaneous Fat - cytology; Subcutaneous Fat - metabolism; Sulfhydryl Compounds - metabolism; Superoxide; superoxide dismutase; Thiols; tissu adipeux; tumor necrosis factor-alpha; Tumor necrosis factor-TNF; Type 2 diabetes; Brazil; United Kingdom; tissu adipeux; antioxidant; espèces réactives de l’oxygène; antioxydant; inflammation; obésité; reactive oxygen species; adipose tissue; dimorphisme sexuel; obesity; sexual dimorphism
• ISSN: 1715-5312; 1715-5320; 1715-5320
• DOI: 10.1139/apnm-2018-0611

The development of obesity-related metabolic disorders is more evident in male in comparison with female subjects, but the mechanisms are unknown. Several studies have shown that oxidative stress is involved in the pathophysiology of obesity, but the majority of these studies were performed with male animals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the sex-related differences in subcutaneous adipose tissue redox homeostasis and inflammation of rats chronically fed a high-fat diet. NADPH oxidase (NOX), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase activities were evaluated in the subcutaneous adipose tissue (SC) of adult male and female rats fed either a standard chow (SCD) or a high-fat diet (HFD) for 11 weeks. NOX2 and NOX4 messenger RNA (mRNA) levels, total reduced thiols, interleukin (IL)-1β, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and IL-6 were also determined. Higher antioxidant enzyme activities and total reduced thiol levels were detected in SC of control male compared with female rats. Chronic HFD administration increased NOX activity and NOX2 and NOX4 mRNA levels and decreased SOD and GPx activities only in male animals. IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6 levels, as well as Adgre1, CD11b, and CD68 mRNA levels, were also higher in SC of males after HFD feeding. In SC of females, catalase activity was higher after HFD feeding. Taken together, our results show that redox homeostasis and inflammation of SC is sexually dimorphic. Furthermore, males show higher oxidative stress in SC after 11 weeks of HFD feeding owing to both increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production through NOX2 and NOX4 and decreased ROS detoxification.