Antioxidant/Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Caloric Restriction in an Aged and Obese Rat Model: The Role of Adiponectin

• Published in: Biomedicines Vol. 8; no. 12; p. 532
• Main Authors: La Russa, Daniele, Marrone, Alessandro, Mandalà, Maurizio, Macirella, Rachele, Pellegrino, Daniela
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 25.11.2020; MDPI
• Subjects: Adaptation; Adiponectin; Adipose tissue; Age; Aging; Animal models; Antioxidants; Biotechnology; caloric restriction; Chronic illnesses; Diet; Dietary restrictions; Food; Free radicals; GA-binding protein; Glutathione; Inflammation; Insulin resistance; Laboratory animals; Life span; Metabolism; Metabolites; NF-κB protein; Obesity; oxidative balance; Oxidative stress; Plasma; Proteins; Rodents; Software; Tumor necrosis factor-α; Variance analysis; white adipose tissue; United States > US; Italy; Maine; adiponectin; caloric restriction; white adipose tissue; plasma; inflammation; oxidative balance
• ISSN: 2227-9059; 2227-9059
• DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines8120532

Caloric restriction (CR) represents a powerful intervention for extending healthspan and lifespan in several animal models, from yeast to primates. Additionally, in humans, CR has been found to induce cardiometabolic adaptations associated with improved health. In this study, we evaluated in an aged and obese rat model the effect of long-term (6 months) caloric restriction (-40%) on the oxidative/inflammatory balance in order to investigate the underlining mechanisms. In plasma, we analyzed the oxidative balance by photometric tests and the adiponectin/tumor necrosis factor-α-induced gene/protein 6 (TSG-6) levels by Western blot analysis. In the white adipose tissue, we examined the protein levels of AdipoR1, pAMPK, NFκB, NRF-2, and glutathione S-tranferase P1 by Western blot analysis. Our results clearly showed that caloric restriction significantly improves the plasmatic oxidative/inflammatory balance in parallel with a major increase in circulating adiponectin levels. Additionally, at the level of adipose tissue, we found a positive modulation of both anti-inflammatory and antioxidant pathways. These adaptations, induced by caloric restriction, with the achievement of normal weight, suggest that inflammatory and redox imbalance in obese aged rats appear to be more linked to obesity than to aging.