PROFILE OF OXIDATIVE STRESS GENES IN RESPONSE TO OBESITY TREATMENT

Abstract

Background: Oxidative stress (OS) is an imbalance between free radical production and the antioxidants defense in the body. Previous studies demonstrated the correlation of OS to the increased risk of developing metabolic disorders such as obesity. Sulforaphane (SFN), a bioactive compound, can protect against inflammation and OS, thus an effective anti-obesity supplement. Aim: This study explores the impact of SNF on OS in diet induced obese (DIO) mice via profiling of OS genes and pathways in skeletal muscles related to the anti-obesity effect. Methods: Wild-type CD1 male mice and the knockout of nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2) like 2 (NrF2) mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 16 weeks; to induce obesity. Subsequently, each group was subdivided into two subgroups and received either Vehicle (25?l) or SFN (5 mg/kg BW) for four weeks. Body weight was measured daily, and a glucose tolerance test (GTT) was performed after 21 days of treatment. Afterward, mice were decapitated, blood and tissue samples were collected and snap-frozen immediately. Total RNA was extracted from Skeletal muscle and epididymal white adipose tissue (eWAT), leptin expression was measured in (eWAT), and 84 OS genes in skeletal muscle were examined using RT-PCR. Results: Significant reduction in body weight in SFN treated WT mice, while no change in KO mice. Plasma glucose, leptin, and leptin gene expression (eWAT) were significantly reduced in the WT-DIO SFN treated group, while no changes were detected in KO mice. SFN decreases OS damage in skeletal muscles, such as lipid peroxidation and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Conclusion: This study demonstrated that SFN had lowered body weight in WT-DIO mice by decreasing OS damage in skeletal muscles through the NrF2 pathway and can be a potential anti-obesity drug.