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Selective estrogen receptor alpha modulation during body weight cycling

Subject Area Kinder- und Jugendmedizin
Endokrinologie, Diabetologie, Metabolismus
Term from 2012 to 2015
Project identifier Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 101434729
 
Final Report Year 2019

Final Report Abstract

The aim of the present project in the second funding phase was the detailed analysis of ERα (estrogen receptor alpha) as a pharmacological target for the support of body weight (BW) reduction and prevention of BW-regain. Our studies aimed on the characterization of subtype and tissue/ cell-selective activation of ERα following the concept of selective ER modulation. In particular, we wanted concentrate on the role of ERα in the regulation of energy expenditure in the hypothalamus and in white adipose tissue (WAT) lipolysis. We identified a new mechanism of ERα modulation by dietary fatty acids. We discovered an unexpected phenotype of ERαlox/lox/aP2 Cre+/- (atERαKO) mice fed HFD characterized by increased mortality likely due to fatal bacterial uterine infections driven by commensal microbes. This phenotype pointed towards a previously unknown interaction of ERα signaling and FAs in macrophages. In particular, we showed that C18:0 provided by HFD modulates E2-ERα action in macrophages resulting in the perturbation of M2-macrophage polarization required for regular neutrophil-mediated defense. These processes likely result from intracellular ERα acylation leading to inhibition of its transcriptional activity and E2-dependent regulation of target genes. We believe that this new non-pharmacological way of ERα- modulation may provide a starting point for the development of new dietary ERα-modulators during BW-cycling. The possibility of dietary FA-modifications to modulate ERα thereby preventing BW-regain after an initial BW-loss should be tested in future experiments.

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