Amelioration of diet-induced metabolic syndrome and fatty liver with sitagliptin via regulation of adipose tissue inflammation and hepatic Adiponectin/AMPK levels in mice

Abstract

Chronic consumption of unhealthy diet and sedentary lifestyle induces fatty liver and metabolic complications. Adipocytes get overloaded with lipid succeeding low-grade inflammation and disrupting adipokine release. This research aims to investigate the effect of sitagliptin on white adipose tissue inflammation, adipokine level, metabolic syndrome, and fatty liver through 5' adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway. In sixteen weeks of the experimental protocol, Swiss albino mice were kept in a standard environment and were fed 60% high-fat diet and 20% fructose water (HFFW) where they developed metabolic syndrome features, adipose tissue inflammation, and altered adipokine profile. Sitagliptin was administered for the last eight weeks. They were allocated to following six groups, control diet with regular water (1), HFFW only (2), HFFW and metformin 100 mg/kg (3), HFFW and sitagliptin 10 mg/kg (4), HFFW and sitagliptin 20 mg/kg (5), and HFFW and sitagliptin 30 mg/kg (6). Fasting serum insulin (FSI), glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), adipokines (adiponectin and leptin), serum lipid profile, hepatic lipid content, and white adipose tissue inflammation were assessed. Protein expression of P-AMPK, P-Acetyl co-a carboxylase (ACC), and mRNA expression of fatty acid metabolism genes were also evaluated in the liver. Sitagliptin significantly and effectively reversed metabolic syndrome complexity. FSI and GLP-1 levels were improved. A significant reduction in hepatic lipid content and oxidative stress was also observed. Also, sitagliptin significantly ameliorated adipose tissue inflammation and adiponectin levels at 20 mg/kg and 30 mg/kg. P-AMPK and P-ACC expression increased significantly. Moreover, expression of fatty acid synthesis genes was down-regulated, and fatty acid oxidation genes were up-regulated. Sitagliptin significantly ameliorated obesity-induced adipose tissue inflammation, metabolic syndrome, and fatty liver via regulation of adiponectin and AMPK levels in obese mice. Also, increased GLP-1 levels would have induced insulin-independent effects on adipose tissue and liver.

Keywords: AMPK; Adiponectin; Adipose tissue inflammation; Fatty liver; Metabolic syndrome; Sitagliptin.