Impact of Doxorubicin Treatment on the Physiological Functions of White Adipose Tissue

PLoS One. 2016 Mar 25;11(3):e0151548. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0151548. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

White adipose tissue (WAT) plays a fundamental role in maintaining energy balance and important endocrine functions. The loss of WAT modifies adipokine secretion and disrupts homeostasis, potentially leading to severe metabolic effects and a reduced quality of life. Doxorubicin is a chemotherapeutic agent used clinically because of its good effectiveness against various types of cancer. However, doxorubicin has deleterious effects in many healthy tissues, including WAT, liver, and skeletal and cardiac muscles. Our objective was to investigate the effects of doxorubicin on white adipocytes through in vivo and in vitro experiments. Doxorubicin reduced the uptake of glucose by retroperitoneal adipocytes and 3T3-L1 cells via the inhibition of AMP-activated protein kinase Thr172 phosphorylation and glucose transporter 4 content. Doxorubicin also reduced the serum level of adiponectin and, to a greater extent, the expression of genes encoding lipogenic (Fas and Acc) and adipogenic factors (Pparg, C/ebpa, and Srebp1c) in retroperitoneal adipose tissue. In addition, doxorubicin inhibited both lipogenesis and lipolysis and reduced the hormone-sensitive lipase and adipose tissue triacylglycerol lipase protein levels. Therefore, our results demonstrate the impact of doxorubicin on WAT. These results are important to understand some side effects observed in patients receiving chemotherapy and should encourage new adjuvant treatments that aim to inhibit these side effects.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 3T3-L1 Cells
  • AMP-Activated Protein Kinases / biosynthesis
  • AMP-Activated Protein Kinases / genetics
  • Adipocytes / drug effects
  • Adipocytes / metabolism
  • Adipokines / metabolism*
  • Adiponectin / biosynthesis
  • Adiponectin / genetics
  • Adipose Tissue, White / drug effects*
  • Adipose Tissue, White / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Doxorubicin / administration & dosage*
  • Doxorubicin / adverse effects
  • Energy Metabolism / drug effects*
  • Gene Expression
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
  • Glucose / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Insulin / genetics
  • Insulin / metabolism
  • Lipogenesis / genetics
  • Mice

Substances

  • Adipokines
  • Adiponectin
  • Insulin
  • Doxorubicin
  • AMP-Activated Protein Kinases
  • Glucose

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) (www.fapesp.br), grants number: 2013/09367-4. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.