Differential Effects of Combined Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase Inhibitor t-TUCB and n-3 Epoxides in Diet-Induced Obesity

Abstract

ObjectivesBrown adipose tissue (BAT) is a promising target for obesity prevention. N-3 epoxides are fatty acid epoxides produced from n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and shown to be beneficial for health. However, these epoxides are unstable and quickly metabolized by the cytosolic soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH). Here, we investigated the effects of sEH inhibitor (t-TUCB) alone or combined with two different n-3 epoxides on BAT activation in the development of diet-induced obesity and associated metabolic disorders. MethodsMale C57BL6/J mice were fed a high-fat diet and received either of the following treatment: the vehicle control, t-TUCB alone (T), or t-TUCB combined with 19,20-EDP (T + EDP) or 17,18-EEQ (T + EEQ) via osmotic minipump delivery near the interscapular BAT for 6 weeks. Mice were examined for changes in body weight, food intake, glucose, insulin, and cold tolerance tests, and indirect calorimetry. Blood and tissue biochemical analyses were also performed to assess changes in metabolic homeostasis. ResultsAlthough no differences in food intake were observed, there were small but significant increases in body weight in both T and T + EDP groups. Mice in the T + EDP and T + EEQ groups showed significant decreases in fasting glucose and serum TG levels, higher core body temperature, and better cold tolerance compared to the controls. However, heat production was significantly increased only in the T + EEQ group. Thermogenic UCP1 protein expression showed a moderate, but not significant, increase in the T + EEQ group. On the other hand, PGC1 α protein expression was significantly increased in the T, T + EDP, and T + EEQ groups compared to the controls. Perilipin protein expression and phosphorylation were also significantly increased in the three treated groups. In contrast, protein expression of FABP4 and HSL was only increased in the T and T + EDP groups, and CD36 protein expression was only increased in the T + EEQ group. ConclusionsOur results suggest that sEH pharmacological inhibition by t-TUCB combined with n-3 epoxides may prevent high-fat diet-induced glucose and lipid disorders, in part through increased thermogenesis and upregulating of protein expression of thermogenic and lipid metabolic genes. Funding SourcesThe work was supported by NIH grants to L.Z., A.B., and B.D.H.