The Different Protective Effects of Phospholipids Against Obesity‐Induced Renal Injury Mainly Associate with Fatty Acid Composition

Abstract

AbstractThe objectives of the study are to investigate the protective effects of eight phospholipids (PL) with different fatty acids or polar head groups on obesity‐induced renal damage. Four kinds of phosphatidylcholine (PC) are exacted from egg york (Egg‐PC), soybean (Soy‐PC), squid roe (DHA‐PC) and sea cucumber (EPA‐PC). Furthermore, four kinds of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) are enzymatically synthesized from PC, respectively. Male C57BL/6J mice are fed with standard diet, high‐fat diet (Model) or high‐fat diet containing 2% phospholipids for 8 weeks. Mice in the model group demonstrate severe renal injury. Different phospholipids improve renal dysfunction in high‐fat diet mice to varying degrees, and EPA‐PE shows the best effects on reducing serum Cr, chronic inflammation and renal lipid accumulation. A further mechanistic study reveals that the lipid‐lower effect of phospholipids might be attributed to increased fatty acid β‐oxidation and decreased fatty acid synthesis. Finally, it seemed that the influence of phospholipids on the PGC1α activation appear to be dependent on FA saturation, as DHA/EPA‐PL increases the expression of PGC1α greater than Soy‐PL, as well as Egg‐PL.Practical Applications:Based on these findings, phospholipids are promising supplement for alleviation of obesity‐induced renal dysfunction, and their different protective effects mainly due to the fatty acids composition.