Iron Overload Protects from Obesity by Ferroptosis

Dysregulation in iron metabolism is associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes, and other metabolic diseases, whereas the underlying mechanisms of imbalanced glycolipid metabolism are still obscure. Here, we demonstrated that iron overload protected mice from obesity both with normal diets (ND) or hig...

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Main Authors: Wan Ma, Li Jia, Qingqing Xiong, Huahua Du
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-08-01
Series:Foods
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/10/8/1787
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author Wan Ma
Li Jia
Qingqing Xiong
Huahua Du
author_facet Wan Ma
Li Jia
Qingqing Xiong
Huahua Du
author_sort Wan Ma
collection DOAJ
description Dysregulation in iron metabolism is associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes, and other metabolic diseases, whereas the underlying mechanisms of imbalanced glycolipid metabolism are still obscure. Here, we demonstrated that iron overload protected mice from obesity both with normal diets (ND) or high-fat diets (HFD). In iron-overload mice, the body fat was significantly decreased, especially when fed with HFD, excessive iron mice gained 15% less weight than those without iron supplements. Moreover, glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity were all significantly reduced, and hepatic steatosis was prevented. Furthermore, these mice show a considerable decrease in lipogenesis and lipidoses of the liver. Compared with control groups, iron treated groups showed a 79% decrease in the protein level of Perilipin-2 (PLIN2), a protein marker for lipid droplets. These results were consistent with their substantial decrease in adiposity. RNA-seq and signaling pathway analyses showed that iron overload caused ferroptosis in the liver of mice with a decrease in GPX4 expression and an increase in Ptgs2 expression, resulting in a high level of lipid peroxidation. Overall, this study reveals the protective function of iron overload in obesity by triggering the imbalance of glucolipid metabolism in the liver and highlights the crucial role of ferroptosis in regulating lipid accumulation.
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spelling doaj.art-fdafdb20918648a0a6c9c1a991c52dbd2023-11-22T07:38:47ZengMDPI AGFoods2304-81582021-08-01108178710.3390/foods10081787Iron Overload Protects from Obesity by FerroptosisWan Ma0Li Jia1Qingqing Xiong2Huahua Du3Key Laboratory of Molecular Animal Nutrition, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, ChinaKey Laboratory of Molecular Animal Nutrition, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, ChinaKey Laboratory of Molecular Animal Nutrition, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, ChinaKey Laboratory of Molecular Animal Nutrition, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, ChinaDysregulation in iron metabolism is associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes, and other metabolic diseases, whereas the underlying mechanisms of imbalanced glycolipid metabolism are still obscure. Here, we demonstrated that iron overload protected mice from obesity both with normal diets (ND) or high-fat diets (HFD). In iron-overload mice, the body fat was significantly decreased, especially when fed with HFD, excessive iron mice gained 15% less weight than those without iron supplements. Moreover, glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity were all significantly reduced, and hepatic steatosis was prevented. Furthermore, these mice show a considerable decrease in lipogenesis and lipidoses of the liver. Compared with control groups, iron treated groups showed a 79% decrease in the protein level of Perilipin-2 (PLIN2), a protein marker for lipid droplets. These results were consistent with their substantial decrease in adiposity. RNA-seq and signaling pathway analyses showed that iron overload caused ferroptosis in the liver of mice with a decrease in GPX4 expression and an increase in Ptgs2 expression, resulting in a high level of lipid peroxidation. Overall, this study reveals the protective function of iron overload in obesity by triggering the imbalance of glucolipid metabolism in the liver and highlights the crucial role of ferroptosis in regulating lipid accumulation.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/10/8/1787iron overloadferroptosisglucolipid metabolismobesity
spellingShingle Wan Ma
Li Jia
Qingqing Xiong
Huahua Du
Iron Overload Protects from Obesity by Ferroptosis
Foods
iron overload
ferroptosis
glucolipid metabolism
obesity
title Iron Overload Protects from Obesity by Ferroptosis
title_full Iron Overload Protects from Obesity by Ferroptosis
title_fullStr Iron Overload Protects from Obesity by Ferroptosis
title_full_unstemmed Iron Overload Protects from Obesity by Ferroptosis
title_short Iron Overload Protects from Obesity by Ferroptosis
title_sort iron overload protects from obesity by ferroptosis
topic iron overload
ferroptosis
glucolipid metabolism
obesity
url https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/10/8/1787
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AT lijia ironoverloadprotectsfromobesitybyferroptosis
AT qingqingxiong ironoverloadprotectsfromobesitybyferroptosis
AT huahuadu ironoverloadprotectsfromobesitybyferroptosis