Sulforaphane Ameliorates Oxidative Stress in Skeletal Muscles of Diet-induced Obese Mice

• Published in: Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.) Md.), 2021-12, Vol.29, p.167-167
• Main Authors: Farah, Huda, Ahmed, Amira, Mohamed, Omnia, Elsayegh, Dina, ElGamal, Abdelrahman, Rizk, Nasser
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Gene expression; Musculoskeletal system; Obesity; Oxidative stress
• ISSN: 1930-7381; 1930-739X

Background: Oxidative stress (OS) is an imbalance between free rad- ical production and the antioxidants defense in the body. Previous studies demonstrated the correlation of OS to the increased risk of developing metabolic disorders such as obesity. Sulforaphane (SFN), a bioactive compound, can protect against inflammation and OS, thus an effective anti-obesity supplement. This study explores the impact of SNF on OS in diet induced obese (DIO) mice via profiling of OS genes and pathways in skeletal muscles related to the anti-obesity effect. Methods: Wild-type CD1 male mice and the knockout of nuclear fac- tor (erythroid-derived 2) like 2 (NrF2) mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 16 weeks; to induce obesity. Subsequently, each group was subdivided into two subgroups and received either Vehicle (25l) or SFN (5 mg/kg BW) for four weeks. Body weight was measured daily, and a glucose tolerance test (GTT) was performed after 21 days of treatment. Afterward, mice were decapitated, blood and tissue sam- ples were collected and snap-frozen immediately. Total RNA was extracted from Skeletal muscle and epididymal white adipose tissue (eWAT), leptin expression was measured in (eWAT), and 84 OS genes in skeletal muscle were examined using RT-PCR. Results: Significant reduction in body weight in SFN treated WT- DIO mice, while no change in KO-DIO mice. Plasma glucose, leptin, and leptin gene expression (eWAT) were significantly reduced in the WT-DIO SFN treated group, while no changes were detected in KO- DIO mice. SFN decreases OS damage in skeletal muscles, mainly via reduction of lipid peroxidation, autophagy, and production of reac- tive oxygen species (ROS). Several transcription factors are involved in response to SFN in WT-DIO mice such as NFKB1A, STAT3 and PPARGC1A. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that SFN treatment causes a reduction body weight in WT-DIO mice by decreasing OS damage in skeletal muscles through the NrF2 pathway and can be a potential anti-obesity drug.