Fish oil-derived n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids downregulate aquaporin 9 protein expression of liver and white adipose tissues in diabetic KK mice and 3T3-L1 adipocytes

• Published in: The Journal of nutritional biochemistry 2024-02, Vol.124, p.109514-109514, Article 109514
• Main Authors: Iizuka, Yuzuru, Hirako, Satoshi, Kim, Hyounju, Wada, Nobuhiro, Ohsaki, Yuki, Yanagisawa, Naoko
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 3T3-L1 Cells; Adipocytes; Adipose Tissue, White - metabolism; Animals; Aquaporins - genetics; Aquaporins - metabolism; Aquaporins - pharmacology; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - metabolism; Docosahexaenoic Acids - metabolism; Docosahexaenoic Acids - pharmacology; Eicosapentaenoic Acid - metabolism; Eicosapentaenoic Acid - pharmacology; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - metabolism; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - pharmacology; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated - pharmacology; Fish Oils - metabolism; Fish Oils - pharmacology; Glycerol; Liver - metabolism; Mice; Obesity - metabolism
• ISSN: 0955-2863; 1873-4847
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2023.109514

Aquaporin 9 (AQP9) is an integral membrane protein that facilitates glycerol transport in hepatocytes and adipocytes. Glycerol is necessary as a substrate for gluconeogenesis in the physiological fasted state, suggesting that inhibiting AQP9 function may be beneficial for treating type 2 diabetes associated with fasting hyperglycemia. The n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are rich in fish oil and lower the risk of metabolic syndrome; however, the effects of EPA and DHA on AQP9 expression in obese and type 2 diabetes are unclear. The KK mouse is an animal model of obesity and type 2 diabetes because of the polymorphisms on leptin receptor gene, which results in a part of cause for obese and diabetic conditions. In this study, we determined the effect of fish oil-derived n-3 PUFA on AQP9 protein expression in the liver and white adipose tissue (WAT) of KK mice and mouse 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The expression of AQP9 protein in the liver, epididymal WAT, and inguinal WAT were markedly decreased following fish oil administration. We also demonstrated that n-3 PUFAs, such as DHA, and to a lesser extent EPA, downregulated AQP9 protein expression in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Our results suggest that fish oil-derived n-3 PUFAs may regulate the protein expressions of AQP9 in glycerol metabolism-related organs in KK mice and 3T3-L1 adipocytes.