CONICET | Buscador de Institutos y Recursos Humanos

Adipocyte differentiation is regulated by transcription factors such as Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors (PPARs), which maintain mature adipocyte phenotype by regulating the expression of specific adipokines. Wnt growth factors regulate the maintenance and remodeling of adipose tissue, constituting an attractive target in developing therapies to combat obesity and its metabolic complications. In the present study, the involvement of Wnt/b-catenin in the anti-obesity properties of Smallanthus sonchifollius (yacon) roots were investigated in an experimental model of obesity induced by diet. Male Wistar rats were fed a standard-diet (SD) or high fat-diet (20% w/w)/fructose (10% w/w) (HFF), for 12 weeks. Then the rats were randomly assigned into the following groups: SD, SD+Y (340 mg yacon flour/kg bw), HFF and HFF+Y (340mg yacon flour/kg bw). Administration yacon flour for 60 days significantly reduced body weight, food intake, feed efficiency and body mass index in the HFF+Y group compared to HFF. Serum triglycerides, glucose and insulin in HFF+Y animals were similar to SD and SD+Y animals. Yacon treatment significantly reduced the weight of perigonadal, perirenal and visceral adipose tissue. Histological study showed a reduction in the number and size of adipocytes from HFF+Y group compared to HFF. Serum levels of leptin and adiponectin were normalized in HFF+Y animals improving insulin sensitivity. Yacon treatment was associated with a marked in increased Wnt3a expression, decrease in AKT phosphorylation and PPARgamma expression in adipose tissue of HFF+Y respect to HFF animals. Our results show that the Wnt/b-catenin signaling is involved in the anti-obesity effects yacon regulating PPARgamma gene expression.

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