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Galectin-3 inhibition prevents adipose tissue remodelling in obesity

International Journal of Obesity volume 40, pages 1034–1038 (2016)Cite this article

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Abstract

Extracellular matrix remodelling of the adipose tissue has a pivotal role in the pathophysiology of obesity. Galectin-3 (Gal-3) is increased in obesity and mediates inflammation and fibrosis in the cardiovascular system. However, the effects of Gal-3 on adipose tissue remodelling associated with obesity remain unclear. Male Wistar rats were fed either a high-fat diet (33.5% fat) or a standard diet (3.5% fat) for 6 weeks. Half of the animals of each group were treated with the pharmacological inhibitor of Gal-3, modified citrus pectin (MCP; 100 mg kg−1 per day) in the drinking water. In adipose tissue, obese animals presented an increase in Gal-3 levels that were accompanied by an increase in pericellular collagen. Obese rats exhibited higher adipose tissue inflammation, as well as enhanced differentiation degree of the adipocytes. Treatment with MCP prevented all the above effects. In mature 3T3-L1 adipocytes, Gal-3 (10−8m) treatment increased fibrosis, inflammatory and differentiation markers. In conclusion, Gal-3 emerges as a potential therapeutic target in adipose tissue remodelling associated with obesity and could have an important role in the development of metabolic alterations associated with obesity.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Miguel Servet contract CP13/00221, Plan Estatal I+D+I 2013–2016, INSERM, Programme National de Recherche Cardiovasculaire, Région Lorraine, Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias (PI12/01729) and Red de Investigación Cardiovascular (RD12/0042/0033).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cardiovascular Translational Research, Navarrabiomed (Fundación Miguel Servet), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA), Pamplona, Spain

    E Martínez-Martínez, A Fernández-Celis & N López-Andrés

  2. INSERM, Centre d’Investigations Cliniques-Plurithématique 1433, UMR 1116 Université de Lorraine, CHRU de Nancy, INI-CRCT (Cardiovascular and Renal Clinical Trialists), French-Clinical Research Infrastructure Network (FCRIN), Nancy, France

    L Calvier, P Rossignol, E Rousseau & N López-Andrés

  3. Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Universidad Complutense, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón (IiSGM), Madrid, Spain

    R Jurado-López & V Cachofeiro

  4. Centre de Recherche en Nutrition Humaine Rhône-Alpes, INSERM U1060, Université Lyon 1, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Pierre-Bénite, France

    M Laville

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  1. E Martínez-Martínez
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  2. L Calvier
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  3. P Rossignol
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  4. E Rousseau
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  5. A Fernández-Celis
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  6. R Jurado-López
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  7. M Laville
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  8. V Cachofeiro
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  9. N López-Andrés
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Correspondence to N López-Andrés.

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Martínez-Martínez, E., Calvier, L., Rossignol, P. et al. Galectin-3 inhibition prevents adipose tissue remodelling in obesity. Int J Obes 40, 1034–1038 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2016.19

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2016.19

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