Open AccessMaternal obesity-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress causes metabolic alterations and abnormal hypothalamic development in the offspring
Author(s) -
Soyoung Park,
Alice Jang,
Sébastien G. Bouret
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
plos biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.127
H-Index - 271
eISSN - 1545-7885
pISSN - 1544-9173
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000296
Subject(s) - offspring , unfolded protein response , endocrinology , leptin , obesity , medicine , biology , insulin resistance , metabolic syndrome , endoplasmic reticulum , tauroursodeoxycholic acid , diabetes mellitus , pregnancy , genetics
The steady increase in the prevalence of obesity and associated type II diabetes mellitus is a major health concern, particularly among children. Maternal obesity represents a risk factor that contributes to metabolic perturbations in the offspring. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress has emerged as a critical mechanism involved in leptin resistance and type 2 diabetes in adult individuals. Here, we used a mouse model of maternal obesity to investigate the importance of early life ER stress in the nutritional programming of this metabolic disease. Offspring of obese dams developed glucose intolerance and displayed increased body weight, adiposity, and food intake. Moreover, maternal obesity disrupted the development of melanocortin circuits associated with neonatal hyperleptinemia and leptin resistance. ER stress-related genes were up-regulated in the hypothalamus of neonates born to obese mothers. Neonatal treatment with the ER stress-relieving drug tauroursodeoxycholic acid improved metabolic and neurodevelopmental deficits and reversed leptin resistance in the offspring of obese dams.