Kynurenine-Induced Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Signaling in Mice Causes Body Mass Gain, Liver Steatosis, and Hyperglycemia.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) plays a key role in obesity. In vitro studies revealed that the tryptophan metabolite kynurenine (Kyn) activates AHR signaling in cultured hepatocytes. The objective of this study was to determine whether Kyn activated the AHR in mice to induce obesity.

Methods

Mice were fed a low-fat diet and the same diet supplemented with Kyn. Body mass, liver status, and the expression of identified relevant genes were determined.

Results

Kyn caused mice to gain significant body mass, develop fatty liver and hyperglycemia, and increase expression levels of cytochrome P450 1B1 and stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1. The hyperglycemia was accompanied with decreased insulin levels, which may have been due to the repression of genes involved in ins

SUBMITTER: Rojas IY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10782555 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature