HOX-7 suppresses body weight gain and adipogenesis-related gene expression in high-fat-diet-induced obese mice

Abstract

Background: HOX-7 is a newly developed dietary formula composed of traditional oriental herbal medicines. The formula was developed with the aim of improving weight control. We investigated the anti-obesity effect of HOX-7 on high-fat-diet (HFD)-induced obesity in C57BL/6 mice.

Methods: The mice were divided into four groups and were fed a normal diet (ND), HFD, or HFD with oral administration of HOX-7 at 100 or 200 mg/kg/day for 12 weeks. Body and fat weight, histological changes of fat tissue, and the expression of key adipogenic transcription factors were investigated.

Results: The body weight of mice fed the HFD with HOX-7 was significantly decreased compared to the HFD group. There were no obvious differences in weekly food intake among the 4 groups. The weight of the epididymal and total fat pads was reduced in mice fed the HFD with HOX-7. Treatment with HOX-7 also substantially attenuated the expression of key adipogenic transcription factors, including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ, CCAAT/enhancer binding protein α, sterol regulatory element binding protein 1c, adipocyte P2, liver X receptor, and lipoprotein lipase in the epididymal adipose tissue.

Conclusion: Overall, this study highlighted the anti-obesity effects of HOX-7, a finding that could contribute to the development of natural anti-obesity herbal medicines.

Figure 1

Effects of HOX-7 on body weight gain, fat-pads weights in HFD mice. Mice were fed ND or HFD for 12 weeks in the presence or absence of HOX-7. (A) Total body (g). (B) Body weight gain (g). (C) Food intake. (D) Visceral fat-pad weight. ND: Normal diet group; HFD: High fat diet group; H100: HOX-7 (100 mg/kg/day, po) treated with HFD group; H200: HOX-7 (200 mg/kg/day, po) treated with HFD group. The values are represented as mean ± SE (n = 8). ^# P < 0.05 versus ND group. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, and ***P < 0.001 versus HFD group.

Figure 2

Effect of HOX-7 on accumulation of lipid droplets in epididymal adipose tissue. (A) Representative histological images of the epididymal adipose tissue were assessed by H&E staining and examined using a light microscope; magnification: ×400. (B) Adipocyte diameter. ND: Normal diet group; HFD: High fat diet group; H100: HOX-7 (100 mg/kg/day, po) treated with HFD group; H200: HOX-7 (200 mg/kg/day, po) treated with HFD group. ^# P < 0.05 versus ND group. **P < 0.01, and ***P < 0.001 versus HFD group.

Figure 3

Effects of HOX-7 on mRNA expression of adipogenesis related genes in epididymal adipose tissue. mRNA expression of (A) PPARγ, (B) C/EBPα, (C) SREBP1c, (D) aP2, (E) LPL, (F) LXR. Total RNA was prepared for the real-time-PCR analysis of adipogenesis-related genes expressions from adipose tissues. Real-time PCR analysis was conducted using a Step One Plus® Real-time PCR system. Data were normalized to the GAPDH mRNA levels. ND: Normal diet group; HFD: High fat diet group; H100: HOX-7 (100 mg/kg/day, po) treated with HFD group; H200: HOX-7 (200 mg/kg/day, po) treated with HFD group. The values are represented as mean ± SE (n = 8) of three independent experiments. ^# P < 0.05 versus ND group. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, and ***P < 0.001 versus HFD group.

Figure 4

Effects of HOX-7 on expression of adipogenesis related proteins. Protein levels of PPARγ, C/EBPα, and SREBP1c were determined by Western blotting. ND: Normal diet group; HFD: High fat diet group; H100: HOX-7 (100 mg/kg/day, po) treated with HFD group; H200: HOX-7 (200 mg/kg/day, po) treated with HFD group. The values are represented as mean ± SE of three independent experiments. ^# P < 0.05 versus ND group. **P < 0.01, and ***P < 0.001 versus HFD group.