Differential Responses to Sigma-1 or Sigma-2 Receptor Ablation in Adiposity, Fat Oxidation, and Sexual Dimorphism

oleh: Jing Li, Elisa Félix-Soriano, Katherine R. Wright, Hongtao Shen, Lisa A. Baer, Kristin I. Stanford, Lian-Wang Guo

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2022-09-01

Deskripsi

Obesity is increasing at epidemic rates across the US and worldwide, as are its co-morbidities, including type-2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Thus, targeted interventions to reduce the prevalence of obesity are of the utmost importance. The sigma-1 receptor (S1R) and sigma-2 receptor (S2R; encoded by <i>Tmem97</i>) belong to the same class of drug-binding sites, yet they are genetically distinct. There are multiple ongoing clinical trials focused on sigma receptors, targeting diseases ranging from Alzheimer’s disease through chronic pain to COVID-19. However, little is known regarding their gene-specific role in obesity. In this study, we measured body composition, used a comprehensive laboratory-animal monitoring system, and determined the glucose and insulin tolerance in mice fed a high-fat diet. Compared to <i>Sigmar1+/+</i> mice of the same sex, the male and female <i>Sigmar1−/−</i> mice had lower fat mass (17% and 12% lower, respectively), and elevated lean mass (16% and 10% higher, respectively), but S1R ablation had no effect on their metabolism. The male <i>Tmem97−/−</i> mice exhibited 7% lower fat mass, 8% higher lean mass, increased volumes of O<sub>2</sub> and CO<sub>2</sub>, a decreased respiratory exchange ratio indicating elevated fatty-acid oxidation, and improved insulin tolerance, compared to the male <i>Tmem97+/+</i> mice. There were no changes in any of these parameters in the female <i>Tmem97−/−</i> mice. Together, these data indicate that the S1R ablation in male and female mice or the S2R ablation in male mice protects against diet-induced adiposity, and that S2R ablation, but not S1R deletion, improves insulin tolerance and enhances fatty-acid oxidation in male mice. Further mechanistic investigations may lead to translational strategies to target differential S1R/S2R regulations and sexual dimorphism for precision treatments of obesity.