Lowering bile acid pool size with a synthetic farnesoid X receptor (FXR) agonist induces obesity and diabetes through reduced energy expenditure

J Biol Chem. 2011 Jul 29;286(30):26913-20. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M111.248203. Epub 2011 Jun 1.

Abstract

We evaluated the metabolic impact of farnesoid X receptor (FXR) activation by administering a synthetic FXR agonist (GW4064) to mice in which obesity was induced by a high fat diet. Administration of GW4064 accentuated body weight gain and glucose intolerance induced by the high fat diet and led to a pronounced worsening of the changes in liver and adipose tissue. Mechanistically, treatment with GW4064 decreased bile acid (BA) biosynthesis, BA pool size, and energy expenditure, whereas reconstitution of the BA pool in these GW4064-treated animals by BA administration dose-dependently reverted the metabolic abnormalities. Our data therefore suggest that activation of FXR with synthetic agonists is not useful for long term management of the metabolic syndrome, as it reduces the BA pool size and subsequently decreases energy expenditure, translating as weight gain and insulin resistance. In contrast, expansion of the BA pool size, which can be achieved by BA administration, could be an interesting strategy to manage the metabolic syndrome.

MeSH terms

  • 3T3-L1 Cells
  • Animals
  • Bile Acids and Salts / metabolism*
  • Body Weight / drug effects
  • Diabetes Mellitus / chemically induced*
  • Diabetes Mellitus / metabolism
  • Dietary Fats / adverse effects*
  • Dietary Fats / pharmacology
  • Energy Metabolism / drug effects*
  • Isoxazoles / adverse effects*
  • Isoxazoles / pharmacology
  • Metabolic Syndrome / drug therapy
  • Mice
  • Obesity / chemically induced*
  • Obesity / metabolism
  • Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / agonists*

Substances

  • Bile Acids and Salts
  • Dietary Fats
  • Isoxazoles
  • Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear
  • farnesoid X-activated receptor
  • GW 4064