Combining a β3 Adrenergic Receptor Agonist with Alpha-lipoic Acid Reduces Inflammation in Male Mice with Diet-induced Obesity

Objectives: Beta-3 adrenergic receptors (β3-AR) stimulate lipolysis and thermogenesis in white and brown adipose tissue (WAT and BAT). Obesity increases oxidative stress and inflammation that attenuate AT β3-AR signaling. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that the combination of the β3-AR agonist CL-316,243 (CL) and the antioxidant alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) would lower inflammation in diet-induced obesity (DIO) and improve β3-AR function.

Methods: A total of 40 DIO mice were separated into four groups: Control (per os and intraperitoneal [IP] vehicle); CL alone (0.01 mg/kg IP daily); ALA alone (250 mg/kg in drinking water); or ALA+CL combination, all for 5 weeks.

Results: Food intake was similar in all groups; however, mice receiving ALA+CL showed improved body composition and inflammation as well as lower body weight (+1.7 g Control vs. -2.5 g ALA+CL [-7%]; p < 0.01) and percentage of body fat (-9%, p < 0.001). Systemic and epididymal WAT inflammation was lower with ALA+CL than all other groups, with enhanced recruitment of epididymal WAT anti-inflammatory CD206+ M2 macrophages. β3-AR signaling in WAT was enhanced in the combination-treatment group, with higher mRNA and protein levels of thermogenic uncoupling protein 1 and AT lipases.

Conclusions: Chronic treatment with ALA and a β3-AR agonist reduces DIO-induced inflammation. AT immune modulation could be a therapeutic target in patients with obesity.