Journal article
Ursolic acid increases skeletal muscle and brown fat and decreases diet-induced obesity, glucose intolerance and fatty liver disease
PloS one, Vol.7(6), pp.e39332-e39332
2012
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0039332
PMCID: PMC3379974
PMID: 22745735
Abstract
Skeletal muscle Akt activity stimulates muscle growth and imparts resistance to obesity, glucose intolerance and fatty liver disease. We recently found that ursolic acid increases skeletal muscle Akt activity and stimulates muscle growth in non-obese mice. Here, we tested the hypothesis that ursolic acid might increase skeletal muscle Akt activity in a mouse model of diet-induced obesity. We studied mice that consumed a high fat diet lacking or containing ursolic acid. In skeletal muscle, ursolic acid increased Akt activity, as well as downstream mRNAs that promote glucose utilization (hexokinase-II), blood vessel recruitment (Vegfa) and autocrine/paracrine IGF-I signaling (Igf1). As a result, ursolic acid increased skeletal muscle mass, fast and slow muscle fiber size, grip strength and exercise capacity. Interestingly, ursolic acid also increased brown fat, a tissue that shares developmental origins with skeletal muscle. Consistent with increased skeletal muscle and brown fat, ursolic acid increased energy expenditure, leading to reduced obesity, improved glucose tolerance and decreased hepatic steatosis. These data support a model in which ursolic acid reduces obesity, glucose intolerance and fatty liver disease by increasing skeletal muscle and brown fat, and suggest ursolic acid as a potential therapeutic approach for obesity and obesity-related illness.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Ursolic acid increases skeletal muscle and brown fat and decreases diet-induced obesity, glucose intolerance and fatty liver disease
- Creators
- Steven D Kunkel - Department of Internal Medicine, and Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of AmericaChristopher J ElmoreKale S BongersScott M EbertDaniel K FoxMichael C DyleSteven A BullardChristopher M Adams
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- PloS one, Vol.7(6), pp.e39332-e39332
- DOI
- 10.1371/journal.pone.0039332
- PMID
- 22745735
- PMCID
- PMC3379974
- NLM abbreviation
- PLoS One
- ISSN
- 1932-6203
- eISSN
- 1932-6203
- Publisher
- Public Library of Science; United States
- Grant note
- I01 BX000976 / BLRD VA KL2RR024980 / NCRR NIH HHS T32 HL007121 / NHLBI NIH HHS T32 GM007337 / NIGMS NIH HHS 1R01AR059115 / NIAMS NIH HHS KL2 RR024980 / NCRR NIH HHS HL007121 / NHLBI NIH HHS GM07361 / NIGMS NIH HHS R01 AR059115 / NIAMS NIH HHS
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 2012
- Academic Unit
- Molecular Physiology and Biophysics; Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9984025558902771
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