Brain proteomic modifications associated to protective effect of grape extract in a murine model of obesity.

In recent years, the obesity epidemic has developed into a major health crisis worldwide. With current treatments limited to expensive, high-risk surgery and minimally efficacious pharmacotherapy, new therapeutic options are urgently needed to fight against this alarming trend. Though brain dysfunction has been studied linked to high fat diet (HFD) and grape seed and skin extract (GSSE) correction, the proteomic modifications linking the two effects on brain lipotoxicity are not well understood. To this end rats were exposed for 8 weeks to HFD treatment, to GSSE (500mg/kg BW) and to binary mixture of HFD and GSSE to gain insight into the potential pathways altered with metabolic disease and the protection afforded by GSSE. Significant modifications of brain proteins were detected using mass spectrometry-based differential proteomics. These proteins were mainly related to oxidative stress, glycolysis and calcium signaling. Additionally, proteins involved in the cytoskeleton were also affected by HFD treatment. Interestingly, whether up- or down regulated protein abundances, GSSE corrected most of the disturbances of HFD treatment. These findings provide impetus for future therapeutic investigation on GSSE against other metabolic disorders.

Protective effects of grape seed and skin extract against high-fat-diet-induced lipotoxicity in rat lung.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a public health problem characterized by increased fat accumulation in different tissues. Obesity is directly linked to breathing problems and medical complications with lung, including obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, obesity hypoventilation syndrome, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma….In the present work, we aimed to investigate the effect of high fat diet (HFD) on lung lipotoxicity, oxidative stress, fatty acid composition and proportions in lung and implication in asthma development. The likely protection provided by grape seed extract (GSSE) was also investigated. METHODS: In order to assess HFD effect on lung and GSSE protection we used a rat model. We analyzed the lipid plasma profile, lung peroxidation and antioxidant activities (SOD, CAT and POD). We also analyzed transition metals (Ca2+, Mg2+, Zn2+ and iron) and lung free fatty acids using gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). RESULTS: HFD induced lipid profile imbalance increasing cholesterol and VLDL-C. HFD also induced an oxidative stress assessed by elevated MDA level and the drop of antioxidant activities such as SOD, CAT and POD. Moreover, HFD induced mineral disturbances by decreasing magnesium level and increasing Calcium and iron levels. HFD induced also disturbances in lung fatty acid composition by increasing oleic, stearic and arachidonic acids. Interestingly, GSSE alleviated all these deleterious effects of HFD treatment. CONCLUSION: As a whole, GSSE had a significant preventive effect against HFD-induced obesity, and hence may be used as an anti-obesity agent, and a benefic agent with potential applications against damages in lung tissue.