Excess dietary zinc drives a Cushing's-like syndrome in ovariectomized mice – Implications for postmenopausal obesity

Zhao，Yanyan1; Wang，Yu1; Hu，Le1; Chen，Hongdong1; Xiao，Xiao1; Li，Zhangfang2; Feng，Meichen2; Yang，Panpan3; Liu，Peilin3; Zhang，Sheng1; Xiao，Guozhi4; Liu，Jun5; Shen，Jie2; Bai，Xiaochun1,6

2022-11-19

10.1016/j.bbrc.2022.09.042

BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS   Impact Factor & Quartile

0006-291X

1090-2104

Postmenopausal women have an increased risk of obesity, but the underlying cause is not clear. We unexpectedly found that excess dietary zinc induced severe obesity and a Cushing's-like syndrome without increased food intake in ovariectomized (Ovx) but not in sham-operated mice. Zinc accumulated in the adrenal glands and inhibited adrenal 17,20-lyase activity and steroid synthesis. As adrenal steroids are the only source of estrogen in Ovx mice, estrogen deficiency induced adrenal hyperplasia, glucocorticoid overproduction, and consequent development of a Cushing's-like syndrome. Adrenal steroid supplementation prevented the effects of zinc. Plasma zinc was positively correlated with cortisol level and negatively correlated with the levels of adrenal steroids and estrogen in obese postmenopausal women. The finding of a link between dietary zinc, estrogen deficiency, and postmenopausal obesity, implies that postmenopausal obesity might be prevented by supplementation with a adrenal steroid and avoiding excess dietary zinc.

17,20-Lyase Adrenal steroid cushing's-like syndrome Postmenopausal obesity Zinc

SCI

English

Others

National Natural Science Foundation of China[81625015];National Natural Science Foundation of China[81991510];National Natural Science Foundation of China[81991511];

Biochemistry & Molecular Biology ; Biophysics

Biochemistry & Molecular Biology ; Biophysics

WOS:000870234700015

ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE

BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY

2-s2.0-85138189793

Scopus

1.State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Bone and Joint Degeneration Diseases and Department of Cell Biology,School of Basic Medical Sciences,Southern Medical University,Guangzhou,510515,China
2.Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism,The Third Affiliated Hospoital of Southern Medical University,Guangzhou,510630,China
3.Academy of Orthopedics,The Third Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University,Guangzhou,Guangdong Province,510630,China
4.Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Cell Microenvironment and Disease Research,Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Cell Microenvironment and School of Medicine,Southern University of Science and Technology,Shenzhen,518055,China
5.Department of Urology,Zhujiang Hospital,Southern Medical University,Guangzhou,510280,China
6.Lead Contact,China

Zhao，Yanyan,Wang，Yu,Hu，Le,等. Excess dietary zinc drives a Cushing's-like syndrome in ovariectomized mice – Implications for postmenopausal obesity[J]. BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS,2022,630:101-111.

Zhao，Yanyan.,Wang，Yu.,Hu，Le.,Chen，Hongdong.,Xiao，Xiao.,...&Bai，Xiaochun.(2022).Excess dietary zinc drives a Cushing's-like syndrome in ovariectomized mice – Implications for postmenopausal obesity.BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS,630,101-111.

Zhao，Yanyan,et al."Excess dietary zinc drives a Cushing's-like syndrome in ovariectomized mice – Implications for postmenopausal obesity".BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS 630(2022):101-111.