A obesidade está associada a um processo inflamatório crônico de baixa intensidade e representa um dos fatores de risco para o desenvolvimento de uma série de comorbidades. A proteína TSPO está envolvida em inúmeras funções celulares, incluindo biossíntese e transporte de esteróides, transporte de porfirinas, apoptose, biossíntese do heme, processos oxidativos e imunomodulação. Ademais, a presença e a função da proteína TSPO no tecido adiposo e na inflamação ainda não estão bem estabelecidas. Deste modo, o objetivo do presente estudo foi validar a expressão e função do TSPO durante a diferenciação de células 3T3-L1, e investigar se o tratamento de adipócitos 3T3-L1 com diazepam, um benzodiazepínico de ação central (GABAA) e periférica (TSPO), é capaz de modular os efeitos inflamatórios induzidos pela incubação das células 3T3-L1 com TNF-α. Nossos resultados evidenciaram que, em nosso estudo, o tratamento de pré-adipócitos com diazepam não modulou a adipogênese. Entretanto, apesar de o diazepam per se não modular o acúmulo de triacilglicerol e a expressão gênica e protéica de PPAR-γ; em células estimuladas pelo TNF-α, o tratamento com diazepam foi capaz de reverter a diminuição da expressão gênica e protéica de PPAR-γ induzida pelo TNF-α. Ademais, o tratamento dos adipócitos com diazepam foi capaz de modular positivamente a expressão protéica de TSPO, efeito este que não observamos em células tratadas pelo clonazepam, um benzodiazepínico de ação exclusivamente central. Em resumo, os dados obtidos neste estudo, pela primeira vez, demonstram a possível relação entre as vias que controlam a sinalização de TSPO, TNF-α e PPAR-γ. Assim, nos é possível inferir que a ativação de TSPO pelo seu ligante diazepam foi capaz de modular a ativação de NF-kB induzida pelo TNF-α, promovendo, com a diminuição da lipólise e aumento da expressão gênica de TSPO e gênica e protéica de PPAR-γ, o reestabelecimento da homeostase celular, o que aumentaria a sobrevida das células, a atividade mitocondrial, e a atividade adipogênica dos adipócitos. / Obesity is associated with a chronic low-grade inflammation and these represents one of the risk factors to development of other non-communicable diseases. TSPO 18 kDa is involved in several cellular functions, including biosynthesis and steroids transport, porphyrin transport, apoptosis, heme biosynthesis, oxidative metabolism and immunomodulation. Furthermore, the TSPO expression and function on adipose tissue and in the chronic low-grade inflammation have not been established. Thus, the aim of present study was to validate the TSPO expression and function on the 3T3-L1 differentiation process and to investigate whether diazepam treatment is able to modulate the TNF-α induced inflammatory effects on 3T3-L1 cells. Our results showed that diazepam treatment of preadipocytes was not able to modulate the adipogenesis. However, although diazepam treatment per se does not modulate the triacylglycerol accumulation and gene and protein expression of PPAR-γ; in TNF-α stimulated adipocytes, the treatment with diazepam was able to modulate the decreased of PPAR-γ gene and protein expression induced by TNF-α. In addition, the diazepam treatment of adipocytes was able to positively modulate the TSPO protein expression, an effect that we did not observe in cells treated with clonazepam, a central benzodiazepine ligand. In summary, the data obtained in this study, for the first time, demonstrate the possible relationship between the pathways that control the TSPO, TNF-α and PPAR-γ signaling. Thus, it is possible that the activation of TSPO by diazepam was able to modulate TNF-α-induced activation of NF-kB, promoting the reduction of lipolysis and increased of TSPO gene expression and PPAR-γ gene and protein expression, reestablishment of cellular homeostasis, which would increase cell survival, mitochondrial activity, and adipogenic activity of adipocytes.

A obesidade está associada a um processo inflamatório crônico de baixa intensidade e representa um dos fatores de risco para o desenvolvimento de uma série de comorbidades. A proteína TSPO está envolvida em inúmeras funções celulares, incluindo biossíntese e transporte de esteróides, transporte de porfirinas, apoptose, biossíntese do heme, processos oxidativos e imunomodulação. Ademais, a presença e a função da proteína TSPO no tecido adiposo e na inflamação ainda não estão bem estabelecidas. Deste modo, o objetivo do presente estudo foi validar a expressão e função do TSPO durante a diferenciação de células 3T3-L1, e investigar se o tratamento de adipócitos 3T3-L1 com diazepam, um benzodiazepínico de ação central (GABAA) e periférica (TSPO), é capaz de modular os efeitos inflamatórios induzidos pela incubação das células 3T3-L1 com TNF-α. Nossos resultados evidenciaram que, em nosso estudo, o tratamento de pré-adipócitos com diazepam não modulou a adipogênese. Entretanto, apesar de o diazepam per se não modular o acúmulo de triacilglicerol e a expressão gênica e protéica de PPAR-γ; em células estimuladas pelo TNF-α, o tratamento com diazepam foi capaz de reverter a diminuição da expressão gênica e protéica de PPAR-γ induzida pelo TNF-α. Ademais, o tratamento dos adipócitos com diazepam foi capaz de modular positivamente a expressão protéica de TSPO, efeito este que não observamos em células tratadas pelo clonazepam, um benzodiazepínico de ação exclusivamente central. Em resumo, os dados obtidos neste estudo, pela primeira vez, demonstram a possível relação entre as vias que controlam a sinalização de TSPO, TNF-α e PPAR-γ. Assim, nos é possível inferir que a ativação de TSPO pelo seu ligante diazepam foi capaz de modular a ativação de NF-kB induzida pelo TNF-α, promovendo, com a diminuição da lipólise e aumento da expressão gênica de TSPO e gênica e protéica de PPAR-γ, o reestabelecimento da homeostase celular, o que aumentaria a sobrevida das células, a atividade mitocondrial, e a atividade adipogênica dos adipócitos. / Obesity is associated with a chronic low-grade inflammation and these represents one of the risk factors to development of other non-communicable diseases. TSPO 18 kDa is involved in several cellular functions, including biosynthesis and steroids transport, porphyrin transport, apoptosis, heme biosynthesis, oxidative metabolism and immunomodulation. Furthermore, the TSPO expression and function on adipose tissue and in the chronic low-grade inflammation have not been established. Thus, the aim of present study was to validate the TSPO expression and function on the 3T3-L1 differentiation process and to investigate whether diazepam treatment is able to modulate the TNF-α induced inflammatory effects on 3T3-L1 cells. Our results showed that diazepam treatment of preadipocytes was not able to modulate the adipogenesis. However, although diazepam treatment per se does not modulate the triacylglycerol accumulation and gene and protein expression of PPAR-γ; in TNF-α stimulated adipocytes, the treatment with diazepam was able to modulate the decreased of PPAR-γ gene and protein expression induced by TNF-α. In addition, the diazepam treatment of adipocytes was able to positively modulate the TSPO protein expression, an effect that we did not observe in cells treated with clonazepam, a central benzodiazepine ligand. In summary, the data obtained in this study, for the first time, demonstrate the possible relationship between the pathways that control the TSPO, TNF-α and PPAR-γ signaling. Thus, it is possible that the activation of TSPO by diazepam was able to modulate TNF-α-induced activation of NF-kB, promoting the reduction of lipolysis and increased of TSPO gene expression and PPAR-γ gene and protein expression, reestablishment of cellular homeostasis, which would increase cell survival, mitochondrial activity, and adipogenic activity of adipocytes.

L'obésité se définit comme une accumulation anormale ou excessive de masse grasse corporelle pouvant nuire à la santé. En effet, surpoids et obésité concourent au développement de pathologies graves comme le diabète de type 2 et les maladies cardiovasculaires qui représentent un véritable problème de santé publique dans de nombreux pays et à La Réunion. Aussi, la recherche des mécanismes physiopathologiques associés à l'obésité constitue un enjeu scientifique et médical majeur. Dans l'organisme, c'est au niveau du tissu adipeux que le stockage de gras se localise, plus précisément dans les cellules adipeuses (adipocytes) provenant elles-mêmes de la maturation de cellules précurseurs appelées préadipocytes. Chez le sujet obèse, le tissu adipeux stockant un excès de gras, est le siège d'un stress oxydatif et d'une inflammation chronique qui concourent à la résistance à l'insuline, engendrant un état diabétique. Plusieurs données bibliographiques montrent les effets antioxydants et anti-inflammatoires des produits végétaux riches en polyphénols et soulignent leur intérêt dans le cadre de thérapies innovantes vis-à-vis de l'obésité. La Réunion dispose d'une grande variété de ressources végétales dont des plantes médicinales qui présenteraient des propriétés anti-inflammatoires, antidiabétiques et « anti-obésité ». Cependant, il manque des données scientifiques pour valider leur éventuel bénéfice santé. L'objectif du travail de thèse était d'évaluer l'impact des extraits riches en polyphénols antioxydants de plantes médicinales de La Réunion sur la réponse métabolique et inflammatoire des cellules adipeuses dans le contexte de la pathologie de l'obésité. Pour ce faire, trois plantes médicinales ont été sélectionnées pour leur utilisation en pharmacopée traditionnelle, à savoir Antirhea borbonica (Bois d’Osto), Doratoxylon apetalum (Bois de gaulette) et Gouania mauritiana (Liane Montbrun). Nos résultats ont mis en évidence les propriétés antioxydantes et anti-inflammatoires des extraits végétaux sur des préadipocytes 3T3-L1 soumis à des médiateurs majeurs liés à l'obésité tels que l'agent pro-oxydant H2O2, la cytokine pro-inflammatoire TNF-α et l'agent bactérien LPS. Par ailleurs, nos données ont montré la capacité des extraits végétaux à potentialiser l'accumulation de gras induite par l'insuline, et à réduire la sécrétion de molécules pro-inflammatoires des adipocytes 3T3-L1soumis à un stress oxydatif. Une étude menée sur des souris rendues obèses par un régime riche en graisses contenant ou non l'extrait de la plante D. apetalum a confirmé la capacité de cet extrait végétal à améliorer le stockage de gras, le statut antioxydant et le profil inflammatoire du tissu adipeux des animaux obèses. Plusieurs cibles moléculaires ont été identifiées dont les facteurs de transcription PPARγ et NF-κB, l'enzyme antioxydante SOD ainsi que les adipokines de type leptine, adiponectine, TNF-α, IL-6 et MCP-1. En conclusion, ce travail de thèse a permis d'évaluer, pour la première fois, l'impact d'extraits riches en polyphénols antioxydants de trois plantes médicinales locales sur la réponse métabolique et inflammatoire des cellules adipeuses, dans le contexte de l'obésité. L'utilisation des modèles cellulaires et animaux développés au cours de ce travail permettra de poursuivre l'exploration des voies moléculaires impliquées et d'identifier de possibles nouvelles cibles thérapeutiques. / During obesity, excess fat mass is accumulated in adipose tissue, more precisely in adipocytes, which the precursor cells are preadipocytes. Adipose tissue is the place of oxidative stress and chronic inflammation involved in insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Plants rich in polyphenol, known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, are high of interest to fight against obesity. In La Réunion, medicinal plants are commonly used for these properties but few literature data exist. Our objective was to evaluate the impact of antioxidant polyphenol-rich extracts from medicinal plants of La Réunion, such as Antirhea borbonica (Bois d’Osto), Doratoxylon apetalum (Bois de gaulette), Gouania mauritiana (Liane Montbrun), on the metabolic and inflammatory response in adipose cells in the context of obesity. Our results have demonstrated antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of plant extracts on 3T3-L1 preadipocytes in presence of three mediators of inflammation. Plant extracts are able to potentiate fat accumulation induced by insulin reduce the secretion of pro-inflammatory molecules in 3T3-L1 adipocytes during oxidative stress. These results were confirmed by a study on animal model. The plant extract from D. apetalum improved storage fat, antioxidant status and inflammatory profile of adipose tissue of obese mice. This work lead to evaluated the impact of antioxidant polyphenol-rich extract from three medicinal plants on metabolic and inflammatory response in adipose cells in the context of obesity.

Adipose tissue expansion involves both differentiation of new precursors and size increase of mature adipocytes. While the two processes are well balanced in healthy tissues, obesity and diabetes type II are associated with abnormally enlarged adipocytes and excess lipid accumulation. Previous studies suggested a link between cell stiffness, volume and stem cell differentiation, although in the context of preadipocytes, there have been contradictory results regarding stiffness changes with differentiation. Thus, we set out to quantitatively monitor adipocyte shape and size changes with differentiation and lipid accumulation. We quantified by optical diffraction tomography that differentiating preadipocytes increased their volumes drastically. Atomic force microscopy (AFM)-indentation and -microrheology revealed that during the early phase of differentiation, human preadipocytes became more compliant and more fluid-like, concomitant with ROCK-mediated F-actin remodelling. Adipocytes that had accumulated large lipid droplets were more compliant, and further promoting lipid accumulation led to an even more compliant phenotype. In line with that, high fat diet-induced obesity was associated with more compliant adipose tissue compared to lean animals, both for drosophila fat bodies and murine gonadal adipose tissue. In contrast, adipose tissue of diabetic mice became significantly stiffer as shown not only by AFM but also magnetic resonance elastography. Altogether, we dissect relative contributions of the cytoskeleton and lipid droplets to cell and tissue mechanical changes across different functional states, such as differentiation, nutritional state and disease. Our work therefore sets the basis for future explorations on how tissue mechanical changes influence the behaviour of mechanosensitive tissue-resident cells in metabolic disorders.