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Breast cancer molecular subtypes, based on expression of estrogen, progesterone and human epidermal growth factor 2 receptors, alter prognosis and treatment options. α-linolenic acid (ALA) is a complementary therapy, however its effectiveness across breast cancer types and estrogen environments is unclear. This research determined the effect of ALA on growth, apoptosis, fatty acid profile, and gene changes in four breast cancer cell lines with varying receptor expression with or without (±) estradiol (E2). ALA (50-200uM) ± E2 reduced growth in all cell lines. 75μM ALA +E2 increased phospholipid % ALA in all cell lines and induced apoptosis in cell lines lacking the three receptors. Cellular % ALA was positively associated with apoptosis and inversely associated with cell growth. ALA altered expression of cell cycle, apoptosis and signal transduction genes. In conclusion, ALA incorporates into breast cancer cells, reduces growth and induces apoptosis regardless of receptor status or E2 level.

Overproduction of intestinal chylomicrons (CM) has been proposed to contribute to fasting and post-prandial (PP) dyslipidemia and may accelerate the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) during obesity, insulin resistance (IR) and diabetes. However, the impact of morphological changes in intestinal mucosa structure have not been investigated during IR and intestinal dyslipidemia. The first objective of this thesis was to characterize intestinal villi morphology and to determine whether a morphological relationship exists with enterocytic apoB48 (a marker of CM), and intestinal lymph secretion of apoB48 in the obese and IR JCR:LA-cp rat. The second objective was to assess the impact of n-3 PUFA supplementation on PP dyslipidemia in the JCR:LA-cp rat. Intestinal hypertrophy was observed in IR rats, corresponding to an increase in intestinal and lymphatic apoB48 expression. Further, a dietary intervention of n-3 PUFA showed lower PP plasma concentrations of apoB48 and PP plasma inflammatory markers. We conclude that intestinal hypertrophy may contribute to intestinal CM overproduction during obesity and IR. Additionally, dietary n-3 PUFA improves PP lipemia and the associated PP inflammatory response in the JCR:LA-cp rat model. / Nutrition and Metabolism

1 Abstract In this thesis I have focused on the role of lipids in the pathogenesis of liver diseases, specifically on cholestasis and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The first major aim was to clarify the changes in liver ganglioside metabolism in various types of cholestasis and to elucidate the role of heme oxygenase-1 (HMOX1) and associated oxidative stress. The second objective was to determine the effects of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) administration on NAFLD development in a rodent dietary model of NAFLD and in patients with metabolic syndrome and NAFLD. Our results suggest that increased ganglioside biosynthesis and their re-distribution might represent a general protective mechanism of hepatocytes under cholestatic conditions (both estrogen-induced and obstructive aetiology). These changes are closely related to oxidative stress and might protect hepatocytes against deleterious effect of accumulated bile acids. The lack of HMOX1 activity and subsequent oxidative stress potentiate pathological changes in the liver and resulted in tissue-specific modulation of synthesis and re-distribution of gangliosides (in vivo and in vitro). Contrary to it, HMOX1 activation has an opposite effect and may represent a general hepatoprotective mechanism. We have proven that observed changes...

L’équilibre alimentaire entre les AGPI n-6 et les AGPI n-3 joue probablement un rôle important dans le fonctionnement du système nerveux central et notamment dans la régulation de la neurotransmission. Des études suggèrent qu’une déficience en AGPI n-3 renforcerait la sensibilité des individus à des agressions de type chronique, tel que le stress ou le vieillissement. Notre objectif était de caractériser l’impact des apports alimentaires en AGPI n-3 sur la réponse à un stress chronique. Pour cela, la régulation de paramètres biochimiques, comportementaux et électrophysiologiques par un stress chronique de contention a été évaluée chez le rat recevant différents apports alimentaires en AGPI n-3 (déficients en AGPI n-3 ; équilibrés ; enrichis en AGPI-LC n-3). L’influence des glucocorticoïdes (hormones impliquées dans la réponse au stress) et des AGPI sur des fonctions cellulaires participant à la transmission synaptique a été analysée in vitro par des mesures de libération de neurotransmetteurs sur la lignée neuroblastique SH_SY5Y et par l’analyse des propriétés régulatrices astrocytaires en culture primaire.Nos résultats montrent que, chez le rat, la réponse au stress est modulée par les apports alimentaires en AGPI n-3 : la déficience en AGPI n-3 accentue la sensibilité au stress, notamment la réduction de l’activité locomotrice et la sensibilité aux environnements anxiogènes ; à l’inverse, l’enrichissement en AGPI-LC n-3 atténue la réponse au stress chronique, en réduisant la perte de poids, le pic de corticostérone plasmatique et la réponse émotionnelle. Comme le suggèrent les résultats obtenus in vitro, ces effets sont liés à des régulations complexes par les AGPI et les glucocorticoïdes des paramètres de libération de neurotransmetteur, de la plasticité morphologique astrocytaire et de la capacité de capture du glutamate par les astrocytes. / Dietary balance between n-6 PUFA and n-3 PUFA probably plays a major role in the regulation of brain function. Some studies suggest that an n-3 PUFA deficiency exacerbates the sensitivity of individuals to emotional disturbances, such as chronic stress. The aim of our work was to determine the impact of n-3 PUFA dietary intakes on stress response. The regulation of biochemical, electrophysiological and behavioural parameters by chronic restraint stress has been evaluated in rats receiving different n-3 PUFA supplies (n-3 PUFA deficient, balanced, n-3 LC-PUFA enriched). In parallel, we have conduced an in vitro study to characterize the effects of glucocorticoids (one of the major hormone involved in stress response) and of PUFA on the release of neurotransmitter (in human neuroblastoma SH_SY5Y cells) and on several astrocytic properties involved in synaptic regulation (in primary culture of rat astrocytes). In rats, we have shown that stress response is modulated by the n-3 PUFA status: the n-3 PUFA deficiency exacerbated the sensibility to stress, by aggravating the reduction of locomotor activity and the sensibility to anxiogenic environment; conversely, the n-3 LC-PUFA enrichment reduced rat responses to chronic stress, by limiting the weight loss, the increase in plasma corticosterone and the emotional response. As suggested by the results obtained in vitro, these effects are linked to complex influences of PUFA and glucocorticoids on the release of neurotransmitter and on astroglial morphological plasticity and glutamate uptake capacity.

Obesity and associated metabolic disorders, called as "metabolic syndrome", currently represent a major social and economical problem of public health. From the energy balance point of view, long-lasting energy surplus leads eventually to massive accumulation of energy stores resulting in various adverse effects on metabolism and health. General goal of the thesis was to examine these metabolic disorders at cellular and whole-body level using suitable mouse models. The main focus was on the most metabolically active tissue, namely skeletal muscle, liver and adipose tissue and on the regulatory roles of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and leptin in the energy metabolism. The whole thesis is based on four published studies. Two studies were focused on skeletal muscle. In the first study, we proved the involvement of leptin and AMPK in the metabolic response to high-fat diet-feeding. We described a mechanism of muscle non- shivering thermogenesis based on enhanced lipid catabolism, which contributes to the genetically-determined resistance of inbred A/J mice to obesity. Such mechanism was not operating in obesity-prone C57BL/6 mice. In the second study, performed using C57BL/6 mice, we have described beneficial effect of combination treatment using n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) of...

Le métabolisme énergétique cérébral via l’utilisation du glucose est fortement impliqué dans la production d’énergie nécessaire au fonctionnement du neurone en situation basale et d’activation. Des travaux précédents ont mis en évidence chez le rat chroniquement déficient en acides gras polyinsaturés (AGPI) de la série n-3 une altération de ce métabolisme en situation basale (diminution de l’utilisation cérébrale du glucose et de la densité des transporteurs de glucose GLUT1). Pour cerner les différentes étapes du métabolisme énergétique pouvant être modifiées par les AGPI n-3, l’expression des gènes clés a été mesurée par approche transcriptomique (cartes microfluidiques) chez l’animal déficient en AGPI n-3 ou supplémenté en acide docosahexaénoïque (DHA, 22 :6n-3). Ces mesures ont été réalisées sur deux zones cérébrales (cortex fronto-pariétal et couche CA1 de l’hippocampe) chez les animaux en situation basale et soumis à un environnement enrichi activant ces deux zones cérébrales. Pour ces 2 situations, le niveau d’utilisation cérébrale de glucose a été quantifié par la technique du fluoro-2-déoxyglucose couplée à l’imagerie de tomographie par émissions de positons (18FDG-TEP) chez les animaux déficients en AGPI n-3. L’analyse de la teneur cérébrale en AGPI membranaire a été réalisée par chromatographie en phase gazeuse et une approche in vitro sur culture primaire d’astrocytes a été développée pour apprécier l’impact du DHA sur les paramètres métaboliques de ces cellules.Les principaux résultats montrent que :- la déficience en n-3 diminue de 67% la teneur membranaire en DHA dans les deux zones cérébrales étudiées. Si la déficience induit principalement une diminution spécifique de l’expression de GLUT1 (-33%) dans le cortex fronto-pariétal en situation basale et d’activation, en revanche elle perturbe la neurotransmission glutamatergique dans l’hippocampe en augmentant l’expression des 2 transporteurs de glutamate (GLAST et GLT1). Par ailleurs, les données d’imagerie TEP mettent en évidence un hypométabolisme général du glucose chez les animaux déficients en n-3 en situation basale. Les données recueillies sur le modèle astrocytes soulignent un effet direct du DHA sur l’utilisation du glucose et l’expression de GLUT1 ;- La supplémentation en DHA ne modifie pas de façon appréciable la teneur membranaire en DHA dans les deux zones cérébrales étudiées. Au contraire de la déficience, il apparaît clairement pour la couche CA1 de l’hippocampe que l’expression de l’ensemble des gènes codant pour les complexes enzymatiques du cycle de krebs et de la voie de phosphorylation oxydative est significativement augmentée.Ces résultats originaux laissent ainsi entrevoir la possibilité que les acides gras de cette famille d’AGPI puissent intervenir sur l’énergétique et le fonctionnement de la synapse glutamatergique en modulant 1) le métabolisme glucidique (captage de glucose) et du glutamate en situation de déficit d’apport et 2) la production d’ATP (phosphorylation oxydative) en situation de supplémentation en DHA. L’altération de ces paramètres métaboliques au cours du vieillissement et dans certains désordres neurologiques, liée à un déficit de statut en DHA, mettent en avant les potentialités nutritionnelles des AGPI n-3 comme facteur préventif. / Cerebral energy metabolism via glucose utilization is heavily involved in the production of energy required to the neuron in basal conditions and activation. Previous work has shown in rats chronically deficient in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) altered the metabolism in basal condition (decrease of cerebral glucose use and density of glucose transporters GLUT1). To identify the different stages of energy metabolism may be modified by n-3 PUFA, the expression of key genes was measured by transcriptomic approach (Taqman Low Density Arrays) in animals deficient in n-3 PUFA or docosahexaenoic acid supplementation (DHA, 22:6n-3). These measurements were performed on two brain areas (fronto-parietal cortex and layer CA1 of the hippocampus) in animals in basal condition or submit to an enriched environment. For these two situations, the level of cerebral glucose utilization was quantified by the technique of fluoro-2-deoxyglucose imaging coupled with positron emission tomography (18FDG-PET) only in deficient n-3 PUFA animals. Analysis of brain PUFA content of membrane was performed by gas chromatography and an in vitro approach to primary culture of astrocytes was developed to assess the impact of DHA on metabolic parameters of these cells.The main results show that: - n-3 Deficiency decreases from 67% in membrane DHA content in both brain areas studied. If the deficiency induces mainly a decrease in the specific expression of GLUT1 (-33%) in the fronto-parietal cortex in basal and activation conditions, however it disrupts glutamatergic neurotransmission in the hippocampus by increasing the expression of two glutamate transporters (GLAST and GLT1). In addition, PET data show a general hypometabolism of glucose in animals deficient in n-3 in basal situation. Data collected on the model astrocytes point to a direct effect of DHA on glucose utilization and expression of GLUT1; - DHA supplementation does not alter significantly the membrane content of DHA in both brain areas studied. Unlike the n-3 deficiency, it is clear for the layer CA1 of the hippocampus that the expression of all genes encoding the enzyme complexes of the Krebs cycle and oxidative phosphorylation pathway is significantly increased. These original results suggest the possibility that the fatty acids of the n-3 PUFAs family can act on the energy and functioning of the glutamatergic synapse by modulating 1) glucose metabolism (glucose uptake) and glutamate in deficit intake situation and 2) the production of ATP (oxidative phosphorylation) in DHA supplementation. The alteration of these metabolic parameters during aging and certain neurological disorders, related to a deficit of DHA status, highlight the potential of dietary n-3 PUFA as a preventive factor.

Prevalence of obesity and associated diseases like type 2 diabetes has increased rapidly during last years. These diseases closely relate to each other. Obesity leads to insulin resistence, which directly precedes type 2 diabetes. Metformin is the most prescribed medicament for type 2 diabetic patients and insulin resistant people. It improves glucose tolerance and insulin resistance. Enzyme AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is strogly involved in metformin action. The latest studies using transgenic models lacking AMPK suggest, that notable part of mechanisms involved in metformin action is independent on AMPK. n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA), namely eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which are abundant in sea fish, have beneficial effects on metabolism. These fatty acids lower plasma lipids and exert cardioprotective effects. n-3 PUFA also prevent development of insulin resistence and type 2 diabetes in rodents. The aim of this thesis was to characterise acute effects of metformin on glucose homeostasis, impact of short term diet intervention with diet rich in n-3 PUFA on metformin action and the role of insulin stimulated signalling pathways and AMPK. Results suggest that early effect of metformin is dose dependent and that single dose of metformin...

Malgré les avancées thérapeutiques récentes, un nombre significatif de patients décèdent de leur cancer suite au développement de métastases. Les molécules conventionnelles de chimiothérapie ont un rôle pivot à ce stade, mais leur efficacité qui est dépendante de la dose, est limitée par leur toxicité aux tissus non tumoraux, par manque de spécificité. L’enjeu est de développer des approches spécifiques qui augmentent la toxicité de ces molécules pour les tumeurs sans affecter les autres tissus. L’acide docosahexaènoïque (DHA) est capable d’augmenter la sensibilité des tumeurs à la chimiothérapie de façon spécifique sans sensibiliser les tissus non tumoraux. Ce travail de thèse présente 1) une synthèse des études existantes supportant cette hypothèse, 2) l’évaluation de la faisabilité d’une supplémentation orale en DHA au cours de la chimiothérapie chez des patientes présentant un cancer du sein métastasé, 3) l’exploration des mécanismes impliqués dans la sensibilisation spécifique des tumeurs, 4) l’effet du DHA sur la perte de poids en cours de traitement, et 5) le profil d’incorporation du DHA au niveau des tumeurs et la relation avec son taux plasmatique. / Despite great therapeutic improvements, a significant proportion of patients still die from cancer, mainly because of the development of metastases. At this stage, treatments rely heavily on conventional chemotherapy, but their efficacy, which is dose-dependent, is limited by its toxicity to non-tumor tissues, as a result of their poor selectivity. The challenge is to develop approaches aimed at increasing chemotherapy cytotoxicity to tumor tissue while not affecting non-tumor tissues. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a lipid of marine origin, has the potential to selectively sensitize tumor tissue to anticancer drugs without sensitizing nontumor tissues. This manuscript reports 1) a review of existing studies supporting this hypothesis, 2) an assessement of the feasiblility of supplementing breast cancer patients with DHA during an anthracycline-based chemotherapy for metastases, 3) an exploration of the mechanisms involved in the selective sensitization of tumors by DHA, 4) the effect of DHA on weight loss related to chemotherapy, and 5) the profile of DHA incorporation into tumor tissue and the relation with its level in plasma.

The prevention and treatment of obesity is a major problem of health care systems in affluent societies. Metabolism of adipose tissue belongs to the therapeutical targets, since accumulation of adipose tissue is the basis of obesity development. Experiments using transgenic mice with ectopic expression of brown- fat uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) in white adipose tissue (WAT), verified a concept that obesity could be ameliorated by increasing energy expenditure in WAT. The goal of the experiments of this PhD Thesis was to characterize in detail the phenotype of this unique animal model of obesity resistance. We have shown that mitochondrial uncoupling in WAT resulted in increased oxidation of fatty acids (FA), in face of decreased lipogenesis and induced mitochondrial biogenesis in this tissue. In further studies, we aimed to modulate propensity to obesity be increasing FA oxidation in WAT in response to physiological stimuli. This could be accomplished in response to the combination treatment using n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) and mild calorie restriction in mice fed high-fat diet. Synergistic induction of mitochondrial oxidative capacity and lipid catabolism in epididymal WAT was associated with suppression of low-grade inflammation of WAT, which is typical for obesity. The improvement of lipid...