Inhibiting peripheral serotonin (5-HT) synthesis has been shown to prevent the development of diet-induced obesity, glucose intolerance, insulin resistance and hepatic lipid deposition and to increase brown adipose tissue (BAT) thermogenic capacity. This thesis investigated 1) what effects 5-HT has on brown adipocytes (BAs), 2) if 5-HT and/or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) impair BAT function, 3) if 5-HT directly inhibits BA via a receptor-mediated mechanism, 4) which 5-HT receptor is predominantly expressed in BAT, 5) if 5-HT receptor antagonism improves BAT function and 6) if 5-HT receptor inhibition reduces SSRI induced weight gain. In murine BAs, 5-HT at concentrations ≥100 μM acutely reduced lipolysis, lipid accumulation and glycolytic flux but did not impair oxygen consumption; whereas 10 nM 5-HT reduced Ucp1 promoter activity via an extracellular receptor-mediated mechanism. Acute injection of 5-HT or the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) Paroxetine decreased BA T thermogenic capacity and energy expenditure (EE), respectively. Mice lacking the serotonin transporter gene (Slc6a4-/- mice) had increased adiposity, decreased locomotor activity and increased food intake. However, male Slc6a4-/- mice had increased BAT thermogenic capacity, in contrast to the reduced EE expenditure following acute administration of Paroxetine. Using, RNA-Seq analysis and measurements of canonical 5-HT receptor second messengers (i.e. Ca2+ and cAMP transients), 5-HT2A was identified as the highest expressed 5-HT receptor in murine and human BAs and the only detected active 5-HT receptor in murine BAs. Genetic elimination of 5-HT2A prevented 5-HT induced increases in Ca2+ transient peaks and decreases in Ppargc1a mRNA expression in cultured BAs. In vivo ablation of 5-HT2A in adipose tissue increased BAT thermogenic capacity. Furthermore, in silico analyses predicted that pharmacological inhibition of 5- HT2A would induce a thermogenic program. In vitro, 5-HT2A receptor antagonists eliminated 5-HT induced Ca2+ transients and in vivo, a single injection of a peripherally-restricted 5-HT2A antagonist (Xylamidine) prevented 5-HT-induced impairments in BAT-mediated EE. Chronic administration of Xylamidine to chow- fed mice for 5-weeks improved BA T thermogenesis. Co-administration of Xylamidine with Paroxetine, however, did not attenuate Paroxetine-induced weight gain but did improve BAT functional capacity Therefore, 5-HT2A antagonism improves BAT thermogenic capacity but does not increase EE. This represents a novel therapeutic approach for increasing thermogenic capacity that may be used in conjunction with BAT activating strategies to increase EE and attenuate obesity. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / Obesity is a growing global pandemic caused by excessive energy intake over energy expenditure (EE). Some medications, such as certain selective serotonin (5-HT) reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) type antidepressants, also contribute to weight gain via reasons which are not fully understood. Currently available weight- loss medications decrease energy intake but do not affect EE. Recently, inhibiting the production of 5-HT outside the brain decreased weight gain in a model of obesity. Furthermore, this was associated with an improvement in the activity of a specialized type of adipose tissue, called brown adipose tissue (BAT). BAT is capable of expending energy in the form of thermogenesis and thus when active increases energy expenditure. We hypothesized that 5-HT impairs BAT activity and that blocking 5-HT activity may reduce weight gain in a model of antidepressant- induced weight gain. Herein, we investigated whether elevating 5-HT or increasing 5-HT downstream signaling modified BAT activity, which 5-HT receptor(s) is/are predominantly expressed in brown adipocytes (BAs), and what the effect on BAT would be if this/these receptors were eliminated. We found that in cell culture “supraphysiological” doses of 5-HT acutely impaired BA lipid mobilization and glucose metabolism; whereas, circulating concentrations of 5-HT impaired expression of select mitochondrial genes when serotonin transport was reduced. In mice, acute injections of high dose 5-HT attenuated BAT activity in response to an adrenergic stimulus. Acute treatment with an SSRI decreased EE and locomotor activity. Mice genetically lacking the serotonin transporter (the target of SSRIs) had increased weight gain (particularly fat mass), increased food intake and reduced locomotor activity, but improved BAT functional capacity. We subsequently identified that the predominantly expressed and active receptor in BAs was the 5- HT2A receptor. Genetically eliminating the 5-HT2A receptor in BAs prevented 5- HT’s reduction of a major mitochondrial gene expression regulator and improved BAT functional capacity in mice. Inhibiting 5-HT2A with a 5-HT2A brain impermeable antagonist, Xylamidine, increased BAT functional capacity in mice. Treating mice with Paroxetine (Paxil®), a SSRI known to increase weight gain, and Xylamidine did not attenuate Paroxetine-induced weight gain nor increase EE but did improve BAT functional capacity. In conclusion, we found that 1) chronic treatment with physiological levels of 5-HT impaired BAT functional capacity, 2) elimination/inhibition of adipocyte 5-HT2A improved BAT functional capacity in vivo and 3) inhibiting peripheral 5-HT2A alone did not attenuate Paroxetine- induced weight gain.

White adipose tissue (WAT) stores triglycerides and is crucial to maintaining the body's energy balance. Attributed to its plasticity, WAT can undergo dynamic remodeling in response to chronic energy excess. As obesity increases, alterations in the quantity and function of progenitor and immune cells result in fibrosis and inflammation in the WAT. Hence, metabolic dysfunction becomes more severe. In a recent study, HFD feeding significantly increased the gene expressions of bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2), acidic fibroblast growth factor (FGF1), and basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF2) in macrophages. It was found in a fibrotic environment that the factors stimulated the growth of progenitor cells and the expression of fibrotic genes but suppressed adipogenesis. We looked at how these ligands affect fat metabolism, including adipogenesis, fibrosis, and thermogenesis. We also found out how these ligands affect the way progenitor cells change. By conducting proliferation and differentiation experiments on the 3T3-L1 cell model in vitro with these ligands supplemented at different phases, we demonstrated these ligands' influence 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and adipocytes genotype and phenotype. Based on this research, it was found that BMP2 stimulates adipogenesis by making cells multiply and differentiate. FGF1 exhibits different phasic influences on adipogenesis. FGF1 suppresses the preadipocyte differentiation phase but promotes cell proliferation, which increases the cell confluence speed and might lead to earlier differentiation of adipocytes. FGF2 added in the proliferation phase did not have much effect on adipogenesis. FGF2 might promote preadipocyte commitment during the adipocyte-genesis stage of differentiation phase but the comprehensive effect remains ambiguous.

Growth hormone (GH) is a poly-peptide hormone produced by the anterior pituitary. Growth hormone not only stimulates body and muscle growth but also inhibits adipose tissue growth. The overall objective of this study was to determine the mechanisms by which GH inhibits adipose tissue growth. Three studies were conducted to achieve this objective. The first study was conducted to determine if GH inhibits fat tissue growth by stimulating lipolysis. In this study, adipose tissue weight and adipocyte size were compared between GH-deficient growth hormone releasing hormone receptor (Ghrhr) homozygous mutant mice (i.e., lit/lit mice), lit/+ mice, and lit/lit mice injected with GH. lit/lit mice had less body weight but more subcutaneous fat and larger adipocytes compared to lit/+ mice at the same ages. GH treatment to lit/lit mice for four weeks partially reversed these differences. These data suggest that GH inhibits adipose tissue growth in mice at least in part by stimulating lipolysis. Additional data from this study suggest that GH indirectly stimulates lipolysis in vivo and this indirect mechanism is independent of " adrenergic receptors in the adipose tissue. The second study was conducted to investigate if GH inhibits fat tissue growth also by inhibiting adipogenesis. In this study, stromal vascular fraction (SVF) cells were isolated from subcutaneous fat of lit/+ and lit/lit mice and were induced to differentiate into adipocytes in vitro. Oil Red O staining and gene expression analysis revealed that the SVF cells from lit/lit mice had greater adipogenic potential than from lit/+ mice. This suggests that GH inhibits adipose tissue growth also through inhibition of adipogenesis. Additional data from this study suggest that GH may inhibit adipogenesis by inhibiting the formation of adipogenic precursor cells in adipose tissue in mice. The third study was conducted to determine the role of the central component of GH receptor signaling, STAT5, in GH inhibition of differentiation of bovine preadipocytes. In this study, preadipocytes were isolated from subcutaneous fat of adult cattle and were induced to differentiate with or without GH. Based on Oil Red O staining, gene expression, glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (G3PDH) activity and acetate incorporation assays, GH inhibited differentiation of bovine preadipocytes into adipocytes. GH induced phosphorylation of STAT5 in differentiating bovine preadipocytes. Overexpression of constitutively active STAT5 through adenovirus mimicked the effect of GH on differentiation of bovine preadipocytes. These data support a role of STAT5 in mediating the inhibitory effect of GH on differentiation of bovine preadipocytes into adipocytes. Overall, GH inhibits adipose tissue by both stimulating lipolysis and inhibiting adipogenesis; GH stimulates lipolysis through an indirect mechanism that is independent of the " adrenergic receptors; GH inhibits adipogenesis through a direct mechanism that may involve the transcription factor STAT5. / Ph. D.

Obesity is a major global health concern due to its steadily increasing rates and significant contribution to numerous diseases, including cancer. Ovarian cancer specifically, is associated with a 30% increased risk with obesity, although the mechanisms for this are unknown. Waist-to-hip ratio has been especially associated with ovarian cancer, suggesting that visceral fat may be the greatest contributor. Here, we investigated individual visceral fat depots as independent contributors to cancer progression, specifically focusing on adipose tissue-derived stem and progenitor cells, which have previously been shown to be recruited by cancer cells and participate in cancer progression. We confirmed that ovarian cancer tumor burden was indeed significantly increased in mice on a high fat as compared to low fat diet. To further investigate mechanisms, we examined changes in progenitor populations that occurred in intra-abdominal parametrial (pmWAT), retroperitoneal (rpWAT), and omental (omWAT) white adipose tissue (WAT) depots with cancer presence. The greatest tumor burden was evident in omWAT, which also displayed an increase in CD45- cells but a decrease in adipose progenitor cells (APC) and endothelial progenitor cells, suggesting that there was an increase in stromal cells, but that the stem cells were pushed towards differentiation. PmWAT and rpWAT showed remarkably stable progenitor populations. However, a tumor from pmWAT had a significant presence of CD45- cells, actually matching that of its surrounding tissue and differing from the omWAT tumors, indicating that microenvironment has a major influence on tumor stromal cells. We also found that with high fat diet, many cancer-associated changes were exacerbated, such as an increased inflammatory response in all tissues and further decreases in APCs in omWAT. In vitro studies further confirmed that ovarian cancer cells and SVF cells were able to directly interact. Additionally, SVF cells were able to increase the proliferation, mobility, and invasiveness of cancer cells. Conversely, co-culturing also enhanced the proliferation and mobility of SVF cells, providing further evidence that SVF cells may be recruited by cancer cells and that their relationship may be bilateral. Thus, this study provides a good foundation for examining the cellular contributions of adipose tissue to cancer. By further characterizing the mechanism for the association between obesity and cancer development, we could find novel targets to decrease the progress of cancer development in at-risk obese individuals. / Ph. D.

Hypothalamus and adipose tissue are essential central and peripheral sites regulating energy homeostasis. Disruption of energy homeostasis can lead to diseases like anorexia and obesity in humans and reduced productivity in animals. Therefore, integrating knowledge in hypothalamic appetite regulation and adipose tissue metabolism is essential to maintain homeostasis. The aim of this dissertation was to elucidate molecular and cellular mechanisms of energy homeostasis in birds. We determined adipose tissue physiological changes during the first two weeks post-hatch in chickens from lines selected for low (LWS) and high (HWS) body weight. LWS was more dependent on yolk and subcutaneous fat mobilization for growth from hatch to day 4 post-hatch, with hyperplasia-predominated replenishment of the reservoir. In contrast, HWS was more dependent on feed for growth and maintained depot mass through hyperplasia and hypertrophy. From day 4 to 14 post-hatch, compared to maintenance of depot weight and adipocyte size in LWS, HWS accumulated clavicular and abdominal fat with minimal lipolysis. There was greater expression of precursor and proliferation markers in LWS with more apoptotic cells in the abdominal stromal vascular fraction on day 14 post-hatch, suggesting that apoptosis contributed to lower adipogenic potential and lack of abdominal fat in LWS. Exposure to thermal and nutritional stressors at hatch impaired growth by reducing yolk utilization and lowering body weight, lean and fat masses in LWS. Stress exposure resulted in increased global DNA methylation and DNA methyltransferase activity in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus in LWS. Moreover, there was decreased binding to methyl-CpG-binding domain protein 2 in the promoter of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) because of hypomethylation in one CpG site at its core binding site in stressed LWS, which explains the increased CRF expression in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus. We next determined effects of nutritional status on adipose tissue physiology in Japanese quail, a less-intensively selected avian species. Six-hour fasting promoted lipolysis and gene expression changes in 7-day old quail with some changes restored to original levels within 1 hour of refeeding. Overall, our results reveal novel cellular and molecular mechanisms regulating appetite and adiposity in birds early post-hatch. / Doctor of Philosophy / Hypothalamus and adipose tissue are essential for regulating energy homeostasis in central and peripheral body sites, respectively. Disruption of energy homeostasis can lead to diseases like anorexia and obesity in humans and reduced productivity in animals. Therefore, integrating knowledge in hypothalamic appetite regulation and adipose tissue metabolism is essential to maintain energy homeostasis in both humans and animals. The aim of this dissertation was to elucidate molecular and cellular mechanisms of energy homeostasis in birds. We first determined adipose tissue physiological changes in chickens during the first two weeks post-hatch from lines selected for low (LWS) and high (HWS) body weight. These chickens have been selected for juvenile body weight for over 60 generations. The LWS are lean and anorexic, while HWS eat compulsively and develop obesity and metabolic syndrome. Such characteristics make the body weight line chickens good animal models to study physiological changes under anorexia and obesity. We found that LWS was more dependent on yolk reserves and subcutaneous fat mobilization for growth from hatch to day 4 post-hatch, with replenishment of the fat reservoir by increases in cell number. By contrast, HWS was more dependent on feed for growth and maintained depot mass through increased cell number and cell size. From day 4 to 14 post-hatch, HWS accumulated fat throughout the body, with less fat breakdown as compared to LWS. There was greater expression of cellular precursor and proliferation markers in LWS, with more dying cells in their abdominal fat on day 14 post-hatch, suggesting that programmed cell death is responsible for the lack of fat cell development in LWS. Exposure to thermal and nutritional stressors at hatch impaired growth by reducing yolk utilization and lowering body weight, lean and fat masses in LWS. There were many molecular changes in the hypothalamus, including changes in DNA that led to increased activation of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), a signaling molecule that is known to regulate the body's stress and appetite responses. Stress exposure increased global DNA methylation and DNA methyltransferase activity in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus in LWS. Moreover, there was less methylation at the core binding site of methyl-CpG-binding domain protein 2 (MBD2), a protein that binds to methylated DNA to repress gene expression, in the CRF gene, in stressed LWS. In response to stress, there was decreased binding of MBD2 to the promoter region of CRF, which may explain increased expression of CRF in the paraventricular nucleus of LWS. These results demonstrate that early-life stressful events can cause epigenetic changes (like DNA methylation) that lead to alterations in physiology and behavior that persist to later in life. We next determined effects of nutritional status on adipose tissue physiology in Japanese quail, which have undergone less artificial selection than chickens and are more representative of a wilder-type bird. Six-hour fasting promoted lipolysis and gene expression changes in 7-day old quail with some changes restored to original levels within 1 hour of refeeding. Overall, our results provide novel perspectives on cellular and molecular mechanisms regulating appetite and adiposity in birds during early post-hatch development.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karolinska institutet, 2009.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Linköping : Univ., 2003. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 139-160).

As stanniocalcinas (STC1 e STC2) são hormônios glicoproteicos identificados primeiramente em peixes ósseos, relacionados com o metabolismo do cálcio e fosfato. Recentes descobertas evidenciaram que as funções das STCs foram mantidas em mamíferos. A descoberta da localização do receptor para STC1 na membrana mitocondrial de roedores e sua ação como desacopladora da respiração celular sinalizam fortemente um importante papel desse hormônio no metabolismo intermediário de mamíferos. A STC estimula a lipogênese no tecido hepático e muscular de ratos, porém, suas ações sobre o metabolismo do tecido adiposo ainda não foram esclarecidas. No presente trabalho, estudamos o efeito, in vitro, da STC1 e da STC2 humanas, nas concentrações (A: 0,01ng/mL; B: 0,1ng/mL; C: 10ng/mL) no tecido adiposo branco (TAB) e no tecido adiposo marrom (TAM) em Rattus norvegicus machos, 300 ± 50g, alimentados ad libitum e submetidos ao jejum de 24 e 48 horas (n=61). Os resultados obtidos demonstram que, no TAB, a STC1 não apresentou efeito. Contudo, a STC2, nas concentrações A e C, diminuiu a formação de 14CO2 em animais em jejum de 24 horas e nas concentrações A e B, aumentou a incorporação de [214C] piruvato em 14C-glicerol, em animais alimentados (controle). No TAM, a STC1 na concentração B, diminuiu a formação de 14CO2 em animais alimentados (controle). Na mesma concentração, aumentou a incorporação de [214C] piruvato em 14C-glicerol em animais em jejum de 24 horas e aumentou a incorporação de 14C-ácido graxo em animais alimentados (controle). A STC2, na concentração B, diminuiu a formação de 14CO2 em animais alimentados (controle) e aumentou a formação de 14CO2 nos animais em jejum de 24 horas. A STC2 não alterou a via gliceroneogênica neste tecido. A dosagem plasmática do hormônio leptina apresentou acentuada diminuição no grupo jejum 48 horas. As STCs 1 e 2, nas concentrações utilizadas, não alteraram a atividade da enzima PEPCKc nos tecidos estudados (TAB e TAM), em animais alimentados (controle). Em quase todos os tratamentos observamos diferenças marcantes entre animais alimentados e jejuados. Este é o primeiro estudo que mostra as diferentes concentrações das STCs no metabolismo de lipídios. / The stanniocalcins (STC1 and STC2) are glycoprotein hormones related to the metabolism of calcium and phosphate first identified in fish bone. Recent findings showed that the functions of STCs were maintained in mammals. The discovery of the location of the receptor for STC1 in the mitochondrial membrane, as well as its uncoupling action of cellular respiration in rodents, strongly indicate an important role of this hormone in the intermediary metabolism of mammals. The STC stimulates lipogenesis in the liver and muscle tissue of rats. However, its action on the metabolism of adipose tissue has not yet been clarified. In this work, we studied the effect in vitro of human STC1 and STC2 concentrations (A: 0,01 ng/ml, B: 0,1 ng/ml, C: 10ng/mL) in white adipose tissue (WAT) and in brown adipose tissue (BAT) in male Rattus norvegicus , 300 ± 50 g , fed ad libitum and fasted for 24 and 48 hours (n= 61). The results show that in the WAT, the STC1 had no effect. However, STC2 at concentrations A and C decreased the formation of 14CO2 in fasted rats for 24 hours and the concentrations A and B increased the incorporation of [214C] into 14C-glycerol pyruvate in fed animals (control). In BAT, STC1 concentration B, decreased the formation of 14CO2 in fed animals (control). At the same concentration, increased the incorporation of [2 14C] pyruvate into 14C-glycerol in fasted rats for 24 hours and increased the incorporation of 14C-fatty acid in fed animals (control). The STC2 concentration B decreased the formation of 14CO2 in fed animals (control) and increased the formation of 14CO2 in animals fasted for 24 hours. The STC2 did not alter the glyceroneogenesis pathway in this tissue. The serum levels of leptin showed marked decrease in the group fasting for 48 hours. The STCs 1 and 2, in the concentrations used, did not alter the PEPCKc enzyme activity in the tissues studied (WAT and BAT) in fed animals (control). In almost all treatments we observed striking differences between fed and fasted animals. This is the first study that shows the effect of different concentrations of STCs in the metabolism of lipids.

As stanniocalcinas (STC1 e STC2) são hormônios glicoproteicos identificados primeiramente em peixes ósseos, relacionados com o metabolismo do cálcio e fosfato. Recentes descobertas evidenciaram que as funções das STCs foram mantidas em mamíferos. A descoberta da localização do receptor para STC1 na membrana mitocondrial de roedores e sua ação como desacopladora da respiração celular sinalizam fortemente um importante papel desse hormônio no metabolismo intermediário de mamíferos. A STC estimula a lipogênese no tecido hepático e muscular de ratos, porém, suas ações sobre o metabolismo do tecido adiposo ainda não foram esclarecidas. No presente trabalho, estudamos o efeito, in vitro, da STC1 e da STC2 humanas, nas concentrações (A: 0,01ng/mL; B: 0,1ng/mL; C: 10ng/mL) no tecido adiposo branco (TAB) e no tecido adiposo marrom (TAM) em Rattus norvegicus machos, 300 ± 50g, alimentados ad libitum e submetidos ao jejum de 24 e 48 horas (n=61). Os resultados obtidos demonstram que, no TAB, a STC1 não apresentou efeito. Contudo, a STC2, nas concentrações A e C, diminuiu a formação de 14CO2 em animais em jejum de 24 horas e nas concentrações A e B, aumentou a incorporação de [214C] piruvato em 14C-glicerol, em animais alimentados (controle). No TAM, a STC1 na concentração B, diminuiu a formação de 14CO2 em animais alimentados (controle). Na mesma concentração, aumentou a incorporação de [214C] piruvato em 14C-glicerol em animais em jejum de 24 horas e aumentou a incorporação de 14C-ácido graxo em animais alimentados (controle). A STC2, na concentração B, diminuiu a formação de 14CO2 em animais alimentados (controle) e aumentou a formação de 14CO2 nos animais em jejum de 24 horas. A STC2 não alterou a via gliceroneogênica neste tecido. A dosagem plasmática do hormônio leptina apresentou acentuada diminuição no grupo jejum 48 horas. As STCs 1 e 2, nas concentrações utilizadas, não alteraram a atividade da enzima PEPCKc nos tecidos estudados (TAB e TAM), em animais alimentados (controle). Em quase todos os tratamentos observamos diferenças marcantes entre animais alimentados e jejuados. Este é o primeiro estudo que mostra as diferentes concentrações das STCs no metabolismo de lipídios. / The stanniocalcins (STC1 and STC2) are glycoprotein hormones related to the metabolism of calcium and phosphate first identified in fish bone. Recent findings showed that the functions of STCs were maintained in mammals. The discovery of the location of the receptor for STC1 in the mitochondrial membrane, as well as its uncoupling action of cellular respiration in rodents, strongly indicate an important role of this hormone in the intermediary metabolism of mammals. The STC stimulates lipogenesis in the liver and muscle tissue of rats. However, its action on the metabolism of adipose tissue has not yet been clarified. In this work, we studied the effect in vitro of human STC1 and STC2 concentrations (A: 0,01 ng/ml, B: 0,1 ng/ml, C: 10ng/mL) in white adipose tissue (WAT) and in brown adipose tissue (BAT) in male Rattus norvegicus , 300 ± 50 g , fed ad libitum and fasted for 24 and 48 hours (n= 61). The results show that in the WAT, the STC1 had no effect. However, STC2 at concentrations A and C decreased the formation of 14CO2 in fasted rats for 24 hours and the concentrations A and B increased the incorporation of [214C] into 14C-glycerol pyruvate in fed animals (control). In BAT, STC1 concentration B, decreased the formation of 14CO2 in fed animals (control). At the same concentration, increased the incorporation of [2 14C] pyruvate into 14C-glycerol in fasted rats for 24 hours and increased the incorporation of 14C-fatty acid in fed animals (control). The STC2 concentration B decreased the formation of 14CO2 in fed animals (control) and increased the formation of 14CO2 in animals fasted for 24 hours. The STC2 did not alter the glyceroneogenesis pathway in this tissue. The serum levels of leptin showed marked decrease in the group fasting for 48 hours. The STCs 1 and 2, in the concentrations used, did not alter the PEPCKc enzyme activity in the tissues studied (WAT and BAT) in fed animals (control). In almost all treatments we observed striking differences between fed and fasted animals. This is the first study that shows the effect of different concentrations of STCs in the metabolism of lipids.