Effects of Cigarette Smoke on Adipose and Skeletal Muscle Tissue: In Vivo and In Vitro Studies

Lei Wang, Lieke E J van Iersel, Charlotte E Pelgrim, Jingyi Lu, Ingrid van Ark, Thea Leusink-Muis, Harry R Gosker, Ramon C J Langen, Annemie M W J Schols, Josep M Argilés, Ardy van Helvoort, Aletta D Kraneveld, Johan Garssen, Paul A J Henricks, Gert Folkerts, Saskia Braber

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), often caused by smoking, is a chronic lung disease with systemic manifestations including metabolic comorbidities. This study investigates adaptive and pathological alterations in adipose and skeletal muscle tissue following cigarette smoke exposure using in vivo and in vitro models. Mice were exposed to cigarette smoke or air for 72 days and the pre-adipose cell line 3T3-L1 was utilized as an in vitro model. Cigarette smoke exposure decreased body weight, and the proportional loss in fat mass was more pronounced than the lean mass loss. Cigarette smoke exposure reduced adipocyte size and increased adipocyte numbers. Adipose macrophage numbers and associated cytokine levels, including interleukin-1β, interleukine-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α were elevated in smoke-exposed mice. Muscle strength and protein synthesis signaling were decreased after smoke exposure; however, muscle mass was not changed. In vitro studies demonstrated that lipolysis and fatty acid oxidation were upregulated in cigarette smoke-exposed pre-adipocytes. In conclusion, cigarette smoke exposure induces a loss of whole-body fat mass and adipose atrophy, which is likely due to enhanced lipolysis.

Original languageEnglish
Article number2893
Pages (from-to)1-20
JournalCells
Volume11
Issue number18
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2 Sept 2022

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The research grant funding was received from the Chinese Scholarship Council for LW, Award NO. 201706170055. This work has been supported by the LSH-TKI-Lung Foundation Netherlands PPP allowance 10.2.16.119.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 by the authors.

Keywords

  • COPD
  • adipose tissue
  • cachexia
  • cigarette smoke
  • lipolysis
  • skeletal muscle

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