EFFECTS OF AN ANTHOCYANIN-RICH EXTRACT ON HIGH-FAT DIET-INDUCED MITOCHONDRIAL DYSFUNCTION AND MITOCHONDRIOGENESIS IN C57BL/6J MICE

Mitochondria are dynamic organelles involved in several critical cell functions including energy production, regulation of apoptosis, ion homeostasis and non-shivering thermogenesis. Metabolic and environmental stresses, such as high fat diets (HFD), lead to mitochondrial dysfunction. Growing evidence shows that select polyphenols could be effective in enhancing mitochondrial function. Thus, we investigated the capacity of selected anthocyanins (ACs) to mitigate HFD-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and to promote mitochondriogenesis in subcutaneous white adipose tissue (SWAT) in mice. Six-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided in 4 groups (10 mice/group) and fed a control diet (10% Kcal from fat), HFD (60% Kcal from fat) and either control diet or HFD supplemented with 40 mg ACs/kg BW for 14 weeks. SWAT was isolated and proteins involved in mitochondrial dynamics and biogenesis were measured by Western blot. Mice fed the HFD showed a decreased expression of mitochondria number markers (citrate synthase, COX IV, and PRX1) and proteins involved in mitochondria fusion (Opa1, Mnf-2), fission (DRP-1, Fis-1), and mitophagy (NIX) in the SWAT. Supplementation with ACs improved mitochondrial biogenesis and dynamics impaired by the consumption of HFD. Supplementation with an AC-rich extract, together with consumption of HFD, showed a positive modulation of mitochondrial dynamics and biogenesis in white adipose tissue. Findings suggest that consumption of AC-rich diet could be an important strategy to mitigate the adverse health consequences of obesity in part via improvement of mitochondrial dynamics and biogenesis.