LB089 - EFFECTS OF FLAVONOID TANGERETIN ON METABOLIC REGULATION THROUGH TLR, NLRP, AND COX2 EXPRESSION IN AGED MICE WITH HIGH-FAT DIET-INDUCED OBESITY

LB089

EFFECTS OF FLAVONOID TANGERETIN ON METABOLIC REGULATION THROUGH TLR, NLRP, AND COX2 EXPRESSION IN AGED MICE WITH HIGH-FAT DIET-INDUCED OBESITY

J.-Y. Lee^1,2,*, J.-W. Han^1,2, S.-K. Shin^1,2, E.-Y. Kwon^1,2,3

¹Department of Food Science and Nutrition, ²Center for Food and Nutritional Genomics Research, ³Department of Advanced Bioconvergence, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea, Republic Of

Rationale: This study investigated the metabolic and anti-inflammatory effects of the flavonoid tangeretin in aged mice with high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity, with a particular focus on the role of tangeretin in aging- and obesity-related inflammation. Understanding the potential of tangeretin may help to develop novel therapeutic strategies to manage obesity-induced inflammation during aging.

Methods: Three comparisons were made: (1) aging effects (8-week-old YC vs. 49-week-old NC), (2) HFD impact on aging (NC vs. NC + HFD), and (3) tangeretin effects (HFD vs. HFD + 0.005% tangeretin, HFTR). Mice were fed for 12 weeks. Body weight, lipid profile, tissue analysis, gut microbiota (n=6), and hepatic mRNA sequencing (n=6) were analyzed.

Results: Aging increased body weight, fat mass, and inflammation, all exacerbated by HFD. Tangeretin supplementation significantly lowered body weight and plasma triglycerides and cholesterol levels. It also effectively suppressed the decrease in hepatic triglyceride and cholesterol accumulation caused by HFD and weakened hepatic steatosis. Hepatic mRNA transcriptomic analysis revealed that tangeretin inhibited the expression of pro-inflammatory genes induced by HFD, particularly TLRs, NLRP and Cox2. Gut microbiota analysis showed aging decreased beneficial bacteria (e.g., Lactococcus, Bifidobacterium) and increased harmful bacteria (e.g., Staphylococcus, Streptococcus), changes that were worsened by HFD. In contrast, tangeretin normalized these microbial shifts.

Conclusion: Tangeretin significantly inhibited the expression of major inflammatory mediators—particularly TLRs, NLRP, and Cox2—associated with obesity- and aging-related inflammation, while also promoting a positive gut microbiota by increasing beneficial bacteria and reducing harmful ones. These results suggest that tangeretin effectively modulates the aging–inflammation–obesity axis and holds promise for the prevention and alleviation of age-related metabolic disorders.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared