Diet-Induced Obesity Alters Immune Cell Infiltration and Expression of Inflammatory Cytokine Genes in Mouse Ovarian and Peri-Ovarian Adipose Depot Tissues

Dysregulation of immune cells and/or altered inflammatory signaling have been implicated with reproductive dysfunction. Physiological changes leading to perturbations in the profile of immune cells and/or pro-inflammatory cytokines in or around female reproductive tissue could potentially have profound effects on ovarian function. Obesity is associated with chronic low-grade inflammation due, in part, to increased immune cell infiltration and inflammation in visceral adipose depots. This study investigated the impact of diet-induced obesity on immune cell infiltration and inflammation in peri-ovarian adipose tissue and mRNA expression of key inflammatory markers and microRNAs (miRs) in ovarian tissue. Six-week-old female C57Bl/6J mice were fed a standard chow or high-fat diet (HFD; 60% kcal fat) for approximately 7 months, at which time peri-ovarian adipose tissue and ovarian tissues were collected. Histological analysis of peri-ovarian adipose tissue from obese mice revealed increased (P<0.05) adipocyte size and the presence of crown-like structures, the morphological presentation of infiltrating immune cells in adipose tissue, along with increases (P<0.05) in the mRNA levels of markers of T-cells, activated macrophages, inflammatory cytokines, and chemokines. Ovarian mRNA levels of Il1b, Il6, Tnfa, p55, p75, Ccl2, Ikbkb, and Rela were higher in obese tissue (P<0.05), with a strong trend (P=0.06) for an increase in Nos2 and RELA protein. Additionally, ovarian miR125b and miR143 levels were decreased (P=0.1). These data demonstrate that diet-induced obesity elevates expression of inflammatory-mediator genes in both the ovary and surrounding adipose depot, potentially negatively affecting ovarian function. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 80: 948-958, 2013. (c) 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.