Arteriovenous Metabolomics to Measure In Vivo Metabolite Exchange in Brown Adipose Tissue

Summary

In this protocol, methods relevant for BAT-optimized arteriovenous metabolomics using GC-MS in a mouse model are outlined. These methods allow for the acquisition of valuable insights into BAT-mediated metabolite exchange at the organismal level.

Abstract

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) plays a crucial role in regulating metabolic homeostasis through a unique energy expenditure process known as non-shivering thermogenesis. To achieve this, BAT utilizes a diverse menu of circulating nutrients to support its high metabolic demand. Additionally, BAT secretes metabolite-derived bioactive factors that can serve as either metabolic fuels or signaling molecules, facilitating BAT-mediated intratissue and/or intertissue communication. This suggests that BAT actively participates in systemic metabolite exchange, an interesting feature that is beginning to be explored. Here, we introduce a protocol for in vivo mouse-level optimized BAT arteriovenous metabolomics. The protocol focuses on relevant methods for thermogenic stimulations and an arteriovenous blood sampling technique using Sulzer's vein, which selectively drains interscapular BAT-derived venous blood and systemic arterial blood. Next, a gas chromatography-based metabolomics protocol using those blood samples is demonstrated. The use of this technique should expand the understanding of BAT-regulated metabolite exchange at the inter-organ level by measuring the net uptake and release of metabolites by BAT.

Introduction

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) possesses a unique energy expenditure property known as non-shivering thermogenesis (NST), which involves both mitochondrial uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1)-dependent and UCP1-independent mechanisms^1,2,3,4,5. These distinctive characteristics implicate BAT in the regulation of systemic metabolism and the pathogenesis of metabolic diseases, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer cachexia^6,

Protocol

All experiments were conducted with the approval of the Sungkyunkwan University Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). Mice were housed in an IACUC-approved animal facility located in a clean room set at 22 °C and 45% humidity, following a daily 12 h light/dark cycle. They were kept in ventilated racks and had access to a standard chow diet ad libitum (comprising 60% carbohydrate, 16% protein, and 3% fat). Bedding and nesting materials were changed on a weekly basis. For this study, male C57BL/6J mice .......

Discussion

A critical step in understanding the metabolic potential of BAT in whole-body energy balance is to define which nutrients it consumes, how they are metabolically processed, and what metabolites are released into the circulation. This protocol introduces a specialized arteriovenous sampling technique that enables access to the venous vasculature of interscapular BAT and systemic arterial vasculature in C57BL/6J mice, which was recently developed and validated by Park et al⁴². Below are key points y.......

Materials

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
0.5-20 µL Filter Tips	Axygen	AX.TF-20-R-S
1 mL Syringe with attached needle - 26 G 5/8"	BD Biosciences	309597
Agilent 5977B GC/MSD (mass selective detector)	Agilent	G7077B
Agilent 7693A Autosampler	Agilent	G4513A
Agilent 8890 GC System	Agilent	G3542A
Agilent J&W GC column (Capilary column) HP-5MS UI	Agilent	19091S-433UI
Agilent MassHunter Workstation software_MS Quantitative analysis(Quant-My-way)	Agilent	G3335-90240
C57BL/6J mouse	DBL	C57BL/6JBomTac
CentriVap -50 °C Cold Trap (with Stainless steel Lid)	LABCONCO	7811041
DL-Norvaline	Sigma-Aldrich	N7502-25G
Eppendorf centrifuge 5430R	Eppendorf	5428000210
Eppendorf Safe-Lock Tubes 1.5 mL	Eppendorf	30120086
Glass insert 250 μL	Agilent	5181-1270
Methanol (LC-MS grade)	Sigma-Aldrich	Q34966-1L
Methoxyamine hydrochloride	Sigma-Aldrich	226904-5G
Microvette 200 Serum, 200 µL, cap red, flat base	Sarstedt	20.1290.100
MTBSTFA	Sigma-Aldrich	394882-100ML
Pyridine(anhydrous, 99.8%)	Sigma-Aldrich	270970-100ML
Refrigerated CentriVap Complete Vaccum Concentrators	LABCONCO	7310041
Rodent diet	SAFE	SAFE R+40-10
Rodent incubator	Power scientific	RIT33SD
Ultra-Fine Pen Needles - 29 G 1/2"	BD Biosciences	328203
Vial Cap 9 mm	Agilent	5190-9067
Vial, ambr scrw wrtn 2 mL	Agilent	5190-9063
Vial, ambr scrw wrtn 2 mL+A2:C40	Axygen	PCR-02-C