Fasting during the suckling-weaning transient period of rats induces inflammatory gene expression in the adipose tissue and peripheral leukocytes

• Malnutrition during developmental stages exacerbates chronic inflammation in adulthood.
• Serum MCP-1 levels are induced by fasting during developmental stages.
• CD68 expression in adipose tissue is induced by fasting during developmental stages.
• Fasting during developmental stages enhances inflammation in peripheral leukocytes.

ObjectiveNutritional deficiency during developmental stages could be associated with subsequent development of inflammation-related metabolic abnormalities. In this study, we examined the effects of a 3-d fast during the suckling-weaning transient period of rats, and subsequent intake of high-fat–high-sucrose (HF) and low-fat–high-starch (LF) diets in adulthood, on the expression of inflammatory genes in adipose tissue and peripheral leukocytes.MethodsMale Sprague-Dawley rats were deprived of food for 3 d during the suckling-weaning transient period, and were subsequently fed an HF or LF diet for 14 wk from 17 wk of age. Serum monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) concentration and mRNA levels of inflammatory genes in mesenteric adipose tissues were assessed at 31 wk of age. The mRNA levels of inflammatory genes at 0 h and 2 h after oral glucose load at 30 wk of age in peripheral leukocytes were measured.ResultsFasting induced circulating MCP-1 protein in rats fed an LF diet but not an HF diet. The HF diet induced high mRNA levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, and S100 proteins in peripheral leukocytes at 2 h after glucose load in fasted rats when compared with controls. Expression of CD11c, an activated macrophage marker, was induced in the fasted group given an HF diet during adulthood.ConclusionsFasting rats during the suckling-weaning transient period and an HF diet intake during adulthood enhance inflammation by promoting the expression of inflammatory genes in adipose tissue and peripheral leukocytes.