Extracellular matrix remodeling and matrix metalloproteinase inhibition in visceral adipose during weight cycling in mice

• Weight loss induces an intense MMP activity on adipose tissue.
• The intense tissue remodeling is associated with adipose tissue inflammation.
• GM6001 inhibit MMPs and inflammation during weight loss.
• MMPs inhibition during weight loss modifies adipose tissue during weight regain.
• Metabolic and inflammatory improvements were observed after weight regain.

Extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling is necessary for a health adipose tissue (AT) expansion and also has a role during weight loss. We investigate the ECM alteration during weight cycling (WC) in mice and the role of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) was assessed using GM6001, an MMP inhibitor, during weight loss (WL). Obesity was induced in mice by a high-fat diet. Obese mice were subject to caloric restriction for WL followed by reintroduction to high-fat diet for weight regain (WR), resulting in a WC protocol. In addition, mice were treated with GM6001 during WL period and the effects were observed after WR. Activity and expression of MMPs was intense during WL. MMP inhibition during WL results in inflammation and collagen content reduction. MMP inhibition during WL period interferes with the period of subsequent expansion of AT resulting in improvements in local inflammation and systemic metabolic alterations induced by obesity. Our results suggest that MMPs inhibition could be an interesting target to improve adipose tissue inflammation during WL and to support weight cyclers.