Effects of adipokine zinc-α2-glycoprotein on adipose tissue metabolism after dexamethasone treatment

Zinc-α2-glycoprotein (ZAG) has been demonstrated to play a role in stimulating lipid mobilization under normal conditions. However, further studies are required to determine whether ZAG overexpression can alleviate the reduction in plasma lipid levels under stress conditions. In the present study, we investigated the effects of ZAG on lipometabolism in white adipose tissue (WAT) after dexamethasone (DEX) stimulation using C57BL/6 male mice as the experimental models. Transcript and protein levels of genes associated with the β-adrenoreceptor (β-AR)/cyclic adenosine monophosphate/protein kinase a (PKA) pathway, lipid mobilization, and energy metabolism were determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting. Plasma levels of nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA) were measured using an automatic biochemical analyzer. Results indicated that plasma NEFA levels were decreased in the DEX group, but NEFA levels were rescued by ZAG overexpression. ZAG overexpression resulted in the upre...