The Contribution of Liver 3-Methylglutaryl-CoA Synthase 2 (HMGCS2) to Dietary Medium- Chain Triglyceride-Induced Ketone Body Production
Conference Year
2024
Abstract
Asthma is characterized by overactive responsiveness to triggers that cause airway narrowing and difficulty breathing. Ketone bodies, such as -hydroxybutyrate (BHB), decrease this response. BHB is produced in the liver by the enzyme 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA synthase 2 (Hmgcs2). Inducible liver-specific Hmgcs2-deficient and control mice were evaluated for their responses to feeding interventions that are associated with decreased airway narrowing in asthma. Fasting, ketogenic diet, and medium-chain triglycerides all increased BHB concentrations in control mice, whereas BHB was not elevated in liver Hmgcs2-deficient mice. These results support this mouse model’s utility for examining the necessity of BHB in decreasing asthma-associated airway narrowing.
Primary Faculty Mentor Name
Matthew Poynter
Graduate Student Mentors
Maddie Mank
Status
Undergraduate
Student College
College of Arts and Sciences
Program/Major
Biology
Primary Research Category
Life Sciences
The Contribution of Liver 3-Methylglutaryl-CoA Synthase 2 (HMGCS2) to Dietary Medium- Chain Triglyceride-Induced Ketone Body Production
Asthma is characterized by overactive responsiveness to triggers that cause airway narrowing and difficulty breathing. Ketone bodies, such as -hydroxybutyrate (BHB), decrease this response. BHB is produced in the liver by the enzyme 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA synthase 2 (Hmgcs2). Inducible liver-specific Hmgcs2-deficient and control mice were evaluated for their responses to feeding interventions that are associated with decreased airway narrowing in asthma. Fasting, ketogenic diet, and medium-chain triglycerides all increased BHB concentrations in control mice, whereas BHB was not elevated in liver Hmgcs2-deficient mice. These results support this mouse model’s utility for examining the necessity of BHB in decreasing asthma-associated airway narrowing.