Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 11, 2026

Mouse Model of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease with Fibrosis
Published on: July 18, 2025
Acute and sustained inflammation and metabolic dysfunction induced by high refined carbohydrate-containing diet in
Marina C Oliveira1, Zélia Menezes-Garcia, Milene C C Henriques
1Department of Basic Nursing, Nursing School, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil; Imunopharmacology, Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Biological Sciences Institute, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Objective:
The effects of high-refined carbohydrate-containing diet (HC) on inflammatory parameters and metabolic disarrangement of adipose tissue are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the timing and progression of metabolic and inflammatory dysfunction induced by HC diet in mice.
Design And Methods:
BALB/c mice were fed chow or HC diet for 1 and 3 days, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 weeks.
Results:
Animals given HC diet exhibited acute and sustained increase in visceral adiposity, glucose intolerance, low insulin sensitivity, hyperlipemia, acute increase in mRNA expression of ACC, LPL, PPARγ, SREBP-1, and ChREBP and altered circulating levels of adiponectin, resistin, and leptin. There was leucocyte rolling and adhesion on adipose tissue microvessels already at 3 days and until 8 weeks of HC diet. Adipose tissue of mice had increased number of macrophages (M1 and M2), lymphocytes (CD8+ and CD4+ Foxp3+), and neutrophils (GR1+) already at 3 days after initiation of HC diet. Overall, concentration of cytokines and chemokines, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10, TGF-β1, CCL2, and CXCL1, in adipose tissue was elevated throughout the experimental period. Levels of IL-10 and TGF-β1 tended to reach baseline levels at 12 weeks of HC diet.
Conclusions:
We describe a novel murine model of fat pad expansion induced by HC diet that is characterized by early onset and sustained adipose tissue inflammation and metabolic disarrangement. The acute inflammatory response in adipose tissue occurs very early and is sustained, suggesting that adipose tissue inflammation is a homeostatic mechanism to regulate nutrient overload and adipose expansion.
Related Concept Videos
Overview of Carbohydrate Metabolism
Glucose transport into cells is facilitated by a family of transport proteins called GLUT (Glucose Transporters). GLUT4 is the primary glucose transporter for insulin-stimulated glucose...
Type II Diabetes II: Pathophysiology
Chronic Pancreatitis I: Introduction
Pancreatitis is the inflammation of the pancreas, which occurs when the immune system becomes active and causes swelling, pain, and disruptions in organ function. Pancreatitis can manifest as either an acute or chronic condition.
Acute pancreatitis arises suddenly and lasts for a brief duration, while chronic pancreatitis is a long-term affliction...
Chronic Pancreatitis I: Introduction
Chronic Pancreatitis II: Pathophysiology
Chronic Inflammation: Introduction

