Korean J Intern Med.  2025 Jan;40(1):92-102. 10.3904/kjim.2024.022.

Dexamethasone synergizes with high-fat diet to increase lipid deposition in adipocytes

• Su M
• Wang Y
• Yan Z
• Luo J
• Yang J
• Ye H
• Liu A
• Yang J

• KMID: 2563145
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2024.022

Abstract

Background/Aims
Dexamethasone (DEX) is a widely used exogenous therapeutic glucocorticoid in clinical settings. Its long-term use leads to many side effects. However, its effect on metabolic disorders in individuals on a high-fat diet (HFD) remains poorly understood.
Methods
In this study, HFD-fed mice were intraperitoneally injected with DEX 2.5 mg/kg/day for 30 days. Lipid metabolism, adipocyte proliferation, and inflammation were assayed using typical approaches.
Results
DEX increased the epididymal fat index and epididymal adipocyte size in HFD-fed mice. The number of epididymal adipocytes with diameters > 70 μm accounted for 0.5% of the cells in the control group, 30% of the cells in the DEX group, 19% of the cells in the HFD group, and 38% of all the cells in the D+H group. Adipocyte proliferation in the D+H group was inhibited by DEX treatment. Adipocyte enlargement in the D+H group was associated with increased the lipid accumulation but not the adipocyte proliferation. In contrast, the liver triglyceride and total cholesterol levels and their metabolism were downregulated by the same treatment, indicating the therapeutic potential of DEX for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
Conclusions
DEX synergizes with HFD to promote lipid deposition in adipose tissues. A high risk of obesity development in patients receiving HFD and DEX treatment is suggested.

Keyword

Dexamethasone; High-fat diet; Obesity; Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease