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The melatonergic agonist agomelatine ameliorates high fat diet-induced obesity in mice through the modulation of the gut microbiome.
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  • Patricia Diez-Echave,
  • Teresa Vezza,
  • Francesca Algieri,
  • Antonio Jesús Ruiz-Malagón,
  • Laura Hidalgo Garcia,
  • Federico Garcia,
  • Rocio Moron,
  • Manuel Sanchez-Santos,
  • Marta Toral ,
  • Miguel Romero,
  • Juan Duarte,
  • Jose Garrido-Mesa,
  • Maria Elena Rodriguez-Cabezas,
  • Alba Rodríguez-Nogales,
  • Julio Galvez
Patricia Diez-Echave
CIBER-EHD, Department of Pharmacology, Center for Biomedical Research (CIBM), University of Granada
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Teresa Vezza
University of Granada
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Francesca Algieri
University of Granada
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Antonio Jesús Ruiz-Malagón
CIBER-EHD, Department of Pharmacology, Center for Biomedical Research (CIBM), University of Granada
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Laura Hidalgo Garcia
CIBER-EHD, Department of Pharmacology, ibs.GRANADA, Center for Biomedical Research (CIBM), University of Granada, Granada, 18011
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Federico Garcia
Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Granada
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Rocio Moron
Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada (ibs.GRANADA)
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Manuel Sanchez-Santos
University of Granada Faculty of Pharmacy
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Marta Toral
CIBER-EHD, Department of Pharmacology, Center for Biomedical Research (CIBM), University of Granada
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Miguel Romero
University of Granada Faculty of Pharmacy
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Juan Duarte
University ofGranada
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Jose Garrido-Mesa
CIBER-EHD, Department of Pharmacology, Center for Biomedical Research (CIBM), University of Granada
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Maria Elena Rodriguez-Cabezas
CIBER-EHD, University of Granada

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Alba Rodríguez-Nogales
1 CIBER-EHD, Department of Pharmacology, Center for Biomedical Research (CIBM), University of Granada
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Julio Galvez
University of Granada Faculty of Pharmacy
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Abstract

Background and Purpose: Melatonin has shown beneficial effects on obesity, both in humans and experimental models, via regulating the altered circadian rhythm and thus ameliorating the gut dysbiosis associated with this metabolic condition. However, its clinical use is limited, mostly due to its short half-life. Agomelatine is an agonist of the melatonin receptors that could be used to manage obesity and offer a better profile than melatonin. Experimental Approach: Male C57BL/6 mice were fed a high fat diet and orally treated for five weeks with agomelatine, or melatonin or metformin, used as control drugs. Metabolic profile, inflammatory status, vascular dysfunction and intestinal microbiota composition were assessed. Key Results: Agomelatine lessened body weight gain, enhanced glucose and lipid metabolisms, and improved insulin resistance. It also reduced the obesity-associated inflammatory status and endothelial dysfunction, probably linked to its effect on gut dysbiosis, consisting of the restoration of bacterial populations with key functions, such as short chain fatty acid production. Conclusions and Implications: Agomelatine can be considered as a novel therapeutic tool for the management of human obesity and its associated comorbidities.