Dietary vitamin E regulates the activity of antioxidant enzymes through Wnt10b signaling in the muscle of zebrafish

Abstract

Vitamin E (VE) plays a crucial role in regulating the physiological functions of animals. In the present study, the mechanism by which VE regulates the activities of antioxidant enzymes through Wnt10b signaling was investigated in the muscle of zebrafish. It was found that the gene expression of Wnt10b, β-catenin, and PPARγ was induced, while the GSK-3β expression was inhibited by 52.34 and 101.27 mg kg⁻¹ VE treatments. The generation of a hydroxy radical (˙OH) and superoxide anion (O₂˙⁻) and the content of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) were decreased by VE treatments. However, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) were increased by 52.34 and 101.27 mg kg⁻¹ VE treatments. In addition, the content of saturated fatty acids (SFA) was decreased, but that of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) was increased by VE treatment. To confirm the role of Wnt10b in regulating antioxidant functions, Wnt10b RNA was interfered in zebrafish fed with different concentrations of VE diets. The results showed that the GSK-3β gene expression was induced but the β-catenin expression was inhibited by Wnt10b RNA interference in the muscle of zebrafish. The levels of O₂˙⁻, H₂O₂, and ˙OH were enhanced, but the activities of SOD, GSH-PX, and POD were decreased by the interference of Wnt10b RNA. In all, our results indicated that VE could induce the Wnt10b/β-catenin signaling pathway, which may further regulate the activities of antioxidant enzymes in the muscle of zebrafish.