Eun Ju Bae

Myeloid Sirt1 regulates macrophage infiltration and insulin sensitivity in mice fed a high-fat diet

Inflammation is an important factor in the development of insulin resistance. SIRT1, a class 3 histone/protein deacetylase, has anti-inflammatory functions. Myeloid-specific deletion of Sirt1 promotes macrophage infiltration into insulin-sensitive organs and aggravates tissue inflammation. In this study, we investigated how SIRT1 in macrophages alters tissue inflammation in the pancreas as well as liver and adipose tissue, and further explored the role of SIRT1 in locomotion of macrophages. Myeloid-specific Sirt1-deleted mice (mS1KO) and WT littermates were fed a 60% calorie high-fat diet (HFD) for 16 weeks. Tissue inflammation and metabolic phenotypes were compared. Bone marrow macrophages (BMMs) from WT or mS1KO mice were used in in vitro chemotaxis assays and macrophage polarization studies. mS1KO mice fed a HFD exhibited glucose intolerance, reduced insulin secretion, and insulin sensitivity with a slight decrease in body weight. Consistent with these results, pancreatic islets of mS1KO mice fed a HFD displayed decreased mass with profound apoptotic cell damage and increased macrophage infiltration and inflammation. Liver and adipose tissues from mS1KO HFD mice also showed greater accumulation of macrophages and tissue inflammation. Results from in vitro experiments indicated that deletion of myeloid Sirt1 stimulated proinflammatory M1-like polarization of BMMs and augmented the adipocyte-mediated macrophage chemotaxis. The latter effect was accompanied by increased expression and acetylation of focal adhesion kinase, as well as nuclear factor kappa B. Our results indicate that myeloid SIRT1 plays a crucial role in macrophage polarization and chemotaxis, and thus regulates the development of HFD-induced pancreatic inflammation and insulin secretion, and metabolic derangements in liver and adipose tissue.

Inhibition of adipocyte inflammation and macrophage chemotaxis by butein

Adipose tissue inflammation has been proposed as a therapeutic target for the treatment of obesity and metabolic disorders such as insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Butein, a polyphenol of vegetal origin, exhibits anti-inflammatory effects in macrophages but it was not reported whether butein prevents adipocyte inflammation. Here, we investigated the effects of butein on adipocyte inflammation in 3T3-L1 cells and performed functional macrophage migration assays. Butein opposed the stimulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) protein expression and of nitric oxide production by simultaneous treatment of adipocytes with tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and interferon gamma (TLI). In addition, butein inhibited mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory genes and chemokines in adipocytes stimulated with TLI or conditioned medium from RAW 264.7 macrophages treated with LPS. These effects were associated with suppression of inhibitor of kappa B alpha degradation induced by TNFα and with nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) p65 phosphorylation and acetylation. Moreover, butein prevented phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases, c-Jun N-terminal kinase, and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) p38. These results suggest that butein suppresses adipocyte inflammation by inhibiting NF-κB/MAPK-dependent transcriptional activity. Furthermore, conditioned media from adipocytes stimulated macrophage chemotaxis, whereas media from adipocytes treated with butein blocked macrophage migration, an effect that was consistent with suppression of MCP-1 secretion by adipocytes treated with butein. In addition, macrophages treated with butein exhibited a reduced ability to migrate toward adipocyte CM. In conclusion, butein may represent a therapeutic agent to prevent adipose tissue inflammation and the obesity-linked insulin resistance.

Insulin secretion impairment in Sirt6 knockout pancreatic β cells is mediated by suppression of the FoxO1-Pdx1-Glut2 pathway.

Sirtuin 6 (Sirt6), a chromatin associated class III deacetylase, controls whole-body energy homeostasis and has a critical role in glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) in pancreatic β cells. However, its underlying molecular mechanism remains poorly understood. To gain further insights, we studied the pathway by which Sirt6 regulates GSIS utilizing mice lacking Sirt6 in their β cells (βS6KO). Further, we overexpressed wild type or deacetylase-inactive mutant Sirt6 in isolated islets as well as in MIN6 cells. We confirmed that βS6KO mice developed glucose intolerance with severely impaired GSIS. Gene expression analysis of knockout islets and overexpression studies demonstrated that Sirt6 deacetylates forkhead box protein O1 (FoxO1) to trigger its nuclear export and releases its transcriptional repression of key glucose sensing genes such as Pdx1 and Glut2. Ectopic overexpression of Sirt6 in knockout islets resulted in rescue of the defective insulin secretion and restoration of the expression of Pdx1 and Glut2. These results show that Sirt6 in pancreatic β cells deacetylates FoxO1 and subsequently increases the expression of Pdx1 and Glut2 to maintain the glucose-sensing ability of pancreatic β cells and systemic glucose tolerance.

Myeloid Sirtuin 6 Deficiency Causes Insulin Resistance in High-Fat Diet-Fed Mice by Eliciting Macrophage Polarization Toward an M1 Phenotype

Obesity-related insulin resistance is closely associated with macrophage accumulation and subsequent cytokine release in local tissues. Sirtuin 6 (Sirt6) is known to exert an anti-inflammatory function, but its role in macrophages in the context of obesity has not been investigated. We generated myeloid-specific Sirt6 knockout (mS6KO) mice and investigated the metabolic characteristics after high-fat diet (HFD) feeding for 16 weeks. Compared with their wild-type littermates, HFD-fed mS6KO mice exhibited greater increases in body weight, fasting blood glucose and insulin levels, hepatic steatosis, glucose intolerance, and insulin resistance. Gene expression, histology, and flow cytometric analyses demonstrated that liver and adipose tissue inflammation were elevated in HFD-fed mS6KO mice relative to wild type, with a greater accumulation of F4/80+CD11b+CD11c+ adipose tissue macrophages. Myeloid Sirt6 deletion facilitated proinflammatory M1 polarization of bone marrow macrophages and augmented the migration potential of macrophages toward adipose-derived chemoattractants. Mechanistically, Sirt6 deletion in macrophages promoted the activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and endogenous production of interleukin-6, which led to STAT3 activation and the positive feedback circuits for NF-κB stimulation; this cross talk expedited an M1 polarization. We conclude that Sirt6 in macrophages is required for the prevention of obesity-associated tissue inflammation and insulin resistance.

DPP-4 inhibitors in diabetic complications: role of DPP-4 beyond glucose control

Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors (gliptins) are an emerging class of antidiabetic drugs that constitutes approximately fifty percent of the market share of the oral hypoglycemic drugs. Its mechanism of action for lowering blood glucose is essentially via inhibition of the rapid degradation of incretin hormones, such as glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 and gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP), thus the plasma concentration of GLP-1 increases, which promotes insulin secretion from the pancreatic β cells and suppresses glucagon secretion from the α cells. In addition to the direct actions on the pancreas, GLP-1 exhibits diverse actions on different tissues through its action on GLP-1 receptor, which is expressed ubiquitously. Moreover, DPP-4 has multiple substrates besides GLP-1 and GIP, including cytokines, chemokines, neuropeptides, and growth factors, which are involved in many pathophysiological conditions. Recently, it was suggested that DPP-4 is a new adipokine secreted from the adipose tissue, which plays an important role in the regulation of the endocrine function in obesity-associated type 2 diabetes. Consequently, DPP-4 inhibitors have been reported to exhibit cytoprotective functions against various diabetic complications affecting the liver, heart, kidneys, retina, and neurons. This review outlines the current understanding of the effect of DPP-4 inhibitors on the complications associated with type 2 diabetes, such as liver steatosis and inflammation, dysfunction of the adipose tissue and pancreas, cardiovascular diseases, nephropathy, and neuropathy in preclinical and clinical studies.

Compound C inhibits macrophage chemotaxis through an AMPK-independent mechanism

Macrophage infiltration in adipose tissue is a well-established cause of obesity-linked insulin resistance. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation in peripheral tissues such as adipose tissue has beneficial effects on the protection against obesity-induced insulin resistance, which is mainly mediated by prevention of adipose tissue macrophage infiltration and inflammation. In examining the role of AMPK on adipose tissue inflammation, we unexpectedly found that compound C (CC), despite its inhibition of AMPK, robustly inhibited macrophage chemotaxis in RAW 264.7 cells when adipocyte conditioned medium (CM) was used as a chemoattractant. Here, we report that CC inhibition of macrophage migration occurred independently of AMPK. Mechanistically, this inhibitory effect of cell migration by CC was mediated by inhibition of the focal adhesion kinase, AKT, nuclear factor κB pathways. Moreover, the expression of chemokine monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and pro-inflammatory genes such as tumor necrosis factor α and inducible nitric oxide synthase were prevented by CC treatment in RAW 264.7 cells stimulated with either adipocyte CM or lipopolysaccharide. Lastly, in accord with the findings of the anti-inflammatory effect of CC, we demonstrated that CC functioned as a repressor of macrophage CM-mediated insulin resistance in adipocytes. Taken together, our results suggest that CC serves as a useful inhibitory molecule against macrophage chemotaxis into adipose tissue and thus might have therapeutic potential for the treatment of obesity-linked adipose inflammation.

Hepatocyte-specific sirtuin 6 deletion predisposes to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis by up-regulation of Bach1, an Nrf2 repressor

Sirtuin (Sirt)6 has been implicated in negative regulation of inflammation and lipid metabolism, although its function in the progression from simple steatosis to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) remains to be defined. To explore the role of hepatocyte Sirt6 in NASH development, we generated hepatocyte‐specific Sirt6‐knockout (KO) mice that were fed a high‐fat and high‐fructose (HFHF) diet for 16 wk. HFHF‐fed KO mice had increased hepatic steatosis and inflammation and aggravated glucose intolerance and insulin resistance compared with wild‐type mice. HFHF‐induced liver fibrosis and oxidative stress and related gene expression were significantly elevated in KO mice. In the livers of KO mice, nuclear factor erythroid 2‐related factor 2 (Nrf2) was down‐regulated; conversely, BTB domain and CNC homolog 1 (Bach1), a nuclear repressor of Nrf2, were up‐regulated. We discovered that Sirt6, which interacts with Bach1 under basal condition, induces its detachment from the antioxidant response element (ARE) region of heme oxygenase 1 promoter. Furthermore, we found that Sirt6 promotes Nrf2 binding to ARE in response to oxidative stimuli, which leads to the expression of phase II/antioxidant enzymes. Finally, we showed that HFHF‐induced steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis were ameliorated by adenoviral Sirt6 overexpression. Sirt6 may be a useful therapeutic target for amelioration of NASH by curbing inflammation and oxidative stress.—Ka, S.‐O, Bang, I. H., Bae, E. J., Park, B.‐H. Hepatocyte‐specific sirtuin 6 deletion predisposes to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis by up‐regulation of Bach1, an Nrf2 repressor. FASEB J. 31, 3999–4010 (2017). www.fasebj.org—Ka, Sun‐O, Bang, In Hyuk, Bae, Eun Ju, Park, Byung‐Hyun Hepatocyte‐specific sirtuin 6 deletion predisposes to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis by up‐regulation of Bach1, an Nrf2 repressor. FASEB J. 31, 3999–4010 (2017)

Butein induction of HO-1 by p38 MAPK/Nrf2 pathway in adipocytes attenuates high-fat diet induced adipose hypertrophy in mice

Abstract Adipose tissue inflammation and oxidative stress are key components in the development of obesity and insulin resistance. Heme oxygenase (HO)−1 in adipocytes protects against obesity and adipose dysfunction. In this study, we report the identification of butein, a flavonoid chalcone, as a novel inducer of HO‐1 expression in adipocytes in vitro and in vivo. Butein upregulated HO‐1 mRNA and protein expression in 3T3‐L1 adipocytes, accompanied by Kelch‐Like ECH‐Associated Protein (Keap) 1 degradation and increase in the nuclear level of nuclear factor erythroid 2‐related factor 2 (Nrf2). Butein modulation of Keap1 and Nrf2 as well as HO‐1 upregulation was reversed by pretreatment with p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580, indicating the involvement of p38 MAPK in butein activation of Nrf2 in adipocytes. In addition, HO‐1 activation by butein led to the inhibitions of reactive oxygen species and adipocyte differentiation, as evidenced by the fact that butein repression of reactive oxygen species and adipogenesis was reversed by pretreatment with HO‐1 inhibitor SnPP. Induction of HO‐1 expression by butein was also demonstrated in the adipose tissue of C57BL/6 mice fed a high‐fat diet administered along with butein for three weeks, and correlated with the inhibitions of adiposity and adipose tissue inflammation, which were reversed by co‐administration of SnPP. Altogether, our results demonstrate that butein activates the p38 MAPK/Nrf2/HO‐1 pathway to act as a potent inhibitor of adipose hypertrophy and inflammation in a diet‐induced obesity model and thus has potential for suppressing obesity‐linked metabolic syndrome.

Enhanced M2 macrophage polarization in high n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid transgenic mice fed a high-fat diet.

SCOPE Diet-induced obesity and consequent insulin resistance are caused, in part, by macrophage polarization and accumulation in peripheral tissues. Here, we examined the effects of endogenously synthesized n-3 PUFAs on macrophage chemotaxis and polarization. METHODS AND RESULTS Fat-1 mice and wild-type (WT) littermates were fed a 60% calorie high-fat diet (HFD) for 10 weeks. Bone marrow macrophages (BMMs) from fat-1 and WT mice were used in in vitro chemotaxis assays and macrophage polarization studies. WT mice fed a HFD exhibited glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, and lipid accumulation and macrophage infiltration in liver and adipose tissue. However, these metabolic and inflammatory phenotypes were not observed in HFD-fed fat-1 mice. In flow cytometric analysis, M1 macrophage infiltration into adipose tissue was markedly attenuated in fat-1 mice. Consistently, results from in vitro experiments indicated that n-3 PUFAs prevented adipocyte conditioned medium-mediated macrophage chemotaxis, stimulated M2 polarization, and suppressed M1 polarization. The inhibition of macrophage migration by n-3 PUFAs was associated with suppression of multiple kinases, such as IκB kinase, AKT, and focal adhesion kinase. CONCLUSION Our results indicate that n-3 PUFAs play a crucial role in macrophage polarization and chemotaxis, and thus regulate the development of HFD-induced tissue inflammation and metabolic derangements.

Hepatic role in an early glucose-lowering effect by a novel dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitor, evogliptin, in a rodent model of type 2 diabetes.

Although multiple dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) inhibitors have shown glucose-lowering effects by preserving pancreatic cells in high-fat diet (HFD)/streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice, the hepatic role in regulation of glucose homeostasis by DPP4 inhibitors in HFD/STZ mice remains elusive. In herein study, parallel comparison of effects on the liver (expression of gluconeogenic genes and the linked signaling molecules) and pancreas (islet morphology and relative area of alpha or beta cells) in combination with glucose-lowering effects were made at the end of 2- and 10-week of evogliptin treatment in HFD/STZ mice. Significant control of hyperglycemia was observed from the second week and persisted during 10-week treatment of 0.3% evogliptin in HFD/STZ mice. This effect was accompanied by increased level of plasma glucagon-like peptide-1 and preserved pancreas islet structure. Furthermore, the hepatic increases in gluconeogenic gene expression in HFD/STZ mice was significantly reduced by evogliptin treatment, which was accompanied by the suppression of cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) phosphorylation and expression of transducer of regulated CREB protein 2. This hepatic effect of evogliptin treatment was reproduced in 2-week study, however, pancreatic beta-cell area was not altered yet although the expression of pancreatic and duodenal homeobox protein 1 was increased. We conclude that the suppression of hepatic gluconeogenesis by evogliptin is followed by preservation of pancreatic islet, leading to remarkable and persistent glucose-lowering effect in HFD/STZ mice. Our findings provide further insight for the hepatic role in DPP4 inhibitor-mediated glucose control in diabetes.