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Development of metabolic dysfunction in mice lacking chemerin.
Penghua Fang1, Long Han1, Mei Yu1
1Key Laboratory for Metabolic Diseases in Chinese Medicine, First College of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China.
Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology
|June 25, 2021
Summary
Chemerin deficiency impairs glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity, particularly on a high-fat diet. This adipokine is crucial for adapting glucose homeostasis via the PGC-1α/GLUT4 pathway.
Area of Science:
- Metabolic research
- Endocrinology
- Adipokine signaling
Background:
- Chemerin, an adipokine, is implicated in energy homeostasis and glucoregulation.
- The precise physiological role of endogenous chemerin in glucose metabolism remains to be elucidated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of chemerin deficiency on whole-body glucose homeostasis.
- To determine if chemerin knockout alters metabolic adaptation to high-fat diets.
Main Methods:
- Utilized adult male chemerin knockout and wild-type mice.
- Administered chow or high-fat diets for 4 weeks.
- Assessed fasting glucose, glucose tolerance, and insulin tolerance.
Main Results:
- Chemerin knockout mice exhibited elevated fasting glucose, glucose intolerance, and insulin intolerance.
- Reduced mRNA and protein levels of GLUT4 and PGC-1α in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue of knockout mice.
- Impaired adaptation to glucose and insulin challenges in chemerin-deficient mice.
Conclusions:
- Chemerin plays a vital role in adapting glucose metabolism to dietary fat changes.
- Chemerin modulates glucose consumption through the PGC-1α/GLUT4 axis.
- Chemerin is significant for enhancing glucose uptake and insulin sensitivity, thereby promoting glucose clearance.
