A shift in PKM2 oligomeric state instructs adipocyte inflammatory potential

Processes that promote white adipocyte inflammatory function remain incompletely defined. Here, we demonstrated that type I interferon-dependent (IFN-I-dependent) skewing of adipocyte glycolysis, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) utilization, and pyruvate kinase isozyme M2 (PKM2) function may contribute to increased systemic and tissue inflammation and disease severity in obesity. Notably, chemical and/or genetic inhibition of glycolysis, the NAD+ salvage pathway, or PKM2 restricted IFN-I-dependent increase in adipocyte inflammatory cytokine production. Further, genetic or small molecule targeting of PKM2 function in vivo was sufficient to reduce systemic and tissue inflammation and metabolic disease severity in obese mice, in an adipocyte PKM2-dependent manner. Further, white adipose tissue of individuals living with obesity and metabolic disease, compared with metabolically healthy individuals with obesity, showed an increase in expression of inflammatory and metabolic genes, while small molecule targeting of PKM2 function contributed to reduced IFN-I-driven inflammatory cytokine production by primary human adipocytes. Together, our findings invoke the IFN-I/PKM2 axis as a potential target for modulating adipocyte dysregulated inflammation.