scholarly journals MECHANISMS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY: Skeletal muscle lipotoxicity in insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes: a causal mechanism or an innocent bystander?

2017 ◽  
Vol 176 (2) ◽  
pp. R67-R78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlotte Brøns ◽  
Louise Groth Grunnet

Dysfunctional adipose tissue is associated with an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2D). One characteristic of a dysfunctional adipose tissue is the reduced expandability of the subcutaneous adipose tissue leading to ectopic storage of fat in organs and/or tissues involved in the pathogenesis of T2D that can cause lipotoxicity. Accumulation of lipids in the skeletal muscle is associated with insulin resistance, but the majority of previous studies do not prove any causality. Most studies agree that it is not the intramuscular lipids per se that causes insulin resistance, but rather lipid intermediates such as diacylglycerols, fatty acyl-CoAs and ceramides and that it is the localization, composition and turnover of these intermediates that play an important role in the development of insulin resistance and T2D. Adipose tissue is a more active tissue than previously thought, and future research should thus aim at examining the exact role of lipid composition, cellular localization and the dynamics of lipid turnover on the development of insulin resistance. In addition, ectopic storage of fat has differential impact on various organs in different phenotypes at risk of developing T2D; thus, understanding how adipogenesis is regulated, the interference with metabolic outcomes and what determines the capacity of adipose tissue expandability in distinct population groups is necessary. This study is a review of the current literature on the adipose tissue expandability hypothesis and how the following ectopic lipid accumulation as a consequence of a limited adipose tissue expandability may be associated with insulin resistance in muscle and liver.

2005 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 299-315 ◽  
Author(s):  
Young Ho Suh ◽  
Younyoung Kim ◽  
Jeong Hyun Bang ◽  
Kyoung Suk Choi ◽  
June Woo Lee ◽  
...  

Insulin resistance occurs early in the disease process, preceding the development of type 2 diabetes. Therefore, the identification of molecules that contribute to insulin resistance and leading up to type 2 diabetes is important to elucidate the molecular pathogenesis of the disease. To this end, we characterized gene expression profiles from insulin-sensitive tissues, including adipose tissue, skeletal muscle, and liver tissue of Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats, a well characterized type 2 diabetes animal model. Gene expression profiles from ZDF rats at 6 weeks (pre-diabetes), 12 weeks (diabetes), and 20 weeks (late-stage diabetes) were compared with age- and sex-matched Zucker lean control (ZLC) rats using 5000 cDNA chips. Differentially regulated genes demonstrating > 1.3-fold change at age were identified and categorized through hierarchical clustering analysis. Our results showed that while expression of lipolytic genes was elevated in adipose tissue of diabetic ZDF rats at 12 weeks of age, expression of lipogenic genes was decreased in liver but increased in skeletal muscle of 12 week old diabetic ZDF rats. These results suggest that impairment of hepatic lipogenesis accompanied with the reduced lipogenesis of adipose tissue may contribute to development of diabetes in ZDF rats by increasing lipogenesis in skeletal muscle. Moreover, expression of antioxidant defense genes was decreased in the liver of 12-week old diabetic ZDF rats as well as in the adipose tissue of ZDF rats both at 6 and 12 weeks of age. Cytochrome P450 (CYP) genes were also significantly reduced in 12 week old diabetic liver of ZDF rats. Genes involved in glucose utilization were downregulated in skeletal muscle of diabetic ZDF rats, and the hepatic gluconeogenic gene was upregulated in diabetic ZDF rats. Genes commonly expressed in all three tissue types were also observed. These profilings might provide better fundamental understanding of insulin resistance and development of type 2 diabetes.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chuanyan Wu ◽  
Yan Borné ◽  
Rui Gao ◽  
Maykel López Rodriguez ◽  
William C. Roell ◽  
...  

AbstractThe hepatokine follistatin is elevated in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and promotes hyperglycemia in mice. Here we explore the relationship of plasma follistatin levels with incident T2D and mechanisms involved. Adjusted hazard ratio (HR) per standard deviation (SD) increase in follistatin levels for T2D is 1.24 (CI: 1.04–1.47, p < 0.05) during 19-year follow-up (n = 4060, Sweden); and 1.31 (CI: 1.09–1.58, p < 0.01) during 4-year follow-up (n = 883, Finland). High circulating follistatin associates with adipose tissue insulin resistance and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (n = 210, Germany). In human adipocytes, follistatin dose-dependently increases free fatty acid release. In genome-wide association study (GWAS), variation in the glucokinase regulatory protein gene (GCKR) associates with plasma follistatin levels (n = 4239, Sweden; n = 885, UK, Italy and Sweden) and GCKR regulates follistatin secretion in hepatocytes in vitro. Our findings suggest that GCKR regulates follistatin secretion and that elevated circulating follistatin associates with an increased risk of T2D by inducing adipose tissue insulin resistance.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (s1) ◽  
pp. 9-9
Author(s):  
Darcy Kahn ◽  
Simona Zarini ◽  
Emily Macias ◽  
Amanda Garfield ◽  
Kathleen Harrison ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Intermuscular adipose tissue (IMAT) has been associated with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, yet mechanistic studies addressing the functional role of IMAT are lacking. The aim of this work was to identify novel mechanisms by which IMAT may directly impact skeletal muscle metabolism. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: We quantified the secretome of IMAT, subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) to determine if there are differences between depots in the secretion of cytokines, eicosanoids, FFAs and proteins that influence metabolic function. SAT and VAT biopsies from patients undergoing laparoscopic bariatric surgery and IMAT extracted from vastus lateralis biopsies of individuals with Obesity were cultured for 48 hours in DMEM, and the conditioned media was analyzed using nanoflow HPLC-MS, multiplex ELISAs and LC/MS/MS for proteins, cytokines and eicosanoids/FFA, respectively. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: IMAT secretion of various extracellular matrix proteins (fibrinogen-β, collagenV1a3, fibronectin) was significantly different than VAT and SAT. Pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion of IFNg, TNFa, IL-8 and IL-13 from IMAT was higher than VAT and significantly higher than SAT (p < 0.05). IMAT secretes significantly more pro-inflammatory eicosanoids TXB2 and PGE2 than VAT (p = 0.02, 0.05) and SAT (p = 0.01, 0.04). IMAT and VAT have significantly greater basal lipolysis assessed by FFA release rates compared to SAT (p = 0.01, 0.04). DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: These data begin to characterize the disparate secretory properties of SAT, VAT and IMAT and suggest a metabolically adverse secretome of IMAT, that due to its proximity to skeletal muscle may play an important functional role in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.


Diabetologia ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 50 (12) ◽  
pp. 2562-2571 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Plomgaard ◽  
A. R. Nielsen ◽  
C. P. Fischer ◽  
O. H. Mortensen ◽  
C. Broholm ◽  
...  

2003 ◽  
Vol 62 (3) ◽  
pp. 753-760 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. E. Blaak

Disturbances in pathways of lipolysis and fatty acid handling are of importance in the aetiology of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus. There is evidence that a lowered catecholamine-mediated lipolytic response may play a role in the development and maintenance of increased adipose tissue stores. Increased adipose tissue stores, a disturbed insulin-mediated regulation of lipolysis and subnormal skeletal muscle non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) uptake under conditions of high lipolytic rate may increase circulating NEFA concentrations, which may promote insulin resistance and cardiovascular complications. In addition, a disturbance of NEFA uptake by adipose tissue postprandially is also a critical determinant of plasma NEFA concentration. Furthermore, evidence is increasing that insulin-resistant muscle is characterised by a lowered ability to oxidise fatty acids. A dysbalance between fatty acid uptake and fatty acid oxidation may in turn be a factor promoting accumulation of lipid intermediates and triacylglycerols within skeletal muscle, which is strongly associated with skeletal muscle insulin resistance. The present review describes the reported disturbances in pathways of lipolysis and skeletal muscle fatty acid handling, and discusses underlying mechanisms and metabolic consequences of these disturbances.


2010 ◽  
Vol 104 (1) ◽  
pp. 76-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joana Crisóstomo ◽  
Lisa Rodrigues ◽  
Paulo Matafome ◽  
Carmen Amaral ◽  
Elsa Nunes ◽  
...  

Inflammation plays an important role in diabetes mellitus and its complications. In this context, the negative cross-talk between adipose tissue and skeletal muscle leads to disturbances in muscle cell insulin signalling and induces insulin resistance. Because several studies have shown that energy restriction brings some benefits to diabetes, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of dietary restriction on systemic and skeletal muscle inflammatory biomarkers, such C-reactive protein, adipokines and cytokines, and in insulin resistance in Goto-Kakizaki rats. This is an animal model of spontaneous non-obese type 2 diabetes with strongly insulin resistance and without dyslipidaemia. Animals were maintained during 2 months of dietary restriction (50 %) and were killed at 6 months of age. Some biochemical determinations were done using ELISA and Western blot. Data from the present study demonstrate that in Goto-Kakizaki rats the dietary restriction improved insulin resistance, NEFA levels and adipokine profile and ameliorated inflammatory cytokines in skeletal muscle. These results indicate that dietary restriction in type 2 diabetes enhances adipose tissue metabolism leading to an improved skeletal muscle insulin sensitivity.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Selma M. Soyal ◽  
Thomas Felder ◽  
Simon Auer ◽  
Hannes Oberkofler ◽  
Bernhard Iglseder ◽  
...  

The genomic region ~500 kb upstream ofIRS1has been implicated in insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, adverse lipid profile, and cardiovascular risk. To gain further insight into this chromosomal region, we typed four SNPs in a cross-sectional cohort and subjects with type 2 diabetes recruited from the same geographic region. From 16 possible haplotypes, 6 haplotypes with frequencies >0.01 were observed. We identified one haplotype that was protective against insulin resistance (determined by HOMA-IR and fasting plasma insulin levels), type 2 diabetes, an adverse lipid profile, increased C-reactive protein, and asymptomatic atherosclerotic disease (assessed by intima media thickness of the common carotid arteries). BMI and total adipose tissue mass as well as visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue mass did not differ between the reference and protective haplotypes. In 92 subjects, we observed an association of the protective haplotype with higher skeletal muscle mRNA levels ofLOC646736, which is located in the same haplotype block as the informative SNPs and is mainly expressed in skeletal muscle, but only at very low levels in liver or adipose tissues. These data suggest a role forLOC646736in human insulin resistance and warrant further studies on the functional effects of this locus.


2018 ◽  
Vol 127 (08) ◽  
pp. 550-556 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melina Amor ◽  
Bianca K. Itariu ◽  
Veronica Moreno-Viedma ◽  
Magdalena Keindl ◽  
Alexander Jürets ◽  
...  

AbstractObesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus have reached an epidemic level, thus novel treatment concepts need to be identified. Myostatin, a myokine known for restraining skeletal muscle growth, has been associated with the development of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Yet, little is known about the regulation of myostatin in human obesity and insulin resistance. We aimed to investigate the regulation of myostatin in obesity and uncover potential associations between myostatin, metabolic markers and insulin resistance/sensitivity indices. Circulating active myostatin concentration was measured in the serum of twenty-eight severely obese non-diabetic patients compared to a sex and age matched lean and overweight control group (n=22). Insulin resistance/sensitivity was assessed in the obese group. Skeletal muscle and adipose tissue specimens from the obese group were collected during elective bariatric surgery. Adipose tissue samples from lean and overweight subjects were collected during elective abdominal surgery. Myostatin concentration was increased in obese compared to lean individuals, while myostatin adipose tissue expression did not differ. Muscle myostatin gene expression strongly correlated with expression of metabolic genes such as IRS1, PGC1α, SREBF1. Circulating myostatin concentration correlated positively with insulin resistance indices and negatively with insulin sensitivity indices. The best correlation was obtained for the oral glucose insulin sensitivity index. Our results point to an interesting correlation between myostatin and insulin resistance/sensitivity in humans, and emphasize its need for further evaluation as a pharmacological target in the prevention and treatment of obesity-associated metabolic complications.


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (21) ◽  
pp. 5271 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew T. Lewis ◽  
Jonathan D. Kasper ◽  
Jason N. Bazil ◽  
Jefferson C. Frisbee ◽  
Robert W. Wiseman

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a growing health concern with nearly 400 million affected worldwide as of 2014. T2D presents with hyperglycemia and insulin resistance resulting in increased risk for blindness, renal failure, nerve damage, and premature death. Skeletal muscle is a major site for insulin resistance and is responsible for up to 80% of glucose uptake during euglycemic hyperglycemic clamps. Glucose uptake in skeletal muscle is driven by mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and for this reason mitochondrial dysfunction has been implicated in T2D. In this review we integrate mitochondrial function with physiologic function to present a broader understanding of mitochondrial functional status in T2D utilizing studies from both human and rodent models. Quantification of mitochondrial function is explained both in vitro and in vivo highlighting the use of proper controls and the complications imposed by obesity and sedentary lifestyle. This review suggests that skeletal muscle mitochondria are not necessarily dysfunctional but limited oxygen supply to working muscle creates this misperception. Finally, we propose changes in experimental design to address this question unequivocally. If mitochondrial function is not impaired it suggests that therapeutic interventions and drug development must move away from the organelle and toward the cardiovascular system.


2019 ◽  
Vol 104 (8) ◽  
pp. 3327-3336 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diana Barb ◽  
Fernando Bril ◽  
Srilaxmi Kalavalapalli ◽  
Kenneth Cusi

Abstract Context The relationship between plasma fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), insulin resistance, and steatohepatitis has not been systematically assessed. Objective To determine if higher plasma FGF21 is associated with worse steatohepatitis on liver biopsy in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Design and Setting Cross-sectional study in a university hospital. Patients Interventions and Main Outcome Measures Patients with a body mass index &gt;25 (n = 187) underwent: (i) euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp to assess tissue-specific insulin resistance (IR); (ii) liver magnetic resonance spectroscopy for intrahepatic triglyceride quantification, (iii) liver biopsy (if NAFLD present; n = 146); and (iv) fasting plasma FGF21 levels. Methods and Results Patients were divided into three groups: (i) No NAFLD (n = 41); (ii) No nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) (patients with isolated steatosis or borderline NASH; n = 52); and (iii) NASH (patients with definite NASH; n = 94). Groups were well-matched for age/sex, prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus, and hemoglobin A1c. During euglycemic hyperinsulinemic insulin clamp, insulin sensitivity in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue worsened from No NAFLD to NASH (both P &lt; 0.001). Plasma FGF21 levels correlated inversely with insulin sensitivity in adipose tissue (r = −0.17, P = 0.006) and skeletal muscle (r = −0.23, P = 0.007), but not with liver insulin sensitivity. Plasma FGF21 was higher in patients with NASH (453 ± 262 pg/mL) when compared with the No NASH (341 ± 198 pg/mL, P = 0.03) or No NAFLD (325 ± 289 pg/mL, P = 0.02) groups. Plasma FGF21 increased with the severity of necroinflammation (P = 0.02), and most significantly with worse fibrosis (P &lt; 0.001), but not with worsening steatosis (P = 0.60). Conclusions Plasma FGF21 correlates with severity of steatohepatitis, in particular of fibrosis, in patients with NASH. Measurement of FGF21 may help identify patients at the highest risk of disease progression.


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