Exosomes are important for intercellular communication, but the role of exosomes
in the communication between adipose tissue (<a>AT</a>) and
the liver remains unknown. The aim of this study is to determine the
contribution of AT-derived exosomes in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (<a>NAFLD</a>). Exosome components, liver fat content, and liver
function were monitored in AT in mice fed a <a>high-fat
diet </a>(<a>HFD</a>) or treated with metformin- or GW4869
and with AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPKα1)<i> </i>floxed<i> (Prkaα1</i><sup>fl/fl</sup>/WT), <a><i>Prkaα1</i><sup>-/-</sup></a>,
liver tissue-specific <i>Prkaα1</i><sup>-/-</sup>, or AT-specific <i>Prkaα1</i><sup>-/-</sup>
modification. In cultured adipocytes and white adipose tissue (WAT), the
absence of <a><i>AMPKα1</i></a>
increased exosome release and exosomal proteins by elevating <a>tumor susceptibility gene 101 (<i>TSG101</i></a>)-mediated exosome biogenesis. In adipocytes treated with
palmitic acid, TSG101 facilitated scavenger receptor class B (CD36) sorting
into exosomes. CD36-containing exosomes were then endocytosed by hepatocytes to
induce lipid accumulation and inflammation. Consistently, an HFD induced more
severe lipid accumulation and cell death in <a><i>Prkaα1</i><sup>-/-</sup>
</a>and adipose tissue-specific <i>Prkaα1</i><sup>-/-</sup> mice than in WT and
liver-specific <i>Prkaα1</i><sup>-/-</sup> mice. AMPK activation by metformin
reduced adipocyte-mediated exosome release and mitigated fatty liver
development in WT and liver specific <i>Prkaα1</i><sup>-/-</sup> mice.
Moreover, administration of the exosome inhibitor GW4869 blocked exosome
secretion and alleviated HFD-induced fatty livers in <i>Prkaα1</i><sup>-/-</sup>
and adipocyte-specific <i>Prkaα1</i><sup>-/-</sup> mice. We conclude that HFD-mediated
AMPKα1 inhibition promotes NAFLD by increasing numbers of AT C<a>D36</a>-containing exosomes.