Deficiency of the leukotriene B4 receptor, BLT-1, protects against systemic insulin resistance in diet-induced obesity

J Immunol. 2011 Aug 15;187(4):1942-9. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1100196. Epub 2011 Jul 8.

Abstract

Chronic inflammation is an underlying factor linking obesity with insulin resistance. Diet-induced obesity promotes an increase in circulating levels of inflammatory monocytes and their infiltration into expanding adipose tissue. Nevertheless, the endogenous pathways that trigger and sustain chronic low-grade inflammation in obesity are incompletely understood. In this study, we report that a high-fat diet selectively increases the circulating levels of CD11b(+) monocytes in wild-type mice that express leukotriene B(4) receptor, BLT-1, and that this increase is abolished in BLT-1-null mice. The accumulation of classically activated (M1) adipose tissue macrophages (ATMs) and the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines (i.e., IL-6 and Ccl2) was largely blunted in adipose tissue of obese BLT-1(-/-) mice, whereas the ratio of alternatively activated (M2) ATMs to M1 ATMs was increased. Obese BLT-1(-/-) mice were protected from systemic glucose and insulin intolerance and this was associated with a decrease in inflammation in adipose tissue and liver and a decrease in hepatic triglyceride accumulation. Deletion of BLT-1 prevented high fat-induced loss of insulin signaling in liver and skeletal muscle. These observations elucidate a novel role of chemoattractant receptor, BLT-1, in promoting monocyte trafficking to adipose tissue and promoting chronic inflammation in obesity and could lead to the identification of new therapeutic targets for treating insulin resistance in obesity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adipose Tissue / immunology
  • Adipose Tissue / metabolism
  • Animals
  • CD11b Antigen / immunology
  • CD11b Antigen / metabolism
  • Cell Movement / genetics
  • Cell Movement / immunology
  • Chemokine CCL2 / biosynthesis
  • Chemokine CCL2 / genetics
  • Chemokine CCL2 / immunology
  • Dietary Fats / adverse effects*
  • Dietary Fats / pharmacology
  • Female
  • Gene Deletion
  • Inflammation / etiology
  • Inflammation / genetics
  • Inflammation / immunology
  • Inflammation / metabolism
  • Inflammation / therapy
  • Insulin Resistance / genetics
  • Insulin Resistance / immunology*
  • Interleukin-6 / biosynthesis
  • Interleukin-6 / genetics
  • Interleukin-6 / immunology
  • Liver / immunology
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Macrophage Activation / genetics
  • Macrophage Activation / immunology
  • Macrophages / immunology
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Monocytes / immunology
  • Monocytes / metabolism
  • Muscle, Skeletal / immunology
  • Muscle, Skeletal / metabolism
  • Obesity / etiology
  • Obesity / genetics
  • Obesity / immunology*
  • Obesity / metabolism
  • Receptors, Leukotriene B4 / genetics
  • Receptors, Leukotriene B4 / immunology*
  • Receptors, Leukotriene B4 / metabolism

Substances

  • CD11b Antigen
  • Ccl2 protein, mouse
  • Chemokine CCL2
  • Dietary Fats
  • Interleukin-6
  • Ltb4r1 protein, mouse
  • Receptors, Leukotriene B4