Mitochondrial ATP transporter depletion protects mice against liver steatosis and insulin resistance

Nat Commun. 2017 Feb 16:8:14477. doi: 10.1038/ncomms14477.

Abstract

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common metabolic disorder in obese individuals. Adenine nucleotide translocase (ANT) exchanges ADP/ATP through the mitochondrial inner membrane, and Ant2 is the predominant isoform expressed in the liver. Here we demonstrate that targeted disruption of Ant2 in mouse liver enhances uncoupled respiration without damaging mitochondrial integrity and liver functions. Interestingly, liver specific Ant2 knockout mice are leaner and resistant to hepatic steatosis, obesity and insulin resistance under a lipogenic diet. Protection against fatty liver is partially recapitulated by the systemic administration of low-dose carboxyatractyloside, a specific inhibitor of ANT. Targeted manipulation of hepatic mitochondrial metabolism, particularly through inhibition of ANT, may represent an alternative approach in NAFLD and obesity treatment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenine Nucleotide Translocator 2 / genetics
  • Adenine Nucleotide Translocator 2 / metabolism*
  • Adenosine Triphosphate / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Atractyloside / analogs & derivatives
  • Diet, High-Fat
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Fatty Liver / metabolism*
  • Fatty Liver / therapy
  • Female
  • Glucose Clamp Technique
  • Hyperinsulinism
  • Insulin Resistance*
  • Lipid Metabolism
  • Lipogenesis
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Liver / pathology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mitochondria, Liver / metabolism*
  • Mitochondrial Membranes / metabolism
  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / metabolism
  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / pathology
  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / therapy
  • Obesity / metabolism
  • Obesity / therapy
  • Protective Agents / metabolism*
  • Pyruvic Acid / metabolism

Substances

  • Adenine Nucleotide Translocator 2
  • Protective Agents
  • Atractyloside
  • Pyruvic Acid
  • Adenosine Triphosphate
  • carboxyatractyloside