Go to The Journal of Clinical Investigation
  • About
  • Editors
  • Consulting Editors
  • For authors
  • Publication ethics
  • Publication alerts by email
  • Transfers
  • Advertising
  • Job board
  • Contact
  • Physician-Scientist Development
  • Current issue
  • Past issues
  • By specialty
    • COVID-19
    • Cardiology
    • Immunology
    • Metabolism
    • Nephrology
    • Oncology
    • Pulmonology
    • All ...
  • Videos
  • Collections
    • In-Press Preview
    • Resource and Technical Advances
    • Clinical Research and Public Health
    • Research Letters
    • Editorials
    • Perspectives
    • Physician-Scientist Development
    • Reviews
    • Top read articles

  • Current issue
  • Past issues
  • Specialties
  • In-Press Preview
  • Resource and Technical Advances
  • Clinical Research and Public Health
  • Research Letters
  • Editorials
  • Perspectives
  • Physician-Scientist Development
  • Reviews
  • Top read articles
  • About
  • Editors
  • Consulting Editors
  • For authors
  • Publication ethics
  • Publication alerts by email
  • Transfers
  • Advertising
  • Job board
  • Contact

Usage Information

The crucial role of muscle glucocorticoid signaling in accelerating obesity and glucose intolerance via hyperinsulinemia
Hiroki Yamazaki, Masaaki Uehara, Noritada Yoshikawa, Akiko Kuribara-Souta, Motohisa Yamamoto, Yasuko Hirakawa, Yasuaki Kabe, Makoto Suematsu, Hirotoshi Tanaka
Hiroki Yamazaki, Masaaki Uehara, Noritada Yoshikawa, Akiko Kuribara-Souta, Motohisa Yamamoto, Yasuko Hirakawa, Yasuaki Kabe, Makoto Suematsu, Hirotoshi Tanaka
View: Text | PDF
Research Article Endocrinology Muscle biology

The crucial role of muscle glucocorticoid signaling in accelerating obesity and glucose intolerance via hyperinsulinemia

  • Text
  • PDF
Abstract

Metabolic crosstalk from skeletal muscle to multiple organs is important for maintaining homeostasis, and its dysregulation can lead to various diseases. Chronic glucocorticoid administration often induces muscle atrophy and metabolic disorders such as diabetes and central obesity; however, the detailed underlying mechanism remains unclear. We previously reported that the deletion of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in skeletal muscle increases muscle mass and reduces fat mass through muscle-liver-fat communication under physiological conditions. In this study, we show that muscle GR signaling plays a crucial role in accelerating obesity through the induction of hyperinsulinemia. Fat accumulation in liver and adipose tissue, muscle atrophy, hyperglycemia, and hyperinsulinemia induced by chronic corticosterone (CORT) treatment improved in muscle-specific GR-knockout (GR-mKO) mice. Such CORT-induced fat accumulation was alleviated by suppressing insulin production (streptozotocin injection), indicating that hyperinsulinemia enhanced by muscle GR signaling promotes obesity. Strikingly, glucose intolerance and obesity in ob/ob mice without CORT treatment were also improved in GR-mKO mice, indicating that muscle GR signaling contributes to obesity-related metabolic changes, regardless of systemic glucocorticoid levels. Thus, this study provides insight for the treatment of obesity and diabetes by targeting muscle GR signaling.

Authors

Hiroki Yamazaki, Masaaki Uehara, Noritada Yoshikawa, Akiko Kuribara-Souta, Motohisa Yamamoto, Yasuko Hirakawa, Yasuaki Kabe, Makoto Suematsu, Hirotoshi Tanaka

×

Usage data is cumulative from December 2024 through December 2025.

Usage JCI PMC
Text version 1,062 202
PDF 171 40
Figure 435 0
Supplemental data 85 5
Citation downloads 71 0
Totals 1,824 247
Total Views 2,071

Usage information is collected from two different sources: this site (JCI) and Pubmed Central (PMC). JCI information (compiled daily) shows human readership based on methods we employ to screen out robotic usage. PMC information (aggregated monthly) is also similarly screened of robotic usage.

Various methods are used to distinguish robotic usage. For example, Google automatically scans articles to add to its search index and identifies itself as robotic; other services might not clearly identify themselves as robotic, or they are new or unknown as robotic. Because this activity can be misinterpreted as human readership, data may be re-processed periodically to reflect an improved understanding of robotic activity. Because of these factors, readers should consider usage information illustrative but subject to change.

Advertisement

Copyright © 2025 American Society for Clinical Investigation
ISSN 2379-3708

Sign up for email alerts