Mice lacking PKC-θ in skeletal muscle have reduced intramyocellular lipid accumulation and increased insulin responsiveness in skeletal muscle

B Peck, J Huot, T Renzi, S Arthur… - American Journal …, 2018 - journals.physiology.org
B Peck, J Huot, T Renzi, S Arthur, MJ Turner, JS Marino
American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and …, 2018journals.physiology.org
Protein kinase C-θ (PKC-θ) is a lipid-sensitive molecule associated with lipid-induced
insulin resistance in skeletal muscle. Rodent models have not cohesively supported that
PKC-θ impairs insulin responsiveness in skeletal muscle. The purpose of this study was to
generate mice that lack PKC-θ in skeletal muscle and determine how lipid accumulation and
insulin responsiveness are affected in that tissue. Mice lacking PKC-θ in skeletal muscle
(SkMPKCθKO) and controls (SkMPKCθWT) were placed on a regular diet (RD) or high-fat …
Protein kinase C-θ (PKC-θ) is a lipid-sensitive molecule associated with lipid-induced insulin resistance in skeletal muscle. Rodent models have not cohesively supported that PKC-θ impairs insulin responsiveness in skeletal muscle. The purpose of this study was to generate mice that lack PKC-θ in skeletal muscle and determine how lipid accumulation and insulin responsiveness are affected in that tissue. Mice lacking PKC-θ in skeletal muscle (SkMPKCθKO) and controls (SkMPKCθWT) were placed on a regular diet (RD) or high-fat diet (HFD) for 15 wk, followed by determination of food intake, fasting glucose levels, lipid accumulation, and insulin responsiveness. There were no differences between SkMPKCθWT and SkMPKCθKO mice on a RD. SkMPKCθKO mice on a HFD gained less weight from 10 through 15 wk of dietary intervention (P < 0.05). This was likely due to less caloric consumption (P = 0.0183) and fewer calories from fat (P < 0.001) compared with SkMPKCθWT mice on a HFD. Intramyocellular lipid accumulation (P < 0.0001), fatty acid binding protein 4, and TNF-α mRNA levels (P < 0.05) were markedly reduced in SkMPKCθKO compared with SkMPKCθWT mice on a HFD. As a result, fasting hyperglycemia was mitigated and insulin responsiveness, as indicated by Akt phosphorylation, was maintained in SkMPKCθKO on a HFD. Liver lipid accumulation was not affected by genotype, suggesting the deletion of PKC-θ from skeletal muscle has a tissue-specific effect. PKC-θ is a regulator of lipid-induced insulin resistance in skeletal muscle. However, the effects of this mutation may be tissue specific. Further work is warranted to comprehensively evaluated whole body metabolic responses in this model.
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