Cellular mechanisms by which FGF21 improves insulin sensitivity in male mice

Endocrinology. 2013 Sep;154(9):3099-109. doi: 10.1210/en.2013-1191. Epub 2013 Jun 13.

Abstract

Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is a potent regulator of glucose and lipid metabolism and is currently being pursued as a therapeutic agent for insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. However, the cellular mechanisms by which FGF21 modifies insulin action in vivo are unclear. To address this question, we assessed insulin action in regular chow- and high-fat diet (HFD)-fed wild-type mice chronically infused with FGF21 or vehicle. Here, we show that FGF21 administration results in improvements in both hepatic and peripheral insulin sensitivity in both regular chow- and HFD-fed mice. This improvement in insulin responsiveness in FGF21-treated HFD-fed mice was associated with decreased hepatocellular and myocellular diacylglycerol content and reduced protein kinase Cε activation in liver and protein kinase Cθ in skeletal muscle. In contrast, there were no effects of FGF21 on liver or muscle ceramide content. These effects may be attributed, in part, to increased energy expenditure in the liver and white adipose tissue. Taken together, these data provide a mechanism by which FGF21 protects mice from lipid-induced liver and muscle insulin resistance and support its development as a novel therapy for the treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Adipose Tissue, Brown / drug effects
  • Adipose Tissue, Brown / metabolism
  • Adipose Tissue, Brown / surgery
  • Animals
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Diet, High-Fat / adverse effects
  • Drug Implants
  • Energy Metabolism* / drug effects
  • Fibroblast Growth Factors / administration & dosage
  • Fibroblast Growth Factors / metabolism*
  • Fibroblast Growth Factors / therapeutic use
  • Glucose Intolerance / drug therapy
  • Glucose Intolerance / etiology
  • Glucose Intolerance / metabolism*
  • Glucose Intolerance / pathology
  • Humans
  • Infusions, Subcutaneous
  • Insulin Resistance*
  • Isoenzymes / metabolism
  • Lipectomy
  • Lipid Metabolism* / drug effects
  • Liver / drug effects
  • Liver / metabolism*
  • Liver / pathology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Muscle, Skeletal / drug effects
  • Muscle, Skeletal / metabolism*
  • Muscle, Skeletal / pathology
  • Protein Kinase C / metabolism
  • Protein Kinase C-epsilon / metabolism
  • Protein Kinase C-theta
  • Recombinant Proteins / administration & dosage
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • Recombinant Proteins / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Drug Implants
  • Isoenzymes
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • fibroblast growth factor 21
  • Fibroblast Growth Factors
  • Prkce protein, mouse
  • Prkcq protein, mouse
  • Protein Kinase C
  • Protein Kinase C-epsilon
  • Protein Kinase C-theta