Extracellular matrix hyaluronan is increased in skeletal muscle of high-fat-fed insulin-resistant mice, and reduction of hyaluronan by PEGPH20 hyaluronidase ameliorates diet-induced insulin resistance (IR). CD44, the main hyaluronan receptor, is positively correlated with type 2 diabetes. This study determines the role of CD44 in skeletal muscle IR. Global CD44-deficient ( cd44−/−) mice and wild-type littermates ( cd44+/+) were fed a chow diet or 60% high-fat diet for 16 wk. High-fat-fed cd44−/− mice were also treated with PEGPH20 to evaluate its CD44-dependent action. Insulin sensitivity was measured by hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp (ICv). High-fat feeding increased muscle CD44 protein expression. In the absence of differences in body weight and composition, despite lower clamp insulin during ICv, the cd44−/− mice had sustained glucose infusion rate (GIR) regardless of diet. High-fat diet-induced muscle IR as evidenced by decreased muscle glucose uptake (Rg) was exhibited in cd44+/+ mice but absent in cd44−/− mice. Moreover, gastrocnemius Rg remained unchanged between genotypes on chow diet but was increased in high-fat-fed cd44−/− compared with cd44+/+ when normalized to clamp insulin concentrations. Ameliorated muscle IR in high-fat-fed cd44−/− mice was associated with increased vascularization. In contrast to previously observed increases in wild-type mice, PEGPH20 treatment in high-fat-fed cd44−/− mice did not change GIR or muscle Rg during ICv, suggesting a CD44-dependent action. In conclusion, genetic CD44 deletion improves muscle IR, and the beneficial effects of PEGPH20 are CD44-dependent. These results suggest a critical role of CD44 in promoting hyaluronan-mediated muscle IR, therefore representing a potential therapeutic target for diabetes.

Objective Increased deposition of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in adipose tissue (AT) during obesity contributes to insulin resistance. The integrin receptors transmit changes in the extracellular environment causing corresponding intracellular adaptations. Integrin-linked kinase (ILK), an adaptor protein, is a central hub for intracellular signaling of integrins. This study determined the role of ILK in adipose function and insulin resistance. Methods The pathogenic role of ILK in obesity and insulin resistance was studied in human adipose tissue and adipocyte-specific ILK-deficient mice (ILK lox/lox AdCre ). ILK lox/lox AdCre mice together with wild-type littermates (ILK lox/lox ) were fed a chow diet or 60% high-fat (HF) diet for 16 weeks. In vivo insulin sensitivity was determined by hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamps. Results AT ILK expression was increased by HF diet feeding in mice and increased in visceral fat of morbidly obese humans. The HF-fed ILK lox/lox AdCre mice displayed reduced fat mass and improved glucose tolerance relative to the HF-fed ILK lox/lox mice. During a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp, the HF-fed ILK lox/lox AdCre mice exhibited partially improved insulin resistance in AT. Lipolysis was suppressed to a greater extent by insulin and glucose uptake in brown AT (BAT) increased. Increased inhibition of lipolysis may have been attributed to increased vascularization in white AT, while increased glucose uptake in BAT was associated with increased Akt phosphorylation and P38/JNK dephosphorylation. Notably, AT insulin sensitivity in lean mice was not affected by ILK deletion. Moreover, reduced fat mass in the HF-fed ILK lox/lox AdCre mice may have been attributed to decreased free fatty acid uptake into adipocytes via the downregulation of CD36 gene expression. Consistent with the results in the mice, knockdown and knockout of ILK in 3T3-L1 cells decreased lipid accumulation and CD36 gene expression during adipogenesis. Conclusions These data show that adipocyte ILK is important for regulating HF diet-mediated insulin resistance in AT in a manner consistent with AT function.

No abstract

The remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in tissues including adipose tissue, and the expression of collagen binding integrin α2β1 have been associated with the development of insulin resistance. Integrin-linked Kinase (ILK), an adaptor protein and a key component of the IPP (ILK-Parvin-PINCH) complex mediates integrins linking the ECM with intracellular signalling. This study determines the role of ILK in adipose function and insulin resistance in chow and high fat (HF)-fed mice. HF feeding increased adipose ILK expression in mice (2.7 ±0.62 vs. 1±0.23; p=0.01). Adipocyte-specific deletion of ILK resulted in a decrease in fat mass (21.6±1.6% vs. 27.3±1.4%; p=0.009) and epididymal tissue weight (eWAT) (1.04±0.07g vs. 1.62±0.11g; p<0.001) in HF-fed mice, but not in chow-fed mice. During the hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp, HF-fed ILK deficient mice showed increased glucose uptake (66.22±p=0.028) in the brown adipose tissue (BAT) compared with the wild type littermate controls. Increased glucose uptake in BAT is associated with increased phosphorylation of AKT (1.96±0.16 vs. 1±0.28 fold change; p=0.01), and decreased phosphorylation of p38 and JNK (0.23 ± 0.17 vs. 1±0.48; p=0.024 and 0.41 ±0.12 vs. 1±0.17; p=0.025 respectively). The inhibition of lipolysis by insulin was also improved in HF-fed ILK deficient mice determined by plasma NEFA level during the clamp. This could be attributed to decreased cell size (0.85±0.042 vs. 1±0.06; p=0.0001), decreased collagen deposition (22.8±0.98 vs. 30.28± 2.05; p=0.01) and a trend increase in vascularization (3.47±1.26 vs. 1±0.23; p=0.07) in the eWAT. These data suggest that adipocyte ILK plays an important role in regulating adipocyte morphology, signaling and glucose and lipid homeostasis, therefore representing a potential target for obesity, insulin resistance and diabetes. Disclosure A. Bugler-Lamb: None. C. Hennayake: None. A. Hasib: None. M.L. Ashford: None. L. Kang: None. Funding Diabetes UK; Diabetes Research & Wellness Foundation