Targeted disruption of inducible nitric oxide synthase protects against obesity-linked insulin resistance in muscle.
Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) is induced by inflammatory cytokines in skeletal muscle and fat. It has been proposed that chronic iNOS induction may cause muscle insulin resistance. Here we show that iNOS expression is increased in muscle and fat of genetic and dietary models of obesity. Moreover, mice in which the gene encoding iNOS was disrupted (Nos2-/- mice) are protected from high-fat-induced insulin resistance. Whereas both wild-type and Nos2-/- mice developed obesity on the high-fat diet, obese Nos2-/- mice exhibited improved glucose tolerance, normal insulin sensitivity in vivo and normal insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in muscles. iNOS induction in obese wild-type mice was associated with impairments in phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and Akt activation by insulin in muscle. These defects were fully prevented in obese Nos2-/- mice. These findings provide genetic evidence that iNOS is involved in the development of muscle insulin resistance in diet-induced obesity.
Perreault
M
M
Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Lipid Research Unit and Research Center on Energy Metabolism, Laval University Hospital Research Center, Ste-Foy, Québec, Canada.
Marette
A
A
D000818:Animals; D018390:Gene Targeting; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D009765:Obesity / Q000201:enzymology*; D015398:Signal Transduction
D007328:Insulin; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; C496317:Nos2 protein, mouse