Prevention of steatosis by hepatic JNK1.
Nonalcoholic steatosis (fatty liver) is a major cause of liver dysfunction that is associated with insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome. The cJun NH(2)-terminal kinase 1 (JNK1) signaling pathway is implicated in the pathogenesis of hepatic steatosis and drugs that target JNK1 may be useful for treatment of this disease. Indeed, mice with defects in JNK1 expression in adipose tissue are protected against hepatic steatosis. Here we report that mice with specific ablation of Jnk1 in hepatocytes exhibit glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, and hepatic steatosis. JNK1 therefore serves opposing actions in liver and adipose tissue to both promote and prevent hepatic steatosis. This finding has potential implications for the design of JNK1-selective drugs for the treatment of metabolic syndrome.
Sabio
Guadalupe
G
Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.
Cavanagh-Kyros
Julie
J
Ko
Hwi Jin
HJ
Jung
Dae Young
DY
Gray
Susan
S
Jun
John Y
JY
Barrett
Tamera
T
Mora
Alfonso
A
Kim
Jason K
JK
Davis
Roger J
RJ
D000818:Animals; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D018149:Glucose Intolerance / Q000378:metabolism*; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D048055:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 8 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D009928:Organ Specificity; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology
D048055:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 8