title: Critical role of chemokine (C-C motif) receptor 2 (CCR2) in the KKAy + Apoe -/- mouse model of the metabolic syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Chemokines and their receptors such as chemokine (C-C motif) receptor 2 (CCR2) may contribute to the pathogenesis of the metabolic syndrome via their effects on inflammatory monocytes. Increased accumulation of CCR2-driven inflammatory monocytes in epididymal fat pads is thought to favour the development of insulin resistance. Ultimately, the resulting hyperglycaemia and dyslipidaemia contribute to development of the metabolic syndrome complications such as cardiovascular disease and diabetic nephropathy. Our goal was to elucidate the role of CCR2 and inflammatory monocytes in a mouse model that resembles the human metabolic syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  We generated a model of the metabolic syndrome by backcrossing KKAy ( + ) with Apoe ( -/- ) mice (KKAy ( + ) Apoe ( -/- )) and studied the role of CCR2 in this model system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  KKAy ( + ) Apoe ( -/- ) mice were characterised by the presence of obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidaemia and increased systemic inflammation. This model also manifested two complications of the metabolic syndrome: atherosclerosis and diabetic nephropathy. Inactivation of Ccr2 in KKAy (+) Apoe ( -/- ) mice protected against the metabolic syndrome, as well as atherosclerosis and diabetic nephropathy. This protective phenotype was associated with a reduced number of inflammatory monocytes in the liver and muscle, but not in the epididymal fat pads; circulating levels of adipokines such as leptin, resistin and adiponectin were also not reduced. Interestingly, the proportion of inflammatory monocytes in the liver, pancreas and muscle, but not in the epididymal fat pads, correlated significantly with peripheral glucose levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CCR2-driven inflammatory monocyte accumulation in the liver and muscle may be a critical pathogenic factor in the development of the metabolic syndrome.
authors.affiliation: South Texas Veterans Health Care System, Audie L. Murphy Division, San Antonio, TX, USA.
authors.forename: H G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Quinones
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jimenez
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Estrada
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Muscogiuri
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sorice
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Musi
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Reddick
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Ahuja
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004435:Eating / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D054390:Receptors, CCR2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D015850:Interleukin-6; D054390:Receptors, CCR2; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha