title: Strong association of serum- and glucocorticoid-regulated kinase 1 with peripheral and adipose tissue inflammation in obesity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The serum- and glucocorticoid-regulated kinase 1 (SGK1) is an early transcriptional target of glucocorticoids and is activated via insulin. Here we investigate the regulation of SGK1 expression in human obesity, diet-induced murine obesity and human monocytic cell line THP-1 monocytes.
  
  
  METHODS
  SGK1 expression was studied in subcutaneous and omental adipose tissue (AT) of 20 morbidly obese and 20 age- and gender-matched non-obese controls in murine diet-induced obesity and the THP-1 cell line. The regulation of SGK1 by inflammatory signals was tested in THP-1 cells.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Murine diet-induced obesity is associated with a significant upregulation of Sgk1 in gonadal AT. Sgk1 expression is highest in the macrophage-rich stromal vascular fraction and lower in adipocytes. In humans, AT SGK1 is predominantly expressed in CD14(+) macrophages and significantly upregulated in omental and subcutaneous AT of obese subjects. SGK1 mRNA expression in both omental and subcutaneous AT correlates with body mass index, circulating leptin and C-reactive protein, and the local expression of inflammatory markers including monocyte chemotactic protein-1 and macrophage inflammatory protein-1α. The expression of SGK1 in THP-1 cells is upregulated by inflammatory signals, such as lipopolysaccharide and tumour necrosis factor-α, as well as during the induction of monocyte-to-macrophage maturation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data present the first link between SGK1 and obesity-associated inflammation. SGK1 expression is stimulated in response to inflammatory signals and increased in AT macrophages. The characterisation of SGK1 functions in obesity and immunity may help identify potential therapeutic targets in the treatment of obesity.
authors: Clinical Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors: M H
authors: MH
authors: Schernthaner-Reiter
authors: Clinical Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Kiefer
authors: 1] Clinical Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria [2] Christian Doppler Laboratory for Cardiometabolic Immunotherapy, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Zeyda
authors: 1] Clinical Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria [2] Christian Doppler Laboratory for Cardiometabolic Immunotherapy, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors: T M
authors: TM
authors: Stulnig
authors: Clinical Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Luger
authors: Clinical Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Vila
mesh_terms: D041721:3T3-L1 Cells; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000378:metabolism*; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D000099184:Serum-Glucocorticoid Regulated Kinases
chemical_list: D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D000099184:Serum-Glucocorticoid Regulated Kinases