Ceramide kinase deficiency improves diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance.

Abstract

Ceramide kinase (CERK) is an enzyme that phosphorylates ceramide to produce ceramide 1-phosphate. Recently, evidence has emerged that CERK has a role in inflammatory signaling of immune cells. Since obesity is accompanied by chronic, low-grade inflammation, we examined whether CERK might be involved using CERK-null mice. We determined that CERK deficiency suppresses diet-induced increases in body weight, and improves glucose intolerance. Furthermore, we demonstrated that CERK deficiency attenuates MCP-1/CCR2 signaling in macrophages infiltrating the adipose tissue, resulting in the suppression of inflammation in adipocytes, which might otherwise lead to obesity and diabetes.

• Authors: Susumu Mitsutake, Tomomi Date, Hazuki Yokota, Masako Sugiura, Takafumi Kohama, Yasuyuki Igarashi
• Journal: FEBS letters (FEBS Lett) Vol. 586 Issue 9 Pg. 1300-5 (May 07 2012) ISSN: 1873-3468 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 22465662 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2012 Federation of European Biochemical Societies. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Ccl2 protein, mouse
• Ccr2 protein, mouse
• Chemokine CCL2
• Receptors, CCR2
• Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor)
• ceramide kinase

Topics

• Adipose Tissue (metabolism, pathology)
• Animals
• Body Weight
• Chemokine CCL2 (metabolism)
• Diabetes Mellitus (enzymology)
• Diet, High-Fat (adverse effects)
• Glucose Tolerance Test
• Insulin Resistance
• Macrophages (immunology, metabolism)
• Mice
• Obesity (enzymology, etiology, metabolism, pathology)
• Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor) (deficiency, metabolism)
• Receptors, CCR2 (metabolism)
• Signal Transduction