Abstract

Aberrant amino acid metabolism is a common event in obesity. Particularly, subjects with obesity are characterized by the excessive plasma kynurenine (Kyn). However, the primary source of Kyn and its impact on metabolic syndrome are yet to be fully addressed. Herein, we show that the overexpressed indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) in adipocytes predominantly contributes to the excessive Kyn, indicating a central role of adipocytes in Kyn metabolism. Depletion of Ido1 in adipocytes abrogates Kyn accumulation, protecting mice against obesity. Mechanistically, Kyn impairs lipid homeostasis in adipocytes via activating the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR)/Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 /interleukin-6 signaling. Genetic ablation of AhR in adipocytes abolishes the effect of Kyn. Moreover, supplementation of vitamin B6 ameliorated Kyn accumulation, protecting mice from obesity. Collectively, our data support that adipocytes are the primary source of increased circulating Kyn, while elimination of accumulated Kyn could be a viable strategy against obesity.

Kynurenine, a tryptophan metabolite, is increased in the circulating plasma of obese individuals, but the source has been unclear. Here, the authors show in mice that mature adipocytes produce kynurenine, with vitamin B6 administration preventing accumulation and protecting against high-fat diet.

Details

Title
Adipocyte-derived kynurenine promotes obesity and insulin resistance by activating the AhR/STAT3/IL-6 signaling
Author
Huang, Teng 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Song, Jia 2 ; Gao, Jia 1 ; Cheng, Jia 3 ; Xie, Hao 1 ; Zhang, Lu 1 ; Wang, Yu-Han 1 ; Gao, Zhichao 1 ; Wang, Yi 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Wang, Xiaohui 1 ; He, Jinhan 4 ; Liu, Shiwei 5 ; Yu, Qilin 1 ; Zhang, Shu 1 ; Xiong, Fei 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Zhou, Qing 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Wang, Cong-Yi 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo 

 Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, the Center for Biomedical Research, NHC Key Laboratory of Respiratory Diseases, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Wuhan, China (GRID:grid.33199.31) (ISNI:0000 0004 0368 7223) 
 Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, the Center for Biomedical Research, NHC Key Laboratory of Respiratory Diseases, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Wuhan, China (GRID:grid.33199.31) (ISNI:0000 0004 0368 7223); Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Reproductive Medicine Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Wuhan, China (GRID:grid.33199.31) (ISNI:0000 0004 0368 7223) 
 Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, the Center for Biomedical Research, NHC Key Laboratory of Respiratory Diseases, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Wuhan, China (GRID:grid.33199.31) (ISNI:0000 0004 0368 7223); Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Wuhan, China (GRID:grid.33199.31) (ISNI:0000 0004 0368 7223) 
 West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Department of Pharmacy, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, Chengdu, China (GRID:grid.412901.f) (ISNI:0000 0004 1770 1022) 
 Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, China (GRID:grid.263452.4) (ISNI:0000 0004 1798 4018) 
Publication year
2022
Publication date
2022
Publisher
Nature Publishing Group
e-ISSN
20411723
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
2677954196
Copyright
© The Author(s) 2022. This work is published under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.