Abstract

Chemokine (C–C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2) has been associated with chronic metabolic diseases. We aimed to investigate whether Ccl2 gene overexpression is involved in the regulation of signaling pathways in metabolic organs. Biochemical and histological analyses were used to explore tissue damage in cisgenic mice that overexpressed the Ccl2 gene. Metabolites from energy and one-carbon metabolism in liver and muscle extracts were measured by targeted metabolomics. Western blot analysis was used to explore the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and mammalian target of rapamycin pathways. Ccl2 overexpression resulted in steatosis, decreased AMPK activity and altered mitochondrial dynamics in the liver. These changes were associated with decreased oxidative phosphorylation and alterations in the citric acid cycle and transmethylation. In contrast, AMPK activity and its downstream mediators were increased in muscle, where we observed an increase in oxidative phosphorylation and increased concentrations of different metabolites associated with ATP synthesis. In conclusion, Ccl2 overexpression induces distinct metabolic alterations in the liver and muscle that affect mitochondrial dynamics and the regulation of energy sensors involved in cell homeostasis. These data suggest that CCL2 may be a therapeutic target in metabolic diseases.

Details

Title
Chemokine C–C motif ligand 2 overexpression drives tissue-specific metabolic responses in the liver and muscle of mice
Author
Luciano-Mateo Fedra 1 ; Cabré Noemí 1 ; Fernández-Arroyo, Salvador 1 ; Baiges-Gaya Gerard 2 ; Hernández-Aguilera, Anna 1 ; Rodríguez-Tomàs Elisabet 2 ; Muñoz-Pinedo, Cristina 3 ; Menéndez, Javier A 4 ; Camps Jordi 1 ; Joven Jorge 5 

 Universitat Rovira I Virgili, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Reus, Spain (GRID:grid.410367.7) (ISNI:0000 0001 2284 9230); Hospital Universitari Sant Joan, Institut D’Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili, Unitat de Recerca Biomèdica, Reus, Spain (GRID:grid.411136.0) (ISNI:0000 0004 1765 529X) 
 Hospital Universitari Sant Joan, Institut D’Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili, Unitat de Recerca Biomèdica, Reus, Spain (GRID:grid.411136.0) (ISNI:0000 0004 1765 529X) 
 Institut D’Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge, Cell Death and Metabolism, Barcelona, Spain (GRID:grid.418284.3) (ISNI:0000 0004 0427 2257) 
 Catalan Institute of Oncology, Program Against Cancer Therapeutic Resistance (ProCURE), Metabolism and Cancer Group, Girona, Spain (GRID:grid.418701.b) (ISNI:0000 0001 2097 8389); Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI), Girona, Spain (GRID:grid.429182.4) 
 Universitat Rovira I Virgili, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Reus, Spain (GRID:grid.410367.7) (ISNI:0000 0001 2284 9230); Hospital Universitari Sant Joan, Institut D’Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili, Unitat de Recerca Biomèdica, Reus, Spain (GRID:grid.411136.0) (ISNI:0000 0004 1765 529X); The Campus of International Excellence Southern Catalonia, Tarragona, Spain (GRID:grid.411136.0) 
Publication year
2020
Publication date
2020
Publisher
Nature Publishing Group
e-ISSN
20452322
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
2425423048
Copyright
© The Author(s) 2020. 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.