CXCR3 modulates obesity-induced visceral adipose inflammation and systemic insulin resistance

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

• Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
• Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
• Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
• Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
• Emerging · Emerging topic under active research

Abstract (original English)

Objective Chemokine (C-X-C motif) receptor 3 (CXCR3) is a chemokine receptor involved in the regulation of immune cell trafficking and activation. Increased CXCR3 expression in the visceral adipose of obese humans and mice was observed. A pathophysiologic role for CXCR3 in diet-induced obesity (DIO) was hypothesized. Methods Wild-type (WT) C57B/L6J and chemokine receptor 3 knockout (CXCR3(-/-) ) mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 20 weeks followed by assessment of glucose metabolism and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) inflammation. Results CXCR3(-/-) mice exhibited lower fasting glucose and improved glucose tolerance compared with WT-HFD mice, despite similar body mass. HFD-induced VAT innate and adaptive immune cell infiltration, including immature myeloid cells (CD11b(+) F4/80(lo) Ly6C(+) ), were markedly ameliorated in CXCR3(-/-) mice. In vitro IBIDI and in vivo migration assays demonstrated no CXCR3-mediated effect on macrophage or monocyte migration, respectively. CXCR3(-/-) macrophages, however, had a blunted response to interferon-γ, a TH 1 cytokine that induces macrophage activation. Conclusions A previously unreported role for CXCR3 in the development of HFD-induced insulin resistance (IR) and VAT macrophage infiltration in mice was demonstrated. Our results support pharmaceutical targeting of the CXCR3 receptor as a potential treatment for obesity/IR.

Evidence level

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

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