Macrophage alternative activation confers protection against lipotoxicity-induced cell death.

ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVE:Alternative activation (M2) of adipose tissue resident macrophage (ATM) inhibits obesity-induced metabolic inflammation. The underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Recent studies have shown that dysregulated lipid homeostasis caused by increased lipolysis in white adipose tissue (WAT) in the obese state is a trigger of inflammatory responses. We investigated the role of M2 macrophages in lipotoxicity-induced inflammation. METHODS:We used microarray experiments to profile macrophage gene expression regulated by two M2 inducers, interleukin-4 (Il-4), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta/gamma (Ppar?/Ppar?) agonists. Functional validation studies were performed in bone marrow-derived macrophages and mice deprived of the signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 gene (Stat6; downstream effector of Il-4) or Ppar?/Ppar? genes (downstream effectors of Stat6). Palmitic acid (PA) and ?-adrenergic agonist were employed to induce macrophage lipid loading in vitro and in vivo, respectively. RESULTS:Profiling of genes regulated by Il-4 or Ppar?/Ppar? agonists reveals that alternative activation promotes the cell survival program, while inhibiting that of inflammation-related cell death. Deletion of Stat6 or Ppar?/Ppar? increases the susceptibility of macrophages to PA-induced cell death. NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (Nlrp3) inflammasome activation by PA in the presence of lipopolysaccharide is also increased in Stat6-/- macrophages and to a lesser extent, in Ppar?/?-/- macrophages. In concert, ?-adrenergic agonist-induced lipolysis results in higher levels of cell death and inflammatory markers in ATMs derived from myeloid-specific Ppar?/?-/- or Stat6-/- mice. CONCLUSIONS:Our data suggest that ATM cell death is closely linked to metabolic inflammation. Within WAT where concentrations of free fatty acids fluctuate, M2 polarization regulated by the Stat6-Ppar axis enhances ATM's tolerance to lipid-mediated stress, thereby maintaining the homeostatic state.

SUBMITTER: Dai L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5641682 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature