Caspase-1 deficiency promotes high-fat diet-induced adipose tissue inflammation and the development of obesity

Caspase-1 is a cysteine protease responsible for the processing of the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-1β and activated by the formation of inflammasome complexes. Although several investigations have found a link between diet-induced obesity and caspase-1, the relationship remains controversial. Here, we found that mice deficient in caspase-1 were susceptible to high-fat diet-induced obesity with increased adiposity as well as normal lipid and glucose metabolism. Caspase-1 deficiency clearly promoted the infiltration of inflammatory macrophages and increased the production of C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2) in the adipose tissue. The dominant cellular source of CCL2 was stromal vascular fraction rather than adipocytes in the adipose tissue. These findings demonstrate a critical role of caspase-1 in macrophage-driven inflammation in the adipose tissue and the development of obesity. These data provide novel insights into the mechanisms underlying inflammation in the pathophysiology of obesity.

Source: AJP: Endocrinology and Metabolism - November 14, 2016 Category: Endocrinology Authors: Kimura, H., Karasawa, T., Usui, F., Kawashima, A., Endo, Y., Kobayashi, M., Sadatomo, A., Nakamura, J., Iwasaki, Y., Yada, T., Tsutsui, H., Kasahara, T., Takahashi, M. Tags: Articles Source Type: research