Ubiquitous transgenic overexpression of C-C chemokine ligand 2: a model to assess the combined effect of high energy intake and continuous low-grade inflammation

Mediators Inflamm. 2013:2013:953841. doi: 10.1155/2013/953841. Epub 2013 Dec 15.

Abstract

Excessive energy management leads to low-grade, chronic inflammation, which is a significant factor predicting noncommunicable diseases. In turn, inflammation, oxidation, and metabolism are associated with the course of these diseases; mitochondrial dysfunction seems to be at the crossroads of mutual relationships. The migration of immune cells during inflammation is governed by the interaction between chemokines and chemokine receptors. Chemokines, especially C-C-chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2), have a variety of additional functions that are involved in the maintenance of normal metabolism. It is our hypothesis that a ubiquitous and continuous secretion of CCL2 may represent an animal model of low-grade chronic inflammation that, in the presence of an energy surplus, could help to ascertain the afore-mentioned relationships and/or to search for specific therapeutic approaches. Here, we present preliminary data on a mouse model created by using targeted gene knock-in technology to integrate an additional copy of the CCl2 gene in the Gt(ROSA)26Sor locus of the mouse genome via homologous recombination in embryonic stem cells. Short-term dietary manipulations were assessed and the findings include metabolic disturbances, premature death, and the manipulation of macrophage plasticity and autophagy. These results raise a number of mechanistic questions for future study.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adipocytes / pathology
  • Animals
  • Autophagy
  • Body Weight
  • Chemokine CCL2 / genetics
  • Chemokine CCL2 / physiology*
  • Cytokines / genetics
  • Diet, High-Fat
  • Energy Intake*
  • Glucose / metabolism
  • Inflammation / etiology*
  • Lipid Metabolism
  • Macrophages / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / physiology

Substances

  • Ccl2 protein, mouse
  • Chemokine CCL2
  • Cytokines
  • mTOR protein, mouse
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Glucose