Cyclic GMP-AMP Ameliorates Diet-induced Metabolic Dysregulation and Regulates Proinflammatory Responses Distinctly from STING Activation

Sci Rep. 2017 Jul 25;7(1):6355. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-05884-y.

Abstract

Endogenous cyclic GMP-AMP (cGAMP) binds and activates STING to induce type I interferons. However, whether cGAMP plays any roles in regulating metabolic homeostasis remains unknown. Here we show that exogenous cGAMP ameliorates obesity-associated metabolic dysregulation and uniquely alters proinflammatory responses. In obese mice, treatment with cGAMP significantly decreases diet-induced proinflammatory responses in liver and adipose tissues and ameliorates metabolic dysregulation. Strikingly, cGAMP exerts cell-type-specific anti-inflammatory effects on macrophages, hepatocytes, and adipocytes, which is distinct from the effect of STING activation by DMXAA on enhancing proinflammatory responses. While enhancing insulin-stimulated Akt phosphorylation in hepatocytes and adipocytes, cGAMP weakens the effects of glucagon on stimulating hepatocyte gluconeogenic enzyme expression and glucose output and blunts palmitate-induced hepatocyte fat deposition in an Akt-dependent manner. Taken together, these results suggest an essential role for cGAMP in linking innate immunity and metabolic homeostasis, indicating potential applications of cGAMP in treating obesity-associated inflammatory and metabolic diseases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adipocytes / drug effects
  • Adipocytes / immunology*
  • Animals
  • Diet, High-Fat / adverse effects*
  • Hepatocytes / drug effects
  • Hepatocytes / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Innate
  • Interferon Type I / metabolism
  • Macrophages / cytology
  • Macrophages / drug effects
  • Macrophages / immunology
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Nucleotides, Cyclic / administration & dosage*
  • Nucleotides, Cyclic / pharmacology
  • Obesity / chemically induced
  • Obesity / immunology
  • Obesity / metabolism*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism*
  • Xanthones / administration & dosage
  • Xanthones / pharmacology

Substances

  • Interferon Type I
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Nucleotides, Cyclic
  • Sting1 protein, mouse
  • Xanthones
  • cyclic guanosine monophosphate-adenosine monophosphate
  • vadimezan
  • Tbk1 protein, mouse
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases