Impact of diet induced obesity on mouse skeletal muscle health: metabolism, growth and regeneration.

Abstract

<p>Prediabetes can lead to Type II Diabetes Mellitus, yet Prediabetes is a disease in its own right with its own physiological complications. Despite the pervasiveness of Prediabetes in our society and the negative impact on current and future health the extent of myopathy, short of muscle insulin resistance, and the mechanisms behind development of muscle insulin resistance remains unclear. Animal models of diet-induced obesity (DIO) have been employed to assess development of muscle insulin resistance and changes to muscle health. However there is a lack of clarity as to the molecular mechanisms leading to muscle insulin resistance. The goal of the studies presented here was to elucidate changes to muscle health and potential mechanisms contributing to muscle insulin resistance in response to DIO. Since the ability to perform exercise is to date one of the best therapies for Prediabetes and exercise contributes to a healthy muscle mass, the ability of muscle to undergo proper regeneration was also assessed following DIO. The results presented in this work demonstrate that skeletal muscle tissue adapts to increased dietary lipid by an early increase in functional lipid oxidation, mitigating IMCL deposition, despite glucose intolerance. Unfortunately this adaptive response is reversed with prolonged dietary fat intake and the development of muscle insulin resistance. Of note was the stronger link between IMCLs and muscle insulin resistance, compared to inflammation. DIO also led to decrements in satellite cell functionality which, along with physiological changes to HGF content and signaling, likely resulted in the observed impairment in regenerative ability. The results reported here improve our understanding of changes to muscle health and the mechanisms behind development of muscle insulin resistance with DIO. These findings have implications for therapies and treatments for Prediabetes.</p>