Central melanocortin receptor agonist reduces hepatic lipogenic gene expression in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice

AimsThe central melanocortin system regulates a variety of metabolic functions including lipid metabolism and hepatic lipogenic gene expression. The objective of the present study was to determine whether central melanocortin regulates hepatic lipogenic gene expression under insulin insufficient condition.Main methodsWe examined the effect of intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of MTII, a melanocortin agonist, on hepatic gene expression in a mouse model of the insulin-deficient diabetes. Diabetes was induced in male C57BL/6J mice by intraperitoneal injections of streptozotocin (STZ). Diabetic mice received daily i.c.v. injections of MTII (3 nmol) for 11 days. Hepatic expression levels of lipogenic genes and their transcription factors were measured.Key findingsMTII treatment significantly reduced hepatic expression levels of genes encoding lipid biosynthetic enzymes, stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1), glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase 1 (GPAT1), acyl-CoA:diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 (DGAT1), and DGAT2 mRNA without significant changes in serum insulin levels, homeostasis model-assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and glucose tolerance in STZ-induced diabetic mice. MTII treatment also reduced fatty acid synthase (FAS) and SCD1 protein levels in the liver of diabetic mice. Expression levels of genes encoding transcription factors of these lipogenic genes, sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c (SREBP-1c) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ2 (PPARγ2) were also significantly reduced by MTII treatment.SignificanceThese data suggest that the insulin-independent mechanism is involved in the regulation of hepatic lipogenic gene expression. Enhanced central melanocortin signaling may be effective in improving abnormal lipid metabolism associated with insulin-deficiency or insulin-insufficiency.