C-reactive protein causes insulin resistance in mice through Fcγ receptor IIB-mediated inhibition of skeletal muscle glucose delivery

Diabetes. 2013 Mar;62(3):721-31. doi: 10.2337/db12-0133. Epub 2012 Oct 15.

Abstract

Elevations in C-reactive protein (CRP) are associated with an increased risk of insulin resistance. Whether CRP plays a causal role is unknown. Here we show that CRP transgenic mice and wild-type mice administered recombinant CRP are insulin resistant. Mice lacking the inhibitory Fcγ receptor IIB (FcγRIIB) are protected from CRP-induced insulin resistance, and immunohistochemistry reveals that FcγRIIB is expressed in skeletal muscle microvascular endothelium and is absent in skeletal muscle myocytes, adipocytes, and hepatocytes. The primary mechanism in glucose homeostasis disrupted by CRP is skeletal muscle glucose delivery, and CRP attenuates insulin-induced skeletal muscle blood flow. CRP does not impair skeletal muscle glucose delivery in FcγRIIB(-/-) mice or in endothelial nitric oxide synthase knock-in mice with phosphomimetic modification of Ser1176, which is normally phosphorylated by insulin signaling to stimulate nitric oxide-mediated skeletal muscle blood flow and glucose delivery and is dephosphorylated by CRP/FcγRIIB. Thus, CRP causes insulin resistance in mice through FcγRIIB-mediated inhibition of skeletal muscle glucose delivery.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • C-Reactive Protein / genetics
  • C-Reactive Protein / metabolism*
  • Endothelium, Vascular / cytology
  • Endothelium, Vascular / metabolism*
  • Glucose / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Insulin / genetics
  • Insulin / metabolism*
  • Insulin Resistance*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Microvessels / cytology
  • Microvessels / metabolism
  • Muscle, Skeletal / blood supply
  • Muscle, Skeletal / cytology
  • Muscle, Skeletal / metabolism*
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / genetics
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / metabolism
  • Organ Specificity
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational
  • Receptors, IgG / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Receptors, IgG / genetics
  • Receptors, IgG / metabolism*
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Fcgr2b protein, mouse
  • Insulin
  • Receptors, IgG
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • C-Reactive Protein
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III
  • Nos3 protein, mouse
  • Glucose