Background
Obesity is a major risk factor for diabetes and peripheral arterial disease (PAD), which frequently leads to lower limb demand ischemia. Skeletal muscle autophagy and mitochondrial biogenesis are important processes for proper oxidative capacity and energy metabolism which are compromised in diabetes. This study compares autophagy, mitochondrial biogenesis, energy metabolism, and morphology in the hind limbs of obese diabetic mice subjected to demand or sedentary ischemia.
Materials and Methods
Unilateral hind limb demand ischemia was created in a group of diet induced obese mice following femoral artery ligation (FAL) and 4 weeks of daily exercise. A parallel group of mice underwent FAL but remained sedentary for 4 weeks. Hind limbs muscles were analyzed for markers of autophagy, mitochondrial biogenesis, ATP, and muscle tissue morphology.
Results
At the end of the 4-week exercise period, demand ischemia increased the autophagy mediator Beclin-1, but it did not alter the autophagy indicator LC3B-II/I ratio, or markers of mitochondrial biogenesis, Opa-1/Drp-1. In contrast, exercise significantly increased the level of mitochondrial protein-SDHA and reduced adipocyte accumulation and the percentage of centrally nucleated myofibers in the demand ischemia limb. In addition, demand ischemia resulted in decreased uncoupling protein-3 levels without altering muscle ATP or pS473-Akt levels.
Conclusions
Limb demand ischemia markedly decreased adipocyte accumulation and enhanced muscle regeneration in obese mice but it did not appear to enhance autophagy, mitochondrial biogenesis, energy metabolism, or insulin sensitivity. Future studies aimed at evaluating novel therapies that enhance autophagy and mitochondrial biogenesis in diabetes with PAD are warranted.