Loss of Lkb1 disturbs adipose tissue dendritic cells and protects mice from obesity under high-fat feeding condition

Abstract

Adipose tissue CD11c + myeloid cell is an independent risk factor associated with obesity and metabolic disorders. However, the underlying molecular basis remains elusive. Here, we demonstrated that liver kinase B1 (Lkb1), a key bioenergetic sensor, is involved in CD11c + cell-mediated immune responses in diet-induced obesity. Loss of Lkb1 in CD11c + cells results in obesity resistance but lower glucose tolerance, which accompanies tissue-specific immune abnormalities. The accumulation and CD80’s expression of Lkb1 deficient adipose-tissue specific dendritic cells but not macrophages is restrained. Additionally, the balance of IL-17A and IFN-γ remarkably tips towards the latter in fat T cells and CD11c - macrophages. Mechanistically, IFN-γ promotes apoptosis of preadipocytes and inhibits their adipogenesis, which might account in part for the fat-resistant phenotype. In summary, these findings reveal that Lkb1 is essential for fat CD11c + dendritic cells responding to HFD exposure and provides new insights into the IL-17A/IFN-γ balance in HFD-induced obesity.