Abstract
Background SLC16A11, a member of the SLC16 family, is associated with lipid metabolism, causing
increased intracellular triacylglycerol (TAG) levels. In the current study, our primary
goal was to determine if an SLC16A11 knockdown would improve glucose tolerance and
hepatic insulin signaling in high fat diet (HFD)–fed mice. Additionally, the mechanism
for exercise-improved insulin sensitivity remains unclear, and there is no mechanistic
insight into SLC16A11’s role in insulin sensitivity under exercise stress. Therefore,
we also examined the impact of endurance exercise on the abundance of SLC16A11.
Methods C57BL/6 J male mice were fed either regular chow (Control) or HFD for 8 weeks and
then injected with adeno-associated virus (AAV). Plasma parameters, tissue lipid contents,
glucose tolerance, and expression profiles of hepatic insulin signaling were detected.
Also, other mice were divided randomly into sedentary and exercise groups. We assessed
hepatic expression of SLC16A11 after 8 weeks of endurance exercise.
Results 1) Hepatic SLC16A11 expression was greater in HFD-fed mice compared to Control mice.
2) AAV-mediated knockdown of SLC16A11 improved glucose tolerance, prevented TAG accumulation
in serum and liver, and increased phosphorylation of protein kinase B (Akt) and glycogen
synthesis kinase-3β (GSK3β) in HFD-fed mice. 3) Endurance exercise decreased hepatic
SLC16A11 expression.
Conclusions Inactivation of SLC16A11, which is robustly induced by HFD, improved glucose tolerance
and hepatic insulin signaling, independent of body weight, but related to TAG. Additionally,
SLC16A11 might mediate the health benefits of endurance exercise.
Key words
SLC16A11 - high fat diet - glucose tolerance - hepatic insulin signaling - endurance
exercise
