Central nesfatin-1 activates lipid mobilization in adipose tissue and fatty acid oxidation in muscle via the sympathetic nervous system

Little is known about the influence of central nesfatin-1 on lipid metabolism under diabetic conditions. The main objective of this study was to characterize the mechanisms by which central nesfatin-1 regulates lipid metabolism in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and whether the sympathetic nervous system is involved. Male Kunming mice were fed high-fat diets (HFDs) and were treated twice with low-dose STZ (100 mg/kg, intraperitoneal [IP]) to generate the T2DM model. Pharmacological adrenergic blockage (phentolamine 10 mg/kg, propranolol 0.017 mmol) and surgical denervation of sympathetic nervous system of the hindlimb and inguinal fat were used to block nerve conduction to determine whether the effect of central nesfatin-1 required the hypothalamic-sympathetic nervous system axis. Plasma free fatty acid (FFA) and insulin levels were measured. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) levels in skeletal muscle and hormone-sensitive lipase and adipose triglycerides lipase (HSL/ATGL) levels in white adipose tissue (WAT) were measured using western blot. mRNA expression of AMPK was measured. We found that there were significantly fewer NUCB2/nesfatin-1 immunoreactive neurons in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and supraoptic nucleus (SON) in T2DM mice. Central nesfatin-1 administration decreased levels of plasma FFA significantly and activated AMPK to enhance fatty-acid oxidation in skeletal muscle in T2DM mice. In addition, HSL and ATGL were significantly activated during triglyceride mobilization in WAT triggered by central nesfatin-1 administration. Adrenergic blockade and morphological denervation of the sciatic and femoral nerves reduced these changes. Taken together, these data suggest that central nesfatin-1 regulates peripheral lipid metabolism in type 2 diabetes via the sympathetic nervous system.