Cited by 3,690Adipokines, Inflammation, and Metabolic DiseasesImmune Response and InflammationAdipose Tissue and Metabolism

TLR4 links innate immunity and fatty acid-induced insulin resistance

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Shi, Hang, Kokoeva, Maia V., Inouye, Karen, Tzameli, Iphigenia, Yin, Huali, Flier, Jeffrey S.·2006·Journal of Clinical Investigation

Abstract

TLR4 is the receptor for LPS and plays a critical role in innate immunity. Stimulation of TLR4 activates proinflammatory pathways and induces cytokine expression in a variety of cell types. Inflammatory pathways are activated in tissues of obese animals and humans and play an important role in obesity-associated insulin resistance. Here we show that nutritional fatty acids, whose circulating levels are often increased in obesity, activate TLR4 signaling in adipocytes and macrophages and that the capacity of fatty acids to induce inflammatory signaling in adipose cells or tissue and macrophages is blunted in the absence of TLR4. Moreover, mice lacking TLR4 are substantially protected from the ability of systemic lipid infusion to (a) suppress insulin signaling in muscle and (b) reduce insulin-mediated changes in systemic glucose metabolism. Finally, female C57BL/6 mice lacking TLR4 have increased obesity but are partially protected against high fat diet-induced insulin resistance, possibly due to reduced inflammatory gene expression in liver and fat. Taken together, these data suggest that TLR4 is a molecular link among nutrition, lipids, and inflammation and that the innate immune system participates in the regulation of energy balance and insulin resistance in response to changes in the nutritional environment.

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Crossref · 10.1172/jci28898

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  • FFA activates TLR4 signaling, and mice lacking TLR4 are partially protected against high fat diet-induced insulin resistance.

    “Shi et al. showed that FFA activates TLR4 signaling and that mice lacking TLR4 are partially protected against high fat diet-induced insulin resistance (306).”

    From IL-6 in inflammation, autoimmunity and cancer (2021) · cites this paper as [306]

    The section on high-fat diets and the Figure 8 caption report partial protection against insulin resistance in female TLR4-knockout mice; the Discussion reports no corresponding insulin-sensitivity difference in males. The paper also reports that FFAs activate TLR4 signaling. The claim omits the female-specific qualification and thus implies a broader finding than the paper supports. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Activation of TLR4 via LPS leads to release of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF and IL-6, and similar effects are observed if free fatty acids bind TLR4.

    “For instance, activation of TLR4 via LPS leads to the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines (e.g., TNF, interleukin [IL]-6), but similar effects are also observed if free fatty acids bind to TLR4.63”
  • Free fatty acid products from necrotic adipocytes cause pro-inflammatory activation of macrophages through TLR-2 and TLR-4 signaling.

    “A number of free fatty acid products released from necrotic adipocytes have been shown to cause pro-inflammatory activation of macrophages through TLR-2 and TLR-4 signaling pathways, suggesting a potential mechanism by which obesity-induced inflammation may occur [73,74].”
  • TLR-4 deficient mice are not protected from diet-induced obesity but are protected from obesity-induced insulin resistance.

    “A number of studies have shown that TLR-4 deficient mice are not protected from diet-induced obesity, but are protected from obesity-induced insulin resistance [74,76,77].”
  • Probiotics intake may improve markers of insulin metabolism and lipid profiles by reducing cytokines and suppressing NF-κB pathway and gut microbiota-SCFA-hormone axis.

    “Probiotics intake may improve markers of insulin metabolism and lipid profiles by reducing cytokines and suppressing the nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) pathway (Shi et al., 2006) and gut microbiota-short chain fatty acids (SCFA)-hormone axis (Yadav et al., 2013).”

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Authors
Shi, H., Kokoeva, M. V., Inouye, K., Tzameli, I., Yin, H., & Flier, J. S.
Affiliations
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (US)
Corresponding author
Flier, Jeffrey S.
Venue
Journal of Clinical Investigation
Published
2006-11-01
Volume
116
Issue
11
Pages
3015-3025
ISSN
0021-9738 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2156280702
Cited by
3,690
References
47
Citations by year
2026: 126 · 2025: 131 · 2024: 135 · 2023: 140 · 2022: 167 · 2021: 176 · 2020: 209 · 2019: 180 · 2018: 206 · 2017: 243 · 2016: 220 · 2015: 259 · 2014: 222 · 2013: 274 · 2012: 252
FWCI
86.79
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Clinical Investigation (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (DK-R37-28082, R37DK028082)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Adipokines, Inflammation, and Metabolic Diseases
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › Immune Response and Inflammation
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Adipose Tissue and Metabolism
Keywords
TLR4, lipopolysaccharide receptor, innate immunity, obesity, adipocytes, macrophages, inflammation, insulin signaling, glucose metabolism, high-fat diet, energy balance, TLR4-deficient mice
MeSH terms
Adipose Tissue, Animals, Cell Line, Fats, Fatty Acids, Female, Glucose, Humans, Immunity, Innate, Insulin Resistance, Macrophages, Muscles, Signal Transduction, Cytokines, NF-kappa B, Adipocytes, Genes, Reporter, Mice, Knockout, Toll-Like Receptor 4, Mice

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