To address the hypothesis that tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α has a role in obesity-associated insulin resistance or the regulation of in vivo lipid metabolism, mice with targeted disruption of the TNF-α gene were generated and studied. The absence of TNF-α protein in TNF-null (−/−) mice was confirmed. Lean or obese (gold-thioglucose [GTG]-injected) homozygous (−/−) mice were compared with lean or obese age- and sex-matched wild-type (+/+) mice derived from the same line at 13, 19, and 28 weeks of age. The following parameters were significantly affected in lean −/− versus +/+ mice: Body weight was not affected until week 28 (decreased by 14%); epididymal fat pad weight also decreased (25%) at this time, as did percentage body fat (16%), while percentage body protein was increased 13%. Fed plasma insulin levels decreased 47% (28 weeks), triglyceride levels decreased (all three ages; maximum 35% at 19 weeks), and fed plasma leptin decreased 33% (28 weeks). Fasting glucose was slightly (10%) reduced, but the glucose response to an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was not affected. There was a trend (NS) toward increased total adipose tissue lipoprotein lipase in −/− versus +/+ mice. GTG-treat-ment resulted in obese −/− and +/+ mice with equal mean body weights (42 and 58% increased weight versus lean mice). The following parameters were significantly different in obese −/− mice: fasting plasma glucose decreased 13% (28 weeks), fed plasma insulin decreased 67% (28 weeks), and insulin response to OGTT was decreased by 50%. For both groups of obese mice, glucose levels during the OGTT were substantially increased compared with those in lean mice; however, mean stimulated glucose levels were 20% lower in obese −/− versus +/+ mice. We conclude 1) that TNF-α functions to regulate plasma triglycerides and body adiposity and 2) that although TNF-α contributes to reduced insulin sensitivity in older or obese mice, the absence of TNF-α is not sufficient to substantially protect against insulin resistance in the GTG hyperphagic model of rodent obesity.
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September 01 1997
Targeted Disruption of the Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Gene: Metabolic Consequences in Obese and Nonobese Mice
John Ventre;
John Ventre
Departments of Molecular Endocrinology, Merck Research Laboratories
Rahway, New Jersey
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Thomas Doebber;
Thomas Doebber
Departments of Molecular Endocrinology, Merck Research Laboratories
Rahway, New Jersey
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Margaret Wu;
Margaret Wu
Departments of Molecular Endocrinology, Merck Research Laboratories
Rahway, New Jersey
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Karen MacNaul;
Karen MacNaul
Departments of Molecular Endocrinology, Merck Research Laboratories
Rahway, New Jersey
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Karla Stevens;
Karla Stevens
Laboratory Animal Resources, Merck Research Laboratories
Rahway, New Jersey
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Manolis Pasparakis;
Manolis Pasparakis
Hellenic Pasteur Institute
Athens, Greece
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George Kollias;
George Kollias
Hellenic Pasteur Institute
Athens, Greece
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David E Moller
David E Moller
Departments of Molecular Endocrinology, Merck Research Laboratories
Rahway, New Jersey
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Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Thomas Doebber, Merck Research Laboratories, P.O. Box 2000, Rahway, NJ 07065.
Diabetes 1997;46(9):1526–1531
Article history
Received:
March 20 1997
Revision Received:
June 30 1997
Accepted:
June 30 1997
PubMed:
9287059
Citation
John Ventre, Thomas Doebber, Margaret Wu, Karen MacNaul, Karla Stevens, Manolis Pasparakis, George Kollias, David E Moller; Targeted Disruption of the Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Gene: Metabolic Consequences in Obese and Nonobese Mice. Diabetes 1 September 1997; 46 (9): 1526–1531. https://doi.org/10.2337/diab.46.9.1526
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