Macrophage HIF-1α mediates obesity-related adipose tissue dysfunction via interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase M

Hypoxia leading to stabilization of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) serves as an early upstream initiator for adipose tissue (AT) dysfunction. Monocyte-derived macrophage infiltration in AT contributes to inflammation, fibrosis and obesity-related metabolic dysfunction. It was previously reported that myeloid cell-specific deletion of Hif-1α protected against high-fat diet (HFD)-induced AT dysfunction. Prolyl hydroxylases (PHDs) are key regulators of HIF-1α. We examined the effects of myeloid cell-specific upregulation and stabilization of Hif-1α via deletion of prolyl-hydroxylase 2 ( Phd2 ) and whether interleukin-1 receptor associated kinase-M ( Irak-M ), a known downstream target of Hif-1α , contributes to Hif-1α -induced AT dysfunction. Our data show that with HFD, Hif-1α and Irak-M expressions were increased in the AT macrophages of Phd2 flox/flox / LysMcre mice compared with LysMcre mice. With HFD, Phd2 flox/flox / LysMcre mice exhibited increased AT inflammation, fibrosis, and systemic insulin resistance compared with control mice. Furthermore, Phd2 flox/flox / LysMcre mice bone marrow-derived macrophages exposed to hypoxia in vitro also had increased expressions of both Hif-1α and Irak-M . In wild-type mice, HFD induced upregulation of both HIF-1a and Irak-M in adipose tissue. Despite equivalent expression of Hif-1α compared with wild-type mice, globally-deficient Irak-M mice fed a HFD exhibited less macrophage infiltration, decreased inflammation and fibrosis and improved glucose tolerance. Global Irak-M deficiency was associated with an alternatively-activated macrophage phenotype in the AT after HFD. Together, these data show for the first time that an Irak-M -dependent mechanism likely mediates obesity-related AT dysfunction in conjunction with Hif-1α upregulation.