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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2018 Nov 1.
Published in final edited form as: J Endocrinol. 2017 Aug 1;235(2):97–109. doi: 10.1530/JOE-17-0190

Anti-inflammatory Effects of Exercise Training in Adipose Tissue Do Not Require FGF21

Jay W Porter 1, Joe L Rowles III 1,2, Justin A Fletcher 1,3,10, Terese M Zidon 1, Nathan C Winn 1, Leighton T McCabe 1, Young-Min Park 1,9, James W Perfield II 4, John P Thyfault 5,6, R Scott Rector 1,3, Jaume Padilla 1,7,8, Victoria J Vieira-Potter 1
PMCID: PMC5581275  NIHMSID: NIHMS897208  PMID: 28765264

Abstract

Exercise enhances insulin sensitivity; it also improves adipocyte metabolism and reduces adipose tissue inflammation through poorly-defined mechanisms. Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is a pleiotropic hormone-like protein whose insulin-sensitizing properties are predominantly mediated via receptor signaling in adipose tissue (AT). Recently, FGF21 has also been demonstrated to have anti-inflammatory properties. Meanwhile, an association between exercise and increased circulating FGF21 levels has been reported in some, but not all studies. Thus, the role that FGF21 plays in mediating the positive metabolic effects of exercise in AT are unclear. In this study, FGF21 knock-out (KO) mice were used to directly assess the role of FGF21 in mediating the metabolic and anti-inflammatory effects of exercise on white AT (WAT) and brown AT (BAT). Male FGF21KO and wild-type mice were provided running wheels or remained sedentary for 8 weeks (n=9–15/group) and compared for adiposity, insulin sensitivity (i.e., HOMA-IR, Adipo-IR), and AT inflammation and metabolic function (e.g., mitochondrial enzyme activity, subunit content). Adiposity and Adipo-IR were increased in FGF21KO mice and decreased by EX. The BAT of FGF21KO animals had reduced mitochondrial content and decreased relative mass, both normalized by EX. WAT and BAT inflammation was elevated in FGF21KO mice, reduced in both genotypes by EX. EX increased WAT Pgc1alpha gene expression, citrate synthase activity, COX I content, and total AMPK content in WT but not FGF21KO mice. Collectively, these findings reveal a previously unappreciated anti-inflammatory role for FGF21 in WAT and BAT, but do not support that FGF21 is necessary for EX-mediated anti-inflammatory effects.

Introduction

Two major types of adipose tissue exist: white adipose tissue (WAT), primarily serving as the body’s major energy storage site and brown adipose tissue (BAT), which predominately converts energy into heat through uncoupled respiration. Adipose tissue is an active endocrine organ that is profoundly affected by exercise. Exercise lessens WAT inflammation and improves systemic metabolic health, even in settings of obesity (Vieira, et al. 2009a; Welly, et al. 2016a), although the mechanisms are not fully understood. Less is known about the effect of exercise on BAT inflammation. In this regard, we recently showed that exercise training also reduces obesity-induced BAT inflammation in rodents (Wainright, et al. 2015; Welly et al. 2016a). In addition, evidence suggests that exercise increases WAT mitochondrial content and function (Lee, et al. 2014; Stallknecht, et al. 1991; Stanford and Goodyear 2016; Wainright et al. 2015), which is associated with metabolically healthier WAT. Accordingly, the exercise-induced changes in WAT (and possibly BAT) mitochondria may contribute to some of the metabolic benefits of exercise (Stanford, et al. 2015). Yet, the adipose tissue-specific mechanisms by which exercise reduces inflammation and induces mitochondrial adaptations are not completely understood.

Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), a pleotropic endocrine hormone produced by several tissues, plays an important role in systemic glucose and lipid metabolism (Iglesias, et al. 2012; Kharitonenkov, et al. 2005; Kim and Lee 2014; Samms, et al. 2015; Zhang, et al. 2008). FGF21 enhances adipocyte glucose uptake and improves insulin resistance and diabetes (Kharitonenkov and Shanafelt 2008; Kharitonenkov et al. 2005; Kim and Lee 2014; Samms et al. 2015). Importantly, it exerts the majority of its systemic beneficial effects via its actions in adipose tissue. Indeed, in the absence of intact receptor signaling in adipose tissue, the majority of FGF21’s metabolic effects are nullified (Adams, et al. 2012). FGF21 reduces WAT mass and enhances energy expenditure by activating BAT. Similar benefits have been shown with exercise training (Ji, et al. 2015; Kim, et al. 2013; Kim and Lee 2014), which has been shown to increase FGF21 secretion in some human and rodent studies (Kim et al. 2013; Loyd, et al. 2016; Tanimura, et al. 2016). Recently, anti-inflammatory properties of FGF21 have been reported (Feingold, et al. 2012; Singhal, et al. 2016; Yu, et al. 2016); however, whether exercise-induced anti-inflammatory actions in adipose tissue are mediated via FGF21 has not been addressed.

The purpose of the current investigation was to determine the role that FGF21 plays in exercise training-mediated metabolic adaptations in WAT and BAT. We and others have consistently observed robust anti-inflammatory effects of exercise in adipose tissue (Castellani, et al. 2014; Vieira et al. 2009a; Vieira, et al. 2009b; Welly et al. 2016a), but the mechanisms underlying this observation are not well understood. Here, we tested the hypothesis that lack of FGF21 leads to a dysfunctional adipose tissue phenotype. Further, we determined if FGF21 is necessary for the anti-inflammatory effects of exercise training in WAT and BAT using a mouse model of FGF21 ablation.

Materials and methods

Animal protocol

The animal protocol was approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee at the University of Missouri-Columbia and Harry S. Truman Memorial VA Hospital. Male FGF21 knockout mice on a C57BL/6NTac background (FGF21KO) and age-matched, but not littermate, C57BL/6NTac WT mice controls were bred by Taconic Biosciences (Hudson, NY) and kindly provided by Eli Lilly (Indianapolis, IN). FGF21 knockout mice were generated by backcrossing with C57BL/6 mice for >15 generations. Prior experiments and experience with this model determined that WT littermates and age matched C57BL/6 animals were phenotypically indistinguishable. FGF21KO and WT mice (11–12 weeks of age) were provided a running wheel for 8 weeks and designated as FGF21KO-EX (n=14) and WT-EX (n=15). Separate groups of mice remained sedentary without access to running wheels and were designated FGF21KO-SED (n=9) and WT-SED (n=10). All mice were individually housed in temperature controlled animal quarters (21°C) with a 0600–1800 light and 1800–0600 dark cycle. All groups were provided ad libitum standard rodent chow (Formulab 5008; Purina Mills, Brentwood, MO). Running wheel revolutions were monitored and counted continuously using a Sigma BC 509 bike computer (St. Charles, IL). Running distance was obtained daily between 0800 and 1000. Body mass and food consumption were measured on the same day each week throughout the study.

After the 8-week intervention, running wheels were locked for 24 hours and mice were fasted for 5 hours, anesthetized with pentobarbital sodium (100 mg/kg), and then exsanguinated by removal of the heart. Blood was collected via cardiac puncture within 10 minutes of mice being anesthetized (pentobarbital).

Body composition

Fat and lean mass were measured using an EchoMRI 4in1-1100 analyzer (EchoMRI; Houston, TX). Visceral WAT (epididymal), subcutaneous WAT (inguinal region), and BAT (interscapular region) fat pads were removed, weighed and fixed in formalin or flash-frozen in liquid nitrogen until further analysis.

RNA isolation, q-PCR

BAT and WAT (from visceral and subcutaneous regions) samples were homogenized in TRIzol solution using a tissue homogenizer (TissueLyser LT, Qiagen, Valencia, CA). Total RNA was isolated according to the Qiagen’s RNeasy lipid tissue protocol and analyzed using a Nanodrop spectrophotometer (Thermo Scientific, Wilmington, DE) to assess purity and concentration. First-strand cDNA was synthesized from total RNA using the High Capacity cDNA Reverse Transcription kit (Applied Biosystems, Carlsbad, CA). Quantitative real-time PCR was performed as previously described (Crissey, et al. 2014; Padilla, et al. 2013) using the ABI StepOne Plus sequence detection system (Applied Biosystems). Primer sequences were designed using NCBI Primer Design tool and purchased from IDT (Coralville, IA). Gapdh and 18s were used as house-keeping control genes and mRNA expression values are presented relative to the WT-SED group. Forward and reverse primer sequences are provided in Table 3.

Table 3.

qPCR primer sequences

Primer Name Forward Sequence Reverse Sequence
18s TCA AGA ACG AAA GTC GGA GG GGA CAT CTA AGG GCA TCA C
Gapdh CCA GCT ACT CGC GGC TTT A GAG GGC TGC AGT CCG TAT TT
Fgf21 GTA CCTT CTA CAC AGA TGA CGA A CGC CTA CCA CTG TTC CAT CCT
Tnga CTA TGT CTC AGC CTC TTC TC CAT TTG GGA AAC TTC TCA TCC
Il6 TCC AGT TGC CTT CTT GGG AC AGT CTC CTC TCC GGA CTT GT
Leptin CCT ATT GAT GGG TCT GCC CG TGA GCG CTA CCT GCA TAG AC
Mcp-1 GCT ATC ATC TTT CAC ACG AAG CAT CTT CTT GAC TCT TAG GC
Cd11c ATG CCA CTG TCT GGC TTC AT GAG CCA GGT CAA AGG TGA CA
Cd8 CTA GAC GTG GAG GAA GAC GC GAG GAC CAT GGG TGA CTC TT
Erm-1 CGG TAT CAT GAG TTG ATG GCA GT CCT TGG TGC ATG AAA CTC CT
Ifngamma AGC AAG GCG AAA AAG GAT GC TCA TTG AAT GCT TGG CGC TG
P22phox ACT CTA TCG CTG CAG GTG TG AAG CTT CAC CAC AGA GGT CAG
Ddit3 ATG TTG AAG ATG AGC GGG TG TGG AAC ACT CTC TCC TCA GGT
Ucp-1 CAC GGG GAC CTA CAA TGC TT ACA GTA AAT GGC AGG GGA CG
PrdM16 CAG CAC GGT GAA GCC ATT C GCG TGC ATC CGC TTG TG
Pgc1a CCC TGC CAT TGT TAA GAC C TGC GC TGT TCC TGC TTT C
Cidea TGC TCT TCT GTA TCG CCC AGT GCC GTG TTA AGG AAT CTG CTG
Lpl GAG ACT CAG AAA AAG GTC ATC GTC TTC AAA GAA CTC AGA TGC
Irs-1 GAT CGT CAA TAG CGT AAC TG ATC GTA CCA TCT ACT GAA GAG
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Fasting blood parameters

Circulating fasting plasma levels of glucose, lipids, FGF21 and adiponectin were assessed as previously described and reported (Fletcher, et al. 2016); those data are also included in Table 2 because of their relevance to the new adipose tissue data reported herein. Homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (Matthews, et al. 1985) and adipose tissue insulin resistance (Adipo-IR), calculated as fasting NEFA × fasting insulin (Lomonaco, et al. 2012), were used to assess insulin resistance.

Table 2.

Serum values

Variable WT-SED WT-EX FGF21KO-SED FGF21KO-EX
FGF21, pg/mL 892.5 ± 199.63 858.6 ± 130.97 BDL BDL
Insulin, ng/mL 1.23 ± 0.10 0.82 ± 0.08† 2.61 ± 0.29* 1.95 ± 0.23*†
Glucose, mg/dL 280.2 ± 10.75 280.53 ± 15.77 332.22 ± 21.89* 350.84 ± 13.21*
Adiponectin, μg/mL 21.38 ± 1.05 18.10 ± 0.64† 20.17 ± 0.92 17.85 ± 0.49†
TG, mg/dL 61.06 ± 4.69 47.33 ± 2.10† 64.44 ± 3.91 57.89 ± 2.53†
Cholesterol, mg/dL 95.37 ± 4.96 91.42 ± 1.90 111.51 ± 4.28* 99.10 ± 4.28*
FFA, μM 769.44 ± 53.55 598.89 ± 32.73† 813.11 ± 26.14 680.22 ± 35.05†
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Western blotting

Triton X-100 tissue lysates were used to produce Western blot-ready Laemmli samples. Protein samples (10 μg/lane) were separated by SDS-PAGE, transferred to polyvinylidene difluoride membranes, and probed with primary antibodies: oxidative phosphorylation (OxPhos) complexes I through V of the electron transport chain (ETC) (1:2000, MitoProfile Total OxPhos Rodent WB Antibody Cocktail, MitoSciences; Eugene, OR), 5′AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) (1:1000) and phospho-AMPK at Threonine 172 and Serine 485 residues (1:1000, Cell Signaling, Danvers, MA), protein kinase B (Akt) (1:500, Cell Signaling), phosphor-Akt at Serine 473 (1:250, Cell Signaling), GLUT4 (1:1000, Cell Signaling), and Beta Actin (1:2000, Cell Signaling). Intensity of individual protein bands was quantified using FluoroChem HD2 (AlphaView, version 3.4.0.0) and were expressed as a ratio to housekeeping band, Beta Actin.

Histology

Formalin-fixed visceral WAT and BAT samples were processed through paraffin embedment, sectioned at 5 μm, and stained with hematoxylin and eosin (i.e., H&E) for morphometric determinations, as previously described (Padilla et al. 2013). Sections were evaluated using an Olympus BX60 photomicroscope (Olympus, Melville, NY) and photographs were taken at 20× magnification via Spot Insight digital camera (Diagnostic Instruments, Inc., Sterling Heights, MI). Adipocyte size was calculated based on 100 adipocytes/animal obtained from three 20× fields per animal. Briefly, cross-sectional areas of the adipocytes were obtained from perimeter tracings using Image J software as performed previously (Wainright, et al. 2015). All procedures were performed by an investigator who was blinded to the experimental conditions.

Statistics

Two-way analysis of variance was performed using SPSS v21 to assess differences among groups for genotype and exercise main effects, as well as genotype × exercise interactions. Post hoc Tukey comparison was utilized to assess between-group differences if genotype by exercise interactions showed statistical significance. For such post hoc analyses, between-group differences are indicated by “a” when different from all other groups, “b” when different compared to WT-SED, and “c” when different compared to FGF21KO-EX. All data are presented as means ± standard error of the mean (SE); p ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

Genotype and exercise impact plasma metabolite profile

As previously reported (Fletcher et al. 2016), no differences existed in running distance between FGF21KO-EX and WT-EX groups, and both groups experienced an increase in energy intake and relative cardiac tissue mass, suggestive of similar training adaptations. However, compared to WT-EX, FGF21KO-EX animals weighed more, had a higher total body fat percentage, and consumed more total energy (Table 1). As shown in Table 2, FGF21KO animals also had greater fasting serum levels of total cholesterol, glucose, and insulin; whereas, no genotype differences were observed for triglycerides (TG), NEFAs or the insulin-sensitizing adipokine, adiponectin. In both genotypes, EX reduced TG, NEFA, and adiponectin levels. No FGF21 protein was detected in serum of FGF21KO mice and EX did not affect circulating levels of FGF21 in WT mice.

Table 1.

Animal Characteristics

Variable WT-SED WT-EX FGF21KO-SED FGFK21KO-EX
Body Weight, g 29.3 ± 1.2 26.9 ± 0.5†§ 37.4 ± 0.8*§ 31.6 ± 0.8*†
Running distance, km/day NA 7.75 ± 0.60 NA 6.96 ± 0.73
Fat mass, g 5.3 ± 0.9 2.7 ± 0.4†§ 10.8 ± 0.4*§ 5.6 ± 0.6*†
Lean mass, g 22.9 ± 0.6 22.9 ± 0.3 25.9 ± 0.4* 25.1 ± 0.4*†
Percent body fat, % 17 ± 2 10 ± 1† 29 ± 1* 17 ± 1*†
Food consumption, g/wk 25.8 ± 0.2 32.3 ± 0.7† 28.6 ± 0.2* 33.7 ± 0.8*†
Feeding efficiency 0.024 ± 0.0004 0.006 ± 0.002† 0.033 ± 0.003 0.009 ± 0.003†
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Exercise improves adipose tissue insulin sensitivity in FGF21KO mice

Based on HOMA-IR values, FGF21KO mice were significantly more insulin resistant than WT controls (Figure 1A) and EX had a tendency (p = 0.112) to improve HOMA-IR in both genotypes. Similarly, FGF21KO mice had significantly greater Adipo-IR (a surrogate index of adipose tissue insulin resistance (Lomonaco et al. 2012)), and EX significantly reduced Adipo-IR for both genotypes (Figure 1B). Additionally, EX increased epididymal WAT insulin receptor substrate 1 (Irs1) expression (Figure 1C). However, gene expression of the enzyme necessary for insulin-mediated lipid uptake into adipose tissue, lipoprotein lipase (Lpl), was not significantly altered (Figure 1C). Phosphorylated (i.e., activated form of) AKT content was significantly upregulated in visceral WAT in the FGF21KO mice (Figure 1D); whereas, GLUT4 protein content was significantly elevated in all three adipose depots of FGF21KO mice compared to WT (Figure 1E). Neither of those proteins were significantly affected by EX in any of the three depots.

Figure 1. Influence of FGF21 ablation and/or exercise on insulin resistance and WAT.

Figure 1

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(A) Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), (B) Adipose tissue Insulin Resistance (Adipo-IR), (C) EPI Irs1 and EPI Lpl gene expression, (D) phospho-Akt:Akt protein content and representative western blots below, and (E) GLUT4 protein content with representative western blots below. WT, wild-type; FGF21KO, FGF21 knockout; SED, sedentary; EX, exercise; EPI, epididymal (visceral); SQ, subcutaneous (inguinal). Values are means ± standard error (SE) (n = 9–15). *Significant genotype main effect (p≤0.05); †significant exercise main effect (p≤0.05).

In concordance with greater total adiposity, FGF21KO mice had significantly greater visceral and subcutaneous WAT depot weights compared to WT mice, while exercise decreased weights to similar values as WT-SED, but not to the extent of WT-EX (Figure 2A/B). The significant genotype × EX interaction for both subcutaneous and visceral WAT depots is indicative of a more robust adiposity-reducing effect of EX in the FGF21KO animals. Morphometric analysis of histologic sections from the visceral WAT depot revealed mean adipocyte size was greater for the FGF21KO compared to WT mice, and was reduced with EX in both genotypes (Figure 2C/D).

Figure 2. Influence of FGF21 ablation and/or exercise on WAT and BAT characteristics.

Figure 2

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(A) EPI mass, (B) SQ mass, (C) Representative Images of EPI H&E staining, and (D) EPI Mean Adipocyte Size. WT, wild-type; FGF21KO, FGF21 knockout; SED, sedentary; EX, exercise; EPI, epididymal (visceral); SQ, subcutaneous (inguinal). Values are means ± standard error (SE). *Significant genotype main effect (p≤0.05); †significant exercise main effect (p≤0.05); asignificantly different compared to all other groups based on significant genotype × exercise effect followed by post-hoc Tukey’s tests (p≤0.05).

WAT inflammation is increased in FGF21KO mice and exercise rescues this phenotype

As shown in Figure 3A/B, FGF21 mRNA was not detected in adipose tissue of KO animals (or liver; data not shown), validating the model. Corresponding with their greater adiposity, FGF21KO mice had greater leptin expression in both visceral and subcutaneous WAT. The inflammatory markers monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (Mcp-1), tumor necrosis factor alpha (Tnfa), the marker expressed on inflammatory/M1 macrophages (Cd11c), and the T cell marker Cd8 were all significantly upregulated in visceral WAT of FGF21KO mice relative to WT controls. Consistent with the previously reported anti-inflammatory effects of exercise in WAT, EX reduced the inflammatory profile of both visceral and subcutaneous WAT independent of genotype (Figure 3).

Figure 3. Influence of FGF21 ablation and/or exercise on WAT gene expression.

Figure 3

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(A) EPI gene expression, (B) SQ gene expression. WT, wild-type; FGF21KO, FGF21 knockout; SED, sedentary; EX, exercise; EPI, epididymal (visceral); SQ, subcutaneous (inguinal). Values are means ± SE. ∆Significant genotype by exercise interaction effect (p≤0.05); *significant genotype main effect (p≤0.05); †significant exercise main effect (p≤0.05); asignificantly different compared to all other groups based on significant genotype × exercise effect followed by post-hoc Tukey’s tests (p≤0.05); bsignificantly different than WT-SED based on significant genotype × exercise effect followed by post-hoc Tukey’s test (p≤0.05).

Effects of FGF21 ablation and exercise on mitochondrial characteristics of WAT

Since adipose tissue mitochondrial metabolism is potentially affected by exercise, we assessed markers of mitochondrial content and function in subcutaneous and visceral WAT. Uncoupling protein 1 (Ucp1) mRNA was virtually undetectable in subcutaneous and visceral WAT of FGF21 KO mice. For Pgc1alpha, which induces mitochondrial biogenesis (Fletcher et al. 2016), a significant genotype × EX interaction was observed in both WAT depots (Figure 3). That is, in both visceral and subcutaneous WAT, FGF21KO animals had lower Pgc1alpha expression, suggesting that lack of FGF21 may reduce mitochondrial biogenesis in WAT; this effect of FGF21 ablation was partially rescued by EX. Interestingly, EX affected WT mice in the opposite way; they experienced (in both WAT depots) an EX-mediated reduction in Pgc1alpha and a similar, yet non-significant, trend with Ucp1. Similarly, Prdm16, the cell fate dictating protein previously shown to induce beige adipogenesis, was reduced with EX in subcutaneous WAT but the effect was not significant in visceral WAT (Figure 3).

In visceral WAT, EX increased mitochondrial citrate synthase activity, but only in WT mice. In fact, EX actually reduced citrate synthase activity in FGF21KO mice (Figure 4A). As shown in Figure 4B, in both genotypes, EX tended to reduce ETC subunit content (COXI, p=0.110; COXII, p=0.008; COXIII, p=0.041; COXIV, p=0.008, COXV, p=0.192) in visceral WAT. Similarly, in both genotypes, EX increased AMPK inhibitory activity (Figure 4C), as indicated by increased serine phosphorylation. In subcutaneous WAT, we noted no differences between groups in citrate synthase activity (Figure 4D); COXIV content (Figure 4E), a validated marker of mitochondrial content (Sun, et al. 2015), or AMPK content or phosphorylation status (i.e., activity) (Figure 4F). In subcutaneous WAT, ATP synthase (i.e., COXV) content was increased in FGF21KO mice. EX increased ETC subunit COXI in WT only, and COXIII in both genotypes.

Figure 4. Influence of FGF21 ablation and/or exercise on WAT mitochondrial content and activity.

Figure 4

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(A) EPI citrate synthase activity, (B) EPI Ox Phos content with representative western blot images, (C) EPI AMPK and phosphorylated AMPK at Serine 485 and Threonine 172 residues with representative western blot images, (D) SQ citrate synthase activity, (E) SQ Ox Phos content with representative western blot images, and (F) SQ AMPK and phosphorylated AMPK at Serine 485 and Threonine residues with representative western blot images. WT, wild-type; FGF21KO, FGF21 knockout; SED, sedentary; EX, exercise; EPI, epididymal (visceral); SQ, subcutaneous (inguinal); AMPK, 5′AMP-activated protein kinase; Ox Phos, mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation subunit complexes. *Significant genotype main effect (p≤0.05); †significant exercise main effect (p≤0.05); asignificantly different compared to all other groups based on significant genotype × exercise effect followed by post-hoc Tukey’s tests (p≤0.05); bsignificantly different than WT-SED based on significant genotype × exercise effect followed by post-hoc Tukey’s tests (p≤0.05) (p≤0.05); csignificantly different than FGF21KO-EX based on significant genotype × exercise effect followed by post-hoc Tukey’s tests (p≤0.05).

FGF21-null mice display an abnormal BAT phenotype, which is restored with exercise training

Similar to WAT depots, interscapular BAT mass was greater in FGF21KO compared to WT mice and EX reduced total interscapular BAT in both genotypes (Figure 5A). When expressed relative to total body fat, as measured by EchoMRI, FGF21KO had lower relative BAT, assessed by the equation (BAT Mass/(Body Mass * Body Fat Percentage)) * 100, which was almost fully restored with EX (Figure 5B). Histological analysis suggested that the increased BAT mass in FGF21KO-EX (and SED) mice was due to increased “whitening,” based on a visual increase in lipid droplet size in both FGF21KO-EX and SED mice compared to their respective controls (Figure 5C). Since recent work revealed an important, lipoprotein lipase (LPL)-dependent role of FGF21 in accelerating lipoprotein catabolism in BAT (Schlein, et al. 2016), the BAT whitening phenotype observed in the FGF21KO caused us to question whether impaired Lpl-mediated lipoprotein catabolism may have played a role. Indeed, we found a suppression in Lpl gene expression in the FGF21KO compared to WT mice (Figure 5D). EX did not significantly affect BAT LPL gene expression, with a tendency to reduce it in the FGF21KO. Consistent with the observation of increased BAT whitening, leptin, the classic adipokine that increases in WAT with adipocyte expansion, was significantly upregulated in KO animals, as were several inflammatory and pro-oxidant genes that are also known to increase in WAT with obesity (i.e., Mcp-1; Tnfa; Cd11c; P22phox, Figure 5E). Remarkably, all of those changes observed in FGF21KO-SED mice were completely normalized by EX, which had a similar protective effect in the WT animals. EX also reduced the classic macrophage marker, Erm-1 and the cytokine Il-6 which were not affected by FGF21 ablation. Since Tnfa, a major inflammatory cytokine, is known to cause adipocyte insulin resistance in WAT via impaired Irs1 activity (Hotamisligil, et al. 1996), we measured Irs1 gene expression in BAT to determine if there was evidence of inflammation-induced insulin resistance or protective effects of EX in this regard. An elevation in Irs1 may be indicative of adipocyte compensation for insulin resistance; thus, reduced levels may indicate improvements in insulin signaling. Consistent with this hypothesis, EX reduced both BAT Tnfa and Irs1 expression; this EX effect was observed in both WT and KO groups (Figure 5D). These findings validate previous work showing EX training reduces inflammation in WAT (Linden, et al. 2014; Vieira et al. 2009a) and BAT (Welly et al. 2016a; Xu, et al. 2011) and demonstrate that while inflammation is increased in the adipose tissue of FGF21KO mice, the anti-inflammatory effects of EX do not require FGF21.

Figure 5. Influence of FGF21 ablation and/or exercise on BAT characteristics and gene expression.

Figure 5

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(A) BAT Mass, (B) Relative BAT Content (BAT weight/(Body Mass * Body Fat Percentage)) * 100, (C) Representative Images of BAT H&E staining, (D) BAT Irs1 and EPI Lpl gene expression, and (E) BAT gene expression. BAT, brown adipose tissue; WT, wild-type; FGF21KO, FGF21 knockout; SED, sedentary; EX, exercise. Values are means ± SE. ∆Significant genotype by exercise interaction main effect (p≤0.05); *significant genotype main effect (p≤0.05); †significant exercise main effect (p≤0.05).

BAT mitochondrial function was assessed by measuring mitochondrial enzyme (i.e., citrate synthase) activity (Figure 6A), ETC subunit protein content (Figure 6B), AMPK content and phosphorylation state (Figure 6D). Here, we found that lack of FGF21 significantly reduced the amount of two important ETC subunits, COXIII and COX IV. Similar to subcutaneous WAT, gene expression of Prdm16 was increased in BAT of FGF21-KO mice, yet normalized with EX (Figure 5E). It should be noted that BAT adaptive thermogenic activity was not directly assessed. Taken together, these results indicate that loss of FGF21 increases BAT and WAT inflammation, and may adversely affect normal mitochondrial adaptations to exercise. Additionally, the present data do not support exercise-mediated browning of WAT in mice following 8-weeks of voluntary wheel running.

Figure 6. Influence of FGF21 ablation and/or exercise on BAT mitochondrial content and activity.

Figure 6

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(A) Citrate synthase activity, (B) Ox Phos Content, (C) Western blot images of Ox Phos complexes, (D) Total AMPK and phosphorylated AMPK at Serine 485 and Threonine 172 residues relative to total AMPK, and (E) Western blot images of AMPK and phosphorylated subunits. BAT, brown adipose tissue; WT, wild-type; FGF21KO, FGF21 knockout; SED, sedentary; EX, exercise; AMPK, 5′AMP-activated protein kinase; Ox Phos, mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation subunit complexes. Values are means ± SE. *Significant genotype main effect (p≤0.05); †significant exercise main effect (p≤0.05).

DISCUSSION

FGF21 is an endocrine hormone that is mainly produced in the liver, but is expressed in several tissues including skeletal muscle, pancreas, and adipose tissue (Perez-Marti, et al. 2016). While the mechanism(s) behind FGF21’s potent insulin sensitizing effects are not completely understood, its adipose tissue-specific actions are thought to be key in predicting its systemic benefits (Adams et al. 2012; Gomez-Hernandez, et al. 2016; Samms, et al. 2016). Exercise training has strikingly similar actions, profoundly affecting adipose tissue by reducing inflammation and improving mitochondrial metabolism (i.e., improving “immunometabolism”) (Thompson, et al. 2012; Vieira-Potter, et al. 2015), yet the mechanisms are not well understood. Intriguingly, a vast majority of studies demonstrate changes in circulating FGF21 levels with exercise. However, the inconsistencies in the magnitude and direction of change make it difficult to define the extent to which FGF21 may contribute to the metabolic adaptations associated with exercise. Whereas acute exercise increased circulating and skeletal muscle FGF21 levels in some studies (Hansen, et al. 2016; Kim et al. 2013; Slusher, et al. 2015; Tanimura et al. 2016), it induced no change or a reduction in circulating FGF21 in others (Taniguchi, et al. 2016). Thus, its role in exercise-mediated browning of WAT (Stanford et al. 2015), a process associated with both reduced inflammation (Liu, et al. 2015) and increased mitochondrial function (Bae, et al. 2014), requires further investigation. Here, we tested whether FGF21 is required for exercise-mediated immunometabolic adaptations in adipose tissue. To this end, we used FGF21KO mice to determine if FGF21 is necessary for the immunometabolic adaptations due to exercise training in WAT and/or BAT, demonstrating for the first time that absence of FGF21 under normal dietary conditions leads to a dysfunctional adipose tissue phenotype characterized by inflammation and impaired mitochondrial oxidative metabolism. Importantly, this unhealthy phenotype was largely rescued with exercise training, indicating that FGF21 is dispensable for exercise-induced anti-inflammatory effects in adipose tissue.

In agreement with previous studies (Badman, et al. 2009; Laeger, et al. 2014), we found that FGF21KO mice have increased adiposity, which is accompanied by an overall impaired metabolic profile. Although energy expenditure was not directly assessed, FGF21KO animals consumed more energy, suggesting that their greater adiposity was at least partially due to hyperphagia. Voluntary wheel running reduced all measures of adiposity in both WT and FGF21KO animals, and FGF21KO were no less responsive to those adiposity-reducing effects. Recently, Loyd and coauthors exposed FGF21KO mice to chronic high-fat feeding and voluntary wheel running, and also demonstrated that the effects of exercise on body weight and adiposity occur independent of FGF21 (Loyd et al. 2016). Increased adiposity and adipocyte size in the FGF21KO-SED group were associated with a higher Adipo-IR value, a surrogate index of adipose tissue insulin resistance (Lomonaco et al. 2012). Consistently, expression of pro-inflammatory and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress markers were increased in visceral WAT from FGF21KO-SED mice. EX significantly reduced Adipo-IR, which associated with increased Irs1 expression and decreased inflammatory/ER stress gene expression in WAT, regardless of genotype, further demonstrating that exercise’s ability to improve WAT phenotype does not require FGF21.

Exercise-associated reductions in WAT inflammation have been previously reported, however the majority of these studies were performed in obese animals (Bradley, et al. 2008; Vieira et al. 2009a; Welly, et al. 2016b). Here, we demonstrate that the anti-inflammatory effects of exercise also occur in WAT and BAT of otherwise healthy, but previously sedentary, chow-fed mice. While FGF21KO-SED WAT and BAT had a more pro-inflammatory phenotype compared to WT-SED mice, it is unclear if that was a direct effect of FGF21 ablation, or secondary to the increase in adiposity observed in the KO mice. However, emerging data suggest a direct role for FGF21 in alleviating ER stress and inflammation (Guo, et al. 2016; Wang, et al. 2014; Yu et al. 2016). In order to interrogate further whether the inflammatory changes observed in the KO mice were dependent or independent of the increase in adiposity, we statistically adjusted for the effect of body weight on all inflammatory outcomes (Supplementary Table 1). We found that many, yet not all, of the differences in inflammatory genes were no longer significantly elevated in the KO compared to WT mice, suggesting that the elevated adiposity in the KO contributed significantly to their greater WAT and BAT inflammation. However, even after this statistical adjustment, KO maintained greater levels of visceral WAT Cd8 (an inflammatory T cell marker associated with insulin resistance (Nishimura, et al. 2009) gene expression and tended to (P=0.053) maintain greater Tnfa (an inflammatory cytokine known to secreted by inflammatory macrophages and impair adipocyte insulin signaling (Hotamisligil et al. 1996)) levels; these findings support that the absence of FGF21 does have adverse inflammatory effects on adipose tissue independent of body weight. While it is likely that the effect of exercise to reduce adipose tissue inflammation was at least somewhat driven by its ability to reduce adiposity, even after the body weight adjustment, exercise-mediated reductions in WAT and BAT Leptin gene expression remained statistically significant, as did the exercise-mediated reduction in WAT macrophage gene expression (i.e., Erm-1), confirming previous reports of exercise having direct anti-inflammatory effects in adipose tissue (Castellani et al. 2014; Peppler, et al. 2017).

Accumulating evidence supports important relationships between mitochondrial and immune function suggesting that impaired mitochondrial health associates with greater inflammation (Hahn, et al. 2014; Qatanani, et al. 2013; Vamecq, et al. 2012)). Whereas lean adipose tissue is characterized by the absence of inflammation and increased mitochondrial function (Flachs, et al. 2013), obese/sedentary adipose tissue is typified by a pro-inflammatory phenotype and impaired mitochondrial activity (Okamoto, et al. 2007). Meanwhile, exercise improves WAT mitochondrial content and function (Stanford et al. 2015; Wang et al. 2014), and reports have implicated FGF21 in mediating mitochondrial biogenesis via regulation of Pgc1alpha (Okamoto et al. 2007; Stanford et al. 2015). Thus, mitochondria-related markers were assessed in WAT and BAT to determine the potential impact of loss of FGF21 on the ability of exercise to affect these parameters. Consistent with our previous observation that hepatic mitochondrial function is impaired in FGF21KO mice and almost completely restored by exercise training (Fletcher et al. 2016), our current findings revealed important roles of both FGF21 and exercise in mediating adipose tissue mitochondrial adaptations.

In the absence of FGF21, BAT took on a phenotype more similar to WAT, including increased inflammation (e.g., increased Tnfa, Mcp-1, P22phox, and Cd11c gene expression) and greater lipid deposition. Exercise decreased that inflammatory profile in both WT and KO mice. However, adjusting for total body weight caused most of those inflammatory improvements to lose statistical significance (Supplementary Table 1). Importantly, adipose tissue inflammation is known to adversely affect adipocyte insulin signaling, which contributes to systemic insulin resistance. While most work on inflammation-induced insulin resistance has been done on WAT, BAT is also insulin sensitive and its presence contributes to systemic protection against insulin resistance (Townsend and Tseng 2012). Thus, BAT inflammation may adversely affect brown adipocyte insulin sensitivity and contribute to systemic insulin resistance, whereas FGF21 and exercise may both improve systemic insulin sensitivity by mitigating inflammation in WAT and BAT. Indeed, we found that exercise reduced BAT Tnfa and Irs1 gene expression whereas Tnfα is known to cause adipocyte insulin resistance via its inhibitory actions on Irs1 (Hotamisligil et al. 1996). In terms of BAT mitochondrial assessments, KO had significantly lower mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation complexes III and IV (i.e., COXIII, IV protein content). Although the main effect of genotype on COX III was not statistically significant following body weight adjustment, the suppressed BAT COX IV in KO remained even after this adjustment, suggesting a direct protective role of FGF21.

In conclusion, absence of FGF21 results in increased adiposity, adipose tissue insulin resistance, and inflammation in both WAT and BAT. Importantly, exercise largely normalized the dysfunctional adipose tissue phenotype in FGF21KO animals. These new findings reveal the importance of FGF21 in maintaining a healthy adipose tissue phenotype under sedentary conditions, while revoking the hypothesis that the anti-inflammatory effects of exercise in adipose tissue require FGF21.

Supplementary Material

01

Acknowledgments

The project described was supported by grant’s from ACSM Foundations Research Grant (JAF), NIH T32 AR 048523-07 (JAF), NIH DK088940 (JPT) and R25GM056901 from the National Institute of General Medical Science (NIGMS), a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), VA-Merit I01BX003271-01 (RSR), VA-Merit l01 RX000123 (JPT), MU Corporate Advisory Board (Porter), MU Research Board (VVP), MU Research Council (VVP), and NIH K01HL125503 (JP). Thanks to Grace Meers, Michelle Gastecki, and Rebecca Welly for technical assistance with the animals and collection of samples. This work was supported with resources and the use of facilities at the Harry S. Truman Memorial VA Hospital in Columbia, MO.

Footnotes

DISCLOSURES

J. W. Perfield II is a paid employee of Eli Lilly and Company and may own company stock or possess stock options. The remaining authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

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