Expression of cGMP-dependent protein kinase type I in mature white adipocytes

The presence of cGMP-dependent protein kinase I (cGKI) in murine adipocytes has been questioned, although cGKI was implicated in the thermogenic program of fat cells (FCs) and to exert anti-hypertrophic/inflammatory effects in white adipose tissue. Herein, cGKI was detected in adipocytes from control mice, whereas FCs from global cGKI knockouts (cGKI(-/-)) and cGKI alpha rescue (alpha RM) mice remained cGKI-negative. cGKI mutants exhibit decreased adipocyte size, plasma leptin levels and reduced body-weights as compared to litter-matched controls. Low abundance of adiponectin in WAT and plasma of alpha RM animals together with previously confirmed high IL-6 levels indicate a low-grade inflammation. However, alpha RMs were protected from streptozotocin-induced hyperglycemia. Our results suggest that cGMP/cGKI affects both glucose and FC homeostasis in more complex mode than previously thought. (C) 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.