Systemic depletion of WWP1 improves insulin sensitivity and lowers triglyceride content in the liver of obese mice

Abstract

Obesity is a metabolic disorder associated with many diseases. WW domain‐containing E3 ubiquitin protein ligase 1 (WWP1) is a HECT‐type E3 ubiquitin ligase involved in several diseases. Recently, we found that the level of WWP1 is increased in white adipose tissue in a mouse model of obesity and that obese Wwp1 knockout (KO) mice exhibit improved whole‐body glucose metabolism. Here, to determine which insulin‐sensitive tissues contribute to this phenotype, we investigated the levels of several insulin signaling markers in white adipose tissue, liver, and skeletal muscle of Wwp1 KO mice, which were fed a normal or high‐fat diet and transiently treated with insulin. In obese Wwp1 KO mice, phosphorylated Akt levels were increased in the liver but not in white adipose tissue or skeletal muscle. Moreover, the weight and triglyceride content of the liver of obese Wwp1 KO mice were decreased. These results suggest that systemic deletion of WWP1 improves glucose metabolism via enhanced hepatic insulin signaling and suppressed hepatic fat accumulation. In summary, WWP1 participates in obesity‐related metabolic dysfunction and pathologies related to hepatic steatosis via suppressed insulin signaling.