Cell, Volume 142, Issue 5, 687-698, 3 September 2010
Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
10.1016/j.cell.2010.07.041
Referred to by: Fishing Out a Sensor for Anti-inflammato...
Authors
- Highlights
- GPR120 is expressed in macrophages and Kupffer cells and is induced in obesity
- GPR120 functions as an omega 3 fatty acid (?-3 FA) receptor/sensor
- ?-3 FAs exert broad anti-inflammatory effects through GPR120 in macrophages
- GP120 mediates insulin sensitization by ?-3 FAs in obese mice
Summary
Omega-3 fatty acids (?-3 FAs), DHA and EPA, exert anti-inflammatory effects, but the mechanisms are poorly understood. Here, we show that the G protein-coupled receptor 120 (GPR120) functions as an ?-3 FA receptor/sensor. Stimulation of GPR120 with ?-3 FAs or a chemical agonist causes broad anti-inflammatory effects in monocytic RAW 264.7 cells and in primary intraperitoneal macrophages. All of these effects are abrogated by GPR120 knockdown. Since chronic macrophage-mediated tissue inflammation is a key mechanism for insulin resistance in obesity, we fed obese WT andGPR120 knockout mice a high-fat diet with or without ?-3 FA supplementation. The ?-3 FA treatment inhibited inflammation and enhanced systemic insulin sensitivity in WT mice, but was without effect in GPR120 knockout mice. In conclusion, GPR120 is a functional ?-3 FA receptor/sensor and mediates potent insulin sensitizing and antidiabetic effects in vivo by repressing macrophage-induced tissue inflammation.