Inflammation is an important factor in the development of insulin resistance. SIRT1, a class 3 histone/protein deacetylase, has anti-inflammatory functions. Myeloid-specific deletion of Sirt1 promotes macrophage infiltration into insulin-sensitive organs and aggravates tissue inflammation. In this study, we investigated how SIRT1 in macrophages alters tissue inflammation in the pancreas as well as liver and adipose tissue, and further explored the role of SIRT1 in locomotion of macrophages. Myeloid-specific Sirt1-deleted mice (mS1KO) and WT littermates were fed a 60% calorie high-fat diet (HFD) for 16 weeks. Tissue inflammation and metabolic phenotypes were compared. Bone marrow macrophages (BMMs) from WT or mS1KO mice were used in in vitro chemotaxis assays and macrophage polarization studies. mS1KO mice fed a HFD exhibited glucose intolerance, reduced insulin secretion, and insulin sensitivity with a slight decrease in body weight. Consistent with these results, pancreatic islets of mS1KO mice fed a HFD displayed decreased mass with profound apoptotic cell damage and increased macrophage infiltration and inflammation. Liver and adipose tissues from mS1KO HFD mice also showed greater accumulation of macrophages and tissue inflammation. Results from in vitro experiments indicated that deletion of myeloid Sirt1 stimulated proinflammatory M1-like polarization of BMMs and augmented the adipocyte-mediated macrophage chemotaxis. The latter effect was accompanied by increased expression and acetylation of focal adhesion kinase, as well as nuclear factor kappa B. Our results indicate that myeloid SIRT1 plays a crucial role in macrophage polarization and chemotaxis, and thus regulates the development of HFD-induced pancreatic inflammation and insulin secretion, and metabolic derangements in liver and adipose tissue.

Dermcidin (DCD), an antimicrobial peptide that is secreted by sweat glands, is reportedly a human homolog of mouse proteolysis-inducing factor. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of DCD on body fat mobilization. The expression level of DCD in the livers of Ad-DCD-injected mice was higher than in those of Ad-β-galactosidase (Ad-β-gal)-injected mice 7 days after injection. In addition, injection with the Ad-DCD virus led to decreased body weight and epididymal fat mass when compared with controls. The plasma triglyceride level was decreased, whereas the free fatty acid and glycerol levels were increased in the Ad-DCD-injected group. Epididymal adipose tissues obtained from Ad-DCD-injected mice consisted of smaller adipocytes than tissues obtained from Ad-β-gal-injected mice. The gene expression profiles revealed an upregulation of hormone-sensitive lipase and adipose fatty acid-binding protein, both of which are involved in adipocyte lipolysis, in Ad-DCD-injected mice, and this lipolytic effect of DCD paralleled the increase of circulating tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) level that was observed. The perilipin levels in adipose tissue were decreased in Ad-DCD-injected mice when compared with those of the control mice. Taken together, these results suggest that DCD-mediated body fat reduction might occur as a result of TNF-α-induced downregulation of perilipin in adipose tissue.