Submission Date: Jan 25, 2019

Summary: Inactivating mutations in the copper transporter Atp7b result in Wilson's disease. The Atp7b-/- mouse develops hallmarks of Wilson's disease. The activity of several nuclear receptors is decreased in Atp7b-/- mice, and nuclear receptors are critical for maintaining metabolic homeostasis. Therefore, we anticipated that Atp7b-/- mice would exhibit altered progression of diet-induced obesity, fatty liver, and insulin resistance. Following 10 weeks on a chow or Western-type diet (40% kcal fat), parameters of glucose and lipid homeostasis were measured. Hepatic metabolites were measured by LC-MS and correlated with transcriptomic data. Atp7b-/- mice fed a chow diet had lower fat mass and were more glucose tolerant than wild type (WT) littermate controls although body weights did not differ between genotypes. On Western diet, Atp7b-/- mice exhibited reduced adiposity and hepatic steatosis compared with WT controls. Atp7b-/- mice fed either diet were more insulin sensitive than WT controls; however, fasted Atp7b-/- mice exhibited hypoglycemia after administration of insulin, due to an impaired glucose counter-regulatory response, as evidenced by reduced hepatic glucose production. Coupling gene expression with metabolomic analyses, we observed striking changes in hepatic metabolic profiles in Atp7b-/- mice. In addition, the active phosphorylated form of AMP kinase was significantly increased in Atp7b-/- mice relative with WT controls. Alterations in hepatic metabolic profiles and nuclear receptor signaling were associated with improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity, as well as impaired fasting glucose production in Atp7b-/- mice.

GEO Accession ID: GSE125637

PMID: 31924743