Role of FAT/CD36 in high-fat diet-induced adipose tissue inflammation

AIM: To investigate the role of fatty acid translocase/CD36 (FAT/CD36) in adipose tissue inflammation induced by a high-fat diet. METHODS: C57BL/6J mice were fed with a normal-chow diet (NCD) or a high-fat diet (HFD) for 14 weeks. The content of free fatty acid (FFA) in the serum was measured by ELISA. The expression of CD36, cytokines and chemokines at mRNA and protein levels in the adipose tissues was determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting. Immunohistochemical staining was used to examine the macrophages infiltration in the adipose tissues. The inflammatory responses in CD36 knockout mice and wild type mice with high-fat diet were analyzed. RESULTS: The levels of FAT/CD36 were higher in HFD group than that in NCD group. HFD feeding enhanced the mRNA and protein expression of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, MCP-1 and MIP-1, as well as promoted macrophage infiltration in the adipose tissues. Interestingly, as fed with HFD, the expression of cytokines/chemokines and macrophage infiltration were significantly reduced in adipose tissues of the CD36 knockout mice, compared with the wild type mice. CONCLUSION: High-fat diet promotes adipose tissue inflammation in the mice in a FAT/CD36-dependent manner.