Myeloid-specific CAMKK2 deficiency protects against diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance by rewiring metabolic gene expression and enhancing energy expenditure

Objective

Obesity is associated with chronic, low-grade inflammation in metabolic tissues such as liver, adipose tissue and skeletal muscle implicating insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes as inflammatory diseases. This inflammatory response involves the accumulation of pro-inflammatory macrophages in these metabolically relevant organs. The Ca²⁺-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase-2 (CAMKK2) is a key regulator of cellular and systemic energy metabolism, and a coordinator of macrophage-mediated inflammatory responses. However, its role in obesity-associated metabolic dysfunction is not fully defined. The aim of this study was to determine the contribution of CAMKK2 to the regulation of inflammation and systemic metabolism during diet-induced obesity.

Methods

Mice with myeloid-specific deletion of Camkk2 were generated and challenged with a high-fat diet. Metabolic phenotyping, histological analyses, and transcriptomic profiling were used to assess whole-body metabolism, liver lipid accumulation, and gene expression in macrophages and adipose tissue.

Results

Myeloid-specific Camkk2 deficiency protected mice from high fat diet-induced obesity, insulin resistance and liver steatosis. These protective effects were associated with rewiring of metabolic and inflammatory gene expression in both macrophages and adipose tissue, along with enhanced whole-body energy expenditure.

Conclusions

Our data establish CAMKK2 as an important regulator of macrophage function and putative therapeutic target for treating obesity and related metabolic disorders.