Background: Coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) promote adipocyte inflammation and impair glucose homeostasis in lean mice. The diabetes-promoting effects of lipophilic PCBs have been observed only during weight loss in obese mice. The molecular mechanisms linking PCB exposures to impaired glucose metabolism are unclear.

Objectives: In this study we tested the hypothesis that coplanar PCBs act at adipocyte aryl hydrocarbon receptors (AhRs) to promote adipose inflammation and impair glucose homeostasis in lean mice and in obese mice during weight loss.

Methods and Results: PCB-77 administration impaired glucose and insulin tolerance in LF (low fat diet)–fed control ( AhR^fl/fl ) mice but not in adipocyte AhR–deficient mice ( AhR^AdQ ). Unexpectedly, AhR^AdQ mice exhibited increased fat mass when fed a standard LF or high fat (HF) diet. In mice fed a HF diet, both genotypes became obese, but AhR^AdQ mice administered vehicle (VEH) exhibited increased body weight, adipose mass, adipose inflammation, and impaired glucose tolerance compared with AhR^fl/fl controls. Impairment of glucose homeostasis in response to PCB-77 was not observed in obese mice of either genotype. However, upon weight loss, AhR^fl/fl mice administered PCB-77 exhibited increased abundance of adipose tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) mRNA and impaired glucose homeostasis compared with those administered VEH. In contrast, PCB-77 had no effect on TNF-α or glucose homeostasis in AhR^AdQ mice exhibiting weight loss.

Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that adipocyte AhR mediates PCB-induced adipose inflammation and impairment of glucose homeostasis in mice. Moreover, deficiency of AhR in adipocytes augmented the development of obesity, indicating that endogenous ligand(s) for AhR regulate adipose homeostasis.

Citation: Baker NA, Shoemaker R, English V, Larian N, Sunkara M, Morris AJ, Walker M, Yiannikouris F, Cassis LA. 2015. Effects of adipocyte aryl hydrocarbon receptor deficiency on PCB-induced disruption of glucose homeostasis in lean and obese mice. Environ Health Perspect 123:944–950;  http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1408594

*These authors contributed equally to this work.

Address correspondence to L.A. Cassis, Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, Room 521b, Wethington Building, 900 S. Limestone, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536-0200 USA. Telephone: (859) 218-1400. E-mail: [email protected]

This research was supported by National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health (NIH), grant P42 ES 007380 (L.A.C.) and through research cores supported by NIH grant P20 GM103527-06 (L.A.C.); and trainee support (N.A.B.) was provided by NIH T32 3048107792 (L.A.C.).

The authors declare they have no actual or potential competing financial interests.

Received: 23 April 2014 Accepted: 2 March 2015 Advance Publication: 3 March 2015 Final Publication: 1 October 2015

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