Muscle cannabinoid 1 receptor regulates Il‐6 and myostatin expression, governing physical performance and whole‐body metabolism

Abstract

ABSTRACT Sarcopenic obesity, the combination of skeletal muscle mass and function loss with an increase in body fat, is associated with physical limitations, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic stress, and increased risk of mortality. Cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1R) plays a critical role in the regulation of whole‐body energy metabolism because of its involvement in controlling appetite, fuel distribution, and utilization. Inhibition of CB1R improves insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity in pancreatic β‐cells and hepatocytes. We have now developed a skeletal muscle–specific CB1R‐knockout (Skm‐CB1R −/− ) mouse to study the specific role of CB1R in muscle. Muscle‐CB1R ablation prevented diet‐induced and age‐induced insulin resistance by increasing IR signaling. Moreover, muscle‐CB1R ablation enhanced AKT signaling, reducing myostatin expression and increasing IL‐6 secretion. Subsequently, muscle‐CB1R ablation increased myogenesis through its action on MAPK‐mediated myogenic gene expression. Consequently, Skm‐CB1R −/− mice had increased muscle mass and whole‐body lean/fat ratio in obesity and aging. Muscle‐CB1R ablation improved mitochondrial performance, leading to increased whole‐body muscle energy expenditure and improved physical endurance, with no change in body weight. These results collectively show that CB1R in muscle is sufficient to regulate whole‐body metabolism and physical performance and is a novel target for the treatment of sarcopenic obesity. —González‐Mariscal, I., Montoro, R. A., O'Connell, J. F., Kim, Y., Gonzalez‐Freire, M., Liu, Q.‐R., Alfaras, I., Carlson, O. D., Lehrmann, E., Zhang, Y., Becker, K. G., Hardivillé, S., Ghosh, P., Egan, J. M. Muscle cannabinoid 1 receptor regulates Il‐6 and myostatin expression, governing physical performance and whole‐body metabolism. FASEB J. 33, 5850–5863 (2019). www.fasebj.org