Skip to main content

MINI REVIEW article

Front. Immunol., 21 August 2019
Sec. Molecular Innate Immunity
This article is part of the Research Topic Role of Metabolism in Regulating Immune Cell Fate Decisions View all 17 articles

Macrophage Rewiring by Nutrient Associated PI3K Dependent Pathways

  • 1Centre for Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute for Vascular Biology, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
  • 2Christian Doppler Laboratory for Arginine Metabolism in Rheumatoid Arthritis and Multiple Sclerosis, Vienna, Austria

Class 1 Phosphoinositide-3-Kinases (PI3Ks) have been widely studied and mediate essential roles in cellular proliferation, chemotaxis, insulin sensitivity, and immunity. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of how macrophage expressed PI3Ks and their downstream pathways orchestrate responses to metabolic stimuli and nutrients, polarizing macrophages, shaping their cellular identity and function. Particular emphasis will be given to adipose tissue macrophages, crucial players of insulin resistance and chronic metabolically triggered inflammation during obesity. An understanding of PI3K dependent wiring of macrophage responses is important as this is involved in various diseases ranging from obesity, type 2 diabetes to chronic inflammatory disease.

Introduction

The PI3K family is a central metabolic regulator, responsible for phosphorylating inositol lipids at the 3′ position of the inositol ring. PI3K generated phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-trisphosphate (PtdIns(3,4,5)P3) triggers the recruitment and activation of several signaling proteins to the plasma membrane, thereby relaying various extracellular stimuli including Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands, insulin and G-protein coupled receptor ligands (1, 2). Although there are three classes of PI3K enzymes (3), this mini-review will focus on class I PI3Ks and their function in macrophages in response to metabolic stimuli that are upregulated during obesity, including insulin, glucose, cholesterol and free fatty acids (FFAs). Indeed, macrophages that reside in adipose tissue (ATMs) are exposed to increased levels of these stimuli in the obese state and are significant players in metabolically triggered inflammation (herein referred to as meta-inflammation), which is crucial in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and atherosclerosis (47). Here, we present an overview of how the aforementioned stimuli regulate macrophage function and propose that PI3Ks are central integrators of these environmental cues.

The PI3K Pathway and its Effects on Macrophage Polarization

In mammals, class I PI3Ks are subdivided into class IA and class IB. Class IA consists of three catalytic (p110α/β/δ) and five regulatory subunits (p85α/β, p55α/p50α, and p55γ), in part generated through splicing or alternative transcription (p55α/p50α), associated to mainly receptor tyrosine kinases. Class IB only features one catalytic (p110γ) and two regulatory subunits (p84/p101) associated to G-protein-coupled receptors. The catalytic subunit of PI3K heterodimerizes with a regulatory subunit that dictates localization and activity of the complex leading to recruitment of signaling molecules that bind PtdIns(3,4,5)P3 through their pleckstrin-homology (PH) domains including protein kinase B (PKB, also known as AKT), phosphoinositide-dependent kinase 1 (PDK-1), protein kinase C (PKC) and Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK). PI3K activation further blocks degradation and increases synthesis of proteins via mTOR signaling. AKT mediates effects involved in glucose transport, glycogen synthesis, and protein synthesis. Some of these metabolic effects are achieved through AKT mediated phosphorylation of Forkhead (FOXO) transcription factors (810). Given the crucial role of the PI3K pathway in cellular biology, mechanisms exist to limit its activation. PtdIns(3,4,5)P3 turnover is terminated by lipid phosphatases, such as phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), a prominent tumor suppressor (11).

In macrophages, the PI3K pathway regulates the response to different metabolic and inflammatory signals and modulates macrophage polarization. Briefly, based on their microenvironment and the consequent functional programs elicited, macrophage phenotypes are defined as M1 and M2. Classically activated M1 macrophages adopt a pro-inflammatory phenotype in response to interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and are critical for host defense against pathogens. Alternatively activated M2 macrophages play important roles in wound healing and resolving inflammation. M2 macrophages can further be subdivided into M2a (activated by interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13), M2b (activated by immune complexes and TLR ligands), and M2c (activated by IL-10 and glucocorticoids). Importantly, these activation states are likely dynamic and influenced by the changing local milieu, therefore macrophages may not form clear cut activation subsets in vivo (12). Indeed, as discussed later, recent evidence indicates that ATMs adopt a unique metabolically activated state in response to their microenvironment.

Numerous studies have implicated PI3Ks in limiting pro-inflammatory responses in TLR stimulated macrophages, especially upon LPS mediated TLR4 activation. The mechanisms are diverse ranging from indirect effects such as suppression of TLR4 induced signaling cascades (e.g., MAP kinase signaling) to direct mechanisms, including AKT mediated modulation of FOXO transcription factors or the promotion of M2 responses. Indeed, LPS driven ERK, p38, and JNK pathways in monocytes and macrophages are enhanced upon pharmacological blockage of PI3K activity (13). Bone marrow macrophages (BMMs) deficient in p110γ or p85α exhibit augmented IL-6, IL-12, and TNF levels following LPS challenge, providing genetic evidence that PI3Ks attenuate LPS induced inflammation (14, 15). Further, PTEN deficient macrophages, which exhibit sustained PI3K activity, display decreased LPS driven pro-inflammatory cytokine expression and are skewed toward an M2 phenotype compared to controls (15, 16). In addition, downstream AKT signaling is required for the dampening effects of PI3Ks on TLR4 signaling and might involve phosphorylation and thereby termination of FOXO transcription factor activity. This is particularly important as FOXO1, which when active potentiates TLR4 expression (14, 17). Of note, three distinct isoforms of AKT exist: AKT1, 2 and 3 and studies utilizing AKT isoform-specific deficient mice suggest unique roles for the isoforms in mediating pro and anti-inflammatory signaling (18, 19). LPS stimulated Akt1−/− macrophages express augmented levels of iNOS (inducible nitric oxide synthase), NO (nitric oxide), TNFα, and IL-6, whereas LPS treated Akt2−/− macrophages produce low levels of these pro-inflammatory mediators suggesting deletion of Akt1 promotes M1 while deletion of Akt2 results in M2 responses (20). In line, Akt2−/− macrophages express increased levels of the M2 markers arginase 1 (Arg-1), FIZZ1, and exhibit more IL-10 upon LPS treatment compared to controls, while AKT1 deficiency results in enhanced bacterial clearance in vivo (20, 21). Interestingly, similar to Akt2−/− macrophages the M2 phenotype of Pten−/− macrophages is associated with elevated Arg-1 levels that are mediated by binding of the transcription factor CEBP-β to the Arg-1 promoter, suggesting sustained PI3K activity impinges particularly upon AKT1 in the context of macrophage polarization (16, 20). However, whether specific AKT isoforms are regulated by specific PI3K classes remains unknown.

Adipose Tissue Macrophages

Although murine ATMs are a heterogeneous population of cells, ATMs in the lean state can generally be described as F4/80+CD11b+CD206+ cells. Physiological adipose tissue growth is associated with minimal inflammation, while during pathological fat expansion, characteristic of obesity, limited angiogenesis of adipose tissue is associated with prevalent adipocyte hypertrophy, fibrosis and death (22). Here, ATM numbers dramatically increase due to local proliferation and recruitment of monocytes into adipose tissue that occurs partly through a monocyte chemoattractant protein 1/C-C chemokine receptor type 2 (MCP-1/CCR2) dependent axis and is influenced by adipose tissue lipolysis (2326). Indeed, recruited ATMs express CCR2, but also CD11c, CD64, and CD9 (27). CD11c+ ATMs overexpress pro-inflammatory genes and ablation of CD11c+ cells in adipose tissue of obese mice leads to reduced inflammation and improved insulin sensitivity (28). Nonetheless, while in obesity, recruited ATMs overexpress several classic inflammatory (M1) markers e.g., Il6 and Nos2 (29), their phenotype is highly plastic and dependent on the microenvironment. Here, saturated FFAs (e.g., palmitate) or cholesterol, insulin and glucose that are prevalent in obese adipose tissue induce a state of metabolic activation (MMe) in ATMs, distinct from classic M1 activation. MMe activation is associated with elevated cell surface expression of lipid metabolism associated proteins including ATP binding cassette transporter (ABCA1), cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36), and perilipin 2 (PLIN2). This is related to augmented peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ) binding to the promoters of these genes. Further, autophagy and particularly sequestome-1 (p62) are important as opposed to controls attenuated levels of these lipid mediators occur in p62 null MMe macrophages (30). MMe activation correlates with lysosomal biogenesis as more active biogenesis occurs in newly recruited CD11c+ ATMs (27, 31). Recent work has corroborated that ATMs represent a heterogeneous population of cells and that irrespective of obesity, there are populations of lipid laden ATMs associated with the vasculature of adipose tissue exhibiting high endocytic capacity. This suggests active ATM reprograming in response to diverse macromolecules and nutrients present in the bloodstream (32). Together, ATMs respond to their environment by upregulating lipid/lysosomal programs, which is likely heighted during obesity, allowing them to fulfill their main function of clearing up dying adipocytes, buffering lipids, preventing ectopic lipid spill over, and ensuing insulin resistance (25, 26, 33, 34). But how does PI3K activity within macrophages, reconcile with the environmental cues that dictate ATM function and metabolic health? Although cytokines or adipokines secreted by adipose tissue can influence systemic inflammation as well as local macrophage responses (31), here we will focus exclusively on metabolic stimuli relevant to obesity and T2D and their effects on myeloid cells, particularly macrophages (Figure 1). We propose that during obesity, the metabolic milieu encountered by macrophages modulates PI3K signaling driving changes in macrophage function.

FIGURE 1
www.frontiersin.org

Figure 1. The PI3K signaling cascade integrates signals from extracellular nutrients and influences cellular function. Depicted are the positive (plus) and negative influences of PI3K on the cellular responses to insulin, glucose, TLR4, free cholesterol and adipose exosomes. Insulin signaling in macrophages has no direct impact on JNK activation (cross). Dashed arrows indicate potential connections, see text for further details. ABCA1, ATP-binding cassette 1; CD36, cluster of differentiation 36; CD206, cluster of differentiation 206; ER, endoplasmic reticulum; FC, free cholesterol; FFA, free fatty acids; GLUT-1, glucose transporter 1; IL1β, interleukin 1β; IRS2, insulin receptor substrate 2; JNK, c-Jun N-terminal kinase; LDLR, low-density lipoprotein receptor; LPS, lipopolysaccharide; NF-κB, nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells; PI3K, phosphoinositide 3-kinase; Plin2, perilipin-2; PPAR-γ, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors gamma; TLR4, toll-like receptor 4; TNF, tumor necrosis factor.

Insulin Stimulated PI3Ks Promote Cell Survival and Attenuates Lipid Loading in Myeloid Cells

Insulin represents an essential hormone for the maintenance of whole-body glucose disposal, regulating carbohydrate, protein and lipid metabolism in insulin-sensitive organs such as adipose tissue, muscle and liver (10). Upon insulin binding, the insulin receptor (IR) self-phosphorylates and activates insulin receptor substrates (IRS) which mediate downstream effects through engaging central signaling pathways including the PI3K/AKT, mTOR, and MAPK pathways (9). In this complex network, PI3Ks are a critical signaling node, mediating many of the metabolic and mitogenic effects of insulin. Importantly, the exact function of insulin signaling in immune cells remains largely unknown, although recently it was shown that T cell specific insulin signaling promotes a specific metabolic program, inducing nutrient uptake to support optimal T cell effector functions (35). Tissue resident macrophages, including ATMs, liver and peritoneal macrophages (pMOs) express the INSR gene with pMOs exhibiting highest expression. INSR upregulation in pMOs is linked with obesity and M1 macrophages exhibit more expression compared to unstimulated (M0) or M2 macrophages (36). Further, macrophages mainly express IRS-2 but not IRS-1 (37, 38). Although insulin stimulation of macrophages engages the PI3K/AKT signaling cascade (39, 40), it does not activate some important other nodes of the insulin signaling network such as the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 pathways (36). Macrophage glucose transport is facilitated mainly via glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1), which is rapidly induced by insulin, an effect that has been described to be more prominent in M1 vs. M0 or M2 macrophages, suggesting possible anti-inflammatory actions of insulin (Figure 1) (36, 41). In line, insulin promotes IL-10 expression dose dependently in pMOs and RAW264.7 macrophages and insulin priming attenuates TLR4 expression, LPS induced nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), p38 MAPK activation, and IL-1β production (42). Further, treatment of obese individuals with insulin reverses the pro-inflammatory phenotype of macrophages, eliciting anti-inflammatory effects (43). Concordant with a potential role in resolving macrophage mediated inflammation, insulin-stimulated macrophages exhibit increased expression of phagocytosis associated NAPDH oxidase activity and decreased apoptosis (44, 45). Nonetheless, insulin and PI3K signaling are unlikely to solely promote anti-inflammatory effects. Insulin is reported to increase TNF-α release in human monocytes (46). LPS-stimulation of IR deficient macrophages failed to induce IL-6 and IL-1β expression suggesting insulin signaling might be required for inflammation (47).

In obesity, surprisingly, mice deficient for the IR specifically in myeloid cells exhibit a protective phenotype associated with decreased ATM accumulation and improved insulin sensitivity (48). A recent report has reproduced these findings, additionally suggesting that there are less pro-inflammatory (F4/80+CD11c+CD206) and more anti-inflammatory (F4/80+CD11cCD206+) ATMs present in obese mice lacking the IR in myeloid cells, proposing myeloid cell specific IR signaling modulates ATM phenotypes (38). The authors of this study additionally demonstrated that in obesity, myeloid specific Irs2−/− mice exhibit impaired insulin sensitivity, associated with more pro-inflammatory (F4/80+CD11c+CD206) and less anti-inflammatory (F4/80+CD11cCD206+) ATMs. This suggests distinct differences between IRS2 and IR in regulating ATM phenotypes. These differences were explained by findings showing that IL-4 promotes M2 macrophage polarization through IRS-2 and post obesity, hyperinsulinemia through engagement of the IR, leads to macrophage IRS-2 downregulation (38). Further, several studies have identified myeloid dysfunctions associated with macrophage cell intrinsic insulin resistance. In this context, macrophages were rendered insulin resistant through pre-incubation with high-dose insulin, genetic deletion of the INSR or by pharmacologic inhibition of insulin signaling. Pre-treatment of macrophages with high-dose insulin leads to INSR downregulation and suppression of insulin signaling, which is also observed in freshly isolated macrophages from insulin-resistant mice, such as the leptin-deficient ob/ob mouse (49). In line, monocytes isolated from diabetic subjects show decreased surface expression and tyrosine kinase activity of the IR and diminished insulin-stimulated PI3K/AKT signaling (50). In response to free cholesterol (FC) loading, Insr/− macrophages exhibit attenuated AKT phosphorylation and an augmented ER stress response, that is independent of the degree of FC loading. This suggests macrophage PI3K signaling through the IR is required to withstand stressful stimuli. The functional consequences of this are increased apoptosis, unconnected to obvious changes in pro/anti-apoptotic gene expression. Indeed, western diet-fed mice with IR deficiency on an Ldlr deficient background in hematopoietic cells develop larger, more complex lesions with increased necrotic cores and apoptotic cells (40, 51). Furthermore, insulin resistant macrophages, post-transcriptionally upregulate CD36 and scavenger receptor A (SR-A), with increased CD36 protein levels dependent on defects in insulin stimulated PI3K signaling and proteasomal and lysosomal catabolism (40, 49). SR-A levels are coupled to increased ER stress as they are increased upon treatment with ER stress inducers (40). In agreement, primary Insr−/− macrophages exhibit enhanced binding and uptake of modified LDL. Conversely, in vivo treatment of ob/ob mice with rosiglitazone, an insulin sensitizing agent and PPAR-γ activator, reverses this phenotype resulting in improved insulin signaling and decreased modified LDL uptake (49). Interestingly, in human macrophages, both CD36 and SR-A basal levels are reported to depend on PI3K activity as selective pharmacological inhibition of Class IA p110β or δ and Class IB p110γ attenuates their expression and is associated with reduced macropinocytosis and foam cell formation upon modified LDL challenge (52). Thus, although there may be species-specific differences, intrinsic murine myeloid cell insulin stimulated PI3K dependent signaling promotes myeloid cell survival and modulates lipid metabolism, decreasing foam cell formation. Consequently, cell intrinsic macrophage insulin resistance and associated downregulation of PI3K signaling results in elevated macrophage lipid burden and death, impacting ectopic lipid spillover, further contributing to pathogenesis in obesity.

PI3Ks Promote Glucose Dependent Alternative Macrophage Activation

Hyperglycemia is a hallmark of T2D and glucose levels modulate intracellular macrophage metabolism through environmental glucose uptake and subsequent pyruvate and fatty acid generation and there are numerous excellent reviews on this topic (53, 54). Stable overexpression of GLUT1 in RAW264.7 macrophages promotes glucose uptake and metabolism (41). GLUT1, 3 and 5 expression increases as monocytes differentiate into macrophages and high expression is observed in foamy macrophages, which are typically found upon modified lipoprotein challenge and are reminiscent of ATMs (5557). Enhanced glucose uptake might promote macrophage survival as Insr−/ macrophages, exhibit increased cell death upon glucose deprivation (Figure 1) (40), an effect that could be particularly relevant in the context of modified lipoprotein presence (58). Interestingly, recent work indicates that GLUT1 and glucose transport is critical for the uptake of apoptotic cells (also known as efferocytosis), suggesting glycolysis may also promote anti-inflammatory phenotypes in macrophages in part through SLC16A1 mediated lactate release (Figure 1) (59). Other reports demonstrate that glucose promotes BMM proliferation and decreases LPS induced MHC-II expression, suggesting glucose levels might impact macrophage polarization (60). In line, high glucose levels have been described to induce the expression of Arg-1 and CD206 in macrophages in a PI3K dependent manner (61). Further, evidence of an importance for glucose in M2 responses is provided by studies demonstrating that PI3K-AKT dependent glucose utilization is critical for IL-4 responses (62, 63).

PI3Ks can Influence FFA Signaling and ATM Accumulation

While physiologically FFA release through adipose lipolysis provides an important source of fuel, this process is dysregulated in the obese and insulin resistant state. The general dogma, particularly drawn from experimental murine studies, is that while unsaturated FFAs are anti-inflammatory, saturated FFAs are pro-inflammatory (64). Indeed, saturated FFAs such as palmitate promote skeletal muscle insulin resistance in part by blocking insulin mediated IRS-1 tyrosine phosphorylation and PI3K activity (65, 66). Given IRS-2 is predominantly expressed in macrophages (37), to our knowledge, no studies have addressed whether saturated FFAs decrease IRS-2 phosphorylation and render macrophages insulin resistant. Most studies utilizing macrophages in conjunction with palmitate have focused on its inflammation promoting effects. Indeed, palmitate triggered inflammation is JNK dependent, which is negatively regulated by PI3Ks (Figure 1) (67, 68). Although, palmitate has been suggested to mediate its effects via TLR4 (53), recent data indicates that JNK activation by palmitate is TLR4 independent (Figure 1). While LPS induced TLR4 signaling rapidly activates MAPK and NF-κB signaling and TLR4 endocytosis, palmitate activates these pathways much later and does not induce TLR4 endocytosis (54). The authors of this study demonstrated that LPS priming of macrophages altered cellular metabolism, gene expression and macrophage membrane lipid composition, which were necessary for palmitate induced inflammation (54). Notably, the effect of palmitate on inflammation might also depend on macrophage differentiation status. In fully differentiated macrophages, palmitate treatment elicits a pro-inflammatory phenotype, that is dependent on ER stress, as it is abrogated upon incubation with ER stress inhibitors (60). This is consistent with studies demonstrating that palmitate activates ER stress (64). However, during BMM differentiation chronic palmitate exposure been described to inhibit proliferation and promote an anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype, associated with increased PPAR-γ and CD206 expression (60).

Palmitate treatment of monocytes leads to macrophage inflammatory protein 1-alpha and beta upregulation (MIP-1α/β, also known as CCL3 and 4, respectively) and this occurs in a MAPK, NF-κB, and PI3K dependent manner indicating that PI3Ks can directly promote FFA mediated inflammation (69, 70). Interestingly, both chemokines are involved in neutrophil and monocyte recruitment, respectively (71), suggesting FFA mediated PI3K dependent signaling could promote increases in ATM number. Further evidence that palmitate mediated PI3K activation within myeloid cells regulates ATM content is provided by observations that palmitate treatment of macrophages induces netrin-1 and its receptor Unc5b, mediators that promote ATM retention and accumulation (72). Interestingly, in other cellular systems, netrin-1 acts in concert with its receptor in a PI3K dependent manner (73), although the functional relevance of PI3Ks to palmitate mediated ATM retention remains unexplored. These studies suggest that PI3Ks integrate signals derived from FFAs and thereby influences ATM accumulation and inflammatory status. However, many of the studies cited are limited by their exclusive use of in vitro models, disregarding the complexity of signals present in vivo.

Cholesterol Activates the PI3K Pathway

Cholesterol exists as free cholesterol (FC) or as cholesterol esters. During obesity, adipose tissue accumulates FC and this correlates with increased ATM content (74). Cholesterol and modified lipoproteins are taken up by macrophages through macropinocytosis, scavenger receptors (e.g., CD36, SRA-1) and the low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR), leading to foam cell formation that impacts inflammation and viability (Figure 1) (75). FC is reported to impact macrophage inflammation in a concentration dependent manner, with lower and higher levels promoting anti and pro-inflammatory phenotypes, respectively (76). In macrophages, FC also induces AKT phosphorylation indicating it activates the PI3K pathway (40). Macrophages use cholesterol efflux pathways to maintain cellular lipid homeostasis with ABCA1 mediating the transport of cholesterol and phospholipids to lipid-free apolipoproteins such as apoA-I (75). ABCA1 upregulation in turn selectively attenuates FC, dampening inflammation by reducing TLR trafficking to lipid rafts, indicating the presence of feedback loops that resolve inflammation (77).

PI3K Dependent Uptake of Adipose Exosomes

Exosomes are small (30–150 nm) endosomal derived membrane microvesicles secreted from cells that carry proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, and can reprogram recipient cells (78). Recent work demonstrates that the uptake of adipose exosomes (AdExo), promotes BMM differentiation into ATM like cells by inducing lysosomal biogenesis (79). Interestingly, AdExo do not carry FFAs but are particularly rich in FC and triglycerides and are taken up by macrophages through macropinocytosis, PI3K dependently, suggesting PI3Ks might modulate macrophage lipid loading in response to AdExos (Figure 1). They thus represent a novel intercellular communication route for the transfer of these lipids to macrophages (79).

PI3Ks Integrate the Environmental Cues That Dictate Macrophage Phenotypes in Obesity

Within adipose tissue during obesity, the metabolic stimuli outlined above, although elevated, likely exist at differing levels within the microenvironment and synergize their signaling with other stimuli, notably, LPS. This poses the question of how do myeloid cells respond to the combined actions of these stimuli and where do PI3Ks fit into this context during obesity? We propose a model where attenuated PI3K signaling within myeloid cells is central to meta-inflammation.

How Might PI3Ks Affect the Synergy Between Metabolic Stimuli in Macrophages in Obesity?

Obesity alters the gut microbiome and is associated with increased circulating LPS, which initiates adipose tissue inflammation and macrophage activation in a manner dependent on intact TLR4 signaling, a phenomenon coined “metabolic endotoxemia” (80, 81). Interestingly, TLR4 ligation and palmitate presence synergistically augment macrophage ceramide production through de novo synthesis in the ER and this is implicated in augmenting IL-1β synthesis (82). This might be especially relevant given TLR4-dependent priming of macrophages is reported to be necessary for FFA induced inflammation and thus might act as a initiating stimulus promoting FFA mediated inflammation (Figure 2) (67, 83). Numerous studies demonstrate that ceramides alter PI3K signaling by promoting insulin resistance through either dephosphorylating AKT or through blocking AKT translocation to the plasma membrane (8486). Together a potential synergy between LPS and FFAs might impact macrophage intrinsic insulin sensitivity through PI3Ks.

FIGURE 2
www.frontiersin.org

Figure 2. Nutrient accumulation during obesity is associated with rendering macrophage insulin resistant. In the lean state ATMs buffer lipids and insulin promotes survival through PI3K. Insulin resistant ATMs display enhanced foam cell formation associated with increased lysosomal biogenesis, ER stress, apoptosis, and exacerbated inflammation. See text for further details. ER, endoplasmic reticulum; FC, free cholesterol; FFA, free fatty acids; LPS, lipopolysaccharide.

As TLR4 dependent signaling is increased in obesity, as outlined earlier, PI3Ks would presumably limit pro-inflammatory responses through various mechanisms including the promotion of M2 responses (1316). Generation of alternatively activated macrophages would also be favored by prevalent hyperglycemia in obesity in a PI3K-AKT dependent manner (6163). However, high doses of insulin render macrophages insulin resistant, decreasing PI3K signaling and thus inhibiting insulin stimulated glucose uptake through GLUT-1 (36). Together, decreased myeloid cell PI3K signaling in the insulin resistant state would shift macrophage phenotypes toward pro-inflammation through a synergistic effect of high insulin, glucose, and LPS.

High glucose/insulin/palmitate stimulation of macrophages leads to upregulation of lipid metabolism genes (ABCA1, CD36, and PLIN2) and cellular programs associated with lysosomal biogenesis and autophagy, mimicking the effects of FC (30, 75). FC activates the PI3K pathway and elevated AdExos in obesity are taken up by macrophages through macropinocytosis, PI3K dependently (40, 79). Decreased PI3K signaling in insulin resistant macrophages would therefore contribute to enhanced systemic levels of these metabolic stressors. Furthermore, attenuated PI3K signaling in insulin resistant macrophages leads to upregulation of scavenger receptors and compensatory proteasomal and lysosomal catabolism (40, 49). This in turn induces a vicious cycle of modified lipid uptake, further promoting ER stress and apoptosis, which is aggravated in insulin resistant macrophages (40, 58). Consequently, we propose in obesity, cell intrinsic macrophage PI3K signaling would be downregulated and result in elevated lipid burden and death. This would impact the lipid buffering capacity of ATMs, further promoting ectopic lipid spillover and meta-inflammation (Figure 2). To sum up, the different metabolic inputs outlined in this review affect the degree/strength of PI3K signaling and together synergistically determine macrophage cell survival, lipid metabolism, and inflammatory phenotype.

Concluding Remarks

Slightly over 25 years ago, the concept of meta-inflammation was born by the discovery that adipose expressed TNF reduced adipose GLUT4 levels and neutralization of TNF in obese rats improved insulin sensitivity (5). Supportive of the key role of peripheral inflammation in obesity, obese myeloid-specific IKKβ or JNK deficient mice exhibit improved systemic insulin sensitivity (6, 7). Peripheral NF-κB activation is critical, as inhibiting this pathway in hepatocytes prevents IL-1β and insulin induced IR tyrosine phosphorylation and p85 association with IRS-1 (7). Since then, the contribution of ATMs to systemic inflammation has received much attention with the dogma that inflammatory pathways attenuate downstream PI3K signaling and initiate and exacerbate inflammatory responses, particularly in peripheral metabolic tissues such as the liver. However, only recently the importance of how environment re-programs and wires tissue resident macrophages has been appreciated (87).

We present an emerging paradigm where environmental stimuli encountered by ATMs during obesity reprogram them in a manner that is associated with macrophage intrinsic insulin resistance and drastic changes in intracellular lipids leading to oxidative and ER stress and upregulation of lysosomal and proteasomal programs. We propose myeloid cell PI3K activation integrates these environmental cues through its influences on saturated FFA responses, ATM accumulation, cell survival and the degree of lipid loading. This would presumably have consequences on ectopic lipid spill over and peripheral insulin sensitivity. While mice possessing global deletions of p85α/β and p55α/p50α exhibit improved insulin sensitivity (8890) and mice with global deletions in p110α and p110β display impaired insulin sensitivity (91, 92), given that these subunits are deleted in all insulin sensitive tissues the exact function of myeloid cell specific PI3Ks during obesity and insulin resistance remains an enigma. To our knowledge, there is only one study that conditionally deleted a PI3K subunit in myeloid cells. By crossing floxed p110γ mice with mice expressing the Cre recombinase under the control of the Tie2 promoter, Breasson and colleagues demonstrated efficient deletion of p110γ in endothelial cells and adipose associated immune cells. These animals exhibited improved insulin sensitivity associated with increased CD206 expression in adipose tissue, independent of differences in ATM content, suggesting p110γ is dispensable for ATM recruitment but promotes M1 responses in obesity (93). Undoubtedly, myeloid cell specific deletions of class 1 PI3Ks in the context of obesity coupled to isolating primary macrophages from these mice and challenging them with the metabolic stimuli outlined in this review, will yield fruitful insights into the contribution of class I PI3Ks to obesity and ATM function.

Author Contributions

OS, JB, AV, and GS has conceived and written this manuscript. JB designed the figures as presented.

Funding

This work was supported by funds from the Christian Doppler Laboratory for Arginine Metabolism in Rheumatoid Arthritis and Multiple Sclerosis (to GS) and from the Austrian Science Fund (FWF P30026 to GS and FWF P35168 to OS). JB and AV have been awarded a DOC fellowship of the Austrian Academy of Sciences.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Acknowledgments

We apologize to colleagues whose work could not be cited due to space constraints.

References

1. Auger KR, Serunian LA, Soltoff SP, Libby P, Cantley LC. PDGF-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation stimulates production of novel polyphosphoinositides in intact cells. Cell. (1989) 57:167–75. doi: 10.1016/0092-8674(89)90182-7

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

2. Cantley LC. The phosphoinositide 3-kinase pathway. Science. (2002) 296:1655–7. doi: 10.1126/science.296.5573.1655

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

3. Courtney KD, Corcoran RB, Engelman JA. The PI3K pathway as drug target in human cancer. J Clin Oncol. (2010) 28:1075–83. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2009.25.3641

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

4. Chawla A, Nguyen KD, Goh YP. Macrophage-mediated inflammation in metabolic disease. Nat Rev Immunol. (2011) 11:738–49. doi: 10.1038/nri3071

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

5. Hotamisligil GS, Shargill NS, Spiegelman BM. Adipose expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha: direct role in obesity-linked insulin resistance. Science. (1993) 259:87–91. doi: 10.1126/science.7678183

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

6. Han MS, Jung DY, Morel C, Lakhani SA, Kim JK, Flavell RA, et al. JNK expression by macrophages promotes obesity-induced insulin resistance and inflammation. Science. (2013) 339:218–22. doi: 10.1126/science.1227568

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

7. Arkan MC, Hevener AL, Greten FR, Maeda S, Li ZW, Long JM, et al. IKK-beta links inflammation to obesity-induced insulin resistance. Nat Med. (2005) 11:191–8. doi: 10.1038/nm1185

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

8. Leto D, Saltiel AR. Regulation of glucose transport by insulin: traffic control of GLUT4. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. (2012) 13:383–96. doi: 10.1038/nrm3351

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

9. Taniguchi CM, Emanuelli B, Kahn CR. Critical nodes in signalling pathways: insights into insulin action. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. (2006) 7:85–96. doi: 10.1038/nrm1837

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

10. Saltiel AR, Kahn CR. Insulin signalling and the regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism. Nature. (2001) 414:799–806. doi: 10.1038/414799a

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

11. Fruman DA, Chiu H, Hopkins BD, Bagrodia S, Cantley LC, Abraham RT. The PI3K pathway in human disease. Cell. (2017) 170:605–35. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2017.07.029

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

12. Martinez FO, Gordon S. The M1 and M2 paradigm of macrophage activation: time for reassessment. F1000Prime Rep. (2014) 6:13. doi: 10.12703/P6-13

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

13. Guha M, Mackman N. The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-Akt pathway limits lipopolysaccharide activation of signaling pathways and expression of inflammatory mediators in human monocytic cells. J Biol Chem. (2002) 277:32124–32. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M203298200

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

14. Luo L, Wall AA, Yeo JC, Condon ND, Norwood SJ, Schoenwaelder S, et al. Rab8a interacts directly with PI3Kgamma to modulate TLR4-driven PI3K and mTOR signalling. Nat Commun. (2014) 5:4407. doi: 10.1038/ncomms5407

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

15. Luyendyk JP, Schabbauer GA, Tencati M, Holscher T, Pawlinski R, Mackman N. Genetic analysis of the role of the PI3K-Akt pathway in lipopolysaccharide-induced cytokine and tissue factor gene expression in monocytes/macrophages. J Immunol. (2008) 180:4218–26. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.180.6.4218

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

16. Sahin E, Haubenwallner S, Kuttke M, Kollmann I, Halfmann A, Dohnal AM, et al. Macrophage PTEN regulates expression and secretion of arginase I modulating innate and adaptive immune responses. J Immunol. (2014) 193:1717–27. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1302167

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

17. Fan W, Morinaga H, Kim JJ, Bae E, Spann NJ, Heinz S, et al. FoxO1 regulates Tlr4 inflammatory pathway signalling in macrophages. EMBO J. (2010) 29:4223–36. doi: 10.1038/emboj.2010.268

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

18. Gonzalez E, McGraw TE. The Akt kinases: isoform specificity in metabolism and cancer. Cell Cycle. (2009) 8:2502–8. doi: 10.4161/cc.8.16.9335

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

19. Vergadi E, Ieronymaki E, Lyroni K, Vaporidi K, Tsatsanis C. Akt signaling pathway in macrophage activation and M1/M2 polarization. J Immunol. (2017) 198:1006–14. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1601515

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

20. Arranz A, Doxaki C, Vergadi E, Martinez de la Torre Y, Vaporidi K, Lagoudaki ED, et al. Akt1 and Akt2 protein kinases differentially contribute to macrophage polarization. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. (2012) 109:9517–22. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1119038109

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

21. Xu F, Kang Y, Zhang H, Piao Z, Yin H, Diao R, et al. Akt1-mediated regulation of macrophage polarization in a murine model of Staphylococcus aureus pulmonary infection. J Infect Dis. (2013) 208:528–38. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jit177

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

22. Rutkowski JM, Stern JH, Scherer PE. The cell biology of fat expansion. J Cell Biol. (2015) 208:501–12. doi: 10.1083/jcb.201409063

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

23. Kanda H, Tateya S, Tamori Y, Kotani K, Hiasa K, Kitazawa R, et al. MCP-1 contributes to macrophage infiltration into adipose tissue, insulin resistance, and hepatic steatosis in obesity. J Clin Invest. (2006) 116:1494–505. doi: 10.1172/JCI26498

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

24. Amano SU, Cohen JL, Vangala P, Tencerova M, Nicoloro SM, Yawe JC, et al. Local proliferation of macrophages contributes to obesity-associated adipose tissue inflammation. Cell Metab. (2014) 19:162–71. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2013.11.017

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

25. Kosteli A, Sugaru E, Haemmerle G, Martin JF, Lei J, Zechner R, et al. Weight loss and lipolysis promote a dynamic immune response in murine adipose tissue. J Clin Invest. (2010) 120:3466–79. doi: 10.1172/JCI42845

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

26. Odegaard JI, Ganeshan K, Chawla A. Adipose tissue macrophages: amicus adipem? Cell Metab. (2013) 18:767–8. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2013.11.011

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

27. Hill DA, Lim HW, Kim YH, Ho WY, Foong YH, Nelson VL, et al. Distinct macrophage populations direct inflammatory versus physiological changes in adipose tissue. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. (2018) 115:E5096–E105. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1802611115

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

28. Patsouris D, Li PP, Thapar D, Chapman J, Olefsky JM, Neels JG. Ablation of CD11c-positive cells normalizes insulin sensitivity in obese insulin resistant animals. Cell Metab. (2008) 8:301–9. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2008.08.015

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

29. Lumeng CN, Bodzin JL, Saltiel AR. Obesity induces a phenotypic switch in adipose tissue macrophage polarization. J Clin Invest. (2007) 117:175–84. doi: 10.1172/JCI29881

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

30. Kratz M, Coats BR, Hisert KB, Hagman D, Mutskov V, Peris E, et al. Metabolic dysfunction drives a mechanistically distinct proinflammatory phenotype in adipose tissue macrophages. Cell Metab. (2014) 20:614–25. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2014.08.010

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

31. Xu X, Grijalva A, Skowronski A, van Eijk M, Serlie MJ, Ferrante AW Jr. Obesity activates a program of lysosomal-dependent lipid metabolism in adipose tissue macrophages independently of classic activation. Cell Metab. (2013) 18:816–30. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2013.11.001

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

32. Silva HM, Bafica A, Rodrigues-Luiz GF, Chi J, Santos PDA, Reis BS, et al. Vasculature-associated fat macrophages readily adapt to inflammatory and metabolic challenges. J Exp Med. (2019) 216:786–806. doi: 10.1101/336032

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

33. Coats BR, Schoenfelt KQ, Barbosa-Lorenzi VC, Peris E, Cui C, Hoffman A, et al. Metabolically activated adipose tissue macrophages perform detrimental and beneficial functions during diet-induced obesity. Cell Rep. (2017) 20:3149–61. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2017.08.096

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

34. Cinti S, Mitchell G, Barbatelli G, Murano I, Ceresi E, Faloia E, et al. Adipocyte death defines macrophage localization and function in adipose tissue of obese mice and humans. J Lipid Res. (2005) 46:2347–55. doi: 10.1194/jlr.M500294-JLR200

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

35. Tsai S, Clemente-Casares X, Zhou AC, Lei H, Ahn JJ, Chan YT, et al. Insulin receptor-mediated stimulation boosts T cell immunity during inflammation and infection. Cell Metab. (2018) 28:922–34 e4. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2018.08.003

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

36. Dror E, Dalmas E, Meier DT, Wueest S, Thevenet J, Thienel C, et al. Postprandial macrophage-derived IL-1beta stimulates insulin, and both synergistically promote glucose disposal and inflammation. Nat Immunol. (2017) 18:283–92. doi: 10.1038/ni.3659

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

37. Welham MJ, Bone H, Levings M, Learmonth L, Wang LM, Leslie KB, et al. Insulin receptor substrate-2 is the major 170-kDa protein phosphorylated on tyrosine in response to cytokines in murine lymphohemopoietic cells. J Biol Chem. (1997) 272:1377–81. doi: 10.1074/jbc.272.2.1377

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

38. Kubota T, Inoue M, Kubota N, Takamoto I, Mineyama T, Iwayama K, et al. Downregulation of macrophage Irs2 by hyperinsulinemia impairs IL-4-indeuced M2a-subtype macrophage activation in obesity. Nat Commun. (2018) 9:4863. doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-07358-9

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

39. Hartman ME, O'Connor JC, Godbout JP, Minor KD, Mazzocco VR, Freund GG. Insulin receptor substrate-2-dependent interleukin-4 signaling in macrophages is impaired in two models of type 2 diabetes mellitus. J Biol Chem. (2004) 279:28045–50. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M404368200

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

40. Han S, Liang CP, DeVries-Seimon T, Ranalletta M, Welch CL, Collins-Fletcher K, et al. Macrophage insulin receptor deficiency increases ER stress-induced apoptosis and necrotic core formation in advanced atherosclerotic lesions. Cell Metab. (2006) 3:257–66. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2006.02.008

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

41. Freemerman AJ, Johnson AR, Sacks GN, Milner JJ, Kirk EL, Troester MA, et al. Metabolic reprogramming of macrophages: glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1)-mediated glucose metabolism drives a proinflammatory phenotype. J Biol Chem. (2014) 289:7884–96. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M113.522037

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

42. Pal S, Nath P, Das D, Hajra S, Maitra S. Cross-talk between insulin signalling and LPS responses in mouse macrophages. Mol Cell Endocrinol. (2018) 476:57–69. doi: 10.1016/j.mce.2018.04.009

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

43. Dandona P, Aljada A, Mohanty P, Ghanim H, Hamouda W, Assian E, et al. Insulin inhibits intranuclear nuclear factor kappaB and stimulates IkappaB in mononuclear cells in obese subjects: evidence for an anti-inflammatory effect? J Clin Endocrinol Metab. (2001) 86:3257–65. doi: 10.1210/jcem.86.7.7623

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

44. Iida KT, Suzuki H, Sone H, Shimano H, Toyoshima H, Yatoh S, et al. Insulin inhibits apoptosis of macrophage cell line, THP-1 cells, via phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase-dependent pathway. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. (2002) 22:380–6. doi: 10.1161/hq0302.105272

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

45. Fortuno A, San Jose G, Moreno MU, Beloqui O, Diez J, Zalba G. Phagocytic NADPH oxidase overactivity underlies oxidative stress in metabolic syndrome. Diabetes. (2006) 55:209–15. doi: 10.2337/diabetes.55.01.06.db05-0751

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

46. Iida KT, Shimano H, Kawakami Y, Sone H, Toyoshima H, Suzuki S, et al. Insulin up-regulates tumor necrosis factor-alpha production in macrophages through an extracellular-regulated kinase-dependent pathway. J Biol Chem. (2001) 276:32531–7. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M009894200

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

47. Baumgartl J, Baudler S, Scherner M, Babaev V, Makowski L, Suttles J, et al. Myeloid lineage cell-restricted insulin resistance protects apolipoproteinE-deficient mice against atherosclerosis. Cell Metab. (2006) 3:247–56. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2006.02.010

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

48. Mauer J, Chaurasia B, Plum L, Quast T, Hampel B, Bluher M, et al. Myeloid cell-restricted insulin receptor deficiency protects against obesity-induced inflammation and systemic insulin resistance. PLoS Genet. (2010) 6:e1000938. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1000938

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

49. Liang CP, Han S, Okamoto H, Carnemolla R, Tabas I, Accili D, et al. Increased CD36 protein as a response to defective insulin signaling in macrophages. J Clin Invest. (2004) 113:764–73. doi: 10.1172/JCI19528

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

50. Comi RJ, Grunberger G, Gorden P. Relationship of insulin binding and insulin-stimulated tyrosine kinase activity is altered in type II diabetes. J Clin Invest. (1987) 79:453–62. doi: 10.1172/JCI112833

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

51. Senokuchi T, Liang CP, Seimon TA, Han S, Matsumoto M, Banks AS, et al. Forkhead transcription factors (FoxOs) promote apoptosis of insulin-resistant macrophages during cholesterol-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress. Diabetes. (2008) 57:2967–76. doi: 10.2337/db08-0520

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

52. Michael DR, Davies TS, Laubertova L, Gallagher H, Ramji DP. The phosphoinositide 3-kinase signaling pathway is involved in the control of modified low-density lipoprotein uptake by human macrophages. Lipids. (2015) 50:253–60. doi: 10.1007/s11745-015-3993-0

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

53. O'Neill LA, Kishton RJ, Rathmell J. A guide to immunometabolism for immunologists. Nat Rev Immunol. (2016) 16:553–65. doi: 10.1038/nri.2016.70

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

54. Russell DG, Huang L, VanderVen BC. Immunometabolism at the interface between macrophages and pathogens. Nat Rev Immunol. (2019) 19:291–304. doi: 10.1038/s41577-019-0124-9

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

55. Malide D, Davies-Hill TM, Levine M, Simpson IA. Distinct localization of GLUT-1, −3, and −5 in human monocyte-derived macrophages: effects of cell activation. Am J Physiol. (1998) 274(3 Pt 1):E516–26. doi: 10.1152/ajpendo.1998.274.3.E516

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

56. Fu Y, Maianu L, Melbert BR, Garvey WT. Facilitative glucose transporter gene expression in human lymphocytes, monocytes, and macrophages: a role for GLUT isoforms 1, 3, and 5 in the immune response and foam cell formation. Blood Cells Mol Dis. (2004) 32:182–90. doi: 10.1016/j.bcmd.2003.09.002

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

57. Shapiro H, Pecht T, Shaco-Levy R, Harman-Boehm I, Kirshtein B, Kuperman Y, et al. Adipose tissue foam cells are present in human obesity. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. (2013) 98:1173–81. doi: 10.1210/jc.2012-2745

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

58. Elsegood CL, Chang M, Jessup W, Scholz GM, Hamilton JA. Glucose metabolism is required for oxidized LDL-induced macrophage survival: role of PI3K and Bcl-2 family proteins. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. (2009) 29:1283–9. doi: 10.1161/ATVBAHA.108.180778

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

59. Morioka S, Perry JSA, Raymond MH, Medina CB, Zhu Y, Zhao L, et al. Efferocytosis induces a novel SLC program to promote glucose uptake and lactate release. Nature. (2018) 563:714–8. doi: 10.1038/s41586-018-0735-5

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

60. Xiu F, Diao L, Qi P, Catapano M, Jeschke MG. Palmitate differentially regulates the polarization of differentiating and differentiated macrophages. Immunology. (2016) 147:82–96. doi: 10.1111/imm.12543

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

61. Wang J, Liu J, Wang Y, Lin M, Tian W, Zhou L, et al. High glucose induces alternative activation of macrophages via PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. J Recept Signal Transduct Res. (2017) 37:409–15. doi: 10.1080/10799893.2017.1298131

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

62. Huang SC, Smith AM, Everts B, Colonna M, Pearce EL, Schilling JD, et al. Metabolic reprogramming mediated by the mTORC2-IRF4 signaling axis is essential for macrophage alternative activation. Immunity. (2016) 45:817–30. doi: 10.1016/j.immuni.2016.09.016

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

63. Covarrubias AJ, Aksoylar HI, Yu J, Snyder NW, Worth AJ, Iyer SS, et al. Akt-mTORC1 signaling regulates Acly to integrate metabolic input to control of macrophage activation. Elife. (2016) 5:11612. doi: 10.7554/eLife.11612

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

64. Robblee MM, Kim CC, Porter Abate J, Valdearcos M, Sandlund KL, Shenoy MK, et al. Saturated fatty acids engage an IRE1alpha-dependent pathway to activate the NLRP3 inflammasome in myeloid cells. Cell Rep. (2016) 14:2611–23. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2016.02.053

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

65. Yu C, Chen Y, Cline GW, Zhang D, Zong H, Wang Y, et al. Mechanism by which fatty acids inhibit insulin activation of insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1)-associated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activity in muscle. J Biol Chem. (2002) 277:50230–6. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M200958200

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

66. Dresner A, Laurent D, Marcucci M, Griffin ME, Dufour S, Cline GW, et al. Effects of free fatty acids on glucose transport and IRS-1-associated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activity. J Clin Invest. (1999) 103:253–9. doi: 10.1172/JCI5001

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

67. Riera-Borrull M, Cuevas VD, Alonso B, Vega MA, Joven J, Izquierdo E, et al. Palmitate conditions macrophages for enhanced responses toward inflammatory stimuli via JNK activation. J Immunol. (2017) 199:3858–69. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1700845

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

68. Shi H, Kokoeva MV, Inouye K, Tzameli I, Yin H, Flier JS. TLR4 links innate immunity and fatty acid-induced insulin resistance. J Clin Invest. (2006) 116:3015–25. doi: 10.1172/JCI28898

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

69. Ahmad R, Akhter N, Al-Roub A, Kochumon S, Wilson A, Thomas R, et al. MIP-1alpha induction by palmitate in the human monocytic cells implicates TLR4 signaling mechanism. Cell Physiol Biochem. (2019) 52:212–24. doi: 10.33594/000000015

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

70. Kochumon S, Wilson A, Chandy B, Shenouda S, Tuomilehto J, Sindhu S, et al. Palmitate activates CCL4 expression in human monocytic cells via TLR4/MyD88 dependent activation of NF-kappaB/MAPK/PI3K signaling systems. Cell Physiol Biochem. (2018) 46:953–64. doi: 10.1159/000488824

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

71. Xu L, Kitade H, Ni Y, Ota T. Roles of chemokines and chemokine receptors in obesity-associated insulin resistance and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Biomolecules. (2015) 5:1563–79. doi: 10.3390/biom5031563

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

72. Ramkhelawon B, Hennessy EJ, Menager M, Ray TD, Sheedy FJ, Hutchison S, et al. Netrin-1 promotes adipose tissue macrophage retention and insulin resistance in obesity. Nat Med. (2014) 20:377–84. doi: 10.1038/nm.3467

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

73. Tang X, Jang SW, Okada M, Chan CB, Feng Y, Liu Y, et al. Netrin-1 mediates neuronal survival through PIKE-L interaction with the dependence receptor UNC5B. Nat Cell Biol. (2008) 10:698–706. doi: 10.1038/ncb1732

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

74. Subramanian S, Han CY, Chiba T, McMillen TS, Wang SA, Haw A 3rd, et al. Dietary cholesterol worsens adipose tissue macrophage accumulation and atherosclerosis in obese LDL receptor-deficient mice. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. (2008) 28:685–91. doi: 10.1161/ATVBAHA.107.157685

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

75. Pennings M, Meurs I, Ye D, Out R, Hoekstra M, Van Berkel TJ, et al. Regulation of cholesterol homeostasis in macrophages and consequences for atherosclerotic lesion development. FEBS Lett. (2006) 580:5588–96. doi: 10.1016/j.febslet.2006.08.022

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

76. Xu X, Zhang A, Li N, Li PL, Zhang F. Concentration-dependent diversifcation effects of free cholesterol loading on macrophage viability and polarization. Cell Physiol Biochem. (2015) 37:419–31. doi: 10.1159/000430365

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

77. Zhu X, Owen JS, Wilson MD, Li H, Griffiths GL, Thomas MJ, et al. Macrophage ABCA1 reduces MyD88-dependent Toll-like receptor trafficking to lipid rafts by reduction of lipid raft cholesterol. J Lipid Res. (2010) 51:3196–206. doi: 10.1194/jlr.M006486

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

78. Zhang Y, Liu Y, Liu H, Tang WH. Exosomes: biogenesis, biologic function and clinical potential. Cell Biosci. (2019) 9:19. doi: 10.1186/s13578-019-0282-2

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

79. Flaherty SE 3rd, Grijalva A, Xu X, Ables E, Nomani A, Ferrante AW Jr. A lipase-independent pathway of lipid release and immune modulation by adipocytes. Science. (2019) 363:989–93. doi: 10.1126/science.aaw2586

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

80. Caesar R, Tremaroli V, Kovatcheva-Datchary P, Cani PD, Backhed F. Crosstalk between gut microbiota and dietary lipids aggravates WAT inflammation through TLR signaling. Cell Metab. (2015) 22:658–68. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2015.07.026

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

81. Cani PD, Amar J, Iglesias MA, Poggi M, Knauf C, Bastelica D, et al. Metabolic endotoxemia initiates obesity and insulin resistance. Diabetes. (2007) 56:1761–72. doi: 10.2337/db06-1491

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

82. Schilling JD, Machkovech HM, He L, Sidhu R, Fujiwara H, Weber K, et al. Palmitate and lipopolysaccharide trigger synergistic ceramide production in primary macrophages. J Biol Chem. (2013) 288:2923–32. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M112.419978

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

83. Lancaster GI, Langley KG, Berglund NA, Kammoun HL, Reibe S, Estevez E, et al. Evidence that TLR4 is not a receptor for saturated fatty acids but mediates lipid-induced inflammation by reprogramming macrophage metabolism. Cell Metab. (2018) 27:1096–110 e5. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2018.03.014

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

84. Stratford S, Hoehn KL, Liu F, Summers SA. Regulation of insulin action by ceramide: dual mechanisms linking ceramide accumulation to the inhibition of Akt/protein kinase B. J Biol Chem. (2004) 279:36608–15. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M406499200

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

85. Stratford S, DeWald DB, Summers SA. Ceramide dissociates 3′-phosphoinositide production from pleckstrin homology domain translocation. Biochem J. (2001) 354(Pt 2):359–68. doi: 10.1042/bj3540359

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

86. Chaurasia B, Summers SA. Ceramides - lipotoxic inducers of metabolic disorders. Trends Endocrinol Metab. (2015) 26:538–50. doi: 10.1016/j.tem.2015.07.006

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

87. Lavin Y, Winter D, Blecher-Gonen R, David E, Keren-Shaul H, Merad M, et al. Tissue-resident macrophage enhancer landscapes are shaped by the local microenvironment. Cell. (2014) 159:1312–26. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2014.11.018

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

88. Terauchi Y, Tsuji Y, Satoh S, Minoura H, Murakami K, Okuno A, et al. Increased insulin sensitivity and hypoglycaemia in mice lacking the p85 alpha subunit of phosphoinositide 3-kinase. Nat Genet. (1999) 21:230–5. doi: 10.1038/6023

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

89. Chen D, Mauvais-Jarvis F, Bluher M, Fisher SJ, Jozsi A, Goodyear LJ, et al. p50alpha/p55alpha phosphoinositide 3-kinase knockout mice exhibit enhanced insulin sensitivity. Mol Cell Biol. (2004) 24:320–9. doi: 10.1128/MCB.24.1.320-329.2004

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

90. Ueki K, Yballe CM, Brachmann SM, Vicent D, Watt JM, Kahn CR, et al. Increased insulin sensitivity in mice lacking p85beta subunit of phosphoinositide 3-kinase. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. (2002) 99:419–24. doi: 10.1073/pnas.012581799

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

91. Foukas LC, Claret M, Pearce W, Okkenhaug K, Meek S, Peskett E, et al. Critical role for the p110alpha phosphoinositide-3-OH kinase in growth and metabolic regulation. Nature. (2006) 441:366–70. doi: 10.1038/nature04694

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

92. Ciraolo E, Iezzi M, Marone R, Marengo S, Curcio C, Costa C, et al. Phosphoinositide 3-kinase p110beta activity: key role in metabolism and mammary gland cancer but not development. Sci Signal. (2008) 1:ra3. doi: 10.1126/scisignal.1161577

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

93. Breasson L, Becattini B, Sardi C, Molinaro A, Zani F, Marone R, et al. PI3Kgamma activity in leukocytes promotes adipose tissue inflammation and early-onset insulin resistance during obesity. Sci Signal. (2017) 10:eaaf2969. doi: 10.1126/scisignal.aaf2969

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Keywords: macrophage, PI3K, nutrient sensing, adipose tissue macrophages, metainflammation, insulin

Citation: Sharif O, Brunner JS, Vogel A and Schabbauer G (2019) Macrophage Rewiring by Nutrient Associated PI3K Dependent Pathways. Front. Immunol. 10:2002. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.02002

Received: 18 March 2019; Accepted: 07 August 2019;
Published: 21 August 2019.

Edited by:

Marianne Boes, Utrecht University, Netherlands

Reviewed by:

Carrie E. McCurdy, University of Oregon, United States
Marcus Saeemann, Wilhelminen Hospital, Austria
Guy Roukens, University Medical Center Utrecht, Netherlands

Copyright © 2019 Sharif, Brunner, Vogel and Schabbauer. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

*Correspondence: Omar Sharif, b21hci5zaGFyaWYmI3gwMDA0MDttZWR1bml3aWVuLmFjLmF0; Gernot Schabbauer, Z2Vybm90LnNjaGFiYmF1ZXImI3gwMDA0MDttZWR1bml3aWVuLmFjLmF0

Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.