RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 PCB126-mediated effects on adipocyte energy metabolism and adipokine secretion may result in abnormal glucose uptake in muscle cells JF bioRxiv FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory SP 2020.07.07.192245 DO 10.1101/2020.07.07.192245 A1 Audrey Caron A1 Fozia Ahmed A1 Vian Peshdary A1 Léa Garneau A1 Ella Atlas A1 Céline Aguer YR 2020 UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2020/07/07/2020.07.07.192245.abstract AB Background Exposure to coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) is linked to the development of insulin resistance. Previous studies suggested that PCB126 alters muscle mitochondrial function through an indirect mechanism. Since PCBs are stored in fat, we hypothesized that PCB126 alters adipokine secretion, which in turn affects muscle metabolism.Objectives The objectives of this study were: 1) To study the impacts of PCB126 exposure on adipocyte cytokine/adipokine secretion; 2) To determine whether adipocyte-derived factors alter glucose metabolism and mitochondrial function in myotubes when exposed to PCB126; 3) To determine whether pre-established insulin resistance alters the metabolic responses of adipocytes exposed to PCB126 and the communication between adipocytes and myotubes.Method 3T3-L1 adipocytes were exposed to PCB126 (1-100 nM) in two insulin sensitivity conditions (insulin sensitive (IS) and insulin resistant (IR) adipocytes), followed by the measurement of secreted adipokines, mitochondrial function and insulin-stimulated glucose uptake. Communication between adipocytes and myotubes was reproduced by exposing C2C12 or mouse primary myotubes to conditioned medium (CM) derived from IS or IR 3T3-L1 adipocytes exposed to PCB126. Mitochondrial function and insulin-stimulated glucose uptake were then determined in myotubes.Results PCB126 significantly increased adipokine (adiponectin, IL-6, MCP-1, TNF-α) secretion and decreased mitochondrial function, glucose uptake and glycolysis in IR but not in IS 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Altered energy metabolism in IR 3T3-L1 adipocytes was linked to decreased phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (p-AMPK) and increased superoxide dismutase 2 levels, an enzyme involved in reactive oxygen species detoxification. Exposure of myotubes to CM from PCB126-treated IR adipocytes decreased glucose uptake, without altering glycolysis or mitochondrial function. Interestingly, p-AMPK levels were increased rather than decreased in myotubes exposed to the CM of PCB126-treated IR adipocytes.Conclusion Taken together, these data suggest that increased adipokine secretion from IR adipocytes exposed to PCB126 may explain impaired glucose uptake in myotubes.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.