Toll-like receptor 2 deficiency improves insulin sensitivity and hepatic insulin signaling in the mouse.

The expression of TLR2 and inflammatory cytokines were elevated in white adipose tissue and liver of ob/ob mice. Mice lacking TLR2 exhibited improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity regardless of feeding them regular chow or a high-fat diet. This is accompanied by reductions in expression of inflammatory cytokines and activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) in a liver-specific manner. The attenuated hepatic inflammatory cytokine expression and related signalling are correlated with increased insulin action specifically in the liver in TLR2-deficient mice, reflected by increased insulinstimulated protein kinase B (Akt) phosphorylation and IRS1 tyrosine phosphorylation and increased insulinsuppressed hepatocyte glucose production. We concluded that the absence of TLR2 attenuates local inflammatory cytokine expression and related signalling and increases insulin action specifically in the liver. Thus, our work has identified TLR2 as a key mediator of hepatic inflammation-related signalling and insulin resistance.