Hepatokine ERAP1 impairs skeletal muscle insulin sensitivity via ADRB2/PKA pathway

Abstract The current study aimed to investigate the role of endoplasmic reticulum aminopeptidase 1 (ERAP1), a novel hepatokine, in whole-body glucose metabolism. Here, we found that hepatic ERAP1 levels were increased in insulin-resistant leptin-receptor-mutated (db/db) and high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice. Consistently, hepatic ERAP1 overexpression attenuated skeletal muscle (SM) insulin sensitivity, whereas knockdown ameliorated SM insulin resistance. Furthermore, serum and hepatic ERAP1 levels were positively correlated, and recombinant mouse ERAP1 or conditioned medium with high ERAP1 content (CM-ERAP1) attenuated insulin signaling in C2C12 myotubes, and CM-ERAP1 or HFD-induced insulin resistance was blocked by ERAP1 neutralizing antibodies. Mechanistically, ERAP1 reduced ADRB2 expression and interrupted ADRB2-dependent signaling in C2C12 myotubes. Finally, ERAP1 inhibition via global knockout or the inhibitor thimerosal improved insulin sensitivity. Together, ERAP1 is a hepatokine that impairs SM and whole-body insulin sensitivity, and its inhibition might provide a therapeutic strategy for diabetes, particularly for those with SM insulin resistance.