Genetic deficiency of CD40L does not protect from diet-induced obesity.

<p>WT and CD40L^−/− mice consumed a high fat diet (HFD) for 20 weeks. Relative increase of body weight (shown as % of body weight at week 0) and total body fat as assessed by MRI-based body composition analysis are shown for the indicated time points (A, B). Weight of epididymidal (EFP), peri-renal (RFP), and cardiac fat pads (CFP) fat are displayed as percentage of total body weight (BW, C). Data are presented as mean ± SEM of at least 15 mice per group.</p

CD40L deficiency does not affect basic energy metabolism.

<p>WT and CD40L^−/− mice consumed a high fat diet (HFD) for 20 weeks. Plasma levels of leptin (A) and adiponectin (B) were determined at the indicated time points by ELISA. Food intake (C), heat production (D), ambulatory movement (E), and respiratory exchange ratio (RER, F) were analyzed in metabolic cages. CaH and fat indicate carbohydrate and fat metabolism (F). Data are presented as mean ± SEM of at least 9 mice per group.</p

Absence of CD40L does not ameliorate insulin sensitivity in diet-induced obesity.

<p>Plasma glucose (A) and insulin levels (B) were determined in animals fasted overnight (A) and for 6 hours (B) overnight. Insulin tolerance (ITT) and glucose tolerance testing (GTT) were performed after intraperitoneal insulin (0.5 U/kg lean body mass) or glucose (1 g/kg lean body mass) injection (C–F). Inlays represent area under the curve calculation (AUC) of the indicated glucose curve.</p

Baseline study characteristics.

<p>Data are presented as mean ± SEM, ND not determined, LFD low fat diet, HFD high fat diet, WT wildtype, PC Phosphatidylcholine, BW body weight.</p

Genetic absence of CD40L reduces MCP-1 gene expression in adipose tissue and MCP-1 plasma levels.

<p>Diet-induced obesity was induced by feeding with a high fat diet for 20 weeks. MCP-1 gene transcripts in adipose tissue were quantified by quantitative PCR after whole tissue RNA preparation and normalization for GAPDH expression (A). Levels of circulating MCP-1 were determined in plasma by cytometric bead array. Data are presented as mean ± SEM of at least 6 animals per group.</p