MitoNEET preserves muscle insulin sensitivity during iron overload by regulating mitochondrial iron, reactive oxygen species and fission

Iron overload (IO) is known to contribute to metabolic dysfunctions such as type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance. Using L6 skeletal muscle cells overexpressing the CDGSH iron–sulfur domain‐containing protein 1 (CISD1, also known as mitoNEET) (mitoN) protein, we examined the potential role of MitoN in preventing IO‐induced insulin resistance. In L6 control cells, IO resulted in insulin resistance which could be prevented by MitoN as demonstrated by western blot of p‐Akt and Akt biosensor cells. Mechanistically, IO increased; mitochondrial iron accumulation, mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS), Fis1‐dependent mitochondrial fission, mitophagy, FUN14 domain‐containing protein 1 (FUNDC1) expression, and decreased Parkin. MitoN overexpression was able to reduce increases in mitochondrial iron accumulation, mitochondrial ROS, mitochondrial fission, mitophagy and FUNDC1 upregulation due to IO. MitoN did not have any effect on the IO‐induced downregulation of Parkin. MitoN alone also upregulated peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor gamma coactivator 1 alpha (PGC1α) protein levels, a master regulator of mitochondrial biogenesis. The use of mitochondrial antioxidant, Skq1, or fission inhibitor, Mdivi‐1, prevented IO‐induced insulin resistance implying both mitochondrial ROS and fission play a causal role in the development of insulin resistance. Taken together, MitoN is able to confer protection against IO‐induced insulin resistance in L6 skeletal muscle cells through regulation of mitochondrial iron content, mitochondrial ROS, and mitochondrial fission.