Reversine promotes browning of white adipocytes by suppressing miR-133a

Brown adipocytes are characterized by a high number of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1)-positive mitochondrial content and increased thermogenic capacity. As UCP1-enriched cells can consume lipids by generating heat, browning of white adipocytes is now highlighted as a promising approach for the prevention of obesity and obesity-associated metabolic diseases. Upon cold exposure or β-adrenergic stimuli, downregulation of microRNA-133 (miR-133) elevates the expression levels of PR domain containing 16 (Prdm16), which has been shown to be a brown adipose determination factor, in brown adipose tissue and subcutaneous white adipose tissues (WAT). Here, we show that treatment of reversine to white adipocytes induces browning via suppression of miR-133a. Reversine treatment promoted the expression of brown adipocyte marker genes, such as Prdm16 and UCP1, increasing the mitochondrial content, while decreasing the levels of miR-133a and white adipocyte marker genes. Ectopic expression of miR-133a mimic reversed the browning effects of the reversine treatment. Moreover, intraperitoneal administration of reversine in mice upregulated thermogenesis and resulted in resistance to high-fat diet-mediated weight gain as well as browning of subcutaneous and epididymal WAT. Taken together, we found a novel way to promote browning of white adipocytes through downregulation of miR-133a followed by activation of Prdm16, with a synthetic chemical, reversine.     

Protein kinase Cβ deficiency attenuates obesity syndrome of ob/ob mice by promoting white adipose tissue remodeling

To explore the role of leptin in PKCβ action and to determine the protective potential of PKCβ deficiency on profound obesity, double knockout (DBKO) mice lacking PKCβ and ob genes were created, and key parameters of metabolism and body composition were studied. DBKO mice had similar caloric intake as ob/ob mice but showed significantly reduced body fat content, improved glucose metabolism, and elevated body temperature. DBKO mice were resistant to high-fat diet-induced obesity. Moreover, PKCβ deficiency increased β-adrenergic signaling by inducing expression of β1- and β3-adrenergic receptors (β-ARs) in white adipose tissue (WAT) of ob/ob mice. Accordingly, p38(MAPK) activation and expression of PGC-1α and UCP-1 were increased in WAT of DBKO mice. Consistent with results of in vivo studies, inhibition of PKCβ in WAT explants from ob/ob mice also increased expression of above β-ARs. In contrast, induction of PGC-1α and UCP-1 expression in brown adipose tissue of DBKO mice was not accompanied by changes in the expression of these β-ARs. Collectively, these findings suggest that PKCβ deficiency may prevent genetic obesity, in part, by remodeling the catabolic function of adipose tissues through β-ARs dependent and independent mechanisms.     

The roles of transforming growth factor-β and Smad3 signaling in adipocyte differentiation and obesity

We aimed at elucidating the roles of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β and Smad3 signaling in adipocyte differentiation (adipogenesis) and in the pathogenesis of obesity. TGF-β/Smad3 signaling in white adipose tissue (WAT) was determined in genetically obese (ob/ob) mice. The effect of TGF-β on adipogenesis was evaluated in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEF) isolated both from WT controls and Smad3 KO mice by Oil red-O staining and gene expression analysis. Phenotypic analyses of high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity in Smad3 KO mice compared to WT controls were performed. TGF-β/Smad3 signaling was elevated in WAT from ob/ob mice compared to the controls. TGF-β significantly inhibited adipogenesis in MEF, but the inhibitory effects of TGF-β on adipogenesis were partially abolished in MEF from Smad3 KO mice. TGF-β inhibited adipogenesis independent from the Wnt and β-catenin pathway. Smad3 KO mice were protected against HFD-induced insulin resistance. The size of adipocytes from Smad3 KO mice on the HFD was significantly smaller compared to the controls. In conclusion, the TGF-β/Smad3 signaling pathway plays key roles not only in adipogenesis but also in development of insulin resistance.     

β₁-Adrenergic receptors increase UCP1 in human MADS brown adipocytes and rescue cold-acclimated β₃-adrenergic receptor-knockout mice via nonshivering thermogenesis

With the finding that brown adipose tissue is present and negatively correlated to obesity in adult man, finding the mechanism(s) of how to activate brown adipose tissue in humans could be important in combating obesity, type 2 diabetes, and their complications. In mice, the main regulator of nonshivering thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue is norepinephrine acting predominantly via β(3)-adrenergic receptors. However, vast majorities of β(3)-adrenergic agonists have so far not been able to stimulate human β(3)-adrenergic receptors or brown adipose tissue activity, and it was postulated that human brown adipose tissue could be regulated instead by β(1)-adrenergic receptors. Therefore, we have investigated the signaling pathways, specifically pathways to nonshivering thermogenesis, in mice lacking β(3)-adrenergic receptors. Wild-type and β(3)-knockout mice were either exposed to acute cold (up to 12 h) or acclimated for 7 wk to cold, and parameters related to metabolism and brown adipose tissue function were investigated. β(3)-knockout mice were able to survive both acute and prolonged cold exposure due to activation of β(1)-adrenergic receptors. Thus, in the absence of β(3)-adrenergic receptors, β(1)-adrenergic receptors are effectively able to signal via cAMP to elicit cAMP-mediated responses and to recruit and activate brown adipose tissue. In addition, we found that in human multipotent adipose-derived stem cells differentiated into functional brown adipocytes, activation of either β(1)-adrenergic receptors or β(3)-adrenergic receptors was able to increase UCP1 mRNA and protein levels. Thus, in humans, β(1)-adrenergic receptors could play an important role in regulating nonshivering thermogenesis.     

FABP3 and brown adipocyte-characteristic mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation enzymes are induced in beige cells in a different pathway from UCP1

Cold exposure and β₃-adrenergic receptor agonist (CL316,243) treatment induce the production of beige cells, which express brown adipocytes(BA)-specific UCP1 protein, in white adipose tissue (WAT). It remains unclear whether the beige cells, which have different gene expression patterns from BA, express BA-characteristic fatty acid oxidation (FAO) proteins. Here we found that 5 day cold exposure and CL316,243 treatment of WAT, but not CL316,243 treatment of primary adipocytes of C57BL/6J mice, increased mRNA levels of BA-characteristic FAO proteins. These results suggest that BA-characteristic FAO proteins are induced in beige cells in a different pathway from UCP1.     

Intrinsic differences in BRITE adipogenesis of primary adipocytes from two different mouse strains

BRITE (brown-in-white) cells are brown adipocyte-like cells found in white adipose tissue (WAT) of rodents and/or humans. The recruitment of BRITE adipocytes, referred to as the browning of WAT, is hallmarked by the expression of UCP1 and exerts beneficial metabolic effects. Here we address whether beyond systemic cues depot- and strain-specific variation in BRITE recruitment is determined by a cellular program intrinsic to progenitors. Therefore we compared the browning capacity of serum and investigated brown and BRITE adipogenesis in primary cultures of stromal-vascular cells isolated from interscapular brown adipose tissue (iBAT), inguinal white adipose tissue (iWAT) and epididymal white adipose tissue (eWAT) in two inbred mouse strains C57BL/6J (B6, a strain with low browning propensity) and 129/S6SvEv (129, a strain with high browning propensity). Paradoxically, serum collected from B6 mice was more potent in the promotion of browning than serum collected from 129 mice. Nevertheless, we demonstrate that depot- and strain-specific differences observed in vivo are pheno-copied in primary cultures in vitro, as judged by UCP1 expression and by functional analysis. Notably, primary adipocytes from 129 mice had a higher capacity for isoproterenol-induced uncoupled respiration than B6. We conclude that cues intrinsic to the progenitor cells contribute to differential BRITE adipogenesis. Further analyses demonstrate that these cues are independent of autocrine/paracrine mechanisms, BRITE progenitor abundance and genetic variation in the gene regulatory region of Ucp1 but rather depend on trans-acting factors. These results provide new insights on the molecular basis of strain and depot-specific differences in BRITE adipogenesis.     

Metabolic changes in adipose tissues in response to β3-adrenergic receptor activation in mice

Brown and beige adipocytes dissipate energy as heat. Thus, the activation of brown adipocytes and the emergence of beige adipocytes in white adipose tissue (WAT) are suggested to be useful for preventing and treating obesity. Although β₃-adrenergic receptor activation is known to stimulate lipolysis and activation of brown and beige adipocytes, fat depot–dependent changes in metabolite concentrations are not fully elucidated. The current study examined the effect of treatment with CL-316,243, a β₃-adrenergic receptor agonist, on the relative abundance of metabolites in interscapular brown adipose tissue (iBAT), inguinal WAT (ingWAT), and epididymal WAT (epiWAT). Intraperitoneal injection of CL-316,243 (1 mg/kg) for 3 consecutive days increased the relative abundance of several glycolysis-related metabolites in all examined fat depots. The cellular concentrations of metabolites involved in the citric acid cycle and of free amino acids were also increased in epiWAT by CL-316,243. CL-316,243 increased the expression levels of several enzymes and transporters related to glucose metabolism and amino acid catabolism in ingWAT and iBAT but not in epiWAT. CL-316,243 also induced the emergence of more beige adipocytes in ingWAT than in epiWAT. Furthermore, adipocytes surrounded by macrophages were detected in the epiWAT of mice given CL-316,243. The current study reveals the fat depot–dependent modulation of cellular metabolites in CL-316,243-treated mice, presumably resulting from differential regulation of cell metabolism in different cell populations.     

Inherent plasticity of brown adipogenesis in white fat of mice allows for recovery from effects of post-natal malnutrition

Interscapular brown adipose tissue (iBAT) is formed during fetal development and stable for the life span of the mouse. In addition, brown adipocytes also appear in white fat depots (wBAT) between 10 and 21 days of age in mice maintained at a room temperature of 23 °C. However, this expression is transient. By 60 days of age the brown adipocytes have disappeared, but they can re-emerge if the adult mouse is exposed to the cold (5 °C) or treated with β3-adrenergic agonists. Since the number of brown adipocytes that can be induced in white fat influences the capacity of the mouse to resist the obese state, we determined the effects of the nutritional conditions on post-natal development (birth to 21 days) of wBAT and its long-term effects on diet-induced obesity (DIO). Under-nutrition caused essentially complete suppression of wBAT in inguinal fat at 21 days of age, as indicated by expression of Ucp1 and genes of mitochondrial structure and function based upon microarray and qRT-PCR analysis, whereas over-nutrition had no discernible effects on wBAT induction. Surprisingly, the suppression of wBAT at 21 days of age did not affect DIO in adult mice maintained at 23 °C, nor did it affect the reduction in obesity or cold tolerance when DIO mice were exposed to the cold at 5 °C for one week. Gene expression analysis indicated that mice raised under conditions that suppressed wBAT at 21 days of age were able to normally induce wBAT as adults. Therefore, neither severe hypoleptinemia nor hypoinsulinemia during suckling permanently impaired brown adipogenesis in white fat. In addition, energy balance studies of DIO mice exposed to cold indicates that mice with reduced adipose stores preferentially increased food intake, whereas those with larger adipose tissue depots preferred to utilize energy from their adipose stores.     

Distinction of white,beige and brown adipocytes derived from mesenchymal stem cells简

Adipose tissue is a major metabolic organ, and it has been traditionally classified as either white adipose tissue (WAT) or brown adipose tissue (BAT). WAT and BAT are characterized by different anatomical locations, morphological structures, functions, and regulations. WAT and BAT are both involved in energy balance. WAT is mainly involved in the storage and mobilization of energy in the form of triglycerides, whereas BAT specializes in dissipating energy as heat during cold- or diet-induced thermogenesis. Recently, brown-like adipocytes were discovered in WAT. These brown-like adipocytes that appear in WAT are called beige or brite adipocytes. Interestingly, these beige/brite cells resemble white fat cells in the basal state, but they respond to thermogenic stimuli with increased levels of thermogenic genes and increased respiration rates. In addition, beige/brite cells have a gene expression pattern distinct from that of either white or brown fat cells. The current epidemic of obesity has increased the interest in studying adipocyte formation (adipogenesis), especially in beige/brite cells. This review summarizes the developmental process of adipose tissues that originate from the mesenchymal stem cells and the features of these three different types of adipocytes.     

Distinction of white,beige and brown adipocytes derived from mesenchymal stem cells

Adipose tissue is a major metabolic organ, and it has been traditionally classified as either white adipose tissue(WAT) or brown adipose tissue(BAT). WAT and BAT are characterized by different anatomical locations, morphological structures, functions, and regulations. WAT and BAT are both involved in energy balance. WAT is mainly involved in the storage and mobilization of energy in the form of triglycerides, whereas BAT specializes in dissipating energy as heat during cold- or diet-induced thermogenesis. Recently, brownlike adipocytes were discovered in WAT. These brownlike adipocytes that appear in WAT are called beige or brite adipocytes. Interestingly, these beige/brite cells resemble white fat cells in the basal state, but they respond to thermogenic stimuli with increased levels of thermogenic genes and increased respiration rates. In addition, beige/brite cells have a gene expressionpattern distinct from that of either white or brown fat cells. The current epidemic of obesity has increased the interest in studying adipocyte formation(adipogenesis), especially in beige/brite cells. This review summarizes the developmental process of adipose tissues that originate from the mesenchymal stem cells and the features of these three different types of adipocytes.     

Recruited vs. nonrecruited molecular signatures of brown, "brite," and white adipose tissues

Mainly from cell culture studies, a series of genes that have been suggested to be characteristic of different types of adipocytes have been identified. Here we have examined gene expression patterns in nine defined adipose depots: interscapular BAT, cervical BAT, axillary BAT, mediastinic BAT, cardiac WAT, inguinal WAT, retroperitoneal WAT, mesenteric WAT, and epididymal WAT. We found that each depot displayed a distinct gene expression fingerprint but that three major types of depots were identifiable: the brown, the brite, and the white. Although differences in gene expression pattern were generally quantitative, some gene markers showed, even in vivo, remarkable depot specificities: Zic1 for the classical BAT depots, Hoxc9 for the brite depots, Hoxc8 for the brite and white in contrast to the brown, and Tcf21 for the white depots. The effect of physiologically induced recruitment of thermogenic function (cold acclimation) on the expression pattern of the genes was quantified; in general, the depot pattern dominated over the recruitment effects. The significance of the gene expression patterns for classifying the depots and for understanding the developmental background of the depots is discussed, as are the possible regulatory functions of the genes.     

Dynamic changes in lipid droplet-associated proteins in the “browning” of white adipose tissues

The morphological and functional differences between lipid droplets (LDs) in brown (BAT) and white (WAT) adipose tissues will largely be determined by their associated proteins. Analysing mRNA expression in mice fat depots we have found that most LD protein genes are expressed at higher levels in BAT, with the greatest differences observed for Cidea and Plin5. Prolonged cold exposure, which induces the appearance of brown-like adipocytes in mice WAT depots, was accompanied with the potentiation of the lipolytic machinery, with changes in ATGL, CGI-58 and G0S2 gene expression. However the major change detected in WAT was the enhancement of Cidea mRNA. Together with the increase in Cidec, it indicates that LD enlargement through LD–LD transference of fat is an important process during WAT browning. To study the dynamics of this phenotypic change, we have applied 4D confocal microscopy in differentiated 3T3-L1 cells under sustained β-adrenergic stimulation. Under these conditions the cells experienced a LD remodelling cycle, with progressive reduction on the LD size by lipolysis, followed by the formation of new LDs, which were subjected to an enlargement process, likely to be CIDE-triggered, until the cell returned to the basal state. This transformation would be triggered by the activation of a thermogenic futile cycle of lipolysis/lipogenesis and could facilitate the molecular mechanism for the unilocular to multilocular transformation during WAT browning. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Brown and White Fat: From Signaling to Disease.     

Role of C/EBPβ-LAP and C/EBPβ-LIP in early adipogenic differentiation of human white adipose-derived progenitors and at later stages in immature adipocytes

We investigated the role of the major isoforms of CCAAT enhancer binding protein β (C/EBPβ), C/EBPβ-LAP and C/EBPβ-LIP, in adipogenesis of human white adipose-derived stromal/progenitor cells (ASC). C/EBPβ gene expression was transiently induced early in adipogenesis. At later stages, in immature adipocytes, the C/EBPβ mRNA and protein levels declined. The C/EBPβ-LIP protein steady-state level decreased considerably stronger than the C/EBPβ-LAP level and the C/EBPβ-LIP half-life was significantly shorter than the C/EBPβ-LAP half-life. The turn-over of both C/EBPβ-isoforms was regulated by ubiquitin/proteasome-dependent degradation. These data suggest that the protein stability of the C/EBPβ-isoforms is differentially regulated in the course of adipogenesis and in immature adipocytes. Constitutive overexpression of C/EBPβ-LIP had antiadipogenic activity in human ASC. C/EBPβ-LAP, which promotes adipogenesis in mouse 3T3-L1 preadipocytes by directly activating expression of the adipogenic keyregulator PPARγ2, induced the expression of PPARγ2 and of the adipocyte differentiation gene product FABP4 in confluent ASC in the absence of adipogenic hormones. At later stages after hormone cocktail-induced adipogenesis, in immature adipocytes, constitutive overexpression of C/EBPβ-LAP led to reduced expression of PPARγ2 and FABP4, C/EBPα expression was downregulated and the expression of the adipocyte differentiation gene products adiponectin and leptin was impaired. These findings suggest that constitutive overexpression of C/EBPβ-LAP induces adipogenesis in human ASC and negatively regulates the expression of adipogenic regulators and certain adipocyte differentiation gene products in immature adipocytes. We conclude the regulation of both C/EBPβ gene expression and C/EBPβ-LIP and C/EBPβ-LAP protein turn-over plays an important role for the expression of adipogenic regulators and/or adipocyte differentiation genes in early adipogenic differentiation of human ASC and at later stages in human immature adipocytes.     

In vivo identification of bipotential adipocyte progenitors recruited by β3-adrenoceptor activation and high-fat feeding

Nutritional and pharmacological stimuli can dramatically alter the cellular phenotypes in white adipose tissue (WAT). Utilizing genetic lineage tracing techniques, we demonstrate that brown adipocytes (BA) that are induced by β3-adrenergic receptor activation in abdominal WAT arise from the proliferation and differentiation of cells expressing platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRα), CD34, and Sca-1 (PDGFRα(+) cells). PDGFRα(+) cells have a unique morphology in which extended processes contact multiple cells in the tissue microenvironment. Surprisingly, these cells also give rise to white adipocytes (WA) that can comprise up to 25% of total fat cells in abdominal fat pads following 8?weeks of high-fat feeding. Isolated PDGFRα(+) cells differentiated into both BA and WA in?vitro and generated WA after transplantation in?vivo. The identification of PDGFRα(+) cells as bipotential adipocyte progenitors will enable further investigation of mechanisms that promote therapeutic cellular remodeling in adult WAT.