Brown adipose tissue and lipid metabolism

Understanding the Roles of Selenium on Thyroid Hormone-Induced Thermogenesis in Adipose Tissue

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) and white adipose tissue (WAT) are known to regulate lipid metabolism. A lower amount of BAT compared to WAT, along with adipose tissue dysfunction, can result in obesity. Studies have shown that selenium supplementation protects against adipocyte dysfunction, decreases WAT triglycerides, and increases BAT triiodothyronine (T3). In this review, we discuss the relationship between selenium and lipid metabolism regulation through selenoprotein deiodinases and the role of deiodinases and thyroid hormones in the induction of adipose tissue thermogenesis. Upon 22 studies included in our review, we found that studies investigating the relationship between selenium and deiodinases demonstrated that selenium supplementation affects the iodothyronine deiodinase 2 (DIO2) protein and the expression of its associated gene, DIO2, proportionally. However, its effect on DIO1 is inconsistent while its effect on DIO3 activity is not detected. Studies have shown that the activity of deiodinases especially DIO2 protein and DIO2 gene expression is increased along with other browning markers upon white adipose tissue browning induction. Studies showed that thermogenesis is stimulated by the thyroid hormone T3 as its activity is correlated to the expression of other thermogenesis markers. A proposed mechanism of thermogenesis induction in selenium supplementation is by autophagy control. However, more studies are needed to establish the role of T3 and autophagy in adipose tissue thermogenesis, especially, since some studies have shown that thermogenesis can function even when T3 activity is lacking and studies related to autophagy in adipose tissue thermogenesis have contradictory results.

SCD1 sustains brown fat sympathetic innervation and thermogenesis during the long-term cold exposure

Brown fat adipose tissue (BAT) is a therapeutic potential target to improve obesity, diabetes and cold acclimation in mammals. During the long-term cold exposure, the hyperplastic sympathetic network is crucial for BAT the maintain the highly thermogenic status. It has been proved that the sympathetic nervous drives the thermogenic activity of BAT via the release of norepinephrine. However, it is still unclear that how the thermogenic BAT affects the remodeling of the hyperplastic sympathetic network, especially during the long-term cold exposure. Here, we showed that following long-term cold exposure, SCD1-mediated monounsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis pathway was enriched, and the ratios of monounsaturated/saturated fatty acids were significantly up-regulated in BAT. And SCD1-deficiency in BAT decreased the capacity of cold acclimation, and suppressed long-term cold mediated BAT thermogenic activation. Furthermore, by using thermoneutral exposure and sympathetic nerve excision models, we disclosed that SCD1-deficiency in BAT affected the thermogenic activity, depended on sympathetic nerve. In mechanism, SCD1-deficiency resulted in the unbalanced ratio of palmitic acid (PA)/palmitoleic acid (PO), with obviously higher level of PA and lower level of PO. And PO supplement efficiently reversed the inhibitory role of SCD1-deficiency on BAT thermogenesis and the hyperplastic sympathetic network. Thus, our data provided insight into the role of SCD1-mediated monounsaturated fatty acids metabolism to the interaction between thermogenic activity BAT and hyperplastic sympathetic networks, and illustrated the critical role of monounsaturated fatty acids biosynthetic pathway in cold acclimation during the long-term cold exposure.

CD73-dependent generation of extracellular adenosine by vascular endothelial cells modulates de novo lipogenesis in adipose tissue

Next to white and brown adipocytes present in white and brown adipose tissue (WAT, BAT), vascular endothelial cells, tissue-resident macrophages and other immune cells have important roles in maintaining adipose tissue homeostasis but also contribute to the etiology of obesity-associated chronic inflammatory metabolic diseases. In addition to hormonal signals such as insulin and norepinephrine, extracellular adenine nucleotides modulate lipid storage, fatty acid release and thermogenic responses in adipose tissues. The complex regulation of extracellular adenine nucleotides involves a network of ectoenzymes that convert ATP via ADP and AMP to adenosine. However, in WAT and BAT the processing of extracellular adenine nucleotides and its relevance for intercellular communications are still largely unknown. Based on our observations that in adipose tissues the adenosine-generating enzyme CD73 is mainly expressed by vascular endothelial cells, we studied glucose and lipid handling, energy expenditure and adaptive thermogenesis in mice lacking endothelial CD73 housed at different ambient temperatures. Under conditions of thermogenic activation, CD73 expressed by endothelial cells is dispensable for the expression of thermogenic genes as well as energy expenditure. Notably, thermoneutral housing leading to a state of low energy expenditure and lipid accumulation in adipose tissues resulted in enhanced glucose uptake into WAT of endothelial CD73-deficient mice. This effect was associated with elevated expression levels of de novo lipogenesis genes. Mechanistic studies provide evidence that extracellular adenosine is imported into adipocytes and converted to AMP by adenosine kinase. Subsequently, activation of the AMP kinase lowers the expression of de novo lipogenesis genes, most likely via inactivation of the transcription factor carbohydrate response element binding protein (ChREBP). In conclusion, this study demonstrates that endothelial-derived extracellular adenosine generated via the ectoenzyme CD73 is a paracrine factor shaping lipid metabolism in WAT.

Sweet swell of burning fat: emerging role of high-density lipoprotein in energy homeostasis

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Metabolism of lipids and lipoproteins, including high-density lipoprotein (HDL), plays a central role in energy homeostasis. Mechanisms underlying the relationship between energy homeostasis and HDL however remain poorly studied.

RECENT FINDINGS

Available evidence reveals that HDL is implicated in energy homeostasis. Circulating high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) levels are affected by energy production, raising with increasing resting metabolic rate. Lipolysis of triglycerides as a source of energy decreases plasma levels of remnant cholesterol, increases levels of HDL-C, and can be cardioprotective. Switch to preferential energy production from carbohydrates exerts opposite effects.

SUMMARY

Low HDL-C may represent a biomarker of inefficient energy production from fats. HDL-C-raising can be beneficial when it reflects enhanced energy production from burning fat.

The emerging role of bile acids in white adipose tissue

The effects of bile acids (BAs) on liver, enteroendocrine function, small intestine, and brown adipose tissue have been described extensively. Outside the liver, BAs in the peripheral circulation system represent a specific but underappreciated physiological compartment. We discuss how systemic BAs can be regarded as specific steroidal hormones that act on white adipocytes, and suggest the name 'bilokines' ('bile hormones') for the specific FXR/TGR5 receptor interaction in adipocytes. Some BAs and their agonists regulate adipocyte differentiation, lipid accumulation, hypoxia, autophagy, adipokine and cytokine secretion, insulin signaling, and glucose uptake. BA signaling could provide a new therapeutic avenue for adipoflammation and metaflammation in visceral obesity, the causal mechanisms underlying insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D).

A cardiac amino-terminal GRK2 peptide inhibits insulin resistance yet enhances maladaptive cardiovascular and brown adipose tissue remodeling in females during diet-induced obesity

Obesity and metabolic disorders are increasing in epidemic proportions, leading to poor outcomes including heart failure. With a growing recognition of the effect of adipose tissue dysfunction on heart disease, it is less well understood how the heart can influence systemic metabolic homeostasis. Even less well understood is sex differences in cardiometabolic responses. Previously, our lab investigated the role of the amino-terminus of GRK2 in cardiometabolic remodeling using transgenic mice with cardiac restricted expression of a short peptide, βARKnt. Male mice preserved insulin sensitivity, enhanced metabolic flexibility and adipose tissue health, elicited cardioprotection, and improved cardiac metabolic signaling. To examine the effect of cardiac βARKnt expression on cardiac and metabolic function in females in response to diet-induced obesity, we subjected female mice to high fat diet (HFD) to trigger cardiac and metabolic adaptive changes. Despite equivalent weight gain, βARKnt mice exhibited improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity. However, βARKnt mice displayed a progressive reduction in energy expenditure during cold challenge after acute and chronic HFD stress. They also demonstrated reduced cardiac function and increased markers of maladaptive remodeling and tissue injury, and decreased or aberrant metabolic signaling. βARKnt mice exhibited reduced lipid deposition in the brown adipose tissue (BAT), but delayed or decreased markers of BAT activation and function suggested multiple mechanisms contributed to the decreased thermogenic capacity. These data suggest a non-canonical cardiac regulation of BAT lipolysis and function that highlights the need for studies elucidating the mechanisms of sex-specific responses to metabolic dysfunction.

High Fat Diet Suppresses Energy Expenditure Via Neurons in the Brainstem

Oxidation of fat by brown adipose tissue (BAT) contributes to energy balance and heat production. During cold exposure, BAT thermogenesis produces heat to warm the body. Obese subjects and rodents, however, show impaired BAT thermogenesis to the cold. Our previous studies suggest that vagal afferents synapsing in the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS), tonically inhibit BAT thermogenesis to the cold in obese rats. NTS neurons send projections to the dorsal aspect of the lateral parabrachial nucleus (LPBd), which is a major integrative center that receives warm afferent inputs from the periphery and promotes inhibition of BAT thermogenesis. This study investigated the contribution of LPBd neurons in the impairment of BAT thermogenesis in rats fed a high-fat diet (HFD). By using a targeted dual viral vector approach, we found that chemogenetic activation of an NTS-LPB pathway inhibited BAT thermogenesis to the cold. We also found that the number of Fos-labelled neurons in the LPBd was higher in rats fed a HFD than in chow diet-fed rats after exposure to a cold ambient temperature. Nanoinjections of a GABAA receptor agonist into the LPBd area rescued BAT thermogenesis to the cold in HFD rats. These data reveal the LPBd as a critical brain area that tonically suppresses energy expenditure in obesity during skin cooling. These findings reveal novel effects of high-fat diets in the brain and in the control of metabolism and can contribute to the development of therapeutic approaches to regulate fat metabolism.

Progress and obstacles in transplantation of brown adipose tissue or engineered cells with thermogenic potential for metabolic benefits

Transplantation of brown adipose tissue (BAT), engineered thermogenic progenitor cells, and adipocytes have received much attention for the improvement of obesity and metabolic disorders. However, even though the thermogenic and metabolic potential exists early after transplantation, the whitening of the brown fat graft occurs with metabolic function significantly impaired. In this review, specific experiment designs, graft outcomes, and metabolic benefits for the transplantation of BAT or engineered cells will be discussed. The current advancements will offer guidance to further investigation, and the obstacles appearing in previous studies will require innovation of BAT transplantation methods.

A chemical signal that promotes insect survival via thermogenesis

Cold-activated thermogenesis of brown adipose tissues (BAT) is vital for the survival of animals under cold stress and also inhibits the development of tumours. The development of small-molecule tools that target thermogenesis pathways could lead to novel therapies against cold, obesity, and even cancer. Here, we identify a chemical signal that is produced in beetles in the winter to activate fat thermogenesis. This hormone elevates the basal body temperature by increasing cellular mitochondrial density and uncoupling in order to promote beetle survival. We demonstrate that this hormone activates UCP4- mediated uncoupled respiration through adipokinetic hormone receptor (AKHR). This signal serves as a novel fat-burning activator that utilizes a conserved mechanism to promote thermogenesis not only in beetles, nematode and flies, but also in mice, protecting the mice against cold and tumor growth. This hormone represents a new strategy to manipulate fat thermogenesis.

Divergence of Liver Lipidomes in Tibetan and Yorkshire Pigs Living at Different Altitudes

The Tibetan pig is a characteristic breed of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau with distinct physiological and meat quality attributes. The liver lipid profile can offer an important perspective to explore the uniqueness of Tibetan pigs. A quantitative comparison of liver lipidomes revealed significant differences in the lipid profiles between Tibetan and Yorkshire pigs raised at different altitudes. The abundance of lipids in the livers of pigs raised at a high altitude was higher than that of pigs raised at a lower altitude, whereas the abundance of lipids in the livers of Yorkshire pigs was higher than that of Tibetan pigs raised at the same altitude. Of the 1101 lipids identified, 323 and 193 differentially abundant lipids (DALs) were identified in the pairwise comparisons of Tibetan and Yorkshire pigs raised at different altitudes, respectively. The DALs of Tibetan pigs consisted mainly of 161 triglycerides, along with several acylcarnitines, represented by carnitine C2:0, and significant changes in the abundance of some phospholipids. The DALs of Yorkshire pigs were more complex, with significant increases in the abundance of triglycerides, cholesteryl esters, and free fatty acids, and decreases in the abundance of some phospholipids. This research provides strong theoretical and data support for the high-quality development of the highland livestock industry.

Transcriptomics Dissection of Calorie Restriction and Exercise Training in Brown Adipose Tissue and Skeletal Muscle

Calorie restriction (CR) and exercise training (EX) are two critical lifestyle interventions for the prevention and treatment of metabolic diseases, such as obesity and diabetes. Brown adipose tissue (BAT) and skeletal muscle are two important organs for the generation of heat. Here, we undertook detailed transcriptional profiling of these two thermogenic tissues from mice treated subjected to CR and/or EX. We found transcriptional reprogramming of BAT and skeletal muscle as a result of CR but little from EX. Consistent with this, CR induced alterations in the expression of genes encoding adipokines and myokines in BAT and skeletal muscle, respectively. Deconvolution analysis showed differences in the subpopulations of myogenic cells, mesothelial cells and endogenic cells in BAT and in the subpopulations of satellite cells, immune cells and endothelial cells in skeletal muscle as a result of CR or EX. NicheNet analysis, exploring potential inter-organ communication, indicated that BAT and skeletal muscle could mutually regulate their fatty acid metabolism and thermogenesis through ligands and receptors. These data comprise an extensive resource for the study of thermogenic tissue molecular responses to CR and/or EX in a healthy state.

Role of bile acid receptor FXR in development and function of brown adipose tissue

Bile acids act as signalling molecules that contribute to maintenance of energy homeostasis in mice and humans. Activation of G-protein-coupled bile acid receptor TGR5 induces energy expenditure in brown adipose tissue (BAT). However, a role for the nuclear bile acid receptor Farnesoid X receptor (FXR) in BAT has remained ambiguous. We aimed to study the potential role of FXR in BAT development and functioning. Here we demonstrate low yet detectable expression of the α1/2 isoforms of FXR in murine BAT that markedly decreases upon cold exposure. Moderate adipose tissue-specific FXR overexpression in mice induces pronounced BAT whitening, presenting with large intracellular lipid droplets and extracellular collagen deposition. Expression of thermogenic marker genes including the target of Tgr5, Dio2, was significantly lower in BAT of chow-fed aP2-hFXR mice compared to wild-type controls. Transcriptomic analysis revealed marked up-regulation of extracellular matrix formation and down-regulation of mitochondrial functions in BAT from aP2-hFXR mice. In addition, markers of cell type lineages deriving from the dermomyotome, such as myocytes, as well as markers of cellular senescence were strongly induced. The response to cold and β3-adrenergic receptor agonism was blunted in these mice, yet resolved BAT whitening. Newborn cholestatic Cyp2c70^-/- mice with a human-like bile acid profile also showed distinct BAT whitening and upregulation of myocyte-specific genes, while thermogenic markers were down-regulated. Ucp1 expression inversely correlated with plasma bile acid levels. Therefore, bile acid signalling via FXR has a role in BAT function already early in tissue development. Functionally, FXR activation appears to oppose TGR5-mediated thermogenesis.

Role of ACSL5 in fatty acid metabolism

Free fatty acids (FFAs) are essential energy sources for most body tissues. A fatty acid must be converted to fatty acyl-CoA to oxidize or be incorporated into new lipids. Acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 5 (ACSL5) is localized in the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondrial outer membrane, where it catalyzes the formation of fatty acyl-CoAs from long-chain fatty acids (C16-C20). Fatty acyl-CoAs are then used in lipid synthesis or β-oxidation mediated pathways. ACSL5 plays a pleiotropic role in lipid metabolism depending on substrate preferences, subcellular localization and tissue specificity. Here, we review the role of ACSL5 in fatty acid metabolism in multiple metabolic tissues, including the liver, small intestine, adipose tissue, and skeletal muscle. Given the increasing number of studies suggesting the role of ACSL5 in glucose and lipid metabolism, we also summarized the effects of ACSL5 on circulating lipids and insulin resistance.

Isolation and Mass Spectrometry-Based Profiling of Major Lipids in Brown Adipose Tissue

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is an important regulator of metabolic homeostasis through its role in adaptive thermogenesis and control of whole-body glucose metabolism. Lipids play multiple roles in BAT functions, including serving as a fuel source for thermogenesis, mediating inter-organelle cross talk, and acting as BAT-derived signaling molecules that influence systemic energy metabolism. Profiling of various lipids in BAT under distinct metabolic states could provide new insights into their roles in the biology of the thermogenic fat. In this chapter, we describe a step-by-step workflow starting from sample preparations to mass spectrometry-based analysis of fatty acids and phospholipids in BAT.

Ractopamine at legal residue dosage accelerates atherosclerosis by inducing endothelial dysfunction and promoting macrophage foam cell formation

Ractopamine, a synthetic β-adrenoreceptor agonist, is used as an animal feed additive to increase food conversion efficiency and accelerate lean mass accretion in farmed animals. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration claimed that ingesting products containing ractopamine residues at legal dosages might not cause short-term harm to human health. However, the effect of ractopamine on chronic inflammatory diseases and atherosclerosis is unclear. Therefore, we investigated the effects of ractopamine on atherosclerosis and its action mechanism in apolipoprotein E-null (apoe^-/-) mice and human endothelial cells (ECs) and macrophages. Daily treatment with ractopamine for four weeks increased the body weight and the weight of brown adipose tissues and gastrocnemius muscles. However, it decreased the weight of white adipose tissues in apoe^-/- mice. Additionally, ractopamine exacerbated hyperlipidemia and systemic inflammation, deregulated aortic cholesterol metabolism and inflammation, and accelerated atherosclerosis. In ECs, ractopamine treatment induced endothelial dysfunction and increased monocyte adhesion and transmigration across ECs. In macrophages, ractopamine dysregulated cholesterol metabolism by increasing oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) internalization and decreasing reverse cholesterol transporters, increasing oxLDL-induced lipid accumulation. Collectively, our findings revealed that ractopamine induces EC dysfunction and deregulated cholesterol metabolism of macrophages, which ultimately accelerates atherosclerosis progression.

Roles of long noncoding RNAs and small extracellular vesicle-long noncoding RNAs in type 2 diabetes

The prevalence of a high-energy diet and a sedentary lifestyle has increased the incidence of type 2 diabetes (T2D). T2D is a chronic disease characterized by high blood glucose levels and insulin resistance in peripheral tissues. The pathological mechanism of this disease is not fully clear. Accumulated evidence has shown that noncoding RNAs have an essential regulatory role in the progression of diabetes and its complications. The roles of small noncoding RNAs, such as miRNAs, in T2D, have been extensively investigated, while the function of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in T2D has been unstudied. It has been reported that lncRNAs in T2D play roles in the regulation of pancreatic function, peripheral glucose homeostasis and vascular inflammation. In addition, lncRNAs carried by small extracellular vesicles (sEV) were shown to mediate communication between organs and participate in diabetes progression. Some sEV lncRNAs derived from stem cells are being developed as potential therapeutic agents for diabetic complications. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge relating to lncRNA biogenesis, the mechanisms of lncRNA sorting into sEV and the regulatory roles of lncRNAs and sEV lncRNAs in diabetes. Knowledge of lncRNAs and sEV lncRNAs in diabetes will aid in the development of new therapeutic drugs for T2D in the future.

CHCHD10 Modulates Thermogenesis of Adipocytes by Regulating Lipolysis

Brown and beige adipocytes dissipate energy in a nonshivering thermogenesis manner, exerting beneficial effects on metabolic homeostasis. CHCHD10 is a nuclear-encoded mitochondrial protein involved in cristae organization; however, its role in thermogenic adipocytes remains unknown. We identify CHCHD10 as a novel regulator for adipocyte thermogenesis. CHCHD10 is dramatically upregulated during thermogenic adipocyte activation by PPARγ-PGC1α and positively correlated with UCP1 expression in adipose tissues from humans and mice. We generated adipocyte-specific Chchd10 knockout mice (Chchd10-AKO) and found that depleting CHCHD10 leads to impaired UCP1-dependent thermogenesis and energy expenditure in the fasting state, with no effect in the fed state. Lipolysis in adipocytes is disrupted by CHCHD10 deficiency, while augmented lipolysis through ATGL overexpression recovers adipocyte thermogenesis in Chchd10-AKO mice. Consistently, overexpression of Chchd10 activates thermogenic adipocytes. Mechanistically, CHCHD10 deficiency results in the disorganization of mitochondrial cristae, leading to impairment of oxidative phosphorylation complex assembly in mitochondria, which in turn inhibits ATP generation. Decreased ATP results in downregulation of lipolysis by reducing nascent protein synthesis of ATGL, thereby suppressing adipocyte thermogenesis. As a result, Chchd10-AKO mice are prone to develop high-fat diet-induced metabolic disorders. Together, our findings reveal an essential role of CHCHD10 in regulating lipolysis and the thermogenic program in adipocytes.

Hypermetabolism and Substrate Utilization Rates in Pheochromocytoma and Functional Paraganglioma

The overproduction of catecholamines in pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma (PPGL) induces a hypermetabolic state. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of a hypermetabolic state and differences in substrate metabolism in consecutive PPGL patients divided by catecholamine phenotype. Resting energy expenditure (REE) and respiratory quotient (RQ) were measured in 108 consecutive PPGL patients and 70 controls by indirect calorimetry. Hypermetabolic state was defined according to the Mifflin St. Jeor Equation as a ratio above 110%. Hypermetabolic state was confirmed in 70% of PPGL patients, regardless of phenotype. Older age, prevalence of diabetes mellitus and arterial hypertension were correlated with hypermetabolic PPGL as compared to normometabolic form. Analysis according to overproduced catecholamine showed differences in VCO2 (p < 0.05) and RQ (p < 0.01) and thus different substate metabolism between phenotypes in hypermetabolic form of PPGL. Lipid utilization was higher in the adrenergic phenotype (p = 0.001) and positively associated with the percentage of REE ratio (R = 0.48, p < 0.001), whereas the noradrenergic phenotype preferentially oxidizes carbohydrates (P = 0.001) and is correlated with the percentage of REE ratio (R = 0.60, p < 0.001). Hypermetabolic state in PPGL is a common finding in both catecholamine phenotypes. Hypermetabolic PPGL patients are older and suffer more from diabetes mellitus and arterial hypertension. Under basal conditions, the noradrenergic type preferentially metabolizes carbohydrates, whereas the adrenergic phenotype preferentially metabolizes lipids.

Androgen signaling in adipose tissue, but less likely skeletal muscle, mediates development of metabolic traits in a PCOS mouse model

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common, multifactorial disorder characterized by endocrine, reproductive, and metabolic dysfunction. As the etiology of PCOS is unknown, there is no cure and symptom-oriented treatments are suboptimal. Hyperandrogenism is a key diagnostic trait, and evidence suggests that androgen receptor (AR)-mediated actions are critical to PCOS pathogenesis. However, the key AR target sites involved remain to be fully defined. Adipocyte and muscle dysfunction are proposed as important sites involved in the manifestation of PCOS traits. We investigated the role of AR signaling in white adipose tissue (WAT), brown adipose tissue (BAT), and skeletal muscle in the development of PCOS in a hyperandrogenic PCOS mouse model. As expected, dihydrotestosterone (DHT) exposure induced key reproductive and metabolic PCOS traits in wild-type (WT) females. Transplantation of AR-insensitive (AR^-/-) WAT or BAT from AR knockout females (ARKO) into DHT-treated WT mice ameliorated some metabolic PCOS features, including increased body weight, adiposity, and adipocyte hypertrophy, but not reproductive PCOS traits. In contrast, DHT-treated ARKO female mice transplanted with AR-responsive (AR^+/+) WAT or BAT continued to resist developing PCOS traits. DHT-treated skeletal muscle-specific AR knockout females (SkMARKO) displayed a comparable phenotype with that of DHT-treated WT females, with full development of PCOS traits. Taken together, these findings infer that both WAT and BAT, but less likely skeletal muscle, are key sites of AR-mediated actions involved in the experimental pathogenesis of metabolic PCOS traits. These data further support targeting adipocyte AR-driven pathways in future research aimed at developing novel therapeutic interventions for PCOS.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Hyperandrogenism is a key feature in the pathogenesis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS); however, the tissue sites of androgen receptor (AR) signaling are unclear. In this study, AR signaling in white and brown adipose tissue, but less likely in skeletal muscle, was found to be involved in the development of metabolic PCOS traits, highlighting the importance of androgen actions in adipose tissue and obesity in the manifestation of metabolic disturbances.

Sexual Dimorphism in Brown Adipose Tissue Activation and White Adipose Tissue Browning

The present narrative review gathers the studies reported so far, addressing sex differences in the effects of cold exposure, feeding pattern and age on brown adipose tissue (BAT) thermogenesis and white adipose tissue (WAT) browning. In rodents, when exposed to decreasing temperatures, females activate thermogenesis earlier. Results obtained in humans go in the same line, although they do not provide results as solid as those obtained in rodents. Regarding the effects of overfeeding, interesting sex differences on BAT thermogenic capacity have been reported, and the greater or lower sensitivity of each sex to this dietary situation seems to be dependent on the type of feeding. In the case of energy restriction, females are more sensitive than males. In addition, sex differences have also been observed in thermogenesis changes induced by phenolic compound administration. During sexual development, an increase in BAT mass and BAT activity takes place. This phenomenon is greater in boys than in girls, probably due to its relation to muscle-mass growth. The opposite situation takes place during ageing, a lifespan period where thermogenic capacity declines, this being more acute in men than in women. Finally, the vast majority of the studies have reported a higher susceptibility to developing WAT browning amongst females. The scarcity of results highlights the need for further studies devoted to analysing this issue, in order to provide valuable information for a more personalised approach.

Effect of Acute Cold Exposure on Energy Metabolism and Activity of Brown Adipose Tissue in Humans: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: The benefit of cold exposure for humans against obesity has brought the energy metabolism and activity of brown adipose tissue (BAT) induced by cold into focus. But the results are inconsistent. This review is aimed to systematically explore the effect of cold exposure on the activity of BAT and energy metabolism in humans.

Methods: We searched relevant papers that were published from 1990 to 2021 and were cited in PubMed Central, Web of science, Embase and Cochrane Library databases to conduct this systematic review and meta-analysis. Energy metabolism, BAT volume, BAT activity and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) data reported in eligible researches were extracted. Meta-analysis was applied to combine the mean difference or standard mean difference with their 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). RevMan 5.3 software was used for meta-analysis and evaluating the risk of bias. Stata 16.0 was used for evaluating the publication bias.

Results: Ten randomized controlled trials were included in meta-analysis. Compared with human exposed in room temperature at 24°C, the energy expenditure (EE) was increased after acute cold exposure at 16∼19°C (Z = 7.58, p < 0.05, mean different = 188.43kal/d, 95% CI = 139.73–237.13); BAT volume (Z = 2.62, p < 0.05; standard mean different = 0.41, 95% CI = 0.10–0.73); BAT activity (Z = 2.05, p = 0.04, standard mean difference = 1.61, 95% CI = 0.07–3.14) and the intake of BAT NEFA (Z = 2.85, p < 0.05; standard mean different = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.17–0.90) also increased.

Conclusion: Acute cold exposure could improve the energy expenditure and BAT activity in adults, which is beneficial for human against obesity.

Transcriptome Comparison Reveals the Difference in Liver Fat Metabolism between Different Sheep Breeds

Hu sheep and Tibetan sheep are two commonly raised local sheep breeds in China, and they have different morphological characteristics, such as tail type and adaptability to extreme environments. A fat tail in sheep is the main adipose depot in sheep, whereas the liver is an important organ for fat metabolism, with the uptake, esterification, oxidation, and secretion of fatty acids (FAs). Meanwhile, adaptations to high-altitude and arid environments also affect liver metabolism. Therefore, in this study, RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) technology was used to characterize the difference in liver fat metabolism between Hu sheep and Tibetan sheep. We identified 1179 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) (Q-value < 0.05) between the two sheep breeds, including 25 fat-metabolism-related genes. Through Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis, 16 pathways were significantly enriched (Q-value < 0.05), such as the proteasome, glutamatergic synapse, and oxidative phosphorylation pathways. In particular, one of these pathways was enriched to be associated with fat metabolism, namely the thermogenesis pathway, to which fat-metabolism-related genes such as ACSL1, ACSL4, ACSL5, CPT1A, CPT1C, SLC25A20, and FGF21 were enriched. Then, the expression levels of ACSL1, CPT1A, and FGF21 were verified in mRNA and protein levels via qRT-PCR and Western blot analysis between the two sheep breeds. The results showed that the mRNA and protein expression levels of these three genes were higher in the livers of Tibetan sheep than those of Hu sheep. The above genes are mainly related to FAs oxidation, involved in regulating the oxidation of liver FAs. So, this study suggested that Tibetan sheep liver has a greater FAs oxidation level than Hu sheep liver. In addition, the significant enrichment of fat-metabolism-related genes in the thermogenesis pathway appears to be related to plateau-adaptive thermogenesis in Tibetan sheep, which may indicate that liver- and fat-metabolism-related genes have an impact on adaptive thermogenesis.

The influence of phytochemicals on cell heterogeneity in chronic inflammation-associated diseases: the prospects of single cell sequencing

Chronic inflammation-associated diseases include, but is not limited to cardiovascular disease, cancer, obesity, diabetes, etc. Cell heterogeneity is a prerequisite for understanding the physiological and pathological development of cell metabolism, and its response to external stimuli. Recently, dietary habits based on phytochemicals became increasingly recognized to play a pivotal role in chronic inflammation. Phytochemicals can relieve chronic inflammation by regulating inflammatory cell differentiation and immune cell response, but the influence of phytochemicals on cell heterogeneity from in vitro and ex vivo studies cannot simulate the complexity of cell differentiation in vivo due to the differences in cell lines and extracellular environment. Therefore, there is no consensus on the regulation mechanism of phytochemicals on chronic diseases based on cell heterogeneity. The purpose of this review is to summarize cell heterogeneity in common chronic inflammation-associated diseases and trace the effects of phytochemicals on cell differentiation in chronic diseases development. More importantly, by discussing the problems and challenges which hinder the study of cell heterogeneity in recent nutritional assessment experiments, we propose new prospects based on the drawbacks of existing research to optimize the research on the regulation mechanism of phytochemicals on chronic diseases. The need to explore precise measurements of cell heterogeneity is a key pillar in understanding the influence of phytochemicals on certain diseases. In the future, deeper understanding of cell-to-cell variation and the impact of food components and their metabolites on cell function by single-cell genomics and epigenomics with the focus on individual differences will open new avenues for the next generation of health care.

Role of fatty acid transport protein 4 in metabolic tissues: insights into obesity and fatty liver disease

Fatty acid (FA) metabolism is a series of processes that provide structural substances, signalling molecules and energy. Ample evidence has shown that FA uptake is mediated by plasma membrane transporters including FA transport proteins (FATPs), caveolin-1, fatty-acid translocase (FAT)/CD36, and fatty-acid binding proteins. Unlike other FA transporters, the functions of FATPs have been controversial because they contain both motifs of FA transport and fatty acyl-CoA synthetase (ACS). The widely distributed FATP4 is not a direct FA transporter but plays a predominant function as an ACS. FATP4 deficiency causes ichthyosis premature syndrome in mice and humans associated with suppression of polar lipids but an increase in neutral lipids including triglycerides (TGs). Such a shift has been extensively characterized in enterocyte-, hepatocyte-, and adipocyte-specific Fatp4-deficient mice. The mutants under obese and non-obese fatty livers induced by different diets persistently show an increase in blood non-esterified free fatty acids and glycerol indicating the lipolysis of TGs. This review also focuses on FATP4 role on regulatory networks and factors that modulate FATP4 expression in metabolic tissues including intestine, liver, muscle, and adipose tissues. Metabolic disorders especially regarding blood lipids by FATP4 deficiency in different cell types are herein discussed. Our results may be applicable to not only patients with FATP4 mutations but also represent a model of dysregulated lipid homeostasis, thus providing mechanistic insights into obesity and development of fatty liver disease.

PAT2 regulates vATPase assembly and lysosomal acidification in brown adipocytes

OBJECTIVE

Brown adipocytes play a key role in maintaining body temperature as well as glucose and lipid homeostasis. However, brown adipocytes need to adapt their thermogenic activity and substrate utilization to changes in nutrient availability. Amongst the multiple factors influencing brown adipocyte activity, autophagy is an important regulatory element of thermogenic capacity and activity. Nevertheless, a specific sensing mechanism of extracellular amino acid availability linking autophagy to nutrient availability in brown adipocytes is unknown.

METHODS

To characterize the role of the amino acid transporter PAT2/SLC36A2 in brown adipocytes, loss or gain of function of PAT2 were studied with respect to differentiation, subcellular localization, lysosomal activity and autophagy. Activity of vATPase was evaluated by quenching of EGFP fused to LC3 or FITC-dextran loaded lysosomes in brown adipocytes upon amino acid starvation, whereas the effect of PAT2 on assembly of the vATPase was investigated by Native-PAGE.

RESULTS

We show that PAT2 translocates from the plasma membrane to the lysosome in response to amino acid withdrawal. Loss or overexpression of PAT2 impair lysosomal acidification and starvation induced S6K re-phosphorylation, as PAT2 facilitates the assembly of the lysosomal vATPase, by recruitment of the cytoplasmic V1 subunit to the lysosome.

CONCLUSION

PAT2 is an important sensor of extracellular amino acids and regulator of lysosomal acidification in brown adipocytes.

Cannabidiol improves glucose utilization and modulates glucose-induced dysmetabolic activities in isolated rats' peripheral adipose tissues

Reduced glucose uptake and utilization, with concomitant lipolysis in adipose tissues has been linked to the pathogenesis of obesity and its complications. The present study investigated the effect of cannabinoid-stimulated glucose uptake on redox imbalance, glucose and lipid metabolisms, as well as cholinergic and purinergic dysfunctions in isolated rats' adipose tissues. Freshly Isolated rats' adipose tissues were incubated with glucose and different concentrations of cannabidiol for 2 h at 37 °C. The negative control consisted of incubation without cannabidiol, while normal control consisted of incubations without glucose and/or cannabidiol and Metformin served as the standard drug. Cannabidiol caused an increase in adipose-glucose uptake, with concomitant elevation of glutathione, triglyceride level, superoxide dismutase, catalase and 5'nucleoidase activities. It also caused suppression in malondialdehyde and cholesterol levels, acetylcholinesterase, ENTPDase, fructose-1,6-biphosphatase, glucose 6-phosphatase, glycogen phosphorylase, and lipase activities. In silico studies revealed a strong molecular interaction of cannabidiol with adipose triglyceride lipase, hormone-sensitive lipase, and monoglyceride lipase. These results indicate that cannabidiol-enhanced glucose uptake in adipose tissues is associated with enhanced antioxidative activities, concomitant modulation of cholinergic and purinergic dysfunctions, and improved glucose - lipid homeostasis.

Phenylhydrazine-induced anemia reduces subcutaneous white and brown adipose tissues in hypothalamic obese rats

NEW FUNDINGS

What is the central question of this study? This study aims to assess whether an anemic state could modify adiposity and metabolic parameters in hypothalamic obese rats. What is the main finding and its importance? Our results indicate that hypothalamic obese rats do not display iron deficiency. However, the pharmacological induction of anemia in hypothalamic-obese rats resulted in reduced adiposity, characterized by a decrease in subcutaneous white and brown adipose tissue depots. These findings suggest that iron imbalance in obesity may elevate lipolysis.

ABSTRACT

Iron imbalance is frequent in obesity. Herein, we evaluated the impact of anemia induced by phenylhydrazine on adiposity and metabolic state of hypothalamic obese rats. Hypothalamic obesity was induced by high doses of glutamate monosodium (MSG; 4g/Kg) administered to neonatal male rats (n = 20). Controls (CTL; non-obese rats) received saline equimolar (n = 20). Rats were weaned at 21 days of life. At 70 days, half of the rats received three intraperitoneal doses of phenylhydrazine (PHZ; 40mg/Kg/dose) or saline solution. Body weight and food intake were accompanied for four weeks after PHZ administration. At 92 days, rats were euthanized, blood was collected for microcapillary hematocrit (Hct) analysis and plasma quantification of glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, and iron levels. The liver, the spleen, and the white (WAT) and brown (BAT) adipose tissues were excised, weighed, and used for histology. MSG-treated rats developed obesity, hypertriglyceridemia, and insulin resistance, compared to CTL rats, without changes in iron levels and Hct. PHZ administration reduced iron plasma levels and promoted similar tissue injuries in the spleen and liver from MSG and CTL rats. However, in MSG-treated rats, PHZ decreased fasting glucose levels and Hct, as well as diminished the subcutaneous WAT and BAT mass. Although MSG-obesity does not affect iron plasma levels and Hct by itself, PHZ-induced anemia associated with obesity induces a marked drop in subcutaneous WAT and BAT mass, suggesting that iron imbalance may lead to increased lipolytic responses in obese rats, compared to lean rats. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Comparative transcriptome and Lipidome analyses suggest a lipid droplet-specific response to heat exposure of brown adipose tissue in normal and obese mice

AIMS

In mammals, heat stress (HS) from high-temperature environments has multiple adverse effects on the well-being of the organism. Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is a thermogenesis tissue that protects against obesity, and as an endocrine organ that regulates the systemic metabolism, but it is unclear how heat stress affects BAT in normal and obese subjects. Understanding the transcriptomic profiles and lipidomics of BAT upon heat exposure provides insights into the adaptive changes associated with this process.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We constructed heat treatment (40 °C, 4 h) models for normal and obese mice, observed the effect of heat treatment on interscapular BAT (iBAT) and performed an assay for iBAT with RNA-seq and lipidomics to compare transcriptional programs and lipid dynamics.

KEY FINDINGS

In normal mice, heat treatment caused an iBAT damage by decreasing the expression of genes involved in thermogenesis, adipogenesis and lipid metabolism. Furthermore, HS disturbed the acyl-chain composition of triacylglycerols (TAGs) and glycerophospholipids (PEs, PCs and CLs), accelerated the production of cholesterol esters, and caused the formation of giant lipid droplets rich in cholesterol esters in iBAT. Unexpectedly, in obese mice, heat treatment had a smaller effect on iBAT by improving the composition of the saturated glycerolipids, PEs and PCs and increasing the proportion of oxidized lipid in lipid droplets.

SIGNIFICANCE

Our findings proved lipid droplets participated in the regulation of lipid components of iBAT in normal and obese mice after heat treatment, which provided a new view for the understanding of the adaptation of iBAT to high-temperature environments.

EBI2 is a negative modulator of brown adipose tissue energy expenditure in mice and human brown adipocytes

Pharmacological activation of brown adipose tissue (BAT) is an attractive approach for increasing energy expenditure to counteract obesity. Given the side-effects of known activators of BAT, we studied inhibitors of BAT as a novel, alternative concept to regulate energy expenditure. We focused on G-protein-coupled receptors that are one of the major targets of clinically used drugs. Here, we identify GPR183, also known as EBI2, as the most highly expressed inhibitory G-protein-coupled receptor in BAT among the receptors examined. Activation of EBI2 using its endogenous ligand 7α,25-dihydroxycholesterol significantly decreases BAT-mediated energy expenditure in mice. In contrast, mice deficient for EBI2 show increased energy dissipation in response to cold. Interestingly, only thermogenic adipose tissue depots — BAT and subcutaneous white adipose tissue —respond to 7α,25-dihydroxycholesterol treatment/EBI2 activation but not gonadal white fat, which has the lowest thermogenic capacity. EBI2 activation in brown adipocytes significantly reduces norepinephrine-induced cAMP production, whereas pharmacological inhibition or genetic ablation of EBI2 results in an increased response. Importantly, EBI2 significantly inhibits norepinephrine-induced activation of human brown adipocytes. Our data identify the 7α,25-dihydroxycholesterol/EBI2 signaling pathway as a so far unknown BAT inhibitor. Understanding the inhibitory regulation of BAT might lead to novel pharmacological approaches to increase the activity of thermogenic adipose tissue and whole body energy expenditure in humans.

Francesca Copperi et al. evaluate the role of the G_i-protein coupled receptor, EBI2, on regulation of thermogenic activity in murine and human adipocytes. They report that loss of Ebi2 in mice increases brown adipocyte energy expenditure in response to cold exposure, providing insight into ways to potentially modulate energy expenditure in humans.

Gene Profile of Adipose Tissue of Patients with Pheochromocytoma/Paraganglioma

Background: Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is a therapeutic target to combat obesity and related disorders. Pheochromocytoma and functional paraganglioma (PPGL) are associated with activated BAT due to catecholamine excess. Our aim was to evaluate BAT activity by gene profile and assess its relation to clinical characteristics and overproduced catecholamine. Methods: mRNA expression of 15 genes in subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) was measured via RT-PCR in 25 patients with PPGL and 14 controls undergoing cholecystectomy. Results: We found in VAT of PPGL higher expression of UCP1 (p < 0.001), CEBPB, PPARGC1A (both p < 0.001), PRDM16 (p = 0.069) and DIO2 (p = 0.005). UCP1 expression correlated only with norepinephrine levels and its metabolite. UCP1 expression, among others, correlated negatively with BMI, age and positively with HDLc levels. Dominance of BAT or BeAT markers was not assessed in PPGL. In SAT of PPGL, we found higher expression of ADRB3, CIDEA (both p < 0.05), and PPARGC1A (p = 0.001), but not UCP1. Conclusion: We demonstrate signs of UCP1-dependent norepinephrine-induced thermogenesis connected with higher expression of DIO2, PPARGC1A, CEBPB and PRDM16 in retroperitoneal VAT of PPGL and its relations to circulating HDLc and triglycerides levels. However, no direct relationship with increased basal energy metabolism measured by calorimetry was found.

The Molecular Brakes of Adipose Tissue Lipolysis

Adaptation to changes in energy availability is pivotal for the survival of animals. Adipose tissue, the body’s largest reservoir of energy and a major source of metabolic fuel, exerts a buffering function for fluctuations in nutrient availability. This functional plasticity ranges from energy storage in the form of triglycerides during periods of excess energy intake to energy mobilization via lipolysis in the form of free fatty acids for other organs during states of energy demands. The subtle balance between energy storage and mobilization is important for whole-body energy homeostasis; its disruption has been implicated as contributing to the development of insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and cancer cachexia. As a result, adipocyte lipolysis is tightly regulated by complex regulatory mechanisms involving lipases and hormonal and biochemical signals that have opposing effects. In thermogenic brown and brite adipocytes, lipolysis stimulation is the canonical way for the activation of non-shivering thermogenesis. Lipolysis proceeds in an orderly and delicately regulated manner, with stimulation through cell-surface receptors via neurotransmitters, hormones, and autocrine/paracrine factors that activate various intracellular signal transduction pathways and increase kinase activity. The subsequent phosphorylation of perilipins, lipases, and cofactors initiates the translocation of key lipases from the cytoplasm to lipid droplets and enables protein-protein interactions to assemble the lipolytic machinery on the scaffolding perilipins at the surface of lipid droplets. Although activation of lipolysis has been well studied, the feedback fine-tuning is less well appreciated. This review focuses on the molecular brakes of lipolysis and discusses some of the divergent fine-tuning strategies in the negative feedback regulation of lipolysis, including delicate negative feedback loops, intermediary lipid metabolites-mediated allosteric regulation and dynamic protein–protein interactions. As aberrant adipocyte lipolysis is involved in various metabolic diseases and releasing the brakes on lipolysis in thermogenic adipocytes may activate thermogenesis, targeting adipocyte lipolysis is thus of therapeutic interest.

Adipocyte-specific deletion of PIP5K1c reduces diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance by increasing energy expenditure

Background

Phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase type I c (PIP5K1c) catalyses the synthesis of phospholipid phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) by phosphorylating phosphatidylinositol 4 phosphate, which plays multiple roles in regulating focal adhesion formation, invasion, and cell migration signal transduction cascades. Here, a new physiological mechanism of PIP5K1c in adipocytes and systemic metabolism is reported.

Methods

Adipose-specific conditional knockout mice were generated to delete the PIP5K1c gene in adipocytes. In addition, in vitro research investigated the effect of PIP5K1c deletion on adipogenesis.

Results

Deletion of PIP5K1c in adipocytes significantly alleviated high fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity, hyperlipidaemia, hepatic steatosis, and insulin resistance. PIP5K1c deficiency in adipocytes also decreased adipocyte volume in HFD-induced obese mice, whereas no significant differences were observed in body weight and adipose tissue weight under normal chow diet conditions. PIP5K1c knockout in adipocytes significantly enhanced energy expenditure, which protected mice from HFD-induced weight gain. In addition, adipogenesis was markedly impaired in mouse stromal vascular fraction (SVF) from PIP5K1c-deleted mice.

Conclusion

Under HFD conditions, PIP5K1c regulates adipogenesis and adipose tissue homeostasis. Together, these data indicate that PIP5K1c could be a novel potential target for regulating fat accumulation, which could provide novel insight into the treatment of obesity.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12944-021-01616-4.

Catalase deficiency facilitates the shuttling of free fatty acid to brown adipose tissue through lipolysis mediated by ROS during sustained fasting

Background

Fatty acids (FA) derived from adipose tissue and liver serve as the main fuel in thermogenesis of brown adipose tissue (BAT). Catalase, a peroxisomal enzyme, plays an important role in maintaining intracellular redox homeostasis by decomposing hydrogen peroxide to either water or oxygen that oxidize and provide fuel for cellular metabolism. Although the antioxidant enzymatic activity of catalase is well known, its role in the metabolism and maintenance of energy homeostasis has not yet been revealed. The present study investigated the role of catalase in lipid metabolism and thermogenesis during nutrient deprivation in catalase-knockout (KO) mice.

Results

We found that hepatic triglyceride accumulation in KO mice decreased during sustained fasting due to lipolysis through reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in adipocytes. Furthermore, the free FA released from lipolysis were shuttled to BAT through the activation of CD36 and catabolized by lipoprotein lipase in KO mice during sustained fasting. Although the exact mechanism for the activation of the FA receptor enzyme, CD36 in BAT is still unclear, we found that ROS generation in adipocytes mediated the shuttling of FA to BAT.

Conclusions

Taken together, our findings uncover the novel role of catalase in lipid metabolism and thermogenesis in BAT, which may be useful in understanding metabolic dysfunction.

Graphical Abstract

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13578-021-00710-5.

Bile Acids as a New Type of Steroid Hormones Regulating Nonspecific Energy Expenditure of the Body (Review)

The review is devoted to the systematization, classification, and generalization of the results of modern scientific research on the role of bile acids as a new class of steroid hormones. The paper presents the evidence for bile acid participation in the regulation of the body energy metabolism, body weight control, as well as the pathogenesis of obesity, diabetes mellitus, insulin resistance, and cardiovascular diseases.

Particular attention is paid to the role of bile acids in the control of nonspecific energy expenditure of the body. The applied aspects of using the novel data about the membrane and intracellular receptors responsible for the development of hormonal regulatory effects of bile acids are analyzed. According to the authors, the modern data on the role of bile acids in the regulation of body functions allow a deeper understanding of the pathogenesis of body weight disorders and associated cardiovascular diseases. The review demonstrates promising directions in the search for specific methods of prevention and correction of these pathological conditions.

Pcpe2, a Novel Extracellular Matrix Protein, Regulates Adipocyte SR-BI-Mediated High-Density Lipoprotein Uptake

Objective

To investigate the role of adipocyte Pcpe2 (procollagen C-endopeptidase enhancer 2) in SR-BI (scavenger receptor class BI)-mediated HDL-C (high-density lipoprotein cholesterol) uptake and contributions to adipose lipid storage.

Approach and Results

Pcpe2, a glycoprotein devoid of intrinsic proteolytic activity, is believed to participate in extracellular protein-protein interactions, supporting SR-BI- mediated HDL-C uptake. In published studies, Pcpe2 deficiency increased the development of atherosclerosis by reducing SR-BI-mediated HDL-C catabolism, but the biological impact of this deficiency on adipocyte SR-BI-mediated HDL-C uptake is unknown. Differentiated cells from Ldlr-/-/Pcpe2-/- (Pcpe2-/-) mouse adipose tissue showed elevated SR-BI protein levels, but significantly reduced HDL-C uptake compared to Ldlr-/- (control) adipose tissue. SR-BI-mediated HDL-C uptake was restored by preincubation of cells with exogenous Pcpe2. In diet-fed mice lacking Pcpe2, significant reductions in visceral, subcutaneous, and brown adipose tissue mass were observed, despite elevations in plasma triglyceride and cholesterol concentrations. Significant positive correlations exist between adipose mass and Pcpe2 expression in both mice and humans.

Conclusions

Overall, these findings reveal a novel and unexpected function for Pcpe2 in modulating SR-BI expression and function as it relates to adipose tissue expansion and cholesterol balance in both mice and humans.

Pleiotrophin Deficiency Induces Browning of Periovarian Adipose Tissue and Protects against High-Fat Diet-Induced Hepatic Steatosis

(1) Background: Pleiotrophin preserves insulin sensitivity, regulates adipose tissue lipid turnover and plasticity, energy metabolism and thermogenesis. The aim of this study was to determine the role of pleiotrophin in hepatic lipid metabolism and in the metabolic crosstalk between the liver and brown and white adipose tissue (AT) in a high-fat diet-induced (HFD) obesity mice model. (2) Methods: We analyzed circulating variables, lipid metabolism (hepatic lipid content and mRNA expression), brown AT thermogenesis (UCP-1 expression) and periovarian AT browning (brown adipocyte markers mRNA and immunodetection) in Ptn-/- mice either fed with standard-chow diet or with HFD and in their corresponding Ptn+/+ counterparts. (3) Results: HFD-Ptn-/- mice are protected against the development of HFD-induced insulin resistance, had lower liver lipid content and lower expression of the key enzymes involved in triacylglycerides and fatty acid synthesis in liver. HFD-Ptn-/- mice showed higher UCP-1 expression in brown AT. Moreover, Ptn deletion increased the expression of specific markers of brown/beige adipocytes and was associated with the immunodetection of UCP-1 enriched multilocular adipocytes in periovarian AT. (4) Conclusions: Ptn deletion protects against the development of HFD-induced insulin resistance and liver steatosis, by increasing UCP-1 expression in brown AT and promoting periovarian AT browning.

Role of bile acids in inflammatory liver diseases

Bile acids and their signaling pathways are increasingly recognized as potential therapeutic targets for cholestatic and metabolic liver diseases. This review summarizes new insights in bile acid physiology, focusing on regulatory roles of bile acids in the control of immune regulation and on effects of pharmacological modulators of bile acid signaling pathways in human liver disease. Recent mouse studies have highlighted the importance of the interactions between bile acids and gut microbiome. Interfering with microbiome composition may be beneficial for cholestatic and metabolic liver diseases by modulating formation of secondary bile acids, as different bile acid species have different signaling functions. Bile acid receptors such as FXR, VDR, and TGR5 are expressed in a variety of cells involved in innate as well as adaptive immunity, and specific microbial bile acid metabolites positively modulate immune responses of the host. Identification of Cyp2c70 as the enzyme responsible for the generation of hydrophilic mouse/rat-specific muricholic acids has allowed the generation of murine models with a human-like bile acid composition. These novel mouse models will aid to accelerate translational research on the (patho)physiological roles of bile acids in human liver diseases .

Maternal cold exposure induces distinct transcriptome changes in the placenta and fetal brown adipose tissue in mice

Background

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is specialized to dissipate energy in the form of heat. BAT-mediated heat production in rodents and humans is critical for effective temperature adaptation of newborns to the extrauterine environment immediately after birth. However, very little is known about whether and how fetal BAT development is modulated in-utero in response to changes in maternal thermal environment during pregnancy. Using BL6 mice, we evaluated the impact of different maternal environmental temperatures (28 °C and 18 °C) on the transcriptome of the placenta and fetal BAT to test if maternal cold exposure influences fetal BAT development via placental remodeling.

Results

Maternal weight gain during pregnancy, the average number of fetuses per pregnancy, and placental weight did not differ between the groups at 28 °C and 18 °C. However, the average fetal weight at E18.5 was 6% lower in the 18 °C-group compared to the 28 °C-group. In fetal BATs, cold exposure during pregnancy induced increased expression of genes involved in de novo lipogenesis and lipid metabolism while decreasing the expression of genes associated with muscle cell differentiation, thus suggesting that maternal cold exposure may promote fetal brown adipogenesis by suppressing the myogenic lineage in bidirectional progenitors. In placental tissues, maternal cold exposure was associated with upregulation of genes involved in complement activation and downregulation of genes related to muscle contraction and actin-myosin filament sliding. These changes may coordinate placental adaptation to maternal cold exposure, potentially by protecting against cold stress-induced inflammatory damage and modulating the vascular and extravascular contractile system in the placenta.

Conclusions

These findings provide evidence that environmental cold temperature sensed by the mother can modulate the transcriptome of placental and fetal BAT tissues. The ramifications of the observed gene expression changes warrant future investigation.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12864-021-07825-6.

Central vs. Peripheral Action of Thyroid Hormone in Adaptive Thermogenesis: A Burning Topic

Thyroid hormones (TH) contribute to the control of adaptive thermogenesis, which is associated with both higher energy expenditure and lower body mass index. While it was clearly established that TH act directly in the target tissues to fulfill its metabolic activities, some studies have rather suggested that TH act in the hypothalamus to control these processes. This paradigm shift has subjected the topic to intense debates. This review aims to recapitulate how TH control adaptive thermogenesis and to what extent the brain is involved in this process. This is of crucial importance for the design of new pharmacological agents that would take advantage of the TH metabolic properties.

The roles of NFE2L1 in adipocytes: Structural and mechanistic insight from cell and mouse models

Adipocytes play pivotal roles in maintaining energy homeostasis by storing lipids in adipose tissue (AT), regulating the flux of lipids between AT and the circulation in response to the body's energy requirements and secreting a variety of hormones, cytokines and other factors. Proper AT development and function ensure overall metabolic health. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 1 (NFE2L1, also known as NRF1) belongs to the CNC-bZIP family and plays critical roles in regulating a wide range of essential cellular functions and varies stress responses in many cells and tissues. Human and rodent Nfe2l1 genes can be transcribed into multiple splice variants resulting in various protein isoforms, which may be further modified by a variety of post-translational mechanisms. While the long isoforms of NFE2L1 have been established as master regulators of cellular adaptive antioxidant response and proteasome homeostasis, the exact tissue distribution and physiological function of NFE2L1 isoforms, the short isoforms in particular, are still under intense investigation. With regard to key roles of NFE2L1 in adipocytes, emerging data indicates that deficiency of Nfe2l1 results in aberrant adipogenesis and impaired AT functioning. Intriguingly, a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of the human NFE2L1 gene is associated with obesity. In this review, we summarize the most significant findings regarding the specific roles of the multiple isoforms of NFE2L1 in AT formation and function. We highlight that NFE2L1 plays a fundamental regulatory role in the expression of multiple genes that are crucial to AT metabolism and function and thus could be an important target to improve disease states involving aberrant adipose plasticity and lipid homeostasis.

TFEB deficiency attenuates mitochondrial degradation upon brown adipose tissue whitening at thermoneutrality

OBJECTIVE

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) thermogenesis offers the potential to improve metabolic health in mice and humans. However, humans predominantly live under thermoneutral conditions, leading to BAT whitening, a reduction in BAT mitochondrial content and metabolic activity. Recent studies have established mitophagy as a major driver of mitochondrial degradation in the whitening of thermogenic brite/beige adipocytes, yet the pathways mediating mitochondrial breakdown in whitening of classical BAT remain largely elusive. The transcription factor EB (TFEB), a master regulator of lysosomal biogenesis and autophagy belonging to the MiT family of transcription factors, is the only member of this family that is upregulated during whitening, pointing toward a role of TFEB in whitening-associated mitochondrial breakdown.

METHODS

We generated brown adipocyte-specific TFEB knockout mice, and induced BAT whitening by thermoneutral housing. We characterized gene and protein expression patterns, BAT metabolic activity, systemic metabolism, and mitochondrial localization using in vivo and in vitro approaches.

RESULTS

Under low thermogenic activation conditions, deletion of TFEB preserves mitochondrial mass independently of mitochondriogenesis in BAT and primary brown adipocytes. However, this does not translate into elevated thermogenic capacity or protection from diet-induced obesity. Autophagosomal/lysosomal marker levels are altered in TFEB-deficient BAT and primary adipocytes, and lysosomal markers co-localize and co-purify with mitochondria in TFEB-deficient BAT, indicating trapping of mitochondria in late stages of mitophagy.

CONCLUSION

We identify TFEB as a driver of BAT whitening, mediating mitochondrial degradation via the autophagosomal and lysosomal machinery. This study provides proof of concept that interfering with the mitochondrial degradation machinery can increase mitochondrial mass in classical BAT under human-relevant conditions. However, it must be considered that interfering with autophagy may result in accumulation of non-functional mitochondria. Future studies targeting earlier steps of mitophagy or target recognition are therefore warranted.

The Protective Effects of Sulforaphane on High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity in Mice Through Browning of White Fat

Background: Sulforaphane (SFN), an isothiocyanate naturally occurring in cruciferous vegetables, is a potent indirect antioxidant and a promising agent for the control of metabolic disorder disease. The glucose intolerance and adipogenesis induced by diet in rats was inhibited by SFN. Strategies aimed at induction of brown adipose tissue (BAT) could be a potentially useful way to against obesity. However, in vivo protective effect of SFN against obesity by browning white adipocyte has not been reported. Our present study is aimed at evaluation the efficacy of the SFN against the high-fat induced-obesity mice and investigating the potential mechanism.

Methods: High-Fat Diet-induced obese female C57BL/6 mice were intraperitoneally injected with SFN (10 mg/kg) daily. Body weight was recorded every 3 days. 30 days later, glucose tolerance test (GTT) and insulin tolerance test (ITT) were performed. At the end of experiment, fat mass were measured and the adipogenesis as well as browning associated genes expression in white adipose tissue (WAT) were determined by RT-qPCR and western blot. Histological examination of the adipose tissue samples were carried out with hematoxylin–eosin (HE) staining and immunofluorescence staining method. In vitro, pre-adipocytes C3H10T1/2 were treated with SFN to investigate the direct effects on adipogenesis.

Results: SFN suppressed HFD-induced body weight gain and reduced the size of fat cells in mice. SFN suppressed the expression of key genes in adipogenesis, inhibited lipid accumulation in C3H10T1/2 cells, increased the expression of brown adipocyte-specific markers and mitochondrial biogenesis in vivo and in vitro, and decreased cellular and mitochondrial oxidative stress. These results suggested that SFN, as a nutritional factor, has great potential role in the battle against obesity by inducing the browning of white fat.

Conclusion: SFN could significantly decrease the fat mass, and improve glucose metabolism and increase insulin sensitivity of HFD-induced obese mice by promoting the browning of white fat and enhancing the mitochondrial biogenesis in WAT. Our study proves that SFN could serve as a potential medicine in anti-obesity and related diseases.

Ovariectomy-Induced Hepatic Lipid and Cytochrome P450 Dysmetabolism Precedes Serum Dyslipidemia

Ovarian hormone deficiency leads to increased body weight, visceral adiposity, fatty liver and disorders associated with menopausal metabolic syndrome. To better understand the underlying mechanisms of these disorders in their early phases of development, we investigated the effect of ovariectomy on lipid and glucose metabolism. Compared to sham-operated controls, ovariectomized Wistar female rats markedly increased whole body and visceral adipose tissue weight (p ˂ 0.05) and exhibited insulin resistance in peripheral tissues. Severe hepatic triglyceride accumulation (p ˂ 0.001) after ovariectomy preceded changes in both serum lipids and glucose intolerance, reflecting alterations in some CYP proteins. Increased CYP2E1 (p ˂ 0.05) and decreased CYP4A (p ˂ 0.001) after ovariectomy reduced fatty acid oxidation and induced hepatic steatosis. Decreased triglyceride metabolism and secretion from the liver contributed to hepatic triglyceride accumulation in response to ovariectomy. In addition, interscapular brown adipose tissue of ovariectomized rats exhibited decreased fatty acid oxidation (p ˂ 0.01), lipogenesis (p ˂ 0.05) and lipolysis (p ˂ 0.05) despite an increase in tissue weight. The results provide evidence that impaired hepatic triglycerides and dysregulation of some CYP450 proteins may have been involved in the development of hepatic steatosis. The low metabolic activity of brown adipose tissue may have contributed to visceral adiposity as well as triglyceride accumulation during the postmenopausal period.

FGF19 protects skeletal muscle against obesity-induced muscle atrophy, metabolic derangement and abnormal irisin levels via the AMPK/SIRT-1/PGC-α pathway

Obesity is associated with biological dysfunction in skeletal muscle. As a condition of obesity accompanied by muscle mass loss and physical dysfunction, sarcopenic obesity (SO) has become a novel public health problem. Human fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF19) plays a therapeutic role in metabolic diseases. However, the protective effects of FGF19 on skeletal muscle in obesity and SO are still not completely understood. Our results showed that FGF19 administration improved muscle loss and grip strength in young and aged mice fed a high‐fat diet (HFD). Increases in muscle atrophy markers (FOXO‐3, Atrogin‐1, MuRF‐1) were abrogated by FGF19 in palmitic acid (PA)‐treated C2C12 myotubes and in the skeletal muscle of HFD‐fed mice. FGF19 not only reduced HFD‐induced body weight gain, excessive lipid accumulation and hyperlipidaemia but also promoted energy expenditure (PGC‐1α, UCP‐1, PPAR‐γ) in brown adipose tissue (BAT). FGF19 treatment restored PA‐ and HFD‐induced hyperglycaemia, impaired glucose tolerance and insulin resistance (IRS‐1, GLUT‐4) and mitigated the PA‐ and HFD‐induced decrease in FNDC‐5/irisin expression. However, these beneficial effects of FGF19 on skeletal muscle were abolished by inhibiting AMPK, SIRT‐1 and PGC‐1α expression. Taken together, this study suggests that FGF19 protects skeletal muscle against obesity‐induced muscle atrophy, metabolic derangement and abnormal irisin secretion partially through the AMPK/SIRT‐1/PGC‐α signalling pathway, which might be a potential therapeutic target for obesity and SO.

Up-regulation of DGAT1 in cancer tissues and tumor-infiltrating macrophages influenced survival of patients with gastric cancer

Background

Diacylglycerol-acyltransferase 1 (DGAT1) plays an important role in the energy storage and is involved in cancer progression. A growing number of evidences showed that elevated expression of DGAT1 in cancer tissue indicated a poor outcome in cancer patients. However, the relationship between DGAT1 and gastric cancer is still unclear. Thus, Transcriptomic analysis and in vitro experiments were performed to investigate the role of DGAT1 in gastric cancer, as well as the potential therapy target in gastric cancer treatment.

Methods

We screened the public cancer datasets to identify the expression and function of DGAT1 in gastric cancer and tumor infiltrating lymphocytes. Then we testified the DGAT1 expression and function after sodium oleate treatment in AGS and MKN45 cell line. Finally, we analyzed ration of apoptosis, necrosis in gastric cancer cells by using flow cytometry after administration of DGAT1 inhibitor.

Results

Our results showed a highly expression of DGAT1 in gastric cancer tissues (n = 5, p = 0.0004), and tumor-infiltrating macrophages with elevated DGAT1 expression is associated with poor overall survival in gastric cancer patients. In addition, gastric cell lines AGS (n = 3, p < 0.05) and MKN45 (n = 3, p < 0.01) expressed higher level of DGAT1 than human gastric mucosal epithelial cell line GES-1. Administration of DGAT1 inhibitor effectively suppressed functional factors expression and induced cell death in MKN45.

Conclusion

The findings of this research provide an in-depth insight into the potential role and influences involved in DGAT1 in the gastric cancer patients. And higher expression of DGAT1 leads to lower overall survival (OS) rate in patients with poorly differentiated gastric cancer. Our findings suggest a potential role for DGAT1 in the gastric cancer progression and inhibiting DGAT1 might be a promising strategy in gastric cancer treatment.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12885-021-07976-5.

Brown Adipose Tissue Rescues Bone Loss Induced by Cold Exposure

Cold temperature activates the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) to induce bone loss by altering bone remodeling. Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is influenced by the SNS in cold environments. Many studies have confirmed a positive relationship between BAT volume and bone mass, but the influence and mechanism of BAT on bone in vivo and in vitro is still unknown. Two-month-old C57/BL6j male mice were exposed to cold temperature (4°C) to induce BAT generation. BAT volume, bone remodeling and microstructure were assessed after 1 day, 14 days and 28 days of cold exposure. CTX-1, P1NP and IL-6 levels were detected in the serum by ELISA. To determine the effect of BAT on osteoclasts and osteoblasts in vitro, brown adipocyte conditional medium (BAT CM) was collected and added to the differentiation medium of bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs) and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). Micro-CT results showed that the bone volume fraction (BV/TV, %) significantly decreased after 14 days of exposure to cold temperature but recovered after 28 days. Double labeling and TRAP staining in vivo showed that bone remodeling was altered during cold exposure. BAT volume enlarged after 14 days of cold stimulation, and IL-6 increased. BAT CM promoted BMSC mineralization by increasing osteocalcin (Ocn), RUNX family transcription factor 2 (Runx2) and alkaline phosphatase (Alp) expression, while bone absorption was inhibited by BAT CM. In conclusion, restoration of bone volume after cold exposure may be attributed to enlarged BAT. BAT has a beneficial effect on bone mass by facilitating osteogenesis and suppressing osteoclastogenesis.

Farnesol induces mitochondrial/peroxisomal biogenesis and thermogenesis by enhancing the AMPK signaling pathway in vivo and in vitro

Thermogenic activation of brown adipose tissue has been considered as an obesity treatment strategy that consumes energy. In this study, we investigated whether farnesol in vivoandin vitro models induces thermogenesis and affect the activation of the mitochondria and peroxisomes, which are key organelles in activated brown adipocytes. Farnesol induced the expression of thermogenic factors such as uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1 alpha (PGC1α), and PR domain zinc-finger protein 16 (PRDM16) together with the phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase alpha (AMPKα) in brown adipose tissue and primary cultured brown adipocytes. Farnesol promoted lipolytic enzymes: hormone sensitive lipase (HSL) and adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL). We confirmed that these inductions of lipolysis by farnesol were the underlying causes of β-oxidation activation. Farnesol also increased the expression of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) complexes and the oxygen consumption rate (OCR) and the expansion of peroxisomes. Moreover, we proved that the thermogenic activity of farnesol was dependent on AMPKα activation using Compound C inhibitor or siRNA-AMPKα knockdown. These results suggest that farnesol may be a potential agent for the treatment of obesity by inducing energy consumption through heat generation.

Inducible beige adipocytes improve impaired glucose metabolism in interscapular BAT-removal mice

Inducible beige adipocytes are emerging as an interesting issue in obesity and metabolism research. There is a neglected possibility that brown adipocytes are equally activated when external stimuli induce the formation of beige adipocytes. Thus, the question is whether beige adipocytes have the same functions as brown adipocytes when brown adipose tissue (BAT) is lacking. This question has not been well studied. Therefore we determine the beneficial effects of beige adipocytes upon cold challenge or CL316243 treatments in animal models of interscapular BAT (iBAT) ablation by surgical denervation. We found that denervated iBAT were activated by cold exposure and CL316243 treatments. The data show that beige adipocytes partly contribute to the improvement of impaired glucose metabolism resulting from denervated iBAT. Thus, we further used iBAT-removal animal models to abolish iBAT functions completely. We found that beige adipocytes upon cold exposure or CL316243 treatments improved impaired glucose metabolism and enhanced glucose uptake in iBAT-removal mice. The insulin signaling was activated in iBAT-removal mice upon cold exposure. Both the activation of insulin signaling and up-regulation of glucose transporter expression were observed in iBAT-removal mice with CL316243 treatments. The data show that inducible beige adipocytes may have different mechanisms to improve impaired glucose metabolism. Inducible beige adipocytes can also enhance energy expenditure and lipolytic activity of white adipose tissues when iBAT is lacking. We provide direct evidences for the beneficial effect of inducible beige adipocytes in glucose metabolism and energy expenditure in the absence of iBAT in vivo.