scholarly journals Retinoic acid blocks adipogenesis by inhibiting C/EBPbeta-mediated transcription.

1997 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 1552-1561 ◽  
Author(s):  
E J Schwarz ◽  
M J Reginato ◽  
D Shao ◽  
S L Krakow ◽  
M A Lazar

Adipocyte differentiation is thought to involve sequential induction of the transcription factors C/EBPbeta, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma), and C/EBPalpha. C/EBPalpha expression is both necessary and sufficient for adipocyte differentiation. Here we report that ectopic expression of either C/EBPalpha or C/EBPbeta induces PPARgamma expression and adipogenesis and that retinoic acid (RA) completely inhibits adipogenesis by either form of C/EBP. In studies of normal preadipocytes, RA does not prevent C/EBPbeta induction but blocks induction of PPARgamma, C/EBPalpha, and adipogenesis. In transient transfection studies, liganded RA receptor (RAR) specifically blocks transcriptional activation by either C/EBPalpha or C/EBPbeta. These results strongly suggest that C/EBPalpha substitutes for C/EBPbeta to induce adipocyte differentiation and that liganded RAR inhibits adipogenesis by blocking C/EBPbeta-mediated induction of downstream genes.

2002 ◽  
Vol 277 (51) ◽  
pp. 49776-49781 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joel W. Neal ◽  
Neil A. Clipstone

Recent studies have revealed that the calcium-dependent serine/threonine phosphatase calcineurin mediates the effects of intracellular calcium in many different cell types. In this study we investigated the role of calcineurin in the regulation of adipocyte differentiation. We found that the specific calcineurin inhibitors cyclosporin A and FK506 overcame the antiadipogenic effect of calcium ionophore on the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. This finding suggests that calcineurin is responsible for mediating the previously documented Ca2+-dependent inhibition of adipogenesis. We further demonstrate that the expression of a constitutively active calcineurin mutant potently inhibits the ability of 3T3-L1 cells to undergo adipocyte differentiation by preventing expression of the proadipogenic transcription factors peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α (C/EBPα). This calcineurin-mediated block in adipocyte differentiation is rescued by ectopic expression of PPARγ1. Finally, we demonstrate that inhibition of endogenous calcineurin activity with either FK506 or a specific calcineurin inhibitory peptide enhances differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells in response to suboptimal adipogenic stimuli, suggesting that endogenous calcineurin activity normally sets a signaling threshold that antagonizes efficient adipocyte differentiation. Collectively, these data indicate that calcineurin acts as a Ca2+-dependent molecular switch that negatively regulates commitment to adipocyte differentiation by preventing the expression of critical proadipogenic transcription factors.


2003 ◽  
Vol 376 (3) ◽  
pp. 607-613 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marthe MOLDES ◽  
Ying ZUO ◽  
Ron F. MORRISON ◽  
David SILVA ◽  
Bae-Hang PARK ◽  
...  

The Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway appears to operate to maintain the undifferentiated state of preadipocytes by inhibiting adipogenic gene expression. To define the mechanisms regulating suppression of Wnt/β-catenin signalling, we analysed the β-catenin expression in response to activation of transcription factors that regulate adipogenesis. The results show an extensive down-regulation of nuclear β-catenin that occurs during the first few days of differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and coincides with the induction of the adipogenic transcription factors, C/EBPβ (CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein) and PPARγ (peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor). To assess the role of each of these factors in this process, we conditionally overexpressed C/EBPβ in Swiss mouse fibroblasts using the TET-off system. Abundant expression of C/EBPβ alone had minimal effect on β-catenin expression, whereas expression of C/EBPβ, in the presence of dexamethasone, induced PPARγ expression and caused a measurable decrease in β-catenin. In addition, exposure of cells expressing both C/EBPβ and PPARγ to a potent PPARγ ligand resulted in an even greater decrease in β-catenin by mechanisms that involve the proteasome. Our studies also suggest a reciprocal relationship between PPARγ activity and β-catenin expression, since ectopic production of Wnt-1 in preadipocytes blocked the induction of PPARγ gene expression. Moreover, by suppressing β-catenin expression, ectopic expression of PPARγ in Wnt-1-expressing preadipocytes rescued the block in adipogenesis after their exposure to the PPARγ ligand, troglitazone.


2009 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 613-625 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toshio Maekawa ◽  
Wanzhu Jin ◽  
Shunsuke Ishii

ABSTRACT ATF-2 is a member of the ATF/CREB family of transcription factors and is activated by stress-activated protein kinases, such as p38. To analyze the physiological role of ATF-2 family transcription factors, we have generated mice with mutations in Atf-2 and Cre-bpa, an Atf-2-related gene. The trans-heterozygotes of both mutants were lean and had reduced white adipose tissue (WAT). ATF-2 and CRE-BPa were required for bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2)-and p38-dependent induction of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ2 (PPARγ2), a key transcription factor mediating adipocyte differentiation. Since stored fat supplies have been recognized as a possible target for antiobesity treatments, we tested whether inhibition of the p38-ATF-2 pathway suppresses adipocyte differentiation and leads to reduced WAT by treating mice with a p38 inhibitor for long periods of time. High-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity was significantly reduced in mice fed the p38 inhibitor. Furthermore, the p38 inhibitor alleviated HFD-induced insulin resistance. In p38 inhibitor-treated mice, macrophage infiltration into WAT was reduced and the tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) levels were lower than control mice. Thus, p38 inhibitors may provide a novel antiobesity treatment.


2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ji-Eun Lee ◽  
Hannah Schmidt ◽  
Binbin Lai ◽  
Kai Ge

ABSTRACT Understanding adipogenesis, the process of adipocyte development, may provide new ways to treat obesity and related metabolic diseases. Adipogenesis is controlled by coordinated actions of lineage-determining transcription factors and epigenomic regulators. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) and C/EBPα are master “adipogenic” transcription factors. In recent years, a growing number of studies have reported the identification of novel transcriptional and epigenomic regulators of adipogenesis. However, many of these novel regulators have not been validated in adipocyte development in vivo and their working mechanisms are often far from clear. In this minireview, we discuss recent advances in transcriptional and epigenomic regulation of adipogenesis, with a focus on factors and mechanisms shared by both white adipogenesis and brown adipogenesis. Studies on the transcriptional regulation of adipogenesis highlight the importance of investigating adipocyte differentiation in vivo rather than drawing conclusions based on knockdown experiments in cell culture. Advances in understanding of epigenomic regulation of adipogenesis have revealed critical roles of histone methylation/demethylation, histone acetylation/deacetylation, chromatin remodeling, DNA methylation, and microRNAs in adipocyte differentiation. We also discuss future research directions that may help identify novel factors and mechanisms regulating adipogenesis.


2010 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 370-380 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalia Di Pietro ◽  
Valentine Panel ◽  
Schantel Hayes ◽  
Alessia Bagattin ◽  
Sunitha Meruvu ◽  
...  

Abstract The serum and glucocorticoid-inducible kinase 1 (SGK1) is an inducible kinase the physiological function of which has been characterized primarily in the kidney. Here we show that SGK1 is expressed in white adipose tissue and that its levels are induced in the conversion of preadipocytes into fat cells. Adipocyte differentiation is significantly diminished via small interfering RNA inhibition of endogenous SGK1 expression, whereas ectopic expression of SGK1 in mesenchymal precursor cells promotes adipogenesis. The SGK1-mediated phenotypic effects on differentiation parallel changes in the mRNA levels for critical regulators and markers of adipogenesis, such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ, CCAAT enhancer binding protein α, and fatty acid binding protein aP2. We demonstrate that SGK1 affects differentiation by direct phosphorylation of Foxo1, thereby changing its cellular localization from the nucleus to the cytosol. In addition we show that SGK1−/− cells are unable to relocalize Foxo1 to the cytosol in response to dexamethasone. Together these results show that SGK1 influences adipocyte differentiation by regulating Foxo1 phosphorylation and reveal a potentially important function for this kinase in the control of fat mass and function.


2020 ◽  
Vol 40 (17) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ji-Eun Lee ◽  
Young-Wook Cho ◽  
Chu-Xia Deng ◽  
Kai Ge

ABSTRACT Transcription factors C/EBPβ and C/EBPδ are induced within hours after initiation of adipogenesis in culture. They directly promote the expression of master adipogenic transcription factors peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) and C/EBPα and are required for adipogenesis in vivo. However, the mechanism that controls the induction of C/EBPβ and C/EBPδ remains elusive. We previously showed that histone methyltransferases MLL3/MLL4 and associated PTIP are required for the induction of PPARγ and C/EBPα during adipogenesis. Here, we show MLL3/MLL4/PTIP-associated protein PAGR1 (also known as PA1) cooperates with phosphorylated CREB and ligand-activated glucocorticoid receptor to directly control the induction of C/EBPβ and C/EBPδ in the early phase of adipogenesis. Deletion of Pagr1 in white and brown preadipocytes prevents the induction of C/EBPβ and C/EBPδ and leads to severe defects in adipogenesis. Adipogenesis defects in PAGR1-deficient cells can be rescued by the ectopic expression of C/EBPβ or PPARγ. Finally, the deletion of Pagr1 in Myf5+ precursor cells impairs brown adipose tissue and muscle development. Thus, by controlling the induction of C/EBPβ and C/EBPδ, PAGR1 plays a critical role in adipogenesis.


2005 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 706-715 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiang Tong ◽  
Judy Tsai ◽  
Guo Tan ◽  
Gökhan Dalgin ◽  
Gökhan S. Hotamisligil

ABSTRACT We have previously demonstrated that GATA-2 and GATA-3 are expressed in adipocyte precursors and control the preadipocyte-to-adipocyte transition. Constitutive expression of both GATA-2 and GATA-3 suppressed adipocyte differentiation, partially through direct binding to the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) promoter and suppression of its basal activity. In the present study, we demonstrate that both GATA-2 and GATA-3 form protein complexes with CCAAT/enhancer binding protein α (C/EBPα) and C/EBPβ, members of a family of transcription factors that are integral to adipogenesis. We mapped this interaction to the basic leucine zipper domain of C/EBPα and a region adjacent to the carboxyl zinc finger of GATA-2. The interaction between GATA and C/EBP factors is critical for the ability of GATA to suppress adipocyte differentiation. Thus, these results show that in addition to its previously recognized function in suppressing PPARγ transcriptional activity, interaction of GATA factors with C/EBP is necessary for their ability to negatively regulate adipogenesis.


1999 ◽  
Vol 19 (8) ◽  
pp. 5495-5503 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lluis Fajas ◽  
Kristina Schoonjans ◽  
Laurent Gelman ◽  
Jae B. Kim ◽  
Jamila Najib ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) is a nuclear receptor implicated in adipocyte differentiation and insulin sensitivity. We investigated whether PPARγ expression is dependent on the activity of adipocyte differentiation and determination factor 1/sterol regulatory element binding protein 1 (ADD-1/SREBP-1), another transcription factor associated with both adipocyte differentiation and cholesterol homeostasis. Ectopic expression of ADD-1/SREBP-1 in 3T3-L1 and HepG2 cells induced endogenous PPARγ mRNA levels. The related transcription factor SREBP-2 likewise induced PPARγ expression. In addition, cholesterol depletion, a condition known to result in proteolytic activation of transcription factors of the SREBP family, induced PPARγ expression and improved PPRE-driven transcription. The effect of the SREBPs on PPARγ expression was mediated through the PPARγ1 and -3 promoters. Both promoters contain a consensus E-box motif that mediates the regulation of the PPARγ gene by ADD-1/SREBP-1 and SREBP-2. These results suggest that PPARγ expression can be controlled by the SREBP family of transcription factors and demonstrate new interactions between transcription factors that can regulate different pathways of lipid metabolism.


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