scholarly journals Role of Ubiquilins for Brown Adipocyte Proteostasis and Thermogenesis

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolin Muley ◽  
Stefan Kotschi ◽  
Alexander Bartelt
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Quality Control ◽  
Adipose Tissue ◽  
Cold Exposure ◽  
Protein Quality ◽  
Brown Adipocyte ◽  
Brown Adipocytes ◽  
Brown Adipose ◽  
Shivering Thermogenesis

The acclimatization of brown adipose tissue (BAT) to sustained cold exposure requires an adaptive increase in proteasomal protein quality control. Ubiquilins represent a recently identified family of shuttle proteins with versatile functions in protein degradation, such as facilitating substrate targeting and proteasomal degradation. However, whether ubiquilins participate in brown adipocyte function has not been investigated so far. Here, we determine the role of ubiquilins for proteostasis and non-shivering thermogenesis in brown adipocytes. We found that Ubqln1, 2 and 4 are highly expressed in BAT and their expression was induced by cold and proteasomal inhibition. Surprisingly, silencing of ubiquilin gene expression (one or multiple in combinations) did not lead to aggravated ER stress or inflammation. Moreover, ubiquitin level and proteasomal activity under basal conditions were not impacted by loss of ubiquilins. Also, non-shivering thermogenesis measured by norepinephrine-induced respiration remained intact after loss of ubiquilins. In conclusion, ubiquilin proteins are highly abundant in BAT and regulated by cold, but they are dispensable for brown adipocyte proteostasis and thermogenesis.

The emergence of cold-induced brown adipocytes in mouse white fat depots is determined predominantly by white to brown adipocyte transdifferentiation

2010 ◽  
Vol 298 (6) ◽  
pp. E1244-E1253 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Barbatelli ◽  
I. Murano ◽  
L. Madsen ◽  
Q. Hao ◽  
M. Jimenez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Adipose Tissue ◽  
Cold Exposure ◽  
Brown Adipocyte ◽  
Brown Adipocytes ◽  
Cold Acclimatization ◽  
Fat Depots ◽  
Gene Coding ◽  
Adrenoceptor Agonist ◽  
Brown Adipose ◽  
Enhanced Expression

The origin of brown adipocytes arising in white adipose tissue (WAT) after cold acclimatization is unclear. Here, we demonstrate that several UCP1-immunoreactive brown adipocytes occurring in WAT after cold acclimatization have a mixed morphology (paucilocular adipocytes). These cells also had a mixed mitochondrioma with classic “brown” and “white” mitochondria, suggesting intermediate steps in the process of direct transformation of white into brown adipocytes (transdifferentiation). Quantitative electron microscopy disclosed that cold exposure (6°C for 10 days) did not induce an increase in WAT preadipocytes. β3-adrenoceptor-knockout mice had a blunted brown adipocyte occurrence upon cold acclimatization. Administration of the β3-adrenoceptor agonist CL316,243 induced the occurrence of brown adipocytes, with the typical morphological features found after cold acclimatization. In contrast, administration of the β1-adrenoceptor agonist xamoterol increased only the number of preadipocytes. These findings indicate that transdifferentiation depends on β3-adrenoceptor activation, whereas preadipocyte recruitment is mediated by β1-adrenoceptor. RT-qPCR experiments disclosed that cold exposure induced enhanced expression of the thermogenic genes and of genes expressed selectively in brown adipose tissue (iBAT) and in both interscapular BAT and WAT. β3-adrenoceptor suppression blunted their expression only in WAT. Furthermore, cold acclimatization induced an increased WAT expression of the gene coding for C/EBPα (an antimitotic protein), whereas Ccna1 expression (related to cell proliferation) was unchanged. Overall, our data strongly suggest that the cold-induced emergence of brown adipocytes in WAT predominantly reflects β3-adrenoceptor-mediated transdifferentiation.

Pref-1 in brown adipose tissue: specific involvement in brown adipocyte differentiation and regulatory role of C/EBPδ

2012 ◽  
Vol 443 (3) ◽  
pp. 799-810 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jordi Armengol ◽  
Josep A. Villena ◽  
Elayne Hondares ◽  
María C. Carmona ◽  
Hei Sook Sul ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Adipose Tissue ◽  
Brown Adipose Tissue ◽  
Adipocyte Differentiation ◽  
Proximal Promoter ◽  
Brown Adipocyte ◽  
Specific Marker ◽  
Brown Adipose ◽  
Factor C

Pref-1 (pre-adipocyte factor-1) is known to play a central role in regulating white adipocyte differentiation, but the role of Pref-1 in BAT (brown adipose tissue) has not been analysed. In the present study we found that Pref-1 expression is high in fetal BAT and declines progressively after birth. However, Pref-1-null mice showed unaltered fetal development of BAT, but exhibited signs of over-activation of BAT thermogenesis in the post-natal period. In C/EBP (CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein) α-null mice, a rodent model of impaired fetal BAT differentiation, Pref-1 was dramatically overexpressed, in association with reduced expression of the Ucp1 (uncoupling protein 1) gene, a BAT-specific marker of thermogenic differentiation. In brown adipocyte cell culture models, Pref-1 was mostly expressed in pre-adipocytes and declined with brown adipocyte differentiation. The transcription factor C/EBPδ activated the Pref-1 gene transcription in brown adipocytes, through binding to the proximal promoter region. Accordingly, siRNA (small interfering RNA)-induced C/EBPδ knockdown led to reduced Pref-1 gene expression. This effect is consistent with the observed overexpression of C/EBPδ in C/EBPα-null BAT and high expression of C/EBPδ in brown pre-adipocytes. Dexamethasone treatment of brown pre-adipocytes suppressed Pref-1 down-regulation occurring throughout the brown adipocyte differentiation process, increased the expression of C/EBPδ and strongly impaired expression of the thermogenic markers UCP1 and PGC-1α [PPARγ (peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor γ) co-activator-α]. However, it did not alter normal fat accumulation or expression of non-BAT-specific genes. Collectively, these results specifically implicate Pref-1 in controlling the thermogenic gene expression program in BAT, and identify C/EBPδ as a novel transcriptional regulator of Pref-1 gene expression that may be related to the specific role of glucocorticoids in BAT differentiation.

Brown adipose tissue hyperplasia: a fundamental mechanism of adaptation to cold and hyperphagia

1982 ◽  
Vol 242 (6) ◽  
pp. E353-E359 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Bukowiecki ◽  
A. J. Collet ◽  
N. Follea ◽  
G. Guay ◽  
L. Jahjah
Keyword(s):  
Adipose Tissue ◽  
Brown Adipose Tissue ◽  
Cold Acclimation ◽  
Cold Exposure ◽  
Interstitial Cells ◽  
Brown Adipocyte ◽  
Brown Adipocytes ◽  
Interscapular Brown Adipose Tissue ◽  
Blood Capillaries ◽  
Brown Adipose

Cold acclimation (4 degrees C) and "cafeteria diets" increased the thermic response of rats to catecholamines. This phenomenon was accompanied by six- to eightfold increases of interscapular brown adipose tissue (IBAT) weight, total tissue cytochrome oxidase activity, and total number of brown adipocytes. Quantitative radioautographic experiments using [3H]thymidine disclosed that cold exposure markedly enhanced the mitotic activity in blood capillaries and small-venule endothelial cells, adipose tissue interstitial cells, and preadipocytes rather than in fully differentiated brown adipocytes. IBAT mitotic index increased 70 times over control values after only 2 days of cold exposure. Thereafter, the proliferative activity progressively decreased. IBAT cell composition was modified during cold acclimation as the percentage of interstitial cells and preadipocytes increased over the other cellular types. Because brown adipose tissue is the principal site of norepinephrine-induced thermogenesis in homeothermal animals, it is suggested that brown adipocyte proliferation from precursor cells represents the fundamental phenomenon explaining the increased capacity of cold-acclimated animals to respond calorigenically to catecholamines.

scholarly journals Identification of biomarkers of brown adipose tissue aging highlights the role of dysfunctional energy and nucleotide metabolism pathways

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carola Mancini ◽  
Sabrina Gohlke ◽  
Francisco Garcia-Carrizo ◽  
Vyacheslav Zagoriy ◽  
Heike Stephanowitz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Adipose Tissue ◽  
Brown Adipose Tissue ◽  
Nucleotide Metabolism ◽  
Brown Adipocyte ◽  
Brown Adipocytes ◽  
Interscapular Brown Adipose Tissue ◽  
Potential Biomarker ◽  
Brown Adipose ◽  
Tissue Aging

AbstractBrown adipose tissue function declines during aging and may contribute to the onset of metabolic disorders such as diabetes and obesity. Only limited understanding of the mechanisms leading to the metabolic impairment of brown adipocytes during aging exists. To this end, interscapular brown adipose tissue samples were collected from young and aged mice for quantification of differential gene expression and metabolite levels. To identify potential processes involved in brown adipocyte dysfunction, metabolite concentrations were correlated to aging and significantly changed candidates were subsequently integrated with a non-targeted proteomic dataset and gene expression analyses. Our results include novel age-dependent correlations of polar intermediates in brown adipose tissue. Identified metabolites clustered around three biochemical processes, specifically energy metabolism, nucleotide metabolism and vitamin metabolism. One mechanism of brown adipose tissue dysfunction may be linked to mast cell activity, and we identify increased histamine levels in aged brown fat as a potential biomarker. In addition, alterations of genes involved in synthesis and degradation of many metabolites were mainly observed in the mature brown adipocyte fraction as opposed to the stromal vascular fraction. These findings may provide novel insights on the molecular mechanisms contributing to the impaired thermogenesis of brown adipocytes during aging.

scholarly journals New insights into the secretory functions of brown adipose tissue

2019 ◽  
Vol 243 (2) ◽  
pp. R19-R27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joan Villarroya ◽  
Rubén Cereijo ◽  
Aleix Gavaldà-Navarro ◽  
Marion Peyrou ◽  
Marta Giralt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Adipose Tissue ◽  
Brown Adipose Tissue ◽  
Metabolic Diseases ◽  
Brown Adipocyte ◽  
Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 ◽  
Tissue Remodelling ◽  
Brown Adipocytes ◽  
Signalling Molecules ◽  
Brown Adipose

In recent years, an important secretory role of brown adipose tissue (BAT) has emerged, which is consistent, to some extent, with the earlier recognition of the important secretory role of white fat. The so-called brown adipokines or ‘batokines’ may play an autocrine role, which may either be positive or negative, in the thermogenic function of brown adipocytes. Additionally, there is a growing recognition of the signalling molecules released by brown adipocytes that target sympathetic nerve endings (such as neuregulin-4 and S100b protein), vascular cells (e.g., bone morphogenetic protein-8b), and immune cells (e.g., C-X-C motif chemokine ligand-14) to promote the tissue remodelling associated with the adaptive BAT recruitment in response to thermogenic stimuli. Moreover, existing indications of an endocrine role of BAT are being confirmed through the release of brown adipokines acting on other distant tissues and organs; a recent example is the recognition that BAT-secreted fibroblast growth factor-21 and myostatin target the heart and skeletal muscle, respectively. The application of proteomics technologies is aiding the identification of new members of the brown adipocyte secretome, such as the extracellular matrix or complement system components. In summary, BAT can no longer be considered a mere producer of heat in response to environment or dietary challenges; it is also an active secretory tissue releasing brown adipokines with a relevant local and systemic action. The identification of the major brown adipokines and their roles is highly important for the discovery of novel candidates useful in formulating intervention strategies for metabolic diseases.

scholarly journals PAT2 regulates autophagy through vATPase assembly and lysosomal acidification in brown adipocytes

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiefu Wang ◽  
Martin Krueger ◽  
Stefanie M. Hauck ◽  
Siegfried Ussar
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Brown Adipocyte ◽  
Amino Acid Transporters ◽  
Mitochondrial Uncoupling ◽  
Brown Adipocytes ◽  
Brown Adipose ◽  
Glucose And Lipid Homeostasis ◽  
Mtorc1 Activation ◽  
Lysosomal Acidification

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) plays a key role in maintaining body temperature as well as glucose and lipid homeostasis by its ability to dissipate energy through mitochondrial uncoupling. To facilitate these tasks BAT needs to adopt its thermogenic activity and substrate utilization to changes in nutrient availability, regulated by a complex network of neuronal, endocrine and nutritional inputs. Amongst this multitude of factors influencing BAT activity changes in the autophagic response of brown adipocytes are an important regulator of its thermogenic capacity and activity. Increasing evidence supports an important role of amino acid transporters in mTORC1 activation and the regulation of autophagy. However, a specific role of amino acid transporters in BAT regulating its function has not been described. Here we show that the brown adipocyte specific proton coupled amino acid transporter PAT2 rapidly translocates from the plasma membrane to the lysosome in response to amino acid withdrawal, where it facilitates the assembly of the lysosomal vATPase. Loss or overexpression of PAT2 therefore impair lysosomal acidification, autophagolysosome formation and starvation induced mTORC1 activation.

scholarly journals Phosphocholine accumulation and PHOSPHO1 depletion promote adipose tissue thermogenesis

2020 ◽  
Vol 117 (26) ◽  
pp. 15055-15065 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mengxi Jiang ◽  
Tony E. Chavarria ◽  
Bingbing Yuan ◽  
Harvey F. Lodish ◽  
Nai-Jia Huang
Keyword(s):  
Adipose Tissue ◽  
Negative Regulator ◽  
Brown Adipocytes ◽  
Diet Induced Obesity ◽  
The Metabolic Syndrome ◽  
Brown Adipose ◽  
Cold Tolerant ◽  
Functional Relevance ◽  
Hydrolysis Of

Phosphocholine phosphatase-1 (PHOSPHO1) is a phosphocholine phosphatase that catalyzes the hydrolysis of phosphocholine (PC) to choline. Here we demonstrate that the PHOSPHO1 transcript is highly enriched in mature brown adipose tissue (BAT) and is further induced by cold and isoproterenol treatments of BAT and primary brown adipocytes. In defining the functional relevance of PHOPSPHO1 in BAT thermogenesis and energy metabolism, we show that PHOSPHO1 knockout mice are cold-tolerant, with higher expression of thermogenic genes in BAT, and are protected from high-fat diet-induced obesity and development of insulin resistance. Treatment of mice with the PHOSPHO1 substrate phosphocholine is sufficient to induce cold tolerance, thermogenic gene expression, and allied metabolic benefits. Our results reveal a role of PHOSPHO1 as a negative regulator of BAT thermogenesis, and inhibition of PHOSPHO1 or enhancement of phosphocholine represent innovative approaches to manage the metabolic syndrome.

scholarly journals Effects of cold exposure revealed by global transcriptomic analysis in ferret peripheral blood mononuclear cells

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bàrbara Reynés ◽  
Evert M. van Schothorst ◽  
Jaap Keijer ◽  
Andreu Palou ◽  
Paula Oliver
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Adipose Tissue ◽  
Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells ◽  
Cold Exposure ◽  
Peripheral Blood ◽  
Mononuclear Cells ◽  
Cell Cycle Gene ◽  
Peripheral Blood Mononuclear ◽  
Brown Adipose ◽  
Blood Mononuclear Cells

AbstractAnimal studies, mostly performed in rodents, show the beneficial anti-obesity effects of cold studies. This is due to thermogenic activation of brown adipose tissue (BAT), a tissue also recently discovered in adult humans. Studies in humans, however, are hampered by the accessibility of most tissues. In contrast, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) are accessible and share the expression profile of different sets of genes with other tissues, including those that reflect metabolic responses. Ferrets are an animal model physiologically closer to humans than rodents. Here, we investigated the effects on ferrets of one-week acclimation to 4 °C by analysing the PBMC transcriptome. Cold exposure deeply affected PBMC gene expression, producing a widespread down-regulation of genes involved in different biological pathways (cell cycle, gene expression regulation/protein synthesis, immune response, signal transduction, and genes related to extracellular matrix/cytoskeleton), while thermogenic and glycogenolysis-related processes were increased. Results obtained in PBMC reflected those of adipose tissue, but hardly those of the liver. Our study, using ferret as a model, reinforce PBMC usefulness as sentinel biological material for cold-exposure studies in order to deepen our understanding of the general and specific pathways affected by cold acclimation. This is relevant for future development of therapies to be used clinically.

Second messenger signaling mechanisms of the brown adipocyte thermogenic program: an integrative perspective

2017 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fubiao Shi ◽  
Sheila Collins
Keyword(s):  
Adipose Tissue ◽  
Natriuretic Peptides ◽  
Second Messenger ◽  
Proton Channel ◽  
Brown Adipocyte ◽  
Brown Adipocytes ◽  
Fat Depots ◽  
Signaling Mechanisms ◽  
Brown Adipose ◽  
Non Coding Rnas

Abstractβ-adrenergic receptors (βARs) are well established for conveying the signal from catecholamines to adipocytes. Acting through the second messenger cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) they stimulate lipolysis and also increase the activity of brown adipocytes and the ‘browning’ of adipocytes within white fat depots (so-called ‘brite’ or ‘beige’ adipocytes). Brown adipose tissue mitochondria are enriched with uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), which is a regulated proton channel that allows the dissipation of chemical energy in the form of heat. The discovery of functional brown adipocytes in humans and inducible brown-like (‘beige’ or ‘brite’) adipocytes in rodents have suggested that recruitment and activation of these thermogenic adipocytes could be a promising strategy to increase energy expenditure for obesity therapy. More recently, the cardiac natriuretic peptides and their second messenger cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) have gained attention as a parallel signaling pathway in adipocytes, with some unique features. In this review, we begin with some important historical work that touches upon the regulation of brown adipocyte development and physiology. We then provide a synopsis of some recent advances in the signaling cascades from β-adrenergic agonists and natriuretic peptides to drive thermogenic gene expression in the adipocytes and how these two pathways converge at a number of unexpected points. Finally, moving from the physiologic hormonal signaling, we discuss yet another level of control downstream of these signals: the growing appreciation of the emerging roles of non-coding RNAs as important regulators of brown adipocyte formation and function. In this review, we discuss new developments in our understanding of the signaling mechanisms and factors including new secreted proteins and novel non-coding RNAs that control the function as well as the plasticity of the brown/beige adipose tissue as it responds to the energy needs and environmental conditions of the organism.

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