Egr1 loss-of-function promotes beige adipocyte differentiation and activation specifically in inguinal subcutaneous white adipose tissue.

Marianne Bléher, Berbang Meshko, Isabelle Cacciapuoti, Rachel Gergondey, Yoann Kovacs, Delphine Duprez, Aurore L'Honoré, Emmanuelle Havis

Scientific reports 2020 Sep 28

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In mice, exercise, cold exposure and fasting lead to the differentiation of inducible-brown adipocytes, called beige adipocytes, within white adipose tissue and have beneficial effects on fat burning and metabolism, through heat production. This browning process is associated with an increased expression of the key thermogenic mitochondrial uncoupling protein 1, Ucp1. Egr1 transcription factor has been described as a regulator of white and beige differentiation programs, and Egr1 depletion is associated with a spontaneous increase of subcutaneous white adipose tissue browning, in absence of external stimulation. Here, we demonstrate that Egr1 mutant mice exhibit a restrained Ucp1 expression specifically increased in subcutaneous fat, resulting in a metabolic shift to a more brown-like, oxidative metabolism, which was not observed in other fat depots. In addition, Egr1 is necessary and sufficient to promote white and alter beige adipocyte differentiation of mouse stem cells. These results suggest that modulation of Egr1 expression could represent a promising therapeutic strategy to increase energy expenditure and to restrain obesity-associated metabolic disorders.

Citation

Marianne Bléher, Berbang Meshko, Isabelle Cacciapuoti, Rachel Gergondey, Yoann Kovacs, Delphine Duprez, Aurore L'Honoré, Emmanuelle Havis. Egr1 loss-of-function promotes beige adipocyte differentiation and activation specifically in inguinal subcutaneous white adipose tissue. Scientific reports. 2020 Sep 28;10(1):15842