Obesity is a chronic condition that primarily develops from an increase in body fat in the form of white adipose tissue (WAT) mass. The resulting adiposity is a risk factor for many diseases, including type 2 diabetes (T2D), cardiovascular diseases, and some forms of cancer. Reducing WAT mass by targeted modulation of metabolic enzymes in fat cell metabolism is an attractive molecular therapeutic alternative to dietary approaches. In the present study, we exogenously up-regulate a novel respiratory uncoupling protein to increase substrate oxidation, and thereby control adipocyte fatty acid content. Increasing molecular evidence points to a family of uncoupling proteins (UCPs) playing an important role in adipocyte fat metabolism. Of specific interest is UCP1, which in brown adipocytes mediates energy dissipation as heat by de-coupling respiration and ATP synthesis. UCP1 is minimally expressed in white adipose tissue (WAT). We hypothesize that controlled expression of UCP1 in WAT will result in enhanced fatty acid oxidation to compensate for reduced ATP synthesis. We used a Tet-Off retroviral transfection system to express UCP1, with doxycycline being used to control the extent of expression. UCP1 cDNA was cloned into pRevTRE and was stably transfected into 3T3-L1 preadipocytes prior to differentiating them into adipocytes. A reporter gene (EGFP) was also transfected in parallel to optimize the transfection and preadipocyte differentiation conditions as well as to demonstrate regulated expression. Metabolite measurements showed that the UCP1-expressing adipocytes accumulated 83% less triglyceride and 85 % free fatty acids while maintaining constant ATP levels. These results suggest UCP1 and other metabolic enzymes as potential targets for development of pharmacological agents for the treatment of obesity and related disorders.

Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 (FGF21) is an endocrine hormone derived from the liver that exerts pleiotropic effects on the body to maintain overall metabolic homeostasis. During the past decade, there has been an enormous effort to understand the physiological roles of FGF21 in regulating metabolism and to identify the mechanism for its potent pharmacological effects to reverse diabetes and obesity. Through both human and rodent studies, it is now evident that FGF21 is dynamically regulated by nutrient sensing and consequently functions as a critical regulator of nutrient homeostasis. In addition, recent studies with new genetic and molecular tools have provided critical insight into the actions of this exciting endocrine factor. Dissection of these FGF21-regulated pathways has tremendous potential for new targeted therapies to treat metabolic disease. The goals of this thesis are 1) to identify FGF21’s physiological role as a carbohydrate-regulated signal of macronutrient-specific satiety and 2) to determine the mechanism and tissues responsible for mediating the pharmacological effects of FGF21. To address the first goal, we used different FGF21 genetic knockout mouse models to determine if loss of FGF21 would affect macronutrient preference. We found that loss of FGF21 led to an increase in simple sugar intake whereas this had no effect on other macronutrients such as lipid or protein. To further characterize the relationship between carbohydrates and FGF21, in vitro and in vivo techniques revealed that FGF21 transcription in the liver increased in response to carbohydrate intake and this was dependent on the presence of a transcription factor activated by carbohydrates, ChREBP. We next addressed whether or not increased FGF21 levels would affect preference for simple sugars. We found that in response to increased circulating levels of FGF21, either through genetic overexpression or pharmacological administration, FGF21 would lead to a significant decrease in caloric and non-caloric sweeteners. Finally, we were able to determine that FGF21 was signaling to the hypothalamus to mediate this suppression of simple sugar intake through region specific knockout of the co-receptor beta-klotho. To address the pharmacological actions of FGF21, we generated an adipose-specific KLB KO mouse using mice that express Cre-recombinase under the adiponectin promoter. These mice lack the co-receptor for FGF21 in adipose tissue and are a more reliable adipose knockout model than previous studies that have used aP2-Cre mice. We were able to determine that the acute glucose lowering effects of FGF21 are mediated through direct signaling to adipose tissue and that FGF21 enhances insulin sensitivity by increasing glucose uptake in brown adipose tissue. However, FGF21 mediates its chronic effects, including lowering body weight and triglycerides, by signaling to some other non-adipose tissue. Overall our work has shown that FGF21 can significantly regulate glucose metabolism through multiple mechanisms.

京都大学 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(農学) / 甲第24914号 / 農博第2577号 / 新制||農||1103(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院農学研究科食品生物科学専攻 / (主査)教授 井上 和生, 教授 佐々木 努, 准教授 後藤 剛 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Agricultural Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

Em animais, dietas cetogênicas induzem o Browning de tecidos adiposos brancos, fenômeno caracterizado pelo de aumento de adipócitos capazes de expressar a proteína desacopladora 1 (UCP1) e outros marcadores de gordura marrom em meio a gordura branca. Estudo anterior demonstrou que o β-hidroxibutirato (βHB), principal corpo cetônico, aumenta marcadores do processo de browning em adipócitos brancos (in vitro) após 24 horas de incubação. No entanto, as doses testadas foram suprafisiológicas (50 mM) ou apenas encontradas durante a cetoacidose (25 mM). As dietas cetogênicas aumentam a cetonemia em torno de 1-3 mM. O jejum prolongado pode aumentá-lo para 4-7 mM. Uma vez que poderia ser provocada in vivo através de intervenções dietéticas, estudamos o impacto de concentrações fisiológicas de βHB no metabolismo e marcadores de Browning em adipócitos brancos / tecido adiposo em diferentes modelos: adipócitos isolados de ratos Wistar, células 3T3 -L1 e in vivo, através da suplementação de sais de βHB em ratos Wistar. Demostramos que o βHB: não induz o aparecimento diferentes marcadores de Browning (tais como o incremento: da capacidade oxidativa, da atividade de citrato sintase e de genes relacionados ao Browning) em adipócitos isolados após 24 ou 48 horas de tratamento; não exerce efeito permissivo no browning induzido por agonismo β-adrenérgico. Além disso, os adipócitos 3T3-L1 diferenciados com βHB (4mM) tiveram diminuição de 52% na expressão de Ucp1, resultado que foi reproduzido no tecido adiposo inguinal subcutâneo de ratos Wistar após a ingestão de sais DL- βHB, onde a expressão gênica de Ucp1 foi indetectável. Em conclusão, embora as causas de browning do tecido adiposo branco induzido por dietas cetogênicas permaneçam inconclusivas, nosso estudo demonstra a incapacidade de, em concentrações fisiológicas, os corpos cetônicos serem, por si, responsáveis por esse fenômeno. Pelo contrário, em algumas situações, o βHB pode prejudicar a expressão da Ucp1. / In animals, ketogenic diets induce browning of white adipose tissue, a phenomenon characterized by the increase of adipocytes capable of expressing the uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) and other markers of brown fat in among white fat. A previous study demonstrated that β-hydroxybutyrate (βHB), the major ketone body, increases markers of the browning process in white adipocytes (in vitro) after 24 hours of incubation. However, the doses tested were supraphysiological (50 mM) or only found during ketoacidosis (25 mM). Ketogenic diets increase ketonemia by about 1-3 mM. Prolonged fasting can increase it to 4-7 mM. Since it could be elicited in vivo through dietary interventions, we studied the impact of physiological concentrations of βHB on metabolism and browning markers on white adipocytes/adipose tissue in different models: adipocytes isolated from Wistar rats, 3T3-L1 cells and in vivo, through the supplementation of βHB salts in Wistar rats. We demonstrate that βHB does not increase any browning markers (such as: oxidative capacity, citrate synthase activity, and browning related genes expression) in isolated adipocytes after 24 or 48 hours of treatment; does not exert a permissive effect on browning induced by β-adrenergic agonism. In addition, 3T3-L1 adipocytes differentiated with βHB (4mM) had a 52% decrease in Ucp1 expression, a result that was reproduced in the subcutaneous inguinal adipose tissue of Wistar rats after ingestion of DL-βHB salts, where Ucp1 expression was undetectable. In conclusion, although the causes of browning of white adipose tissue during ketogenic diets remain inconclusive, our study demonstrates the inability, in physiological concentrations, of ketone bodies themselves to be responsible for this phenomenon. In contrast, in some situations, βHB may impair the expression of Ucp1.

Thermogenic fat is a promising target for new therapies in diabetes and obesity. Understanding how thermogenic fat develops is important to develop rational strategies to treat obesity. Previously, we have shown that Tyk2 and STAT3, part of the JAK-STAT pathway, are necessary for proper development of classical brown fat. Using primary preadipocytes isolated from newborn mice we demonstrate that STAT3 is required for differentiation and robust expression of Uncoupling Protein 1. We also confirm that STAT3 is necessary during the early induction stage of differentiation and is dispensable during the later terminal differentiation stage. Without STAT3, the brown preadipocytes have increased apoptosis early in the terminal differentiation phase. We also show that the block in differentiation is caused by an inability of STAT3 knockouts to down regulate β-catenin by the end of the induction phase. Application of Wnt/β-catenin inhibitors or knockdown of β-catenin during the induction phase is sufficient to fully rescue differentiation of brown adipocytes from the Myf5+ lineage, including reduction in apoptosis, restoration of histone acetylation in the UCP1 promoter and enhancer regions, and full restoration of the expression of brown fat genes. Finally, we show that in the beige lineage, STAT3 is also necessary during the induction phase and can be rescued by Wnt/β-catenin inhibitors, although the rescue is not as robust as it is in the Myf5+ lineage.

Adipose tissues have long been considered to derive from a common origin. Even the functionally different brown and white adipose tissues were generalized to share a common origin. Brown adipose tissue is a highly innervated and vascularised tissue containing multilocular and multimitochondrial brown adipocytes. Brown adipose tissue expends energy through sympathetic nervous system-mediated non-shivering thermogenesis, where uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) is the key player. In contrast, white adipose tissue consists of unilocular white adipocytes with a main role to store energy in the form of the lipid droplet. We know today that this generalisation is exaggerated since adipocytes can derive from more than one origin and not only be brown or white. We and others have demonstrated that the brown adipocyte has a dermomyotomal origin and derives from the adipomyocyte, the precursor cell that can also become a myocyte, whereas white adipocytes are suggested to derive from pericytes, cells that are embedded within the vascular vessel walls. For a long time there has been evidence that energy-expending adipocytes reside within certain white adipose tissues, based on the fact that cold exposure, by switching on the sympathetic nervous system, leads to levels of UCP1 that are not detectable in mice housed at thermoneutrality. We demonstrated that these cells have a molecular signature that is distinct from brown and white adipocytes. Since these energy-expending cells reside within certain white adipose tissues, we chose to name them brite (brown in white) adipocytes. Moreover, we also identified regulatory factors that were specifically expressed in each adipocyte type, thus, facilitating the possibility to identify the three adipocytes: the brown, the white and the brite. / At the time of the doctoral defense, the following papers were unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 4: Manuscript. Paper 5: Manuscript.

There are two distinct types of adipose tissue which have different functions within the body, white (WAT) and brown (BAT). Browning of WAT occurs with increases in the WAT sympathetic nervous system (SNS) drive. In this regard we previously reported that melatonin (MEL) stimulation of MEL receptor 1A (MEL1a) within the SNS outflow to the WAT might be implicated in a naturally-occurring reversal of obesity (by ~30% of total body fat). Therefore, in this study we tested the hypothesis that MEL causes browning of WAT through the stimulation of SNS drive to WAT. This was done by comparing specific browning and lipolytic markers in WAT following 10 weeks of MEL treatment, short day housing (SD), and long day housing with saline injections (LD+VEH). Browning effects of a 5 day treatment of a β3-adrenergeric (β3 AR), CL 316, 243, were also measured. We found that CL 316, 243, MEL treatment, and SD housing had increased expressions of browning markers within WAT and lipolytic activity in MEL treated animals was increased in specific WAT.

京都大学 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(農学) / 甲第24110号 / 農博第2515号 / 新制||農||1093(附属図書館) / 学位論文||R4||N5401(農学部図書室) / 京都大学大学院農学研究科食品生物科学専攻 / (主査)教授 井上 和生, 教授 谷 史人, 准教授 後藤 剛 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Agricultural Science / Kyoto University / DGAM

Le tissu adipeux (TA) est réparti dans tout le corps en différents dépôts. Il existe deux types distincts aux fonctions biens spécifiques : le tissu adipeux blanc sert de réservoir énergétique et stocke les lipides et le tissu adipeux brun permet la thermogénèse. Par ses fonctionnalités et son pouvoir endocrine, le TA assure le maintien de l’homéostasie énergétique. De graves désordres métaboliques résultent d’une surabondance retrouvée au cours de l’obésité ou lors d’un remodelage dans les lipodystrophies. Certaines ont une origine génétique, d’autres sont induites par des médicaments comme les inhibiteurs de la protéase (IP) du VIH administrés dans la thérapie antirétrovirale. Le pool de progéniteur adipeux (PA) présent dans chaque dépôt est essentiel au maintien de ce tissu car il permet de renouveler le stock d’adipocytes. Nous avons caractérisé et identifié de nouveaux gènes impliqués dans la boucle autocrine/paracrine de l’activineA qui est responsable de l’auto-renouvellement du pool de PA dont IER3. Son expression augmente chez les patients obèses et diminue sous traitement par les IP. La modélisation des différents dépôts montre que les IP inhibent préférentiellement l’auto-renouvellement ou la différenciation adipocytaire des PA en fonction de leur localisation. Les lipodystrophies induites par la thérapie antirétrovirale auraient des causes multifactorielles. Enfin, nos résultats révèlent que les IP diminuent drastiquement et sélectivement la production d’adipocytes bruns. Ces effets doivent être considérés dans un contexte de développement inopportun du tissu adipeux brun afin de corriger des désordres métaboliques associés à certaines pathologies. / The adipose tissue (AT) is distributed throughout the body in different depots. There are two distinct types with specific functions: the white adipose tissue is used as an energetic reservoir and stores the lipids whereas the brown adipose tissue allows the thermogenesis. By its functionalities and its endocrinal capacity, the AT ensures the energetic homeostasis maintenance. Severe metabolic disorders result from an excess found during obesity or a remodelling in the lipodystrophies. Some of them have a genetic origin, the others are induced by drugs such as the HIV-protease inhibitors (PI) administered in the antiretroviral therapy against HIV. The adipose progenitor (AP) pool present in each depot is necessary for the maintenance of this tissue because it allows to renew the adipocyte stock. We characterized and identified new genes involved in the autocrine/paracrine Activin A loop which is responsible for AP pool self-renewal of whom is IER3. Its expression increases in obese patients and decreases under PI treatment. The modelling of the different depots shows that PI inhibit preferentially PA self-renewal or adipose differentiation depending on their localisation. Thus, lipodystrophies induced by antiretroviral therapy would have multifactorial causes. Finally, our results reveal PI dramatically and selectively reduce the brown adipocyte production. These effects should be considered in the context of inappropriate brown adipose tissue development in order to correct metabolic disorders associated to some pathologies.

The prevention and treatment of obesity is a major problem of health care systems in affluent societies. Metabolism of adipose tissue belongs to the therapeutical targets, since accumulation of adipose tissue is the basis of obesity development. Experiments using transgenic mice with ectopic expression of brown- fat uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) in white adipose tissue (WAT), verified a concept that obesity could be ameliorated by increasing energy expenditure in WAT. The goal of the experiments of this PhD Thesis was to characterize in detail the phenotype of this unique animal model of obesity resistance. We have shown that mitochondrial uncoupling in WAT resulted in increased oxidation of fatty acids (FA), in face of decreased lipogenesis and induced mitochondrial biogenesis in this tissue. In further studies, we aimed to modulate propensity to obesity be increasing FA oxidation in WAT in response to physiological stimuli. This could be accomplished in response to the combination treatment using n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) and mild calorie restriction in mice fed high-fat diet. Synergistic induction of mitochondrial oxidative capacity and lipid catabolism in epididymal WAT was associated with suppression of low-grade inflammation of WAT, which is typical for obesity. The improvement of lipid...