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Despite intensive drug development efforts and public health initiatives, obesity is increasing in incidence and predicted to affect over 50% of all adults worldwide by 2035. Being chronically overweight increases the risk of serious disease co-morbidities that, in turn, increase mortality and healthcare costs. Behavioral approaches to combat obesity, such as diet and exercise, rarely produce lasting weight loss commonly due to compensatory hyperphagia and hypometabolism. These limitations have stimulated interest in pharmacotherapies that target gut-derived peptide hormones involved in the regulation of energy homeostasis, such as PYY, GIP, CCK, and GLP-1. These peptides are secreted by different enteroendocrine cells distributed throughout the intestine in response to food intake, subsequently enhancing satiation signaling and ultimately promotes meal termination. However, a major challenge of FDA-approved and experimental weight-loss medications that target GI-derived satiation signals is the frequent occurrence of nausea and vomiting.

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Current Issue

A DEL-1/αvβ3 integrin axis promotes brown adipocyte progenitor proliferation and cold-induced brown adipose tissue adaptation

Kyoung-Jin Chung, Antonios Chatzigeorgiou, Jong-Hyung Lim, Xiaofei Li, ... Triantafyllos Chavakis

A DEL-1/αvβ3 integrin axis promotes brown adipocyte progenitor proliferation and cold-induced brown adipose tissue adaptation

 

Objectives

Cold-triggered adaptation of the brown adipose tissue (BAT) promotes increased non-shivering thermogenesis and helps maintain body temperature. This study investigated the role of the secreted protein developmental endothelial locus-1 (DEL-1) in regulating BAT adaptation to cold.

Methods

DEL-1 expression in BAT was assessed following cold exposure in mice. The role of DEL-1 in cold-induced BAT adaptation, thermogenesis and proliferation of brown adipocyte progenitor cells was analyzed by utilizing genetically modified mouse models. Mechanistic insights into DEL-1-mediated regulation of brown adipocyte progenitor proliferation were obtained through in vitro assays.

Results

DEL-1 was expressed in the vascular endothelium of the BAT and its expression was upregulated upon cold exposure. By interacting with αvβ3 integrin on brown adipocyte progenitor cells, DEL-1 promoted their proliferation in a manner dependent on AKT signaling and glycolysis activation. Compared to DEL-1-sufficient mice, DEL-1-deficient mice or mice expressing a non-integrin-binding mutant of DEL-1 carrying an Asp-to-Glu substitution in its RGD motif, displayed decreased cold tolerance. This phenotype was associated with impaired BAT adaptation to cold and reduced brown adipocyte progenitor cell proliferation. Conversely, endothelial-specific DEL-1 overexpression in DEL-1-deficient mice restored the BAT thermogenic response to cold.

Conclusions

Together, the DEL-1/αvβ3 integrin-dependent endothelial-brown adipocyte progenitor cell crosstalk promotes cold-stimulated BAT adaptation. This knowledge could be potentially harnessed therapeutically for promoting BAT expansion towards improving systemic metabolism.

 

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Articles in Press

A DEL-1/αvβ3 integrin axis promotes brown adipocyte progenitor proliferation and cold-induced brown adipose tissue adaptation

Kyoung-Jin Chung, Antonios Chatzigeorgiou, Jong-Hyung Lim, Xiaofei Li, ... Triantafyllos Chavakis

A DEL-1/αvβ3 integrin axis promotes brown adipocyte progenitor proliferation and cold-induced brown adipose tissue adaptation

 

Objectives

Cold-triggered adaptation of the brown adipose tissue (BAT) promotes increased non-shivering thermogenesis and helps maintain body temperature. This study investigated the role of the secreted protein developmental endothelial locus-1 (DEL-1) in regulating BAT adaptation to cold.

Methods

DEL-1 expression in BAT was assessed following cold exposure in mice. The role of DEL-1 in cold-induced BAT adaptation, thermogenesis and proliferation of brown adipocyte progenitor cells was analyzed by utilizing genetically modified mouse models. Mechanistic insights into DEL-1-mediated regulation of brown adipocyte progenitor proliferation were obtained through in vitro assays.

Results

DEL-1 was expressed in the vascular endothelium of the BAT and its expression was upregulated upon cold exposure. By interacting with αvβ3 integrin on brown adipocyte progenitor cells, DEL-1 promoted their proliferation in a manner dependent on AKT signaling and glycolysis activation. Compared to DEL-1-sufficient mice, DEL-1-deficient mice or mice expressing a non-integrin-binding mutant of DEL-1 carrying an Asp-to-Glu substitution in its RGD motif, displayed decreased cold tolerance. This phenotype was associated with impaired BAT adaptation to cold and reduced brown adipocyte progenitor cell proliferation. Conversely, endothelial-specific DEL-1 overexpression in DEL-1-deficient mice restored the BAT thermogenic response to cold.

Conclusions

Together, the DEL-1/αvβ3 integrin-dependent endothelial-brown adipocyte progenitor cell crosstalk promotes cold-stimulated BAT adaptation. This knowledge could be potentially harnessed therapeutically for promoting BAT expansion towards improving systemic metabolism.

 

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13th
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