Sox17 regulates liver lipid metabolism and adaptation to fasting

PLoS One. 2014 Aug 20;9(8):e104925. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0104925. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Liver is a major regulator of lipid metabolism and adaptation to fasting, a process involving PPARalpha activation. We recently showed that the Vnn1 gene is a PPARalpha target gene in liver and that release of the Vanin-1 pantetheinase in serum is a biomarker of PPARalpha activation. Here we set up a screen to identify new regulators of adaptation to fasting using the serum Vanin-1 as a marker of PPARalpha activation. Mutagenized mice were screened for low serum Vanin-1 expression. Functional interactions with PPARalpha were investigated by combining transcriptomic, biochemical and metabolic approaches. We characterized a new mutant mouse in which hepatic and serum expression of Vanin-1 is depressed. This mouse carries a mutation in the HMG domain of the Sox17 transcription factor. Mutant mice display a metabolic phenotype featuring lipid abnormalities and inefficient adaptation to fasting. Upon fasting, a fraction of the PPARα-driven transcriptional program is no longer induced and associated with impaired fatty acid oxidation. The transcriptional phenotype is partially observed in heterozygous Sox17+/- mice. In mutant mice, the fasting phenotype but not all transcriptomic signature is rescued by the administration of the PPARalpha agonist fenofibrate. These results identify a novel role for Sox17 in adult liver as a modulator of the metabolic adaptation to fasting.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Physiological / physiology*
  • Amidohydrolases / blood
  • Amidohydrolases / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Fasting / blood
  • Fasting / metabolism*
  • GPI-Linked Proteins / blood
  • GPI-Linked Proteins / metabolism
  • HMGB Proteins / genetics
  • HMGB Proteins / metabolism*
  • Lipid Metabolism / genetics*
  • Liver / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • PPAR alpha / genetics
  • PPAR alpha / metabolism
  • SOX9 Transcription Factor / genetics
  • SOX9 Transcription Factor / metabolism
  • SOXF Transcription Factors / genetics
  • SOXF Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Transcriptome

Substances

  • GPI-Linked Proteins
  • HMGB Proteins
  • PPAR alpha
  • SOX9 Transcription Factor
  • SOXF Transcription Factors
  • Sox17 protein, mouse
  • Sox9 protein, mouse
  • Amidohydrolases
  • pantetheinase