Hepatic AKT orchestrates adipose tissue thermogenesis via FGF21-dependent and -independent mechanisms

Jaimarie Sostre-Colón; Kahealani Uehara; Anna E Garcia Whitlock; Matthew J Gavin; Jeff Ishibashi; Matthew J Potthoff; Patrick Seale; Paul M Titchenell

doi:10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109128

Hepatic AKT orchestrates adipose tissue thermogenesis via FGF21-dependent and -independent mechanisms

Cell Rep. 2021 May 18;35(7):109128. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109128.

Authors

Jaimarie Sostre-Colón¹, Kahealani Uehara², Anna E Garcia Whitlock³, Matthew J Gavin¹, Jeff Ishibashi¹, Matthew J Potthoff⁴, Patrick Seale⁵, Paul M Titchenell⁶

Affiliations

¹ Institute for Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
² Institute for Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics Graduate Group, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
³ Institute for Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Department of Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
⁴ Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
⁵ Institute for Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
⁶ Institute for Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Department of Physiology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Electronic address: ptitc@pennmedicine.upenn.edu.

Abstract

Organismal stressors such as cold exposure require a systemic response to maintain body temperature. Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is a key thermogenic tissue in mammals that protects against hypothermia in response to cold exposure. Defining the complex interplay of multiple organ systems in this response is fundamental to our understanding of adipose tissue thermogenesis. In this study, we identify a role for hepatic insulin signaling via AKT in the adaptive response to cold stress and show that liver AKT is an essential cell-nonautonomous regulator of adipocyte lipolysis and BAT function. Mechanistically, inhibition of forkhead box O1 (FOXO1) by AKT controls BAT thermogenesis by enhancing catecholamine-induced lipolysis in the white adipose tissue (WAT) and increasing circulating fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21). Our data identify a role for hepatic insulin signaling via the AKT-FOXO1 axis in regulating WAT lipolysis, promoting BAT thermogenic capacity, and ensuring a proper thermogenic response to acute cold exposure.

Keywords: FGF21; FOXO1; cold sensitivity; lipolysis; liver insulin signaling; thermogenesis.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adipose Tissue, Brown / metabolism*
Adipose Tissue, White / metabolism*
Animals
Fibroblast Growth Factors / metabolism*
Liver / pathology*
Mice
Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism*
Thermogenesis / genetics*

Substances

fibroblast growth factor 21
Fibroblast Growth Factors
Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances

Grants and funding