Dapagliflozin promotes browning of white adipose tissue through the FGFR1-LKB1-AMPK signaling pathway

Mol Biol Rep. 2024 Apr 21;51(1):562. doi: 10.1007/s11033-024-09540-3.

Abstract

Background: Obesity is associated with a wide variety of metabolic disorders that impose significant burdens on patients and society. The "browning" phenomenon in white adipose tissue (WAT) has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy to combat metabolic disturbances. However, though the anti-diabetic drug dapagliflozin (DAPA) is thought to promote "browning," the specific mechanism of this was previously unclear.

Methods: In this study, C57BL/6 J male mice were used to establish an obesity model by high-fat diet feeding, and 3T3-L1 cells were used to induce mature adipocytes and to explore the role and mechanism of DAPA in "browning" through a combination of in vitro and in vivo experiments.

Results: The results show that DAPA promotes WAT "browning" and improves metabolic disorders. Furthermore, we discovered that DAPA activated "browning" through the fibroblast growth factor receptors 1-liver kinase B1-adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase signaling pathway.

Conclusion: These findings provide a rational basis for the use of DAPA in treating obesity by promoting the browning of white adipose tissue.

Keywords: AMPK; Dapagliflozin; FGFR1; LKB1; Obesity; White adipose tissue browning.

MeSH terms

  • 3T3-L1 Cells*
  • AMP-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • Adipocytes / drug effects
  • Adipocytes / metabolism
  • Adipose Tissue, Brown / drug effects
  • Adipose Tissue, Brown / metabolism
  • Adipose Tissue, White* / drug effects
  • Adipose Tissue, White* / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Benzhydryl Compounds* / pharmacology
  • Diet, High-Fat*
  • Glucosides* / pharmacology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL*
  • Obesity* / drug therapy
  • Obesity* / metabolism
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases* / metabolism
  • Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 1* / genetics
  • Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 1* / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction* / drug effects

Substances

  • Glucosides
  • dapagliflozin
  • Benzhydryl Compounds
  • Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 1
  • Stk11 protein, mouse
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • AMP-Activated Protein Kinases
  • Fgfr1 protein, mouse