Transcription factor Hlx controls a systematic switch from white to brown fat through Prdm16-mediated co-activation

Lei Huang, Dongning Pan, Qingbo Chen, Lihua J. Zhu, Jianhong Ou, Martin Wabitsch and Yong-Xu Wang ()
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Lei Huang: University of Massachusetts Medical School
Dongning Pan: University of Massachusetts Medical School
Qingbo Chen: University of Massachusetts Medical School
Lihua J. Zhu: University of Massachusetts Medical School
Jianhong Ou: University of Massachusetts Medical School
Martin Wabitsch: University Medical Center Ulm
Yong-Xu Wang: University of Massachusetts Medical School

Nature Communications, 2017, vol. 8, issue 1, 1-16

Abstract: Abstract Browning of subcutaneous white fat (iWAT) involves several reprograming events, but the underlying mechanisms are incompletely understood. Here we show that the transcription factor Hlx is selectively expressed in brown adipose tissue (BAT) and iWAT, and is translationally upregulated by β3-adrenergic signaling-mediated suppression of the translational inhibitor 4E-BP1. Hlx interacts with and is co-activated by Prdm16 to control BAT-selective gene expression and mitochondrial biogenesis. Hlx heterozygous knockout mice have defects in brown-like adipocyte formation in iWAT, and develop glucose intolerance and high fat-induced hepatic steatosis. Conversely, transgenic expression of Hlx at a physiological level drives a full program of thermogenesis and converts iWAT to brown-like fat, which improves glucose homeostasis and prevents obesity and hepatic steatosis. The adipose remodeling phenotypes are recapitulated by fat-specific injection of Hlx knockdown and overexpression viruses, respectively. Our studies establish Hlx as a powerful regulator for systematic white adipose tissue browning and offer molecular insights into the underlying transcriptional mechanism.

Date: 2017
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-00098-2

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