title: Role of Foxa-2 in adipocyte metabolism and differentiation.
abstract: Hepatocyte nuclear factors-3 (Foxa-1-3) are winged forkhead transcription factors that regulate gene expression in the liver and pancreatic islets and are required for normal metabolism. Here we show that Foxa-2 is expressed in preadipocytes and induced de novo in adipocytes of genetic and diet-induced rodent models of obesity. In preadipocytes Foxa-2 inhibits adipocyte differentiation by activating transcription of the Pref-1 gene. Foxa-2 and Pref-1 expression can be enhanced in primary preadipocytes by growth hormone, suggesting that the antiadipogenic activity of growth hormone is mediated by Foxa-2. In differentiated adipocytes Foxa-2 expression leads to induction of gene expression involved in glucose and fat metabolism, including glucose transporter-4, hexokinase-2, muscle-pyruvate kinase, hormone-sensitive lipase, and uncoupling proteins-2 and -3. Diet-induced obese mice with haploinsufficiency in Foxa-2 (Foxa-2+/-) develop increased adiposity compared with wild-type littermates as a result of decreased energy expenditure. Furthermore, adipocytes of these Foxa-2+/- mice exhibit defects in glucose uptake and metabolism. These data suggest that Foxa-2 plays an important role as a physiological regulator of adipocyte differentiation and metabolism.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Metabolic Diseases, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10021, USA.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wolfrum
authors.forename: David Q
authors.initials: DQ
authors.lastname: Shih
authors.forename: Satoru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kuwajima
authors.forename: Andrew W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Norris
authors.forename: C Ronald
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Kahn
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stoffel
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells; D017667:Adipocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites / Q000235:genetics; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D051542:Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 3-beta; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D008820:Mice, Obese; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D014157:Transcription Factors; D015533:Transcriptional Activation
chemical_list: D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C512925:Dlk1 protein, mouse; C496503:Foxa2 protein, mouse; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D051542:Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 3-beta; D004247:DNA; D005947:Glucose