title: Lithium inhibits brown adipocyte differentiation.
abstract: Lithium impairs the appearance of the characteristic morphology of brown adipocytes and downregulates the expression of marker genes of brown adipocyte differentiation. These effects are dose-dependent and are more pronounced when exposure of preadipocytes to lithium is initiated at early stages of differentiation. Although lithium reduces the expression of genes common to both white and brown adipocytes [fatty acid binding protein aP2 (aP2/FABP) or peroxisome proliferating activated receptor gamma], genes expressed differentially in brown adipocytes, i.e., uncoupling protein 1, PPAR gamma coactivator-1alpha, and peroxisome proliferating activated receptor alpha, are particularly sensitive to lithium treatment-dependent downregulation. Brown adipocytes appear as preferential targets of the inhibitory action of lithium on adipocyte differentiation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Maria Luisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Rodríguez de la Concepción
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yubero
authors.forename: Roser
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Iglesias
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giralt
authors.forename: Francesc
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Villarroya
mesh_terms: D017667:Adipocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D002001:Adipose Tissue, Brown / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015536:Down-Regulation; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D007473:Ion Channels; D008094:Lithium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000494:pharmacology; D000071256:Uncoupling Protein 1
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D007473:Ion Channels; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C000604372:Ucp1 protein, mouse; D000071256:Uncoupling Protein 1; D014212:Tretinoin; D008094:Lithium; D009638:Norepinephrine