title: Remodeling of white adipose tissue after retinoic acid administration in mice.
abstract: A reduced brown adipose phenotype in white adipose tissue (WAT) may contribute to obesity and type 2 diabetes in humans. Retinoic acid, the carboxylic form of vitamin A, triggers in rodents a reduction of body weight and adiposity and an increased expression of uncoupling proteins in brown adipose tissue and skeletal muscle. In this study, we investigated possible remodeling effects of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) in WAT depots. Changes in the expression of genes related to thermogenesis and fatty acid oxidation and levels of phosphorylated retinoblastoma protein were analyzed in WAT depots of adult NMRI male mice acutely injected with ATRA or vehicle, together with biometric and blood parameters. Body fat loss after ATRA treatment was unaccompanied by any increase in circulating nonesterified fatty acids or ketone bodies and accompanied by increased rectal temperature. The treatment triggered an up-regulation of the mRNA levels of uncoupling proteins 1 and 2, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1alpha, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha, muscle- and liver-type carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1, and subunit II of cytochrome oxidase in different WAT depots. Levels of phosphorylated retinoblastoma protein in WAT depots were increased after ATRA treatment. Adipocyte size was reduced, and the number of multilocular adipocytes was increased in inguinal WAT of ATRA-treated mice. The results indicate that ATRA favors the acquisition of brown adipose tissue-like properties in WAT. Understanding the mechanisms and effectors involved in the remodeling of WAT can contribute to new avenues of prevention and treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Nutrition and Biotechnology, University of the Balearic Islands, 07122 Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
authors.forename: Josep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mercader
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ribot
authors.forename: Incoronata
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Murano
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Felipe
authors.forename: Saverio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cinti
authors.forename: M Luisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Bonet
authors.forename: Andreu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Palou
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002001:Adipose Tissue, Brown / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002334:Carnitine O-Palmitoyltransferase / Q000235:genetics; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D047493:PPAR alpha / Q000235:genetics; D000071248:Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha; D010766:Phosphorylation; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D016160:Retinoblastoma Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000071256:Uncoupling Protein 1
chemical_list: D007473:Ion Channels; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D047493:PPAR alpha; D000071248:Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha; C485290:Ppargc1a protein, mouse; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016160:Retinoblastoma Protein; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors; D000071256:Uncoupling Protein 1; D014212:Tretinoin; D002334:Carnitine O-Palmitoyltransferase