title: Deficiency of growth differentiation factor 3 protects against diet-induced obesity by selectively acting on white adipose.
abstract: Growth differentiation factor 3 (GDF3) is a member of the TGFbeta superfamily. White adipose is one of the tissues in which Gdf3 is expressed, and it is the only tissue in which expression increases in response to high-fat diet. We generated Gdf3-/- mice, which were indistinguishable from wild-type mice and had normal weight curves on regular diet. However, on high-fat diet Gdf3-/- mice were resistant to the obesity that normally develops in wild-type mice. Herein we investigate the physiological and molecular mechanisms that underlie this protection from diet-induced obesity and demonstrate that GDF3 deficiency selectively affects white adipose through its influence on basal metabolic rates. Our results are consistent with a role for GDF3 in adipose tissue, with consequential effects on energy expenditure that ultimately impact adiposity.
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital of Central California, Madera, CA 93636, USA.
authors.forename: Joseph J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Lihua
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Liunan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jorgez
authors.forename: Martin M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Matzuk
authors.forename: Chester W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D041721:3T3-L1 Cells; D052436:Adipose Tissue, White / Q000378:metabolism*; D050154:Adiposity; D000818:Animals; D001481:Basal Metabolism; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D055451:Growth Differentiation Factor 3 / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009765:Obesity / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats; C525975:Gdf3 protein, mouse; D055451:Growth Differentiation Factor 3; D012333:RNA, Messenger