The silencing mediator of retinoid and thyroid hormone receptors (SMRT) regulates adipose tissue accumulation and adipocyte insulin sensitivity in vivo.
The silencing mediator of retinoid and thyroid hormone receptors (SMRT) serves as a corepressor for nuclear receptors and other factors. Recent evidence suggests that SMRT is an important regulator of metabolism, but its role in adipocyte function in vivo remains unclear. We generated heterozygous SMRT knock-out (SMRT(+/-)) mice to investigate the function of SMRT in the adipocyte and the regulation of adipocyte insulin sensitivity. We show that SMRT(+/-) mice are normal weight on a regular diet, but develop increased adiposity on a high-fat diet (HFD). The mechanisms underlying this phenotype are complex, but appear to be due to a combination of an increased number of smaller subcutaneous adipocytes as well as decreased leptin expression, resulting in greater caloric intake. In addition, adipogenesis of mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) derived from these mice was increased. However, adipocyte insulin sensitivity, measured by insulin-induced Akt phosphorylation and insulin-mediated suppression of lipolysis, was enhanced in SMRT(+/-) adipocytes. These finding suggest that SMRT regulates leptin expression and limits the ability of fat mass to expand with increased caloric intake, but that SMRT also negatively regulates adipocyte insulin sensitivity.
Sutanto
Maria M
MM
Committee on Molecular Metabolism and Nutrition, Division of the Biological Sciences, Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA.
Ferguson
Kelly K
KK
Sakuma
Hiroya
H
Ye
Honggang
H
Brady
Matthew J
MJ
Cohen
Ronald N
RN
D017667:Adipocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology; D020868:Gene Silencing; D006579:Heterozygote; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism*; D020738:Leptin / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D056985:Nuclear Receptor Co-Repressor 2 / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D009765:Obesity / Q000378:metabolism; D047492:Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors / Q000378:metabolism; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000378:metabolism
D007328:Insulin; D020738:Leptin; C539131:Ncor2 protein, mouse; D056985:Nuclear Receptor Co-Repressor 2; D047492:Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear