title: Mice deficient in Sfrp1 exhibit increased adiposity, dysregulated glucose metabolism, and enhanced macrophage infiltration.
abstract: The molecular mechanisms involved in the development of obesity and related complications remain unclear. Wnt signaling plays an important role in preadipocyte differentiation and adipogenesis. The expression of a Wnt antagonist, secreted frizzled related protein 1 (SFRP1), is increased in response to initial weight gain, then levels are reduced under conditions of extreme obesity in both humans and animals. Here we report that loss of Sfrp1 exacerbates weight gain, glucose homeostasis and inflammation in mice in response to diet induced obesity (DIO). Sfrp1(-/-) mice fed a high fat diet (HFD) exhibited an increase in body mass accompanied by increases in body fat percentage, visceral white adipose tissue (WAT) mass, and adipocyte size. Moreover, Sfrp1 deficiency increases the mRNA levels of key de novo lipid synthesis genes (Fasn, Acaca, Acly, Elovl, Scd1) and the transcription factors that regulate their expression (Lxr-α, Srebp1, Chreb, and Nr1h3) in WAT. Fasting glucose levels are elevated, glucose clearance is impaired, hepatic gluconeogenesis regulators are aberrantly upregulated (G6pc and Pck1), and glucose transporters are repressed (Slc2a2 and Slc2a4) in Sfrp1(-/-) mice fed a HFD. Additionally, we observed increased steatosis in the livers of Sfrp1(-/-) mice. When there is an expansion of adipose tissue there is a sustained inflammatory response accompanied by adipokine dysregulation, which leads to chronic subclinical inflammation. Thus, we assessed the inflammatory state of different tissues and revealed that Sfrp1(-/-) mice fed a HFD exhibited increased macrophage infiltration and expression of pro-inflammatory markers including IL-6, Nmnat, Tgf-β2, and SerpinE1. Our findings demonstrate that the expression of Sfrp1 is a critical factor required for maintaining appropriate cellular signaling in response to the onset of obesity.
authors: Pioneer Valley Life Sciences Institute, Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, Massachusetts, United States of America ; Biology Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, United States of America.
authors: Kelly J
authors: KJ
authors: Gauger
authors: Lotfi M
authors: LM
authors: Bassa
authors: Elizabeth M
authors: EM
authors: Henchey
authors: Josephine
authors: J
authors: Wyman
authors: Brooke
authors: B
authors: Bentley
authors: Melissa
authors: M
authors: Brown
authors: Akihiko
authors: A
authors: Shimono
authors: Sallie S
authors: SS
authors: Schneider
mesh_terms: D052436:Adipose Tissue, White / Q000166:cytology / Q000473:pathology; D050154:Adiposity; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D059305:Diet, High-Fat / Q000009:adverse effects; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D051246:Glucose Transport Proteins, Facilitative / Q000378:metabolism; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D000078790:Insulin Secretion; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000172:deficiency*; D050155:Lipogenesis; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000172:deficiency*; D051379:Mice; D009765:Obesity / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D010053:Ovary / Q000473:pathology; D000094742:Secreted Frizzled-Related Proteins
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D005947:Glucose; D051246:Glucose Transport Proteins, Facilitative; D007328:Insulin; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C485539:Sfrp1 protein, mouse; D000094742:Secreted Frizzled-Related Proteins