title: FKBP51 controls cellular adipogenesis through p38 kinase-mediated phosphorylation of GRα and PPARγ.
abstract: Glucocorticoid receptor-α (GRα) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) are critical regulators of adipogenic responses. We have shown that FK506-binding protein 51 (FKBP51) represses the Akt-p38 kinase pathway to reciprocally inhibit GRα but stimulate PPARγ by targeting serine 112 (PPARγ) and serines 220 and 234 (GRα). Here, this mechanism is shown to be essential for GRα and PPARγ control of cellular adipogenesis. In 3T3-L1 cells, FKBP51 was a prominent marker of the differentiated state and knockdown of FKBP51 showed reduced lipid accumulation and expression of adipogenic genes. Compared with wild-type (WT), FKBP51 knockout (51KO) mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) showed dramatic resistance to differentiation, with almost no lipid accumulation and greatly reduced adipogenic gene expression. These features were rescued by reexpression of FKBP51 in 51KO cells. 51KO MEFs exhibited reduced fatty acid synthase activity, increased sensitivity to GRα-induced lipolysis, and reduced PPARγ activity at adipogenic genes (adiponectin, CD36, and perilipin) but elevated GRα transrepression at these same genes. A p38 kinase inhibitor increased lipid content in WT cells and also restored lipid levels in 51KO cells, showing that elevated p38 kinase activity is a major contributor to adipogenic resistance in the 51KO cells. In 51KO cells, the S112A mutant of PPARγ and the triple S212A/S220A/S234A mutant of GRα both increased lipid accumulation, identifying these residues as targets of the FKBP51/p38 axis. Our combined investigations have uncovered FKBP51 as a key regulator of adipogenesis via the Akt-p38 pathway and as a potential target in the treatment of obesity and related disorders.
authors.affiliation: Center for Diabetes and Endocrine Research (L.A.S., T.D.H., S.S.K., S.M.N., E.R.S.), Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Toledo College of Medicine, Toledo, Ohio 43614; and Herman B. Wells Center for Pediatric Research (W.S.), Section of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202.
authors.forename: Lance A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Stechschulte
authors.forename: Terry D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Hinds
authors.forename: Saja S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Khuder
authors.forename: Weinian
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Shou
authors.forename: Sonia M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Najjar
authors.forename: Edwin R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Sanchez
mesh_terms: D041721:3T3-L1 Cells; D050156:Adipogenesis; D000818:Animals; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System; D053858:Metabolic Networks and Pathways; D051379:Mice; D047495:PPAR gamma / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid / Q000378:metabolism*; D022021:Tacrolimus Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000502:physiology*; D000099159:Tacrolimus Binding Protein 5
chemical_list: D047495:PPAR gamma; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid; D022021:Tacrolimus Binding Proteins; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D000099159:Tacrolimus Binding Protein 5; C411470:glucocorticoid receptor alpha