title: Cthrc1 controls adipose tissue formation, body composition, and physical activity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated the effects of loss of Cthrc1 on adipogenesis, body composition, metabolism, physical activity, and muscle physiology.
  
  
  METHODS
  Complete metabolic and activity monitoring as well as grip strength measurements and muscle myography was performed in Cthrc1 null and wildtype mice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to wildtypes, Cthrc1 null mice had similar body weights but significantly reduced energy expenditure, decreased lean mass, and increased fat mass, especially visceral fat. In vitro studies demonstrated that Cthrc1 inhibited adipocyte differentiation as well as PPAR and CREB reporter activity, while preadipocytes isolated from Cthrc1 null mice exhibited enhanced adipogenic differentiation. Voluntary physical activity in Cthrc1 null mice as assessed by wheel running was reduced to approximately half the distance covered by wildtypes. Reduced grip strength was observed in Cthrc1 null mice at the age of 15 weeks or older with reduced performance and mass of hyphenate muscle. In the brain, Cthrc1 expression was most prominent in neurons of thalamic and hypothalamic nuclei with evidence for secretion into the circulation in the median eminence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data indicate that Cthrc1 regulates body composition through inhibition of adipogenesis. In addition, central Cthrc1 may be a mediator of muscle function and physical activity.
authors.affiliation: Center for Molecular Medicine, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Scarborough, Maine, USA.
authors.forename: J Patrizia
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Stohn
authors.affiliation: Center for Molecular Medicine, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Scarborough, Maine, USA.
authors.forename: Qiaozeng
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Center for Molecular Medicine, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Scarborough, Maine, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Siviski
authors.affiliation: Center for Molecular Medicine, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Scarborough, Maine, USA.
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.affiliation: Center for Molecular Medicine, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Scarborough, Maine, USA.
authors.forename: Yong-Ri
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: Center for Molecular Medicine, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Scarborough, Maine, USA.
authors.forename: Doreen
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kacer
authors.affiliation: Center for Molecular Medicine, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Scarborough, Maine, USA.
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: DeMambro
authors.affiliation: Center for Molecular Medicine, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Scarborough, Maine, USA.
authors.forename: Lucy
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liaw
authors.affiliation: Center for Molecular Medicine, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Scarborough, Maine, USA.
authors.forename: Calvin P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Vary
authors.affiliation: Center for Molecular Medicine, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Scarborough, Maine, USA.
authors.forename: Clifford J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Rosen
authors.affiliation: Center for Molecular Medicine, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Scarborough, Maine, USA.
authors.forename: Igor
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Prudovsky
authors.affiliation: Center for Molecular Medicine, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Scarborough, Maine, USA.
authors.forename: Volkhard
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lindner
mesh_terms: D050156:Adipogenesis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001823:Body Composition; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: C530500:Cthrc1 protein, mouse; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins