Assessing the Impact of STX4 Knockdown on the Transcriptome of Brown Adipose Tissue
In this study, we investigate the effects of Syntax 4 (STX4) knockdown in brown adipocytes and its role in age-related changes in brown adipose tissue (BAT). Our focus was to understand the mechanisms preceding the significant loss of BAT mass observed with aging. By comparing transcriptomic profiles before the onset of this massive tissue loss, we identified a notable increase in markers indicative of pyroptotic cell death. These findings suggest a potential link between STX4 activity, cellular death pathways, and age-related alterations in BAT, providing insights into the molecular underpinnings of BAT aging and loss. Overall design: We isolated total RNA from the BAT of four male mice with Ucp1 promoter-driven STX4 knockdown (Ucp1STX4KO) and four male wild-type littermates, serving as controls. Following RNA extraction, these samples were submitted for high-throughput RNA sequencing to analyze differential gene expression and related transcriptomic changes.