The Kielin/chordin-like Protein (KCP) Attenuates High Fat Diet Induced Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome in Mice [Molecular Bases of Disease]

Obesity and its associated complications, such as insulin resistance and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, are reaching epidemic proportions. In mice, the TGF-beta superfamily is implicated in the regulation of white and brown adipose tissue differentiation. The Kielin/chordin-like Protein (KCP) is a secreted regulator of the TGF-beta superfamily pathways that can inhibit both TGF-beta and activin signals while enhancing bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling. However, KCP's effects on metabolism and obesity have not been studied in animal models. Therefore, we examined the effects of KCP loss or gain of function in mice that were maintained on either a regular or a high fat diet. KCP loss sensitized the mice to obesity and associated complications such as glucose intolerance and adipose tissue inflammation and fibrosis. In contrast, transgenic mice that expressed KCP in the kidney, liver and adipose tissues were resistant to developing high fat diet induced obesity and had significantly reduced white adipose tissue. Moreover, KCP over-expression shifted the pattern of Smad signaling in vivo, increasing the levels of P-Smad1 and decreasing P-Smad3. Adipocytes in culture showed a cell autonomous effect in response to added TGF-beta1 or BMP7. Metabolic profiling indicated increased energy expenditure in KCP overexpressing mice and reduced expenditure in the KCP mutants, with no effect on food intake or activity. These findings demonstrate that shifting the TGF-beta superfamily signaling with a secreted protein can alter the physiology and thermogenic properties of adipose tissue to reduce obesity even when mice are fed a high fat diet.

from #AlexandrosSfakianakis via Alexandros G.Sfakianakis on Inoreader http://ift.tt/2pEALbl
via IFTTT