MiR-26 suppresses adipocyte progenitor differentiation and fat production by targeting Fbxl19

Asha Acharya, Daniel C. Berry, He Zhang, Yuwei Jiang, Benjamin T. Jones, Robert E. Hammer, Jonathan M. Graff, Joshua T. Mendell

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

47 Scopus citations

Abstract

Fat storage in adult mammals is a highly regulated process that involves the mobilization of adipocyte progenitor cells (APCs) that differentiate to produce new adipocytes. Here we report a role for the broadly conserved miR-26 family of microRNAs (miR-26a-1, miR-26a-2, and miR-26b) as major regulators of APC differentiation and adipose tissue mass. Deletion of all miR-26-encoding loci in mice resulted in a dramatic expansion of adipose tissue in adult animals fed normal chow. Conversely, transgenic overexpression of miR-26a protected mice from high-fat diet-induced obesity. These effects were attributable to a cell-autonomous function of miR-26 as a potent inhibitor of APC differentiation. miR-26 blocks adipogenesis, at least in part, by repressing expression of Fbxl19, a conserved miR-26 target without a previously known role in adipocyte biology that encodes a component of SCF-type E3 ubiquitin ligase complexes. These findings have therefore revealed a novel pathway that plays a critical role in regulating adipose tissue formation in vivo and suggest new potential therapeutic targets for obesity and related disorders.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1367-1380
Number of pages14
JournalGenes and Development
Volume33
Issue number19-20
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1 2019

Keywords

  • Adipocyte progenitor cell
  • Adipogenesis
  • Fbxl19
  • MiR-26
  • MicroRNA
  • Obesity
  • White adipose tissue

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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