Peroxisome-derived lipids regulate adipose thermogenesis by mediating cold-induced mitochondrial fission
Hongsuk Park, … , Katsuhiko Funai, Irfan J. Lodhi
Hongsuk Park, … , Katsuhiko Funai, Irfan J. Lodhi
Published December 4, 2018
Citation Information: J Clin Invest. 2019;129(2):694-711. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI120606.
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Research Article Cell biology Metabolism

Peroxisome-derived lipids regulate adipose thermogenesis by mediating cold-induced mitochondrial fission

Abstract

Peroxisomes perform essential functions in lipid metabolism, including fatty acid oxidation and plasmalogen synthesis. Here, we describe a role for peroxisomal lipid metabolism in mitochondrial dynamics in brown and beige adipocytes. Adipose tissue peroxisomal biogenesis was induced in response to cold exposure through activation of the thermogenic coregulator PRDM16. Adipose-specific knockout of the peroxisomal biogenesis factor Pex16 (Pex16-AKO) in mice impaired cold tolerance, decreased energy expenditure, and increased diet-induced obesity. Pex16 deficiency blocked cold-induced mitochondrial fission, decreased mitochondrial copy number, and caused mitochondrial dysfunction. Adipose-specific knockout of the peroxisomal β-oxidation enzyme acyl-CoA oxidase 1 (Acox1-AKO) was not sufficient to affect adiposity, thermogenesis, or mitochondrial copy number, but knockdown of the plasmalogen synthetic enzyme glyceronephosphate O-acyltransferase (GNPAT) recapitulated the effects of Pex16 inactivation on mitochondrial morphology and function. Plasmalogens are present in mitochondria and decreased with Pex16 inactivation. Dietary supplementation with plasmalogens increased mitochondrial copy number, improved mitochondrial function, and rescued thermogenesis in Pex16-AKO mice. These findings support a surprising interaction between peroxisomes and mitochondria regulating mitochondrial dynamics and thermogenesis.

Authors

Hongsuk Park, Anyuan He, Min Tan, Jordan M. Johnson, John M. Dean, Terri A. Pietka, Yali Chen, Xiangyu Zhang, Fong-Fu Hsu, Babak Razani, Katsuhiko Funai, Irfan J. Lodhi

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Figure 7

Pex16-AKO mice have impaired FAO, but adipose-specific inhibition of peroxisomal FAO is not sufficient to promote diet-induced obesity or impair thermogenesis.

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Pex16-AKO mice have impaired FAO, but adipose-specific inhibition of pe...
(A) mRNA levels of FAO genes in BAT of control and Pex16-AKO mice; n = 3–13. (B and C) β-Oxidation of lignoceric acid (C24:0) and palmitic acid (C16:0) in BAT; n = 6–7. (D) Gene targeting strategy using CRISPR/Cas9 to insert loxP sites into the Acox1 locus. The floxed mice were crossed with an adiponectin-Cre mouse to generate Acox1-AKO mice. gRNA, guide RNA; ssODN, single-stranded oligodeoxyribonucleotide. (E) qPCR analysis of FAO and peroxisomal biogenesis genes; n = 3. (F) Western blot analysis of Acox1 knockout in BAT and iWAT. (G) Control and Acox1-KO iWAT SVF cells were incubated with D3-C22:0, whose catabolism to D3-C16:0 was measured mass spectrometrically. FAO was expressed as ratio of D3-C16:0 to D3-C22:0; n = 4. (H) Body weight of control and Acox1-AKO mice fed an HFD and maintained at normal room temperature; n = 13–18. (I) Cold tolerance was determined by measuring rectal temperature at the indicated times after cold exposure; n = 4–5. (J) mtDNA content normalized to nuclear DNA in BAT of control and Acox1-AKO mice subjected to cold exposure; n = 3. Data are expressed as mean ± SEM. Student’s t test was used for analysis of the data in A–C, E, G, and J were analyzed by Student’s t test. Two-way ANOVA with Bonferroni’s post hoc test was used for analysis of the data in I. *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001.