SPATA4 improves aging-induced metabolic dysfunction through promotion of preadipocyte differentiation and adipose tissue expansion. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • Spermatogenesis-associated protein 4 (SPATA4) is conserved across multiple species. However, the function of this gene remains largely unknown. In this study, we generated Spata4 transgenic mice to explore tissue-specific function of SPATA4. Spata4 overexpression mice displayed increased subcutaneous fat tissue compared with wild-type littermates at an old age, while this difference was not observed in younger mice. Aging-induced ectopic fat distribution, inflammation, and insulin resistance were also significantly attenuated by SPATA4. In vitro, SPATA4 promoted preadipocyte differentiation through activation of the ERK1/2 and C/EBPβ pathway and increased the expression of adipokines. These data suggest SPATA4 can regulate lipid accumulation in a tissue-specific manner and improve aging-induced dysmetabolic syndromes. Clarifying the mechanism of SPATA4 functioning in lipid metabolism might provide novel therapeutic targets for disease interventions.

publication date

  • December 13, 2020

Research

keywords

  • Adipose Tissue
  • Proteins

Identity

PubMed Central ID

  • PMC7811838

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 85097485281

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.3390/ijms19072124

PubMed ID

  • 33314576

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 20

issue

  • 1