Susanne Mandrup

Genome-wide profiling of PPARγ:RXR and RNA polymerase II occupancy reveals temporal activation of distinct metabolic pathways and changes in RXR dimer composition during adipogenesis

The nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) is a key regulator of adipocyte differentiation in vivo and ex vivo and has been shown to control the expression of several adipocyte-specific genes. In this study, we used chromatin immunoprecipitation combined with deep sequencing to generate genome-wide maps of PPARgamma and retinoid X receptor (RXR)-binding sites, and RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) occupancy at very high resolution throughout adipocyte differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells. We identify >5000 high-confidence shared PPARgamma:RXR-binding sites in adipocytes and show that during early stages of differentiation, many of these are preoccupied by non-PPARgamma RXR-heterodimers. Different temporal and compositional patterns of occupancy are observed. In addition, we detect co-occupancy with members of the C/EBP family. Analysis of RNAPII occupancy uncovers distinct clusters of similarly regulated genes of different biological processes. PPARgamma:RXR binding is associated with the majority of induced genes, and sites are particularly abundant in the vicinity of genes involved in lipid and glucose metabolism. Our analyses represent the first genome-wide map of PPARgamma:RXR target sites and changes in RNAPII occupancy throughout adipocyte differentiation and indicate that a hitherto unrecognized high number of adipocyte genes of distinctly regulated pathways are directly activated by PPARgamma:RXR.

Adipogenesis: forces that tip the scales

The balance of contradictory signals experienced by preadipocytes influences whether these cells undergo adipogenesis. In addition to the endocrine system, these signals originate from the preadipocytes themselves or operate as part of a feedback loop involving mature adipocytes. The factors that regulate adipogenesis either promote or block the cascade of transcription factors that coordinate the differentiation process. Some of the positive factors reviewed include insulin-like growth factor I, macrophage colony-stimulating factor, fatty acids, prostaglandins and glucocorticoids, and negative factors reviewed include Wnt, transforming growth factor beta, inflammatory cytokines and prostaglandin F(2alpha). Tipping the scales towards or away from adipogenesis has profound implications for human health. In this review, we describe recent contributions to the field and will focus on factors that probably play a role in vivo.

Extensive chromatin remodelling and establishment of transcription factor ‘hotspots’ during early adipogenesis

Adipogenesis is tightly controlled by a complex network of transcription factors acting at different stages of differentiation. Peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor γ (PPARγ) and CCAAT/enhancer‐binding protein (C/EBP) family members are key regulators of this process. We have employed DNase I hypersensitive site analysis to investigate the genome‐wide changes in chromatin structure that accompany the binding of adipogenic transcription factors. These analyses revealed a dramatic and dynamic modulation of the chromatin landscape during the first hours of adipocyte differentiation that coincides with cooperative binding of multiple early transcription factors (including glucocorticoid receptor, retinoid X receptor, Stat5a, C/EBPβ and ‐δ) to transcription factor ‘hotspots’. Our results demonstrate that C/EBPβ marks a large number of these transcription factor ‘hotspots’ before induction of differentiation and chromatin remodelling and is required for their establishment. Furthermore, a subset of early remodelled C/EBP‐binding sites persists throughout differentiation and is later occupied by PPARγ, indicating that early C/EBP family members, in addition to their well‐established role in activation of PPARγ transcription, may act as pioneering factors for PPARγ binding.

Isomer-specific regulation of metabolism and PPARγ signaling by CLA in human preadipocytes

Trans-10,cis-12 conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) has previously been shown to be the CLA isomer responsible for CLA-induced reductions in body fat in animal models, and we have shown that this isomer, but not the cis-9,trans-11 CLA isomer, specifically decreased triglyceride (TG) accumulation in primary human adiopcytes in vitro. Here we investigated the mechanism behind the isomer-specific, CLA-mediated reduction in TG accumulation in differentiating human preadipocytes. Trans-10,cis-12 CLA decreased insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and oxidation, and reduced insulin-dependent glucose transporter 4 gene expression. Furthermore, trans-10,cis-12 CLA reduced oleic acid uptake and oxidation when compared with all other treatments. In parallel to CLAs effects on metabolism, trans-10,cis-12 CLA decreased, whereas cis-9,trans-11 CLA increased, the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) and several of its downstream target genes when compared with vehicle controls. Transient transfections demonstrated that both CLA isomers antagonized ligand-dependent activation of PPARγ. Collectively, trans-10,cis-12, but not cis-9, trans-11, CLA decreased glucose and lipid uptake and oxidation and preadipocyte differentiation by altering preadipocyte gene transcription in a manner that appeared to be due, in part, to decreased PPARγ expression.

PPARγ in adipocyte differentiation and metabolism – Novel insights from genome-wide studies

Adipocyte differentiation is controlled by a tightly regulated transcriptional cascade in which PPARγ and members of the C/EBP family are key players. Here we review the roles of PPARγ and C/EBPs in adipocyte differentiation with emphasis on the recently published genome‐wide binding profiles for PPARγ and C/EBPα. Interestingly, these analyses show that PPARγ and C/EBPα binding sites are associated with most genes that are induced during adipogenesis suggesting direct activation of many more adipocyte genes than previously anticipated. Furthermore, an extensive overlap between the C/EBPα and PPARγ cistromes indicate a hitherto unrecognized direct crosstalk between these transcription factors. As more genome‐wide data emerge in the future, this crosstalk will likely be found to include several other adipogenic transcription factors.

PPARs: Fatty acid sensors controlling metabolism

The peroxisome proliferator activated receptors (PPARs) are nuclear receptors that play key roles in the regulation of lipid metabolism, inflammation, cellular growth, and differentiation. The receptors bind and are activated by a broad range of fatty acids and fatty acid derivatives and they thereby serve as major transcriptional sensors of fatty acids. Here we review the function, regulation, and mechanism of the different PPAR subtypes with special emphasis on their role in the regulation of lipid metabolism.

The Orphan Nuclear Receptor Rev-Erbα Is a Peroxisome Proliferator-activated Receptor (PPAR) γ Target Gene and Promotes PPARγ-induced Adipocyte Differentiation

Rev-Erbα (NR1D1) is an orphan nuclear receptor encoded on the opposite strand of the thyroid receptor α gene. Rev-Erbα mRNA is induced during adipocyte differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells, and its expression is abundant in rat adipose tissue. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) (NR1C3) is a nuclear receptor controlling adipocyte differentiation and insulin sensitivity. Here we show that Rev-Erbα expression is induced by PPARγ activation with rosiglitazone in rat epididymal and perirenal adipose tissues in vivo as well as in 3T3-L1 adipocytes in vitro. Furthermore, activated PPARγ induces Rev-Erbα promoter activity by binding to the direct repeat (DR)-2 response element Rev-DR2. Mutations of the 5′ or 3′ half-sites of the response element totally abrogated PPARγ binding and transcriptional activation, identifying this site as a novel type of functional PPARγ response element. Finally, ectopic expression of Rev-Erbα in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes potentiated adipocyte differentiation induced by the PPARγ ligand rosiglitazone. These results identify Rev-Erbα as a target gene of PPARγ in adipose tissue and demonstrate a role for this nuclear receptor as a promoter of adipocyte differentiation.

Antiobesity mechanisms of action of conjugated linoleic acid

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a family of fatty acids found in beef, dairy foods and dietary supplements, reduces adiposity in several animal models of obesity and some human studies. However, the isomer-specific antiobesity mechanisms of action of CLA are unclear, and its use in humans is controversial. This review will summarize in vivo and in vitro findings from the literature regarding potential mechanisms by which CLA reduces adiposity, including its impact on (a) energy metabolism, (b) adipogenesis, (c) inflammation, (d) lipid metabolism and (e) apoptosis.

Genome-Wide Profiling of Liver X Receptor, Retinoid X Receptor, and Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor α in Mouse Liver Reveals Extensive Sharing of Binding Sites

ABSTRACT The liver X receptors (LXRs) are nuclear receptors that form permissive heterodimers with retinoid X receptor (RXR) and are important regulators of lipid metabolism in the liver. We have recently shown that RXR agonist-induced hypertriglyceridemia and hepatic steatosis in mice are dependent on LXRs and correlate with an LXR-dependent hepatic induction of lipogenic genes. To further investigate the roles of RXR and LXR in the regulation of hepatic gene expression, we have mapped the ligand-regulated genome-wide binding of these factors in mouse liver. We find that the RXR agonist bexarotene primarily increases the genomic binding of RXR, whereas the LXR agonist T0901317 greatly increases both LXR and RXR binding. Functional annotation of putative direct LXR target genes revealed a significant association with classical LXR-regulated pathways as well as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) signaling pathways, and subsequent chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing (ChIP-seq) mapping of PPARα binding demonstrated binding of PPARα to 71 to 88% of the identified LXR-RXR binding sites. The combination of sequence analysis of shared binding regions and sequential ChIP on selected sites indicate that LXR-RXR and PPARα-RXR bind to degenerate response elements in a mutually exclusive manner. Together, our findings suggest extensive and unexpected cross talk between hepatic LXR and PPARα at the level of binding to shared genomic sites.

The orphan nuclear receptor Rev-erbα is a PPARγ target gene and promotes PPARγ-induced adipocyte differentiation

Rev-Erbα (NR1D1) is an orphan nuclear receptor encoded on the opposite strand of the thyroid receptor α gene. Rev-Erbα mRNA is induced during adipocyte differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells, and its expression is abundant in rat adipose tissue. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) (NR1C3) is a nuclear receptor controlling adipocyte differentiation and insulin sensitivity. Here we show that Rev-Erbα expression is induced by PPARγ activation with rosiglitazone in rat epididymal and perirenal adipose tissues in vivo as well as in 3T3-L1 adipocytes in vitro. Furthermore, activated PPARγ induces Rev-Erbα promoter activity by binding to the direct repeat (DR)-2 response element Rev-DR2. Mutations of the 5′ or 3′ half-sites of the response element totally abrogated PPARγ binding and transcriptional activation, identifying this site as a novel type of functional PPARγ response element. Finally, ectopic expression of Rev-Erbα in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes potentiated adipocyte differentiation induced by the PPARγ ligand rosiglitazone. These results identify Rev-Erbα as a target gene of PPARγ in adipose tissue and demonstrate a role for this nuclear receptor as a promoter of adipocyte differentiation.