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Differentiation and Imaging of Brown Adipocytes from the Stromal Vascular Fraction of Interscapular Adipose Tissue from Newborn Mice
Published on: February 3, 2023
Mir193b-365 is essential for brown fat differentiation
Lei Sun1, Huangming Xie, Marcelo A Mori
1Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, 9 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA.
Nature Cell Biology
|July 12, 2011
Summary
A newly identified microRNA cluster, miR-193b-365, is crucial for brown fat development. This microRNA cluster regulates brown adipocyte differentiation while simultaneously inhibiting muscle cell development.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
- Metabolism
Background:
- Brown adipose tissue (BAT) generates heat and expends energy, offering defense against cold and obesity.
- Brown adipocytes develop from Myf5-positive progenitors, influenced by PR domain containing 16 (Prdm16).
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify key regulators of brown fat development.
- To investigate the role of microRNAs in brown adipogenesis and myogenesis.
Main Methods:
- In vivo and in vitro studies using primary brown preadipocytes and C2C12 myoblasts.
- Manipulation of miR-193b-365 expression levels.
- Analysis of adipogenic and myogenic markers, including Runx1t1 expression.
Main Results:
- The miR-193b-365 cluster was identified as a key regulator of brown fat development.
- Blocking miR-193b/miR-365 impaired brown adipogenesis and induced myogenic markers.
- Forced expression of miR-193b/miR-365 inhibited myogenesis and promoted brown adipocyte differentiation from myoblasts.
- miR-193b-365 upregulation by Prdm16, partly via Pparα, was observed.
Conclusions:
- miR-193b-365 is essential for brown fat differentiation.
- This microRNA cluster regulates brown adipogenesis by repressing myogenesis.
