Exercise training and cold exposure trigger distinct molecular adaptations to inguinal white adipose tissue

Area of Science:

• Metabolic research
• Adipose tissue biology
• Exercise physiology

Background:

• Exercise training and cold exposure enhance systemic metabolism.
• The precise mechanisms, particularly involving inguinal white adipose tissue (iWAT), remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the critical role of iWAT adaptations in exercise and cold exposure benefits.
• To determine the impact of trained and cold-exposed iWAT on systemic glucose metabolism.
• To analyze the iWAT proteome and secretome after training and cold exposure.

Main Methods:

• Transplantation of trained and cold-exposed iWAT into sedentary mice.
• Proteomic and secretomic analysis of iWAT.
• Correlation of iWAT protein changes with systemic glucose metabolism.

Main Results:

• Transplanted trained iWAT improved glucose tolerance; cold-exposed iWAT did not.
• Cold exposure caused more extensive iWAT proteome/secretome changes than training, boosting thermogenesis.
• Training uniquely increased proteins related to extracellular space, vesicle transport, and favorable fasting glucose, indicating altered tissue communication.

Conclusions:

• Exercise training and cold exposure induce distinct adaptations in iWAT.
• Trained iWAT plays a crucial role in improving systemic glucose metabolism via unique molecular changes.
• These findings reveal distinct mechanisms underlying the metabolic benefits of exercise and cold exposure.