Porcine transient receptor potential channel 1 promotes adipogenesis and lipid deposition

Adipose tissue, an important organ involved in energy metabolism and endocrine, is closely related to animal meat quality and human health. Transient receptor potential channel 1 (TRPC1), an ion transporter, is adipocytes' major Ca²⁺ entry channel. However, its function in fat deposition is poorly understood, particularly in pigs, which are both an ideal model for human obesity research and a primary meat source for human diets. In the present investigation, our findings demonstrate a prominent expression of TRPC1 within the adipose tissue of pigs with a strong fat deposition ability. Functional analysis showed that TRPC1 promotes primary preadipocyte proliferation and adipogenic differentiation. In vivo, transgenic mice expressing porcine TRPC1 exhibited aggravated high-fat diet-induced obesity, hepatic steatosis, and insulin resistance. Moreover, TRPC1 may facilitate adipogenesis via activating phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase/AKT and β-catenin signaling pathways. Our research underscores the pivotal role of porcine TRPC1 as a positive regulator in adipogenesis and lipid accumulation processes, providing a potential target for improving animal meat quality and treating obesity-related diseases in humans.