Temporal transcriptomic and proteomic characterization of adipose tissue from cold-exposed mice

Area of Science:

• Metabolic research
• Thermogenesis and obesity
• Adipose tissue biology

Background:

• Cold exposure activates thermogenesis, a key process in combating obesity.
• While adipose tissue responses to cold are known, dynamic molecular changes in white and brown fat remain unclear.
• Understanding these changes is crucial for developing cold-based obesity therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the transcriptomic and proteomic alterations in adipose tissues upon cold exposure.
• To elucidate the molecular mechanisms driving cold-induced thermogenesis and adipose tissue remodeling.
• To identify key genes and pathways involved in the adaptive response to cold.

Main Methods:

• Utilized RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) for transcriptomic profiling.
• Employed liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for proteomic analysis.
• Examined inguinal white adipose tissue (iWAT) and brown adipose tissue (BAT) from mice exposed to cold (6°C) or room temperature (22°C) for 6 and 24 hours.

Main Results:

• Identified significant changes in gene expression and protein abundance in both iWAT and BAT following cold exposure.
• Revealed distinct molecular signatures associated with short-term (6h) and prolonged (24h) cold stimuli.
• Data provides a comprehensive resource for understanding cold-induced metabolic adaptations.

Conclusions:

• Cold exposure induces complex transcriptomic and proteomic remodeling in adipose tissues.
• These molecular changes are critical for activating thermogenesis and adapting to cold environments.
• The study provides valuable data for future research into obesity treatments targeting thermogenesis.