MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that partially bind to the 3' untranslated (3'UTR) regions of target genes in animals and regulate protein production of the target transcripts. MiR-103 has been confirmed to play a critical role in lipid metabolism, however, the target genes and signaling pathway regulated by miR-103 is still unclear. In our experiment, we observed a positive function of miR-103 on the adipogenic differentiation of 3T3-L1 pre-adipocyte. Furthermore, we proved that this function of miR-103 worked through activating AKT/mTOR signal pathway and impairing target gene MEF2D. By inhibiting and over-expressing the MEF2D gene, we found that MEF2D had a negative role in regulating adipocyte key genes, and this function of MEF2D could be impaired by miR-103. In conclusion, we found that miR-103 can promote 3T3-L1 cells differentiation by targeting MEF2D and activating AKT/mTOR signal pathway. These results will shed a light on further study of microRNAs.

shown that Sirt1 is involved in regulation of inflammation response and inhibits inflammatory pathways in macrophages and dendritic cells (6, 7). In 3T3-L1 adipocytes, Sirt1 can attenuate TNF--induced insulin resistance and inflammation (3,8). Resveratrol (RES) is a natural polyphenolic compound known for its beneficial effects on energy homeostasis (9, 10). Studies have shown that RES attenuates inflammation of adipocytes and vascular endothelial cells by activating Sirt1 and inducing autophagy (11-13). However, the regulatory mechanism of RES on Sirt1 and adipose inflammation remains unclear.The Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway plays an important role in the regulation of cellular gluconeogenesis and metabolism (14,15). mTOR is highly conserved serine/threonine kinase that is expressed in cancer cells, adipocytes, and hepatocytes, and can be directly phosphorylated by activated . During development of obesity, adipose pro-inflammatory responses are closely associated with the development of insulin resistance in adipose tissue (19,20). A recent study showed that phosphorylation of Akt in macrophages could activate mTOR signal and then led to inflammation and insulin resistance in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity (21). Moreover, Pang et al. (22) reported that Sirt1 directly bound protein kinase B (Akt2) and then inhibited adipogenesis in porcine adipocytes. Busch et al. (23) also suggested that Akt was one of the main upstream stimulatory kinases that modulated by Sirt1. However, whether the interaction between Sirt1 and Akt2 can regulate adipose inflammation has not been studied.We suggested that RES would attenuate HFD-induced obesity and adipose inflammation by activating Sirt1. We found that RES promoted the interaction of Sirt1 and Akt2, and then inhibited adipose inflammation by activating the mTOR/S6K1 pathway. These findings identify a novel function of Sirt1 in the regulation of adipose inflammation Sirtuin type 1 (Sirt1) is a member of the silencing information regulator 2 (Sir2) family called sirtuins, and is wellknown for its deacetylation in regulation of gene silencing, energy homeostasis, and apoptosis (1-3). The overloaded calorie intake leads to dysfunction of adipocytes and causes obesity (4). Obesity is closely associated with chronic inflammation and characterized by abnormal cytokine production, increased acute-phase reactants, and an activated network of inflammatory signal pathways (5 Abbreviations: Akt2, protein kinase B; HFD, high-fat diet; IL-6, interleukin-6; iNOS, inducible nitric oxide synthase; mTOR, mammalian target of rapamycin; NAM, nicotinamide; RES, resveratrol; Sirt1, sirtuin type 1.

Alpha melanocyte stimulating hormone (αMSH) abates inflammation in multiple tissues, while Forkhead box proteins O (FoxOs) stimulate inflammatory cascade. However, the relationship between αMSH and FoxOs in adipose inflammation remains unclear. In this study, we used LPS-induced inflammation model, attempted to interpret the function of αMSH in inflammation and the interactions with FoxOs. Results indicated that upon inflammatory situation, the secretion of αMSH and the expression of its receptor MC5R were greatly decreased, but FoxOs expressions were elevated. After the treatment with αMSH, LPS-induced adipose inflammation together with FoxOs expressions was significantly reduced. Conversely, when Foxo1, Foxo3a or Foxo4 overexpressed in αMSH treated inflammatory mouse model, all the anti-inflammatory impacts of αMSH were found disappeared. We further studied the mechanisms by which αMSH exerts its anti-inflammatory impacts and how FoxOs reverse αMSH's function. Foxo4 was found as a negative regulator for MC5R transcription in αMSH inhibited inflammation. Moreover, a negative role was found of αMSH in regulating both Akt and JNK signal pathways by observing the enhanced the anti-inflammatory impacts of pathway-specific inhibitors with αMSH treatment. Our findings demonstrate αMSH plays a key role in the prevention of adipose inflammation and inflammatory diseases by down-regulating Akt/JNK signal pathway and negatively interacting with FoxOs, which brings up αMSH as a novel candidate factor in the adipose anti-inflammation process in obesity.

Extracellular matrix (ECM), as an essential component of adipose tissue, not only provides mechanical support for adipocyte growth, but also participates in ECM-adipocyte communication via various secreted proteins, including highly enriched collagens. Collagen XV (ColXV) is a secreted non-fibrillar collagen within ECM Basement Membrane (BM) zones and well recognized as a tumor suppressor. However, the role of ColXV in adipose tissue is still unknown. In this study, high fat diet (HFD) fed mice were used as obese model, in which we deeply investigated the interaction between ColXV and adipocyte differentiation or adipose metabolism. We found great elevated ColXV expression and positive effect of ColXV on lipid deposition during adipocyte differentiation or obesity both in vitro and in vivo. cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) is a cellular transcription factor that can inhibit adipogenesis and promote lipolysis. Here we proposed ColXV as a newly discovered downstream gene of CREB. We further proved that CREB can repress adipocyte differentiation and enhance lipolysis by negatively regulating ColXV transcription. Mechanistic studies showed ColXV enhanced adipocyte differentiation and lipid deposition through reducing its DNA methylation and repressing the cAMP/PKA signaling pathway. Collectively, our study identified ColXV as a novel downstream gene for CREB and could promote adipocyte differentiation, inhibit lipolysis through repressing cAMP/PKA signaling pathway and positively regulating adipogenic markers expressions by repressing the activity of maintenance methyltransferase Dnmt1. Our data discovered a novel role of ColXV in adipocyte differentiation and provide insight into obesity and related metabolic diseases.

Alpha melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH) and Forkhead box C2 protein (Foxc2) enhance lipolysis in multiple tissues. However, their relationship in adipose fatty acid oxidation (FAO) remains unclear. Here, we demonstrated that α-MSH and Foxc2 increased palmitate oxidation to CO2 in white (WAT) and brown adipose tissue (BAT). C/EBPβ expression was reduced by α-MSH and Foxc2. FFA level was elevated by α-MSH and pc-Foxc2 treatment along with increased FAO in white and brown adipocytes. The expression of FAO key enzymes, medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (MCAD) and long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (LCAD) were increased in α-MSH and pc-Foxc2 group. Combination of α-MSH and Foxc2 treatment synergistically promoted FAO through increasing the activity of CPT-1 and phosphorylation of ACC. We found C/EBPβ bind to MC5R and Foxc2 promoter regions and inhibited FAO. cAMP level was increased by α-MSH and Foxc2 individually treated or combined treatment. Furthermore, cAMP/PKA pathway-specific inhibitor (H89) blocked the FAO, despite in α-MSH and Foxc2 both added group. While forskolin, the cAMP agonist, promoted FAO and enhanced the effect of α-MSH and Foxc2. Collectively, α-MSH and Foxc2 mutual promote FAO in WAT and BAT via cAMP/PKA signal pathway. And C/EBPβ as a transcription suppressor inhibits α-MSH and Foxc2 expression and FAO.