Inhibiting class I histone deacetylases (HDACs) increases energy expenditure, reduces adiposity, and improves insulin sensitivity in obese mice. However, the precise mechanism is poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that HDAC1 is a negative regulator of the brown adipocyte thermogenic program. The Hdac1 level is lower in mouse brown fat (BAT) than white fat, is suppressed in mouse BAT during cold exposure or ␤ 3 -adrenergic stimulation, and is down-regulated during brown adipocyte differentiation. Remarkably, overexpressing Hdac1 profoundly blocks, whereas deleting Hdac1 significantly enhances, ␤-adrenergic activation-induced BAT-specific gene expression in brown adipocytes. ␤-Adrenergic activation in brown adipocytes results in a dissociation of HDAC1 from promoters of BAT-specific genes, including uncoupling protein 1 (Ucp1) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ␥ co-activator 1␣ (Pgc1␣), leading to increased acetylation of histone H3 lysine 27 (H3K27), an epigenetic mark of gene activation. This is followed by dissociation of the polycomb repressive complexes, including the H3K27 methyltransferase enhancer of zeste homologue (EZH2), suppressor of zeste 12 (SUZ12), and ring finger protein 2 (RNF2) from (and concomitant recruitment of H3K27 demethylase ubiquitously transcribed tetratricopeptide repeat on chromosome X (UTX) to) Ucp1 and Pgc1␣ promoters, leading to decreased H3K27 trimethylation, a histone transcriptional repression mark. Thus, HDAC1 negatively regulates the brown adipocyte thermogenic program, and inhibiting Hdac1 promotes BAT-specific gene expression through a coordinated control of increased acetylation and decreased methylation of H3K27, thereby switching the transcriptional repressive state to the active state at the promoters of Ucp1 and Pgc1␣. Targeting HDAC1 may be beneficial in prevention and treatment of obesity by enhancing BAT thermogenesis.

Ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) is one of the most common causes of acute kidney injury (AKI). However, the pathogenesis and biomarkers predicting the progression of IRI-induced AKI to chronic kidney disease (CKD) remain unclear. A side-by-side comparison between different IRI animal models with variable ischemic duration and episodes was performed. The dynamic changes of KIM-1 and NGAL continuously from AKI to CKD phases were studied as well. Short-term duration of ischemia induced mild renal tubule-interstitial injury which was completely reversed at acute phase of kidney injury, while long-term duration of ischemia caused severe tubular damage, cell apoptosis and inflammatory infiltration at early disease stage, leading to permanent chronic kidney fibrosis at the late stage. Repeated attacks of moderate IRI accelerated the progression of AKI to CKD. Different from serum and urine levels of KIM-1 that increased at acute phase of IRI then declined gradually in chronic phase, NGAL increased continuously during AKI-to-CKD transition. Severity and frequency of ischemia injury determines the progression and outcome of ischemia-induced AKI. Inflammation, apoptosis and fibrogenesis likely participate in the progression of AKI to CKD. Both KIM-1 and NGAL enable noninvasive and early detection of AKI, but NGAL is associated better with the process of AKI-to-CKD progression.

Background: Brown fat functions to dissipate energy through adaptive thermogenesis. Results: The histone demethylase UTX positively regulates brown fat thermogenic program. Conclusion: UTX is a key determinant of brown fat gene expression. Significance: UTX may serve as a novel therapeutic target for enhancing brown fat function in the treatment of obesity.

Our study demonstrated that MCT was efficacious in suppressing body fat accumulation, insulin resistance, inflammatory response, and NF-κB and p38 MAPK activation in high fat diet-fed mice. These data suggest that MCT may exert beneficial effects against high fat diet-induced insulin resistance and inflammation.