Obesity and the metabolic syndrome have evolved to be major health issues throughout the world. Whether loss of genome integrity contributes to this epidemic is an open question. DNA polymerase η (pol η), encoded by the xeroderma pigmentosum (XP-V) gene, plays an essential role in preventing cutaneous cancer caused by UV radiation-induced DNA damage. Herein, we demonstrate that pol η deficiency in mice (pol η −/− ) causes obesity with visceral fat accumulation, hepatic steatosis, hyperleptinemia, hyperinsulinemia, and glucose intolerance. In comparison to WT mice, adipose tissue from pol η −/− mice exhibits increased DNA damage and a greater DNA damage response, indicated by upregulation and/or phosphorylation of ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM), phosphorylated H 2 AX (γH 2 AX), and poly[ADP-ribose] polymerase 1 (PARP-1). Concomitantly, increased cellular senescence in the adipose tissue from pol η −/− mice was observed and measured by up-regulation of senescence markers, including p53, p16 Ink4a , p21, senescence-associated (SA) β-gal activity, and SA secretion of proinflammatory cytokines interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) as early as 4 wk of age. Treatment of pol η −/− mice with a p53 inhibitor, pifithrin-α, reduced adipocyte senescence and attenuated the metabolic abnormalities. Furthermore, elevation of adipocyte DNA damage with a high-fat diet or sodium arsenite exacerbated adipocyte senescence and metabolic abnormalities in pol η −/− mice. In contrast, reduction of adipose DNA damage with N-acetylcysteine or metformin ameliorated cellular senescence and metabolic abnormalities. These studies indicate that elevated DNA damage is a root cause of adipocyte senescence, which plays a determining role in the development of obesity and insulin resistance.T he human genome is constantly challenged by exogenous and endogenous DNA damaging agents. To ensure genome integrity, human cells have faithful DNA replication machinery and DNA repair systems that are coordinated by DNA damage response networks. In response to different extents or types of DNA lesions, the DNA damage response activates appropriate cellular responses, including transient or permanent (senescence) cell cycle arrest, or apoptosis, to minimize the detrimental effects of DNA lesions (1). Reduction or deficiency in DNA repair/replication enzyme activity is well documented to increase vulnerability for the development of cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and aging (2). In addition, defective DNA repair enzymes are associated with the metabolic symptom; for example, DNA glycosylase (Neil1)-and OGG1-deficient mice are obese (3-5), and nucleotide excision repair protein ERCC1-XPF deficiency causes lipodystrophy (6). Furthermore, DNA damage response protein ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) suppresses JNK activity through p53 signaling and mediates an antioxidant action that has been suggested to be relevant to the metabolic syndrome (7). Nucleotide excision repair XP-A protein may affect metabolism by altering mitochondrial...