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Single-nucleus RNA-sequencing reveals NRF1/NFE2L1 as a key factor determining the thermogenesis and cellular heterogeneity and dynamics of brown adipose tissues in mice.

ABSTRACT: Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is a major site of non-shivering thermogenesis in mammals and plays an important role in energy homeostasis. Nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 1 (NFE2L1, also known as Nrf1), a master regulator of cellular metabolic homeostasis and numerous stress responses, has been found to function as a critical driver in BAT thermogenic adaption to cold or obesity by providing proteometabolic quality control. Our recent studies using adipocyte-specific Nfe2l1 knockout [Nfe2l1(f)-KO] mice demonstrated that NFE2L1-dependent transcription of lipolytic genes is crucial for white adipose tissue (WAT) homeostasis and plasticity. In the present study, we found that Nfe2l1(f)-KO mice develop an age-dependent whitening and shrinking of BAT, with signatures of down-regulation of proteasome, impaired mitochondrial function, reduced thermogenesis, pro-inflammation, and elevated regulatory cell death (RCD). Mechanistic studies revealed that deficiency of Nfe2l1 in brown adipocytes (BAC) primarily results in down-regulation of lipolytic genes, which decelerates lipolysis, making BAC unable to fuel thermogenesis. These changes lead to BAC hypertrophy, inflammation-associated RCD, and consequently cold intolerance. Single-nucleus RNA-sequencing of BAT reveals that deficiency of Nfe2l1 induces significant transcriptomic changes leading to aberrant expression of a variety of genes involved in lipid metabolism, proteasome, mitochondrial stress, inflammatory responses, and inflammation-related RCD in distinct subpopulations of BAC. Taken together, our study demonstrated that NFE2L1 serves as a vital transcriptional regulator that controls the lipid metabolic homeostasis in BAC, which in turn determines the metabolic dynamics, cellular heterogeneity and subsequently cell fates in BAT.

SUBMITTER: Shen W

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10511808 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Single-nucleus RNA-sequencing reveals NRF1/NFE2L1 as a key factor determining the thermogenesis and cellular heterogeneity and dynamics of brown adipose tissues in mice.

Shen Wei W Ren Suping S Hou Yongyong Y Zuo Zhuo Z Liu Shengnan S Liu Zhiyuan Z Fu Jingqi J Wang Huihui H Yang Bei B Zhao Rui R Chen Yanyan Y Yamamoto Masayuki M Xu Yuanyuan Y Zhang Qiang Q Pi Jingbo J

Redox biology 20230911

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is a major site of non-shivering thermogenesis in mammals and plays an important role in energy homeostasis. Nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 1 (NFE2L1, also known as Nrf1), a master regulator of cellular metabolic homeostasis and numerous stress responses, has been found to function as a critical driver in BAT thermogenic adaption to cold or obesity by providing proteometabolic quality control. Our recent studies using adipocyte-specific Nfe2l1 knockout [Nfe2 ...[more]

PMID: 37716088

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Project description:Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is a major site of nonshivering thermogenesis (NST) in mammals and might play an important role in human obesity and energy homeostasis. Recent single-cell/nucleus RNA-sequencing studies have revealed heterogeneity in thermogenesis among brown adipocytes, such as the findings of low thermogenesis and regulated thermogenesis in brown adipocytes. Activating and enhancing function adipocytes (BAC) has acquired attention as a possible therapeutic intervention for metabolic diseases. Nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 1 (NFE2L1, also known as Nrf1), a CNC-bZIP protein, is a master regulator of multiple cellular functions and responds to various stress in many cells and tissues. NFE2L1 acts as a guardian role in BAC function providing increased proteometabolic quality control for adapting to cold or obesity. Our previous studies demonstrated that NFE2L1-dependent lipolytic activity is crucial for white adipose tissue (WAT) plasticity and lipid homeostasis. To further clarify the role of NFE2L1 in adipocytes, we focused on the phenotype and gene expression profiling of BAT in adipocyte-specific Nfe2l1-knockout [Nfe2l1(f)-KO] mice. We found that deletion of Nfe2l1 decreased core body temperature and cold intolerance under cold exposure. Compared with floxed mice, the BAT of Nfe2l1(f)-KO mice expressed substantially lower levels of many genes related to lipolysis, thermogenesis, oxidative capacity of mitochondria, cellular respiration while higher genes related to inflammation, pyroptosis. By snRNA-seq, we found that Nfe2l1-knockout resulted in increased antigen processing and presentation (APP), necroptosis and NOD-like receptor signal pathway (NOD) signaling pathways in most subpopulations of BAC, with devastating effects on a normal subpopulation of BAC with low thermogenesis and high necroptosis genes expression. Absent of Nfe2l1 impairs the function of BAC, causing a morphological “whitening” phenotype with adipocyte hypertrophy and severe inflammation. Moreover, the adipose inflammation and pyroptosis in Nfe2l1(f)-KO mice could be mitigated by cold exposure or β3-agonist treatment. These findings provided a deeper insight into the function of NFE2L1 in the metabolic programming of brown adipocytes.

Dataset Information

Single-nucleus RNA-sequencing reveals NRF1/NFE2L1 as a key factor determining the thermogenesis and cellular heterogeneity and dynamics of brown adipose tissues in mice.

Publications

Single-nucleus RNA-sequencing reveals NRF1/NFE2L1 as a key factor determining the thermogenesis and cellular heterogeneity and dynamics of brown adipose tissues in mice.

Similar Datasets

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