Ei24 deficiency in brown adipocytes induces severe hypothermia under cold stress independent of UCP1 activity.

ABSTRACT: Brown adipocytes facilitate non-shivering thermogenesis, which is critical for maintaining energy balance and heat production in response to environmental stimuli. Here, we delineate the physiological and biochemical role of etoposide-induced 2.4 (Ei24) in adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production and thermogenesis in brown adipocytes. We generated Ei24 adipocyte-specific knockout (EiaKO) mice that exhibited brown adipose tissue hypertrophy, lipid accumulation, and various mitochondrial abnormalities. Despite mitochondrial defects, uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) expression and activity remained unchanged. However, those impairments caused lethal hypothermia in mice subjected to cold challenge, underscoring the key role of Ei24 in mitochondrial functions. Mechanistically, Ei24 deficiency disrupt

SUBMITTER: Lee SB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12669757 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature