Diet and temperature interactively impact brown adipose tissue gene regulation controlled by DNA methylation.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Controlling brown adipose tissue (BAT) plasticity offers potential for novel obesity therapies. DNA methylation is closely linked to thermogenic and metabolic pathways and thereby influences BAT function. How metabolic state and cold exposure interact to shape methylation-dependent BAT gene regulation was investigated.

Methods

Five-week-old mice were fed either chow for 11 weeks (lean) or high-fat diet for 22 weeks to induce obesity (DIO), after which cold exposure was applied for seven days. BAT transcriptomes (RNAseq) and methylomes (RRBS) were generated, and differentially methylated and expressed genes (DMEGs) showing metabolic state-dependent cold responses were identified. Pathway enrichment, epigenetic regulator screening, and transcription factor (TF) moti

SUBMITTER: Hagemann T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12828542 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature