Adipose tissue-specific inactivation of the retinoblastoma protein protects against diabesity because of increased energy expenditure.

ABSTRACT: The role of the tumor suppressor retinoblastoma protein (pRb) has been firmly established in the control of cell cycle, apoptosis, and differentiation. Recently, it was demonstrated that lack of pRb promotes a switch from white to brown adipocyte differentiation in vitro. We used the Cre-Lox system to specifically inactivate pRb in adult adipose tissue. Under a high-fat diet, pRb-deficient (pRb(ad-/-)) mice failed to gain weight because of increased energy expenditure. This protection against weight gain was caused by the activation of mitochondrial activity in white and brown fat as evidenced by histologic, electron microscopic, and gene expression studies. Moreover, pRb(-/-) mouse embryonic fibroblasts displayed higher proliferation and apoptosis rates than pRb(+/+) mouse embryonic fibro

SUBMITTER: Dali-Youcef N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1965576 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature