Conclusions
Our work indicates that ChREBP regulates de novo lipogenesis in BAT and glucose tolerance, but is not required for non-shivering thermogenesis by BAT under acute or long-term cold exposure.
Methods
We used the Cre/LoxP system to generate ChREBP BAT-specific knockout mice, and examined their BAT thermogenesis under acute cold exposure and long-term cold acclimation. Gene expression was analyzed at the mRNA and protein levels, and lipogenesis was examined by 3H-H2O incorporation assay.
Results
The mice lacking ChREBP specifically in BAT displayed a significant decrease in the expression levels of lipogenic genes and the activity of de novo lipogenesis in BAT after cold exposure, with UCP1 expression decreased under thermoneutral conditions or after acute cold exposure but not chronic cold acclimation. Unexpectedly, BAT-specific ChREBP deletion did not significantly affect body temperature as well as local temperature or morphology of BAT after acute cold exposure or chronic cold acclimation. Of note, ChREBP deletion mildly aggravated glucose intolerance induced by a high-fat diet. Conclusions: Our work indicates that ChREBP regulates de novo lipogenesis in BAT and glucose tolerance, but is not required for non-shivering thermogenesis by BAT under acute or long-term cold exposure.