Abstract
Sex difference in adiposity has long been recognized but the mechanism remains incompletely understood. Previous studies suggested that adiposity was regulated by autophagy in response to energy status change. Here, we show that the energy sensor Sirt1 mediates sex difference in adiposity by regulating autophagy and adipogenesis in partnership with estrogen receptor α (ERα). Autophagy and adipogenesis were suppressed by Sirt1 activation or overexpression, which was associated with reduced sex difference in adiposity. Mechanistically, Sirt1 deacetylated and activated AKT and STAT3, resulting in suppression of autophagy and adipogenesis via mTOR-ULK1 and p55 cascades. ERα induced Sirt1 expression and inhibited autophagy in adipocytes, while silencing Sirt1 reversed the effects of ERα on autophagy and promoted adipogenesis. Moreover, Sirt1 deacetylated ERα, which constituted a positive feedback loop in the regulation of autophagy and adiposity. Our results revealed a new mechanism of Sirt1 regulating autophagy in adipocytes and shed light on sex difference in adiposity.