1. Surplus fatty acid synthesis increases oxidative stress in adipocytes and induces lipodystrophy
- Author
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Li Weng, Wen-Shuai Tang, Xu Wang, Yingyun Gong, Changqin Liu, Ni-Na Hong, Ying Tao, Kuang-Zheng Li, Shu-Ning Liu, Wanzi Jiang, Ying Li, Ke Yao, Li Chen, He Huang, Yu-Zheng Zhao, Ze-Ping Hu, Youli Lu, Haobin Ye, Xingrong Du, Hongwen Zhou, Peng Li, and Tong-Jin Zhao
- Subjects
Science - Abstract
Abstract Adipocytes are the primary sites for fatty acid storage, but the synthesis rate of fatty acids is very low. The physiological significance of this phenomenon remains unclear. Here, we show that surplus fatty acid synthesis in adipocytes induces necroptosis and lipodystrophy. Transcriptional activation of FASN elevates fatty acid synthesis, but decreases NADPH level and increases ROS production, which ultimately leads to adipocyte necroptosis. We identify MED20, a subunit of the Mediator complex, as a negative regulator of FASN transcription. Adipocyte-specific male Med20 knockout mice progressively develop lipodystrophy, which is reversed by scavenging ROS. Further, in a murine model of HIV-associated lipodystrophy and a human patient with acquired lipodystrophy, ROS neutralization significantly improves metabolic disorders, indicating a causal role of ROS in disease onset. Our study well explains the low fatty acid synthesis rate in adipocytes, and sheds light on the management of acquired lipodystrophy.
- Published
- 2024
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