Browning of adipose tissue and increased thermogenesis induced by Methotrexate.

Authors :: Verma N
Perie L
Corciulo C
Leucht P
Ramkhelawon B
Cronstein BN
Mueller E
Source :: FASEB bioAdvances [FASEB Bioadv] 2021 Oct 07; Vol. 3 (11), pp. 877-887. Date of Electronic Publication: 2021 Oct 07 (Print Publication: 2021).
Publication Year :: 2021
Abstract: Methotrexate (MTX) is widely used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis due to its well-known anti-inflammatory role in immune cells but its impact on brown and beige adipose tissue biology has not yet been investigated. Here, we present the novel evidence that MTX treatment increases the gene expression of thermogenic genes in brown and beige adipose tissues in a fat cell autonomous manner. Furthermore, we show that treatment of mice with MTX is associated with cold resistance, improved glucose homeostasis, decreased inflammation, and reduced hepatosteatosis in high-fat diet states. Overall, our data provide novel evidence of a role of MTX on thermogenic tissues not previously appreciated.<br />Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest with the contents of this article.<br /> (© 2021 The Authors. FASEB BioAdvances published by The Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology.)