CD81 Controls Beige Fat Progenitor Cell Growth and Energy Balance via FAK Signaling

Cell. 2020 Aug 6;182(3):563-577.e20. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2020.06.021. Epub 2020 Jul 1.

Abstract

Adipose tissues dynamically remodel their cellular composition in response to external cues by stimulating beige adipocyte biogenesis; however, the developmental origin and pathways regulating this process remain insufficiently understood owing to adipose tissue heterogeneity. Here, we employed single-cell RNA-seq and identified a unique subset of adipocyte progenitor cells (APCs) that possessed the cell-intrinsic plasticity to give rise to beige fat. This beige APC population is proliferative and marked by cell-surface proteins, including PDGFRα, Sca1, and CD81. Notably, CD81 is not only a beige APC marker but also required for de novo beige fat biogenesis following cold exposure. CD81 forms a complex with αV/β1 and αV/β5 integrins and mediates the activation of integrin-FAK signaling in response to irisin. Importantly, CD81 loss causes diet-induced obesity, insulin resistance, and adipose tissue inflammation. These results suggest that CD81 functions as a key sensor of external inputs and controls beige APC proliferation and whole-body energy homeostasis.

Keywords: adipocyte progenitors; adipogenesis; beige fat; brown fat; diabetes; metabolic adaptation; metabolic disease; metabolism; obesity; tissue remodeling.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adipocytes / metabolism
  • Adipogenesis / genetics*
  • Adipose Tissue, Beige / cytology
  • Adipose Tissue, Beige / growth & development
  • Adipose Tissue, Beige / metabolism*
  • Adipose Tissue, White / metabolism
  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Ataxin-1 / metabolism
  • Energy Metabolism / genetics*
  • Female
  • Fibronectins / pharmacology
  • Focal Adhesion Kinase 1 / genetics
  • Focal Adhesion Kinase 1 / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / genetics
  • Inflammation / metabolism
  • Insulin Resistance / genetics
  • Integrins / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Middle Aged
  • Obesity / genetics
  • Obesity / metabolism
  • RNA-Seq
  • Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Signal Transduction / genetics*
  • Single-Cell Analysis
  • Stem Cells / cytology
  • Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • Tetraspanin 28 / genetics
  • Tetraspanin 28 / metabolism*

Substances

  • Ataxin-1
  • Atxn1 protein, mouse
  • Cd81 protein, mouse
  • FNDC5 protein, mouse
  • Fibronectins
  • Integrins
  • Tetraspanin 28
  • Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha
  • Focal Adhesion Kinase 1
  • Ptk2 protein, mouse