Estrogen enhances browning in adipose tissue by M2 macrophage polarization via heme oxygenase-1

J Cell Physiol. 2021 Mar;236(3):1875-1888. doi: 10.1002/jcp.29971. Epub 2020 Jul 27.

Abstract

Loss of ovarian function results in increased fat mass, leading to the accumulation of adipose tissue macrophages that participate in chronic inflammation. We hypothesized that ovariectomy (OVX)-induced increases in body weight and fat mass are associated with decreased adipose tissue (AT) browning due to estrogen (E2 ) deficiency. In mice, OVX decreased AT browning along with increased body weight, fat mass, and size of lipid droplets 12 weeks after surgery. Exogenous E2 recovered the OVX-induced changes. AT browning was enhanced by M2 macrophages induced by exogenous E2. E2 -induced M2 polarization occurred due to the increased expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in macrophages, leading to decreased reactive oxygen species levels. Collectively, we demonstrated that E2 enhances AT browning via M2 polarization mediated by HO-1.

Keywords: M2 polarization; browning; estrogen; heme oxygenase-1; reactive oxygen species.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adipose Tissue, Brown / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Cell Polarity* / drug effects
  • Estrogens / pharmacology*
  • Female
  • Heme Oxygenase-1 / metabolism*
  • Macrophages / cytology*
  • Macrophages / drug effects
  • Macrophages / enzymology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Models, Biological
  • Ovariectomy
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • Up-Regulation / drug effects

Substances

  • Estrogens
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Heme Oxygenase-1