DsbA-L deficiency in T cells promotes diet-induced thermogenesis through suppressing IFN-γ production

Nat Commun. 2021 Jan 12;12(1):326. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-20665-4.

Abstract

Adipose tissue-resident T cells have been recognized as a critical regulator of thermogenesis and energy expenditure, yet the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we show that high-fat diet (HFD) feeding greatly suppresses the expression of disulfide-bond A oxidoreductase-like protein (DsbA-L), a mitochondria-localized chaperone protein, in adipose-resident T cells, which correlates with reduced T cell mitochondrial function. T cell-specific knockout of DsbA-L enhances diet-induced thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue (BAT) and protects mice from HFD-induced obesity, hepatosteatosis, and insulin resistance. Mechanistically, DsbA-L deficiency in T cells reduces IFN-γ production and activates protein kinase A by reducing phosphodiesterase-4D expression, leading to increased BAT thermogenesis. Taken together, our study uncovers a mechanism by which T cells communicate with brown adipocytes to regulate BAT thermogenesis and whole-body energy homeostasis. Our findings highlight a therapeutic potential of targeting T cells for the treatment of over nutrition-induced obesity and its associated metabolic diseases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adipocytes, Brown / drug effects
  • Adipocytes, Brown / metabolism
  • Adipose Tissue, Brown / drug effects
  • Adipose Tissue, Brown / metabolism
  • Adipose Tissue, White / drug effects
  • Adipose Tissue, White / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Diet, High-Fat*
  • Down-Regulation / drug effects
  • Energy Metabolism / drug effects
  • Feeding Behavior
  • Glutathione Transferase / deficiency*
  • Glutathione Transferase / metabolism
  • Insulin Resistance
  • Interferon-gamma / administration & dosage
  • Interferon-gamma / biosynthesis*
  • Interferon-gamma / pharmacology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mitochondria / drug effects
  • Mitochondria / metabolism
  • Obesity / genetics
  • Obesity / pathology
  • T-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / drug effects
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / metabolism
  • Thermogenesis* / drug effects
  • Thermogenesis* / genetics
  • Uncoupling Protein 1 / metabolism

Substances

  • Uncoupling Protein 1
  • Interferon-gamma
  • Glutathione Transferase
  • disulfide-bond A oxidoreductase-like protein DsbA-L, mouse