Circadian clock dysfunction in human omental fat links obesity to metabolic inflammation

Nat Commun. 2021 Apr 22;12(1):2388. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-22571-9.

Abstract

To unravel the pathogenesis of obesity and its complications, we investigate the interplay between circadian clocks and NF-κB pathway in human adipose tissue. The circadian clock function is impaired in omental fat from obese patients. ChIP-seq analyses reveal that the core clock activator, BMAL1 binds to several thousand target genes. NF-κB competes with BMAL1 for transcriptional control of some targets and overall, BMAL1 chromatin binding occurs in close proximity to NF-κB consensus motifs. Obesity relocalizes BMAL1 occupancy genome-wide in human omental fat, thereby altering the transcription of numerous target genes involved in metabolic inflammation and adipose tissue remodeling. Eventually, clock dysfunction appears at early stages of obesity in mice and is corrected, together with impaired metabolism, by NF-κB inhibition. Collectively, our results reveal a relationship between NF-κB and the molecular clock in adipose tissue, which may contribute to obesity-related complications.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • ARNTL Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Adipocytes / immunology
  • Adipocytes / metabolism
  • Adiponectin / genetics
  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Biopsy
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Chromatin Immunoprecipitation Sequencing
  • Circadian Clocks / genetics
  • Circadian Clocks / immunology*
  • Diet, High-Fat / adverse effects
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / immunology
  • Inflammation / pathology
  • Intra-Abdominal Fat / immunology
  • Intra-Abdominal Fat / pathology*
  • Male
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Middle Aged
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism*
  • Obesity / complications*
  • Obesity / immunology
  • Obesity / metabolism
  • Obesity / pathology
  • Omentum / immunology
  • Omentum / pathology
  • Period Circadian Proteins / genetics
  • Primary Cell Culture
  • Transcription, Genetic

Substances

  • ARNTL Transcription Factors
  • BMAL1 protein, human
  • Adiponectin
  • Adipoq protein, mouse
  • NF-kappa B
  • Per2 protein, mouse
  • Period Circadian Proteins