Mice lacking endogenous TRPV1 express reduced levels of thermogenic proteins and are susceptible to diet-induced obesity and metabolic dysfunction

FEBS Lett. 2021 Jul;595(13):1768-1781. doi: 10.1002/1873-3468.14105. Epub 2021 May 30.

Abstract

Transient receptor potential vanilloid subfamily 1 (TRPV1) is a non-selective cation channel protein expressed in neuronal and non-neuronal cells. Although TRPV1 is implicated in thermogenesis and diet-induced obesity (DIO), its precise role remains controversial. TRPV1-/- mice are protected from DIO, while TRPV1 activation enhances thermogenesis to prevent obesity. To reconcile this, we fed wild-type and TRPV1-/- mice for 32 weeks with normal chow or a high-fat diet and analyzed the weight gain, metabolic activities, and thermogenic protein expression in white and brown fats. TRPV1-/- mice became obese, exhibited reduced locomotor activity, reduced energy expenditure, enhanced hepatic steatosis, and decreased thermogenic protein expression in adipose tissues. Our data reveal that lack of TRPV1 does not prevent obesity, but rather enhances metabolic dysfunction.

Keywords: TRPV1−/−; adipose tissue; adiposity; fatty liver; metabolism; obesity.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Adipose Tissue, Brown / drug effects
  • Adipose Tissue, Brown / metabolism
  • Adipose Tissue, White / drug effects
  • Adipose Tissue, White / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Diet, High-Fat / adverse effects*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • Gene Regulatory Networks / drug effects*
  • Male
  • Metabolic Syndrome / chemically induced
  • Metabolic Syndrome / genetics*
  • Metabolic Syndrome / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Obesity / chemically induced
  • Obesity / genetics*
  • Obesity / metabolism
  • TRPV Cation Channels / genetics*
  • Thermogenesis

Substances

  • TRPV Cation Channels
  • TRPV1 protein, mouse