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Adipocyte and Cell Biology

TET-mediated hydroxymethylcytosine at the Pparγ locus is required for initiation of adipogenic differentiation

International Journal of Obesity volume 41, pages 652–659 (2017)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/Objectives:

Adipose tissue is one of the main organs regulating energy homeostasis via energy storage as well as endocrine function. The adipocyte cell number is largely determined by adipogenesis. While the molecular mechanism of adipogenesis has been extensively studied, its role in dynamic DNA methylation plasticity remains unclear. Recently, it has been shown that Tet methylcytosine dioxygenase (TET) is catalytically capable of oxidizing DNA 5-methylcytosine (5-mC) to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmC) toward a complete removal of the methylated cytosine. We investigate whether expression of the Tet genes and production of hydroxymethylcytosine are required for preadipocyte differentiation.

Subjects/Methods:

Murine 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were used to evaluate the role of Tet1 and Tet2 genes during adipogenesis. Changes in adipogenic ability and in epigenetic status were analyzed, with and without interfering Tet1 and Tet2 expression using small interfering RNA (siRNA). The adipogenesis was evaluated by Oil-Red-O staining and induced expression of adipogenic genes using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Levels of 5-hmC and 5-mC were measured by MassARRAY, immunoprecipitation and GC mass spectrometry at specific loci as well as globally.

Results:

Both Tet1 and Tet2 genes were upregulated in a time-dependent manner, accompanied by increased expression of hallmark adipogenic genes such as Pparγ and Fabp4 (P<0.05). The TET upregulation led to reduced DNA methylation and elevated hydroxymethylcytosine, both globally and specifically at the Pparγ locus (P<0.05 and P<0.01, respectively). Knockdown of Tet1 and Tet2 blocked adipogenesis (P<0.01) by repression of Pparγ expression (P<0.05). In particular, Tet2 knockdown repressed conversion of 5-mC to 5-hmC at the Pparγ locus (P<0.01). Moreover, vitamin C treatment enhanced adipogenesis (P<0.05), while fumarate treatment inhibited it (P<0.01) by modulating TET activities.

Conclusions:

TET proteins, particularly TET2, were required for adipogenesis by modulating DNA methylation at the Pparγ locus, subsequently by inducing Pparγ gene expression.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korea government (MEST) (2014R1A1A2058942 to YJP and 2014R1A1A2058964 to AML). YY and JHP were supported by the Brain Korea 21 Plus Project in 2013 (22A20130012143).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nutritional Science and Food Management, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Republic of Korea

    Y Yoo, J H Park & Y J Park

  2. Department of System Cancer Science, Graduate School of Cancer Science and Policy, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Republic of Korea

    Y Yoo & A M Lindroth

  3. Division of Epigenomics and Cancer Risk Factors, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany

    C Weigel, D Weichenhan & C Plass

  4. Division of Preventive Oncology, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany

    D B Liesenfeld

  5. Department of Conservative Dentistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea

    D-G Seo

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  1. Y Yoo
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Yoo, Y., Park, J., Weigel, C. et al. TET-mediated hydroxymethylcytosine at the Pparγ locus is required for initiation of adipogenic differentiation. Int J Obes 41, 652–659 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2017.8

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