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Adipocyte and Cell Biology

GALNT2 as a novel modulator of adipogenesis and adipocyte insulin signaling

International Journal of Obesity volume 43, pages 2448–2457 (2019)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/objectives

A better understanding of adipose tissue biology is crucial to tackle insulin resistance and eventually coronary heart disease and diabetes, leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. GALNT2, a GalNAc-transferase, positively modulates insulin signaling in human liver cells by down-regulating ENPP1, an insulin signaling inhibitor. GALNT2 expression is increased in adipose tissue of obese as compared to that of non-obese individuals. Whether this association is secondary to a GALNT2-insulin sensitizing effect exerted also in adipocytes is unknown. We then investigated in mouse 3T3-L1 adipocytes the GALNT2 effect on adipogenesis, insulin signaling and expression levels of both Enpp1 and 72 adipogenesis-related genes.

Methods

Stable over-expressing GALNT2 and GFP preadipocytes (T0) were generated. Adipogenesis was induced with (R+) or without (R−) rosiglitazone and investigated after 15 days (T15). Lipid accumulation (by Oil Red-O staining) and intracellular triglycerides (by fluorimetric assay) were measured. Lipid droplets (LD) measures were analyzed at confocal microscope. Gene expression was assessed by RT-PCR and insulin-induced insulin receptor (IR), IRS1, JNK and AKT phosphorylation by Western blot.

Results

Lipid accumulation, triglycerides and LD measures progressively increased from T0 to T15R- and furthermore to T15R+. Such increases were significantly higher in GALNT2 than in GFP cells so that, as compared to T15R+GFP, T15R- GALNT2 cells showed similar (intracellular lipid and triglycerides accumulation) or even higher (LD measures, p < 0.01) values. In GALNT2 preadipocytes, insulin-induced IR, IRS1 and AKT activation was higher than that in GFP cells. GALNT2 effect was totally abolished during adipocyte maturation and completely reversed at late stage maturation. Such GALNT2 effect trajectory was paralleled by coordinated changes in the expression of Enpp1 and adipocyte-maturation key genes.

Conclusions

GALNT2 is a novel modulator of adipogenesis and related cellular phenotypes, thus becoming a potential target for tackling the obesity epidemics and its devastating sequelae.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Italian Ministry of Health Ricerca Corrente 2017-2019 (A.M., R.D.P., V.T.).

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Author notes

  1. These authors contributed equally: Antonella Marucci, Alessandra Antonucci

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Unit of Diabetes and Endocrine Diseases, Fondazione IRCCS “Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza”, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy

    Antonella Marucci, Alessandra Antonucci, Concetta De Bonis, Davide Mangiacotti, Maria Giovanna Scarale, Vincenzo Trischitta & Rosa Di Paola

  2. Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy

    Alessandra Antonucci

  3. Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy

    Vincenzo Trischitta

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Marucci, A., Antonucci, A., De Bonis, C. et al. GALNT2 as a novel modulator of adipogenesis and adipocyte insulin signaling. Int J Obes 43, 2448–2457 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-019-0367-3

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