Altering the balance between energy intake and expenditure is a potential strategy for treating obesity and metabolic syndrome. Nonetheless, despite years of progress in identifying diverse molecular targets, biological-based therapies are limited. Here we demonstrate that heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) regulates energy expenditure through activation of a PGC1α-dependent metabolic program in adipose tissues and muscle. Genetic modulation of HSF1 levels altered white fat remodeling and thermogenesis, and pharmacological activation of HSF1 via celastrol was associated with enhanced energy expenditure, increased mitochondrial function in fat and muscle and protection against obesity, insulin resistance, and hepatic steatosis during high-fat diet regimens. The beneficial metabolic changes elicited by celastrol were abrogated in HSF1 knockout mice. Overall, our findings identify the temperature sensor HSF1 as a regulator of energy metabolism and demonstrate that augmenting HSF1 via celastrol represents a possible therapeutic strategy to treat obesity and its myriad metabolic consequences.

Seven-transmembrane-spanning receptors (7TMRs) are prominent drug targets. However, small-molecule ligands for 7-transmembrane-spanning receptors for which the natural ligands are large, heterodimeric glycoprotein hormones, like thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH; thyrotropin), have only recently been reported, and none are approved for human use. We have used quantitative high-throughput screening to identify a small-molecule TSH receptor (TSHR) agonist that was modified to produce a second agonist with increased potency. We show that these agonists are highly selective for human TSHR versus other glycoprotein hormone receptors and interact with the receptor's serpentine domain. A binding pocket within the transmembrane domain was defined by docking into a TSHR homology model and was supported by site-directed mutagenesis. In primary cultures of human thyrocytes, both TSH and the agonists increase mRNA levels for thyroglobulin, thyroperoxidase, sodium iodide symporter, and deiodinase type 2, and deiodinase type 2 enzyme activity. Moreover, oral administration of the agonist stimulated thyroid function in mice, resulting in increased serum thyroxine and thyroidal radioiodide uptake. Thus, we discovered a small molecule that activates human TSHR in vitro, is orally active in mice, and could be a lead for development of drugs to use in place of recombinant human TSH in patients with thyroid cancer.7TMR ͉ G protein-coupled receptor ͉ low-molecular-weight ligands ͉ radioiodide uptake ͉ TSH receptor S mall-molecule agonists and antagonists for 7-transmembrane-spanning receptors (7TMRs; G protein-coupled receptors) make up approximately 40% of the drugs in clinical use (1). The natural ligands for the 7TMRs for which drugs have been discovered are themselves primarily small molecules, such as norepinephrine, adenosine, and acetylcholine. Smallmolecule ligands for the subclass of 7TMRs for which the natural ligands are 30-kDa heterodimeric glycoprotein hormones have recently begun to be described, but none have been approved for use in humans. For example, small-molecule agonists (2-5) and an antagonist (6) for the luteinizing hormone/chorionic gonadotropin receptor (LHCGR), and small-molecule agonists (7-9) and antagonists (10-12) for the FSH receptor (FSHR) have been reported. The thyrotropin (thyroid-stimulating hormone, TSH) receptor (TSHR) is the third member of the glycoprotein hormone receptor subfamily. We recently reported smallmolecule agonists (13) and an antagonist (14) for human TSHR; however, the agonists were of low affinity and were shown to activate TSHRs only in a model cell system in which human TSHRs were ectopically over-expressed.The physiologic role of TSHRs in the hypothalamic-pituitarythyroid axis is well known. TSH, which is produced in the thyrotrophs of the anterior pituitary gland, is secreted into the circulation in response to TSH-releasing hormone stimulation and in turn stimulates the function of the thyroid follicular cells (i.e., thyrocytes) leading, in particular, to increases in size ...

The endocannabinoid system regulates food intake, energy, and glucose metabolism at both central and peripheral levels. We have investigated the mechanism by which it may control glucose uptake in skeletal muscle cells. Detectable levels of the cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1) were revealed in L6 cells. Exposure of differentiated L6 myotubes to the CB1 antagonist rimonabant (SR141716) selectively increased 2-deoxyglucose uptake (2-DG) in a time-and dose-dependent manner. A similar effect was induced by genetic silencing of CB1 by small interfering RNA. Protein expression profiling revealed that both the regulatory p85 and the catalytic p110 subunits of the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) were increased by SR141716. No significant change in the cellular content of other known molecules regulating PI3K was observed. However, phosphoinositidedependent kinase-1, Akt/protein kinase B, and protein kinase C activities were rapidly induced after SR141716 treatment of L6 cells in a PI3K-dependent manner. The stimulatory effect of SR141716 on PI3K expression and activity was largely prevented by

Objective Resting energy expenditure (EE) is a major contributor to the total EE and thus plays an important role in body weight regulation. Adaptive thermogenesis is a major component of EE in rodents, but little is known on the effects of exposure of humans to mild and sustainable reduction in environmental temperature. Design To characterize the dynamic changes in continuously measured resting EE, substrate utilization, and hormonal axes simultaneously in response to mild reduction in environmental temperature, we performed a cross-over intervention. Methods Twenty-five volunteers underwent two 12-h recordings of EE in whole room indirect calorimeters at 24 and 19 °C with simultaneous measurement of spontaneous movements and hormonal axes. Results Exposure to 19 °C resulted in an increase in plasma and urine norepinephrine levels (P<0.0001), and a 5.96% (P<0.001) increase in EE without significant changes in spontaneous physical activity. Exposure to the lower temperature resulted in a significant increase in free fatty acid levels (P<0.01), fasting insulin levels (P<0.05), and a marginal decrease in postprandial glucose levels. A small but significant (P<0.002) increase in serum free thyroxine and urinary free cortisol (P<0.05) was observed at 19 °C. Conclusions Our observations indicate that exposure to 19 °C, a mild and tolerable cold temperature, results in a predictable increase in EE driven by a sustained rise in catecholamine and the activation of counter-regulatory mechanisms.