Leptin is a key regulator of energy intake and expenditure. This peptide hormone is expressed in mouse white adipose tissue, but hardly expressed in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Using bisulfite sequencing, we found that CpG islands in the leptin promoter are highly methylated in 3T3-L1cells. 5-azacytidine, an inhibitor of DNA methyltransferase, markedly increased leptin expression as pre-adipocytes matured into adipocytes. Remarkably, leptin expression was stimulated by insulin in adipocytes derived from precursor cells exposed to 5-azacytidine, but suppressed by thiazolidinedione and dexamethasone. In contrast, adipocytes derived from untreated precursor cells were unresponsive to both 5-azacytidine and hormonal stimuli, although lipid accumulation was sufficient to boost leptin expression in the absence of demethylation. Taken together, the results suggest that leptin expression in 3T3-L1 cells requires DNA demethylation prior to adipogenesis, transcriptional activation during adipogenesis, and lipid accumulation after adipogenesis.

Hypertrophy, associated with adipocyte dysfunction, causes increased pro-inflammatory adipokine, and abnormal glucose and lipid metabolism, leading to insulin resistance and obesity-related-health problems. By combining DNA microarray and genomic data analyses to predict DNA binding motifs, we identified the transcription factor Interferon Regulatory Factor 7 (IRF7) as a possible regulator of genes related to adipocyte hypertrophy. To investigate the role of IRF7 in adipocytes, we examined gene expression patterns in 3T3-L1 cells infected with a retrovirus carrying the IRF7 gene and found that enforced IRF7 expression induced the expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), a key initial adipokine in the chronic inflammation of obesity. CRISPR/Cas9 mediated-suppression of IRF7 significantly reduced MCP-1 mRNA. Luciferase assays, chromatin immunoprecipitation PCR analysis and gel shift assay showed that IRF7 transactivates the MCP-1 gene by binding to its proximal Interferon Stimulation Response Element (ISRE), a putative IRF7 binding motif. IRF7 knockout mice exhibited lower expression of MCP-1 in epidydimal white adipose tissue under high-fat feeding conditions, suggesting the transcription factor is physiologically important for inducing MCP-1. Taken together, our results suggest that IRF7 transactivates MCP-1 mRNA in adipocytes, and it may be involved in the adipose tissue inflammation associated with obesity.

Enhancing exercise motivation is the best way to prevent obesity and diabetes. In this study, we examined whether adiponectin affects locomotion activity in Wister and Spontaneously-Running Tokushima-Shikoku (SPORTS) rats using two types of behavioral assays: home cage and wheel running activity. SPORTS rats were established from an original line from Wister strain that had shown high level of wheel running activity in our laboratory. Injection of adiponectin into the lateral ventricle of Wister rats and SPORTS rats decreased home cage activity, but no change was observed in the food intake and oxygen consumption. This result indicates the possibility that adiponectin can reduce non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT) and physical activity via the central nervous system. In contrast, injection of adiponectin did not change wheel running activity in SPORTS rats. We produced hypothalamus-destructed model rat using monosodium glutamate (MSG) to elucidate the regulation site of adiponectin. Injection of adiponectin into MSG-treated SPORTS rats did not change amount of home cage activity and food intake, suggesting that adiponectin action on home cage activity was in the hypothalamic area. These results suggest that adiponectin regulates locomotion activity through mediobasal hypothalamus.

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