Retinoid X receptor γ interacts with peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ to promote browning during adipose tissue differentiation

Obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus are global public health challenges. Activating thermogenic adipose tissues, such as brown adipose tissue and beige adipose tissue, could be a promising strategy to combat obesity and consequently obesity-related diabetes. Both peroxisome proliferator-activated r...

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Main Authors: Defei Chen, Saed Woraikat, Xiong Guo, Fuyu Yang, Chenglin Tang, Fan He, Kun Qian
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Adipocyte
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/21623945.2025.2548780
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author Defei Chen
Saed Woraikat
Xiong Guo
Fuyu Yang
Chenglin Tang
Fan He
Kun Qian
author_facet Defei Chen
Saed Woraikat
Xiong Guo
Fuyu Yang
Chenglin Tang
Fan He
Kun Qian
author_sort Defei Chen
collection DOAJ
description Obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus are global public health challenges. Activating thermogenic adipose tissues, such as brown adipose tissue and beige adipose tissue, could be a promising strategy to combat obesity and consequently obesity-related diabetes. Both peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) and retinoid X receptor γ (RXRγ) play significant roles in the regulation of adipogenic differentiation. However, the underlying mechanisms and interactions between these receptors during adipogenic differentiation remain unclear. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of a transcriptome sequencing dataset sourced from the GEO database, encompassing samples of white and brown adipose tissues from 15 healthy individuals. Our findings reveal that RXRγ expression is significantly elevated in brown adipose tissue relative to white adipose tissue (p = 0.041). Furthermore, co-immunoprecipitation assays validated that RXRγ can be co-precipitated with PPARγ. Subsequent luciferase assays demonstrated that the interaction between RXRγ and PPARγ significantly enhances the transcriptional activity of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) compared to the overexpression of PPARγ alone (3.4-fold vs. 1.5-fold, p < 0.001). Notably, in human preadipocytes, the co-overexpression of RXRγ with PPARγ resulted in a significant increase in UCP1 transcriptional activity compared to the overexpression of PPARγ alone (3.4-fold vs. 2.0-fold, p < 0.05). In summary, our findings suggest that RXRγ serves as a novel cofactor for PPARγ, promoting the browning of adipose tissue through the upregulation of UCP1 transcription.
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spelling doaj-art-e429bf67a2df4254b8bbd2dadd4641c02025-08-26T05:49:06ZengTaylor & Francis GroupAdipocyte2162-39452162-397X2025-12-0114110.1080/21623945.2025.2548780Retinoid X receptor γ interacts with peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ to promote browning during adipose tissue differentiationDefei Chen0Saed Woraikat1Xiong Guo2Fuyu Yang3Chenglin Tang4Fan He5Kun Qian6Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, ChinaDepartment of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, ChinaDepartment of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, ChinaDepartment of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, ChinaDepartment of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, ChinaDepartment of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, ChinaDepartment of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, ChinaObesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus are global public health challenges. Activating thermogenic adipose tissues, such as brown adipose tissue and beige adipose tissue, could be a promising strategy to combat obesity and consequently obesity-related diabetes. Both peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) and retinoid X receptor γ (RXRγ) play significant roles in the regulation of adipogenic differentiation. However, the underlying mechanisms and interactions between these receptors during adipogenic differentiation remain unclear. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of a transcriptome sequencing dataset sourced from the GEO database, encompassing samples of white and brown adipose tissues from 15 healthy individuals. Our findings reveal that RXRγ expression is significantly elevated in brown adipose tissue relative to white adipose tissue (p = 0.041). Furthermore, co-immunoprecipitation assays validated that RXRγ can be co-precipitated with PPARγ. Subsequent luciferase assays demonstrated that the interaction between RXRγ and PPARγ significantly enhances the transcriptional activity of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) compared to the overexpression of PPARγ alone (3.4-fold vs. 1.5-fold, p < 0.001). Notably, in human preadipocytes, the co-overexpression of RXRγ with PPARγ resulted in a significant increase in UCP1 transcriptional activity compared to the overexpression of PPARγ alone (3.4-fold vs. 2.0-fold, p < 0.05). In summary, our findings suggest that RXRγ serves as a novel cofactor for PPARγ, promoting the browning of adipose tissue through the upregulation of UCP1 transcription.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/21623945.2025.2548780RXRγPPARγadipogenesiscofactorbrown adipocyte
spellingShingle Defei Chen
Saed Woraikat
Xiong Guo
Fuyu Yang
Chenglin Tang
Fan He
Kun Qian
Retinoid X receptor γ interacts with peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ to promote browning during adipose tissue differentiation
Adipocyte
RXRγ
PPARγ
adipogenesis
cofactor
brown adipocyte
title Retinoid X receptor γ interacts with peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ to promote browning during adipose tissue differentiation
title_full Retinoid X receptor γ interacts with peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ to promote browning during adipose tissue differentiation
title_fullStr Retinoid X receptor γ interacts with peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ to promote browning during adipose tissue differentiation
title_full_unstemmed Retinoid X receptor γ interacts with peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ to promote browning during adipose tissue differentiation
title_short Retinoid X receptor γ interacts with peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ to promote browning during adipose tissue differentiation
title_sort retinoid x receptor γ interacts with peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ to promote browning during adipose tissue differentiation
topic RXRγ
PPARγ
adipogenesis
cofactor
brown adipocyte
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/21623945.2025.2548780
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