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© 2016 Nature America, Inc. All rights reserved.The discovery of genetic mechanisms for resistance to obesity and diabetes may illuminate new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of this global health challenge. We used the polygenic 'lean' mouse model, which has been selected for low adiposity over 60 generations, to identify mitochondrial thiosulfate sulfurtransferase (Tst; also known as rhodanese) as a candidate obesity-resistance gene with selectively increased expression in adipocytes. Elevated adipose Tst expression correlated with indices of metabolic health across diverse mouse strains. Transgenic overexpression of Tst in adipocytes protected mice from diet-induced obesity and insulin-resistant diabetes. Tst-deficient mice showed markedly exacerbated diabetes, whereas pharmacological activation of TST ameliorated diabetes in mice. Mechanistically, TST selectively augmented mitochondrial function combined with degradation of reactive oxygen species and sulfide. In humans, TST mRNA expression in adipose tissue correlated positively with insulin sensitivity in adipose tissue and negatively with fat mass. Thus, the genetic identification of Tst as a beneficial regulator of adipocyte mitochondrial function may have therapeutic significance for individuals with type 2 diabetes.
Author(s): Morton NM, Beltram J, Carter RN, Michailidou Z, Gorjanc G, McFadden C, Barrios-Llerena ME, Rodriguez-Cuenca S, Gibbins MTG, Aird RE, Moreno-Navarrete JM, Munger SC, Svenson KL, Gastaldello A, Ramage L, Naredo G, Zeyda M, Wang ZV, Howie AF, Saari A, Sipila P, Stulnig TM, Gudnason V, Kenyon CJ, Seckl JR, Walker BR, Webster SP, Dunbar DR, Churchill GA, Vidal-Puig A, Fernandez-Real JM, Emilsson V, Horvat S
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Nature Medicine
Year: 2016
Volume: 22
Issue: 7
Pages: 771-779
Online publication date: 06/06/2016
Acceptance date: 29/04/2016
ISSN (print): 1078-8956
ISSN (electronic): 1546-170X
Publisher: Nature Publishing Group
URL: https://doi.org/10.1038/nm.4115
DOI: 10.1038/nm.4115
PubMed id: 27270587
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