In vivo knockdown of adipocyte erythropoietin receptor does not alter glucose or energy homeostasis

Endocrinology. 2013 Oct;154(10):3652-9. doi: 10.1210/en.2013-1113. Epub 2013 Jul 24.

Abstract

The growing prevalence of obesity and diabetes necessitate a better understanding of the role of adipocyte biology in metabolism. Increasingly, erythropoietin (EPO) has been shown to have extraerythropoietic and cytoprotective roles. Exogenous administration has recently been shown to have beneficial effects on obesity and diabetes in mouse models and EPO can modulate adipogenesis and insulin signaling in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. However, its physiological role in adipocytes has not been identified. Using male and female mice with adipose tissue-specific knockdown of the EPO receptor, we determine that adipocyte EPO signaling is not essential for the maintenance of energy homeostasis or glucose metabolism. Adipose tissue-specific disruption of EPO receptor did not alter adipose tissue expansion, adipocyte morphology, insulin resistance, inflammation, or angiogenesis in vivo. In contrast to the pharmacological effects of EPO, we demonstrate that EPO signaling at physiological levels is not essential for adipose tissue regulation of metabolism.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adipose Tissue, Brown / blood supply
  • Adipose Tissue, Brown / cytology
  • Adipose Tissue, Brown / immunology
  • Adipose Tissue, Brown / metabolism
  • Adipose Tissue, White / blood supply
  • Adipose Tissue, White / cytology
  • Adipose Tissue, White / metabolism*
  • Adipose Tissue, White / pathology
  • Adiposity
  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / immunology
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / metabolism
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / pathology
  • Diet, High-Fat / adverse effects
  • Energy Metabolism*
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Glucose / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Insulin Resistance
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Middle Aged
  • Neovascularization, Physiologic
  • Obesity / etiology
  • Obesity / immunology
  • Obesity / metabolism
  • Obesity / pathology
  • Receptors, Erythropoietin / genetics
  • Receptors, Erythropoietin / metabolism*
  • Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms

Substances

  • Receptors, Erythropoietin
  • Glucose