miR-130b/301b is a Negative Regulator of Beige Adipogenesis and Energy Metabolism in vitro and in vivo

<p>Thermogenic brown or beige adipocytes dissipate energy in the form of heat and thereby counteract obesity and related metabolic complications. The microRNA cluster, miR-130b/301b, is highly expressed in adipose tissues and has been implicated in metabolic diseases as a post-transcriptional regulator of mitochondrial biogenesis and lipid metabolism. We investigated the roles of miR-130b/301b in regulating beige adipogenesis <em>in vivo</em> and <em>in vitro</em>. miR-130b/301b declined in adipose progenitor cells during beige adipogenesis, while forced overexpression of miR-130b-3p or miR-301b-3p suppressed uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) and mitochondrial respiration, suggesting a decline in miR-130b-3p or miR-301b-3p is required for adipocyte precursors to develop the beige phenotype. Mechanistically, miR-130b/301b directly targeted AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPKα1) and suppressed peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (<em>Pgc-1α</em>), key regulators of brown adipogenesis and mitochondrial biogenesis. Mice lacking the miR-130b/301b microRNA cluster showed reduced visceral adiposity and less weight gain. miR-130b/301b null mice exhibited improved glucose tolerance, increased UCP1 and AMPK activation in subcutaneous fat (iWAT), and increased response to cold-induced energy expenditure. Together, these data identify the miR-130b/301b cluster as a new regulator that suppresses beige adipogenesis involving PGC-1α and AMPK signaling in iWAT and is therefore a potential therapeutic target against obesity and related metabolic disorders.</p>