Adipose angiotensin II type 1 receptor-associated protein ameliorates metabolic disorders via promoting adipose tissue adipogenesis and browning

Abstract Adipose tissue is a complicated organ that not only stores excess energy, but also secrets many adipokines regulating whole-body energy hemostasis. Dysfunction of adipose tissue leads to metabolic disorders such as insulin resistance, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases. In this study, we generated a mouse model with overexpression of Angiotensin II type 1 receptor-associated protein (ATRAP) in adipose tissue specifically. Under a normal diet, ATRAP transgene (TgATRAP) mice showed similar bodyweight, fat mass and insulin sensitivity with wild-type controls (WT). When challenged with a high fat diet, TgATRAP mice ameliorated insulin sensitivity, decreased fat mass compared with WT. Morphology and gene expression of adipose tissue, indicated that adipogenesis, adipocyte browning and angiogenesis of adipose tissue were increased in TgATRAP mice. Overexpression of ATRAP induced adiponectin expression both in adipose tissue and primary adipocyte. Our data revealed that adipose ATRAP plays an important role in preventing metabolic disorders and adiponectin possibly mediates the effects of adipose ATRAP.