Ube4A maintains metabolic homeostasis and facilitates insulin signaling in vivo

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

• Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
• Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
• Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
• Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
• Emerging · Emerging topic under active research

Abstract (original English)

Objective Defining the regulators of cell metabolism and signaling is essential to design new therapeutic strategies in obesity and NAFLD/NASH. E3 ubiquitin ligases control diverse cellular functions by ubiquitination-mediated regulation of protein targets, and thus their functional aberration is associated with many diseases. The E3 ligase Ube4A has been implicated in human obesity, inflammation, and cancer. However, its in vivo function is unknown, and no animal models are available to study this novel protein. Methods A whole-body Ube4A knockout (UKO) mouse model was generated, and various metabolic parameters were compared in chow- and high fat diet (HFD)-fed WT and UKO mice, and in their liver, adipose tissue, and serum. Lipidomics and RNA-Seq studies were performed in the liver samples of HFD-fed WT and UKO mice. Proteomic studies were conducted to identify Ube4A's targets in metabolism. Furthermore, a mechanism by which Ube4A regulates metabolism was identified. Results Although the body weight and composition of young, chow-fed WT and UKO mice are similar, the knockouts exhibit mild hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance. HFD feeding substantially augments obesity, hyperinsulinemia, and insulin resistance in both sexes of UKO mice. HFD-fed white and brown adipose tissue depots of UKO mice have increased insulin resistance and inflammation and reduced energy metabolism.

Evidence level

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

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