Adropin is a peptide hormone encoded by Energy Homeostasis Associated (Enho) gene. Adropin modulates glucose and lipid metabolism, and adiposity. Recently, we found that adropin suppresses differentiation of rodent white preadipocytes into mature fat cells. By contrast, the role of adropin in controlling brown adipogenesis is largely unknown. Therefore, in the present study we evaluated the effects of adropin on proliferation and differentiation of adipocyte precursor cells in rats. Brown adipocyte precursor cells were isolated from male Wistar rats. Cell replication was measured by BrdU incorporation. Gene expression was studied using real time PCR. Protein phosphorylation and production was assessed by Western blot. Lipid accumulation was evaluated by Oil Red O staining. Colorimetric kits were used to evaluate glycerol and free fatty acids release. We report here that adropin stimulates proliferation of brown preadipocytes. Moreover, in brown preadipocytes, adropin suppresses mRNA expression of adipogenic genes (C/ebpα, C/ebpβ, Pgc1α, Pparγ and Prdm16) during differentiation process. In addition, adropin suppresses UCP1 protein production in brown adipocytes. Finally, adropin reduces intracellular lipid content in brown adipocytes. These results indicate that adropin stimulates proliferation of brown preadipocytes and suppresses their differentiation into mature adipocytes.

Adropin是一种由能量稳态平衡（Enho）编码的肽激素）基因。Adropin调节葡萄糖和脂质的代谢以及肥胖。最近，我们发现，降钙素抑制了啮齿动物的白色前脂肪细胞向成熟脂肪细胞的分化。相比之下，在控制褐色脂肪形成过程中，adropin的作用在很大程度上是未知的。因此，在本研究中，我们评估了adropin对大鼠脂肪细胞前体细胞增殖和分化的影响。从雄性Wistar大鼠中分离出褐色脂肪细胞前体细胞。通过BrdU掺入测量细胞复制。使用实时PCR研究基因表达。通过蛋白质印迹评估蛋白质的磷酸化和产生。通过油红O染色评价脂质蓄积。使用比色试剂盒评估甘油和游离脂肪酸的释放。我们在这里报告说，降钙素刺激棕色前脂肪细胞的增殖。此外，在棕色前脂肪细胞中，adropin抑制脂肪形成基因的mRNA表达（C /ebpα，C /ebpβ，Pgc1α，Pparγ和Prdm16）。另外，降钙素抑制棕色脂肪细胞中UCP1蛋白的产生。最后，降钙素降低棕色脂肪细胞中的细胞内脂质含量。这些结果表明，adropin刺激棕色前脂肪细胞的增殖并抑制其分化为成熟的脂肪细胞。