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Role of sympathetic activity in controlling the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in brown fat cells of lean and genetically obese rats
Author(s) -
Tonello Cristina,
Giordano Antonio,
Cozzi Valeria,
Cinti Saverio,
Stock Michael J,
Carruba Michele O,
Nisoli Enzo
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/s0014-5793(98)01627-5
Subject(s) - brown adipose tissue , endocrinology , vascular endothelial growth factor , medicine , angiogenesis , adipose tissue , biology , gene isoform , prdm16 , vascular endothelial growth factor a , growth factor , thermogenesis , vegf receptors , receptor , gene , biochemistry
The thermogenic activity of brown adipose tissue (BAT) is heavily dependent on high perfusion, through its dense vascular system. Angiogenesis must go hand‐in‐hand with BAT functions, but little is known about the factors controlling it. In the present study we demonstrate that: (a) vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is synthesised and released in brown adipocytes in culture; (b) VEGF mRNA isoforms and protein appear in dispersed mature brown adipocytes and whole tissue; (c) VEGF expression is increased in BAT from cold‐exposed rats, and in cultured brown adipocytes exposed to noradrenaline and the β 3 ‐adrenoceptor agonists; (e) BAT from genetically obese ( fa / fa ) rats exhibits reduced expression of VEGF as well as a change in the ratio of mRNA isoforms. It is concluded that sympathetic control of VEGF expression via noradrenaline acting on β 3 ‐adrenoceptors plays a major role in developmental and adaptive angiogenesis, and defects in this contribute to the reduced thermogenic capacity of BAT in genetic obesity.