Lack of TRPV 2 impairs thermogenesis in mouse brown adipose tissue

Brown adipose tissue ( BAT ), a major site for mammalian non‐shivering thermogenesis, could be a target for prevention and treatment of human obesity. Transient receptor potential vanilloid 2 ( TRPV 2), a Ca 2+ ‐permeable non‐selective cation channel, plays vital roles in the regulation of various cellular functions. Here, we show that TRPV 2 is expressed in brown adipocytes and that mRNA levels of thermogenic genes are reduced in both cultured brown adipocytes and BAT from TRPV 2 knockout ( TRPV 2 KO ) mice. The induction of thermogenic genes in response to β‐adrenergic receptor stimulation is also decreased in TRPV 2 KO brown adipocytes and suppressed by reduced intracellular Ca 2+ concentrations in wild‐type brown adipocytes. In addition, TRPV 2 KO mice have more white adipose tissue and larger brown adipocytes and show cold intolerance, and lower BAT temperature increases in response to β‐adrenergic receptor stimulation. Furthermore, TRPV 2 KO mice have increased body weight and fat upon high‐fat‐diet treatment. Based on these findings, we conclude that TRPV 2 has a role in BAT thermogenesis and could be a target for human obesity therapy.