LBSUN132 Adipocyte-specific Ablation Of Fgf23 Attenuates Diet-induced Obesity In Female Mice

Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) is a bone-derived hormone that regulates phosphate homeostasis and vitamin D metabolism. In addition to its central role in mineral balance, recent findings suggested that FGF23 is associated with chronic metabolic conditions including cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, and obesity. Circulating FGF23 levels are elevated in obese individuals, and they are correlated with body fat mass and abdominal obesity. Moreover, consumption of high fat diet (HFD) increases serum FGF23 levels. However, the actions of FGF23 in adipocytes and its role in lipid metabolism have not been demonstrated. To understand the role of FGF23 in adipocytes, particularly in obesity, we generated adipocyte-specific Fgf23 null mice using Cre recombinase under the control of the mouse adiponectin (Adipoq) promoter. Both male and female control (Fgf23flox/flox) and knockout (KO, AdipoqCreFgf23flox/flox) mice were fed either HFD (60%kcal fat) or normal fat diet (NFD) at 8 weeks of age for 24 weeks. Body weight measurements were taken every week and percentage of body fat was determined after longitudinally during 24 weeks of diet interventation using in vivo by an EchoMRI scannermicroCT. Serum, adipose tissue, and liver were collected upon sacrifice. After 24 weeks of HFD, male control and KO mice had comparable gain in body weight (BW) and body fat percentage. However, female KO mice had significantly lower body weight and percentage of body fat. Moreover, serum total cholesterol levels were reduced in female KO mice. Triglyceride (TG) content in the liver was significantly reduced in female KO mice, and it corresponded with downregulation of lipid droplet protein Perilipin and fatty acid transporter CD36 mRNA expression in the liver. Transcript levels of hepatic PPARγ, which is positively correlated with fat accumulation in obesity, were also suppressed in female KO mice compared to controls. Obesity is associated with low-grade chronic inflammation, and we found that hepatic mRNA expression of the inflammatory cytokine TNFα was diminished in female KO mice, suggesting that adipocytic Fgf23 modulates lipid accumulation and inflammation. In summary, our results demonstrate for the first time that adipocyte-specific ablation of Fgf23 alleviates attenuates diet-induced obesity and regulates lipid metabolism in a sex-specific manner. Presentation: Sunday, June 12, 2022 12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.