Klf4-Sirt3/Pparα-Lcad pathway contributes to high phosphate-induced lipid degradation

BACKGROUND: Phosphorus commonly reduces lipid deposition in the vertebrates. However, the underlying mechanisms involved in the process remain unclear. METHODS: Yellow catfish were given three experimental diets with dietary phosphate levels of 3.22, 6.47 and 7.99 g Pi kg(− 1), respectively, for 8 weeks. The contents of triglyceride, non-esterified free fatty acids, adenosine triphosphate, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, enzymatic activities, mRNA and protein expression were determined in the intestinal tissues. Hematoxylin and eosin, Oil Red O staining, and transmission electron microscope were performed for intestinal tissues. Primary intestinal epithelial cells were isolated from yellow catfish intestine. Western blot analysis, Immunoprecipitation assays, Immunofluorescence staining, and RNA extraction and quantitative real-time PCR were decided. Luciferase reporter assays and electrophoretic mobility shift assay were used to evaluate the function of Sirt3, PPARα and Lcad promoters. RESULTS: High dietary phosphate intake activated intestinal phosphate absorption and excretion, and reduced lipid deposition through increasing lipolysis in the intestine. Moreover, phosphate incubation increased the mRNA and protein expression of krüppel like factor 4 (klf4), silent mating-type information regulation 2 homolog 3 (sirt3), peroxisome proliferator activated receptor alpha (pparα) and long chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (lcad) in the intestinal epithelial cells (IECs), and klf4 knockdown attenuated the phosphate-induced increase of protein levels of Sirt3, Pparα and Lcad. Further investigation found that Klf4 overexpression increased the activity of sirt3 and pparα promoters, which in turn reduced the acetylation and protein level of Lcad. CONCLUSION: Dietary Pi excess induced lipid degradation by the activation of the Klf4-Sirt3/Pparα-Lcad pathway in the intestine and primary IECs. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT: [Image: see text] SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12964-022-01008-w.