Perilipin overexpression in mice protects against diet-induced obesity

Perilipin A is the most abundant phosphoprotein on adipocyte lipid droplets and is essential for lipid storage and lipolysis. Perilipin null mice exhibit diminished adipose tissue, elevated basal lipolysis, reduced catecholamine-stimulated lipolysis, and increased insulin resistance. To understand the physiological consequences of increased perilipin expression in vivo, we generated transgenic mice that overexpressed either human or mouse perilipin using the adipocyte-specific aP2 promoter/enhancer. Phenotypes of female transgenic and wild-type mice were characterized on chow and high-fat diets (HFDs). When challenged with an HFD, transgenic mice exhibited lower body weight, fat mass, and adipocyte size than wild-type mice. Expression of oxidative genes was increased and lipogenic genes decreased in brown adipose tissue of transgenic mice. Basal and catecholamine-stimulated lipolysis was decreased and glucose tolerance significantly improved in transgenic mice fed a HFD. Perilipin overexpression in adipose tissue protects against HFD-induced adipocyte hypertrophy, obesity, and glucose intolerance. Alterations in brown adipose tissue metabolism may mediate the effects of perilipin overexpression on body fat, although the mechanisms by which perilipin overexpression alters brown adipose tissue metabolism remain to be determined. Our findings demonstrate a novel role for perilipin expression in adipose tissue metabolism and regulation of obesity and its metabolic complications.