The bile acid induced hepatokine orosomucoid suppresses adipocyte differentiation

Bile acids have recently emerged as key metabolic hormones with beneficial impacts in multiple metabolic diseases. We previously discovered that hepatic bile acid overload distally modulates glucose and fatty acid metabolism in adipose tissues to exert anti-obesity effects. However, the detailed mechanisms that explain the salutary effects of serum bile acid elevation remain unclear. Here, proteomic profiling identified a new hepatokine, Orosomucoid (ORM) that governs liver-adipose tissue crosstalk. Hepatic ORMs were highly induced by both genetic and dietary bile acid overload. To address the direct metabolic effects of ORM, purified ORM proteins were administered during adipogenic differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells and mouse stromal vascular fibroblasts. ORM suppressed adipocyte differentiation and strongly inhibited gene expression of adipogenic transcription factors such as C/EBP beta, KLF5, C/EBR alpha, and PPAR gamma. Taken together, our data clearly suggest that bile acid-induced ORM secretion from the liver blocks adipocyte differentiation, potentially linked to anti-obesity effect of bile acids. (C) 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Bile acids have been found to play a crucial role as metabolic hormones in various metabolic diseases, with ORM identified as a key hepatokine that regulates liver-adipose tissue crosstalk. Hepatic ORM suppresses adipocyte differentiation by inhibiting the expression of adipogenic transcription factors, potentially contributing to the anti-obesity effects of bile acids.