RANKL system in the genic expression regulation of PGC-1a

• Grant number: 17/25848-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2018
• End date: December 31, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Molecular Biology
• Principal Investigator: Mariana Kiomy Osako
• Grantee: Ana Júlia Rossoni Carvalho
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The brown adipose tissue has been a novel target in different studies regarding its roles in thermogenesis. It is characterized by a high mitochondria density, that has its biogenesis regulated by PGC-1 family genes, in special by PGC-1±. PGC-1± is a co-transcriptional regulator factor, being responsible by a higher activity of PPAR³, regulating different metabolic pathways in the different cell types it is expressed. The RANK-RANKL-OPG system, on the other hand, is well characterized in osteoclastogenesis, and preliminary data with knock-out mice for osteoprotegerin (OPG) shows a browning of the white adipose tissue, that is characterized by its unilocular adipocytes, becoming similar with the brown adipose tissue, characterized by its multilocular adipocytes. Taking into account the role of PGC-1± in the mitochondrial biogenesis, this study proposes to evaluate the action of RANKL stimulation on browning of the white adipose tissue, alongside other pathways, focusing in the mitochondrial biogenesis through PGC-1±. (AU)