Xanthine Oxidoreductase Is a Regulator of Adipogenesis and PPARγ Activity

In an effort to identify novel candidate regulators of adipogenesis, gene profiling of differentiating 3T3-L1 preadipocytes was analyzed using a novel algorithm. We report here the characterization of xanthine oxidoreductase (XOR) as a novel regulator of adipogenesis. XOR lies downstream of C/EBPβ and upstream of PPARγ, in the cascade of factors that control adipogenesis, and it regulates PPARγ activity. In vitro, knockdown of XOR inhibits adipogenesis and PPARγ activity while constitutive overexpression increases activity of the PPARγ receptor in both adipocytes and preadipocytes. In vivo, XOR -/- mice demonstrate 50% reduction in adipose mass versus wild-type littermates while obese ob/ob mice exhibit increased concentrations of XOR mRNA and urate in the adipose tissue. We propose that XOR is a novel regulator of adipogenesis and of PPARγ activity and essential for the regulation of fat accretion. Our results identify XOR as a potential therapeutic target for metabolic abnormalities beyond hyperuricemia.