Loss of the TNFα function inhibits Wnt/β-catenin signaling, exacerbates obesity development in adolescent spontaneous obese mice

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) is an adipokine involved in the regulation of cell differentiation and lipid metabolism, but its specific role has not been clearly understood. We validated a hypothesis that loss of TNFα function would inhibit Wnt/β-catenin signaling and accelerate adipogenesis in adolescent genetic obese mice. Epididymal white adipose tissues (eWAT) from TNFα deficient (TNFα−/−), leptin receptor deficient (db/db) and double gene mutant (db/db/TNFα−/−, DT) male mice were used for comparative analysis of key molecules in Wnt/β-catenin signaling and adipogenic markers by qRT-PCR and western blot techniques. Compared with TNFα−/− and WT mice of 28 days old, an obese trait was observed in both db/db and DT mice, while the latter showed more significant body weight gain and eWAT hypertrophy. The mRNA level of key molecules in Wnt/β-catenin pathway was reduced in both obese groups, while the DT group was the lowest. Expression of adipocyte-specific genes was up-regulated during obese development in the two obese groups, while the DT group revealed more correlation than that of db/db group. At the protein level, a down regulation of Wnt10b and β-catenin in obese eWAT showed similar tendency with that of mRNA level. Compared with the lean groups, the levels of adiponectin and PPARγ2 for the obese groups were down-regulated at 21-day-old age, while they were elevated at older age. Our results suggested that deficiency in TNFα inhibited Wnt/β-catenin signaling of the obese eWAT and up-regulated expression of adipokines, and accelerated adipogenesis in genetic obese mice on a chow diet.