Adipose tissue macrophage-derived miR-690 modulates adipocyte precursor cell maintenance and adipogenesis

Abstract

Obesity is intricately linked to various metabolic diseases; however, some individuals maintain metabolic health despite being classified as obese. A critical factor underlying this paradox is the expansion of white adipose tissue (WAT), which can occur through two mechanisms: hypertrophy (the enlargement of existing fat cells) and hyperplasia (the formation of new fat cells from adipocyte precursor cells, or APCs). Hyperplasia is regarded as a healthier mode of WAT expansion, as it tends to reduce inflammation and protect against insulin resistance. Thus, interventions that promote hyperplasia over hypertrophy could improve metabolic health in obese individuals. In this study, we investigate the role of microRNA-690 (miR-690), an anti-inflammatory and insulin-sensitizing molecule, in maintaining the APC population and facilitating the healthy expansion of epididymal WAT (eWAT). Our findings indicate that in lean mice, macrophages support the APC population by transferring miR-690 to APCs. However, during obesity, the recruitment of pro-inflammatory lipid-associated macrophages (LAMs) to eWAT diminishes miR-690 delivery to APCs, impairing adipogenesis and leading to unhealthy WAT expansion. We demonstrate that strategies aimed at increasing the availability of miR-690 to APCs or mimicking its effects can restore APC functionality. Additionally, mutations in Nadk, the target of miR-690, were shown to mitigate the adverse effects of obesity on APC maintenance in eWAT. These findings suggest that targeting the miR-690-Nadk axis in APCs may provide novel therapeutic strategies to promote healthy adipose tissue expansion and protect against obesity-related metabolic diseases.