The same proteins that moderate nicotine dependence in the brain may be involved in regulating metabolism by acting directly on certain types of fat cells, new research shows.
Previous research identified a new type of fat cell in mice and humans, in addition to the white fat cells that store energy as lipids. These thermogenic, or "beige," fat cells can be activated to burn energy through a process called thermogenesis.
To better understand what makes beige fat unique, researchers analyzed activated beige fat and uncovered a molecule directly linked to thermogenesis in these cells: CHRNA2 (for cholinergic receptor nicotinic alpha 2), a type of receptor that is best known for regulating nicotine dependence in brain cells.
Their findings, published in Nature Medicine, reveal that CHRNA2 functions in mouse and human beige fat cells, but not in energy-storing white fat cells--indicating that this protein plays a role in energy metabolism.
This doesn't mean that smoking is good for you, cautioned the senior author, but the findings may help further explain some of the weight gain that is associated with smoking cessation.
Research has shown that nicotine can suppress appetite. But by identifying how nicotine affects metabolism directly, this new study may open the door to more novel approaches to combating the weight gain that often occurs when individuals stop smoking.
In research conducted in human and mouse cells and in genetically modified mice, researchers determined that CHRNA2 receptor proteins can be activated both by nicotine and by acetylcholine molecules produced by nearby immune cells. When the CHRNA2 protein receives the acetylcholine or nicotine, it stimulates the beige fat cells to start burning energy. CHRNA2 functioned selectively in uncoupling protein 1 (Ucp1)-positive beige adipocytes, increasing thermogenesis through a cAMP- and protein kinase A-dependent pathway.
"It is really cool to discover a selective pathway for beige fat, a new cell type--and even more exciting that this is conserved in humans," said the study's senior author.
To further test the role of CHRNA2 in metabolism, the researchers analyzed mice that lacked the gene needed to make this protein.
"And the mice definitely are metabolically worse off, compared to the control group," senior author said.
Mice without the CHRNA2 gene showed no differences from the control group when they were fed a regular diet. But when they were switched to a high-fat diet, the mice lacking the gene exhibited greater weight gain, higher body fat content and higher levels of blood glucose and insulin--indicators of diabetes.
"Beige fat is very important in regulating whole-body metabolic health," senior author said. "Our results in mice show that if you lose even one aspect of this regulation--not the whole cell function, but just one part of its function--you will have a compromised response to metabolic challenges."
The senior author believes that understanding the specific CHRNA2 signaling pathway in beige fat also opens a new avenue for identifying druggable targets to treat obesity and metabolic syndrome.
https://news.umich.edu/receptor-proteins-that-respond-to-nicotine-may-help-fat-cells-burn-energy/
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-018-0032-8
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