The expression of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP) family members and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPAR γ) is essential for the differentiation of pre-adipocyte 3T3-L1 cells into mature adipocytes induced by a combined stimulation with dexamethasone, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine and insulin (DMI). We herein demonstrated that the RNA helicase DDX5, the expression of which was induced by DMI, played an important role in the adipocyte differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells. The DMI-induced accumulation of lipid droplets and expression of adipocyte markers in 3T3-L1 cells were significantly inhibited by the knockdown of DDX5. The knockdown of DDX5 interfered with the expressional induction of C/EBPδ, which was the first to be induced in the transcription factor cascade, and inhibited the subsequent expression of the other transcription factors, C/EBPβ, PPARγ and C/EBPα. DDX5 interacted with the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), which induced the expression of C/EBPδ. The knockdown of DDX5 failed to induce the nuclear translocation of GR, suggesting the essential role of DDX5 in the early stage of adipocyte differentiation. Furthermore, the reconstitution of DDX5, but not the DDX5 mutant (K144N) lacking RNA helicase activity, restored DMI-induced GR activation and adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 cells in which DDX5 was knocked down, confirming that the RNA helicase activity of DDX5 is essential for adipogenesis. Collectively, these results revealed for the first time that DDX5 is necessary for GR activation and plays an essential role in early adipocyte differentiation.
Keywords: C/EBPδ; DDX5; RNA helicase activity; adipocyte differentiation; glucocorticoid receptor.
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