Transient p53 inhibition sensitizes aged white adipose tissue for beige adipocyte recruitment by blocking mitophagy

What is it about?

Aging in adipose tissues occurs early in the life. Adipose tissue aging impairs glucose, lipid, and energy homeostasis and contributes to many diseases. A prominent sign of adipose aging is the loss of capability to turn white adipocytes into thermogenic beige adipocytes._x000D_ _x000D_ This study established a causal relationship between the increased p53 protein and adipose aging. Data in this study indicate that p53 increased in mature adipocytes induces targeted clearance of mitochondria by autophagy (also called mitophagy), which blocks the formation of thermogenic beige adipocytes in aged adipose tissues. Through genetic and pharmacological approaches, this study demonstrated that p53 inhibition/ablation is sufficient to reverse adipose aging in terms of alleviating defects of beige adipocyte formation._x000D_ _x000D_ This study has implications in future research of adipose aging and also suggests that p53 pathway may be therapeutically targeted to improve insulin sensitivity in aged adipose tissues.

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