Cardiolipin Synthesis in Brown and Beige Fat Mitochondria Is Essential for Systemic Energy Homeostasis

Publication date: Available online 31 May 2018
Source:Cell Metabolism
Author(s): Elahu G. Sustarsic, Tao Ma, Matthew D. Lynes, Michael Larsen, Iuliia Karavaeva, Jesper F. Havelund, Carsten H. Nielsen, Mark P. Jedrychowski, Marta Moreno-Torres, Morten Lundh, Kaja Plucinska, Naja Z. Jespersen, Trisha J. Grevengoed, Barbara Kramar, Julia Peics, Jakob B. Hansen, Farnaz Shamsi, Isabel Forss, Ditte Neess, Susanne Keipert, Jianing Wang, Katharina Stohlmann, Ivan Brandslund, Cramer Christensen, Marit E. Jørgensen, Allan Linneberg, Oluf Pedersen, Michael A. Kiebish, Klaus Qvortrup, Xianlin Han, Bente Klarlund Pedersen, Martin Jastroch, Susanne Mandrup, Andreas Kjær, Steven P. Gygi, Torben Hansen, Matthew P. Gillum, Niels Grarup, Brice Emanuelli, Søren Nielsen, Camilla Scheele, Yu-Hua Tseng, Nils J. Færgeman, Zachary Gerhart-Hines
Activation of energy expenditure in thermogenic fat is a promising strategy to improve metabolic health, yet the dynamic processes that evoke this response are poorly understood. Here we show that synthesis of the mitochondrial phospholipid cardiolipin is indispensable for stimulating and sustaining thermogenic fat function. Cardiolipin biosynthesis is robustly induced in brown and beige adipose upon cold exposure. Mimicking this response through overexpression of cardiolipin synthase (Crls1) enhances energy consumption in mouse and human adipocytes. Crls1 deficiency in thermogenic adipocytes diminishes inducible mitochondrial uncoupling and elicits a nuclear transcriptional response through endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated retrograde communication. Cardiolipin depletion in brown and beige fat abolishes adipose thermogenesis and glucose uptake, which renders animals insulin resistant. We further identify a rare human CRLS1 variant associated with insulin resistance and show that adipose CRLS1 levels positively correlate with insulin sensitivity. Thus, adipose cardiolipin has a powerful impact on organismal energy homeostasis through thermogenic fat bioenergetics.

Graphical abstract

Teaser

Sustarsic et al. reveal that synthesis of the mitochondrial phospholipid cardiolipin is a hallmark of brown and beige fat activation by cold temperature. This single lipid species in thermogenic fat not only shapes adipose mitochondrial bioenergetics but also exerts profound control over whole-body insulin sensitivity and metabolic flexibility.


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