While adipose tissue is required to maintain
glucose metabolism, excessive calorie intake induces
obesity via mechanisms including accelerated proliferation and differentiation of preadipocytes, leading to
insulin resistance. Here, we investigated the role of myoferlin (MYOF), a ferlin family
protein, in regulating
glucose metabolism by mainly focusing on its unknown role in adipose tissue. Whereas young MYOF knockout (KO) mice on a normal diet showed aggravated
glucose tolerance and
insulin sensitivity, those on a high-fat diet (HFD) showed preserved
glucose tolerance with an attenuated gain of
body weight, reduced visceral fat deposits, and less severe
fatty liver. The Adipose MYOF expression was reduced by aging but was restored by an HFD along with the retained expression of NFAT
transcription factors. Loss-of-function of MYOF in preadipocytes suppressed proliferation and differentiation into mature adipocytes along with the decreased expression of genes involved in adipogenesis. The MYOF expression in preadipocytes was reduced with differentiation. Attenuated
obesity in MYOF KO mice on an HFD was also accompanied with increased oxygen consumption by an unidentified mechanism and with reduced adipose
inflammation due to less inflammatory macrophages. These insights suggest that the multifunctional roles of MYOF involve the regulation of preadipocyte function and affect
glucose metabolism bidirectionally depending on consumed calories.