Stat5a promotes brown adipocyte differentiation and thermogenic program through binding and transactivating the Kdm6a promoter.

Previous studies reported that Stat5 promotes adipogenesis and white adipocyte differentiation. However, the role of Stat5 in brown adipocyte development is poorly understood. We found Stat5a was higher expressed in brown adipocytes than in white adipocytes, and its level was increased during the process of brown adipocyte differentiation. In addition, Stat5a expression was affected by cold stress and high-fat diet-feeding, suggesting a potential role in thermogenesis. Knockdown of Stat5a induced downregulation of brown fat specific genes (UCP1, PGC-1α, Acox-1 and Cidea), while overexpression of Stat5a did the opposite effect. What is more, bioinformatics analysis, ChIP assay and Luciferase activity assay all verified that Stat5a directly bind and transactivate Kdm6a promoter (Lysine-specific demethylase 6A). Further, we found that Stat5a overexpression promoted the expression of Kdm6a and inhibited the trimethylation of H3K27. While inhibiting of Kdm6a reversed the promoting effect of Stat5a overexpression on the expression of brown fat specific genes. Therefore, we conclude that Stat5a participated in brown adipocyte differentiation and thermogenic program through binding and transactivating the Kdm6a promoter. Stat5: Signal transducers and activators of transcription 5; BAT: brown adipose tissue; WAT; white adipose tissue; eWAT: epididymal white adipose tissue; sWAT: subcutaneous white adipose tissue; SVFs: stromal vascular fractions; UCP1: Uncoupling protein 1; PGC-1α: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha; Acox-1: Peroxisomal acyl-coenzyme A oxidase 1; Cidea: Cell death activator CIDE-A; ChIP: Chromatin Immunoprecipitation; HFD: High fat diet; FBS: Fetal bovine serum; siStat5a: Stat5a siRNA; siKdm6: Kdm6a siRNA; pcDNA-Stat5a: over expression of Stat5a pcDNA3.1 vector; IgG: mouse immunoglobulin G; Kdm6a: Lysine-specific demethylase 6A; H3K27me3: trimethylated H3K27.