Abstract

Beige adipocytes can dissipate energy as heat. Elaborate communication between metabolism and gene expression is important in the regulation of beige adipocytes. While lipid droplet (LD)-binding proteins play important roles in adipose tissue biology, it remains unknown whether perilipin 3 (Plin3) is involved in the regulation of beige adipocyte formation and thermogenic activities. Here, we demonstrate that Plin3 ablation stimulates beige adipocytes and thermogenic gene expression in inguinal white adipose tissue (iWAT). Compared to wild-type mice, Plin3 knockout mice were cold-tolerant and displayed enhanced basal and stimulated lipolysis in iWAT, inducing PPARα activation. In adipocytes, Plin3 deficiency promoted PPARα target gene and UCP1 expression and multilocular LD formation upon cold stimulus. Moreover, FGF21 expression and secretion were upregulated, which was attributable to activated PPARα in Plin3-deficient adipocytes. These data suggest that Plin3 acts as an intrinsic protective factor preventing futile beige adipocyte formation by limiting lipid metabolism and thermogenic gene expression.