Regulation of Fto/Ftm gene expression in mice and humans

摘要

Two recent, large GWAS in European populations have associated a ∼47 Kb region that contains part of the FTO gene with high BMI. The functions of FTO and adjacent FTM in human biology are not clear. We examined expression of these genes in organs of mice segregating for monogenic obesity mutations, exposed to under/over feeding, and to 4 °C. Fto/Ftm expression was reduced in mesenteric adipose tissue of mice segregating for the A^y, Lep^ob, Lepr^db, Cpe^fat or tub mutations and there was a similar trend in other tissues. These effects were not due to adiposity per se. Hypothalamic Fto and Ftm expression were decreased by fasting in lean and obese animals and by cold exposure in lean mice. The fact that responses of Fto and Ftm expression to these manipulations were almost indistinguishable suggested that the genes might be co-regulated. The putative overlapping regulatory region contains at least 2 canonical CUTL1 binding sites. One of these nominal CUTL1 sites includes rs8050136, a SNP associated with high body mass. The A allele of rs8050136 – associated with lower body mass than the C allele – preferentially bound CUTL1 in human fibroblast DNA. 70% knockdown of CUTL1 expression in human fibroblasts decreased FTO and FTM expression by 90 and 65 %, respectively. Animals and humans with various genetic interruptions of FTO or FTM have phenotypes reminiscent of aspects of the Bardet-Biedl obesity syndrome, a confirmed “ciliopathy”. FTM has recently been shown to be a ciliary basal body protein.