Rev-erbα Inhibits Proliferation and Promotes Apoptosis of Preadipocytes through the Agonist GSK4112.

Proliferation and apoptosis are important physiological processes of preadipocytes. Rev-erb alpha is a circadian clock gene, and its activity contributes to several physiological processes in various cells. Previous studies demonstrated that Rev-erb alpha promotes preadipocyte differentiation, but a role of Rev-erb alpha on preadipocyte proliferation and apoptosis has not been demonstrated. GSK4112 is often used as an agonist of Rev-erb alpha. In this study, we used GSK4112 to explore the effects of Rev-erb alpha on preadipocyte proliferation and apoptosis by RT-qPCR, Western blot, Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8) measurement, 5-Ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) staining, Annexin V-FITC/PI staining, and flow cytometry. These results revealed that GSK4112 inhibited the viability of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and decreased cell numbers. There was also decreased expression of the proliferation-related gene Cyclin D and the canonical Wingless-type (Wnt) signaling effect factor beta-catenin. Furthermore, palmitate (PA)-inducing cell apoptosis was promoted. Overall, these results reveal that Rev-erb alpha plays a role in proliferation and palmitate (PA)-inducing apoptosis of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, and thus may be a new molecular target in efforts to prevent and treat obesity and related disease.