SENP2 suppresses browning of white adipose tissues by de-conjugating SUMO from C/EBPß

The adipose tissue is a key site regulating energy metabolism. One of the contributing factors behind this is browning of white adipose tissue (WAT), however, knowledge of the intracellular determinants of browning process remains incomplete. By generating adipocyte-specific Senp2 knockout (Senp2-aKO) mice, here we showed that SENP2 negatively regulates browning by de-conjugating SUMO from C/EBPß. Senp2-aKO mice were resistant to diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance due to increased energy expenditure and heat production. Senp2 knockout promoted beige adipocyte accumulation in inguinal WAT by upregulation of thermogenic gene expression. In addition, SENP2 knockdown promoted thermogenic adipocyte differentiation of precursor cells isolated from inguinal and epididymal WATs. Mechanistically, sumoylated C/EBPß, a target of SENP2, suppressed expression of HOXC10, a browning inhibitor, by recruiting a transcriptional repressor DAXX. These findings indicate that a SENP2-C/EBPß-HOXC10 axis operates for the control of beige adipogenesis in inguinal WAT. Overall design: The transcriptomic profiles of SVF-derived adipocytes of WATs (eWAT and iWAT) of control or Senp2-aKO mice with and without C/EBPß knockdown.