Adipocyte-Specific IGF1R Knockout Activates the β-Catenin/Apelin Axis to Combat Diet-Induced Obesity

Obesity, driven by complex genetic and environmental interactions, remains a global health crisis with limited therapeutic options. The insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R) plays dual roles in metabolism and growth, but its tissue-specific functions in adipose biology are controversial. This study investigates how adipose-specific IGF1R knockout impacts systemic metabolism under high-fat diet (HFD) stress and explores the underlying mechanisms. Adipose-specific IGF1R knockout mice (AdIGF1RKO) were generated by crossing Igf1rfl/fl mice with Adipoq-Cre transgenics. Littermate Igf1r-Floxed (Flox) mice were used as controls. Mice were fed a normal chow diet (NCD) for 24 weeks. RNA was isolated from inguinal white adipose tissue.