PRMT7 regulates adipogenic differentiation of hBMSCs by modulating IGF1 signaling

PRMTs (Protein arginine methyltransferases) play a critical role in several cellular biological processes. Among the PRMT family members, PRMT7(Protein arginine methyltransferase 7) acts as a catalyst for the formation of ω-monomethyl arginine. PRMT7 deficiency in humans has been shown to be associated with significant developmental defects, while PRMT7 knockdown in mice leads to defects in immune cells and muscle stem cells. In the present work, we demonstrate the role of PRMT7 in modulating adipogenesis. Our study showed that PRMT7 expression was impaired during the adipogenesis of MSCs (mesenchymal stem cells). The knockdown of PRMT7 significantly enhanced the adipogenic differentiation, and PRMT7-overexpressing cells displayed decreased capability for adipogenic differentiation. Mechanically, we found that PRMT7 knockdown could activate the expression of IGF1(insulin-like growth factors-1) , and determined that PRMT7 regulates adipogenic differentiation through IGF1 signaling. Our current work demonstrated that PRMT7 is an important molecular target for the treatment of metabolic diseases.