Cell Reports (Apr 2025)

SOSTDC1 downregulation in CD4+ T cells confers protection against obesity-induced insulin resistance

  • Dehai Li,
  • Jing Zhu,
  • Mingyue Zhang,
  • Qiping Shi,
  • Rong Guo,
  • Daming Zhang,
  • Pei Zheng,
  • Hua Zhang,
  • Guangqiang Li,
  • Jie Wu,
  • Guodong Sun,
  • Qiong Wen,
  • Jingyi Tan,
  • Zonghua Liu,
  • Xindong Liu,
  • Hengwen Yang,
  • Hongyun Lu,
  • Guangchao Cao,
  • Zhinan Yin,
  • Qian Wang

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2025.115496
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 44, no. 4
p. 115496

Abstract

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Summary: Adipose-resident T cells play a crucial role in the development of obesity-induced insulin resistance. However, the specific mechanisms, particularly those involving non-immune cytokines, remain unclear. Here, we report significantly elevated levels of sclerostin domain-containing protein 1 (SOSTDC1) in individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D), showing positive correlations with fasting glucose and HbA1c. T cell-specific Sostdc1-deficient mice exhibit resistance to age-induced adipose lipid accumulation and glucose dysregulation at 12 months and protect against obesity-induced insulin resistance without affecting proinflammatory macrophage infiltration or adipose inflammation. Mechanistically, SOSTDC1 disrupts the lipid balance in adipocytes by promoting lipogenesis and inhibiting lipolysis through the LRP5/6-β-catenin pathway. Furthermore, T cell receptor (TCR) signaling significantly amplifies SOSTDC1 secretion in CD4+ T cells. In summary, our study uncovers an additional mechanism by which T cells contribute to obesity and insulin resistance, suggesting that inhibiting SOSTDC1 could be a promising immunotherapeutic strategy for metabolic disorders.

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