CRISPRa system activates myokines FGF21 and FNDC5: Promoting fat browning and improving diet‐induced obesity in mice

Abstract

Abstract Obesity causes metabolic disorders and is one of the important risk factors for diabetes. Myokines are widely involved in lipid metabolism through autocrine, paracrine and endocrine actions. FGF21 and Irisin, as representative myokines, can promote the browning of adipocytes and are potential targets for the treatment of obesity. This commentary discusses the research by Zhu et al. published in Clinical and Translational Medicine. In this study, the expression of FGF21 and FNDC5 is simultaneously activated by the CRISPRa system in vivo and in vitro. In vitro, the cell culture supernatant of C2C12 cells activated by the CRISPRa system significantly promoted the differentiation and browning of 3T3‐L1 cells; in vivo, injecting of AAV9‐dCas9‐VP64 virus could significantly reduce the body weight and fat mass of DIO mice due to an increase in browning of adipocytes.

Keywords

• CRISPRa
• diabetes
• FGF21
• FNDC5
• obesity