PLoS Biology (Mar 2020)

Urolithin A exerts antiobesity effects through enhancing adipose tissue thermogenesis in mice.

  • Bo Xia,
  • Xiao Chen Shi,
  • Bao Cai Xie,
  • Meng Qing Zhu,
  • Yan Chen,
  • Xin Yi Chu,
  • Guo He Cai,
  • Min Liu,
  • Shi Zhen Yang,
  • Grant A Mitchell,
  • Wei Jun Pang,
  • Jiang Wei Wu

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3000688
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 18, no. 3
p. e3000688

Abstract

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Obesity leads to multiple health problems, including diabetes, fatty liver, and even cancer. Here, we report that urolithin A (UA), a gut-microflora-derived metabolite of pomegranate ellagitannins (ETs), prevents diet-induced obesity and metabolic dysfunctions in mice without causing adverse effects. UA treatment increases energy expenditure (EE) by enhancing thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue (BAT) and inducing browning of white adipose tissue (WAT). Mechanistically, UA-mediated increased thermogenesis is caused by an elevation of triiodothyronine (T3) levels in BAT and inguinal fat depots. This is also confirmed in UA-treated white and brown adipocytes. Consistent with this mechanism, UA loses its beneficial effects on activation of BAT, browning of white fat, body weight control, and glucose homeostasis when thyroid hormone (TH) production is blocked by its inhibitor, propylthiouracil (PTU). Conversely, administration of exogenous tetraiodothyronine (T4) to PTU-treated mice restores UA-induced activation of BAT and browning of white fat and its preventive role on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced weight gain. Together, these results suggest that UA is a potent antiobesity agent with potential for human clinical applications.