Beige/brown fat-mediated cardiac protection from high-fat diet is dependent on adipocyte beta3-adrenergic receptor

Cascarano, L.; Michel, L.; Esfahani, H.; De Mulder, D.; Melecchi, A.; Bouzin, C.; Loriot, A.; Ambroise, J.; Pezzica, S.; Carli, F.; Sabatini, S.; Gatto, L.; Dessy, C.; Gastaldelli, A.; Balligand, J.-L.

doi:10.64898/2026.07.27.739389

bioRxiv · 10.64898/2026.07.27.739389

Beige/brown fat-mediated cardiac protection from high-fat diet is dependent on adipocyte beta3-adrenergic receptor

Cascarano, L.·Michel, L.·Esfahani, H.·De Mulder, D.·Melecchi, A.·Bouzin, C.·Loriot, A.·Ambroise, J.·Pezzica, S.·Carli, F.·Sabatini, S.·Gatto, L.·Dessy, C.·Gastaldelli, A.·Balligand, J.-L.

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Abstract

Cardiometabolic diseases associated with obesity are continuously increasing worldwide. Yet, current therapeutic strategies remain insufficient to improve patient outcomes. The beta3-adrenergic receptor ({beta}3AR) promotes lipolysis in adipose tissue (AT) and thermogenesis specifically in brown adipose tissue (BAT). In mice, BAT activation also improves systemic metabolism and limits cardiometabolic damage. While BAT is limited in humans (e.g., with ageing and obesity), {beta}3AR activation induces beige adipocytes within white adipose depots with similar thermogenic properties. To study the role of adipocyte {beta}3AR in the regulation of cardiac metabolism and remodeling, mice with/without adipocyte-specific {beta}3AR genetic deletion were fed a high-fat-sucrose (HF-S) diet and treated with the selective {beta}3AR agonist CL316,243 (CL). The metabolic and cardiac protection following {beta}3AR activation was abrogated upon {beta}3AR deletion in adipocytes, together with the beiging of the epididymal (visceral) AT, highlighting a critical role of adipose {beta}3AR signalling in mediating these benefits. Multi-omic analysis of AT and cardiac samples identified CL-induced secreted mediators of the crosstalk between AT and the heart. Therefore, adipocyte {beta}3AR is critical for the adipose-cardiac communication and supports the therapeutic potential of targeting {beta}3AR for the management of obesity-related cardiometabolic diseases.

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Cascarano, L., Michel, L., Esfahani, H., De Mulder, D., Melecchi, A., Bouzin, C., Loriot, A., Ambroise, J., Pezzica, S., Carli, F., Sabatini, S., Gatto, L., Dessy, C., Gastaldelli, A., Balligand, J.-L.. 2026-07-28. Beige/brown fat-mediated cardiac protection from high-fat diet is dependent on adipocyte beta3-adrenergic receptor. https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.07.27.739389

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