Early-life ketone body signalling promotes beige fat biogenesis through changes in histone acetylome and β-hydroxybutyrylome
Journal
Nature Metabolism
Journal Volume
7
Journal Issue
10
Start Page
2045
End Page
2066
ISSN
2522-5812
Date Issued
2025-10-09
Author(s)
Jiang, Chung-Lin
Lai, Pei-Hsiang
Yang, Po-Cheng
Lien, Chia-Jung
Yu, I-Shing
Abstract
Infants undergo distinct ketogenesis during the preweaning period, yet its physiological implications remain unclear. Here, we show that preweaning ketosis promotes beige fat biogenesis and improves health outcomes in adulthood. Loss of ketogenesis in neonatal mice by early weaning or ablation of Hmgcs2 hinders beige adipogenesis, subsequently exacerbating metabolic dysregulation in high-fat diet-induced obesity. Enhanced ketogenesis during lactation through exogenous ketone supplements enhances energy expenditure, beige fat formation, and mitochondrial biogenesis and respiration. Using single-cell RNA sequencing, we identified a subset of β-hydroxybutyrate-responsive adipocyte progenitor cells (APCs) expressing Cd81 that showed high beige adipogenic potential. Enhanced ketogenesis promotes the recruitment of beige APCs and their differentiation into beige adipocytes. Mechanistically, ketogenesis-derived βHB induces a switch in the histone acetylome and β-hydroxybutyrylome for transcriptional activation of beige fat biogenesis genes. Notably, enhanced ketogenesis during lactation alleviates adverse metabolic effects predisposed by parental obesity. Our study highlights that targeting preweaning ketosis to drive beige adipogenesis may offer a therapeutic approach to combat obesity and metabolic diseases in adulthood.
SDGs
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Type
journal article