The Winged Helix Transcription Factor Foxa3 Regulates Adipocyte Differentiation and Depot-Selective Fat Tissue Expansion

Conversion of mesenchymal stem cells into terminally differentiated adipocytes progresses sequentially through regulated transcriptional steps. While it is clear that the late phases of adipocyte maturation are governed by the nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR gamma), less is known about the transcriptional control of the initial stages of differentiation. To identify early regulators, we performed a small interfering RNA (siRNA) screen of Forkhead-box genes in adipocytes and show here for the first time that the winged helix factor Foxa3 promotes adipocyte differentiation by cooperating with C/EBP beta and -delta to transcriptionally induce PPAR gamma expression. Furthermore, we demonstrate that mice with genetic ablation of Foxa3 have a selective decrease in epididymal fat depot and a cell-autonomous defect to induce PPAR gamma specifically in their visceral adipocytes. In obese subjects, FOXA3 is differentially expressed in visceral and subcutaneous adipose depots. Overall, our study implicates Foxa3 in the regulation of adipocyte differentiation and depot-selective adipose tissue expansion.