Resveratrol derivative BTM-0512 mitigates obesity by promoting beige remodeling of subcutaneous preadipocytes.

Recent studies revealed that sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) is involved in the regulation of energy metabolism and its agonist resveratrol showed anti-obesity effect. This study aims to determine whether BTM-0512, a novel derivative of resveratrol, acts as an antagonist of obesity and to explore its possible mechanisms. High-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice were intragastrically administered with BTM-0512 (5, 10, and 20 mg/kg/day) or resveratrol (10 mg/kg/day). It was found that the body weight, Lee's index, ratio of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) to body weight, and blood glucose were significantly reduced in BTM-0512-treated mice when compared with those in mice treated with resveratrol. BTM-0512 up-regulated the expressions of SIRT1, full length PRDM16 (fPRDM16), total PRDM16 (tPRDM16, including fPPRDM16 and other PRDM16 isoforms), and uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) in both brown and subcutaneous adipose tissues. Although BTM-0512 and resveratrol also up-regulated SIRT1 and tPRDM16 levels in VAT of HFD-induced obese mice, the expressions of fPRDM16, UCP1, and TMEM26 were down-regulated. In mouse primary subcutaneous preadipocytes cultured with or without adipogenic medium, BTM-0512 up-regulated fPRDM16, tPRDM16, and UCP1 expressions, which was reversed by SIRT1 antagonists. But in cultured brown and visceral adipocytes, the UCP1 protein level showed no significant change after treatment with 1 μM of BTM-0512. Moreover, transfection with human SIRT1 plasmid reduced lipid deposit, as well as the mRNA levels of fPRDM16, UCP1, and TMEM26, in cultured human visceral adipose-derived stem cells. In conclusion, BTM-0512 has stronger anti-obesity effect than resveratrol, which might be associated with activation of beige remodeling in subcutaneous adipose tissue.