# Deciphering age-dependent beige adipocyte failure

> **NIH NIH R01** · CORNELL UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $417,767

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY:
Cold temperature (<15°C) exposure stimulates perivascular beige adipocyte progenitor cells (bAPCs) to
generate beige adipocytes. Beige adipocytes act as cellular furnaces to burn blood glucose and free fatty acids
to generate heat. Recent studies have shown the metabolic benefits of beige adipocytes, suggesting potential
clinical efficacy for obese patients and type 2 diabetics. However, the potential to form cold-induced beige
adipocytes declines with age, creating a pivotal challenge to the therapeutic promise for older individuals, many
of whom constitute the obesity epidemic. Our studies begin to unravel how aging suppresses beige adipogenic
potential and identifies new ways to rejuvenate beige fat cell biogenesis to restore metabolic fitness in aged
mammals. Our previous studies have linked cellular senescence, a state of cellular arrest, of bAPCs to the age-
associated decline in beige adipose tissue. In an attempt to find additional mechanisms blocking beige fat
biogenesis in aged mammals, we found that the expression and signaling of platelet derived growth factor
receptor beta (Pdgfrβ) is increased in aged bAPCs. Moreover, ablation of Pdgfrβ within the beige adipose lineage
restored beige adipocyte generation and improved metabolic health in aged (not young) mice. Despite beige fat
formation in aged Pdgfrβ-deficient mice, lineage-tracing studies revealed that auxiliary source(s) generated
beige adipocytes. In agreement, senescence tests demonstrated that Pdgfrβ neither promoted nor reversed
cellular senescence. Instead, we found that Pdgfrβ signaling prevents group 2 innate lymphoid cell (ILC2)
recruitment and activation within iWAT depots. Mechanistically, we identified that Pdgfrβ elicits signals via Stat1
to suppress the ILC2-inducer, interleukin-33 (IL-33), to control WAT ILC2 activity. Finally, we identify sympathetic
tone as a significant regulator of age-induced Pdgfrβ expression. Our aims will elucidate the physiological and
cellular role of Pdgfrβ in regulating beige fat biogenesis under aging and obese conditions. We will elucidate the
Pdgfrβ-Stat1 signaling mechanism in bAPCs to control ILC2 recruitment via IL-33. We uncover how sympathetic
output regulates Pdgfrβ expression to drive the age-dependent beige adipogenic failure. These findings will
implicate Pdgfrβ signaling as a central node in the bAPC aging process. Importantly, this application will identify
factors that reverse age-dependent beige adipogenic failure with a direct clinical utility to combat excess body
fat and metabolic dysfunction to extend lifespan and restore health.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10771259
- **Project number:** 5R01DK132264-03
- **Recipient organization:** CORNELL UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Daniel Carl Berry
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $417,767
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2022-03-15 → 2027-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10771259

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10771259, Deciphering age-dependent beige adipocyte failure (5R01DK132264-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10771259. Licensed CC0.

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