RORα fine-tunes the circadian control of hepatic triglyceride synthesis and gluconeogenesis

Abstract Circadian rhythms play a fundamental role in hepatic metabolism, orchestrating lipid synthesis and glucose homeostasis. RORα, a nuclear receptor involved in circadian regulation, has been implicated in fine-tuning these metabolic processes. We previously showed a therapeutic potential of an...

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Main Authors: Chloé Monnier, Munkhzul Ganbold, Martine Auclair, Natacha Roblot, Andréas Barnabé Boutin, Paul Ketil Boutin, Bruno Fève, Bénédicte Antoine
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-03-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-95228-y
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author Chloé Monnier
Munkhzul Ganbold
Martine Auclair
Natacha Roblot
Andréas Barnabé Boutin
Paul Ketil Boutin
Bruno Fève
Bénédicte Antoine
author_facet Chloé Monnier
Munkhzul Ganbold
Martine Auclair
Natacha Roblot
Andréas Barnabé Boutin
Paul Ketil Boutin
Bruno Fève
Bénédicte Antoine
author_sort Chloé Monnier
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Circadian rhythms play a fundamental role in hepatic metabolism, orchestrating lipid synthesis and glucose homeostasis. RORα, a nuclear receptor involved in circadian regulation, has been implicated in fine-tuning these metabolic processes. We previously showed a therapeutic potential of antagonizing RORα to reduce body fat in mice. Our current aim is to investigate the impact of the whole-body RORα deletion on hepatic lipid metabolism over a complete circadian cycle. Using RORα-knockout (staggerer) mice, this study reveals a time-dependent disruption in hepatic triglyceride synthesis, with reduced lipogenesis during the light-phase and altered transcriptional regulation of key metabolic genes, including Srebp1c and Insigs. Despite increased Srebp1c transcription at night, the anticipated rise in lipid synthesis was prevented by phase-shifted Insig expression, modulating precursor maturation. Moreover, core clock genes rhythmic expression was attenuated and phase-shifted for Reverbα. Pharmacological inhibition of RORα using an inverse agonist (SR3335) mirrored the metabolic effects observed in staggerer mice, further supporting the role of RORα as a crucial regulator of lipid and glucose homeostasis in mice fed a chow diet. These findings highlight the intricate interaction between the circadian clock and hepatic metabolism, situating RORα as a promising target to prevent metabolic disorders such as obesity and dyslipidemia.
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spelling doaj-art-2fb0412efaeb48cd82a28ce1cecdfd8c2025-08-20T03:41:14ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-03-0115111410.1038/s41598-025-95228-yRORα fine-tunes the circadian control of hepatic triglyceride synthesis and gluconeogenesisChloé Monnier0Munkhzul Ganbold1Martine Auclair2Natacha Roblot3Andréas Barnabé Boutin4Paul Ketil Boutin5Bruno Fève6Bénédicte Antoine7UMR_S938, Centre de Recherche Saint-Antoine, IHU ICAN, Faculté de Médecine Site Saint-Antoine, Sorbonne Université-InsermUMR_S938, Centre de Recherche Saint-Antoine, IHU ICAN, Faculté de Médecine Site Saint-Antoine, Sorbonne Université-InsermUMR_S938, Centre de Recherche Saint-Antoine, IHU ICAN, Faculté de Médecine Site Saint-Antoine, Sorbonne Université-InsermUMR_S938, Centre de Recherche Saint-Antoine, IHU ICAN, Faculté de Médecine Site Saint-Antoine, Sorbonne Université-InsermUMR_S938, Centre de Recherche Saint-Antoine, IHU ICAN, Faculté de Médecine Site Saint-Antoine, Sorbonne Université-InsermUMR_S938, Centre de Recherche Saint-Antoine, IHU ICAN, Faculté de Médecine Site Saint-Antoine, Sorbonne Université-InsermUMR_S938, Centre de Recherche Saint-Antoine, IHU ICAN, Faculté de Médecine Site Saint-Antoine, Sorbonne Université-InsermUMR_S938, Centre de Recherche Saint-Antoine, IHU ICAN, Faculté de Médecine Site Saint-Antoine, Sorbonne Université-InsermAbstract Circadian rhythms play a fundamental role in hepatic metabolism, orchestrating lipid synthesis and glucose homeostasis. RORα, a nuclear receptor involved in circadian regulation, has been implicated in fine-tuning these metabolic processes. We previously showed a therapeutic potential of antagonizing RORα to reduce body fat in mice. Our current aim is to investigate the impact of the whole-body RORα deletion on hepatic lipid metabolism over a complete circadian cycle. Using RORα-knockout (staggerer) mice, this study reveals a time-dependent disruption in hepatic triglyceride synthesis, with reduced lipogenesis during the light-phase and altered transcriptional regulation of key metabolic genes, including Srebp1c and Insigs. Despite increased Srebp1c transcription at night, the anticipated rise in lipid synthesis was prevented by phase-shifted Insig expression, modulating precursor maturation. Moreover, core clock genes rhythmic expression was attenuated and phase-shifted for Reverbα. Pharmacological inhibition of RORα using an inverse agonist (SR3335) mirrored the metabolic effects observed in staggerer mice, further supporting the role of RORα as a crucial regulator of lipid and glucose homeostasis in mice fed a chow diet. These findings highlight the intricate interaction between the circadian clock and hepatic metabolism, situating RORα as a promising target to prevent metabolic disorders such as obesity and dyslipidemia.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-95228-yLiverLipid synthesisRORαCircadian rhythmsGluconeogenesisStaggerer
spellingShingle Chloé Monnier
Munkhzul Ganbold
Martine Auclair
Natacha Roblot
Andréas Barnabé Boutin
Paul Ketil Boutin
Bruno Fève
Bénédicte Antoine
RORα fine-tunes the circadian control of hepatic triglyceride synthesis and gluconeogenesis
Scientific Reports
Liver
Lipid synthesis
RORα
Circadian rhythms
Gluconeogenesis
Staggerer
title RORα fine-tunes the circadian control of hepatic triglyceride synthesis and gluconeogenesis
title_full RORα fine-tunes the circadian control of hepatic triglyceride synthesis and gluconeogenesis
title_fullStr RORα fine-tunes the circadian control of hepatic triglyceride synthesis and gluconeogenesis
title_full_unstemmed RORα fine-tunes the circadian control of hepatic triglyceride synthesis and gluconeogenesis
title_short RORα fine-tunes the circadian control of hepatic triglyceride synthesis and gluconeogenesis
title_sort rorα fine tunes the circadian control of hepatic triglyceride synthesis and gluconeogenesis
topic Liver
Lipid synthesis
RORα
Circadian rhythms
Gluconeogenesis
Staggerer
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-95228-y
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