Pharmacological inhibition of FTO

Fiona McMurray, Marina Demetriades, Wei Shen Aik, Myrte Merkestein, Holger Kramer, Daniel S. Andrew, Cheryl L. Scudamore, Tertius A. Hough, Sara Wells, Frances M. Ashcroft, Michael A. McDonough, Christopher J. Schofield, Roger D. Cox

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

36 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In 2007, a genome wide association study identified a SNP in intron one of the gene encoding human FTO that was associated with increased body mass index. Homozygous risk allele carriers are on average three kg heavier than those homozygous for the protective allele. FTO is a DNA/RNA demethylase, however, how this function affects body weight, if at all, is unknown. Here we aimed to pharmacologically inhibit FTO to examine the effect of its demethylase function in vitro and in vivo as a first step in evaluating the therapeutic potential of FTO. We showed that IOX3, a known inhibitor of the HIF prolyl hydroxylases, decreased protein expression of FTO (in C2C12 cells) and reduced maximal respiration rate in vitro. However, FTO protein levels were not significantly altered by treatment of mice with IOX3 at 60 mg/kg every two days. This treatment did not affect body weight, or RER, but did significantly reduce bone mineral density and content and alter adipose tissue distribution. Future compounds designed to selectively inhibit FTO's demethylase activity could be therapeutically useful for the treatment of obesity.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere0121829
JournalPLoS ONE
Volume10
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Apr 2015

Scopus Subject Areas

  • General

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