Cold Exposure Rejuvenates the Metabolic Phenotype of Panx1−/− Mice

Pannexin1 (Panx1) ATP channels are important in adipocyte biology, potentially influencing energy storage and expenditure. We compared the metabolic phenotype of young (14 weeks old) and mature (20 weeks old) wild-type (WT) and Panx1−/− mice exposed or not to cold (6 °C) during 28 days, a condition promoting adipocyte browning. Young Panx1−/− mice weighed less and exhibited increased fat mass, improved glucose tolerance, and lower insulin sensitivity than WT mice. Their energy expenditure and respiratory exchange ratio (RER) were increased, and their fatty acid oxidation decreased. These metabolic effects were no longer observed in mature Panx1−/− mice. The exposure of mature mice to cold exacerbated their younger metabolic phenotype. The white adipose tissue (WAT) of cold-exposed Panx1−/− mice contained more small-sized adipocytes, but, in contrast to WT mice, white adipocytes did not increase their expression of Ucp1 nor of other markers of browning adipocytes. Interestingly, Glut4 expression was already enhanced in the WAT of young Panx1−/− mice kept at 22 °C as compared to WT mice. Thus, Panx1 deletion exerts overall beneficial metabolic effects in mice that are pre-adapted to chronic cold exposure. Panx1−/− mice show morphological characteristics of WAT browning, which are exacerbated upon cold exposure, an effect that appears to be associated with Ucp1-independent thermogenesis.