Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40769964›Full record

ArticleNature communications2025

IRX3 controls a SUMOylation-dependent differentiation switch in adipocyte precursor cells.

Jan-Inge Bjune, Samantha Laber, Laurence Lawrence-Archer, Patrizia M C Nothnagel, Shuntaro Yamada, Xu Zhao, Pouda Panahandeh Strømland, Niyaz Al-Sharabi, Kamal Mustafa, Pål R Njølstad and 5 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

15 authors.

Jan-Inge BjuneMohn Research Center for Diabetes Precision Medicine, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8255-4282
Samantha LaberMedical Research Council Harwell Institute, Mammalian Genetics Unit, Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire, UK.
Laurence Lawrence-ArcherMohn Research Center for Diabetes Precision Medicine, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
Patrizia M C NothnagelDepartment of Biosciences, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Oslo, Blindern, Oslo, Norway.
Shuntaro YamadaCenter of Translational Oral Research-Tissue engineering, Department of Clinical Dentistry, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0282-5498
Xu ZhaoDepartment of Biosciences, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Oslo, Blindern, Oslo, Norway.
Pouda Panahandeh StrømlandHormone Laboratory, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
Niyaz Al-SharabiCenter of Translational Oral Research-Tissue engineering, Department of Clinical Dentistry, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
Kamal MustafaCenter of Translational Oral Research-Tissue engineering, Department of Clinical Dentistry, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2968-2856
Pål R NjølstadMohn Research Center for Diabetes Precision Medicine, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0304-6728
Melina ClaussnitzerMohn Research Center for Diabetes Precision Medicine, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2450-736X
Roger D CoxMedical Research Council Harwell Institute, Mammalian Genetics Unit, Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire, UK.
Pierre ChymkowitchDepartment of Biosciences, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Oslo, Blindern, Oslo, Norway. pierre.chymkowitch@ibv.uio.no.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1223-1001
Gunnar Mellgren *Mohn Research Center for Diabetes Precision Medicine, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway. gunnar.mellgren@uib.no.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6282-4986
Simon N Dankel *Mohn Research Center for Diabetes Precision Medicine, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway. simon.dankel@uib.no.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6972-1824

Funding

ROLE OF DIETARY CONSTITUENTS ON GENE EXPRESSION IN INTESTINAL EPITHELIUMP30DK040561 · NIDDK · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · PI Elizabeth Austen Lawson, Takara Leah Stanley · 1994 to 2026
$31.6M
Bridging the gap between type 2 diabetes GWAS and therapeutic targetsUM1DK126185 · NIDDK · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · PI CLAUSSNITZER, MELINA C, GLOYN, ANNA LOUISE · 2020 to 2024
$9.5M
Transcriptional Mechanisms of Human Insulin ResistanceR01DK102173 · NIDDK · BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS MEDICAL CENTER · PI ROSEN, EVAN D · 2015 to 2022
$4.4M
NIDDK NIH HHS P30 DK040561NIDDK NIH HHS R01 DK102173NIDDK NIH HHS UM1 DK126185Norges Forskningsråd (Research Council of Norway) 263124/F20, 245979/F50, 301268, 353961Novo Nordisk Fonden (Novo Nordisk Foundation) NNF21SA0072102Universitetet i Bergen (University of Bergen) 240413
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

IRX3 is linked to predisposition to obesity through the FTO locus and is upregulated during early adipogenesis in risk-allele carriers, shifting adipocyte fate toward fat storage. However, how this elevated IRX3 expression influences later developmental stages remains unclear. Here we show that IRX3 regulates adipocyte fate by modulating epigenetic reprogramming. ChIP-sequencing in preadipocytes identifies over 300 IRX3 binding sites, predominantly at promoters of genes involved in SUMOylation and chromatin remodeling. IRX3 knockout alters expression of SUMO pathway genes, increases global SUMOylation, and inhibits PPARγ activity and adipogenesis. Pharmacological SUMOylation inhibition rescues these effects. IRX3 KO also reduces SUMO occupancy at Wnt-related genes, enhancing Wnt signaling and promoting osteogenic fate in 3D cultures. This fate switch is partially reversible by SUMOylation inhibition. We identify IRX3 as a key transcriptional regulator of epigenetic programs, acting upstream of SUMOylation to maintain mesenchymal identity and support adipogenesis while suppressing osteogenesis in mouse embryonic fibroblasts.

Indexed as

AdipocytesAdipogenesisCell DifferentiationHomeodomain ProteinsSumoylationTranscription Factors3T3-L1 CellsAnimalsEpigenesis, GeneticHumansMiceMice, KnockoutOsteogenesisPPAR gammaPromoter Regions, GeneticWnt Signaling PathwayHomeodomain ProteinsIrx3 protein, mousePPAR gammaTranscription Factors

Identifiers

PMID40769964
PMCPMC12328774

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.