AUTHOR=Hudak Carolyn S., Sul Hei Sook 

TITLE=Pref-1, a Gatekeeper of Adipogenesis

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Endocrinology

VOLUME=4

YEAR=2013

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/endocrinology/articles/10.3389/fendo.2013.00079

DOI=10.3389/fendo.2013.00079

ISSN=1664-2392

ABSTRACT=<p>Preadipocyte factor 1 (Pref-1, also called Dlk1/FA1) is a molecular gatekeeper of adipogenesis which acts by maintaining the preadipocyte state and preventing adipocyte differentiation. Pref-1 is made as an epidermal growth factor-like repeat containing transmembrane protein, and is cleaved by TNFα-converting enzyme (TACE) to generate a soluble form, which acts as an autocrine/paracrine factor. Pref-1 upregulates Sox9 expression by activating the ERK/MAPK pathway and the Pref-1 interaction with fibronectin is required for inhibition of adipogenesis. Pref-1 also prevents brown adipocyte differentiation and its thermogenic function. Here, we highlight the recent evidence for the role of Pref-1 in adipogenesis.</p>