Early B Cell Factor Activity Controls Developmental and Adaptive Thermogenic Gene Programming in Adipocytes

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) activity protects animals against hypothermia and represents a potential therapeutic target to combat obesity. The transcription factor early B cell factor-2 (EBF2) promotes brown adipocyte differentiation, but its roles in maintaining brown adipocyte fate and in stimulating BAT recruitment during cold exposure were unknown. We find that the deletion of Ebf2 in adipocytes of mice ablates BAT character and function, resulting in cold intolerance. Unexpectedly, prolonged exposure to cold restores the thermogenic profile and function of Ebf2 mutant BAT. Enhancer profiling and genetic assays identified EBF1 as a candidate regulator of the cold response in BAT. Adipocyte-specific deletion of both Ebf1 and Ebf2 abolishes BAT recruitment during chronic cold exposure. Mechanistically, EBF1 and EBF2 promote thermogenic gene transcription through increasing the expression and activity of ERRα and PGC1α. Together, these studies demonstrate that EBF proteins specify the developmental fate and control the adaptive cold response of brown adipocytes. [Display omitted] •Adipocyte EBF2 maintains BAT thermogenic character and function under basal conditions•EBF1 or EBF2 is required for chronic cold-induced BAT recruitment•EBF1 or EBF2 cooperate with ERRa and PGC1a to promote Ucp1 transcription•EBF activity controls basal and adaptive thermogenic gene programing in adipocytes Angueira et al. show that early B cell factors (EBFs) control both basal and cold-induced thermogenic activity in brown adipocytes. EBF2 is required to maintain BAT fate under basal conditions, ensuring a capacity for thermogenesis upon cold challenge. BAT recruitment during chronic cold exposure requires EBF1 or EBF2 activity.