Novel effects of rosiglitazone on SMAD2 and SMAD3 signaling in white adipose tissue of diabetic rats

Objective The effects of the proliferator‐activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) agonist rosiglitazone (ROSI) on the transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β/SMAD signaling pathway in white adipose tissue (WAT) of diabetic rats were assessed. Methods Six‐week‐old, male ZDF rats were fed a chow diet with (ZDF ROSI) or without (ZDF chow) ROSI (diet, 100 mg/kg) for 6 weeks. Subcutaneous (scWAT) and retroperitoneal (rpWAT) adipose tissues were excised to quantify the protein content/phosphorylation. Results ZDF ROSI animals showed enhanced glucose tolerance and mitochondrial protein content in both depots. The protein content of enzymes involved in fatty acid handling was increased in scWAT of ZDF ROSI animals. ZDF ROSI exhibited decreased phosphorylation of SMAD2 and SMAD3 exclusively in scWAT, along with increases in inhibitory SMAD7 and the E3 ubiquitin ligase SMURF2. In contrast, ROSI increased the protein content of SMAD4, TGF‐β receptor I and II, and SMAD Anchor for Receptor Activation in scWAT. Conclusions For the first time, the fact that ROSI inhibits SMAD2 and SMAD3 signaling in a depot‐specific manner in diabetic rats was demonstrated. In scWAT, ROSI reduced SMAD2 and SMAD3 phosphorylation, likely through the inhibitory actions of SMAD7 and SMURF2. Induction of proximal components of the SMAD pathway may constitute a feedback mechanism to counteract ROSI‐induced lipid synthesis in scWAT.