The Metabolic Syndrome-Associated Small G Protein ARL15 Plays a Role in Adipocyte Differentiation and Adiponectin Secretion

The document from December 14, 2017, details a study on the role of ARL15, a small G protein, in adipocyte differentiation and adiponectin secretion. The study demonstrated that knockdown of ARL15 in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes impaired adipogenesis and adiponectin secretion, but did not affect insulin action. ARL15 was found to localize to the Golgi, indicating a role in intracellular trafficking. Sequencing of ARL15 in 375 severely insulin-resistant patients revealed four rare heterozygous variants linked to metabolic disorders, which were absent in 2,479 controls. The study suggests that ARL15 is crucial for adipocyte function and may contribute to metabolic disease risk, including lipodystrophy. Further research is encouraged to investigate the potential involvement of ARL15 in pathological adipose remodeling and insulin resistance.