Pharmacological Inhibition of SUMOylation with TAK-981 Mimics Genetic HypoSUMOylation in Murine Perigonadal White Adipose Tissue

Abstract

Post-translational modification by the small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) is essential for cellular differentiation and homeostasis. Here, we investigate the role of SUMOylation in adipose tissue development using TAK-981, a pharmacological inhibitor of SUMOylation. Administration of TAK-981 to mice resulted in significant defect in weight gain and adipocyte atrophy in perigonadal white adipose tissue (gWAT) depots. Gene expression analyses revealed a marked downregulation of adipogenic genes, including Pparg, Cebpa, and Fasn. Our data thus indicate that TAK-981 treatment impaired adipogenesis in gWAT, consistent with prior findings that SUMOylation supports transcriptional regulation of adipogenesis and lipid metabolism. We also found significant infiltration of immune cells and efferocytosis in gWAT. Our results thus indicate that SUMOylation inhibition using a small molecule phenocopies genetic hypoSUMOylation models, highlighting its critical role in maintaining adipocyte functionality and immune environment. These findings provide evidence that SUMOylation is essential for fat accumulation in vivo. Furthermore, given that TAK-981 is currently under clinical evaluation for the treatment of solid tumors, our results underscore the importance of considering the potential unintended effects of SUMOylation inhibition on adipose tissue in patients.