Brd2 inhibits adipogenesis via the ERK1/2 signaling pathway in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

Bromodomain-containing protein 2 (Brd2) is a nuclear serine/threonine kinase involved in transcriptional regulation. In 3T3-L1 adipocytes, Brd2 normally co-represses PPARγ (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma) and inhibits adipogenesis. Here, we show that Brd2 over-expression in preadipocytes inhibits their differentiation into adipocytes, while Brd2 knockdown promotes adipogenic differentiation in vitro and forces cells to undergo adipogenesis independent of the MDI (methyisobutylxanthane, dexamethasone and insulin) induction.