Evidence that C/EBP-β LAP Increases Fat Metabolism and Protects Against Diet-Induced Obesity in Response to mTOR Inhibition.

Aging and obesity are common risk factors for numerous chronic pathologies, and the compounding effects of old age and increased adiposity pose a serious threat to public health. Starting from the assumption that aging and obesity may have shared underpinnings, we investigated the antiobesogenic potential of a successful longevity intervention, the mTORC1 inhibitor rapamycin. We find that rapamycin prevents diet-induced obesity in mice and increases the activity of C/EBP-β LAP, a transcription factor that regulates the metabolic shift to lipid catabolism observed in response to calorie restriction.