Published online Apr 15, 2020. doi: 10.4239/wjd.v11.i4.126
Peer-review started: October 23, 2019
First decision: December 12, 2019
Revised: December 20, 2019
Accepted: February 8, 2020
Article in press: February 8, 2020
Published online: April 15, 2020
Core tip: Obesity is a disease state with serious adverse metabolic complications that currently has no cure. Identifying key modulators is required for developing effective cures. Here we investigated Syndecan-1 (Sdc1), a member of the heparan sulfate proteoglycan family for its roles in regulating obesity and glucose homeostasis. Sdc1 knockout (Sdc1 KO) mice have reduced body weight with decreases in fat and lean masses under both chow and high fat diet conditions. The reduced body weight was not due to changes in food intakes, but Sdc1 KO mice exhibited altered feeding behavior as they ate more during the dark phase and less during the light phase than wild type mice. In addition, Sdc1 KO mice suffered from high rate of energy expenditure, glucose intolerance and insulin resistance. Our results reveal critical multisystem and opposing roles for Sdc1 in regulating normal energy balance and glucose homeostasis.