Ruano, Jessica LouzameBejarano, LeireSerrano, RosaDiaz, Ruth AlvarezFlores Landeira, Juana MaríaLópez, Ana CayuelaBlasco, Maria A.2025-10-222025-10-222025Ruano, J. L., Bejarano, L., Serrano, R., Diaz, R. A., Flores, J. M., López, A. C., & Blasco, M. A. (2025). Depletion of the TRF1 telomere-binding protein leads to leaner mice with altered metabolic profiles. Aging, 17(9), 2410–2429. https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.20632010.18632/aging.206320https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/125250Author Contributions: MAB, JL and LB had the original idea. MAB secured funding and supervised the research. JL analyzed the results, wrote the paper and performed the experiments. RS was responsible for animal maintenance and assisted with animal experimentation. JMF performed pathological analysis. ACL developed and analyzed the confocal microscopy images, and RAD performed the bioinformatics analysis.TRF1, a component of the telomere shelterin complex, plays crucial roles in telomere protection, telomere length regulation, and stemness. Here, we describe a previously unknown connection between TRF1 and metabolism. Telomere attrition has been linked to obesity. Our study reveals that Trf1-deficient mice exhibit a leaner phenotype, reduced adiposity, and improved glucose tolerance, even when subjected to a high-fat diet, independently of telomere shortening. These findings uncover a previously unknown role of TRF1 in regulating metabolismengAttribution 4.0 Internationalhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/journal article1945-4589https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.20632040982211open access636.09Trf1FatLeanerMetabolismTelomeresVeterinaria3109 Ciencias Veterinarias