12-Lipoxygenase inhibition delays onset of autoimmune diabetes in human gene replacement mice

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is characterized by the autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing β cells and involves an interplay between β cells and cells of the innate and adaptive immune systems. We investigated the therapeutic potential of targeting 12-lipoxygenase (12-LOX), an enzyme implicated in inflammatory pathways in β cells and macrophages, using a mouse model in which the endogenous mouse Alox15 gene is replaced by the human ALOX12 gene. Our finding demonstrated that VLX-1005, a potent 12-LOX inhibitor, effectively delayed the onset of autoimmune diabetes in human gene replacement non-obese diabetic mice. By spatial proteomics analysis, VLX-1005 treatment resulted in marked reductions in infiltrating T and B cells and macrophages with accompanying increases in immune checkpoint molecule PD-L1, suggesting a shift towards an immune-suppressive microenvironment. RNA sequencing analysis of isolated islets and polarized proinflammatory macrophages revealed significant alteration of cytokine-responsive pathways and a reduction in interferon response after VLX-1005 treatment. Our studies demonstrated that the ALOX12 human replacement gene mouse provides a platform for the preclinical evaluation of LOX inhibitors and supports VLX-1005 as an inhibitor of human 12-LOX that engages the enzymatic target and alters the inflammatory phenotypes of islets and macrophages to promote the delay of autoimmune diabetes.

Macrophage-specific lipoxygenase deletion amplify cardiac repair activating Treg cells in chronic heart failure

Splenic leukocytes, particularly macrophage-expressed lipoxygenases, facilitate the biosynthesis of resolution mediators essential for cardiac repair. Next, we asked whether deletion of 12/15 lipoxygenase (12/15LOX) in macrophages impedes the resolution of inflammation following myocardial infarction (MI). Using 12/15flox/flox and LysMcre scheme, we generated macrophage-specific 12/15LOX (Mɸ-12/15LOX-/-) mice. Young C57BL/6J wild-type and Mɸ-12/15LOX-/- male mice were subjected to permanent coronary ligation microsurgery. Mice were monitored at day 1 (d1) to d5 (as acute heart failure [AHF]) and to d56 (chronic HF) post-MI, maintaining no MI as d0 naïve control animals. Post ligation, Mɸ-12/15LOX-/- mice showed increased survival (88% vs 56%) and limited heart dysfunction compared with wild-type. In AHF, Mɸ-12/15LOX-/- mice have increased biosynthesis of epoxyeicosatrienoic acid by 30%, with the decrease in D-series resolvins, protectin, and maresin by 70% in the infarcted heart. Overall, myeloid cell profiling from the heart and spleen indicated that Mɸ-12/15LOX-/- mice showed higher immune cells with reparative Ly6Clow macrophages during AHF. In addition, the detailed immune profiling revealed reparative macrophage phenotype (Ly6Clow) in Mɸ-12/15LOX-/- mice in a splenocardiac manner post-MI. Mɸ-12/15LOX-/- mice showed an increase in myeloid population that coordinated increase of T regulatory cells (CD4+/Foxp3+) in the spleen and injured heart at chronic HF compared with wild-type. Thus, macrophage-specific deletion of 12/15LOX directs reparative macrophage phenotype to facilitate cardiac repair. The presented study outlines the complex role of 12/15LOX in macrophage plasticity and T regulatory cell signaling that indicates that resolution mediators are viable targets to facilitate cardiac repair in HF post-MI.

Genetic drivers of heterogeneity in type 2 diabetes pathophysiology

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a heterogeneous disease that develops through diverse pathophysiological processes1,2 and molecular mechanisms that are often specific to cell type3,4. Here, to characterize the genetic contribution to these processes across ancestry groups, we aggregate genome-wide association study data from 2,535,601 individuals (39.7% not of European ancestry), including 428,452 cases of T2D. We identify 1,289 independent association signals at genome-wide significance (P < 5 × 10-8) that map to 611 loci, of which 145 loci are, to our knowledge, previously unreported. We define eight non-overlapping clusters of T2D signals that are characterized by distinct profiles of cardiometabolic trait associations. These clusters are differentially enriched for cell-type-specific regions of open chromatin, including pancreatic islets, adipocytes, endothelial cells and enteroendocrine cells. We build cluster-specific partitioned polygenic scores5 in a further 279,552 individuals of diverse ancestry, including 30,288 cases of T2D, and test their association with T2D-related vascular outcomes. Cluster-specific partitioned polygenic scores are associated with coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease and end-stage diabetic nephropathy across ancestry groups, highlighting the importance of obesity-related processes in the development of vascular outcomes. Our findings show the value of integrating multi-ancestry genome-wide association study data with single-cell epigenomics to disentangle the aetiological heterogeneity that drives the development and progression of T2D. This might offer a route to optimize global access to genetically informed diabetes care.

Myeloid cell deficiency of the inflammatory transcription factor Stat4 protects long-term synaptic plasticity from the effects of a high-fat, high-cholesterol diet

Neuroinflammation is associated with neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. The cytokine interleukin-12 activates signal transducer and activator of transcription 4 (Stat4), and consumption of a high-fat, high-cholesterol diet (HFD-C) and Stat4 activity are associated with inflammation, atherosclerosis, and a diabetic metabolic phenotype. In studies of in vitro hippocampal slices from control Stat4fl/flLdlr-/- mice fed a HFD-C diabetogenic diet, we show that Schaffer collateral-CA1 synapses exhibited larger reductions in activity-dependent, long-term potentiation (LTP) of synaptic transmission, compared to mice fed a standard diet. Glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity shifts produced by HFD-C diet were reduced in Stat4ΔLysMLdlr-/- mice compared to Stat4fl/flLdlr-/- controls. Stat4ΔLysMLdlr-/- mice, which lack Stat4 under control of the LysMCre promoter, were resistant to HFD-C induced impairments in LTP. In contrast, Schaffer collateral-CA1 synapses in Stat4ΔLysMLdlr-/- mice fed the HFD-C diet showed larger LTP than control Stat4fl/flLdlr-/- mice. Expression of a number of neuroinflammatory and synaptic plasticity genes was reduced by HFD-C diet in control mice, and less affected by HFD-C diet in Stat4ΔLysMLdlr-/- mice. These data suggest that suppression of Stat4 activation may protect against effects of Western diet on cognition, type 2 diabetes, and reduce risk of Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders associated with neuroinflammation.

Neutrophil-specific STAT4 deficiency attenuates atherosclerotic burden and improves plaque stability via reduction in neutrophil activation and recruitment into aortas of Ldlr-/- mice

Background and aims

Neutrophils drive atheroprogression and directly contribute to plaque instability. We recently identified signal transducer and activator of transcription 4 (STAT4) as a critical component for bacterial host defense in neutrophils. The STAT4-dependent functions of neutrophils in atherogenesis are unknown. Therefore, we investigated a contributory role of STAT4 in neutrophils during advanced atherosclerosis.

Methods

We generated myeloid-specific Stat4^ΔLysMLdlr^-/-, neutrophil-specific Stat4^ΔS100A8Ldlr^-/-, and control Stat4^fl/flLdlr^-/- mice. All groups were fed a high-fat/cholesterol diet (HFD-C) for 28 weeks to establish advanced atherosclerosis. Aortic root plaque burden and stability were assessed histologically by Movat pentachrome staining. Nanostring gene expression analysis was performed on isolated blood neutrophils. Flow cytometry was utilized to analyze hematopoiesis and blood neutrophil activation. In vivo homing of neutrophils to atherosclerotic plaques was performed by adoptively transferring prelabeled Stat4^ΔLysMLdlr^-/- and Stat4^fl/flLdlr^-/- bone marrow cells into aged atherosclerotic Apoe^-/- mice and detected by flow cytometry.

Results

STAT4 deficiency in both myeloid-specific and neutrophil-specific mice provided similar reductions in aortic root plaque burden and improvements in plaque stability via reduction in necrotic core size, improved fibrous cap area, and increased vascular smooth muscle cell content within the fibrous cap. Myeloid-specific STAT4 deficiency resulted in decreased circulating neutrophils via reduced production of granulocyte-monocyte progenitors in the bone marrow. Neutrophil activation was dampened in HFD-C fed Stat4^ΔLysMLdlr^-/- mice via reduced mitochondrial superoxide production, attenuated surface expression of degranulation marker CD63, and reduced frequency of neutrophil-platelet aggregates. Myeloid-specific STAT4 deficiency diminished expression of chemokine receptors CCR1 and CCR2 and impaired in vivo neutrophil trafficking to atherosclerotic aorta.

Conclusions

Our work indicates a pro-atherogenic role for STAT4-dependent neutrophil activation and how it contributes to multiple factors of plaque instability during advanced atherosclerosis in mice.

Multi-ancestry genome-wide study in >2.5 million individuals reveals heterogeneity in mechanistic pathways of type 2 diabetes and complications

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a heterogeneous disease that develops through diverse pathophysiological processes. To characterise the genetic contribution to these processes across ancestry groups, we aggregate genome-wide association study (GWAS) data from 2,535,601 individuals (39.7% non-European ancestry), including 428,452 T2D cases. We identify 1,289 independent association signals at genome-wide significance (P<5×10-8) that map to 611 loci, of which 145 loci are previously unreported. We define eight non-overlapping clusters of T2D signals characterised by distinct profiles of cardiometabolic trait associations. These clusters are differentially enriched for cell-type specific regions of open chromatin, including pancreatic islets, adipocytes, endothelial, and enteroendocrine cells. We build cluster-specific partitioned genetic risk scores (GRS) in an additional 137,559 individuals of diverse ancestry, including 10,159 T2D cases, and test their association with T2D-related vascular outcomes. Cluster-specific partitioned GRS are more strongly associated with coronary artery disease and end-stage diabetic nephropathy than an overall T2D GRS across ancestry groups, highlighting the importance of obesity-related processes in the development of vascular outcomes. Our findings demonstrate the value of integrating multi-ancestry GWAS with single-cell epigenomics to disentangle the aetiological heterogeneity driving the development and progression of T2D, which may offer a route to optimise global access to genetically-informed diabetes care.

Neutrophil-specific STAT4 deficiency attenuates atherosclerotic burden and improves plaque stability via reduction in neutrophil activation and recruitment into aortas of Ldlr -/- mice

Background and Aims

Neutrophils drive atheroprogression and directly contribute to plaque instability. We recently identified signal transducer and activator of transcription 4 (STAT4) as a critical component for bacterial host defense in neutrophils. The STAT4-dependent functions of neutrophils in atherogenesis are unknown. Therefore, we investigated a contributory role of STAT4 in neutrophils during advanced atherosclerosis.

Methods

We generated myeloid-specific Stat4 ^ΔLysM Ldlr ^-/- , neutrophil-specific Stat4 ^ΔS100A8 Ldlr ^-/- , and control Stat4 ^fl/fl Ldlr ^-/- mice. All groups were fed a high-fat/cholesterol diet (HFD-C) for 28 weeks to establish advanced atherosclerosis. Aortic root plaque burden and stability were assessed histologically by Movat Pentachrome staining. Nanostring gene expression analysis was performed on isolated blood neutrophils. Flow cytometry was utilized to analyze hematopoiesis and blood neutrophil activation. In vivo homing of neutrophils to atherosclerotic plaques was performed by adoptively transferring prelabeled Stat4 ^ΔLysM Ldlr ^-/- and Stat4 ^fl/fl Ldlr ^-/- bone marrow cells into aged atherosclerotic Apoe ^-/- mice and detected by flow cytometry.

Results

STAT4 deficiency in both myeloid-specific and neutrophil-specific mice provided similar reductions in aortic root plaque burden and improvements in plaque stability via reduction in necrotic core size, improved fibrous cap area, and increased vascular smooth muscle cell content within the fibrous cap. Myeloid-specific STAT4 deficiency resulted in decreased circulating neutrophils via reduced production of granulocyte-monocyte progenitors in the bone marrow. Neutrophil activation was dampened in Stat4 ^ΔLysM Ldlr ^-/- mice via reduced mitochondrial superoxide production, attenuated surface expression of degranulation marker CD63, and reduced frequency of neutrophil-platelet aggregates. Myeloid-specific STAT4 deficiency diminished expression of chemokine receptors CCR1 and CCR2 and impaired in vivo neutrophil trafficking to atherosclerotic aorta.

Conclusions

Our work indicates a pro-atherogenic role for STAT4-dependent neutrophil activation and how it contributes to multiple factors of plaque instability during advanced atherosclerosis in mice.

Erratum: Ancestral diversity improves discovery and fine-mapping of genetic loci for anthropometric traits-The Hispanic/Latino Anthropometry Consortium

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.xhgg.2022.100099.].

Proinflammatory signaling in islet β cells propagates invasion of pathogenic immune cells in autoimmune diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is a disorder of immune tolerance that leads to death of insulin-producing islet β cells. We hypothesize that inflammatory signaling within β cells promotes progression of autoimmunity within the islet microenvironment. To test this hypothesis, we deleted the proinflammatory gene encoding 12/15-lipoxygenase (Alox15) in β cells of non-obese diabetic mice at a pre-diabetic time point when islet inflammation is a feature. Deletion of Alox15 leads to preservation of β cell mass, reduces populations of infiltrating T cells, and protects against spontaneous autoimmune diabetes in both sexes. Mice lacking Alox15 in β cells exhibit an increase in a population of β cells expressing the gene encoding the protein programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1), which engages receptors on immune cells to suppress autoimmunity. Delivery of a monoclonal antibody against PD-L1 recovers the diabetes phenotype in knockout animals. Our results support the contention that inflammatory signaling in β cells promotes autoimmunity during type 1 diabetes progression.

Multi-ancestry genetic study of type 2 diabetes highlights the power of diverse populations for discovery and translation

We assembled an ancestrally diverse collection of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in 180,834 affected individuals and 1,159,055 controls (48.9% non-European descent) through the Diabetes Meta-Analysis of Trans-Ethnic association studies (DIAMANTE) Consortium. Multi-ancestry GWAS meta-analysis identified 237 loci attaining stringent genome-wide significance (P < 5 × 10-9), which were delineated to 338 distinct association signals. Fine-mapping of these signals was enhanced by the increased sample size and expanded population diversity of the multi-ancestry meta-analysis, which localized 54.4% of T2D associations to a single variant with >50% posterior probability. This improved fine-mapping enabled systematic assessment of candidate causal genes and molecular mechanisms through which T2D associations are mediated, laying the foundations for functional investigations. Multi-ancestry genetic risk scores enhanced transferability of T2D prediction across diverse populations. Our study provides a step toward more effective clinical translation of T2D GWAS to improve global health for all, irrespective of genetic background.

The AAV-PCSK9 murine model of atherosclerosis and metabolic dysfunction

Aims

Mouse models with genetic modifications are required to investigate atherogenesis and associated metabolic syndrome. Adeno-associated virus-8 (AAV8)-mediated overexpression of PCSK9 (AAV8-PCSK9) induces hyperlipidaemia and promotes atherosclerosis in C57BL/6 mice. We aimed to assess whether AAV8-PCSK9-injected C57BL/6 mice fed high-fat diet with added cholesterol (HFD-C) would serve as a model of combined metabolic syndrome and atherosclerosis.

Methods and results

C57BL/6 mice received i.v. injection of AAV-PCSK9 and sex- and age-matched Ldlr^-/- and C57BL/6 control mice were placed on HFD-C or chow diet for 20 weeks (B6-PCSK9-HFD-C, Ldlr^-/- HFD-C, B6-HFD-C, and B6-Chow, respectively). High-fat diet with added cholesterol feeding led to insulin resistance and impaired glucose clearance in B6-PCSK9-HFD-C mice compared with B6-Chow controls. This decrease in metabolic health in B6-PCSK9-HFD-C mice as well as the development of atherosclerosis was similar to Ldlr^-/- HFD-C mice. Importantly, HFD-C feeding induced pancreatic islet hyperplasia in B6-PCSK9-HFD-C and B6-HFD-C compared with B6-Chow controls. In line with alterations in the metabolic phenotype, there was an increase in the number of pro-inflammatory Ly6C^high/med monocytes within the adipose tissues of B6-PCSK9-HFD-C and B6-HFD-C compared with B6-Chow controls.

Conclusion

High-fat diet with added cholesterol-fed AAV-PCSK9-injected C57BL/6 mice can serve as a useful model of integrated metabolic syndrome and atherosclerosis that does not require genetic manipulations.

Ancestral diversity improves discovery and fine-mapping of genetic loci for anthropometric traits-The Hispanic/Latino Anthropometry Consortium

Hispanic/Latinos have been underrepresented in genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for anthropometric traits despite their notable anthropometric variability, ancestry proportions, and high burden of growth stunting and overweight/obesity. To address this knowledge gap, we analyzed densely imputed genetic data in a sample of Hispanic/Latino adults to identify and fine-map genetic variants associated with body mass index (BMI), height, and BMI-adjusted waist-to-hip ratio (WHRadjBMI). We conducted a GWAS of 18 studies/consortia as part of the Hispanic/Latino Anthropometry (HISLA) Consortium (stage 1, n = 59,771) and generalized our findings in 9 additional studies (stage 2, n = 10,538). We conducted a trans-ancestral GWAS with summary statistics from HISLA stage 1 and existing consortia of European and African ancestries. In our HISLA stage 1 + 2 analyses, we discovered one BMI locus, as well as two BMI signals and another height signal each within established anthropometric loci. In our trans-ancestral meta-analysis, we discovered three BMI loci, one height locus, and one WHRadjBMI locus. We also identified 3 secondary signals for BMI, 28 for height, and 2 for WHRadjBMI in established loci. We show that 336 known BMI, 1,177 known height, and 143 known WHRadjBMI (combined) SNPs demonstrated suggestive transferability (nominal significance and effect estimate directional consistency) in Hispanic/Latino adults. Of these, 36 BMI, 124 height, and 11 WHRadjBMI SNPs were significant after trait-specific Bonferroni correction. Trans-ancestral meta-analysis of the three ancestries showed a small-to-moderate impact of uncorrected population stratification on the resulting effect size estimates. Our findings demonstrate that future studies may also benefit from leveraging diverse ancestries and differences in linkage disequilibrium patterns to discover novel loci and additional signals with less residual population stratification.

Docking and mutagenesis studies lead to improved inhibitor development of ML355 for human platelet 12-lipoxygenase

Human platelet 12-(S)-Lipoxygenase (12-LOX) is a fatty acid metabolizing oxygenase that plays an important role in platelet activation and cardiometabolic disease. ML355 is a specific 12-LOX inhibitor that has been shown to decrease thrombosis without prolonging hemostasis and protect human pancreatic islets from inflammatory injury. It has an amenable drug-like scaffold with nM potency and encouraging ADME and PK profiles, but its binding mode to the active site of 12-LOX remains unclear. In the current work, we combined computational modeling and experimental mutagenesis to propose a model in which ML355 conforms to the "U" shape of the 12-LOX active site, with the phenyl linker region wrapping around L407. The benzothiazole of ML355 extends into the bottom of the active site cavity, pointing towards residues A417 and V418. However, reducing the active site depth alone did not affect ML355 potency. In order to lower the potency of ML355, the cavity needed to be reduced in both length and width. In addition, H596 appears to position ML355 in the active site through an interaction with the 2-methoxy phenol moiety of ML355. Combined, this binding model suggested that the benzothiazole of ML355 could be enlarged. Therefore, a naphthyl-benzothiazole derivative of ML355, Lox12Slug001, was synthesized and shown to have 7.2-fold greater potency than ML355. This greater potency is proposed to be due to additional van der Waals interactions and pi-pi stacking with F414 and F352. Lox12Slug001 was also shown to be highly selective against 12-LOX relative to the other LOX isozymes and more importantly, it showed activity in rescuing human islets exposed to inflammatory cytokines with comparable potency to ML355. Further studies are currently being pursued to derivatize ML355 in order to optimize the additional space in the active site, while maintaining acceptable drug-like properties.

Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Detection of SARS-CoV-2 and Myriad Other Applications

As the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic begins, it remains clear that a massive increase in the ability to test for SARS-CoV-2 infections in a myriad of settings is critical to controlling the pandemic and to preparing for future outbreaks. The current gold standard for molecular diagnostics is the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), but the extraordinary and unmet demand for testing in a variety of environments means that both complementary and supplementary testing solutions are still needed. This review highlights the role that loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) has had in filling this global testing need, providing a faster and easier means of testing, and what it can do for future applications, pathogens, and the preparation for future outbreaks. This review describes the current state of the art for research of LAMP-based SARS-CoV-2 testing, as well as its implications for other pathogens and testing. The authors represent the global LAMP (gLAMP) Consortium, an international research collective, which has regularly met to share their experiences on LAMP deployment and best practices; sections are devoted to all aspects of LAMP testing, including preanalytic sample processing, target amplification, and amplicon detection, then the hardware and software required for deployment are discussed, and finally, a summary of the current regulatory landscape is provided. Included as well are a series of first-person accounts of LAMP method development and deployment. The final discussion section provides the reader with a distillation of the most validated testing methods and their paths to implementation. This review also aims to provide practical information and insight for a range of audiences: for a research audience, to help accelerate research through sharing of best practices; for an implementation audience, to help get testing up and running quickly; and for a public health, clinical, and policy audience, to help convey the breadth of the effect that LAMP methods have to offer.

12-Lipoxygenase governs the innate immune pathogenesis of islet inflammation and autoimmune diabetes

Macrophages and related myeloid cells are innate immune cells that participate in the early islet inflammation of type 1 diabetes (T1D). The enzyme 12-lipoxygenase (12-LOX) catalyzes the formation of proinflammatory eicosanoids, but its role and mechanisms in myeloid cells in the pathogenesis of islet inflammation have not been elucidated. Leveraging a model of islet inflammation in zebrafish, we show here that macrophages contribute significantly to the loss of β cells and the subsequent development of hyperglycemia. The depletion or inhibition of 12-LOX in this model resulted in reduced macrophage infiltration into islets and the preservation of β cell mass. In NOD mice, the deletion of the gene encoding 12-LOX in the myeloid lineage resulted in reduced insulitis with reductions in proinflammatory macrophages, a suppressed T cell response, preserved β cell mass, and almost complete protection from the development of T1D. 12-LOX depletion caused a defect in myeloid cell migration, a function required for immune surveillance and tissue injury responses. This effect on migration resulted from the loss of the chemokine receptor CXCR3. Transgenic expression of the gene encoding CXCR3 rescued the migratory defect in zebrafish 12-LOX morphants. Taken together, our results reveal a formative role for innate immune cells in the early pathogenesis of T1D and identify 12-LOX as an enzyme required to promote their prodiabetogenic phenotype in the context of autoimmunity.

STAT4 is expressed in neutrophils and promotes antimicrobial immunity

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 4 (STAT4) is expressed in hematopoietic cells and plays a key role in the differentiation of T helper 1 cells. Although STAT4 is required for immunity to intracellular pathogens, the T cell-independent protective mechanisms of STAT4 are not clearly defined. In this report, we demonstrate that STAT4-deficient mice were acutely sensitive to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection. We show that STAT4 was expressed in neutrophils and activated by IL-12 via a JAK2-dependent pathway. We demonstrate that STAT4 was required for multiple neutrophil functions, including IL-12-induced ROS production, chemotaxis, and production of the neutrophil extracellular traps. Importantly, myeloid-specific and neutrophil-specific deletion of STAT4 resulted in enhanced susceptibility to MRSA, demonstrating the key role of STAT4 in the in vivo function of these cells. Thus, these studies identify STAT4 as an essential regulator of neutrophil functions and a component of innate immune responses in vivo.

The trans-ancestral genomic architecture of glycemic traits

Glycemic traits are used to diagnose and monitor type 2 diabetes and cardiometabolic health. To date, most genetic studies of glycemic traits have focused on individuals of European ancestry. Here we aggregated genome-wide association studies comprising up to 281,416 individuals without diabetes (30% non-European ancestry) for whom fasting glucose, 2-h glucose after an oral glucose challenge, glycated hemoglobin and fasting insulin data were available. Trans-ancestry and single-ancestry meta-analyses identified 242 loci (99 novel; P < 5 × 10-8), 80% of which had no significant evidence of between-ancestry heterogeneity. Analyses restricted to individuals of European ancestry with equivalent sample size would have led to 24 fewer new loci. Compared with single-ancestry analyses, equivalent-sized trans-ancestry fine-mapping reduced the number of estimated variants in 99% credible sets by a median of 37.5%. Genomic-feature, gene-expression and gene-set analyses revealed distinct biological signatures for each trait, highlighting different underlying biological pathways. Our results increase our understanding of diabetes pathophysiology by using trans-ancestry studies for improved power and resolution.

Regulation of Tissue Inflammation by 12-Lipoxygenases

Lipoxygenases (LOXs) are lipid metabolizing enzymes that catalyze the di-oxygenation of polyunsaturated fatty acids to generate active eicosanoid products. 12-lipoxygenases (12-LOXs) primarily oxygenate the 12th carbon of its substrates. Many studies have demonstrated that 12-LOXs and their eicosanoid metabolite 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoate (12-HETE), have significant pathological implications in inflammatory diseases. Increased level of 12-LOX activity promotes stress (both oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum)-mediated inflammation, leading to damage in these tissues. 12-LOXs are also associated with enhanced cellular migration of immune cells-a characteristic of several metabolic and autoimmune disorders. Genetic depletion or pharmacological inhibition of the enzyme in animal models of various diseases has shown to be protective against disease development and/or progression in animal models in the setting of diabetes, pulmonary, cardiovascular, and metabolic disease, suggesting a translational potential of targeting the enzyme for the treatment of several disorders. In this article, we review the role of 12-LOXs in the pathogenesis of several diseases in which chronic inflammation plays an underlying role.

Proteomic and Transcriptional Profiles of Human Stem Cell-Derived β Cells Following Enteroviral Challenge

Enteroviral infections are implicated in islet autoimmunity and type 1 diabetes (T1D) pathogenesis. Significant β-cell stress and damage occur with viral infection, leading to cells that are dysfunctional and vulnerable to destruction. Human stem cell-derived β (SC-β) cells are insulin-producing cell clusters that closely resemble native β cells. To better understand the events precipitated by enteroviral infection of β cells, we investigated transcriptional and proteomic changes in SC-β cells challenged with coxsackie B virus (CVB). We confirmed infection by demonstrating that viral protein colocalized with insulin-positive SC-β cells by immunostaining. Transcriptome analysis showed a decrease in insulin gene expression following infection, and combined transcriptional and proteomic analysis revealed activation of innate immune pathways, including type I interferon (IFN), IFN-stimulated genes, nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and downstream inflammatory cytokines, and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I. Finally, insulin release by CVB4-infected SC-β cells was impaired. These transcriptional, proteomic, and functional findings are in agreement with responses in primary human islets infected with CVB ex vivo. Human SC-β cells may serve as a surrogate for primary human islets in virus-induced diabetes models. Because human SC-β cells are more genetically tractable and accessible than primary islets, they may provide a preferred platform for investigating T1D pathogenesis and developing new treatments.

Role of the 12-lipoxygenase pathway in diabetes pathogenesis and complications

12-lipoxygenase (12-LOX) is one of several enzyme isoforms responsible for the metabolism of arachidonic acid and other poly-unsaturated fatty acids to both pro- and anti-inflammatory lipid mediators. Mounting evidence has shown that 12-LOX plays a critical role in the modulation of inflammation at multiple checkpoints during diabetes development. Due to this, interventions to limit pro-inflammatory 12-LOX metabolites either by isoform-specific 12-LOX inhibition, or by providing specific fatty acid substrates via dietary intervention, has the potential to significantly and positively impact health outcomes of patients living with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. To date, the development of truly specific and efficacious inhibitors has been hampered by homology of LOX family members; however, improvements in high throughput screening have improved the inhibitor landscape. Here, we describe the function and role of human 12-LOX, and mouse 12-LOX and 12/15-LOX, in the development of diabetes and diabetes-related complications, and describe promise in the development of strategies to limit pro-inflammatory metabolites, primarily via new small molecule 12-LOX inhibitors.

IL-12 induced STAT4 activation plays a role in pro-inflammatory neutrophil functions

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 4 (STAT4) becomes activated via Jak/Tyk kinases in response to IL-12 and other cytokines, leading to expression of genes involved in pro-inflammatory pathways. STAT4 has been well characterized in T lymphocytes and NK cells, yet less is known of its potential role in neutrophils. Neutrophils have recently been shown to play a contributing role in atherogenesis. Our published data demonstrate that global deficiency of STAT4 results in decreased atherogenesis in atherosclerotic ApoE−/− mice. However, the cell specific role of STAT4 in atherosclerosis is unknown. Western blot analysis revealed STAT4 expression and IL-12 induced phospho-STAT4 in isolated neutrophils with no distinguishable difference between blood and bone marrow neutrophils. IL-12 dependent activation of wild-type (WT) neutrophils induced an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production when compared to non-stimulated WT neutrophils in both blood and bone marrow. Similarly, IL-12 stimulated WT neutrophils showed an increase in neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) elastase activity versus unstimulated controls. IL-12 stimulated neutrophils from Stat4−/− mice displayed no changes in NET elastase activity when compared to non-stimulated STAT4 deficient neutrophils suggesting STAT4-dependent NETosis. Furthermore, IL-12 stimulated Stat4−/− neutrophils showed decreases in both ROS production and NET elastase activity when compared to IL-12 stimulated WT neutrophils. Our data suggest a novel pro-inflammatory, IL-12 dependent role of STAT4 in neutrophils. Inhibition of these processes by targeting the IL-12/STAT4 pathway may serve as a possible therapeutic approach to treating atherosclerosis.

Activation of the 12/15 lipoxygenase pathway accompanies metabolic decline in db/db pre-diabetic mice

The 12-lipoxygenase (12LO) pathway is a promising target to reduce islet dysfunction, adipose tissue (AT) inflammation and insulin resistance. Optimal pre-clinical models for the investigation of selective12LO inhibitors in this context have not yet been identified. The objective of this study was to characterize the time course of 12LO isoform expression and metabolite production in pancreatic islets and AT of C57BLKS/J-db/db obese diabetic mouse in a pre-diabetic state in order to establish a suitable therapeutic window for intervention with selective lipoxygenase inhibitors. Mice have 2 major 12LO isoforms -the leukocyte type (12/15LO) and the platelet type (p12LO) and both are expressed in islets and AT. We found a sharp increase in protein expression of 12/15LO in the pancreatic islets of 10-week old db-/- mice compared to 8- week old counterparts. Immunohistochemistry showed that the increase in islet 12/15LO parallels a decline in islet number. Analysis of 12- and 15-hydroperoxytetraeicosanoid acids (HETE)s showed a 2-3 fold increase especially in 12(S)-HETE that mirrored the increase in 12/15LO expression in islets. Analysis of AT and stromal vascular fraction (SVF) showed a significant increase of platelet 12LO gene expression along with 12- and 15- HETEs. The data demonstrate that the db/db mouse is a suitable model for investigation of 12/15LO inhibitors in the development of inflammatory mediated type 2 diabetes, with a narrow window of therapeutic intervention prior to 8 weeks of age.