1
|
Reed JN, Huang J, Li Y, Ma L, Banka D, Wabitsch M, Wang T, Ding W, Björkegren JL, Civelek M. Systems genetics analysis of human body fat distribution genes identifies adipocyte processes. Life Sci Alliance 2024; 7:e202402603. [PMID: 38702075 PMCID: PMC11068934 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202402603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Excess abdominal fat is a sexually dimorphic risk factor for cardio-metabolic disease and is approximated by the waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for body mass index (WHRadjBMI). Whereas this trait is highly heritable, few causal genes are known. We aimed to identify novel drivers of WHRadjBMI using systems genetics. We used two independent cohorts of adipose tissue gene expression and constructed sex- and depot-specific Bayesian networks to model gene-gene interactions from 8,492 genes. Using key driver analysis, we identified genes that, in silico and putatively in vitro, regulate many others. 51-119 key drivers in each network were replicated in both cohorts. In other cell types, 23 of these genes are found in crucial adipocyte pathways: Wnt signaling or mitochondrial function. We overexpressed or down-regulated seven key driver genes in human subcutaneous pre-adipocytes. Key driver genes ANAPC2 and RSPO1 inhibited adipogenesis, whereas PSME3 increased adipogenesis. RSPO1 increased Wnt signaling activity. In differentiated adipocytes, MIGA1 and UBR1 down-regulation led to mitochondrial dysfunction. These five genes regulate adipocyte function, and we hypothesize that they regulate fat distribution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jordan N Reed
- https://ror.org/0153tk833 Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
- https://ror.org/0153tk833 Center for Public Health Genomics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Jiansheng Huang
- Novo Nordisk Research Center China, Novo Nordisk A/S, Beijing, China
| | - Yong Li
- Novo Nordisk Research Center China, Novo Nordisk A/S, Beijing, China
| | - Lijiang Ma
- https://ror.org/04a9tmd77 Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Dhanush Banka
- https://ror.org/0153tk833 Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Martin Wabitsch
- Division of Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Ulm University Medical Centre, Ulm, Germany
| | - Tianfang Wang
- Novo Nordisk Research Center China, Novo Nordisk A/S, Beijing, China
| | - Wen Ding
- Novo Nordisk Research Center China, Novo Nordisk A/S, Beijing, China
| | - Johan Lm Björkegren
- https://ror.org/04a9tmd77 Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mete Civelek
- https://ror.org/0153tk833 Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
- https://ror.org/0153tk833 Center for Public Health Genomics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Tan L, Yan M, Su Z, Wang H, Li H, Zhao X, Liu S, Zhang L, Sun Q, Lu D. R-spondin-1 induces Axin degradation via the LRP6-CK1ε axis. Cell Commun Signal 2024; 22:14. [PMID: 38183076 PMCID: PMC10768284 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-023-01456-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2024] Open
Abstract
R-spondins (RSPOs) are secreted signaling molecules that potentiate the Wnt/β-catenin pathway by cooperating with Wnt ligands. RSPO1 is crucial in tissue development and tissue homeostasis. However, the molecular mechanism by which RSPOs activate Wnt/β-catenin signaling remains elusive. In this study, we found that RSPOs could mediate the degradation of Axin through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. The results of Co-IP showed that the recombinant RSPO1 protein promoted the interaction between Axin1 and CK1ε. Either knockout of the CK1ε gene or treatment with the CK1δ/CK1ε inhibitor SR3029 caused an increase in Axin1 protein levels and attenuated RSPO1-induced degradation of the Axin1 protein. Moreover, we observed an increase in the number of associations of LRP6 with CK1ε and Axin1 following RSPO1 stimulation. Overexpression of LRP6 further potentiated Axin1 degradation mediated by RSPO1 or CK1ε. In addition, recombinant RSPO1 and Wnt3A proteins synergistically downregulated the protein expression of Axin1 and enhanced the transcriptional activity of the SuperTOPFlash reporter. Taken together, these results uncover the novel mechanism by which RSPOs activate Wnt/β-catenin signaling through LRP6/CK1ε-mediated degradation of Axin.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lifeng Tan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Disease, International Cancer Center, Marshall Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Pharmacology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518055, Guangdong, China
| | - Mengfang Yan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Disease, International Cancer Center, Marshall Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Pharmacology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518055, Guangdong, China
| | - Zijie Su
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Disease, International Cancer Center, Marshall Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Pharmacology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518055, Guangdong, China
- Department of Research, The Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China
| | - Hanbin Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Disease, International Cancer Center, Marshall Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Pharmacology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518055, Guangdong, China
| | - Huan Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Disease, International Cancer Center, Marshall Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Pharmacology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518055, Guangdong, China
| | - Xibao Zhao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Disease, International Cancer Center, Marshall Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Pharmacology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518055, Guangdong, China
| | - Shanshan Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Disease, International Cancer Center, Marshall Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Pharmacology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518055, Guangdong, China
| | - Long Zhang
- MOE Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection and Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Qi Sun
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Disease, International Cancer Center, Marshall Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Pharmacology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518055, Guangdong, China.
| | - Desheng Lu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Disease, International Cancer Center, Marshall Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Pharmacology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518055, Guangdong, China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Reed JN, Huang J, Li Y, Ma L, Banka D, Wabitsch M, Wang T, Ding W, Björkegren JLM, Civelek M. Systems genetics analysis of human body fat distribution genes identifies Wnt signaling and mitochondrial activity in adipocytes. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.06.556534. [PMID: 37732278 PMCID: PMC10508754 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.06.556534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Excess fat in the abdomen is a sexually dimorphic risk factor for cardio-metabolic disease. The relative storage between abdominal and lower-body subcutaneous adipose tissue depots is approximated by the waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for body mass index (WHRadjBMI). Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) identified 346 loci near 495 genes associated with WHRadjBMI. Most of these genes have unknown roles in fat distribution, but many are expressed and putatively act in adipose tissue. We aimed to identify novel sex- and depot-specific drivers of WHRadjBMI using a systems genetics approach. METHODS We used two independent cohorts of adipose tissue gene expression with 362 - 444 males and 147 - 219 females, primarily of European ancestry. We constructed sex- and depot- specific Bayesian networks to model the gene-gene interactions from 8,492 adipose tissue genes. Key driver analysis identified genes that, in silico and putatively in vitro, regulate many others, including the 495 WHRadjBMI GWAS genes. Key driver gene function was determined by perturbing their expression in human subcutaneous pre-adipocytes using lenti-virus or siRNA. RESULTS 51 - 119 key drivers in each network were replicated in both cohorts. We used single-cell expression data to select replicated key drivers expressed in adipocyte precursors and mature adipocytes, prioritized genes which have not been previously studied in adipose tissue, and used public human and mouse data to nominate 53 novel key driver genes (10 - 21 from each network) that may regulate fat distribution by altering adipocyte function. In other cell types, 23 of these genes are found in crucial adipocyte pathways: Wnt signaling or mitochondrial function. We selected seven genes whose expression is highly correlated with WHRadjBMI to further study their effects on adipogenesis/Wnt signaling (ANAPC2, PSME3, RSPO1, TYRO3) or mitochondrial function (C1QTNF3, MIGA1, PSME3, UBR1).Adipogenesis was inhibited in cells overexpressing ANAPC2 and RSPO1 compared to controls. RSPO1 results are consistent with a positive correlation between gene expression in the subcutaneous depot and WHRadjBMI, therefore lower relative storage in the subcutaneous depot. RSPO1 inhibited adipogenesis by increasing β-catenin activation and Wnt-related transcription, thus repressing PPARG and CEBPA. PSME3 overexpression led to more adipogenesis than controls. In differentiated adipocytes, MIGA1 and UBR1 downregulation led to mitochondrial dysfunction, with lower oxygen consumption than controls; MIGA1 knockdown also lowered UCP1 expression. SUMMARY ANAPC2, MIGA1, PSME3, RSPO1, and UBR1 affect adipocyte function and may drive body fat distribution.
Collapse
|
4
|
Zhang Z, Chen N, Yin N, Liu R, He Y, Li D, Tong M, Gao A, Lu P, Zhao Y, Li H, Zhang J, Zhang D, Gu W, Hong J, Wang W, Qi L, Ning G, Wang J. The rs1421085 variant within FTO promotes brown fat thermogenesis. Nat Metab 2023; 5:1337-1351. [PMID: 37460841 DOI: 10.1038/s42255-023-00847-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023]
Abstract
One lead genetic risk signal of obesity-the rs1421085 T>C variant within the FTO gene-is reported to be functional in vitro but lacks evidence at an organism level. Here we recapitulate the homologous human variant in mice with global and brown adipocyte-specific variant knock-in and reveal that mice carrying the C-allele show increased brown fat thermogenic capacity and resistance to high-fat diet-induced adiposity, whereas the obesity-related phenotypic changes are blunted at thermoneutrality. Both in vivo and in vitro data reveal that the C-allele in brown adipocytes enhances the transcription of the Fto gene, which is associated with stronger chromatin looping linking the enhancer region and Fto promoter. Moreover, FTO knockdown or inhibition effectively eliminates the increased thermogenic ability of brown adipocytes carrying the C-allele. Taken together, these findings identify rs1421085 T>C as a functional variant promoting brown fat thermogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyin Zhang
- Department of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Shanghai Institute of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Key Laboratory for Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases of the National Health Commission of the PR China, Shanghai National Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Na Chen
- Department of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Shanghai Institute of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Key Laboratory for Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases of the National Health Commission of the PR China, Shanghai National Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Nan Yin
- Department of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Shanghai Institute of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Key Laboratory for Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases of the National Health Commission of the PR China, Shanghai National Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ruixin Liu
- Department of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Shanghai Institute of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Key Laboratory for Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases of the National Health Commission of the PR China, Shanghai National Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yang He
- Department of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Shanghai Institute of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Key Laboratory for Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases of the National Health Commission of the PR China, Shanghai National Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Danjie Li
- Department of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Shanghai Institute of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Key Laboratory for Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases of the National Health Commission of the PR China, Shanghai National Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Muye Tong
- Department of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Shanghai Institute of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Key Laboratory for Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases of the National Health Commission of the PR China, Shanghai National Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Aibo Gao
- Department of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Shanghai Institute of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Key Laboratory for Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases of the National Health Commission of the PR China, Shanghai National Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Peng Lu
- Department of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Shanghai Institute of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Key Laboratory for Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases of the National Health Commission of the PR China, Shanghai National Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuxiao Zhao
- Department of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Shanghai Institute of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Key Laboratory for Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases of the National Health Commission of the PR China, Shanghai National Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Huabing Li
- Shanghai Institute of Immunology, State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Junfang Zhang
- Laboratory of Aquacultural Resources and Utilization, Ministry of Education, College of Fishery and Life Science, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
| | - Dan Zhang
- Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Weiqiong Gu
- Department of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Shanghai Institute of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Key Laboratory for Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases of the National Health Commission of the PR China, Shanghai National Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jie Hong
- Department of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Shanghai Institute of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Key Laboratory for Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases of the National Health Commission of the PR China, Shanghai National Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Weiqing Wang
- Department of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Shanghai Institute of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Key Laboratory for Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases of the National Health Commission of the PR China, Shanghai National Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Lu Qi
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Guang Ning
- Department of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Shanghai Institute of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Key Laboratory for Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases of the National Health Commission of the PR China, Shanghai National Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiqiu Wang
- Department of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Shanghai Institute of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
- Shanghai National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Key Laboratory for Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases of the National Health Commission of the PR China, Shanghai National Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai, China.
| |
Collapse
|