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Nataraj K, Schonfeld M, Rodriguez A, Tikhanovich I. Protective role of 17β-estradiol in alcohol-associated liver fibrosis is mediated by suppression of integrin signaling. Hepatol Commun 2024; 8:e0428. [PMID: 38704651 PMCID: PMC11073774 DOI: 10.1097/hc9.0000000000000428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alcohol-associated liver disease is a complex disease regulated by genetic and environmental factors such as diet and sex. The combination of high-fat diet and alcohol consumption has synergistic effects on liver disease progression. Female sex hormones are known to protect females from liver disease induced by high-fat diet. In contrast, they promote alcohol-mediated liver injury. We aimed to define the role of female sex hormones on liver disease induced by a combination of high-fat diet and alcohol. METHODS Wild-type and protein arginine methyltransferase (Prmt)6 knockout female mice were subjected to gonadectomy (ovariectomy, OVX) or sham surgeries and then fed western diet and alcohol in the drinking water. RESULTS We found that female sex hormones protected mice from western diet/alcohol-induced weight gain, liver steatosis, injury, and fibrosis. Our data suggest that these changes are, in part, mediated by estrogen-mediated induction of arginine methyltransferase PRMT6. Liver proteome changes induced by OVX strongly correlated with changes induced by Prmt6 knockout. Using Prmt6 knockout mice, we confirmed that OVX-mediated weight gain, steatosis, and injury are PRMT6 dependent, while OVX-induced liver fibrosis is PRMT6 independent. Proteomic and gene expression analyses revealed that estrogen signaling suppressed the expression of several components of the integrin pathway, thus reducing integrin-mediated proinflammatory (Tnf, Il6) and profibrotic (Tgfb1, Col1a1) gene expression independent of PRMT6 levels. Integrin signaling inhibition using Arg-Gly-Asp peptides reduced proinflammatory and profibrotic gene expression in mice, suggesting that integrin suppression by estrogen is protective against fibrosis development. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, estrogen signaling protects mice from liver disease induced by a combination of alcohol and high-fat diet through upregulation of Prmt6 and suppression of integrin signaling.
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Sun Z, Yang J, Zhou J, Zhou J, Feng L, Feng Y, He Y, Liu M, Li Y, Wang G, Li R. Tissue-Specific Oxysterols as Predictors of Antidepressant (Escitalopram) Treatment Response in Patients With Major Depressive Disorder. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY GLOBAL OPEN SCIENCE 2023; 3:663-672. [PMID: 37881566 PMCID: PMC10593904 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsgos.2023.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background There is growing evidence that disturbances in cholesterol metabolism may be involved in major depressive disorder (MDD). However, it is not known if cholesterol metabolites present in the brain and periphery can be used to diagnose and predict an MDD patient's response to antidepressant treatment. Methods A total of 176 subjects (85 patients with MDD and 91 healthy control subjects) were included in this study. The expression of peripheral and brain-specific oxysterols and related gene polymorphisms were investigated in all subjects. The severity of depression was measured using the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, 16-item Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptoms-Self-Report, and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 for all patients with MDD before and after 12 weeks of antidepressant treatment. Results Patients with MDD expressed higher plasma levels of 24(S)-hydroxycholesterol (24OHC) (mainly secreted from the brain) compared with healthy control subjects, and the higher levels of 24OHC were associated with 24OHC synthetase (CYP46A1) gene polymorphisms. In patients with MDD, an improved response to the 12-week antidepressant treatment was associated with a reduction of both 24OHC and 27OHC (mainly secreted from the peripheral system) levels relative to baseline levels. Nonresponders exhibited increased levels of oxysterols at the end of treatment compared with baseline. The superior reduction in oxysterol levels correlated with better outcomes from the antidepressant treatment. Conclusions These data suggest a potential role for oxysterols as diagnostic and treatment response-related indicators for MDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuoli Sun
- National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders and Beijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Jian Yang
- National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders and Beijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Jia Zhou
- National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders and Beijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Jingjing Zhou
- National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders and Beijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Lei Feng
- National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders and Beijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yuan Feng
- National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders and Beijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yi He
- National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders and Beijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Min Liu
- National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders and Beijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yuhong Li
- Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Gang Wang
- National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders and Beijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Rena Li
- National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders and Beijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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van der Heijden AR, Houben T. Lipids in major depressive disorder: new kids on the block or old friends revisited? Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1213011. [PMID: 37663599 PMCID: PMC10469871 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1213011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a psychiatric mood disorder that results in substantial functional impairment and is characterized by symptoms such as depressed mood, diminished interest, impaired cognitive function, and vegetative symptoms such as disturbed sleep. Although the exact etiology of MDD is unclear, several underlying mechanisms (disturbances in immune response and/or stress response) have been associated with its development, with no single mechanism able to account for all aspects of the disorder. Currently, about 1 in 3 patients are resistant to current antidepressant therapies. Providing an alternative perspective on MDD could therefore pave the way for new, unexplored diagnostic and therapeutic solutions. The central nervous system harbors an enormous pool of lipids and lipid intermediates that have been linked to a plethora of its physiological functions. The aim of this review is therefore to provide an overview of the implications of lipids in MDD and highlight certain MDD-related underlying mechanisms that involve lipids and/or their intermediates. Furthermore, we will also focus on the bidirectional relationship between MDD and the lipid-related disorders obesity and type 2 diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tom Houben
- Department of Genetics and Cell Biology, School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism (NUTRIM), Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
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King AC, Zenker AK. Sex blind: bridging the gap between drug exposure and sex-related gene expression in Danio rerio using next-generation sequencing (NGS) data and a literature review to find the missing links in pharmaceutical and environmental toxicology studies. FRONTIERS IN TOXICOLOGY 2023; 5:1187302. [PMID: 37398910 PMCID: PMC10312089 DOI: 10.3389/ftox.2023.1187302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The sex of both humans and Danio rerio has previously been shown to affect the way individuals respond to drug exposure. Genes which allow identification of sex in juvenile zebrafish show potential to reveal these confounding variables between sex in toxicological and preclinical trials but the link between these is so far missing. These sex-specific, early expressed genes where expression is not altered by drug exposure must be carefully selected for this purpose. We aimed to discover genes which can be used in pharmaceutical trials and environmental toxicology studies to uncover sex-related variations in gene expression with drug application using the model organism Danio rerio. Previously published early sex determining genes from King et al. were evaluated as well as additional genes selected from our zebrafish Next-generation sequencing (NGS) data which are known from previously published works not to be susceptible to changes in expression with drug exposure. NGS revealed a further ten female-specific genes (vtg1, cyp17a1, cyp19a1a, igf3, ftz-f1, gdf9, foxl2a, Nr0b1, ipo4, lhcgr) and five male related candidate genes (FKBP5, apobb1, hbaa1, dmrt1, spata6) which are also expressed in juvenile zebrafish, 28 days post fertilisation (dpf). Following this, a literature review was performed to classify which of these early-expressed sex specific genes are already known to be affected by drug exposure in order to determine candidate genes to be used in pharmaceutical trials or environmental toxicology testing studies. Discovery of these early sex-determining genes in Danio rerio will allow identification of sex-related responses to drug testing to improve sex-specific healthcare and the medical treatment of human patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Armin K. Zenker
- University of Applied Sciences and Arts North-Western Switzerland (FHNW), Muttenz, Switzerland
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5
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Kakiyama G, Rodriguez-Agudo D, Pandak WM. Mitochondrial Cholesterol Metabolites in a Bile Acid Synthetic Pathway Drive Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Revised "Two-Hit" Hypothesis. Cells 2023; 12:1434. [PMID: 37408268 PMCID: PMC10217489 DOI: 10.3390/cells12101434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The rising prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)-related cirrhosis highlights the need for a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms responsible for driving the transition of hepatic steatosis (fatty liver; NAFL) to steatohepatitis (NASH) and fibrosis/cirrhosis. Obesity-related insulin resistance (IR) is a well-known hallmark of early NAFLD progression, yet the mechanism linking aberrant insulin signaling to hepatocyte inflammation has remained unclear. Recently, as a function of more distinctly defining the regulation of mechanistic pathways, hepatocyte toxicity as mediated by hepatic free cholesterol and its metabolites has emerged as fundamental to the subsequent necroinflammation/fibrosis characteristics of NASH. More specifically, aberrant hepatocyte insulin signaling, as found with IR, leads to dysregulation in bile acid biosynthetic pathways with the subsequent intracellular accumulation of mitochondrial CYP27A1-derived cholesterol metabolites, (25R)26-hydroxycholesterol and 3β-Hydroxy-5-cholesten-(25R)26-oic acid, which appear to be responsible for driving hepatocyte toxicity. These findings bring forth a "two-hit" interpretation as to how NAFL progresses to NAFLD: abnormal hepatocyte insulin signaling, as occurs with IR, develops as a "first hit" that sequentially drives the accumulation of toxic CYP27A1-driven cholesterol metabolites as the "second hit". In the following review, we examine the mechanistic pathway by which mitochondria-derived cholesterol metabolites drive the development of NASH. Insights into mechanistic approaches for effective NASH intervention are provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Genta Kakiyama
- Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298, USA; (D.R.-A.); (W.M.P.)
- Research Services, Central Virginia Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, Richmond, VA 23249, USA
| | - Daniel Rodriguez-Agudo
- Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298, USA; (D.R.-A.); (W.M.P.)
- Research Services, Central Virginia Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, Richmond, VA 23249, USA
| | - William M. Pandak
- Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298, USA; (D.R.-A.); (W.M.P.)
- Research Services, Central Virginia Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, Richmond, VA 23249, USA
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Minowa K, Rodriguez-Agudo D, Suzuki M, Muto Y, Hirai S, Wang Y, Su L, Zhou H, Chen Q, Lesnefsky EJ, Mitamura K, Ikegawa S, Takei H, Nittono H, Fuchs M, Pandak WM, Kakiyama G. Insulin dysregulation drives mitochondrial cholesterol metabolite accumulation: initiating hepatic toxicity in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. J Lipid Res 2023; 64:100363. [PMID: 36966904 PMCID: PMC10182330 DOI: 10.1016/j.jlr.2023.100363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023] Open
Abstract
CYP7B1 catalyzes mitochondria-derived cholesterol metabolites such as (25R)26-hydroxycholesterol (26HC) and 3β-hydroxy-5-cholesten-(25R)26-oic acid (3βHCA) and facilitates their conversion to bile acids. Disruption of 26HC/3βHCA metabolism in the absence of CYP7B1 leads to neonatal liver failure. Disrupted 26HC/3βHCA metabolism with reduced hepatic CYP7B1 expression is also found in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The current study aimed to understand the regulatory mechanism of mitochondrial cholesterol metabolites and their contribution to onset of NASH. We used Cyp7b1-/- mice fed a normal diet (ND), Western diet (WD), or high-cholesterol diet (HCD). Serum and liver cholesterol metabolites as well as hepatic gene expressions were comprehensively analyzed. Interestingly, 26HC/3βHCA levels were maintained at basal levels in ND-fed Cyp7b1-/- mice livers by the reduced cholesterol transport to mitochondria, and the upregulated glucuronidation and sulfation. However, WD-fed Cyp7b1-/- mice developed insulin resistance (IR) with subsequent 26HC/3βHCA accumulation due to overwhelmed glucuronidation/sulfation with facilitated mitochondrial cholesterol transport. Meanwhile, Cyp7b1-/- mice fed an HCD did not develop IR or subsequent evidence of liver toxicity. HCD-fed mice livers revealed marked cholesterol accumulation but no 26HC/3βHCA accumulation. The results suggest 26HC/3βHCA-induced cytotoxicity occurs when increased cholesterol transport into mitochondria is coupled to decreased 26HC/3βHCA metabolism driven with IR. Supportive evidence for cholesterol metabolite-driven hepatotoxicity is provided in a diet-induced nonalcoholic fatty liver mouse model and by human specimen analyses. This study uncovers an insulin-mediated regulatory pathway that drives the formation and accumulation of toxic cholesterol metabolites within the hepatocyte mitochondria, mechanistically connecting IR to cholesterol metabolite-induced hepatocyte toxicity which drives nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kei Minowa
- Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Juntendo University Faculty of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Daniel Rodriguez-Agudo
- Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA; Research Services, Central Virginia Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Mitsuyoshi Suzuki
- Department of Pediatrics, Juntendo University Faculty of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yamato Muto
- Department of Pediatrics, Juntendo University Faculty of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Saeko Hirai
- Department of Pediatrics, Juntendo University Faculty of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yaping Wang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA; Research Services, Central Virginia Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Lianyong Su
- Research Services, Central Virginia Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, Richmond, VA, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Huiping Zhou
- Research Services, Central Virginia Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, Richmond, VA, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Qun Chen
- Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA; Research Services, Central Virginia Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Edward J Lesnefsky
- Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA; Research Services, Central Virginia Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Kuniko Mitamura
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kindai University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Shigeo Ikegawa
- Division of Research and Development, Genmaikoso Co. Ltd., Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Hajime Takei
- Junshin Clinic Bile Acid Institute, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Michael Fuchs
- Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA; Research Services, Central Virginia Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - William M Pandak
- Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA; Research Services, Central Virginia Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, Richmond, VA, USA; Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Genta Kakiyama
- Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA; Research Services, Central Virginia Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, Richmond, VA, USA.
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Kharbanda KK, Chokshi S, Tikhanovich I, Weinman SA, New-Aaron M, Ganesan M, Osna NA. A Pathogenic Role of Non-Parenchymal Liver Cells in Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease of Infectious and Non-Infectious Origin. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:255. [PMID: 36829532 PMCID: PMC9953685 DOI: 10.3390/biology12020255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Now, much is known regarding the impact of chronic and heavy alcohol consumption on the disruption of physiological liver functions and the induction of structural distortions in the hepatic tissues in alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD). This review deliberates the effects of alcohol on the activity and properties of liver non-parenchymal cells (NPCs), which are either residential or infiltrated into the liver from the general circulation. NPCs play a pivotal role in the regulation of organ inflammation and fibrosis, both in the context of hepatotropic infections and in non-infectious settings. Here, we overview how NPC functions in ALD are regulated by second hits, such as gender and the exposure to bacterial or viral infections. As an example of the virus-mediated trigger of liver injury, we focused on HIV infections potentiated by alcohol exposure, since this combination was only limitedly studied in relation to the role of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) in the development of liver fibrosis. The review specifically focusses on liver macrophages, HSC, and T-lymphocytes and their regulation of ALD pathogenesis and outcomes. It also illustrates the activation of NPCs by the engulfment of apoptotic bodies, a frequent event observed when hepatocytes are exposed to ethanol metabolites and infections. As an example of such a double-hit-induced apoptotic hepatocyte death, we deliberate on the hepatotoxic accumulation of HIV proteins, which in combination with ethanol metabolites, causes intensive hepatic cell death and pro-fibrotic activation of HSCs engulfing these HIV- and malondialdehyde-expressing apoptotic hepatocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kusum K. Kharbanda
- Research Service, Veterans Affairs Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, NE 68105, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Shilpa Chokshi
- Institute of Hepatology, Foundation for Liver Research, London SE5 9NT, UK
- Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King’s College London, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Irina Tikhanovich
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, MO 66160, USA
| | - Steven A. Weinman
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, MO 66160, USA
- Research Service, Kansas City Veterans Administration Medical Center, Kansas City, MO 64128, USA
| | - Moses New-Aaron
- Research Service, Veterans Affairs Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, NE 68105, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Murali Ganesan
- Research Service, Veterans Affairs Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, NE 68105, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Natalia A. Osna
- Research Service, Veterans Affairs Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, NE 68105, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
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Houben T, Yadati T, de Kruijf R, Gijbels MJJ, Luiken JJFP, van Zandvoort M, Kapsokalyvas D, Lütjohann D, Westerterp M, Plat J, Leake D, Shiri-Sverdlov R. Pro-Inflammatory Implications of 2-Hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin Treatment. Front Immunol 2021; 12:716357. [PMID: 34489968 PMCID: PMC8417873 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.716357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Lifestyle- and genetically induced disorders related to disturbances in cholesterol metabolism have shown the detrimental impact of excessive cholesterol levels on a plethora of pathological processes such as inflammation. In this context, two-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (CD) is increasingly considered as a novel pharmacological compound to decrease cellular cholesterol levels due to its ability to increase cholesterol solubility. However, recent findings have reported contra-indicating events after the use of CD questioning the clinical applicability of this compound. Given its potential as a therapeutic compound in metabolic inflammatory diseases, in this study, we evaluated the inflammatory effects of CD administration in the context of cholesterol-induced metabolic inflammation in vivo and in vitro. The inflammatory and cholesterol-depleting effects of CD were first investigated in low-density lipoprotein receptor knockout (Ldlr-/) mice that were transplanted with Npc1nih or Npc1wt bone marrow and were fed either regular chow or a high-fat, high-cholesterol (HFC) diet for 12 weeks, thereby creating an extreme model of lysosomal cholesterol-induced metabolic inflammation. In the final three weeks, these mice received daily injections of either control (saline) or CD subcutaneously. Subsequently, the inflammatory properties of CD were investigated in vitro in two macrophage cell lines and in murine bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs). While CD administration improved cholesterol mobilization outside lysosomes in BMDMs, an overall pro-inflammatory profile was observed after CD treatment, evidenced by increased hepatic inflammation in vivo and a strong increase in cytokine release and inflammatory gene expression in vitro in murine BMDMs and macrophages cell lines. Nevertheless, this CD-induced pro-inflammatory profile was time-dependent, as short term exposure to CD did not result in a pro-inflammatory response in BMDM. While CD exerts desired cholesterol-depleting effects, its inflammatory effect is dependent on the exposure time. As such, using CD in the clinic, especially in a metabolic inflammatory context, should be closely monitored as it may lead to undesired, pro-inflammatory side effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom Houben
- Departments of Genetics and Cell Biology, School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism (NUTRIM), University of Maastricht, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Tulasi Yadati
- Departments of Genetics and Cell Biology, School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism (NUTRIM), University of Maastricht, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Robbin de Kruijf
- Departments of Genetics and Cell Biology, School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism (NUTRIM), University of Maastricht, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Marion J J Gijbels
- Departments of Genetics and Cell Biology, School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism (NUTRIM), University of Maastricht, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Joost J F P Luiken
- Departments of Genetics and Cell Biology, School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism (NUTRIM), University of Maastricht, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Marc van Zandvoort
- Departments of Genetics and Cell Biology, School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism (NUTRIM), University of Maastricht, Maastricht, Netherlands.,School for Oncology and Developmental Biology GROW, School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism (NUTRIM) and School for Cardiovascular Diseases CARIM Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands.,Institute for Molecular Cardiovascular Research IMCAR, Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hogeschool (RWTH) Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Dimitris Kapsokalyvas
- Departments of Genetics and Cell Biology, School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism (NUTRIM), University of Maastricht, Maastricht, Netherlands.,School for Oncology and Developmental Biology GROW, School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism (NUTRIM) and School for Cardiovascular Diseases CARIM Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands.,Institute for Molecular Cardiovascular Research IMCAR, Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hogeschool (RWTH) Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Dieter Lütjohann
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Marit Westerterp
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Jogchum Plat
- Department of Nutrition and Movement Sciences, School for Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism (NUTRIM), Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - David Leake
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Health and Life Sciences Building, Whiteknights, Reading, United Kingdom
| | - Ronit Shiri-Sverdlov
- Departments of Genetics and Cell Biology, School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism (NUTRIM), University of Maastricht, Maastricht, Netherlands
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9
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Dama A, Baggio C, Boscaro C, Albiero M, Cignarella A. Estrogen Receptor Functions and Pathways at the Vascular Immune Interface. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:4254. [PMID: 33923905 PMCID: PMC8073008 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22084254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Revised: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Estrogen receptor (ER) activity mediates multiple physiological processes in the cardiovascular system. ERα and ERβ are ligand-activated transcription factors of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily, while the G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) mediates estrogenic signals by modulating non-nuclear second messengers, including activation of the MAP kinase signaling cascade. Membrane localizations of ERs are generally associated with rapid, non-genomic effects while nuclear localizations are associated with nuclear activities/transcriptional modulation of target genes. Gender dependence of endothelial biology, either through the action of sex hormones or sex chromosome-related factors, is becoming increasingly evident. Accordingly, cardiometabolic risk increases as women transition to menopause. Estrogen pathways control angiogenesis progression through complex mechanisms. The classic ERs have been acknowledged to function in mediating estrogen effects on glucose metabolism, but 17β-estradiol also rapidly promotes endothelial glycolysis by increasing glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) and 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-biphosphatase 3 (PFKFB3) levels through GPER-dependent mechanisms. Estrogens alter monocyte and macrophage phenotype(s), and induce effects on other estrogen-responsive cell lineages (e.g., secretion of cytokines/chemokines/growth factors) that impact macrophage function. The pharmacological modulation of ERs for therapeutic purposes, however, is particularly challenging due to the lack of ER subtype selectivity of currently used agents. Identifying the determinants of biological responses to estrogenic agents at the vascular immune interface and developing targeted pharmacological interventions may result in novel improved therapeutic solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aida Dama
- Department of Medicine, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy; (A.D.); (M.A.)
| | - Chiara Baggio
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy; (C.B.); (C.B.)
| | - Carlotta Boscaro
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy; (C.B.); (C.B.)
| | - Mattia Albiero
- Department of Medicine, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy; (A.D.); (M.A.)
- Venetian Institute of Molecular Medicine, 35129 Padova, Italy
| | - Andrea Cignarella
- Department of Medicine, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy; (A.D.); (M.A.)
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10
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Understanding and Treating Niemann-Pick Type C Disease: Models Matter. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21238979. [PMID: 33256121 PMCID: PMC7730076 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21238979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Revised: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Biomedical research aims to understand the molecular mechanisms causing human diseases and to develop curative therapies. So far, these goals have been achieved for a small fraction of diseases, limiting factors being the availability, validity, and use of experimental models. Niemann–Pick type C (NPC) is a prime example for a disease that lacks a curative therapy despite substantial breakthroughs. This rare, fatal, and autosomal-recessive disorder is caused by defects in NPC1 or NPC2. These ubiquitously expressed proteins help cholesterol exit from the endosomal–lysosomal system. The dysfunction of either causes an aberrant accumulation of lipids with patients presenting a large range of disease onset, neurovisceral symptoms, and life span. Here, we note general aspects of experimental models, we describe the line-up used for NPC-related research and therapy development, and we provide an outlook on future topics.
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