Mast cell and heparin promote adipogenesis in superficial fascia of rats

Mechanisms of adverse mammary effect induced by olanzapine and therapeutic interventions in rat model

BACKGROUND

Olanzapine antagonizes dopamine receptors and is prescribed to treat multiple psychiatric conditions. The main side effect of concern for olanzapine is weight gain and metabolic syndrome. Olanzapine induces hyperprolactinemia, however its effect on the mammary gland is poorly documented.

METHODS

Rats received olanzapine by gavage or in drinking water at 1, 3, and 6 mg/kg/day for 5-40 days or 100 days, with and without coadministration of bromocriptine or aripiprazole and using once daily or continuous administration strategies. Histomorphology of the mammary gland, concentrations of prolactin, estradiol, progesterone, and olanzapine in serum, mammary gland and adipose tissue, and mRNA and protein expressions of prolactin receptors were analyzed.

RESULTS

In adult and prepubescent female rats and male rats, olanzapine induced significant development of mammary glands in dose- and time-dependent manners, with histopathological hyperplasia of mammary ducts and alveoli with lumen dilation and secretion, marked increase of mammary prolactin receptor expression, a marker of breast tissue, and with mild increase of circulating prolactin. This side effect can be reversed after medication withdrawal, but long-term olanzapine treatment for 100 days implicated tumorigenic potentials indicated by usual ductal epithelial hyperplasia. Olanzapine induced mammary development was prevented with the coaddition of the dopamine agonist bromocriptine or partial agonist aripiprazole, or by continuous administration of medication instead of a once daily regimen.

CONCLUSIONS

These results shed light on the previously overlooked effect of olanzapine on mammary development and present experimental evidence to support current clinical management strategies of antipsychotic induced side effects in the breast.

Suramin, an antiparasitic drug, stimulates adipocyte differentiation and promotes adipogenesis

BACKGROUND

Previous studies demonstrated that mast cells with their degranulated component heparin are the major endogenous factors that stimulate preadipocyte differentiation and promote fascial adipogenesis, and this effect is related to the structure of heparin. Regarding the structural and physiological properties of the negatively charged polymers, hexasulfonated suramin, a centuries-old medicine that is still used for treating African trypanosomiasis and onchocerciasis, is assumed to be a heparin-related analog or heparinoid. This investigation aims to elucidate the influence of suramin on the adipogenesis.

METHODS

To assess the influence exerted by suramin on adipogenic differentiation of primary white adipocytes in rats, this exploration was conducted both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, it was attempted to explore the role played by the sulfonic acid groups present in suramin in mediating this adipogenic process.

RESULTS

Suramin demonstrated a dose- and time-dependent propensity to stimulate the adipogenic differentiation of rat preadipocytes isolated from the superficial fascia tissue and from adult adipose tissue. This stimulation was concomitant with a notable upregulation in expression levels of pivotal adipogenic factors as the adipocyte differentiation process unfolded. Intraperitoneal injection of suramin into rats slightly increased adipogenesis in the superficial fascia and in the epididymal and inguinal fat depots. PPADS, NF023, and NF449 are suramin analogs respectively containing 2, 6, and 8 sulfonic acid groups, among which the last two moderately promoted lipid droplet formation and adipocyte differentiation. The number and position of sulfonate groups may be related to the adipogenic effect of suramin.

CONCLUSIONS

Suramin emerges as a noteworthy pharmaceutical agent with the unique capability to significantly induce adipocyte differentiation, thereby fostering adipogenesis.

Detection of Mast Cells in Human Superficial Fascia

The recent findings showed that the superficial fascia is a fibrous layer in the middle of hypodermis, richly innervated and vascularized, and more complex than so far demonstrated. This study showed the presence of mast cells in the superficial fascia of the human abdomen wall of three adult volunteer patients (mean age 42 ± 4 years; 2 females, 1 male), by Toluidine Blue and Safranin-O stains and Transmission Electron Microscopy. Mast cells are distributed among the collagen bundles and the elastic fibers, near the vessels and close to the nerves supplying the tissue, with an average density of 20.4 ± 9.4/mm². The demonstration of the presence of mast cells in the human superficial fascia highlights the possible involvement of the tissue in the inflammatory process, and in tissue healing and regeneration processes. A clear knowledge of this anatomical structure of the hypodermis is fundamental for a good comprehension of some fascial dysfunctions and for a better-targeted clinical practice.

Pharmacology of Heparin and Related Drugs: An Update

Heparin has been used extensively as an antithrombotic and anticoagulant for close to 100 years. This anticoagulant activity is attributed mainly to the pentasaccharide sequence, which potentiates the inhibitory action of antithrombin, a major inhibitor of the coagulation cascade. More recently it has been elucidated that heparin exhibits anti-inflammatory effect via interference of the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps and this may also contribute to heparin's antithrombotic activity. This illustrates that heparin interacts with a broad range of biomolecules, exerting both anticoagulant and nonanticoagulant actions. Since our previous review, there has been an increased interest in these nonanticoagulant effects of heparin, with the beneficial role in patients infected with SARS2-coronavirus a highly topical example. This article provides an update on our previous review with more recent developments and observations made for these novel uses of heparin and an overview of the development status of heparin-based drugs. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: This state-of-the-art review covers recent developments in the use of heparin and heparin-like materials as anticoagulant, now including immunothrombosis observations, and as nonanticoagulant including a role in the treatment of SARS-coronavirus and inflammatory conditions.

Generation of functional fat organoid from rat superficial fascia

The organoid is a 3D cell architecture formed by self-organized tissues or cells in vitro with similar cell types, histological structures, and biological functions of the native organ. Depending on the unique organ structures and cell types, producing organoids requires individualized design and is still challenging. Organoids of some tissues, including adipose tissue, remain to generate to be more faithful to their original organ in structure and function. We previously established a new model of the origin of adipose cells originating from non-adipose fascia tissue. Here, we investigated superficial fascia fragments in 3D hydrogel and found they were able to transform into relatively large adipocyte aggregates containing mature unilocular adipocytes, which were virtually "fat organoids". Such fascia-originated fat organoids had a typical structure of adipose tissues and possessed the principal function of adipose cells in the synthesis, storage, hydrolysis of triglycerides and adipokines secretion. Producing fat organoids from superficial fascia can provide a new approach for adipocyte research and strongly evidences that both adipose tissues and cells originate from fascia. Our findings give insights into metabolic regulation by the crosstalk between different organs and tissues and provide new knowledge for investigating novel treatments for obesity, diabetes and other metabolic diseases.Abbreviations: 3D: three dimensional; ASC: adipose-derived stromal cells; C/EBP: CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein; EdU: 5-ethynyl-2-deoxyuridine; FABP4: fatty acid-binding protein 4; FAS: fatty acid synthase; FSCs: fascia-derived stromal cells; Plin1: perilipin-1; Plin2: perilipin-2; PPARγ: peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ; WAT: white adipose tissue.

Mathematical analysis for spatial distribution of vessels, mast cells and adipocytes in superficial fascia

As a novel origin of adipocytes, the superficial fascia, a typical soft connective tissue, has abundant adipocytes and preadipocytes, accompanied by numerous mast cells. Blood vessels pass through the fascia to form a network structure. The more reasonable statistical analysis methods can provide a new method for in-depth study of soft connective tissue by clarifying the spatial distribution relation between cells (point structure) and blood vessels (linear structure). This study adopted the Guidolin et al. statistical analysis methods used by epidemiology and ecology to quantitatively analyze the distribution pattern and correlations among blood vessels, adipocytes, and mast cells. Image-processing software and self-written computer programs were used to analyze images of whole-mounted fascia, and the relevant data were measured automatically. Voronoi's analysis revealed that the vascular network was non-uniformly distributed. In fascia with average area of 3.75 cm2, quantitative histological analysis revealed 81.16% of mast cells and 74.74% of adipocytes distributed within 60 μm of blood vessels. A Spearman's correlation coefficient (rs) of >0.7 showed the co-distribution of the two types of cells under different areas. Ridge regression analysis further revealed the spatial correlation among blood vessels, adipocytes and mast cells. The combination of classical epidemiological analysis and extended computer program analysis can better analyze the spatial distribution relation between cells and vessels and should provide an effective analysis method for study of the histology and morphology of fascia and related connective tissues.

Mast Cells Are Activated in the Giant Earlobe Keloids: A Case Series

Mast cells and inflammatory cells are abundant in keloid and hypertrophic scar tissues. Even if the cause of physical injury is similar, such as piercing or scratching with hands, clinical findings show differences in the size of keloids in the same area. Hence, we performed histological studies on giant keloids larger than the earlobe, and other smaller keloids. We also examined the risk factors associated with the formation of giant lesions. No statistically significant differences in the association of the risk factors were observed. However, histological observations clearly showed a high number of degranulated or active mast cells with a trend towards a greater number of degranulated mast cells in the giant keloid tissues. Collagen production also tended to increase. Two patients with giant keloids were severely obese, suggesting that the persistent inflammatory state of obesity may also be involved in the growth of keloid lesions.

Metformin Inhibits Lipid Droplets Fusion and Growth via Reduction in Cidec and Its Regulatory Factors in Rat Adipose-Derived Stem Cells

Metformin is still being investigated due to its potential use as a therapeutic agent for managing overweight or obesity. However, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Inhibiting the adipogenesis of adipocyte precursors may be a new therapeutic opportunity for obesity treatments. It is still not fully elucidated whether adipogenesis is also involved in the weight loss mechanisms by metformin. We therefore used adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) from inguinal and epididymal fat pads to investigate the effects and mechanisms of metformin on adipogenesis in vitro. Our results demonstrate the similar effect of metformin inhibition on lipid accumulation, lipid droplets fusion, and growth in adipose-derived stem cells from epididymal fat pads (Epi-ADSCs) and adipose-derived stem cells from inguinal fat pads (Ing-ADSCs) cultures. We identified that cell death-inducing DFFA-like effector c (Cidec), Perilipin1, and ras-related protein 8a (Rab8a) expression increased ADSCs differentiation. In addition, we found that metformin inhibits lipid droplets fusion and growth by decreasing the expression of Cidec, Perilipin1, and Rab8a. Activation of AMPK pathway signaling in part involves metformin inhibition on Cidec, Perilipin1, and Rab8a expression. Collectively, our study reveals that metformin inhibits lipid storage, fusion, and growth of lipid droplets via reduction in Cidec and its regulatory factors in ADSCs cultures. Our study supports the development of clinical trials on metformin-based therapy for patients with overweight and obesity.

Immune Cell Regulation of White Adipose Progenitor Cell Fate

Adipose tissue is essential for energy storage and endocrine regulation of metabolism. Imbalance in energy intake and expenditure result in obesity causing adipose tissue dysfunction. This alters cellular composition of the stromal cell populations and their function. Moreover, the individual cellular composition of each adipose tissue depot, regulated by environmental factors and genetics, determines the ability of the depots to expand and maintain its endocrine and storage function. Thus, stromal cells modulate adipocyte function and vice versa. In this mini-review we discuss heterogeneity in terms of composition and fate of adipose progenitor subtypes and their interactions with and regulation by different immune cell populations. Immune cells are the most diverse cell populations in adipose tissue and play essential roles in regulating adipose tissue function via interaction with adipocytes but also with adipocyte progenitors. We specifically discuss the role of macrophages, mast cells, innate lymphoid cells and T cells in the regulation of adipocyte progenitor proliferation, differentiation and lineage commitment. Understanding the factors and cellular interactions regulating preadipocyte expansion and fate decision will allow the identification of novel mechanisms and therapeutic strategies to promote healthy adipose tissue expansion without systemic metabolic impairment.