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Meda C, Benedusi V, Cherubini A, Valenti L, Maggi A, Della Torre S. Hepatic estrogen receptor alpha drives masculinization in post-menopausal women with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease. JHEP Rep 2024; 6:101143. [PMID: 39308985 PMCID: PMC11414671 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhepr.2024.101143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Revised: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 09/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Background & Aims The loss of ovarian functions defining menopause leads to profound metabolic changes and heightens the risk of developing metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Although estrogens primarily act on the female liver through estrogen receptor alpha (ERα), the specific contribution of impaired ERα signaling in triggering MASLD after menopause remains unclear. Methods To address this gap in knowledge, we compared the liver transcriptomes of sham-operated (SHAM) and ovariectomized (OVX) control and liver ERα knockout (LERKO) female mice by performing RNA-Seq analysis. Results OVX led to 1426 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the liver of control mice compared to 245 DEGs in LERKO mice. Gene ontology analysis revealed a distinct ovariectomy-induced modulation of the liver transcriptome in LERKO compared with controls, indicating that hepatic ERα is functional and necessary for the complete reprogramming of liver metabolism in response to estrogen depletion. Additionally, we observed an ovariectomy-dependent induction of male-biased genes, especially in the liver of control females, pointing to hepatic ERα involvement in the masculinization of the liver after estrogen loss. To investigate the translational relevance of such findings, we assessed liver samples from a cohort of 60 severely obese individuals (51 women; 9 men). Notably, a shift of the liver transcriptome toward a male-like profile was also observed only in obese women with MASLD (n = 43), especially in women ≥51 years old (15/15), suggesting that masculinization of the female liver contributes to MASLD development in obese women. Conclusions These results highlight the role of hepatic ERα in driving masculinization of the liver transcriptome following menopause, pointing to this receptor as a potential pharmacological target for preventing MASLD in post-menopausal women. Impact and implications Despite the increased risk of developing MASLD after menopause, the specific contribution of impaired hepatic estrogen signaling in driving MASLD in females has not been a major research focus, and, thus, has limited the development of tailored strategies that address the specific mechanisms underlying MASLD in post-menopausal women. This study reveals the functional role of hepatic ERα in mediating liver metabolic changes in response to estrogens loss, leading to a shift in the liver transcriptome towards a male-like profile. In women with obesity, this shift is associated with the development of MASLD. These findings underscore the potential of targeting hepatic ERα as a promising approach for developing effective, sex-specific treatments to preserve liver health and prevent or limit the development and progression of MASLD in post-menopausal women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Meda
- Department of Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Valeria Benedusi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandro Cherubini
- Precision Medicine–Biological Resource Center and Department of Transfusion Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Luca Valenti
- Precision Medicine–Biological Resource Center and Department of Transfusion Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Adriana Maggi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Sara Della Torre
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
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Cherubini A, Rosso C, Della Torre S. Sex-specific effects of PNPLA3 I148M. Liver Int 2024. [PMID: 39262132 DOI: 10.1111/liv.16088] [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: 07/15/2024] [Revised: 08/12/2024] [Accepted: 08/19/2024] [Indexed: 09/13/2024]
Abstract
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD, previously termed NAFLD, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease) is a complex multifactorial disease showing generally higher prevalence and severity in men than in women. With respect to women, men are also more prone to develop metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, fibrosis and liver-related complications. Several genetic, hormonal, environmental and lifestyle factors may contribute to sex differences in MASLD development, progression and outcomes. However, after menopause, the sex-specific prevalence of MASLD shows an opposite trend between men and women, pointing to the relevance of oestrogen signalling in the sexual dimorphism of MASLD. The patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing protein 3 (PNPLA3) gene, that encodes a triacylglycerol lipase that plays a crucial role in lipid metabolism, has emerged as a key player in the pathogenesis of MASLD, with the I148M variant being strongly associated with increased liver fat content and disease severity. Recent advances indicate that carrying the PNPLA3 I148M variant can be a risk factor for MASLD especially for women. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the sex-specific role of PNPLA3 I148M in the development of MASLD, several in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo models have been developed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Cherubini
- Department of Transfusion Medicine, Precision Medicine-Biological Resource Center, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Rosso
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Sara Della Torre
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
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3
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Kumar V, Kumar R, Gurusubramanian G, Rathore SS, Roy VK. Morin hydrate ameliorates Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) induced hepatotoxicity in a mouse model via TNF-α and NF-κβ signaling. 3 Biotech 2024; 14:181. [PMID: 38911474 PMCID: PMC11189377 DOI: 10.1007/s13205-024-04012-8] [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: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalic acid (DEHP) pollutes the environment, and posing a significant risk to human and animal health. Consequently, a successful preventative strategy against DEHP-induced liver toxicity needs to be investigated. Morin hydrate (MH), a flavanol compound, possesses toxic preventive attributes against various environmental pollutants. However, the effects of MH have not been investigated against DEHP-induced liver toxicity. Female Swiss albino mice were divided into four groups: control, DEHP (orally administered with 500 mg/kg, DEHP plus MH 10 mg/kg, and DEHP plus MH 100 mg/kg for 14 days. The results showed that the MH treatment ameliorated the DEHP-induced liver dysfunctions by decreasing the alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total bilirubin, liver histoarchitecture, fibrosis, and markers of oxidative stress. Furthermore, DEHP increased apoptosis, increased active caspase 3 and decreased B cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) expression. However, the MH treatment showed a differential effect on these proteins; a lower dose increased, and a higher dose decreased the expression. Thus, a lower dose of MH could be involved in the disposal of damaged hepatocytes. Expression of Estrogen receptors alpha (ERα) also showed a similar trend with active caspase 3. Furthermore, the expression of Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and Nuclear factor-κβ (NF-κβ) were up-regulated by DEHP treatment, and MH treatment down-regulated the expression of these two inflammatory markers. Since this down-regulation of TNF-α and NF-κβ coincides with improved liver functions against DEHP-induced toxicity, it can be concluded that MH-mediated liver function involves the singling of TNF-α and NF-κβ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vikash Kumar
- Department of Biotechnology, Mahatma Gandhi Central University, Motihari, Bihar 845401 India
| | - Rahul Kumar
- Department of Biotechnology, Mahatma Gandhi Central University, Motihari, Bihar 845401 India
| | | | - Saurabh Singh Rathore
- Department of Biotechnology, Mahatma Gandhi Central University, Motihari, Bihar 845401 India
| | - Vikas Kumar Roy
- Department of Zoology, Mizoram University, Aizawl, Mizoram 796 004 India
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4
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Rives C, Martin CMP, Evariste L, Polizzi A, Huillet M, Lasserre F, Alquier-Bacquie V, Perrier P, Gomez J, Lippi Y, Naylies C, Levade T, Sabourdy F, Remignon H, Fafournoux P, Chassaing B, Loiseau N, Guillou H, Ellero-Simatos S, Gamet-Payrastre L, Fougerat A. Dietary Amino Acid Source Elicits Sex-Specific Metabolic Response to Diet-Induced NAFLD in Mice. Mol Nutr Food Res 2024; 68:e2300491. [PMID: 37888831 DOI: 10.1002/mnfr.202300491] [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: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
SCOPE Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a sexually dimorphic disease influenced by dietary factors. Here, the metabolic and hepatic effects of dietary amino acid (AA) source is assessed in Western diet (WD)-induced NAFLD in male and female mice. METHODS AND RESULTS The AA source is either casein or a free AA mixture mimicking the composition of casein. As expected, males fed a casein-based WD display glucose intolerance, fasting hyperglycemia, and insulin-resistance and develop NAFLD associated with changes in hepatic gene expression and microbiota dysbiosis. In contrast, males fed the AA-based WD show no steatosis, a similar gene expression profile as males fed a control diet, and a distinct microbiota composition compared to males fed a casein-based WD. Females are protected against WD-induced liver damage, hepatic gene expression, and gut microbiota changes regardless of the AA source. CONCLUSIONS Free dietary AA intake prevents the unhealthy metabolic outcomes of a WD preferentially in male mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clémence Rives
- Toxalim (Research Centre in Food Toxicology), INRAE, ENVT, INP-Purpan, UPS, Toulouse University, Toulouse, 31170, France
| | - Céline Marie Pauline Martin
- Toxalim (Research Centre in Food Toxicology), INRAE, ENVT, INP-Purpan, UPS, Toulouse University, Toulouse, 31170, France
| | - Lauris Evariste
- Toxalim (Research Centre in Food Toxicology), INRAE, ENVT, INP-Purpan, UPS, Toulouse University, Toulouse, 31170, France
| | - Arnaud Polizzi
- Toxalim (Research Centre in Food Toxicology), INRAE, ENVT, INP-Purpan, UPS, Toulouse University, Toulouse, 31170, France
| | - Marine Huillet
- Toxalim (Research Centre in Food Toxicology), INRAE, ENVT, INP-Purpan, UPS, Toulouse University, Toulouse, 31170, France
| | - Frédéric Lasserre
- Toxalim (Research Centre in Food Toxicology), INRAE, ENVT, INP-Purpan, UPS, Toulouse University, Toulouse, 31170, France
| | - Valérie Alquier-Bacquie
- Toxalim (Research Centre in Food Toxicology), INRAE, ENVT, INP-Purpan, UPS, Toulouse University, Toulouse, 31170, France
| | - Prunelle Perrier
- Toxalim (Research Centre in Food Toxicology), INRAE, ENVT, INP-Purpan, UPS, Toulouse University, Toulouse, 31170, France
| | - Jelskey Gomez
- Toxalim (Research Centre in Food Toxicology), INRAE, ENVT, INP-Purpan, UPS, Toulouse University, Toulouse, 31170, France
| | - Yannick Lippi
- Toxalim (Research Centre in Food Toxicology), INRAE, ENVT, INP-Purpan, UPS, Toulouse University, Toulouse, 31170, France
| | - Claire Naylies
- Toxalim (Research Centre in Food Toxicology), INRAE, ENVT, INP-Purpan, UPS, Toulouse University, Toulouse, 31170, France
| | - Thierry Levade
- INSERM U1037, CRCT, Paul Sabatier University, Toulouse, 31059, France
- Biochemistry Laboratory, CHU Toulouse, Toulouse, 31300, France
| | - Frédérique Sabourdy
- INSERM U1037, CRCT, Paul Sabatier University, Toulouse, 31059, France
- Biochemistry Laboratory, CHU Toulouse, Toulouse, 31300, France
| | - Hervé Remignon
- Toxalim (Research Centre in Food Toxicology), INRAE, ENVT, INP-Purpan, UPS, Toulouse University, Toulouse, 31170, France
- INP-ENSAT, Toulouse University, Castanet-Tolosan, 31320, France
| | - Pierre Fafournoux
- INRAE center, Proteostasis Tim, Saint Genes Champanelle, 63122, France
| | - Benoit Chassaing
- INSERM U1016, Team "Mucosal microbiota in chronic inflammatory diseases", CNRS UMR10 8104, Paris Cité University, Paris, 75014, France
| | - Nicolas Loiseau
- Toxalim (Research Centre in Food Toxicology), INRAE, ENVT, INP-Purpan, UPS, Toulouse University, Toulouse, 31170, France
| | - Hervé Guillou
- Toxalim (Research Centre in Food Toxicology), INRAE, ENVT, INP-Purpan, UPS, Toulouse University, Toulouse, 31170, France
| | - Sandrine Ellero-Simatos
- Toxalim (Research Centre in Food Toxicology), INRAE, ENVT, INP-Purpan, UPS, Toulouse University, Toulouse, 31170, France
| | - Laurence Gamet-Payrastre
- Toxalim (Research Centre in Food Toxicology), INRAE, ENVT, INP-Purpan, UPS, Toulouse University, Toulouse, 31170, France
| | - Anne Fougerat
- Toxalim (Research Centre in Food Toxicology), INRAE, ENVT, INP-Purpan, UPS, Toulouse University, Toulouse, 31170, France
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5
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Cherubini A, Ostadreza M, Jamialahmadi O, Pelusi S, Rrapaj E, Casirati E, Passignani G, Norouziesfahani M, Sinopoli E, Baselli G, Meda C, Dongiovanni P, Dondossola D, Youngson N, Tourna A, Chokshi S, Bugianesi E, Della Torre S, Prati D, Romeo S, Valenti L. Interaction between estrogen receptor-α and PNPLA3 p.I148M variant drives fatty liver disease susceptibility in women. Nat Med 2023; 29:2643-2655. [PMID: 37749332 PMCID: PMC10579099 DOI: 10.1038/s41591-023-02553-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023]
Abstract
Fatty liver disease (FLD) caused by metabolic dysfunction is the leading cause of liver disease and the prevalence is rising, especially in women. Although during reproductive age women are protected against FLD, for still unknown and understudied reasons some develop rapidly progressive disease at the menopause. The patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing 3 (PNPLA3) p.I148M variant accounts for the largest fraction of inherited FLD variability. In the present study, we show that there is a specific multiplicative interaction between female sex and PNPLA3 p.I148M in determining FLD in at-risk individuals (steatosis and fibrosis, P < 10-10; advanced fibrosis/hepatocellular carcinoma, P = 0.034) and in the general population (P < 10-7 for alanine transaminase levels). In individuals with obesity, hepatic PNPLA3 expression was higher in women than in men (P = 0.007) and in mice correlated with estrogen levels. In human hepatocytes and liver organoids, PNPLA3 was induced by estrogen receptor-α (ER-α) agonists. By chromatin immunoprecipitation and luciferase assays, we identified and characterized an ER-α-binding site within a PNPLA3 enhancer and demonstrated via CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing that this sequence drives PNPLA3 p.I148M upregulation, leading to lipid droplet accumulation and fibrogenesis in three-dimensional multilineage spheroids with stellate cells. These data suggest that a functional interaction between ER-α and PNPLA3 p.I148M variant contributes to FLD in women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Cherubini
- Precision Medicine-Biological Resource Center and Department of Transfusion Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Mahnoosh Ostadreza
- Precision Medicine-Biological Resource Center and Department of Transfusion Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Oveis Jamialahmadi
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Serena Pelusi
- Precision Medicine-Biological Resource Center and Department of Transfusion Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Eniada Rrapaj
- Precision Medicine-Biological Resource Center and Department of Transfusion Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Elia Casirati
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Giulia Passignani
- Precision Medicine-Biological Resource Center and Department of Transfusion Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Marjan Norouziesfahani
- Precision Medicine-Biological Resource Center and Department of Transfusion Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Elena Sinopoli
- Precision Medicine-Biological Resource Center and Department of Transfusion Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Guido Baselli
- Precision Medicine-Biological Resource Center and Department of Transfusion Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Clara Meda
- Department of Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Paola Dongiovanni
- Medicine and Metabolic Diseases, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Daniele Dondossola
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
- General and Liver Transplant Surgery, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico and University of Milan, Centre of Preclinical Research, Milan, Italy
| | - Neil Youngson
- Foundation for Liver Research, The Roger Williams Institute of Hepatology, London, UK
- Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Aikaterini Tourna
- Foundation for Liver Research, The Roger Williams Institute of Hepatology, London, UK
| | - Shilpa Chokshi
- Foundation for Liver Research, The Roger Williams Institute of Hepatology, London, UK
- Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Elisabetta Bugianesi
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Gastroenterology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Sara Della Torre
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Daniele Prati
- Precision Medicine-Biological Resource Center and Department of Transfusion Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Stefano Romeo
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Cardiology Department, Sahlgrenska Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Medical and Surgical Science, Magna Græcia University, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Luca Valenti
- Precision Medicine-Biological Resource Center and Department of Transfusion Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
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Nuñez A, Zegarra-Valdivia J, Fernandez de Sevilla D, Pignatelli J, Torres Aleman I. The neurobiology of insulin-like growth factor I: From neuroprotection to modulation of brain states. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:3220-3230. [PMID: 37353586 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02136-6] [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: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/25/2023]
Abstract
After decades of research in the neurobiology of IGF-I, its role as a prototypical neurotrophic factor is undisputed. However, many of its actions in the adult brain indicate that this growth factor is not only involved in brain development or in the response to injury. Following a three-layer assessment of its role in the central nervous system, we consider that at the cellular level, IGF-I is indeed a bona fide neurotrophic factor, modulating along ontogeny the generation and function of all the major types of brain cells, contributing to sculpt brain architecture and adaptive responses to damage. At the circuit level, IGF-I modulates neuronal excitability and synaptic plasticity at multiple sites, whereas at the system level, IGF-I intervenes in energy allocation, proteostasis, circadian cycles, mood, and cognition. Local and peripheral sources of brain IGF-I input contribute to a spatially restricted, compartmentalized, and timed modulation of brain activity. To better define these variety of actions, we consider IGF-I a modulator of brain states. This definition aims to reconcile all aspects of IGF-I neurobiology, and may provide a new conceptual framework in the design of future research on the actions of this multitasking neuromodulator in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Nuñez
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Neurosciences, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - J Zegarra-Valdivia
- Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience, Leioa, Spain
- CIBERNED, Madrid, Spain
- Universidad Señor de Sipán, Chiclayo, Perú
| | - D Fernandez de Sevilla
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Neurosciences, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - J Pignatelli
- CIBERNED, Madrid, Spain
- Cajal Institute (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - I Torres Aleman
- Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience, Leioa, Spain.
- CIBERNED, Madrid, Spain.
- Ikerbasque Science Foundation, Bilbao, Spain.
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Cao Y, Yang M, Song J, Jiang X, Xu S, Che L, Fang Z, Lin Y, Jin C, Feng B, Wu D, Hua L, Zhuo Y. Dietary Protein Regulates Female Estrous Cyclicity Partially via Fibroblast Growth Factor 21. Nutrients 2023; 15:3049. [PMID: 37447375 DOI: 10.3390/nu15133049] [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: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), a hormone predominantly released in the liver, has emerged as a critical endocrine signal of dietary protein intake, but its role in the control of estrous cyclicity by dietary protein remains uncertain. To investigated the role of FGF21 and hypothalamic changes in the regulation of estrous cyclicity by dietary protein intake, female adult Sprague-Dawley rats with normal estrous cycles were fed diets with protein contents of 4% (P4), 8% (P8), 13% (P13), 18% (P18), and 23% (P23). FGF21 liver-specific knockout or wild-type mice were fed P18 or P4 diets to examine the role of liver FGF21 in the control of estrous cyclicity. Dietary protein restriction resulted in no negative effects on estrous cyclicity or ovarian follicular development when the protein content was greater than 8%. Protein restriction at 4% resulted in decreased bodyweight, compromised Kiss-1 expression in the hypothalamus, disturbed estrous cyclicity, and inhibited uterine and ovarian follicular development. The disturbed estrous cyclicity in rats that received the P4 diet was reversed after feeding with the P18 diet. Liver Fgf21 mRNA expressions and serum FGF21 levels were significantly increased as dietary protein content decreased, and loss of hepatic FGF21 delayed the onset of cyclicity disruption in rats fed with the P4 diet, possibly due to the regulation of insulin-like growth factor-1. Collectively, severe dietary protein restriction results in the cessation of estrous cyclicity and ovarian follicle development, and hepatic FGF21 and hypothalamic Kiss-1 were partially required for this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaxue Cao
- Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Resistant Nutrition of the Ministry of Education, Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Min Yang
- Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Resistant Nutrition of the Ministry of Education, Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
- Pet Nutrition and Health Research Center, Chengdu Agricultural College, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Jie Song
- Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Resistant Nutrition of the Ministry of Education, Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Xuemei Jiang
- Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Resistant Nutrition of the Ministry of Education, Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Shengyu Xu
- Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Resistant Nutrition of the Ministry of Education, Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Lianqiang Che
- Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Resistant Nutrition of the Ministry of Education, Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Zhengfeng Fang
- Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Resistant Nutrition of the Ministry of Education, Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Yan Lin
- Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Resistant Nutrition of the Ministry of Education, Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Chao Jin
- Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Resistant Nutrition of the Ministry of Education, Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Bin Feng
- Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Resistant Nutrition of the Ministry of Education, Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - De Wu
- Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Resistant Nutrition of the Ministry of Education, Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Lun Hua
- Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Resistant Nutrition of the Ministry of Education, Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Yong Zhuo
- Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Resistant Nutrition of the Ministry of Education, Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
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Association Between Serum Trace Heavy Metals and Liver Function Among Adolescents. J Occup Environ Med 2023; 65:e155-e160. [PMID: 36868864 DOI: 10.1097/jom.0000000000002778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure to metals has been associated with liver-related disease. Few studies have explored the effect of sex stratification on adolescent liver function. METHOD From the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2011-2016), 1143 subjects aged 12-19 years were selected for analysis. The outcome variables were the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase, and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase. RESULTS The results showed a positive association between serum zinc and ALT in boys (odds ratio [OR], 2.37; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.11-5.06). Serum mercury was associated with an increase in ALT level in girls (OR, 2.73; 95% CI, 1.14-6.57). Mechanistically, the efficacy mediated by total cholesterol accounted for 24.38% and 6.19% of the association between serum zinc and ALT. CONCLUSIONS The results imply that serum heavy metals were associated with the risk of liver injury, possibly mediated by serum cholesterol, in adolescents.
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Gu S, Zhang Q, Gu J, Wang C, Chu M, Li J, Mo X. The stereoselective metabolic disruption of cypermethrin on rats by a sub-acute study based on metabolomics. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:31130-31140. [PMID: 36441315 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-24359-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Due to the massive application of cypermethrin (CYP) for pest control in China, the adverse effects on non-target organisms have aroused great attention. However, comparative studies between its different stereoisomers remain scarce, especially for metabolism perturbations. Herein, the rats were administered α-CYP, β-CYP, and θ-CYP by gavage at doses of 8.5, 29.2, and 25.0 mg/kg/day, respectively, for 28 consecutive days. By blood examination, significant changes in liver and renal function parameters were observed in rats exposed to all three CYPs. The stereoisomeric selectivity in metabolic disturbances was assessed based on a metabolomic strategy via multivariate analysis and pathway analysis. The results demonstrated that amino acid and glycolipid metabolism were disrupted in all CYP groups. Among them, the most significant changes in the metabolic phenotype were observed in the θ-CYP group, with 56 differential metabolites enriched in 9 differential metabolic pathways. At the same time, the endogenous metabolite trimethylamine oxide (TMAO), which is closely linked to the gut microbiota, was also significantly elevated in this group. Gender differences were found in α- and θ-CYP-exposed rats, with perturbations in amino acid and glucose metabolism of greater concern in females and lipid metabolism of greater concern in males. Overall, β-CYP exhibited a lower risk of metabolic perturbations than α-CYP or θ-CYP, which helps to screen suitable agrochemical products for green agricultural development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sijia Gu
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology for Industrial Pollution Control of Zhejiang Province, College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310032, Zhejiang, China
| | - Quan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology for Industrial Pollution Control of Zhejiang Province, College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310032, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Jinping Gu
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Collaborative Innovation Center of Yangtze River Delta Region Green Pharmaceuticals, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310032, Zhejiang, China
| | - Cui Wang
- School of Life Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China
| | - Mengjie Chu
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology for Industrial Pollution Control of Zhejiang Province, College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310032, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jing Li
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology for Industrial Pollution Control of Zhejiang Province, College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310032, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xunjie Mo
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology for Industrial Pollution Control of Zhejiang Province, College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310032, Zhejiang, China
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10
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Protein preference and elevated plasma FGF21 induced by dietary protein restriction is similar in both male and female mice. Physiol Behav 2022; 257:113994. [DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2022.113994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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11
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Harper E, Cunningham E, Connolly L. Using in vitro bioassays to guide the development of safer bio-based polymers for use in food packaging. FRONTIERS IN TOXICOLOGY 2022; 4:936014. [PMID: 36204697 PMCID: PMC9531239 DOI: 10.3389/ftox.2022.936014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Petroleum-based polymers traditionally used for plastic packaging production have been shown to leach dangerous chemicals such as bisphenol-A (BPA). Bio-based polymers are potentially safer alternatives, and many can be sustainably sourced from waste streams in the food industry. This study assesses bio-based polymers undergoing food packaging development for migration of endocrine disrupting leachates at the level of estrogen, androgen and progestagen nuclear receptor transcriptional activity. Reporter gene assays were coupled with migration testing, performed using standardised test conditions for storage and temperature. Test samples include nine bio-based polymers and four inorganic waste additives mixed with a traditional petroleum-based polymer, polypropylene. Thermoplastic starch material, polybutylene succinate, polycaprolactone, polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT), two polylactic acid (PLA)/PBAT blends, polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) and eggshell/polypropylene (10:90) presented no significant reduction in metabolic activity or hormonal activity under any test condition. Polypropylene (PP) presented no hormonal activity. Metabolic activity was reduced in the estrogen responsive cell line after 10 days migration testing of eggshell/polypropylene (0.1:99.9) in MeOH at 40°C, and PP in MeOH and dH20. Estrogenic agonist activity was observed after 10 days in poultry litter ash/polypropylene (10:90) in MeOH at 20°C and 40°C, poultry feather based polymer in MeOH and dH2O at 40°C, and eggshell/polypropylene (40:60) and PLA in dH2O at 40°C. Activity was within a range of 0.26-0.50 ng 17β-estradiol equivalents per ml, equating to an estrogenic potency of 3-∼2800 times less than the estrogenic leachate BPA. Poultry litter ash/polypropylene (10:90) in MeOH for 10 days presented estrogenic activity at 20°C and 40°C within the above range and anti-androgenic activity at 40°C. Progestagenic activity was not observed for any of the compounds under any test condition. Interestingly, lower concentrations of eggshell or PP may eliminate eggshell estrogenicity and PP toxicity. Alternatively eggshell may bind and eliminate the toxic elements of PP. Similarly, PLA estrogenic activity was removed in both PLA/PBAT blends. This study demonstrates the benefits of bioassay guidance in the development of safer and sustainable packaging alternatives to petroleum-based plastics. Manipulating the types of additives and their formulations alongside toxicological testing may further improve safety aspects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Harper
- Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Eoin Cunningham
- School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Lisa Connolly
- Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
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12
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ERα-Dependent Regulation of Adropin Predicts Sex Differences in Liver Homeostasis during High-Fat Diet. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14163262. [PMID: 36014766 PMCID: PMC9416503 DOI: 10.3390/nu14163262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Revised: 08/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) represents a public health issue, due to its prevalence and association with other cardiometabolic diseases. Growing evidence suggests that NAFLD alters the production of hepatokines, which, in turn, influence several metabolic processes. Despite accumulating evidence on the major role of estrogen signaling in the sexually dimorphic nature of NAFLD, dependency of hepatokine expression on sex and estrogens has been poorly investigated. Through in vitro and in vivo analysis, we determined the extent to which hepatokines, known to be altered in NAFLD, can be regulated, in a sex-specific fashion, under different hormonal and nutritional conditions. Our study identified four hepatokines that better recapitulate sex and estrogen dependency. Among them, adropin resulted as one that displays a sex-specific and estrogen receptor alpha (ERα)-dependent regulation in the liver of mice under an excess of dietary lipids (high-fat diet, HFD). Under HFD conditions, the hepatic induction of adropin negatively correlates with the expression of lipogenic genes and with fatty liver in female mice, an effect that depends upon hepatic ERα. Our findings support the idea that ERα-mediated induction of adropin might represent a potential approach to limit or prevent NAFLD.
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13
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Dong YW, Jiang WD, Wu P, Liu Y, Kuang SY, Tang L, Tang WN, Zhou XQ, Feng L. Novel Insight Into Nutritional Regulation in Enhancement of Immune Status and Mediation of Inflammation Dynamics Integrated Study In Vivo and In Vitro of Teleost Grass Carp ( Ctenopharyngodon idella): Administration of Threonine. Front Immunol 2022; 13:770969. [PMID: 35359991 PMCID: PMC8963965 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.770969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aims to investigate the effects of threonine (Thr) on immunoregulation in vivo and in vitro of teleost grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella). Juveniles (9.53 ± 0.02 g) were reared for 8 weeks with respective Thr diet (3.99, 7.70, 10.72, 14.10, 17.96, and 21.66 g/kg) and then challenged with Aeromonas hydrophila for in vivo study. Macrophages isolated from head kidney were treated in vitro for 48 h with L-Thr (0, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0, and 8.0 mM) after 6 h of lipopolysaccharide induction. The results showed that, compared with Thr deficiency (3.99 g/kg), the optimal dietary Thr (14.10g/kg) affected the immunocyte activation in the head kidney (HK) and spleen (SP) by downregulating the mRNA expressions of MHC-II and upregulating CD4 (not CD8), and it mediated the innate immune by enhancing the activities of lysozyme (LZ), acid phosphatase content of complement 3 (C3) and C4, increasing the mRNA abundances of hepcidin, liver expressed antimicrobial peptide-2A (LEAP-2A), LEAP-2B, β-defensin1, downregulating tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), IL-6, IL-1β, IL-12p35, IL-12p40, IL-17AF1, and IL-17D partly by attenuating RORγ1 transcriptional factor and nuclear factor kappa B p65 (NF-κBp65) signaling cascades [IKKβ/IκBα/NF-κBp65] and upregulating transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), IL-4/13A, -4/13B, IL-10, and IL-22 partly by GATA-3. Besides these, the optimal dietary Thr regulated the adaptive immune by upregulating the mRNAs of immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgZ (not IgD). Moreover, 2 mM Thr downregulated in vitro the mRNA abundances of colony stimulating factor-1, inducible nitric oxide synthase, mannose receptor 1, matrix metalloproteinase2 (MMP-2), and MMP-9 significantly (P < 0.05), indicating that Thr could attenuate the M1-type macrophages’ activation. Moreover, L-Thr downregulated the mRNA transcripts of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β associated with impairing the SOCS1/STAT1 signaling and upregulated IL-10 and TGF-β1 partly by accentuating the SOCS3/STAT3 pathway. The above-mentioned observations suggested that Thr improved the immune status in the immune organs of fish by enhancing the immune defense and mediating the inflammation process. Finally, based on the immune indices of LZ activity in HK and C3 content in SP, the optimal Thr for immune enhancement in juvenile grass carp (9.53–53.43 g) was determined to be 15.70 g/kg diet (4.85 g/100 g protein) and 14.49 g/kg diet (4.47 g/100 g protein), respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Wen Dong
- Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Wei-Dan Jiang
- Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Fish Nutrition and Safety Production University Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition of China Ministry of Education, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Pei Wu
- Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Fish Nutrition and Safety Production University Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition of China Ministry of Education, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yang Liu
- Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Fish Nutrition and Safety Production University Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition of China Ministry of Education, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Sheng-Yao Kuang
- Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Academy of Animal Science, Chengdu, China
| | - Ling Tang
- Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Academy of Animal Science, Chengdu, China
| | - Wu-Neng Tang
- Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Academy of Animal Science, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiao-Qiu Zhou
- Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Fish Nutrition and Safety Production University Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition of China Ministry of Education, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Lin Feng
- Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Fish Nutrition and Safety Production University Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition of China Ministry of Education, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
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14
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Stephens CS, Hill-Ricciuti A, Francoeur L, Johnson PA. Feeding level is associated with altered liver transcriptome and follicle selection in the hen. Biol Reprod 2022; 106:943-952. [PMID: 35084018 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioac013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2021] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic selection for particular traits in domestic animals may have altered the optimal feedback regulation among systems regulating appetite, growth, and reproduction. Broiler breeder chickens have been selected for fast and efficient growth and, unless feed restricted, consume excessively resulting in poor reproductive efficiency. We examined the effect of dietary treatment in full fed (FF) and restricted fed (RF) broiler breeder hens on ovarian responses and on liver morphology and transcriptome associated with reproductive function. Although FF broiler breeder hens had lower egg production (p < 0.01), the total number of ovarian follicles >8 mm (p < 0.01), 6-8 mm (p < 0.03), and 3-5 mm (p < 0.04) were greater in FF hens compared to RF hens. There was a large amount of lipid accumulation in the liver of FF hens and differential gene analysis yielded 120 genes that were differentially expressed >2-fold in response to feeding level (p < 0.01; FDR < 0.05). Elevated T3 may indicate that general metabolism was affected by diet and GHR (p < 0.01) and IGF1 (p < 0.04) mRNA expression were both greater in the liver of FF hens as compared to RF hens. It is likely that selection for increased growth, associated with enhanced activity of the IGF1 system, has altered nutritional coupling of feed intake to follicle development.
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Affiliation(s)
- C S Stephens
- Department of Animal Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - A Hill-Ricciuti
- Department of Animal Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - L Francoeur
- Department of Animal Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - P A Johnson
- Department of Animal Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
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15
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Maggi A. Sex and Liver Disease: The Necessity of an Overarching Theory to Explain the Effect of Sex on Nonreproductive Functions. Endocrinology 2022; 163:6425114. [PMID: 34758075 PMCID: PMC8826248 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqab229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The number of studies illuminating major sex differences in liver metabolic activities is growing, but we still lack a theory to explain the origin of the functional differences we are identifying. In the animal kingdom, energy metabolism is tightly associated with reproduction; conceivably, the major evolutionary step that occurred about 200 million years ago with placentation determined a significant change in female physiology, as females had to create new energy strategies to allow the growth of the embryo in the womb and the lactation of the newborn. In vertebrates the liver is the metabolic organ most tuned to gonadal functions because the liver synthesizes and transports of all the components necessary for the maturation of the egg upon estrogenic stimulation. Thus, in mammals, evolution must have worked on the already strict gonad-liver relationship fostering these novel reproductive needs. As a consequence, the functions of mammalian liver in females diverged from that in males to acquire the flexibility necessary to tailor metabolism according to reproductive status and to ensure the parsimonious exploitation and storage of energy for the continuation of gestation in case of food scarcity. Indeed, several studies show that male and female livers adopt very different strategies when confronted with nutritional stress of varied origins. Considering the role of liver and energy metabolism in most pathologies, a better focus on liver functions in the 2 sexes might be of considerable help in personalizing medicine and pharmacology for male and female needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Maggi
- Correspondence: Adriana Maggi, PhD, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti 9, 20219 Milan, Italy.
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16
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Della Torre S, Vegeto E, Ciana P. The Use of ERE-Luc Reporter Mice to Monitor Estrogen Receptor Transcriptional Activity in a Spatio-Temporal Dimension. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2418:153-172. [PMID: 35119665 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1920-9_10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
In spite of the fact that women spend 1/3 of their lives in postmenopause, the search for appropriate therapies able to counteract the derangements associated with the menopause still represents a sort of sought after the "Holy Grail."Nowadays, the combination of estrogens and selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), a class of compounds with a mixed agonist/antagonistic activity on the estrogen receptor (ER) in various tissues, represents the most promising approach to improve postmenopausal women's health, by preserving the benefits while avoiding the side effects of estrogen-based therapy.Given their complex mechanisms of action, the evaluation of SERM activity in combination with conjugated estrogens (CE) requires a multifactorial analysis that takes into account the multifaceted and dynamic effects of these compounds in target tissues, even in relation to the physiological/pathological status.To accomplish such a goal, we took advantage of the ERE-Luc model, a reporter mouse that allows the monitoring of ER transcriptional activity in a spatio-temporal dimension. Cluster analyses performed on in vivo/ex vivo bioluminescence (BLI) data and ex vivo luciferase activity enabled to sustain the combination of CE plus bazedoxifene (TSEC, tissue-selective estrogen complex) as a valuable option for the pharmacological treatment of the postmenopause.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Della Torre
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
| | - Elisabetta Vegeto
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Paolo Ciana
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
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17
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Della Torre S, Benedusi V, Pepe G, Meda C, Rizzi N, Uhlenhaut NH, Maggi A. Dietary essential amino acids restore liver metabolism in ovariectomized mice via hepatic estrogen receptor α. Nat Commun 2021; 12:6883. [PMID: 34824281 PMCID: PMC8617046 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27272-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
In female mammals, the cessation of ovarian functions is associated with significant metabolic alterations, weight gain, and increased susceptibility to a number of pathologies associated with ageing. The molecular mechanisms triggering these systemic events are unknown because most tissues are responsive to lowered circulating sex steroids. As it has been demonstrated that isoform alpha of the estrogen receptor (ERα) may be activated by both estrogens and amino acids, we test the metabolic effects of a diet enriched in specific amino acids in ovariectomized (OVX) mice. This diet is able to block the OVX-induced weight gain and fat deposition in the liver. The use of liver-specific ERα KO mice demonstrates that the hepatic ERα, through the control of liver lipid metabolism, has a key role in the systemic response to OVX. The study suggests that the liver ERα might be a valuable target for dietary treatments for the post-menopause.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Della Torre
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
- Center of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
| | - Valeria Benedusi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Center of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Giovanna Pepe
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Center of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Clara Meda
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Rizzi
- Research Services Management Office, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Nina Henriette Uhlenhaut
- Molecular Endocrinology, Institute for Diabetes and Cancer (IDC), Helmholz Zentrum Munich, Helmholtz Diabetes Center (HMGU), Munich, Germany
- Metabolic Programming, TUM School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Munich, Freising, Germany
| | - Adriana Maggi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
- Center of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
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18
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Della Torre S. Beyond the X Factor: Relevance of Sex Hormones in NAFLD Pathophysiology. Cells 2021; 10:2502. [PMID: 34572151 PMCID: PMC8470830 DOI: 10.3390/cells10092502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Revised: 09/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a major health issue worldwide, being frequently associated with obesity, unbalanced dietary regimens, and reduced physical activity. Despite their greater adiposity and reduced physical activity, women show a lower risk of developing NAFLD in comparison to men, likely a consequence of a sex-specific regulation of liver metabolism. In the liver, sex differences in the uptake, synthesis, oxidation, deposition, and mobilization of lipids, as well as in the regulation of inflammation, are associated with differences in NAFLD prevalence and progression between men and women. Given the major role of sex hormones in driving hepatic sexual dimorphism, this review will focus on the role of sex hormones and their signaling in the regulation of hepatic metabolism and in the molecular mechanisms triggering NAFLD development and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Della Torre
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133 Milan, Italy
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19
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Yoshikawa N, Oda A, Yamazaki H, Yamamoto M, Kuribara-Souta A, Uehara M, Tanaka H. The Influence of Glucocorticoid Receptor on Sex Differences of Gene Expression Profile in Skeletal Muscle. Endocr Res 2021; 46:99-113. [PMID: 33590778 DOI: 10.1080/07435800.2021.1884874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Skeletal muscle functions as a locomotory system and maintains whole-body metabolism. Sex differences in such skeletal muscle morphology and function have been documented; however, their underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Glucocorticoids are adrenocortical hormones maintaining homeostasis, including regulating whole-body energy metabolism in addition to stress response. In skeletal muscle, glucocorticoids can reduce the synthesis of muscle proteins and simultaneously accelerate the breakdown of proteins to regulate skeletal muscle mass and energy metabolism via a transcription factor glucocorticoid receptor (GR). We herein evaluated the related contributions of the GR to sex differences of gene expression profiles in skeletal muscle using GR-floxed (GRf/f) and skeletal muscle-specific GR knockout (GRmKO) mice. There were no differences in GR mRNA and protein expression levels in gastrocnemius muscle between males and females. A DNA microarray analysis using gastrocnemius muscle from GRf/f and GRmKO mice revealed that, although most gene expression levels were identical in both sexes, genes related to cholesterol and apolipoprotein synthesis and fatty acid biosynthesis and the immunological system were predominantly expressed in males and females, respectively, in GRf/f but not in GRmKO mice. Moreover, many genes were up-regulated in response to starvation in GRf/f but not in GRmKO mice, many of which were sex-independent and functioned to maintain homeostasis, while genes that showed sex dominance related to a variety of functions. Although the genes expressed in skeletal muscle may be predominantly sex-independent, sex-dominant genes may relate to sex differences in energy metabolism and the immune system and could be controlled by the GR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noritada Yoshikawa
- Division of Rheumatology, Center for Antibody and Vaccine Therapy, IMSUT Hospital, the Institute of Medical Science, the University of Tokyo;, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Rheumatology and Allergy, IMSUT Hospital, the Institute of Medical Science, the University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Aya Oda
- Department of Rheumatology and Allergy, IMSUT Hospital, the Institute of Medical Science, the University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroki Yamazaki
- Department of Rheumatology and Allergy, IMSUT Hospital, the Institute of Medical Science, the University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Motohisa Yamamoto
- Division of Rheumatology, Center for Antibody and Vaccine Therapy, IMSUT Hospital, the Institute of Medical Science, the University of Tokyo;, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Rheumatology and Allergy, IMSUT Hospital, the Institute of Medical Science, the University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akiko Kuribara-Souta
- Department of Rheumatology and Allergy, IMSUT Hospital, the Institute of Medical Science, the University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masaaki Uehara
- Department of Rheumatology and Allergy, IMSUT Hospital, the Institute of Medical Science, the University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hirotoshi Tanaka
- Division of Rheumatology, Center for Antibody and Vaccine Therapy, IMSUT Hospital, the Institute of Medical Science, the University of Tokyo;, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Rheumatology and Allergy, IMSUT Hospital, the Institute of Medical Science, the University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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20
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Sakae Y, Tanaka M. Metabolism and Sex Differentiation in Animals from a Starvation Perspective. Sex Dev 2021; 15:168-178. [PMID: 34284403 DOI: 10.1159/000515281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Animals determine their sex genetically (GSD: genetic sex determination) and/or environmentally (ESD: environmental sex determination). Medaka (Oryzias latipes) employ a XX/XY GSD system, however, they display female-to-male sex reversal in response to various environmental changes such as temperature, hypoxia, and green light. Interestingly, we found that 5 days of starvation during sex differentiation caused female-to-male sex reversal. In this situation, the metabolism of pantothenate and fatty acid synthesis plays an important role in sex reversal. Metabolism is associated with other biological factors such as germ cells, HPG axis, lipids, and epigenetics, and supplys substances and acts as signal transducers. In this review, we discuss the importance of metabolism during sex differentiation and how metabolism contributes to sex differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuta Sakae
- Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Minoru Tanaka
- Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
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21
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Dean AE, Reichardt F, Anakk S. Sex differences feed into nuclear receptor signaling along the digestive tract. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2021; 1867:166211. [PMID: 34273530 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2021.166211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Sex differences in physiology are noted in clinical and animal studies. However, mechanisms underlying these observed differences between males and females remain elusive. Nuclear receptors control a wide range of physiological pathways and are expressed in the gastrointestinal tract, including the mouth, stomach, liver and intestine. We investigated the literature pertaining to ER, AR, FXR, and PPAR regulation and highlight the sex differences in nutrient metabolism along the digestive system. We chose these nuclear receptors based on their metabolic functions, and hormonal actions. Intriguingly, we noted an overlap in target genes of ER and FXR that modulate mucosal integrity and GLP-1 secretion, whereas overlap in target genes of PPARα with ER and AR modulate lipid metabolism. Sex differences were seen not only in the basal expression of nuclear receptors, but also in activation as their endogenous ligand concentrations fluctuate depending on nutrient availability. Finally, in this review, we speculate that interactions between the nuclear receptors may influence overall metabolic decisions in the gastrointestinal tract in a sex-specific manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela E Dean
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States of America
| | - François Reichardt
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States of America
| | - Sayeepriyadarshini Anakk
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States of America; Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States of America; Cancer center at Illinois, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States of America.
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22
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Sivasubramaniyam T, Yang J, Pollock E, Chon J, Schroer SA, Li YZ, Metherel AH, Dodington DW, Bazinet RP, Woo M. Hepatic Igf1-Deficiency Protects Against Atherosclerosis in Female Mice. Endocrinology 2021; 162:6153998. [PMID: 33647942 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqab040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Atherosclerosis is the leading cause of cardiovascular disease (CVD), with distinct sex-specific pathogenic mechanisms that are poorly understood. Aging, a major independent risk factor for atherosclerosis, correlates with a decline in circulating insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). However, the precise effects of Igf1 on atherosclerosis remain unclear. In the present study, we assessed the essential role of hepatic Igf1, the major source of circulating IGF-1, in atherogenesis. We generated hepatic Igf1-deficient atherosclerosis-prone apolipoprotein E (ApoE)-null mice (L-Igf1-/-ApoE-/-) using the Cre-loxP system driven by the Albumin promoter. Starting at 6 weeks of age, these mice and their littermate controls, separated into male and female groups, were placed on an atherogenic diet for 18 to 19 weeks. We show that hepatic Igf1-deficiency led to atheroprotection with reduced plaque macrophages in females, without significant effects in males. This protection from atherosclerosis in females was associated with increased subcutaneous adiposity and with impaired lipolysis. Moreover, this impaired lipid homeostasis was associated with disrupted adipokine secretion with reduced circulating interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels. Together, our data show that endogenous hepatic Igf1 plays a sex-specific regulatory role in atherogenesis, potentially through athero-promoting effects of adipose tissue-derived IL-6 secretion. These data provide potential novel sex-specific mechanisms in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tharini Sivasubramaniyam
- Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2C4, Canada
| | - Jiaqi Yang
- Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2C4, Canada
| | - Evan Pollock
- Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2C4, Canada
| | - Joseph Chon
- Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2C4, Canada
| | - Stephanie A Schroer
- Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2C4, Canada
| | - Yu Zhe Li
- Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2C4, Canada
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2M9, Canada
| | - Adam H Metherel
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3E2, Canada
| | - David W Dodington
- Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2C4, Canada
| | - Richard P Bazinet
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3E2, Canada
| | - Minna Woo
- Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2C4, Canada
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2M9, Canada
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2M9, Canada
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University Health Network/ Sinai Health System, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2C4, Canada
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23
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Sidhom S, Schneider A, Fang Y, McFadden S, Darcy J, Sathiaseelan R, Palmer AK, Steyn FJ, Grillari J, Kopchick JJ, Bartke A, Siddiqi S, Masternak MM, Stout MB. 17α-Estradiol Modulates IGF1 and Hepatic Gene Expression in a Sex-Specific Manner. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2021; 76:778-785. [PMID: 32857104 PMCID: PMC8087270 DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glaa215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Aging is the greatest risk factor for most chronic diseases. The somatotropic axis is one of the most conserved biological pathways that regulates aging across species. 17α-Estradiol (17α-E2), a diastereomer of 17β-estradiol (17β-E2), was recently found to elicit health benefits, including improved insulin sensitivity and extend longevity exclusively in male mice. Given that 17β-E2 is known to modulate somatotropic signaling in females through actions in the pituitary and liver, we hypothesized that 17α-E2 may be modulating the somatotropic axis in males, thereby contributing to health benefits. Herein, we demonstrate that 17α-E2 increases hepatic insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) production in male mice without inducing any changes in pulsatile growth hormone (GH) secretion. Using growth hormone receptor knockout (GHRKO) mice, we subsequently determined that the induction of hepatic IGF1 by 17α-E2 is dependent upon GH signaling in male mice, and that 17α-E2 elicits no effects on IGF1 production in female mice. We also determined that 17α-E2 failed to feminize the hepatic transcriptional profile in normal (N) male mice, as evidenced by a clear divergence between the sexes, regardless of treatment. Conversely, significant overlap in transcriptional profiles was observed between sexes in GHRKO mice, and this was unaffected by 17α-E2 treatment. Based on these findings, we propose that 17α-E2 acts as a pleiotropic pathway modulator in male mice by uncoupling IGF1 production from insulin sensitivity. In summary, 17α-E2 treatment upregulates IGF1 production in wild-type (and N) male mice in what appears to be a GH-dependent fashion, while no effects in female IGF1 production are observed following 17α-E2 treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvana Sidhom
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando
| | - Augusto Schneider
- Faculdade de Nutrição, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Yimin Fang
- Department of Physiology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield
| | - Samuel McFadden
- Department of Physiology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield
| | - Justin Darcy
- Department of Physiology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield
| | - Roshini Sathiaseelan
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
| | - Allyson K Palmer
- Robert and Arlene Kogod Center on Aging, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Frederik J Steyn
- University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research, Faculty of Medicine, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Johannes Grillari
- Department of Biotechnology, BOKU – University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - John J Kopchick
- Edison Biotechnology Institute & Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens
| | - Andrzej Bartke
- Department of Physiology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield
| | - Shadab Siddiqi
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando
| | - Michal M Masternak
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando
| | - Michael B Stout
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
- Oklahoma Center for Geroscience, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
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24
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Hua L, Zhao L, Mao Z, Li W, Li J, Jiang X, Che L, Xu S, Lin Y, Fang Z, Feng B, Wu D, Zhuo Y. Beneficial effects of a decreased meal frequency on nutrient utilization, secretion of luteinizing hormones and ovarian follicular development in gilts. J Anim Sci Biotechnol 2021; 12:41. [PMID: 33820556 PMCID: PMC8022406 DOI: 10.1186/s40104-021-00564-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Replacement gilts are typically fed ad libitum, whereas emerging evidence from human and rodent studies has revealed that time-restricted access to food has health benefits. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of meal frequency on the metabolic status and ovarian follicular development in gilts. Methods A total of 36 gilts (Landrace × Yorkshire) with an age of 150±3 d and a body weight of 77.6±3.8 kg were randomly allocated into one of three groups (n = 12 in each group), and based on the group allocation, the gilts were fed at a frequency of one meal (T1), two meals (T2), or six meals per day (T6) for 14 consecutive weeks. The effects of the meal frequency on growth preference, nutrient utilization, short-chain fatty acid production by gut microbial, the post-meal dynamics in the metabolic status, reproductive hormone secretions, and ovarian follicular development in the gilts were measured. Results The gilts in the T1 group presented a higher average daily gain (+ 48 g/d, P < 0.05) and a higher body weight (+ 4.9 kg, P < 0.05) than those in the T6 group. The meal frequency had no effect on the apparent digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, ether extract, ash, and gross energy, with the exception that the T1 gilts exhibited a greater NDF digestibility than the T6 gilts (P < 0.05). The nitrogen balance analysis revealed that the T1 gilts presented decreased urine excretion of nitrogen (− 8.17 g/d, P < 0.05) and higher nitrogen retention (+ 9.81 g/d, P < 0.05), and thus exhibited higher nitrogen utilization than the T6 gilts. The time-course dynamics of glucose, α-amino nitrogen, urea, lactate, and insulin levels in serum revealed that the T1 group exhibited higher utilization of nutrients after a meal than the T2 or T6 gilts. The T1 gilts also had a higher acetate content and SCFAs in feces than the T6 gilts (P < 0.05). The age, body weight and backfat thickness of the gilts at first estrous expression were not affected by the meal frequency, but the gilts in the T1 group had higher levels of serum luteinizing hormone on the 18th day of the 3rd estrus cycle and 17β-estradiol, a larger number of growing follicles and corpora lutea, and higher mRNA expression levels of genes related to follicular development on the 19th day of the 3rd estrus cycle. Conclusions The current findings revealed the benefits of a lower meal frequency equal feed intake on nutrient utilization and reproductive function in replacement gilts, and thus provide new insights into the nutritional strategy for replacement gilts, and the dietary pattern for other mammals, such as humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lun Hua
- Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of the Ministry of Education of China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, 211 Huimin Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, 611130, People's Republic of China
| | - Lianpeng Zhao
- Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of the Ministry of Education of China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, 211 Huimin Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, 611130, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhengyu Mao
- Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of the Ministry of Education of China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, 211 Huimin Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, 611130, People's Republic of China
| | - Wentao Li
- Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of the Ministry of Education of China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, 211 Huimin Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, 611130, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing Li
- Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of the Ministry of Education of China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, 211 Huimin Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, 611130, People's Republic of China
| | - Xuemei Jiang
- Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of the Ministry of Education of China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, 211 Huimin Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, 611130, People's Republic of China
| | - Lianqiang Che
- Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of the Ministry of Education of China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, 211 Huimin Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, 611130, People's Republic of China
| | - Shengyu Xu
- Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of the Ministry of Education of China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, 211 Huimin Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, 611130, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan Lin
- Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of the Ministry of Education of China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, 211 Huimin Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, 611130, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhengfeng Fang
- Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of the Ministry of Education of China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, 211 Huimin Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, 611130, People's Republic of China
| | - Bin Feng
- Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of the Ministry of Education of China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, 211 Huimin Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, 611130, People's Republic of China
| | - De Wu
- Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, People's Republic of China. .,Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of the Ministry of Education of China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, People's Republic of China. .,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, 211 Huimin Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, 611130, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yong Zhuo
- Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, People's Republic of China. .,Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of the Ministry of Education of China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, People's Republic of China. .,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, 211 Huimin Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, 611130, People's Republic of China.
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25
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Hua L, Li J, Feng B, Jiang D, Jiang X, Luo T, Che L, Xu S, Lin Y, Fang Z, Wu D, Zhuo Y. Dietary Intake Regulates White Adipose Tissues Angiogenesis via Liver Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 in Male Mice. Endocrinology 2021; 162:6054191. [PMID: 33369618 PMCID: PMC7814301 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqaa244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Obesity and related metabolic disorders have become epidemic diseases. Intermittent fasting has been shown to promote adipose tissue angiogenesis and have an anti-obesity feature; however, the mechanisms of how intermittent fasting modulates adipose tissues angiogenesis are poorly understood. We investigated the effect of fasting on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels in white adipose tissues (WAT) and the function of fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) in 1-time fasting and long-term intermittent fasting-induced VEGF expression. In the current study, fasting induced a selective and drastic elevation of VEGF levels in WAT, which did not occur in interscapular brown adipose tissue and liver. The fasting-induced Vegfa expression occurred predominantly in mature adipocytes, but not in the stromal vascular fraction in epididymal WAT and inguinal WAT (iWAT). Furthermore, a single bolus of recombinant mouse FGF21 injection increased VEGF levels in WAT. Long-term intermittent fasting for 16 weeks increased WAT angiogenesis, iWAT browning, and improved insulin resistance and inflammation, but the effect was blunted in FGF21 liver-specific knockout mice. In summary, these data suggest that FGF21 is a potent regulator of VEGF levels in WAT. The interorgan FGF21 signaling-induced WAT angiogenesis by VEGF could be a potential new therapeutic target in combination with obesity-related metabolic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lun Hua
- Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of the Ministry of Education of China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jing Li
- Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of the Ministry of Education of China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Bin Feng
- Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of the Ministry of Education of China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Dandan Jiang
- Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of the Ministry of Education of China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xuemei Jiang
- Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of the Ministry of Education of China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Ting Luo
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Lianqiang Che
- Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of the Ministry of Education of China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Shengyu Xu
- Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of the Ministry of Education of China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yan Lin
- Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of the Ministry of Education of China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Zhengfeng Fang
- Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of the Ministry of Education of China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - De Wu
- Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of the Ministry of Education of China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Correspondence: Yong Zhuo, 211 Huimin Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, PR China, 611130. ; De Wu, 211 Huimin Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, PR China, 611130.
| | - Yong Zhuo
- Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of the Ministry of Education of China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Correspondence: Yong Zhuo, 211 Huimin Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, PR China, 611130. ; De Wu, 211 Huimin Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, PR China, 611130.
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26
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Xiao Y, Kim M, Lazar MA. Nuclear receptors and transcriptional regulation in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Mol Metab 2020; 50:101119. [PMID: 33220489 PMCID: PMC8324695 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2020.101119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Revised: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND As a result of a sedentary lifestyle and excess food consumption in modern society, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) characterized by fat accumulation in the liver is becoming a major disease burden. Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is an advanced form of NAFLD characterized by inflammation and fibrosis that can lead to hepatocellular carcinoma and liver failure. Nuclear receptors (NRs) are a family of ligand-regulated transcription factors that closely control multiple aspects of metabolism. Their transcriptional activity is modulated by various ligands, including hormones and lipids. NRs serve as potential pharmacological targets for NAFLD/NASH and other metabolic diseases. SCOPE OF REVIEW In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of NRs that have been studied in the context of NAFLD/NASH with a focus on their transcriptional regulation, function in preclinical models, and studies of their clinical utility. MAJOR CONCLUSIONS The transcriptional regulation of NRs is context-dependent. During the dynamic progression of NAFLD/NASH, NRs play diverse roles in multiple organs and different cell types in the liver, which highlights the necessity of targeting NRs in a stage-specific and cell-type-specific manner to enhance the efficacy and safety of treatment methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Xiao
- Institute for Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Mindy Kim
- Institute for Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Mitchell A Lazar
- Institute for Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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27
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Hua L, Feng B, Huang L, Li J, Luo T, Jiang X, Han X, Che L, Xu S, Lin Y, Fang Z, Wu D, Zhuo Y. Time-restricted feeding improves the reproductive function of female mice via liver fibroblast growth factor 21. Clin Transl Med 2020; 10:e195. [PMID: 33135359 PMCID: PMC7533054 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2020] [Revised: 08/16/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background There has been a significant increase, to epidemic levels, of obese and overweight women of reproductive age, causing impairments to reproductive health. Time‐restricted feeding (TRF) including isocaloric intake has shown to be preventive of obesity‐related disorders. However, its therapeutic ability to improve the reproductive function of female remains largely unknown. Methods Here, we investigated the ability of TRF to improve the reproductive function in wild‐type and liver‐specific FGF21 knockout female mice. To study fertility, a continuous and a short‐term fertility test, gonadotropin releasing‐hormone (GnRH), and Kisspeptin test were performed. Immortalized GnRH neuron was used to examine the direct role of liver fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) on GnRH secretion. Results We found that TRF rescues female mice from bodyweight gain and glucose intolerance, as well as ovarian follicle loss and dysfunction of estrus cyclicity induced by high‐fat diet. Furthermore, the beneficial effects of the TRF regimen on the reproductive performance were also observed in mice fed both chow and high‐fat diet. However, those beneficial effects of TRF on metabolism and reproduction were absent in liver‐specific FGF21 knockout mice. In vitro, FGF21 directly acted on GnRH neurons to modulate GnRH secretion via extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK1/2) pathway. Conclusions Overall, time‐restricted feeding improves the reproductive function of female mice and liver FGF21 signaling plays a key role in GnRH neuron activity in female mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lun Hua
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, P. R. China.,Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of the Ministry of Education of China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, P. R. China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, P. R. China
| | - Bin Feng
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, P. R. China.,Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of the Ministry of Education of China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, P. R. China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, P. R. China
| | - Liansu Huang
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, P. R. China.,Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of the Ministry of Education of China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, P. R. China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, P. R. China
| | - Jing Li
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, P. R. China.,Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of the Ministry of Education of China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, P. R. China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, P. R. China
| | - Ting Luo
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Xuemei Jiang
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, P. R. China.,Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of the Ministry of Education of China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, P. R. China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, P. R. China
| | - Xingfa Han
- School of Life Sciences, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, P. R. China
| | - Lianqiang Che
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, P. R. China.,Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of the Ministry of Education of China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, P. R. China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, P. R. China
| | - Shengyu Xu
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, P. R. China.,Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of the Ministry of Education of China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, P. R. China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, P. R. China
| | - Yan Lin
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, P. R. China.,Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of the Ministry of Education of China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, P. R. China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, P. R. China
| | - Zhengfeng Fang
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, P. R. China.,Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of the Ministry of Education of China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, P. R. China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, P. R. China
| | - De Wu
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, P. R. China.,Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of the Ministry of Education of China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, P. R. China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, P. R. China
| | - Yong Zhuo
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, P. R. China.,Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of the Ministry of Education of China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, P. R. China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, P. R. China
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Della Torre S. Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease as a Canonical Example of Metabolic Inflammatory-Based Liver Disease Showing a Sex-Specific Prevalence: Relevance of Estrogen Signaling. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2020; 11:572490. [PMID: 33071979 PMCID: PMC7531579 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2020.572490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
There is extensive evidence supporting the interplay between metabolism and immune response, that have evolved in close relationship, sharing regulatory molecules and signaling systems, to support biological functions. Nowadays, the disruption of this interaction in the context of obesity and overnutrition underlies the increasing incidence of many inflammatory-based metabolic diseases, even in a sex-specific fashion. During evolution, the interplay between metabolism and reproduction has reached a degree of complexity particularly high in female mammals, likely to ensure reproduction only under favorable conditions. Several factors may account for differences in the incidence and progression of inflammatory-based metabolic diseases between females and males, thus contributing to age-related disease development and difference in life expectancy between the two sexes. Among these factors, estrogens, acting mainly through Estrogen Receptors (ERs), have been reported to regulate several metabolic pathways and inflammatory processes particularly in the liver, the metabolic organ showing the highest degree of sexual dimorphism. This review aims to investigate on the interaction between metabolism and inflammation in the liver, focusing on the relevance of estrogen signaling in counteracting the development and progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a canonical example of metabolic inflammatory-based liver disease showing a sex-specific prevalence. Understanding the role of estrogens/ERs in the regulation of hepatic metabolism and inflammation may provide the basis for the development of sex-specific therapeutic strategies for the management of such an inflammatory-based metabolic disease and its cardio-metabolic consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Della Torre
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
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29
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Sun SX, Wu JL, Lv HB, Zhang HY, Zhang J, Limbu SM, Qiao F, Chen LQ, Yang Y, Zhang ML, Du ZY. Environmental estrogen exposure converts lipid metabolism in male fish to a female pattern mediated by AMPK and mTOR signaling pathways. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2020; 394:122537. [PMID: 32203715 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.122537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2020] [Revised: 02/28/2020] [Accepted: 03/12/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Environmental estrogens, including bisphenol A (BPA) and 17β-estradiol (E2), which are widely used in industries and medicine, pose a severe ecological threat to fish due to feminization induction. However, the related metabolic basis for reproductive feminization in male fish has not been well addressed. We first found that female zebrafish exhibited higher lipid accumulation and lipogenesis activity than males. Next, we exposed male and female zebrafish to E2 (200 ng/L) or BPA (100 μg/L) for six weeks, and observed an early-phase reproductive feminization in males, accompanied with reduced spermatids, significant fat deposition and lipogenic gene expressions that mimicked female patterns. Cellular signaling assays revealed that, E2 or BPA modulated lipid metabolism in males mainly through lowering 5' AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and upregulating the lipogenic mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathways. For the first time, we show that environmental estrogens could alter lipid metabolism in male fish to a female pattern (metabolic feminization) prior to gonad feminization in male fish, to allows males to accumulate efficiently lipids to harmonize with the feminized gonads. This study suggests that negative effects of environmental estrogens, as hazardous materials, on vertebrate health are more complicated than originally thought.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng-Xiang Sun
- LANEH, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Jun-Lin Wu
- LANEH, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Hong-Bo Lv
- LANEH, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Hai-Yang Zhang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
| | - Samwel Mchele Limbu
- LANEH, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China; Department of Aquatic Sciences and Fisheries Technology, University of Dar as Salaam, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Fang Qiao
- LANEH, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Li-Qiao Chen
- LANEH, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Yi Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China; Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science (Ministry of Education), School of Geographical Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Mei-Ling Zhang
- LANEH, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Zhen-Yu Du
- LANEH, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China.
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30
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Understanding menstrual characteristics from the perspective of reproductive energetics: a study on the adolescent Oraon tribal populations. ANTHROPOLOGICAL REVIEW 2020. [DOI: 10.2478/anre-2020-0009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The energetic costs of ovarian functions rely on the oxidizable fuels synthesized from carbohydrate, protein and fat that contribute to body’s fat storage. Energy deficient diet in association with low body fat may disrupt normal ovulatory function and lead to several menstrual irregularities. We examined the association of nutritional status with menstrual characteristics among a group of adolescent Oraon tribal population of West Bengal, India. We selected 301 adolescent girls, aged 10-19 years. Information on socio-demographic status, menstrual characteristics and assessment of the dietary intake and nutritional status were collected following standard protocol. ‘Healthy weight’ participants more likely reported irregularity in periods and skipping of menstrual cycle and shorter cycle length. Multivariate analysis revealed PBF has inverse association with PMS, duration of discharge and skipping of cycle (p<0.05); carbohydrate intake has direct association with duration of menstrual discharge (p<0.05); increased dietary fat intake has direct association with skipping of cycle, but not with BMI (p<0.05); increase in MUAC has direct association with dysmenorrhoea (p<0.05). Conclusion: Our study indicates energy deficiency does alter the menstrual characteristics of the Oraon adolescent girls.
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31
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Meda C, Barone M, Mitro N, Lolli F, Pedretti S, Caruso D, Maggi A, Della Torre S. Hepatic ERα accounts for sex differences in the ability to cope with an excess of dietary lipids. Mol Metab 2019; 32:97-108. [PMID: 32029233 PMCID: PMC6957843 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2019.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2019] [Revised: 12/11/2019] [Accepted: 12/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Among obesity-associated metabolic diseases, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) represents an increasing public health issue due to its emerging association with atherogenic dyslipidemia and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). The lower prevalence of NAFLD in pre-menopausal women compared with men or post-menopausal women led us to hypothesize that the female-inherent ability to counteract this pathology might strongly rely on estrogen signaling. In female mammals, estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) is highly expressed in the liver, where it acts as a sensor of the nutritional status and adapts the metabolism to the reproductive needs. As in the male liver this receptor is little expressed, we here hypothesize that hepatic ERα might account for sex differences in the ability of males and females to cope with an excess of dietary lipids and counteract the accumulation of lipids in the liver. Methods Through liver metabolomics and transcriptomics we analyzed the relevance of hepatic ERα in the metabolic response of males and females to a diet highly enriched in fats (HFD) as a model of diet-induced obesity. Results The study shows that the hepatic ERα strongly contributes to the sex-specific response to an HFD and its action accounts for opposite consequences for hepatic health in males and females. Conclusion This study identified hepatic ERα as a novel target for the design of sex-specific therapies against fatty liver and its cardio-metabolic consequences. Hepatic ERα contributes to sex-specific response to a fat-enriched diet. Hepatic ERα action accounts for contrasting consequences in males and females. In males, hepatic ERα action does not prevent liver lipid accumulation. The lack of ERα is responsible for an altered plasma lipid profile in males. In females, liver ERα controls lipid catabolism and counteracts NAFLD development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Meda
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan, Italy
| | - Mara Barone
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Italy; Center of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Milan, Italy
| | - Nico Mitro
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Italy
| | - Federica Lolli
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Pedretti
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Italy
| | - Donatella Caruso
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Italy
| | - Adriana Maggi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Italy; Center of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Milan, Italy
| | - Sara Della Torre
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Italy; Center of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Milan, Italy.
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32
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Effect of short-term nutritional supplementation on hormone concentrations in ovarian follicular fluid and steroid regulating gene mRNA abundances in granulosa cells of ewes. Anim Reprod Sci 2019; 211:106208. [PMID: 31785624 DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2019.106208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2019] [Revised: 09/30/2019] [Accepted: 10/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
This study was conducted to investigate effects of short-term nutritional supplementation on concentrations of reproductive hormones in follicular fluid and on mRNA abundance in granulosa cells (GCs) during the luteal phase of ewes. Eighteen ewes were randomly assigned to treatment or control groups (n = 9, each group). All the ewes were subjected to estrous synchronization using a Controlled Intravaginal Releasing Device (CIDR). From the second to the eleventh day of estrous synchronization, ewes were fed a diet with a relatively greater (treatment group) or a maintenance (control group) energy content. Samples of follicular fluid and GCs were collected from antral follicles of estrous ewes after CIDR removal. The results indicate mean FSH concentration of fluid in small follicles and mean LH concentrations of fluid in large follicles of the ewes in the treatment group were greater (P < 0.05) than that of ewes in the control group. Follicular fluid E2 concentrations were directly related (P < 0.05) to follicular diameter. The ewes of the treatment group had greater (P < 0.05), compared with the control group, abundances of Follicle Stimulating Hormone Receptor (FSHR) in small and medium follicles, and (P<0.05) Luteinizing Hormone Receptor (LHR), Steroid Acute Regulatory Protein (STAR), cytochrome P450 (CYP17A1, CYP19A1) enzyme and Estrogen Receptor (ESR1) in large follicles. The results of this study provide evidence for a potential mechanism by which short-term nutritional supplementation improves follicular development possibly because of increased expression of steroid synthesis-regulating genes in large follicles.
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33
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Abstract
Alternative Splicing produces multiple mRNA isoforms of genes which have important diverse roles such as regulation of gene expression, human heritable diseases, and response to environmental stresses. However, little has been done to assign functions at the mRNA isoform level. Functional networks, where the interactions are quantified by their probability of being involved in the same biological process are typically generated at the gene level. We use a diverse array of tissue-specific RNA-seq datasets and sequence information to train random forest models that predict the functional networks. Since there is no mRNA isoform-level gold standard, we use single isoform genes co-annotated to Gene Ontology biological process annotations, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways, BioCyc pathways and protein-protein interactions as functionally related (positive pair). To generate the non-functional pairs (negative pair), we use the Gene Ontology annotations tagged with "NOT" qualifier. We describe 17 Tissue-spEcific mrNa iSoform functIOnal Networks (TENSION) following a leave-one-tissue-out strategy in addition to an organism level reference functional network for mouse. We validate our predictions by comparing its performance with previous methods, randomized positive and negative class labels, updated Gene Ontology annotations, and by literature evidence. We demonstrate the ability of our networks to reveal tissue-specific functional differences of the isoforms of the same genes. All scripts and data from TENSION are available at: https://doi.org/10.25380/iastate.c.4275191 .
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaurav Kandoi
- Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Program, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Julie A Dickerson
- Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Program, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA.
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA.
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34
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Khristi V, Ratri A, Ghosh S, Pathak D, Borosha S, Dai E, Roy R, Chakravarthi VP, Wolfe MW, Karim Rumi MA. Disruption of ESR1 alters the expression of genes regulating hepatic lipid and carbohydrate metabolism in male rats. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2019; 490:47-56. [PMID: 30974146 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2019.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2018] [Revised: 04/01/2019] [Accepted: 04/03/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
The liver helps maintain energy homeostasis by synthesizing and storing glucose and lipids. Gonadal steroids, particularly estrogens, play an important role in regulating metabolism. As estrogens are considered female hormones, metabolic disorders related to the disruption of estrogen signaling have mostly been studied in females. Estrogen receptor alpha (ESR1) is the predominant receptor in both the male and female liver, and it mediates the hepatic response to estrogens. Loss of ESR1 increases weight gain and obesity in female rats, while reducing the normal growth in males. Although Esr1-/- male rats have a reduced body weight, they exhibit increased adipose deposition and impaired glucose tolerance. We further investigated whether these metabolic disorders in Esr1-/- male rats were linked with the loss of transcriptional regulation by ESR1 in the liver. To identify the ESR-regulated genes, RNA-sequencing was performed on liver mRNAs from wildtype and Esr1-/- male rats. Based on an absolute fold change of ≥2 with a p-value ≤ 0.05, a total of 706 differentially expressed genes were identified in the Esr1-/- male liver: 478 downregulated, and 228 upregulated. Pathway analyses demonstrate that the differentially expressed genes include transcriptional regulators (Cry1, Nr1d1, Nr0b2), transporters (Slc1a2), and regulators of biosynthesis (Cyp7b1, Cyp8b1), and hormone metabolism (Hsd17b2, Sult1e1). Many of these genes are also integral parts of the lipid and carbohydrate metabolism pathways in the liver. Interestingly, certain critical regulators of the metabolic pathways displayed a sexual dimorphism in expression, which may explain the divergent weight gain in Esr1-/- male and female rats despite common metabolic dysfunctions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincentaben Khristi
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA
| | - Anamika Ratri
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA; Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA
| | - Subhra Ghosh
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA
| | - Devansh Pathak
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA
| | - Shaon Borosha
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA
| | - Eddie Dai
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA
| | - Richita Roy
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA
| | - V Praveen Chakravarthi
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA
| | - Michael W Wolfe
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA; Institute for Reproduction and Perinatal Research, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA
| | - M A Karim Rumi
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA; Institute for Reproduction and Perinatal Research, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA.
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35
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Guillaume M, Riant E, Fabre A, Raymond-Letron I, Buscato M, Davezac M, Tramunt B, Montagner A, Smati S, Zahreddine R, Palierne G, Valera MC, Guillou H, Lenfant F, Unsicker K, Metivier R, Fontaine C, Arnal JF, Gourdy P. Selective Liver Estrogen Receptor α Modulation Prevents Steatosis, Diabetes, and Obesity Through the Anorectic Growth Differentiation Factor 15 Hepatokine in Mice. Hepatol Commun 2019; 3:908-924. [PMID: 31304450 PMCID: PMC6601326 DOI: 10.1002/hep4.1363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2019] [Accepted: 03/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocyte estrogen receptor α (ERα) was recently recognized as a relevant molecular target for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) prevention. The present study defined to what extent hepatocyte ERα could be involved in preserving metabolic homeostasis in response to a full (17β-estradiol [E2]) or selective (selective estrogen receptor modulator [SERM]) activation. Ovariectomized mice harboring a hepatocyte-specific ERα deletion (LERKO mice) and their wild-type (WT) littermates were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) and concomitantly treated with E2, tamoxifen (TAM; the most used SERM), or vehicle. As expected, both E2 and TAM prevented all HFD-induced metabolic disorders in WT mice, and their protective effects against steatosis were abolished in LERKO mice. However, while E2 still prevented obesity and glucose intolerance in LERKO mice, hepatocyte ERα deletion also abrogated TAM-mediated control of food intake as well as its beneficial actions on adiposity, insulin sensitivity, and glucose homeostasis, suggesting a whole-body protective role for liver-derived circulating factors. Moreover, unlike E2, TAM induced a rise in plasma concentration of the anorectic hepatokine growth differentiation factor 15 (Gdf15) through a transcriptional mechanism dependent on hepatocyte ERα activation. Accordingly, ERα was associated with specific binding sites in the Gdf15 regulatory region in hepatocytes from TAM-treated mice but not under E2 treatment due to specific epigenetic modifications. Finally, all the protective effects of TAM were abolished in HFD-fed GDF15-knockout mice. Conclusion: We identified the selective modulation of hepatocyte ERα as a pharmacologic strategy to induce sufficient anorectic hepatokine Gdf15 to prevent experimental obesity, type 2 diabetes, and NAFLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maeva Guillaume
- Institut des Maladies Métaboliques et Cardiovasculaires Unité Médicale de Recherche 1048, Institut National de la Santé et de le Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Université de Toulouse III Toulouse France.,Service d'Hépato-gastro-entérologie Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Toulouse Toulouse France
| | - Elodie Riant
- Institut des Maladies Métaboliques et Cardiovasculaires Unité Médicale de Recherche 1048, Institut National de la Santé et de le Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Université de Toulouse III Toulouse France
| | - Aurélie Fabre
- Institut des Maladies Métaboliques et Cardiovasculaires Unité Médicale de Recherche 1048, Institut National de la Santé et de le Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Université de Toulouse III Toulouse France
| | - Isabelle Raymond-Letron
- STROMALab, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique ERL5311 Etablissement Français du Sang, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse, Institut National de la Santé et de le Recherche Médicale (INSERM) U1031, Université de Toulouse III Toulouse France
| | - Melissa Buscato
- Institut des Maladies Métaboliques et Cardiovasculaires Unité Médicale de Recherche 1048, Institut National de la Santé et de le Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Université de Toulouse III Toulouse France
| | - Morgane Davezac
- Institut des Maladies Métaboliques et Cardiovasculaires Unité Médicale de Recherche 1048, Institut National de la Santé et de le Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Université de Toulouse III Toulouse France
| | - Blandine Tramunt
- Institut des Maladies Métaboliques et Cardiovasculaires Unité Médicale de Recherche 1048, Institut National de la Santé et de le Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Université de Toulouse III Toulouse France
| | - Alexandra Montagner
- Institut des Maladies Métaboliques et Cardiovasculaires Unité Médicale de Recherche 1048, Institut National de la Santé et de le Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Université de Toulouse III Toulouse France
| | - Sarra Smati
- Institut des Maladies Métaboliques et Cardiovasculaires Unité Médicale de Recherche 1048, Institut National de la Santé et de le Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Université de Toulouse III Toulouse France.,Institut National de La Recherche Agronomique Unité Médicale de Recherche 1331, ToxAlim, Université de Toulouse Toulouse France
| | - Rana Zahreddine
- Institut des Maladies Métaboliques et Cardiovasculaires Unité Médicale de Recherche 1048, Institut National de la Santé et de le Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Université de Toulouse III Toulouse France
| | - Gaëlle Palierne
- Equipe SP@RTE, Unité Médicale de Recherche 6290, Institut de Genétique et Développement de Rennes Université de Rennes 1 Rennes France
| | - Marie-Cécile Valera
- Institut des Maladies Métaboliques et Cardiovasculaires Unité Médicale de Recherche 1048, Institut National de la Santé et de le Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Université de Toulouse III Toulouse France
| | - Hervé Guillou
- Institut National de La Recherche Agronomique Unité Médicale de Recherche 1331, ToxAlim, Université de Toulouse Toulouse France
| | - Françoise Lenfant
- Institut des Maladies Métaboliques et Cardiovasculaires Unité Médicale de Recherche 1048, Institut National de la Santé et de le Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Université de Toulouse III Toulouse France
| | - Klaus Unsicker
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Department of Molecular Embryology University of Freiburg Freiburg Germany
| | - Raphaël Metivier
- Equipe SP@RTE, Unité Médicale de Recherche 6290, Institut de Genétique et Développement de Rennes Université de Rennes 1 Rennes France
| | - Coralie Fontaine
- Institut des Maladies Métaboliques et Cardiovasculaires Unité Médicale de Recherche 1048, Institut National de la Santé et de le Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Université de Toulouse III Toulouse France
| | - Jean-François Arnal
- Institut des Maladies Métaboliques et Cardiovasculaires Unité Médicale de Recherche 1048, Institut National de la Santé et de le Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Université de Toulouse III Toulouse France
| | - Pierre Gourdy
- Institut des Maladies Métaboliques et Cardiovasculaires Unité Médicale de Recherche 1048, Institut National de la Santé et de le Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Université de Toulouse III Toulouse France.,Service de Diabétologie Maladies Métaboliques et Nutrition, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Toulouse Toulouse France
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36
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Grossmann M, Wierman ME, Angus P, Handelsman DJ. Reproductive Endocrinology of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. Endocr Rev 2019; 40:417-446. [PMID: 30500887 DOI: 10.1210/er.2018-00158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2018] [Accepted: 11/19/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The liver and the reproductive system interact in a multifaceted bidirectional fashion. Sex steroid signaling influences hepatic endobiotic and xenobiotic metabolism and contributes to the pathogenesis of functional and structural disorders of the liver. In turn, liver function affects the reproductive axis via modulating sex steroid metabolism and transport to tissues via sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG). The liver senses the body's metabolic status and adapts its energy homeostasis in a sex-dependent fashion, a dimorphism signaled by the sex steroid milieu and possibly related to the metabolic costs of reproduction. Sex steroids impact the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, including development of hepatic steatosis, fibrosis, and carcinogenesis. Preclinical studies in male rodents demonstrate that androgens protect against hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance both via androgen receptor signaling and, following aromatization to estradiol, estrogen receptor signaling, through regulating genes involved in hepatic lipogenesis and glucose metabolism. In female rodents in contrast to males, androgens promote hepatic steatosis and dysglycemia, whereas estradiol is similarly protective against liver disease. In men, hepatic steatosis is associated with modest reductions in circulating testosterone, in part consequent to a reduction in circulating SHBG. Testosterone treatment has not been demonstrated to improve hepatic steatosis in randomized controlled clinical trials. Consistent with sex-dimorphic preclinical findings, androgens promote hepatic steatosis and dysglycemia in women, whereas endogenous estradiol appears protective in both men and women. In both sexes, androgens promote hepatic fibrosis and the development of hepatocellular carcinoma, whereas estradiol is protective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathis Grossmann
- Department of Medicine Austin Health, University of Melbourne, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Endocrinology, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
| | - Margaret E Wierman
- Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado.,Research Service, Rocky Mountain Regional Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Peter Angus
- Department of Medicine Austin Health, University of Melbourne, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.,Departments of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
| | - David J Handelsman
- ANZAC Research Institute, University of Sydney, Concord Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Zhou X, Yang H, Yan Q, Ren A, Kong Z, Tang S, Han X, Tan Z, Salem AZM. Evidence for liver energy metabolism programming in offspring subjected to intrauterine undernutrition during midgestation. Nutr Metab (Lond) 2019; 16:20. [PMID: 30923555 PMCID: PMC6423887 DOI: 10.1186/s12986-019-0346-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2018] [Accepted: 03/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Maternal undernutrition programs fetal energy homeostasis and increases the risk of metabolic disorders later in life. This study aimed to identify the signs of hepatic metabolic programming in utero and during the juvenile phase after intrauterine undernutrition during midgestation. Methods Fifty-three pregnant goats were assigned to the control (100% of the maintenance requirement) or restricted (60% of the maintenance requirement from day 45 to day 100 of midgestation and realimentation thereafter) group to compare hepatic energy metabolism in the fetuses (day 100 of gestation) and kids (postnatal day 90). Results Undernutrition increased the glucagon concentration and hepatic hexokinase activity, decreased the body weight, liver weight and hepatic expression of G6PC, G6PD, and PGC1α mRNAs, and tended to decrease the hepatic glycogen content and ACOX1 mRNA level in the dams. Maternal undernutrition decreased the growth hormone (GH) and triglyceride concentrations, tended to decrease the body weight and hepatic hexokinase activity, increased the hepatic PCK1, PCK2 and PRKAA2 mRNAs levels and glucose-6-phosphatase activity, and tended to increase the hepatic PRKAB1 and CPT1α mRNAs levels in the male fetuses. In the restricted female fetuses, the hepatic hexokinase activity and G6PC mRNA level tended to be increased, but PKB1 mRNA expression was decreased and the ACACA, CPT1α, NR1H3 and STK11 mRNA levels tended to be decreased. Maternal undernutrition changed the hepatic metabolic profile and affected the metabolic pathway involved in amino acid, glycerophospholipid, bile acid, purine, and saccharide metabolism in the fetuses, but not the kids. Additionally, maternal undernutrition increased the concentrations of GH and cortisol, elevated the hepatic glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity, and tended to decrease the hepatic glycogen content in the male kids. No alterations in these variables were observed in the female kids. Conclusions Maternal undernutrition affects the metabolic status in a sex- and stage-specific manner by changing the metabolic profile, expression of genes involved in glucose homeostasis and enzyme activities in the liver of the fetuses. The changes in the hormone levels in the male fetuses and kids, but not the female offspring, represent a potential sign of metabolic programming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoling Zhou
- 1CAS Key Laboratory for Agro-Ecological Processes in Subtropical Regions, National Engineering Laboratory for Pollution Control and Waste Utilization in Livestock and Poultry Production, South-Central Experimental Station of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science in the Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yuanda 2nd Road 644#, Furong District, Changsha, P.O. Box 10#, Hunan 410125 People's Republic of China.,2University of Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, 100049 China.,3College of Animal Science, Tarim University, Alaer, 843300 China
| | - Hong Yang
- 1CAS Key Laboratory for Agro-Ecological Processes in Subtropical Regions, National Engineering Laboratory for Pollution Control and Waste Utilization in Livestock and Poultry Production, South-Central Experimental Station of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science in the Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yuanda 2nd Road 644#, Furong District, Changsha, P.O. Box 10#, Hunan 410125 People's Republic of China.,2University of Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, 100049 China
| | - Qiongxian Yan
- 1CAS Key Laboratory for Agro-Ecological Processes in Subtropical Regions, National Engineering Laboratory for Pollution Control and Waste Utilization in Livestock and Poultry Production, South-Central Experimental Station of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science in the Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yuanda 2nd Road 644#, Furong District, Changsha, P.O. Box 10#, Hunan 410125 People's Republic of China.,Hunan Co-Innovation Center for Utilization of Botanical Functional Ingredients, Changsha, 410128 China
| | - Ao Ren
- 1CAS Key Laboratory for Agro-Ecological Processes in Subtropical Regions, National Engineering Laboratory for Pollution Control and Waste Utilization in Livestock and Poultry Production, South-Central Experimental Station of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science in the Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yuanda 2nd Road 644#, Furong District, Changsha, P.O. Box 10#, Hunan 410125 People's Republic of China.,Hunan Co-Innovation Center for Utilization of Botanical Functional Ingredients, Changsha, 410128 China
| | - Zhiwei Kong
- 1CAS Key Laboratory for Agro-Ecological Processes in Subtropical Regions, National Engineering Laboratory for Pollution Control and Waste Utilization in Livestock and Poultry Production, South-Central Experimental Station of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science in the Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yuanda 2nd Road 644#, Furong District, Changsha, P.O. Box 10#, Hunan 410125 People's Republic of China.,2University of Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, 100049 China
| | - Shaoxun Tang
- 1CAS Key Laboratory for Agro-Ecological Processes in Subtropical Regions, National Engineering Laboratory for Pollution Control and Waste Utilization in Livestock and Poultry Production, South-Central Experimental Station of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science in the Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yuanda 2nd Road 644#, Furong District, Changsha, P.O. Box 10#, Hunan 410125 People's Republic of China.,Hunan Co-Innovation Center of Animal Production Safety, CICAPS, Changsha, 410128 China
| | - Xuefeng Han
- 1CAS Key Laboratory for Agro-Ecological Processes in Subtropical Regions, National Engineering Laboratory for Pollution Control and Waste Utilization in Livestock and Poultry Production, South-Central Experimental Station of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science in the Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yuanda 2nd Road 644#, Furong District, Changsha, P.O. Box 10#, Hunan 410125 People's Republic of China.,Hunan Co-Innovation Center of Animal Production Safety, CICAPS, Changsha, 410128 China
| | - Zhiliang Tan
- 1CAS Key Laboratory for Agro-Ecological Processes in Subtropical Regions, National Engineering Laboratory for Pollution Control and Waste Utilization in Livestock and Poultry Production, South-Central Experimental Station of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science in the Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yuanda 2nd Road 644#, Furong District, Changsha, P.O. Box 10#, Hunan 410125 People's Republic of China.,Hunan Co-Innovation Center of Animal Production Safety, CICAPS, Changsha, 410128 China
| | - Abdelfattah Z M Salem
- 6Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Tlaphan, Mexico
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Zhuo Y, Hua L, Feng B, Jiang X, Li J, Jiang D, Huang X, Zhu Y, Li Z, Yan L, Jin C, Che L, Fang Z, Lin Y, Xu S, Li J, Wu D. Fibroblast growth factor 21 coordinates adiponectin to mediate the beneficial effects of low-protein diet on primordial follicle reserve. EBioMedicine 2019; 41:623-635. [PMID: 30772303 PMCID: PMC6444179 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2019.02.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2018] [Revised: 02/08/2019] [Accepted: 02/08/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Global consumption of protein per capita is rising, while rates of infertility are increasing. However, a clear relationship between protein intake and reproductive health has not been demonstrated. The activation of the quiescent primordial follicles is the first step of folliculogenesis, and their activation must be tightly controlled to prevent premature exhaustion of the ovarian follicular reserve. Methods The primordial follicle reserve of wild-type or liver-specific ablation of fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) in mice, subjected to limited or excessive protein diets or oral gavage test, were detected in vivo. Mouse ovary organ cultures were used to examine the direct role of metabolites or metabolic hormones on primordial follicle activation. Findings Mouse primordial follicle activation, was reduced by restricted protein intake and was accelerated by excessive protein intake, in an ovarian mTORC1 signaling-dependent manner. Furthermore, restricted or excessive protein intake resulted in an augmentation or decline of oocyte number and fertility at older age, respectively. Liver-specific ablation of FGF21, which resulted in a reduction of 87% in circulating FGF21, abrogated the preserving effect of low-protein intake on primordial follicle pool. Interestingly, FGF21 had no direct effect on the activation of primordial follicles, but instead required an adipokine adiponectin. Moreover, AdipoRon, an oral adiponectin receptor agonist, prevented the over-activation effect of excessive protein intake on primordial follicle activation. Interpretation Dietary protein consumption controlled ovarian primordial follicle reserve and fertility, which required coordination between FGF21 and adiponectin. Fund Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant 31772616).
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Zhuo
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, PR China; Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of the Ministry of Education of China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, PR China
| | - Lun Hua
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, PR China; Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of the Ministry of Education of China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, PR China
| | - Bin Feng
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, PR China; Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of the Ministry of Education of China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, PR China
| | - Xuemei Jiang
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, PR China; Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of the Ministry of Education of China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, PR China
| | - Jing Li
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, PR China; Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of the Ministry of Education of China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, PR China
| | - Dandan Jiang
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, PR China; Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of the Ministry of Education of China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, PR China
| | - Xiaohua Huang
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, PR China; Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of the Ministry of Education of China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, PR China
| | - Yingguo Zhu
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, PR China; Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of the Ministry of Education of China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, PR China
| | - Zhen Li
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, PR China; Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of the Ministry of Education of China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, PR China
| | - Lijun Yan
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, PR China; Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of the Ministry of Education of China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, PR China
| | - Chao Jin
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, PR China; Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of the Ministry of Education of China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, PR China
| | - Lianqiang Che
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, PR China; Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of the Ministry of Education of China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, PR China
| | - Zhengfeng Fang
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, PR China; Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of the Ministry of Education of China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, PR China
| | - Yan Lin
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, PR China; Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of the Ministry of Education of China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, PR China
| | - Shengyu Xu
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, PR China
| | - Jian Li
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, PR China
| | - De Wu
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, PR China; Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of the Ministry of Education of China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, PR China.
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Gancheva S, Jelenik T, Álvarez-Hernández E, Roden M. Interorgan Metabolic Crosstalk in Human Insulin Resistance. Physiol Rev 2018; 98:1371-1415. [PMID: 29767564 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00015.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 122] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Excessive energy intake and reduced energy expenditure drive the development of insulin resistance and metabolic diseases such as obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Metabolic signals derived from dietary intake or secreted from adipose tissue, gut, and liver contribute to energy homeostasis. Recent metabolomic studies identified novel metabolites and enlarged our knowledge on classic metabolites. This review summarizes the evidence of their roles as mediators of interorgan crosstalk and regulators of insulin sensitivity and energy metabolism. Circulating lipids such as free fatty acids, acetate, and palmitoleate from adipose tissue and short-chain fatty acids from the gut effectively act on liver and skeletal muscle. Intracellular lipids such as diacylglycerols and sphingolipids can serve as lipotoxins by directly inhibiting insulin action in muscle and liver. In contrast, fatty acid esters of hydroxy fatty acids have been recently shown to exert a series of beneficial effects. Also, ketoacids are gaining interest as potent modulators of insulin action and mitochondrial function. Finally, branched-chain amino acids not only predict metabolic diseases, but also inhibit insulin signaling. Here, we focus on the metabolic crosstalk in humans, which regulates insulin sensitivity and energy homeostasis in the main insulin-sensitive tissues, skeletal muscle, liver, and adipose tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofiya Gancheva
- Division of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University , Düsseldorf , Germany ; Institute for Clinical Diabetology, German Diabetes Center, Leibniz Center for Diabetes Research, Heinrich Heine University , Düsseldorf , Germany ; and German Center of Diabetes Research (DZD e.V.), Munich- Neuherberg , Germany
| | - Tomas Jelenik
- Division of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University , Düsseldorf , Germany ; Institute for Clinical Diabetology, German Diabetes Center, Leibniz Center for Diabetes Research, Heinrich Heine University , Düsseldorf , Germany ; and German Center of Diabetes Research (DZD e.V.), Munich- Neuherberg , Germany
| | - Elisa Álvarez-Hernández
- Division of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University , Düsseldorf , Germany ; Institute for Clinical Diabetology, German Diabetes Center, Leibniz Center for Diabetes Research, Heinrich Heine University , Düsseldorf , Germany ; and German Center of Diabetes Research (DZD e.V.), Munich- Neuherberg , Germany
| | - Michael Roden
- Division of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University , Düsseldorf , Germany ; Institute for Clinical Diabetology, German Diabetes Center, Leibniz Center for Diabetes Research, Heinrich Heine University , Düsseldorf , Germany ; and German Center of Diabetes Research (DZD e.V.), Munich- Neuherberg , Germany
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40
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Borges CC, Bringhenti I, Mandarim-de-Lacerda CA, Aguila MB. Vitamin D deficiency aggravates the liver metabolism and inflammation in ovariectomized mice. Biomed Pharmacother 2018; 107:878-888. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.08.075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2018] [Revised: 08/04/2018] [Accepted: 08/15/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
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41
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Della Torre S, Mitro N, Meda C, Lolli F, Pedretti S, Barcella M, Ottobrini L, Metzger D, Caruso D, Maggi A. Short-Term Fasting Reveals Amino Acid Metabolism as a Major Sex-Discriminating Factor in the Liver. Cell Metab 2018; 28:256-267.e5. [PMID: 29909969 PMCID: PMC6084280 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2018.05.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2017] [Revised: 01/15/2018] [Accepted: 05/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Sex impacts on liver physiology with severe consequences for energy metabolism and response to xenobiotic, hepatic, and extra-hepatic diseases. The comprehension of the biology subtending sex-related hepatic differences is therefore very relevant in the medical, pharmacological, and dietary perspective. The extensive application of metabolomics paired to transcriptomics here shows that, in the case of short-term fasting, the decision to maintain lipid synthesis using amino acids (aa) as a source of fuel is the key discriminant for the hepatic metabolism of male and female mice. Pharmacological and genetic interventions indicate that the hepatic estrogen receptor (ERα) has a key role in this sex-related strategy that is primed around birth by the aromatase-dependent conversion of testosterone into estradiol. This energy partition strategy, possibly the result of an evolutionary pressure enabling mammals to tailor their reproductive capacities to nutritional status, is most important to direct future sex-specific dietary and medical interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Della Torre
- Center of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Milan, Milan, Italy; Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti 9, Milan 20133, Italy
| | - Nico Mitro
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti 9, Milan 20133, Italy
| | - Clara Meda
- Center of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Milan, Milan, Italy; Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti 9, Milan 20133, Italy
| | - Federica Lolli
- Center of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Milan, Milan, Italy; Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti 9, Milan 20133, Italy
| | - Silvia Pedretti
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti 9, Milan 20133, Italy
| | - Matteo Barcella
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Luisa Ottobrini
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Daniel Metzger
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, INSERM U964/CNRS UMR 7104, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Donatella Caruso
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti 9, Milan 20133, Italy
| | - Adriana Maggi
- Center of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Milan, Milan, Italy; Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti 9, Milan 20133, Italy.
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Hua L, Zhuo Y, Jiang D, Li J, Huang X, Zhu Y, Li Z, Yan L, Jin C, Jiang X, Che L, Fang Z, Lin Y, Xu S, Li J, Feng B, Wu D. Identification of hepatic fibroblast growth factor 21 as a mediator in 17β‐estradiol‐induced white adipose tissue browning. FASEB J 2018; 32:5602-5611. [DOI: 10.1096/fj.201800240r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Lun Hua
- Institute of Animal Nutrition and Ministry of Education of ChinaSichuan Agricultural UniversityChengduChina
- Key Laboratory for Animal Disease‐Resistant NutritionMinistry of Education of ChinaSichuan Agricultural UniversityChengduChina
| | - Yong Zhuo
- Institute of Animal Nutrition and Ministry of Education of ChinaSichuan Agricultural UniversityChengduChina
- Key Laboratory for Animal Disease‐Resistant NutritionMinistry of Education of ChinaSichuan Agricultural UniversityChengduChina
| | - Dandan Jiang
- Institute of Animal Nutrition and Ministry of Education of ChinaSichuan Agricultural UniversityChengduChina
- Key Laboratory for Animal Disease‐Resistant NutritionMinistry of Education of ChinaSichuan Agricultural UniversityChengduChina
| | - Jing Li
- Institute of Animal Nutrition and Ministry of Education of ChinaSichuan Agricultural UniversityChengduChina
- Key Laboratory for Animal Disease‐Resistant NutritionMinistry of Education of ChinaSichuan Agricultural UniversityChengduChina
| | - Xiaohua Huang
- Institute of Animal Nutrition and Ministry of Education of ChinaSichuan Agricultural UniversityChengduChina
- Key Laboratory for Animal Disease‐Resistant NutritionMinistry of Education of ChinaSichuan Agricultural UniversityChengduChina
| | - Yingguo Zhu
- Institute of Animal Nutrition and Ministry of Education of ChinaSichuan Agricultural UniversityChengduChina
- Key Laboratory for Animal Disease‐Resistant NutritionMinistry of Education of ChinaSichuan Agricultural UniversityChengduChina
| | - Zhen Li
- Institute of Animal Nutrition and Ministry of Education of ChinaSichuan Agricultural UniversityChengduChina
- Key Laboratory for Animal Disease‐Resistant NutritionMinistry of Education of ChinaSichuan Agricultural UniversityChengduChina
| | - Lijun Yan
- Institute of Animal Nutrition and Ministry of Education of ChinaSichuan Agricultural UniversityChengduChina
- Key Laboratory for Animal Disease‐Resistant NutritionMinistry of Education of ChinaSichuan Agricultural UniversityChengduChina
| | - Chao Jin
- Institute of Animal Nutrition and Ministry of Education of ChinaSichuan Agricultural UniversityChengduChina
- Key Laboratory for Animal Disease‐Resistant NutritionMinistry of Education of ChinaSichuan Agricultural UniversityChengduChina
| | - Xuemei Jiang
- Institute of Animal Nutrition and Ministry of Education of ChinaSichuan Agricultural UniversityChengduChina
- Key Laboratory for Animal Disease‐Resistant NutritionMinistry of Education of ChinaSichuan Agricultural UniversityChengduChina
| | - Lianqiang Che
- Institute of Animal Nutrition and Ministry of Education of ChinaSichuan Agricultural UniversityChengduChina
- Key Laboratory for Animal Disease‐Resistant NutritionMinistry of Education of ChinaSichuan Agricultural UniversityChengduChina
| | - Zhengfeng Fang
- Institute of Animal Nutrition and Ministry of Education of ChinaSichuan Agricultural UniversityChengduChina
- Key Laboratory for Animal Disease‐Resistant NutritionMinistry of Education of ChinaSichuan Agricultural UniversityChengduChina
| | - Yan Lin
- Institute of Animal Nutrition and Ministry of Education of ChinaSichuan Agricultural UniversityChengduChina
- Key Laboratory for Animal Disease‐Resistant NutritionMinistry of Education of ChinaSichuan Agricultural UniversityChengduChina
| | - Shengyu Xu
- Institute of Animal Nutrition and Ministry of Education of ChinaSichuan Agricultural UniversityChengduChina
| | - Jian Li
- Institute of Animal Nutrition and Ministry of Education of ChinaSichuan Agricultural UniversityChengduChina
| | - Bin Feng
- Institute of Animal Nutrition and Ministry of Education of ChinaSichuan Agricultural UniversityChengduChina
- Key Laboratory for Animal Disease‐Resistant NutritionMinistry of Education of ChinaSichuan Agricultural UniversityChengduChina
| | - De Wu
- Institute of Animal Nutrition and Ministry of Education of ChinaSichuan Agricultural UniversityChengduChina
- Key Laboratory for Animal Disease‐Resistant NutritionMinistry of Education of ChinaSichuan Agricultural UniversityChengduChina
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Nguyen LT, Reverter A, Cánovas A, Venus B, Anderson ST, Islas-Trejo A, Dias MM, Crawford NF, Lehnert SA, Medrano JF, Thomas MG, Moore SS, Fortes MRS. STAT6, PBX2, and PBRM1 Emerge as Predicted Regulators of 452 Differentially Expressed Genes Associated With Puberty in Brahman Heifers. Front Genet 2018; 9:87. [PMID: 29616079 PMCID: PMC5869259 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2018.00087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2017] [Accepted: 03/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The liver plays a central role in metabolism and produces important hormones. Hepatic estrogen receptors and the release of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) are critical links between liver function and the reproductive system. However, the role of liver in pubertal development is not fully understood. To explore this question, we applied transcriptomic analyses to liver samples of pre- and post-pubertal Brahman heifers and identified differentially expressed (DE) genes and genes encoding transcription factors (TFs). Differential expression of genes suggests potential biological mechanisms and pathways linking liver function to puberty. The analyses identified 452 DE genes and 82 TF with significant contribution to differential gene expression by using a regulatory impact factor metric. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor was observed as the most down-regulated gene (P = 0.003) in post-pubertal heifers and we propose this gene influences pubertal development in Brahman heifers. Additionally, co-expression network analysis provided evidence for three TF as key regulators of liver function during pubertal development: the signal transducer and activator of transcription 6, PBX homeobox 2, and polybromo 1. Pathway enrichment analysis identified transforming growth factor-beta and Wnt signaling pathways as significant annotation terms for the list of DE genes and TF in the co-expression network. Molecular information regarding genes and pathways described in this work are important to further our understanding of puberty onset in Brahman heifers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loan T Nguyen
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia.,Faculty of Biotechnology, Vietnam National University of Agriculture, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Antonio Reverter
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Queensland Bioscience Precinct, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Angela Cánovas
- Centre for Genetic Improvement of Livestock, Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Bronwyn Venus
- Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Stephen T Anderson
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Alma Islas-Trejo
- Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Marina M Dias
- Departamento de Zootecnia, Faculdade de Ciências Agráìrias e Veterináìrias, Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Natalie F Crawford
- Department of Animal Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Sigrid A Lehnert
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Queensland Bioscience Precinct, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Juan F Medrano
- Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Milt G Thomas
- Department of Animal Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Stephen S Moore
- Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Marina R S Fortes
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia.,Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia
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Abstract
Background Epidemiological and clinical studies have largely demonstrated major differences in the prevalence of metabolic disorders in males and females, but the biological cause of these dissimilarities remain to be elucidated. Mammals are characterized by a major change in reproductive strategies and it is conceivable that these changes subjected females to a significant evolutionary pressure that perfected the coupling between energy metabolism and reproduction. Scope of review This review will address the plausibility that female liver functions diverged significantly from males given the role of liver in the control of metabolism. Indeed, it is well known that the liver is sexually dimorphic, and this might be relevant to explain the lower susceptibility to hepatic diseases and liver-derived metabolic disturbances (such as the cardiovascular diseases) characteristic of females during their fertile period. Furthermore, estrogens and the hepatic ERα play a significant role in liver sexual-specific functions and in the control of metabolic functions. Conclusions A better grasp of the role of male and female sex steroids in the liver of the two sexes may therefore represent an important element to conceive novel treatments aimed at preventing metabolic diseases particularly in ageing women or limiting undesired side effect in the treatment of gender dysphoria. Liver is a target for estrogens. Liver metabolism is regulated by estrogens. Metabolism and reproduction are reciprocally regulated functions. Liver sexual dimorphism is associated to female reproductive functions. Liver is sexually differentiated neonatally.
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Zhang M, Xu J, Wang T, Wan X, Zhang F, Wang L, Zhu X, Gao P, Shu G, Jiang Q, Wang S. The Dipeptide Pro-Gly Promotes IGF-1 Expression and Secretion in HepG2 and Female Mice via PepT1-JAK2/STAT5 Pathway. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2018; 9:424. [PMID: 30140255 PMCID: PMC6094964 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2018.00424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2018] [Accepted: 07/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
It has been shown that IGF-1 secretion is influenced by dietary protein or amino acid. However, whether the dipeptides elicit regulatory effects on IGF-1 secretion remains largely unclear. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the effects of the dipeptide Pro-Gly on IGF-1 expression and secretion in HepG2 cells and mice, and explore the underlying mechanisms. The in vitro results indicated that Pro-Gly, but not Pro plus Gly, promoted the expression and secretion of IGF-1 in HepG2. Meanwhile, the expression of the peptide transporter 1 (PepT1) was elevated by Pro-Gly, whereas knockdown of PepT1 with siRNA eliminated the increase of IGF-1 expression induced by Pro-Gly. In addition, Pro-Gly activated JAK2/STAT5 signaling pathway in a PepT1-dependent manner. Furthermore, Pro-Gly enhanced the interaction between JAK2 and STAT5, and the translocation of phospho-STAT5 to nuclei. Moreover, inhibition of JAK2/STAT5 blocked the promotive effect of Pro-Gly on IGF-1 expression and secretion. In agreement with the in vitro results, the in vivo findings demonstrated that Pro-Gly, but not Pro plus Gly, stimulated the expression and secretion of IGF-1 and activated JAK2/STAT5 signaling pathway in the liver of mice injected with Pro-Gly or Pro+Gly acutely or chronically. Besides, acute injection of JAK2/STAT5 inhibitor abolished the elevation of IGF-1 expression and secretion induced by Pro-Gly in mice. Collectively, these findings suggested that the dipeptide Pro-Gly promoted IGF-1 expression and secretion in HepG2 cells and mice by activating JAK2/STAT5 signaling pathway through PepT1. These data provided new insights to the regulation of IGF-1 expression and secretion by the dipeptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengyuan Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry and ALLTECH-SCAU Animal Nutrition Control Research Alliance, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jingren Xu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry and ALLTECH-SCAU Animal Nutrition Control Research Alliance, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Tao Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry and ALLTECH-SCAU Animal Nutrition Control Research Alliance, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaojuan Wan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry and ALLTECH-SCAU Animal Nutrition Control Research Alliance, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fenglin Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry and ALLTECH-SCAU Animal Nutrition Control Research Alliance, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lina Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry and ALLTECH-SCAU Animal Nutrition Control Research Alliance, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaotong Zhu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry and ALLTECH-SCAU Animal Nutrition Control Research Alliance, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ping Gao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry and ALLTECH-SCAU Animal Nutrition Control Research Alliance, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Gang Shu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry and ALLTECH-SCAU Animal Nutrition Control Research Alliance, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qingyan Jiang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry and ALLTECH-SCAU Animal Nutrition Control Research Alliance, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Qingyan Jiang
| | - Songbo Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry and ALLTECH-SCAU Animal Nutrition Control Research Alliance, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Songbo Wang
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46
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Rizzi N, Rebecchi M, Levandis G, Ciana P, Maggi A. Identification of novel loci for the generation of reporter mice. Nucleic Acids Res 2017; 45:e37. [PMID: 27899606 PMCID: PMC5389565 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkw1142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2016] [Accepted: 11/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Deciphering the etiology of complex pathologies at molecular level requires longitudinal studies encompassing multiple biochemical pathways (apoptosis, proliferation, inflammation, oxidative stress). In vivo imaging of current reporter animals enabled the spatio-temporal analysis of specific molecular events, however, the lack of a multiplicity of loci for the generalized and regulated expression of the integrated transgenes hampers the creation of systems for the simultaneous analysis of more than a biochemical pathways at the time. We here developed and tested an in vivo-based methodology for the identification of multiple insertional loci suitable for the generation of reliable reporter mice. The validity of the methodology was tested with the generation of novel mice useful to report on inflammation and oxidative stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicoletta Rizzi
- Center of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases and Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti 9 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Monica Rebecchi
- Center of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases and Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti 9 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Giovanna Levandis
- Center of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases and Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti 9 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Paolo Ciana
- Center of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases and Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology (DIPO), University of Milan, Via Balzaretti 9 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Adriana Maggi
- Center of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases and Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti 9 20133 Milan, Italy
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47
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Bisphenol-A exposure in utero programs a sexually dimorphic estrogenic state of hepatic metabolic gene expression. Reprod Toxicol 2017; 71:84-94. [DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2017.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2016] [Revised: 04/12/2017] [Accepted: 05/01/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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48
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Qiu S, Vazquez JT, Boulger E, Liu H, Xue P, Hussain MA, Wolfe A. Hepatic estrogen receptor α is critical for regulation of gluconeogenesis and lipid metabolism in males. Sci Rep 2017; 7:1661. [PMID: 28490809 PMCID: PMC5431852 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-01937-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2016] [Accepted: 04/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Impaired estrogens action is associated with features of the metabolic syndrome in animal models and humans. We sought to determine whether disruption of hepatic estrogens action in adult male mice could recapitulate aspects of the metabolic syndrome to understand the mechanistic basis for the phenotype. We found 17β-estradiol (E2) inhibited hepatic gluconeogenic genes such as phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 1 (Pck-1) and glucose 6-phosphatase (G6Pase) and this effect was absent in mice lacking liver estrogen receptor α (Esr1) (LERKO mice). Male LERKO mice displayed elevated hepatic gluconeogenic activity and fasting hyperglycemia. We also observed increased liver lipid deposits and triglyceride levels in male LERKO mice, resulting from increased hepatic lipogenesis as reflected by increased mRNA levels of fatty acid synthase (Fas) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (Acc1). ChIP assay demonstrated estradiol (E2) induced ESR1 binding to Pck-1, G6Pase, Fas and Acc1 promoters. Metabolic phenotyping demonstrated both basal metabolic rate and feeding were lower for the LERKO mice as compared to Controls. Furthermore, the respiratory exchange rate was significantly lower in LERKO mice than in Controls, suggesting an increase in lipid oxidation. Our data indicate that hepatic E2/ESR1 signaling plays a key role in the maintenance of gluconeogenesis and lipid metabolism in males.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuiqing Qiu
- Division of Metabolism and Pediatric Endocrinology, Departments of Medicine, Pediatrics, Biological Chemistry and Physiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Erin Boulger
- School of Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Haiyun Liu
- Department of Dermatology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ping Xue
- Division of Metabolism and Pediatric Endocrinology, Departments of Medicine, Pediatrics, Biological Chemistry and Physiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Mehboob Ali Hussain
- Division of Metabolism and Pediatric Endocrinology, Departments of Medicine, Pediatrics, Biological Chemistry and Physiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Andrew Wolfe
- Division of Metabolism and Pediatric Endocrinology, Departments of Medicine, Pediatrics, Biological Chemistry and Physiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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49
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Thornton D, Gordon CM. Restrictive Eating Disorders and Skeletal Health in Adolescent Girls and Young Women. Calcif Tissue Int 2017; 100:449-460. [PMID: 27339670 PMCID: PMC9767748 DOI: 10.1007/s00223-016-0164-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2016] [Accepted: 06/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
This article reviews the effects of restrictive eating disorders on bone health. The relationship between eating disorders and amenorrhea is discussed in detail. The pathologic impact of malnutrition on bone is explored by examining the results of studies using various available imaging techniques. The multiple hormonal alterations seen in adolescents and young women with anorexia nervosa are reviewed, as well as how these alterations may influence bone turnover, density, structure, and strength. The diagnostic clinical evaluation for adolescents and young women with these disorders is also outlined. Available treatment options, including those that hold promise for efficacy, as well as those we deemed to be ineffective, are considered from both the clinical and mechanistic standpoints. Finally, future research opportunities are offered, including intriguing work in the area of fat and bone interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darcey Thornton
- Division of Adolescent and Transition Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, 3333 Burnet Ave MLC 4000, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - Catherine M Gordon
- Division of Adolescent and Transition Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, 3333 Burnet Ave MLC 4000, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA.
- Division of Endocrinology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
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50
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Liver ERα regulates AgRP neuronal activity in the arcuate nucleus of female mice. Sci Rep 2017; 7:1194. [PMID: 28446774 PMCID: PMC5430776 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-01393-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2016] [Accepted: 03/27/2017] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent work revealed the major role played by liver Estrogen Receptor α (ERα) in the regulation of metabolic and reproductive functions. By using mutant mice with liver-specific ablation of Erα, we here demonstrate that the hepatic ERα is essential for the modulation of the activity of Agouti Related Protein (AgRP) neurons in relation to the reproductive cycle and diet. Our results suggest that the alterations of hepatic lipid metabolism due to the lack of liver ERα activity are responsible for a neuroinflammatory status that induces refractoriness of AgRP neurons to reproductive and dietary stimuli. The study therefore points to the liver ERα as a necessary sensor for the coordination of systemic energy metabolism and reproductive functions.
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