1
|
Xing Y, Ma X, Zhai R, Chen W, Yan H. GDF11 improves hippocampal neurogenesis and cognitive abilities in diabetic mice by reducing neural inflammation. Brain Behav Immun 2024; 120:21-31. [PMID: 38777287 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2024.05.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The cognitive decline associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D) is often attributed to compromised hippocampal neurogenesis and exacerbated neural inflammation. This study investigates the therapeutic potential of growth differentiation factor 11 (GDF11) in reversing these neurodegenerative processes in diabetic mice. RESULT We utilized a murine model of T2D and examined the effects of GDF11 on learning, memory, neurogenesis, and neuroinflammatory markers. Our results indicate that diabetic mice exhibit significant deficits in cognitive function, mirrored by reduced hippocampal neurogenesis and increased neuroinflammation. Chronic administration of GDF11 was observed to significantly enhance cognitive abilities, as evidenced by improved performance in learning and memory tasks. Concurrently, GDF11 treatment restored neural activity and promoted the regeneration of new neurons within the hippocampus. Inflammatory profiling revealed a reduction in neuroinflammatory markers, which was further supported by reduced microglia numbers. To delineate the role of neuroinflammation, we pharmacologically depleted microglia, leading to a restoration of neurogenesis and cognitive functions in diabetic mice. CONCLUSION These findings endorse the hypothesis that GDF11 exerts its beneficial effects by modulating neuroinflammatory pathways. Consequently, GDF11 represents a promising intervention to ameliorate diabetes-induced cognitive impairments and neural degeneration through its anti-inflammatory properties.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yao Xing
- School of Information Science and Technology, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, PR China; Wuhan United Imaging Life Science Instrument Co., Ltd., Wuhan 430206, PR China
| | - Xiaoyi Ma
- Department of Geriatrics, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, PR China
| | - Renkuan Zhai
- Wuhan United Imaging Life Science Instrument Co., Ltd., Wuhan 430206, PR China
| | - Wei Chen
- School of Information Science and Technology, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, PR China; Human Phenome Institute, Fudan University, 825 Zhangheng Road, Shanghai 201203, PR China.
| | - Huanhuan Yan
- Shenzhen United Imaging Research Institute of Innovative Medical Equipment, Shenzhen 518048, PR China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Wu Z, Zhang Q, Wang H, Zhou S, Fu B, Fang L, Cheng JC, Sun YP. Growth differentiation factor-11 upregulates matrix metalloproteinase 2 expression by inducing Snail in human extravillous trophoblast cells. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2024; 585:112190. [PMID: 38369181 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2024.112190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
The human extravillous trophoblast (EVT) cell invasion is an important process during placentation. Although the placenta is normal tissue, the EVT cells exhibit some features common to cancer cells, including high migratory and invasive properties. Snail and Slug are transcription factors that mediate the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a crucial event for cancer cell migration and invasion. It has been shown that GDF-11-induced matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2) expression is required for EVT cell invasion. Whether GDF-11 can regulate Snail and Slug expression in human EVT cells remains unknown. If it does, the involvement of Snail and Slug in GDF-11-induced MMP2 expression and EVT cell invasion must also be defined. In the present study, using the immortalized human EVT cell line, HTR-8/SVneo, and primary cultures of human EVT cells as experimental models, our results show that GDF-11 upregulates Snail and Slug expression. ALK4 and ALK5 mediate the stimulatory effects of GDF-11 on Snail and Slug expression. In addition, we demonstrate that SMAD2 and SMAD3 are required for the GDF-11-upregulated Snail expression, while only SMAD3 is involved in GDF-11-induced Slug expression. Moreover, our results reveal that Snail mediates GDF-11-induced MMP2 expression and cell invasion but not Slug. This study increases our understanding of the biological function of GDF-11 in human EVT cells and provides a novel mechanism for regulating MMP2 and EVT cell invasion.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ze Wu
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Henan Key Laboratory of Reproduction and Genetics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Qian Zhang
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Henan Key Laboratory of Reproduction and Genetics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Hailong Wang
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Henan Key Laboratory of Reproduction and Genetics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Shenghui Zhou
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Henan Key Laboratory of Reproduction and Genetics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Bingxin Fu
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Henan Key Laboratory of Reproduction and Genetics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Lanlan Fang
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Henan Key Laboratory of Reproduction and Genetics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Jung-Chien Cheng
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Henan Key Laboratory of Reproduction and Genetics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.
| | - Ying-Pu Sun
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Henan Key Laboratory of Reproduction and Genetics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Shao Y, Li M, Wang Y, Qu Y, Gong M, Yu Q, Yang X, Liu D, Li H, Wang Y, Sun H, Zhang Y, Zhang X, Liu T, Liu J, Gong T, Sun Y, Du Z, Jiao L, Zhang Y. GDF11 mitigates high glucose-induced cardiomyocytes apoptosis by inhibiting the ALKBH5-FOXO3-CDR1as/Hippo signaling pathway. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2024; 1871:119656. [PMID: 38182060 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2023.119656] [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: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2024]
Abstract
Diabetic cardiomyopathy remains a formidable health challenge with a high mortality rate and no targeted treatments. Growth differentiation factor 11 (GDF11) has shown promising effects on cardiovascular diseases; however, its role and the underlying mechanism in regulating diabetic cardiomyopathy remain unclear. In this study, we developed mouse models of diabetic cardiomyopathy using leptin receptor-deficient (db/db) mice and streptozocin-induced C57BL/6 mice. The diabetic cardiomyopathy model mice exhibited apparent structural damage in cardiac tissues and a significant increase in the expression of apoptosis-related proteins. Notably, we observed a significant decreased expression of GDF11 in the myocardium of mice with diabetic cardiomyopathy. Moreover, GDF11 cardiac-specific knock-in mice (transgenic mice) exhibited improved cardiac function and reduced apoptosis. Moreover, exogenous administration of GDF11 mitigated high glucose-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that GDF11 alleviated high glucose-induced cardiomyocytes apoptosis by inhibiting the activation of the alkylation repair homolog 5 (ALKBH5)-forkhead box group O3a (FOXO3)-cerebellar degeneration-related protein 1 transcript (CDR1as)/Hippo signaling pathway. Consequently, this novel mechanism effectively counteracted myocardial cell apoptosis, providing valuable insights into potential therapeutic strategies for clinical diabetic cardiomyopathy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yingchun Shao
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China; Cancer Institute, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao Cancer Institute, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Mengmeng Li
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China; Key Laboratory of Basic and Application Research of Beiyao (Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine), Ministry of Education, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, 24 Heping Road, Xiangfang District, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Yanying Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China
| | - Yunmeng Qu
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China
| | - Manyu Gong
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China; College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China
| | - Qi Yu
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China; Heart, Lung, and Blood Vascular Medicine Institute, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Xuewen Yang
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China
| | - Dongping Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China
| | - Haodong Li
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China
| | - Yaqi Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China
| | - Han Sun
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China
| | - Yanwei Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China
| | - Xiyang Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China
| | - Tong Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China
| | - Jie Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China
| | - Tiantian Gong
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China
| | - Yuhong Sun
- The third ward of obstetrics and Gynecology, the Second Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Xuefu Road, Nangang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China
| | - Zhiyuan Du
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China
| | - Lei Jiao
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China.
| | - Ying Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China.
| |
Collapse
|