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Hashemolhosseini S, Gessler L. Crosstalk among canonical Wnt and Hippo pathway members in skeletal muscle and at the neuromuscular junction. Neural Regen Res 2025; 20:2464-2479. [PMID: 39248171 DOI: 10.4103/nrr.nrr-d-24-00417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 08/05/2024] [Indexed: 09/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Skeletal muscles are essential for locomotion, posture, and metabolic regulation. To understand physiological processes, exercise adaptation, and muscle-related disorders, it is critical to understand the molecular pathways that underlie skeletal muscle function. The process of muscle contraction, orchestrated by a complex interplay of molecular events, is at the core of skeletal muscle function. Muscle contraction is initiated by an action potential and neuromuscular transmission requiring a neuromuscular junction. Within muscle fibers, calcium ions play a critical role in mediating the interaction between actin and myosin filaments that generate force. Regulation of calcium release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum plays a key role in excitation-contraction coupling. The development and growth of skeletal muscle are regulated by a network of molecular pathways collectively known as myogenesis. Myogenic regulators coordinate the differentiation of myoblasts into mature muscle fibers. Signaling pathways regulate muscle protein synthesis and hypertrophy in response to mechanical stimuli and nutrient availability. Several muscle-related diseases, including congenital myasthenic disorders, sarcopenia, muscular dystrophies, and metabolic myopathies, are underpinned by dysregulated molecular pathways in skeletal muscle. Therapeutic interventions aimed at preserving muscle mass and function, enhancing regeneration, and improving metabolic health hold promise by targeting specific molecular pathways. Other molecular signaling pathways in skeletal muscle include the canonical Wnt signaling pathway, a critical regulator of myogenesis, muscle regeneration, and metabolic function, and the Hippo signaling pathway. In recent years, more details have been uncovered about the role of these two pathways during myogenesis and in developing and adult skeletal muscle fibers, and at the neuromuscular junction. In fact, research in the last few years now suggests that these two signaling pathways are interconnected and that they jointly control physiological and pathophysiological processes in muscle fibers. In this review, we will summarize and discuss the data on these two pathways, focusing on their concerted action next to their contribution to skeletal muscle biology. However, an in-depth discussion of the non-canonical Wnt pathway, the fibro/adipogenic precursors, or the mechanosensory aspects of these pathways is not the focus of this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Said Hashemolhosseini
- Institute of Biochemistry, Medical Faculty, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
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Nagel S, Meyer C, Pommerenke C. IRX-related homeobox gene MKX is a novel oncogene in acute myeloid leukemia. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0315196. [PMID: 39689089 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0315196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2024] [Accepted: 11/21/2024] [Indexed: 12/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Homeobox genes encode transcription factors which organize differentiation processes in all tissue types including the hematopoietic compartment. Recently, we have reported physiological expression of TALE-class homeobox gene IRX1 in early myelopoiesis restricted to the megakaryocyte-erythroid-progenitor stage and in early B-cell development to the pro-B-cell stage. In contrast, sister homeobox genes IRX2, IRX3 and IRX5 are aberrantly activated in the corresponding malignancies acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and B-cell progenitor acute lymphoid leukemia. Here, we examined the role of IRX-related homeobox gene MKX (also termed IRXL1 or mohawk) in normal and malignant hematopoiesis. Screening of public datasets revealed silent MKX in normal myelopoiesis and B-cell differentiation, and aberrant expression in subsets of AML and multiple myeloma (MM) cell lines and patients. To investigate its dysregulation and oncogenic function we used AML cell line OCI-AML3 as model which strongly expressed MKX at both RNA and protein levels. We found that IRX5, JUNB and NFkB activated MKX in this cell line, while downregulated GATA2 and STAT5 inhibited its expression. MKX downstream analysis was conducted by siRNA-mediated knockdown and RNA-sequencing in OCI-AML3, and by comparative expression profiling analysis of a public dataset from MM patients. Analysis of these data revealed activation of CCL2 which in turn promoted proliferation. Furthermore, MKX upregulated SESN3 and downregulated BCL2L11, which may together underlie decreased etoposide-induced apoptosis. Finally, myeloid differentiation genes CEBPD and GATA2 were respectively up- and downregulated by MKX. Taken together, our study identified MKX as novel aberrantly expressed homeobox gene in AML and MM, highlighting the function of IRX1 in normal myelopoiesis and B-cell development, and of IRX-related genes in corresponding malignancies. Our data merit further investigation of MKX and its deregulated target genes to serve as novel markers and/or potential therapeutic targets in AML patient subsets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Nagel
- Dept. of Human and Animal Cell Lines, Leibniz-Institute DSMZ, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Corinna Meyer
- Dept. of Human and Animal Cell Lines, Leibniz-Institute DSMZ, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Claudia Pommerenke
- Dept. of Human and Animal Cell Lines, Leibniz-Institute DSMZ, Braunschweig, Germany
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Wang Y, Qin Q, Wang Z, Negri S, Sono T, Tower RJ, Li Z, Xing X, Archer M, Thottappillil N, Zhu M, Suarez A, Kim DH, Harvey T, Fan CM, James AW. The Mohawk homeobox gene represents a marker and osteo-inhibitory factor in calvarial suture osteoprogenitor cells. Cell Death Dis 2024; 15:420. [PMID: 38886383 PMCID: PMC11183145 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-024-06813-4] [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: 02/03/2024] [Revised: 06/04/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
The regeneration of the mammalian skeleton's craniofacial bones necessitates the action of intrinsic and extrinsic inductive factors from multiple cell types, which function hierarchically and temporally to control the differentiation of osteogenic progenitors. Single-cell transcriptomics of developing mouse calvarial suture recently identified a suture mesenchymal progenitor population with previously unappreciated tendon- or ligament-associated gene expression profile. Here, we developed a Mohawk homeobox (MkxCG; R26RtdT) reporter mouse and demonstrated that this reporter identifies an adult calvarial suture resident cell population that gives rise to calvarial osteoblasts and osteocytes during homeostatic conditions. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-Seq) data reveal that Mkx+ suture cells display a progenitor-like phenotype with expression of teno-ligamentous genes. Bone injury with Mkx+ cell ablation showed delayed bone healing. Remarkably, Mkx gene played a critical role as an osteo-inhibitory factor in calvarial suture cells, as knockdown or knockout resulted in increased osteogenic differentiation. Localized deletion of Mkx in vivo also resulted in robustly increased calvarial defect repair. We further showed that mechanical stretch dynamically regulates Mkx expression, in turn regulating calvarial cell osteogenesis. Together, we define Mkx+ cells within the suture mesenchyme as a progenitor population for adult craniofacial bone repair, and Mkx acts as a mechanoresponsive gene to prevent osteogenic differentiation within the stem cell niche.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiyun Wang
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Qizhi Qin
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Ziyi Wang
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Stefano Negri
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery Unit, Department of Surgery, Dentistry, Paediatrics and Gynaecology of the University of Verona, 37134, Verona, Italy
| | - Takashi Sono
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Robert J Tower
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Zhao Li
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Xin Xing
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Mary Archer
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | | | - Manyu Zhu
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Allister Suarez
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Deok-Ho Kim
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Tyler Harvey
- Department of Embryology, Carnegie Institution of Washington, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA
| | - Chen-Ming Fan
- Department of Embryology, Carnegie Institution of Washington, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA
| | - Aaron W James
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
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Liang Z, Ralph-Epps T, Schmidtke MW, Lazcano P, Denis SW, Balážová M, Teixeira da Rosa N, Chakkour M, Hazime S, Ren M, Schlame M, Houtkooper RH, Greenberg ML. Upregulation of the AMPK-FOXO1-PDK4 pathway is a primary mechanism of pyruvate dehydrogenase activity reduction in tafazzin-deficient cells. Sci Rep 2024; 14:11497. [PMID: 38769106 PMCID: PMC11106297 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-62262-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Barth syndrome (BTHS) is a rare disorder caused by mutations in the TAFAZZIN gene. Previous studies from both patients and model systems have established metabolic dysregulation as a core component of BTHS pathology. In particular, features such as lactic acidosis, pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) deficiency, and aberrant fatty acid and glucose oxidation have been identified. However, the lack of a mechanistic understanding of what causes these conditions in the context of BTHS remains a significant knowledge gap, and this has hindered the development of effective therapeutic strategies for treating the associated metabolic problems. In the current study, we utilized tafazzin-knockout C2C12 mouse myoblasts (TAZ-KO) and cardiac and skeletal muscle tissue from tafazzin-knockout mice to identify an upstream mechanism underlying impaired PDH activity in BTHS. This mechanism centers around robust upregulation of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 (PDK4), resulting from hyperactivation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and subsequent transcriptional upregulation by forkhead box protein O1 (FOXO1). Upregulation of PDK4 in tafazzin-deficient cells causes direct phospho-inhibition of PDH activity accompanied by increased glucose uptake and elevated intracellular glucose concentration. Collectively, our findings provide a novel mechanistic framework whereby impaired tafazzin function ultimately results in robust PDK4 upregulation, leading to impaired PDH activity and likely linked to dysregulated metabolic substrate utilization. This mechanism may underlie previously reported findings of BTHS-associated metabolic dysregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuqing Liang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Tyler Ralph-Epps
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | | | - Pablo Lazcano
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Simone W Denis
- Laboratory Genetic Metabolic Diseases, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Gastroenterology Endocrinology and Metabolism Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Emma Center for Personalized Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Mária Balážová
- Department of Membrane Biochemistry, Institute of Animal Biochemistry and Genetics, Centre of Biosciences, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 84005, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | | | - Mohamed Chakkour
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Sanaa Hazime
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Mindong Ren
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative Care, and Pain Medicine, Grossman School of Medicine, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Michael Schlame
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative Care, and Pain Medicine, Grossman School of Medicine, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Riekelt H Houtkooper
- Laboratory Genetic Metabolic Diseases, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Gastroenterology Endocrinology and Metabolism Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Emma Center for Personalized Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Miriam L Greenberg
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA.
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Liu S, Du M, Sun J, Tu Y, Gu X, Cai P, Lu Z, Wang Y, Shan T. Bacillus subtilis and Enterococcus faecium co-fermented feed alters antioxidant capacity, muscle fibre characteristics and lipid profiles of finishing pigs. Br J Nutr 2024; 131:1298-1307. [PMID: 38098370 DOI: 10.1017/s000711452300291x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
This study aimed to assess how Bacillus subtilis and Enterococcus faecium co-fermented feed (FF) affects the antioxidant capacity, muscle fibre types and muscle lipid profiles of finishing pigs. In this study, a total of 144 Duroc × Berkshire × Jiaxing Black finishing pigs were randomly assigned into three groups with four replicates (twelve pigs per replication). The three treatments were a basal diet (0 % FF), basal diet + 5 % FF and basal diet + 10 % FF, respectively. The experiment lasted 38 d after 4 d of acclimation. The study revealed that 10 % FF significantly increased the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) compared with 0 % FF group, with mRNA levels of up-regulated antioxidant-related genes (GPX1, SOD1, SOD2 and CAT) in 10 % FF group. 10 % FF also significantly up-regulated the percentage of slow-twitch fibre and the mRNA expression of MyHC I, MyHC IIa and MyHC IIx, and slow MyHC protein expression while reducing MyHC IIb mRNA expression. Lipidomics analysis showed that 5 % FF and 10 % FF altered lipid profiles in longissimus thoracis. 10 % FF particularly led to an increase in the percentage of TAG. The Pearson correlation analysis indicated that certain molecular markers such as phosphatidic acid (PA) (49:4), Hex2Cer (d50:6), cardiolipin (CL) (72:8) and phosphatidylcholine (PC) (33:0e) could be used to indicate the characteristics of muscle fibres and were closely related to meat quality. Together, our findings suggest that 10 % FF improved antioxidant capacity, enhanced slow-twitch fibre percentage and altered muscle lipid profiles in finishing pigs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiqi Liu
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Animal Nutrition (Zhejiang University), Ministry of Education, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science (Eastern of China), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Feed and Nutrition of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Man Du
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Animal Nutrition (Zhejiang University), Ministry of Education, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science (Eastern of China), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Feed and Nutrition of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiabao Sun
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuang Tu
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Animal Nutrition (Zhejiang University), Ministry of Education, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science (Eastern of China), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Feed and Nutrition of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin Gu
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Animal Nutrition (Zhejiang University), Ministry of Education, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science (Eastern of China), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Feed and Nutrition of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Peiran Cai
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Animal Nutrition (Zhejiang University), Ministry of Education, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science (Eastern of China), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Feed and Nutrition of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Zeqing Lu
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Animal Nutrition (Zhejiang University), Ministry of Education, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science (Eastern of China), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Feed and Nutrition of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Yizhen Wang
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Animal Nutrition (Zhejiang University), Ministry of Education, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science (Eastern of China), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Feed and Nutrition of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Tizhong Shan
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Animal Nutrition (Zhejiang University), Ministry of Education, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science (Eastern of China), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Feed and Nutrition of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
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Liang Z, Ralph-Epps T, Schmidtke MW, Lazcano P, Denis SW, Balážová M, Chakkour M, Hazime S, Ren M, Schlame M, Houtkooper RH, Greenberg ML. Upregulation of the AMPK-FOXO1-PDK4 pathway is a primary mechanism of pyruvate dehydrogenase activity reduction and leads to increased glucose uptake in tafazzin-deficient cells. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.03.578755. [PMID: 38352304 PMCID: PMC10862887 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.03.578755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
Barth syndrome (BTHS) is a rare disorder caused by mutations in the TAFAZZIN gene. Previous studies from both patients and model systems have established metabolic dysregulation as a core component of BTHS pathology. In particular, features such as lactic acidosis, pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) deficiency, and aberrant fatty acid and glucose oxidation have been identified. However, the lack of a mechanistic understanding of what causes these conditions in the context of BTHS remains a significant knowledge gap, and this has hindered the development of effective therapeutic strategies for treating the associated metabolic problems. In the current study, we utilized tafazzin-knockout C2C12 mouse myoblasts (TAZ-KO) and cardiac and skeletal muscle tissue from tafazzin-knockout mice to identify an upstream mechanism underlying impaired PDH activity in BTHS. This mechanism centers around robust upregulation of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 (PDK4), resulting from hyperactivation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and subsequent transcriptional upregulation by forkhead box protein O1 (FOXO1). Upregulation of PDK4 in tafazzin-deficient cells causes direct phospho-inhibition of PDH activity accompanied by increased glucose uptake and elevated intracellular glucose concentration. Collectively, our findings provide a novel mechanistic framework whereby impaired tafazzin function ultimately results in robust PDK4 upregulation, leading to impaired PDH activity and likely linked to dysregulated metabolic substrate utilization. This mechanism may underlie previously reported findings of BTHS-associated metabolic dysregulation.
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