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Du J, Zhu Y, Yang X, Geng X, Xu Y, Zhang M, Zhang M. Berberine attenuates obesity-induced insulin resistance by inhibiting miR-27a secretion. Diabet Med 2024; 41:e15319. [PMID: 38711201 DOI: 10.1111/dme.15319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Berberine (BBR) is an alkaloid found in plants. It has neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory and lipid-lowering activity. However, the efficacy of treatment with BBR and the mechanisms through which it acts need further study. AIMS This study investigated the therapeutic effects and the mechanism of action of BBR on obesity-induced insulin resistance in peripheral tissues. METHODS High-fat-fed C57BL/6J mice and low-fat-fed C57BL/6J mice with miR-27a overexpression were given BBR intervention (100 mg/kg, po), and the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and insulin tolerance test (ITT) were performed. Palmitic acid-stimulated hypertrophic adipocyte models were treated with BBR (10 μM). Related indicators and protein expression levels were examined. RESULTS The AUCs of the OGTT and the ITT in the BBR intervention group were reduced significantly (p < 0.01) (p < 0.05), and the serum biochemical parameters, including FBG, TC, TG and LDL-C were significantly reduced after BBR intervention. In the in vitro experiments, the triglyceride level and volume of lipid droplets decreased significantly after BBR intervention (p < 0.01) (p < 0.05). Likewise, BBR ameliorates skeletal muscle and pancreas insulin signalling pathways in vivo and in vitro. DISCUSSION The results showed that BBR significantly ameliorated insulin resistance, reduced body weight and percent body fat and improved serum biochemical parameters in mice. Likewise, BBR reduced triglyceride level and lipid droplet volume in hypertrophic adipocytes, BBR improved obesity effectively. Meanwhile, BBR ameliorated the histomorphology of the pancreas, and skeletal muscle and pancreas insulin related signalling pathways of islets in in vitro and in vivo experiments. The results further demonstrated that BBR inhibited miR-27a levels in serum from obese mice and supernatant of hypertrophic adipocytes. miR-27a overexpression in low-fat fed mice indicated that miR-27a caused insulin resistance, and BBR intervention significantly improved the miR-27a induced insulin resistance status. CONCLUSION This study demonstrates the important role of BBR in obesity-induced peripheral insulin resistance and suggest that the mechanism of its effect may be inhibition of miR-27a secretion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junda Du
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, School of nursing, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Yu Zhu
- Department of Ophthalmology of Jilin Province FAW General Hospital, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Xuehan Yang
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, School of nursing, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Xinru Geng
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, School of nursing, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Yang Xu
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, School of nursing, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Meishuang Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, School of nursing, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Ming Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, School of nursing, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
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Doumatey AP, Shriner D, Zhou J, Lei L, Chen G, Oluwasola-Taiwo O, Nkem S, Ogundeji A, Adebamowo SN, Bentley AR, Gouveia MH, Meeks KAC, Adebamowo CA, Adeyemo AA, Rotimi CN. Untargeted metabolomic profiling reveals molecular signatures associated with type 2 diabetes in Nigerians. Genome Med 2024; 16:38. [PMID: 38444015 PMCID: PMC10913364 DOI: 10.1186/s13073-024-01308-5] [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: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Type 2 diabetes (T2D) has reached epidemic proportions globally, including in Africa. However, molecular studies to understand the pathophysiology of T2D remain scarce outside Europe and North America. The aims of this study are to use an untargeted metabolomics approach to identify: (a) metabolites that are differentially expressed between individuals with and without T2D and (b) a metabolic signature associated with T2D in a population of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). METHODS A total of 580 adult Nigerians from the Africa America Diabetes Mellitus (AADM) study were studied. The discovery study included 310 individuals (210 without T2D, 100 with T2D). Metabolites in plasma were assessed by reverse phase, ultra-performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry (RP)/UPLC-MS/MS methods on the Metabolon Platform. Welch's two-sample t-test was used to identify differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs), followed by the construction of a biomarker panel using a random forest (RF) algorithm. The biomarker panel was evaluated in a replication sample of 270 individuals (110 without T2D and 160 with T2D) from the same study. RESULTS Untargeted metabolomic analyses revealed 280 DEMs between individuals with and without T2D. The DEMs predominantly belonged to the lipid (51%, 142/280), amino acid (21%, 59/280), xenobiotics (13%, 35/280), carbohydrate (4%, 10/280) and nucleotide (4%, 10/280) super pathways. At the sub-pathway level, glycolysis, free fatty acid, bile metabolism, and branched chain amino acid catabolism were altered in T2D individuals. A 10-metabolite biomarker panel including glucose, gluconate, mannose, mannonate, 1,5-anhydroglucitol, fructose, fructosyl-lysine, 1-carboxylethylleucine, metformin, and methyl-glucopyranoside predicted T2D with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.924 (95% CI: 0.845-0.966) and a predicted accuracy of 89.3%. The panel was validated with a similar AUC (0.935, 95% CI 0.906-0.958) in the replication cohort. The 10 metabolites in the biomarker panel correlated significantly with several T2D-related glycemic indices, including Hba1C, insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and diabetes duration. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrate that metabolomic dysregulation associated with T2D in Nigerians affects multiple processes, including glycolysis, free fatty acid and bile metabolism, and branched chain amino acid catabolism. Our study replicated previous findings in other populations and identified a metabolic signature that could be used as a biomarker panel of T2D risk and glycemic control thus enhancing our knowledge of molecular pathophysiologic changes in T2D. The metabolomics dataset generated in this study represents an invaluable addition to publicly available multi-omics data on understudied African ancestry populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayo P Doumatey
- Center for Research On Genomics and Global Health, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, 12 South Drive, Building 12 A, Room 1025A, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
| | - Daniel Shriner
- Center for Research On Genomics and Global Health, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, 12 South Drive, Building 12 A, Room 1025A, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Jie Zhou
- Center for Research On Genomics and Global Health, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, 12 South Drive, Building 12 A, Room 1025A, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Lin Lei
- Center for Research On Genomics and Global Health, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, 12 South Drive, Building 12 A, Room 1025A, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Guanjie Chen
- Center for Research On Genomics and Global Health, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, 12 South Drive, Building 12 A, Room 1025A, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | | | - Susan Nkem
- Center for Bioethics & Research, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | | | - Sally N Adebamowo
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, and the Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Amy R Bentley
- Center for Research On Genomics and Global Health, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, 12 South Drive, Building 12 A, Room 1025A, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Mateus H Gouveia
- Center for Research On Genomics and Global Health, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, 12 South Drive, Building 12 A, Room 1025A, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Karlijn A C Meeks
- Center for Research On Genomics and Global Health, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, 12 South Drive, Building 12 A, Room 1025A, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Clement A Adebamowo
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, and the Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Adebowale A Adeyemo
- Center for Research On Genomics and Global Health, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, 12 South Drive, Building 12 A, Room 1025A, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
| | - Charles N Rotimi
- Center for Research On Genomics and Global Health, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, 12 South Drive, Building 12 A, Room 1025A, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
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Peliciari-Garcia RA, de Barros CF, Secio-Silva A, de Barros Peruchetti D, Romano RM, Bargi-Souza P. Multi-omics Investigations in Endocrine Systems and Their Clinical Implications. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2024; 1443:187-209. [PMID: 38409422 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-50624-6_10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
Innovative techniques such as the "omics" can be a powerful tool for the understanding of intracellular pathways involved in homeostasis maintenance and identification of new potential therapeutic targets against endocrine-metabolic disorders. Over the last decades, proteomics has been extensively applied in the study of a wide variety of human diseases, including those involving the endocrine system. Among the most endocrine-related disorders investigated by proteomics in humans are diabetes mellitus and thyroid, pituitary, and reproductive system disorders. In diabetes, proteins implicated in insulin signaling, glucose metabolism, and β-cell activity have been investigated. In thyroid diseases, protein expression alterations were described in thyroid malignancies and autoimmune thyroid illnesses. Additionally, proteomics has been used to investigate the variations in protein expression in adrenal cancers and conditions, including Cushing's syndrome and Addison's disease. Pituitary tumors and disorders including acromegaly and hypopituitarism have been studied using proteomics to examine changes in protein expression. Reproductive problems such as polycystic ovarian syndrome and endometriosis are two examples of conditions where alterations in protein expression have been studied using proteomics. Proteomics has, in general, shed light on the molecular underpinnings of many endocrine-related illnesses and revealed promising biomarkers for both their detection and treatment. The capacity of proteomics to thoroughly and objectively examine complex protein mixtures is one of its main benefits. Mass spectrometry (MS) is a widely used method that identifies and measures proteins based on their mass-to-charge ratio and their fragmentation pattern. MS can perform the separation of proteins according to their physicochemical characteristics, such as hydrophobicity, charge, and size, in combination with liquid chromatography. Other proteomics techniques include protein arrays, which enable the simultaneous identification of several proteins in a single assay, and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE), which divides proteins depending on their isoelectric point and molecular weight. This chapter aims to summarize the most relevant proteomics data from targeted tissues, as well as the daily rhythmic variation of relevant biomarkers in both physiological and pathophysiological conditions within the involved endocrine system, especially because the actual modern lifestyle constantly imposes a chronic unentrained condition, which virtually affects all the circadian clock systems within human's body, being also correlated with innumerous endocrine-metabolic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Antonio Peliciari-Garcia
- Department of Biological Sciences, Morphophysiology and Pathology Sector, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), Diadema, SP, Brazil.
| | - Carolina Fonseca de Barros
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Ayla Secio-Silva
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Diogo de Barros Peruchetti
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Renata Marino Romano
- Department of Medicine, State University of Central-West (UNICENTRO), Guarapuava, Parana, Brazil
| | - Paula Bargi-Souza
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
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You L, Han Z, Chen H, Chen L, Lin Y, Wang B, Fan Y, Zhang M, Luo J, Peng F, Ma Y, Wang Y, Yuan L, Han Z. The role of N6-methyladenosine (m 6A) in kidney diseases. Front Med (Lausanne) 2023; 10:1247690. [PMID: 37841018 PMCID: PMC10569431 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1247690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Chemical modifications are a specific and efficient way to regulate the function of biological macromolecules. Among them, RNA molecules exhibit a variety of modifications that play important regulatory roles in various biological processes. More than 170 modifications have been identified in RNA molecules, among which the most common internal modifications include N6-methyladenine (m6A), n1-methyladenosine (m1A), 5-methylcytosine (m5C), and 7-methylguanine nucleotide (m7G). The most widely affected RNA modification is m6A, whose writers, readers, and erasers all have regulatory effects on RNA localization, splicing, translation, and degradation. These functions, in turn, affect RNA functionality and disease development. RNA modifications, especially m6A, play a unique role in renal cell carcinoma disease. In this manuscript, we will focus on the biological roles of m6A in renal diseases such as acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease, lupus nephritis, diabetic kidney disease, and renal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luling You
- School of Medical and Life Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Zhongyu Han
- School of Medical and Life Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Haoran Chen
- Science and Education Department, Chengdu Xinhua Hospital, Chengdu, China
| | - Liuyan Chen
- School of Medical and Life Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Yumeng Lin
- Eye School of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Binjian Wang
- Eye School of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Yiyue Fan
- School of Medical and Life Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Meiqi Zhang
- School of Medical and Life Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Ji Luo
- School of Medical Information Engineering, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Fang Peng
- School of Medical and Life Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Yue Ma
- School of Clinical Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yanmei Wang
- Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Sichuan College of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Sichuan Second Hospital of TCM), Chengdu, China
| | - Lan Yuan
- School of Medical and Life Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Zhongyu Han
- School of Medical and Life Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
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Zhang H, Gu Y, Gang Q, Huang J, Xiao Q, Ha X. N6-methyladenosine RNA modification: an emerging molecule in type 2 diabetes metabolism. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1166756. [PMID: 37484964 PMCID: PMC10360191 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1166756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a metabolic disease with an increasing rate of incidence worldwide. Despite the considerable progress in the prevention and intervention, T2D and its complications cannot be reversed easily after diagnosis, thereby necessitating an in-depth investigation of the pathophysiology. In recent years, the role of epigenetics has been increasingly demonstrated in the disease, of which N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is one of the most common post-transcriptional modifications. Interestingly, patients with T2D show a low m6A abundance. Thus, a comprehensive analysis and understanding of this phenomenon would improve our understanding of the pathophysiology, as well as the search for new biomarkers and therapeutic approaches for T2D. In this review, we systematically introduced the metabolic roles of m6A modification in organs, the metabolic signaling pathways involved, and the effects of clinical drugs on T2D.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haocheng Zhang
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The 940th Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force of Chinese People’s Liberation Army, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
- Key Laboratory of Stem Cells and Gene Drugs of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Yan Gu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Qiaojian Gang
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Jing Huang
- School of Public Health, Gansu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Qian Xiao
- School of Public Health, Gansu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Xiaoqin Ha
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The 940th Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force of Chinese People’s Liberation Army, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
- Key Laboratory of Stem Cells and Gene Drugs of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
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Omics analysis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates uncovers Rv3094c, an ethionamide metabolism-associated gene. Commun Biol 2023; 6:156. [PMID: 36750726 PMCID: PMC9904262 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04433-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Global control of the tuberculosis epidemic is threatened by increasing prevalence of drug resistant M. tuberculosis isolates. Many genome-wide studies focus on SNP-associated drug resistance mechanisms, but drug resistance in 5-30% of M. tuberculosis isolates (varying with antibiotic) appears unrelated to reported SNPs, and alternative drug resistance mechanisms involving variation in gene/protein expression are not well-studied. Here, using an omics approach, we identify 388 genes with lineage-related differential expression and 68 candidate drug resistance-associated gene pairs/clusters in 11 M. tuberculosis isolates (variable lineage/drug resistance profiles). Structural, mutagenesis, biochemical and bioinformatic studies on Rv3094c from the Rv3093c-Rv3095 gene cluster, a gene cluster selected for further investigation as it contains a putative monooxygenase/repressor pair and is associated with ethionamide resistance, provide insights on its involvement in ethionamide sulfoxidation, the initial step in its activation. Analysis of the structure of Rv3094c and its complex with ethionamide and flavin mononucleotide, to the best of our knowledge the first structures of an enzyme involved in ethionamide activation, identify key residues in the flavin mononucleotide and ethionamide binding pockets of Rv3094c, and F221, a gate between flavin mononucleotide and ethionamide allowing their interaction to complete the sulfoxidation reaction. Our work broadens understanding of both lineage- and drug resistance-associated gene/protein expression perturbations and identifies another player in mycobacterial ethionamide metabolism.
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Deficiency of transcription factor Nkx6.1 does not prevent insulin secretion in INS-1E cells. Sci Rep 2023; 13:683. [PMID: 36639413 PMCID: PMC9839711 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-27985-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic-β-cell-specifying transcription factor Nkx6.1, indispensable for embryonic development of the pancreatic epithelium and commitment to β-cell lineage, directly controls the expression of a glucose transporter (Glut2), pyruvate carboxylase (Pcx), and genes for insulin processing (endoplasmic reticulum oxidoreductase-1β, Ero1lb; zinc transporter-8, Slc30a8). The Nkx6.1 decline in aging diabetic Goto-Kakizaki rats contributes to β-cell trans-differentiation into δ-cells. Elucidating further Nkx6.1 roles, we studied Nkx6.1 ablation in rat INS-1E cells, prepared by CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing from single colonies. INS-1ENkx6.1-/- cells exhibited unchanged glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS), moderately decreased phosphorylating/non-phosphorylating respiration ratios at high glucose; unchanged but delayed ATP-elevation responses to glucose; delayed uptake of fluorescent glucose analog, but slightly improved cytosolic Ca2+-oscillations, induced by glucose; despite approximately halved Glut2, Pcx, Ero1lb, and Slc30a8 expression, and reduced nuclear receptors Nr4a1 and Nr4a3. Thus, ATP synthesis was time-compensated, despite the delayed GLUT2-mediated glucose uptake and crippled pyruvate-malate redox shuttle (owing to the PCX-deficiency) in INS-1ENkx6.1-/- cells. Nkx6.1 thus controls the expression of genes that are not essential for acute insulin secretion, the function of which can be compensated for. Considerations that Nkx6.1 deficiency is an ultimate determinant of β-cell pathology beyond cell trans-(de-)differentiation or β-cell identity are not supported by our results.
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Abstract
Islet dysfunction is central in type 2 diabetes and full-blown type 2 diabetes develops first when the beta cells lose their ability to secrete adequate amounts of insulin in response to raised plasma glucose. Several mechanisms behind beta cell dysfunction have been put forward but many important questions still remain. Furthermore, our understanding of the contribution of each islet cell type in type 2 diabetes pathophysiology has been limited by technical boundaries. Closing this knowledge gap will lead to a leap forward in our understanding of the islet as an organ and potentially lead to improved treatments. The development of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) has led to a breakthrough for characterising the transcriptome of each islet cell type and several important observations on the regulation of cell-type-specific gene expression have been made. When it comes to identifying type 2 diabetes disease mechanisms, the outcome is still limited. Several studies have identified differentially expressed genes, although there is very limited consensus between the studies. As with all new techniques, scRNAseq has limitations; in addition to being extremely expensive, genes expressed at low levels may not be detected, noise may not be appropriately filtered and selection biases for certain cell types are at hand. Furthermore, recent advances suggest that commonly used computational tools may be suboptimal for analysis of scRNAseq data in small-scale studies. Fortunately, development of new computational tools holds promise for harnessing the full potential of scRNAseq data. Here we summarise how scRNAseq has contributed to increasing the understanding of various aspects of islet biology as well as type 2 diabetes disease mechanisms. We also focus on challenges that remain and propose steps to promote the utilisation of the full potential of scRNAseq in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nils Wierup
- Lund University Diabetes Centre, Malmö, Sweden.
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Lien YC, Lu XM, Won KJ, Wang PZ, Osei-Bonsu W, Simmons RA. The Transcriptome and Epigenome Reveal Novel Changes in Transcription Regulation During Pancreatic Rat Islet Maturation. Endocrinology 2021; 162:6360893. [PMID: 34467975 PMCID: PMC8455347 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqab181] [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: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Islet function is critical for normal glucose homeostasis. Unlike adult β cells, fetal and neonatal islets are more proliferative and have decreased insulin secretion in response to stimuli. However, the underlying mechanisms governing functional maturity of islets have not been completely elucidated. Pancreatic islets comprise different cell types. The microenvironment of islets and interactions between these cell types are critical for β-cell development and maturation. Thus, the study of intact islets is optimal to identify novel molecular mechanisms controlling islet functional development. Transcriptomes and genome-wide histone landscapes of H3K4me3, H3K27me3, and H3K27Ac from intact islets isolated from 2- and 10-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats were integrated to elucidate genes and pathways modulating islet development, as well as the contribution of epigenetic regulation. A total of 4489 differentially expressed genes were identified; 2289 and 2200 of them were up- and down-regulated in 10-week islets, respectively. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis revealed critical pathways regulating functional maturation of islets, including nutrient sensing, neuronal function, immune function, cell replication, and extracellular matrix. Furthermore, we identified significant changes in enrichment of H3K4me3, H3K27me3, and H3K27Ac marks, which correlated with expression changes of genes critical for islet function. These histone marks were enriched at critical transcription factor-binding motifs, such as Hoxa9, C/EBP-β, Gata1, Foxo1, E2f1, E2f3, and Mafb. In addition, our chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing data revealed multiple potential bivalent genes whose poised states changed with maturation. Collectively, our current study identified critical novel pathways for mature islet function and suggested a role for histone modifications in regulating islet development and maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Chin Lien
- Center for Research on Reproduction and Women’s Health, Perelman School of Medicine, the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Xueqing Maggie Lu
- Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Perelman School of Medicine, the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Kyoung-Jae Won
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC), University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Biology (DanStem), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Paul Zhiping Wang
- Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Perelman School of Medicine, the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Wendy Osei-Bonsu
- Center for Research on Reproduction and Women’s Health, Perelman School of Medicine, the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Rebecca A Simmons
- Center for Research on Reproduction and Women’s Health, Perelman School of Medicine, the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Correspondence: Rebecca A. Simmons, MD, BRB II/III, 13th Floor, Rm 1308, 421 Curie Blvd, Perelman School of Medicine, the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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Sun X, Wang L, Obayomi SMB, Wei Z. Epigenetic Regulation of β Cell Identity and Dysfunction. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2021; 12:725131. [PMID: 34630329 PMCID: PMC8498190 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2021.725131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
β cell dysfunction and failure are driving forces of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) pathogenesis. Investigating the underlying mechanisms of β cell dysfunction may provide novel targets for the development of next generation therapy for T2DM. Epigenetics is the study of gene expression changes that do not involve DNA sequence changes, including DNA methylation, histone modification, and non-coding RNAs. Specific epigenetic signatures at all levels, including DNA methylation, chromatin accessibility, histone modification, and non-coding RNA, define β cell identity during embryonic development, postnatal maturation, and maintain β cell function at homeostatic states. During progression of T2DM, overnutrition, inflammation, and other types of stress collaboratively disrupt the homeostatic epigenetic signatures in β cells. Dysregulated epigenetic signatures, and the associating transcriptional outputs, lead to the dysfunction and eventual loss of β cells. In this review, we will summarize recent discoveries of the establishment and disruption of β cell-specific epigenetic signatures, and discuss the potential implication in therapeutic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoqiang Sun
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale, AZ, United States
- Tianjin Fourth Central Hospital, Tianjin, China
- The Fourth Central Hospital Affiliated to Nankai University, Tianjin, China
- The Fourth Central Hospital Clinical College, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Liu Wang
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale, AZ, United States
| | - S M Bukola Obayomi
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale, AZ, United States
| | - Zong Wei
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale, AZ, United States
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Zhang S, Dong J, Li Y, Xiao H, Shang Y, Wang B, Chen Z, Zhang M, Fan S, Cui M. Gamma-irradiation fluctuates the mRNA N 6-methyladenosine (m 6A) spectrum of bone marrow in hematopoietic injury. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 285:117509. [PMID: 34380217 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Revised: 04/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/30/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Humans benefit from nuclear technologies but consequently experience nuclear disasters or side effects of iatrogenic radiation. Hematopoietic system injury first arises upon radiation exposure. As an intricate new layer of genetic control, the posttranscriptional m6A modification of RNA has recently come under investigation and has been demonstrated to play pivotal roles in multiple physiological and pathological processes. However, how the m6A methylome functions in the hematopoietic system after irradiation remains ambiguous. Here, we uncovered the time-varying epitranscriptome-wide m6A methylome and transcriptome alterations in γ-ray-exposed mouse bone marrow. 4 Gy γ-irradiation rapidly (5 min and 2 h) and severely impaired the mouse hematopoietic system, including spleen and thymus weight, blood components, tissue inflammation and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. The m6A content and expression of m6A related enzymes were altered. Gamma-irradiation triggered dynamic and reversible m6A modification profiles and altered mRNA expression, where both m6A fold-enrichment and mRNA expression most followed the (5 min_up/2 h_down) pattern. The CDS enrichment region preferentially upregulated m6A peaks at 5 min. Moreover, the main GO and KEGG pathways were closely related to metabolism and the classical radiation response. Finally, m6A modifications correlated with transcriptional regulation of genes in multiple aspects. Blocking the expression of m6A demethylases FTO and ALKBH5 mitigated radiation hematopoietic toxicity. Together, our findings present the comprehensive landscape of mRNA m6A methylation in the mouse hematopoietic system in response to γ-irradiation, shedding light on the significance of m6A modifications in mammalian radiobiology. Regulation of the epitranscriptome may be exploited as a strategy against radiation damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuqin Zhang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Molecular Nuclear Medicine, Institute of Radiation Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 238 Baidi Road, 300192, Tianjin, China
| | - Jiali Dong
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Molecular Nuclear Medicine, Institute of Radiation Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 238 Baidi Road, 300192, Tianjin, China
| | - Yuan Li
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Molecular Nuclear Medicine, Institute of Radiation Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 238 Baidi Road, 300192, Tianjin, China
| | - Huiwen Xiao
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Molecular Nuclear Medicine, Institute of Radiation Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 238 Baidi Road, 300192, Tianjin, China
| | - Yue Shang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Molecular Nuclear Medicine, Institute of Radiation Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 238 Baidi Road, 300192, Tianjin, China
| | - Bin Wang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Molecular Nuclear Medicine, Institute of Radiation Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 238 Baidi Road, 300192, Tianjin, China
| | - Zhiyuan Chen
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Molecular Nuclear Medicine, Institute of Radiation Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 238 Baidi Road, 300192, Tianjin, China
| | - Mengran Zhang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Molecular Nuclear Medicine, Institute of Radiation Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 238 Baidi Road, 300192, Tianjin, China
| | - Saijun Fan
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Molecular Nuclear Medicine, Institute of Radiation Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 238 Baidi Road, 300192, Tianjin, China
| | - Ming Cui
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Molecular Nuclear Medicine, Institute of Radiation Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 238 Baidi Road, 300192, Tianjin, China.
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Loreto JS, Ferreira SA, Ardisson-Araújo DM, Barbosa NV. Human type 2 diabetes mellitus-associated transcriptional disturbances in a high-sugar diet long-term exposed Drosophila melanogaster. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY D-GENOMICS & PROTEOMICS 2021; 39:100866. [PMID: 34192612 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbd.2021.100866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2021] [Revised: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Type 2 Diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a multifactorial and polygenic disorder with the molecular bases still idiopathic. Experimental analyses and tests are quite limited upon human samples due to the access, variability of patient's conditions, and the size and complexity of the genome. Therefore, high-sugar diet exposure is commonly used for modeling T2DM in non-human animals, which includes invertebrate organisms like the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. Interestingly, high-sugar diet (HSD) induces delayed time for pupation and reduced viability in fruit fly larvae hatched from a 30% sucrose-containing medium (HSD-30%). Here we carried out an mRNA-deep sequencing study to identify differentially transcribed genes in adult fruit fly hatched and reared from an HSD-30%. Seven days after hatching, flies reared on control and HSD-30% were used to glucose and triglyceride level measurements and RNA extraction for sequencing. Remarkably, glucose levels were about 2-fold higher than the control group in fruit flies exposed to HSD-30%, whereas triglycerides levels increased 1.7-fold. After RNA-sequencing, we found that 13.5% of the genes were differentially transcribed in the dyslipidemic and hyperglycaemic insects. HSD-30% up-regulated genes involved in ribosomal biogenesis (e.g. dTOR, ERK and dS6K) and down-regulated genes involved in energetic process (e.g. Pfk, Gapdh1, and Pyk from pyruvate metabolism; kdn, Idh and Mdh2 from the citric acid cycle; ATPsynC and ATPsynẞ from ATP synthesis) and insect development. We found a remarkable down-regulation for Actin (Act88F) that likely impairs muscle development. Moreover, HSD-30% up-regulated both the insulin-like peptides 7 and 8 and down-regulated the insulin receptor substrate p53, isoform A and insulin-like peptide 6 genes, whose functional products are insulin signaling markers. All these features pointed together to a tightly correlation of the T2DM-like phenotype modeled by the D. melanogaster and an intricate array of phenomena, which includes energetic processes, muscle development, and ribosomal synthesis as that observed for the human pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Sepel Loreto
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Bioquímica Toxicológica, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Avenida Roraima, 1000, 97105-900 Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Sabrina Antunes Ferreira
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Bioquímica Toxicológica, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Avenida Roraima, 1000, 97105-900 Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Daniel Mp Ardisson-Araújo
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Bioquímica Toxicológica, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Avenida Roraima, 1000, 97105-900 Santa Maria, RS, Brazil; Laboratório de Virologia de Insetos, Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Avenida Roraima, 1000, 97105-900 Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
| | - Nilda Vargas Barbosa
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Bioquímica Toxicológica, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Avenida Roraima, 1000, 97105-900 Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
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Kim H, Kulkarni RN. Epigenetics in β-cell adaptation and type 2 diabetes. Curr Opin Pharmacol 2020; 55:125-131. [PMID: 33232934 DOI: 10.1016/j.coph.2020.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Revised: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Healthy pancreatic β-cells adapt to systemic insulin resistance to maintain normal blood glucose levels, and a failure of this adaptation leads to type 2 diabetes in humans. While genome-wide association studies have uncovered genetic variants that are associated with type 2 diabetes, it is still insufficient to explain the high prevalence of this disease. Epigenetics is the study of gene expression changes that do not involve DNA sequence alterations such as DNA methylation, histone modification, and non-coding RNAs. Over the last decade, a large number of studies have reported on the role of epigenetics in β-cell biology. In this review, we summarize the epigenetic mechanisms in β-cell adaptation and type 2 diabetes, including alterations in three-dimensional chromatin structure and RNA modifications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyunki Kim
- Islet Cell and Regenerative Biology, Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Rohit N Kulkarni
- Islet Cell and Regenerative Biology, Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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Guo J, Fu W. Immune regulation of islet homeostasis and adaptation. J Mol Cell Biol 2020; 12:764-774. [PMID: 32236479 PMCID: PMC7816675 DOI: 10.1093/jmcb/mjaa009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2019] [Revised: 01/08/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The islet of Langerhans produces endocrine hormones to regulate glucose homeostasis. The normal function of the islet relies on the homeostatic regulations of cellular composition and cell–cell interactions within the islet microenvironment. Immune cells populate the islet during embryonic development and participate in islet organogenesis and function. In obesity, a low-grade inflammation manifests in multiple organs, including pancreatic islets. Obesity-associated islet inflammation is evident in both animal models and humans, characterized by the accumulation of immune cells and elevated production of inflammatory cytokines/chemokines and metabolic mediators. Myeloid lineage cells (monocytes and macrophages) are the dominant types of immune cells in islet inflammation during the development of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In this review, we will discuss the role of the immune system in islet homeostasis and inflammation and summarize recent findings of the cellular and molecular factors that alter islet microenvironment and β cell function in obesity and T2DM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinglong Guo
- Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Diabetes Research Center, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Wenxian Fu
- Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Diabetes Research Center, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
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Altered Transcription Factor Binding and Gene Bivalency in Islets of Intrauterine Growth Retarded Rats. Cells 2020; 9:cells9061435. [PMID: 32527043 PMCID: PMC7348746 DOI: 10.3390/cells9061435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Revised: 05/30/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), which induces epigenetic modifications and permanent changes in gene expression, has been associated with the development of type 2 diabetes. Using a rat model of IUGR, we performed ChIP-Seq to identify and map genome-wide histone modifications and gene dysregulation in islets from 2- and 10-week rats. IUGR induced significant changes in the enrichment of H3K4me3, H3K27me3, and H3K27Ac marks in both 2-wk and 10-wk islets, which were correlated with expression changes of multiple genes critical for islet function in IUGR islets. ChIP-Seq analysis showed that IUGR-induced histone mark changes were enriched at critical transcription factor binding motifs, such as C/EBPs, Ets1, Bcl6, Thrb, Ebf1, Sox9, and Mitf. These transcription factors were also identified as top upstream regulators in our previously published transcriptome study. In addition, our ChIP-seq data revealed more than 1000 potential bivalent genes as identified by enrichment of both H3K4me3 and H3K27me3. The poised state of many potential bivalent genes was altered by IUGR, particularly Acod1, Fgf21, Serpina11, Cdh16, Lrrc27, and Lrrc66, key islet genes. Collectively, our findings suggest alterations of histone modification in key transcription factors and genes that may contribute to long-term gene dysregulation and an abnormal islet phenotype in IUGR rats.
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De Jesus DF, Kulkarni RN. More is better: combinatorial therapy to restore β-cell function in diabetes. Nat Metab 2020; 2:130-131. [PMID: 32694691 DOI: 10.1038/s42255-020-0176-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Dario F De Jesus
- Islet Cell and Regenerative Biology, Joslin Diabetes Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Rohit N Kulkarni
- Islet Cell and Regenerative Biology, Joslin Diabetes Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA.
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