TRB3 stimulates SIRT1 degradation and induces insulin resistance by lipotoxicity via COP1

Sodium sulphate ameliorates hypercholesterolemia via the upregulation of Cyp7a1 in hepatocytes and alleviates hepatic insulin resistance via the downregulation of Trib3 in mice with high cholesterol diets

Amelioration of hypercholesterolemia is essential for the treatment of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Sodium sulphate is the effective component of mirabilite, which has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of various diseases. In the present study, C57BL/6 mice were fed with a high-cholesterol diet (HCD) for 7 weeks and were treated with sodium sulphate in the last three of those weeks. Sodium sulphate significantly reduced the total cholesterol level and the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio in the serum of mice fed the HCD. In addition, cytochrome P450 7a1 and 39a1 were significantly upregulated in the livers of mice treated with sodium sulphate. Furthermore, tribbles pseudokinase 3 expression was significantly increased in the livers of mice fed the HCD, but was significantly reduced by sodium sulphate treatment. In terms of the insulin signaling pathway, the ratio of phosphorylated AKT to total AKT in the livers of mice fed the HCD was significantly lower compared with that of control mice fed a normal diet, but was significantly increased by sodium sulphate treatment. Sodium sulphate treatment also reduced the levels of fibroblast growth factor (FGF)15 in the ileum and inhibited the FGF15/FGF receptor 4-Klotho β/c-Jun N-terminal kinase/c-Jun signaling pathway in the livers of mice fed the HCD. In addition, sodium sulphate changed the composition of the gut microbiota of mice fed the HCD. In conclusion, sodium sulphate may mitigate hypercholesterolemia and hepatic insulin resistance in mice fed an HCD.

Gut microbiota-derived indole-3-propionic acid alleviates diabetic kidney disease through its mitochondrial protective effect via reducing ubiquitination mediated-degradation of SIRT1

INTRODUCTION

Gut microbes and their metabolites play crucial roles in the pathogenesis of diabetic kidney disease (DKD). However, which one and how specific gut-derived metabolites affect the progression of DKD remain largely unknown.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to investigate the potential roles of indole-3-propionic acid (IPA), a microbial metabolite of tryptophan, in DKD.

METHODS

Metagenomic sequencing was performed to analyze the microbiome structure in DKD. Metabolomics screening and validation were conducted to identify characteristic metabolites associated with DKD. The protective effect of IPA on DKD glomerular endothelial cells (GECs) was assessed through in vivo and in vitro experiments. Further validation via western blot, immunoprecipitation, gene knockout, and site-directed mutation elucidated the mechanism of IPA on mitochondrial injury.

RESULTS

Alterations in gut microbial community structure and dysregulated tryptophan metabolism were evident in DKD mice. Serum IPA levels were significantly reduced in DKD patients and correlated with fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR), and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). IPA supplementation ameliorated albuminuria, bolstered the integrity of the glomerular filtration barrier, and mitigated mitochondrial impairments in GECs. Mechanistically, IPA hindered SIRT1 phosphorylation-mediated ubiquitin-proteasome degradation, restoring SIRT1's role in promoting PGC-1α deacetylation and nuclear translocation, thereby upregulating genes associated with mitochondrial biosynthesis and antioxidant defense.

CONCLUSION

Our findings underscore the potential of the microbial metabolite IPA to attenuate DKD progression, offering novel insights and potential therapeutic strategies for its management.

Impact of Lipids on Insulin Resistance: Insights from Human and Animal Studies

Insulin resistance (IR) is a complex pathological condition central to metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), cardiovascular disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This review evaluates the impact of lipids on insulin resistance (IR) by analyzing findings from human and animal studies. The articles were searched on the PubMed database using two keywords: (1) "Role of Lipids AND Insulin Resistance AND Humans" and (2) "Role of Lipids AND Insulin Resistance AND Animal Models". Studies in humans revealed that elevated levels of free fatty acids (FFAs) and triglycerides (TGs) are closely associated with reduced insulin sensitivity, and interventions like metformin and omega-3 fatty acids show potential benefits. In animal models, high-fat diets disrupt insulin signaling and increase inflammation, with lipid mediators such as diacylglycerol (DAG) and ceramides playing significant roles. DAG activates protein kinase C, which eventually impairs insulin signaling, while ceramides inhibit Akt/PKB, further contributing to IR. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for developing effective prevention and treatment strategies for IR-related diseases.

TRIB3-TRIM8 complex drives NAFLD progression by regulating HNF4α stability

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress of hepatocytes plays a causative role in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Reduced expression of hepatic nuclear factor 4α (HNF4α) is a critical event in the pathogenesis of NAFLD and other liver diseases. Whether ER stress regulates HNF4α expression remains unknown. The aim of this study was to delineate the machinery of HNF4α protein degradation and explore a therapeutic strategy based on protecting HNF4α stability during NAFLD progression.

METHODS

Correlation of HNF4α and tribbles homologue 3 (TRIB3), an ER stress sensor, was evaluated in human and mouse NAFLD tissues. RNA-sequencing, mass spectrometry analysis, co-immunoprecipitation, in vivo and in vitro ubiquitination assays were used to elucidate the mechanisms of TRIB3-mediated HNF4α degradation. Molecular docking and co-immunoprecipitation analyses were performed to identify a cell-penetrating peptide that ablates the TRIB3-HNF4α interaction.

RESULTS

TRIB3 directly interacts with HNF4α and mediates ER stress-induced HNF4α degradation. TRIB3 recruits tripartite motif containing 8 (TRIM8) to form an E3 ligase complex that catalyzes K48-linked polyubiquitination of HNF4α on lysine 470. Abrogating the degradation of HNF4α attenuated the effect of TRIB3 on a diet-induced NAFLD model. Moreover, the TRIB3 gain-of-function variant p.Q84R is associated with NAFLD progression in patients, and induces lower HNF4α levels and more severe hepatic steatosis in mice. Importantly, disrupting the TRIB3-HNF4α interaction using a cell-penetrating peptide restores HNF4α levels and ameliorates NAFLD progression in mice.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings unravel the machinery of HNF4α protein degradation and indicate that targeting TRIB3-TRIM8 E3 complex-mediated HNF4α polyubiquitination may be an ideal strategy for NAFLD therapy.

IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS

Reduced expression of hepatic nuclear factor 4α (HNF4α) is a critical event in the pathogenesis of NAFLD and other liver diseases. However, the mechanism of HNF4α protein degradation remains unknown. Herein, we reveal that TRIB3-TRIM8 E3 ligase complex is responsible for HNF4α degradation during NAFLD. Inhibiting the TRIB3-HNF4α interaction effectively stabilized HNF4α protein levels and transcription factor activity in the liver and ameliorated TRIB3-mediated NAFLD progression. Our findings demonstrate that disturbing the TRIM8-TRIB3-HNF4α interaction may provide a novel approach to treat NAFLD and even other liver diseases by stabilizing the HNF4α protein.

Integration of dietary nutrition and TRIB3 action into diabetes mellitus

Despite intensive studies for decades, the common mechanistic correlations among the underlying pathology of diabetes mellitus (DM), its complications, and effective clinical treatments remain poorly characterized. High-quality diets and nutrition therapy have played an indispensable role in the management of DM. More importantly, tribbles homolog 3 (TRIB3), a nutrient-sensing and glucose-responsive regulator, might be an important stress-regulatory switch, linking glucose homeostasis and insulin resistance. Therefore, this review aimed to introduce the latest research progress on the crosstalk between dietary nutrition intervention and TRIB3 in the development and treatment of DM. This study also summarized the possible mechanisms involved in the signaling pathways of TRIB3 action in DM, in order to gain an in-depth understanding of dietary nutrition intervention and TRIB3 in the pathogenesis of DM at the organism level.

SENP1-mediated SUMOylation of SIRT1 affects glioma development through the NF-κB pathway

Gliomas are the most common primary brain tumors in adults. Although they exist in different malignant stages, most gliomas are clinically challenging because of their infiltrative growth patterns and inherent relapse tendency with increased malignancy. Epigenetic alterations have been suggested to be an important factor for glioma genesis. Using mRNA probe hybridization, we identified SUMO-specific protease 1 (SENP1) as the most significantly upregulated SUMOylation regulator in glioma. Moreover, SENP1 was overexpressed in gliomas and predicted poor prognoses. Depletion of SENP1 reduced glioma cell activity, cycle arrest, and increased apoptotic activity. Mechanistically, SENP1 inhibited the protein expression of sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) through de-SUMOylation, and SIRT1 inhibited the activity of nuclear factor kappaB (NF-κB) by deacetylation. Rescue experiments revealed that downregulation of SIRT1 reversed the inhibitory effect of sh-SENP1 on glioma cell malignant phenotype, while downregulation of NF-κB reversed the activating effect of sh-SIRT1 on glioma cell malignant phenotype. Thus, SENP1-mediated de-SUMOylation of SIRT1 might be therapeutically important in gliomas.

Periodontitis as a promoting factor of T2D: current evidence and mechanisms

Periodontitis is an infectious disease caused by an imbalance between the local microbiota and host immune response. Epidemiologically, periodontitis is closely related to the occurrence, development, and poor prognosis of T2D and is recognized as a potential risk factor for T2D. In recent years, increasing attention has been given to the role of the virulence factors produced by disorders of the subgingival microbiota in the pathological mechanism of T2D, including islet β-cell dysfunction and insulin resistance (IR). However, the related mechanisms have not been well summarized. This review highlights periodontitis-derived virulence factors, reviews how these stimuli directly or indirectly regulate islet β-cell dysfunction. The mechanisms by which IR is induced in insulin-targeting tissues (the liver, visceral adipose tissue, and skeletal muscle) are explained, clarifying the influence of periodontitis on the occurrence and development of T2D. In addition, the positive effects of periodontal therapy on T2D are overviewed. Finally, the limitations and prospects of the current research are discussed. In summary, periodontitis is worthy of attention as a promoting factor of T2D. Understanding on the effect of disseminated periodontitis-derived virulence factors on the T2D-related tissues and cells may provide new treatment options for reducing the risk of T2D associated with periodontitis.

COP1 controls salt stress tolerance by modulating sucrose content

The E3 ubiquitin ligase Constitutive Photomorphogenic 1 (COP1) plays evolutionarily conserved and divergent roles. In plants, COP1 regulates a large number of developmental processes including photomorphogenesis, seedling emergence, and gravitropism. Nevertheless, its function in abiotic stress tolerance remains largely unknown. Here, we demonstrate the role of COP1 in salt stress tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana. In soil, cop1-4 and cop1-6 mutants were more tolerant to high salinity than wild-type (WT) plants during vegetative growth. However, in high salt-containing Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium, cop1-4 and cop1-6 seedlings exhibited significantly impaired growth compared with WT plants. Notably, cop1-4 and cop1-6 seedlings recovered their growth to the WT level upon exogenous sucrose treatment even under high salinity conditions. Compared with WT plants, the sucrose content of cop1-4 mutants was much higher at the vegetative growth stage but similar at the seedling stage. Upon exogenous sucrose supply, root elongation was significantly stimulated in cop1-4 seedlings but only slightly stimulated in WT plants. Thus, no significant difference was observed in root length between the two genotypes. Altogether, our data indicate that cop1 mutants are more tolerant to salt stress than WT plants, and the salt tolerance of cop1 mutants is correlated with their sucrose content.

Tribbles homolog 3 contributes to high glucose-induced injury in retinal pigment epithelial cells via binding to growth factor receptor-bound 2

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the most typical complication of diabetes, which severely threatens sight. Tribbles homolog 3 (TRB3), a kind of pseudokinase, is discovered to be highly expressed in diabetes and retinas after retinal detachment. TRB3 expression in human retinal pigment epithelial (hRPE) cells exposed to different concentrations of glucose was tested by RT-qPCR and western blot. Then, cells were induced with 30 mM high glucose (HG) to establish a DR cell model. Following TRB3 knockdown, cell viability estimation employed CCK-8 assay. The mRNA levels of inflammatory factors were detected by RT-qPCR. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) level was measured by DCFH-DA assay, and levels of oxidative stress markers were evaluated applying corresponding kits. Cell apoptosis was assayed by TUNEL assay and western blot. Following, the growth factor receptor-bound 2 (GRB2) expression was also examined by RT-qPCR and western blot. The interaction between TRB3 and GRB2 was verified by Co-IP assay. After GRB2 was overexpressed in HG-induced hRPE cells transfected with shRNA-TRB3, functional experiments were conducted again. The results manifested that TRB3 expression was elevated under HG conditions. Deficiency of TRB3 enhanced the viability while alleviated inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis in HG-induced hRPE cells. GRB2 was also increased in HG-exposed hRPE cells. Moreover, GRB2 had a strong affinity with TRB3 and positively regulated by TRB3. After GRB2 overexpression, the effects of TRB3 knockdown on HG-stimulated hRPE cells were all reversed. Briefly, this study confirmed the promoting role of TRB3/GRB2 axis in the progression of DR.

Association of Sirtuin 1 Gene Polymorphisms with the Risk of Coronary Heart Disease in Chinese Han Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

AIMS

To explore the associations between polymorphisms in SIRT1 and coronary heart disease (CHD) risk in Chinese Han patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D).

METHODS

This case-controlled study enrolled 492 patients with T2D: 297 with CHD and 195 without CHD. Five SIRT1 haplotype-tagging single-nucleotide polymorphisms (rs3818291, rs12242965, rs3818292, rs4746720, and rs16924934) were selected from Chinese Han data in the GRCh37.p13 phase 3 database and genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fraction length polymorphism or sequencing.

RESULTS

The rs16924934 G allele was associated with a higher risk of CHD than the A allele (odds ratio (OR) = 1.429; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.003-2.037; P = 0.048). Using an additive inheritance model, the rs3818291 G/A genotype was associated with a higher CHD risk than the G/G genotype (OR' = 1.683; 95%CI = 1.033-2.743; P' = 0.037 after adjustment for CHD risk factors). Smokers carrying G/A or A/A rs3818291 genotypes had a 3-fold higher CHD risk than those carrying GG (adjusted OR' = 3.035; P' = 0.011) and a 2.6-fold higher CHD risk than nonsmokers carrying GG (adjusted OR' = 2.604; P' = 0.033).

CONCLUSIONS

Genetic polymorphisms of SIRT1 are associated with the risk of CHD in a Chinese Han population with T2D.

Circ-SIRT1 inhibits cardiac hypertrophy via activating SIRT1 to promote autophagy

Mounting studies have substantiated that abrogating autophagy contributes to cardiac hypertrophy (CH). Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) has been reported to support autophagy and inhibit CH. However, the upstream regulation mechanism behind the regulation of SIRT1 level in CH remains unclear. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are vital modulators in diverse human diseases including CH. This study intended to investigate the regulatory mechanism of circRNA on SIRT1 expression in CH. CH model was established by angiotensin II (Ang II) fusion or transverse aortic constriction (TAC) surgery and Ang II treatment on hiPSC-CMs and H9c2 cells in vitro. Our results showed that circ-SIRT1 (hsa_circ_0093884) expression was downregulated in Ang II-treated hiPSC-CMs, and confirmed that its conserved mouse homolog circ-Sirt1 (mmu_circ_0002354) was expressed at low levels in Ang II-treated H9c2 cells and TAC-induced mice model. Functionally, circ-SIRT1/circ-Sirt1 attenuated Ang II-induced CH and induced autophagy in hiPSC-CMs and H9c2 cardiomyocytes. Mechanistically, circ-SIRT1 could upregulate its host gene SIRT1 at the post-transcriptional level by sponging miR-3681-3p/miR-5195-3p and stabilized SIRT1 protein at the post-translational level by recruiting USP22 to induce deubiquitination on SIRT1 protein. Further, SIRT1 knockdown could rescue the effect of circ-SIRT1 upregulation on Ang II-induced CH and autophagy in vitro and in vivo. In conclusion, we first uncovered that circ-SIRT1 restrains CH via activating SIRT1 to promote autophagy, indicating circ-SIRT1 as a promising target to alleviate CH.

Moderate calorie restriction ameliorates reproduction via attenuating oxidative stress-induced apoptosis through SIRT1 signaling in obese mice

Background

Obesity is a growing global public health problem. It has been associated with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and an increased risk of all-cause mortality, as well as infertility. Calorie restriction (CR) is an effective life intervention to defend against obesity. This study aimed to investigate the effects of long-term moderate CR on the reproductive function and underlying mechanisms in a mouse model of obesity.

Methods

Male C57BL/6 mice were randomized to two groups receiving either a standard diet (STD) or a high-fat diet (HFD) for 8 weeks to induce obesity. The HFD-induced obesity mice were further randomized into two groups: HFD group and CR group (reduced the mean amount of HFD by 25%). After 12 weeks, the body weight, testicular coefficients, fasting blood glucose (FBG), serum triglyceride (TG), and total cholesterol (TC) were detected and measured. The sperm quality was detected by an automatic sperm quality analyzer (SQA-V). The structure of testicular tissues was examined by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. Testicular cell apoptosis was assessed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining. The levels of NAD-dependent deacetylase sirtuin-1 (SIRT1) and antioxidative enzymes were detected in the testes.

Results

CR treatment reduced weight gain and increased testicle coefficients in HFD-induced obese mice. CR reduced the serum level of FBG, TG, and TC, and increased the serum levels of testosterone. Moreover, CR increased sperm count and motility, and sperm normality in obese mice. Furthermore, CR ameliorated the testicular morphological damage and cell apoptosis in obese mice. CR also attenuated the oxidative stress level and increased the protein expressions of SIRT1 in testicular tissues of obese mice.

Conclusions

Long-term moderate CR improves obese male fertility, probably by alleviating oxidative stress via activation of SIRT1 signaling.

The Photomorphogenic Central Repressor COP1: Conservation and Functional Diversification during Evolution

Green plants on the earth have evolved intricate mechanisms to acclimatize to and utilize sunlight. In Arabidopsis, light signals are perceived by photoreceptors and transmitted through divergent but overlapping signaling networks to modulate plant photomorphogenic development. COP1 (CONSTITUTIVE PHOTOMORPHOGENIC 1) was first cloned as a central repressor of photomorphogenesis in higher plants and has been extensively studied for over 30 years. It acts as a RING E3 ubiquitin ligase downstream of multiple photoreceptors to target key light-signaling regulators for degradation, primarily as part of large protein complexes. The mammalian counterpart of COP1 is a pluripotent regulator of tumorigenesis and metabolism. A great deal of information on COP1 has been derived from whole-genome sequencing and functional studies in lower green plants, which enables us to illustrate its evolutionary history. Here, we review the current understanding about COP1, with a focus on the conservation and functional diversification of COP1 and its signaling partners in different taxonomic clades.

Protection Against Insulin Resistance by Apolipoprotein M/Sphingosine-1-Phosphate

Subjects with low serum HDL cholesterol levels are reported to be susceptible to diabetes, with insulin resistance believed to be the underlying pathological mechanism. Apolipoprotein M (apoM) is a carrier of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), a multifunctional lipid mediator, on HDL, and the pleiotropic effects of HDL are believed to be mediated by S1P. In the current study, we attempted to investigate the potential association between apoM/S1P and insulin resistance. We observed that the serum levels of apoM were lower in patients with type 2 diabetes and that they were negatively correlated with BMI and the insulin resistance index. While deletion of apoM in mice was associated with worsening of insulin resistance, overexpression of apoM was associated with improvement of insulin resistance. Presumably, apoM/S1P exerts its protective effect against insulin resistance by activating insulin signaling pathways, such as the AKT and AMPK pathways, and also by improving the mitochondrial functions through upregulation of SIRT1 protein levels. These actions of apoM/S1P appear to be mediated via activation of S1P1 and/or S1P3. These results suggest that apoM/S1P exerts protective roles against the development of insulin resistance.