Constitutive activation of p46JNK2 is indispensable for C/EBPδ induction in the initial stage of adipogenic differentiation

Matrix stiffness regulates the triad communication of adipocytes/macrophages/endothelial cells through CXCL13

Adipose tissue remodeling and plasticity are dynamically regulated by the coordinated functions of adipocytes, macrophages, and endothelial cells and extracellular matrix (ECM) that provides stiffness networks in adipose tissue component cells. Inflammation and fibrosis are crucial exogenous factors that dysregulate adipose tissue functions and drastically change the mechanical properties of the ECM. Therefore, communication among the ECM and adipose tissue component cells is necessary to understand the multifaceted functions of adipose tissues. To obtain in vivo stiffness, we used genipin as a crosslinker for collagen gels. Meanwhile, we isolated primary adipocytes, macrophages, and endothelial cells from C57BL/6J mice and incubated these cells in the differentiation media on temperature-responsive culture dishes. After the differentiation, these cell sheets were transferred onto genipin-crosslinked collagen gels with varying matrix stiffness. We found that inflammatory gene expressions were induced by hard matrix, whereas antiinflammatory gene expressions were promoted by soft matrix in all three types of cells. Interestingly, the coculture experiments of adipocytes, macrophages, and endothelial cells showed that the effects of soft or hard matrix stiffness stimulation on adipocytes were transmitted to the distant adipose tissue component cells, altering their gene expression profiles under normal matrix conditions. Finally, we identified that a hard matrix induces the secretion of CXCL13 from adipocytes, and CXCL13 is one of the important transmitters for stiffness communication with macrophages and endothelial cells. These findings provide insight into the mechanotransmission into distant cells and the application of stiffness control for chronic inflammation in adipose tissues with metabolic dysregulation.

Neuronostatin regulates proliferation and differentiation of rat brown primary preadipocytes

Neuronostatin suppresses the differentiation of white preadipocytes. However, the role of neuronostatin in brown adipose tissue remains elusive. Therefore, we investigated the impact of neuronostatin on the proliferation and differentiation of isolated rat brown preadipocytes. We report that neuronostatin and its receptor (GPR107) are synthesized in brown preadipocytes and brown adipose tissue. Furthermore, neuronostatin promotes the replication of brown preadipocytes via the AKT pathway. Notably, neuronostatin suppresses the expression of markers associated with brown adipogenesis (PGC-1α, PPARγ, PRDM16, and UCP1) and reduces cellular mitochondria content. Moreover, neuronostatin impedes the differentiation of preadipocytes by activating the JNK signaling pathway. These effects were not mimicked by somatostatin. Our results suggest that neuronostatin is involved in regulating brown adipogenesis.

The Role of DNMT1 and C/EBPα in the Regulation of CYP11A1 Expression During Syncytialization of Human Placental Trophoblasts

Progesterone synthesized in the placenta is essential for pregnancy maintenance. CYP11A1 is a key enzyme in progesterone synthesis, and its expression increases greatly during trophoblast syncytialization. However, the underlying mechanism remains elusive. Here, we demonstrated that passive demethylation of CYP11A1 promoter accounted for the upregulation of CYP11A1 expression during syncytialization with the participation of the transcription factor C/EBPα. We found that the methylation rate of a CpG locus in the CYP11A1 promoter was significantly reduced along with decreased DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) expression and its enrichment at the CYP11A1 promoter during syncytialization. DNMT1 overexpression not only increased the methylation of this CpG locus in the CYP11A1 promoter, but also decreased CYP11A1 expression and progesterone production. In silico analysis disclosed multiple C/EBPα binding sites in both CYP11A1 and DNMT1 promoters. C/EBPα expression and its enrichments at both the DNMT1 and CYP11A1 promoters were significantly increased during syncytialization. Knocking-down C/EBPα expression increased DNMT1 while it decreased CYP11A1 expression during syncytialization. Conclusively, C/EBPα plays a dual role in the regulation of CYP11A1 during syncytialization. C/EBPα not only drives CYP11A1 expression directly, but also indirectly through downregulation of DNMT1, which leads to decreased methylation in the CpG locus of the CYP11A1 promoter, resulting in increased progesterone production during syncytialization.

Metallothionein 3 Inhibits 3T3-L1 Adipocyte Differentiation via Reduction of Reactive Oxygen Species

Metallothionein 3 (MT3), also known as a neuronal growth-inhibitory factor, is a member of the metallothionein family and is involved in a variety of biological functions, including protection against metal toxicity and reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, less is known about the role of MT3 in the differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells into adipocytes. In this study, we observed that MT3 levels were downregulated during 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation. Mt3 overexpression inhibited adipocyte differentiation and reduced the levels of the adipogenic transcription factors C/EBPα and PPARγ. Further analyses showed that MT3 also suppressed the transcriptional activity of PPARγ, and this effect was not mediated by a direct interaction between MT3 with PPARγ. In addition, Mt3 overexpression resulted in a decrease in ROS levels during early adipocyte differentiation, while treatment with antimycin A, which induces ROS generation, restored the ROS levels. Mt3 knockdown, on the other hand, elevated ROS levels, which were suppressed upon treatment with the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine. Our findings indicate a previously unknown role of MT3 in the differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells into adipocytes and provide a potential novel target that might facilitate obesity treatment.

Myostatin increases the expression of matrix metalloproteinase genes to promote preadipocytes differentiation in pigs

ABSTACTMyostatin (MSTN) resulted in reduced backfat thickness in MSTN-knockout (MSTN-KO) pigs, whereas the underlying mechanism remains elusive. In this study, RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was used to screen differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in porcine fat tissues. We identified 285 DEGs, including 4 adipocyte differentiation-related genes (ADRGs). Matrix Metalloproteinase-2/7 (MMP-2/7), fibronectin (FN), and laminin (LN) were differentially expressed in MSTN-KO pigs compared with wild-type (WT) pigs. To investigate the molecular mechanism, we treated the preadipocytes with siRNA and recombinant MSTN protein. The results indicated that MSTN increased the expression of MMP-2/7/9 and promoted the preadipocyte differentiation. To further validate the effect of MSTN on MMP-2/7/9 expression, we treated MSTN-KO PK15 cells with recombinant MSTN protein and detected the expression of MMP-2/7/9. The data showed that MSTN increases the expression of MMP-2/7/9 in PK15. This study revealed that MSTN promoted preadipocyte differentiation and provided the basis for the mechanism of fatty deposition in pigs.

Molecular mechanism of benzo [a] pyrene regulating lipid metabolism via aryl hydrocarbon receptor

BACKGROUND

Benzo [a] pyrene (BaP), a potent carcinogen, has been proved that it has toxicological effects via activation the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) pathway. AhR can participate in regulating lipogenesis and lipolysis. This topic will verify whether BaP regulates lipid metabolism via AhR.

METHODS

(1) C57BL/6 mice were gavaged with BaP for 12 weeks to detect serum lipids, glucose tolerance, and insulin resistance. Morphological changes in white adipose tissue (WAT) were detected by Hematoxylin and Eosin staining. The mRNA expression levels of adipogenesis-related factors included recombinant human CCAAT/enhancer binding protein alpha (C/EBPα), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), and fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4) and inflammatory factors included nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) were detected using PCR. (2) Neutral lipid content changes in differentiated 3 T3-L1 adipocytes treated with BaP with and w/o AhR inhibitor were detected by Oil red staining. The protein expression levels of adipogenesis- and decomposition-related factors included PPARγ coactivator-1 alpha (PGC-1α), and peroxisome proliferation-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) were detected using western blotting. The mRNA expression levels of inflammatory factors were detected using PCR.

RESULTS

(1) BaP inhibited body weight gain, decreased lipid content, increased lipid levels, and decreased glucose tolerance and insulin tolerance in mice; (2) BaP reduced the expressions of C/EBPα, PPARγ, FABP4, PGC-1α, and PPARα and increased the expressions of NF-κB, MCP-1, and TNF-α by activating AhR.

CONCLUSION

BaP inhibit fat synthesis and oxidation while inducing inflammation by activating AhR, leading to WAT dysfunction and causing metabolic complications.

Transcription Factor 21 Promotes Chicken Adipocyte Differentiation at Least in Part via Activating MAPK/JNK Signaling

The molecular mechanisms of transcription factor 21 (TCF21) in regulating chicken adipogenesis remain unclear. Thus, the current study was designed to investigate the signaling pathway mediating the effect of TCF21 on chicken adipogenesis. Immortalized chicken preadipocytes cell line (ICP), a preadipocyte cell line stably overexpressing TCF21 (LV-TCF21) and a control preadipocyte cell line (LV-control) were used in the current study. We found that the phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK) was significantly elevated in LV-TCF21 compared to LV-control. After treating ICP cells with a JNK inhibitor SP600125, the differentiation of ICP was inhibited, as evidenced by decreased accumulation of lipid droplets and reduced expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), CCAAT/enhancer binding protein α (C/EBPα), adipocyte fatty acid binding protein (A-FABP), and lipoprotein lipase (LPL). Moreover, we found that the inhibition of JNK by SP600125 remarkably impaired the ability of TCF21 to drive adipogenesis. Taken together, our results suggest that TCF21 promotes the differentiation of adipocytes at least in part via activating MAPK/JNK pathway.

MiR-142-3p inhibits adipogenic differentiation and autophagy in obesity through targeting KLF9

BACKGROUND

MiR-142-3p has been shown to be suppressed in obese patients, while the underlying regulatory mechanism is unclear.

METHODS

Body shape indexes as well as peripheral blood for biochemical parameter analysis were obtained from obese and healthy subjects. When 3T3-L1 cells were induced to differentiate, miR-142-3p expression was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The effects of miR-142-3p on triglyceride (TG) and adipogenic differentiation-related genes during the adipogenic differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells were detected by transfection, Oil Red O staining, and Western blot. The targeting relationship between miR-142-3p and Krueppel-like transcription factor 9 (KLF9) was verified by TargetScan and dual-luciferase experiment. The specific regulatory effects of miR-142-3p on cell adipogenic differentiation and autophagy were analyzed by rescue experiments. In vivo experiments further validated the results of in vitro experiments through obese mouse models.

RESULTS

Obesity-marked biochemical indicators increased whereas high density lipoprotein and miR-142-3p decreased in obese patients. The content of miR-142-3p gradually decreased with cell lipid differentiation. Overexpression of miR-142-3p reduced TG deposition in cells by down-regulating lipid formation and fatty acid synthesis genes and up-regulating fatty acid oxidation genes. KLF9 targeting miR-142-3p was suppressed by miR-142-3p. KLF9 overexpression partially reversed the inhibitory effect of miR-142-3p mimic on adipogenic differentiation and the expressions of autophagy related-genes in 3T3-L1 cells. MiR-142-3p overexpression also inhibited fat cell differentiation and autophagy in obese mice.

CONCLUSION

Overexpressed miR-142-3p inhibited adipogenic differentiation and autophagy through targeting KLF9.

Zyflamend, a unique herbal blend, induces cell death and inhibits adipogenesis through the coordinated regulation of PKA and JNK

The prevalence of obesity and its comorbidities has sparked a worldwide concern to address rates of adipose tissue accrual. Recent studies have demonstrated a novel role of Zyflamend, a blend of natural herbal extracts, in regulating lipid metabolism in several cancer cell lines through the activation of the AMPK signalling pathway. Yet, the role of Zyflamend in adipogenic differentiation and lipid metabolism remains largely unexplored. The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of Zyflamend on white 3T3-MBX pre-adipocyte differentiation and elucidate the molecular mechanisms. We demonstrate that Zyflamend treatment altered cell cycle progression, attenuated proliferation, and increased cell death of 3T3-MBX pre-adipocytes. In addition, treatment with Zyflamend inhibited lipid accumulation during the differentiation of 3T3-MBX cells, consistent with decreased expression of lipogenic genes and increased lipolysis. Mechanistically, Zyflamend-induced alterations in adipogenesis were mediated, at least in part, through the activation of AMPK, PKA, and JNK. Inhibition of AMPK partially reversed Zyflamend-induced inhibition of differentiation, whereas the inhibition of either JNK or PKA fully restored adipocyte differentiation and decreased lipolysis. Taken together, the present study demonstrates that Zyflamend, as a novel anti-adipogenic bioactive mix, inhibits adipocyte differentiation through the activation of the PKA and JNK pathways.

Abbreviation: 7-AAD: 7-amino-actinomycin D; ACC: acetyl-CoA carboxylase; AKT: protein kinase B; AMPK: AMP-activated protein kinase; ATGL: adipose triglyceride lipase; C/EBPα: CCAAT-enhancer binding protein alpha; DMEM: Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle Medium; DMSO: dimethyl sulphoxide; DTT: dithiothreitol; EGTA: ethylene glycol-bis-(2-aminoethyl)-N,N,N’,N’-tetraacetic acid; ERK: extracellular signal–regulated kinases; FASN: fatty acid synthase; FBS: foetal bovine serum; GLUT: glucose transporter; HSL: hormone-sensitive lipase; IR: insulin receptor; IRS: insulin receptor substrate; JNK: c-JUN N-terminal kinase; MGL: monoacylglycerol lipase; NaF: sodium fluoride; NF-κB: nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells; PBS: phosphate buffered- saline; PCB: pyruvate carboxylase; PDE: phosphodiesterase; PKA: protein kinase cAMP-dependent; PMSF: phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride; PPARγ: perilipin peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma; PREF-1: pre-adipocyte factor 1; PVDF: polyvinylidene fluoride; RIPA: radio-immunoprecipitation assay; SDS-PAGE: sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis; SEM: standard error of the mean; SOX9: suppressor of cytokine signalling 9; TGs: triacylglycerols.

CXCL13 is a differentiation- and hypoxia-induced adipocytokine that exacerbates the inflammatory phenotype of adipocytes through PHLPP1 induction

Hypoxia in adipose tissue is regarded as a trigger that induces dysregulation of the secretory profile in adipocytes. Similarly, local dysregulation of adipocytokine secretion is an initial event in the deleterious effects of obesity on metabolism. We previously reported that CXCL13 is highly produced during adipogenesis, however little is known about the roles of CXCL13 in adipocytes. Here, we found that hypoxia, as modeled by 1% O2 or exposure to the hypoxia-mimetic reagent desferrioxamine (DFO) has strong inductive effects on the expression of CXCL13 and CXCR5, a CXCL13 receptor, in both undifferentiated and differentiated adipocytes and in organ-cultured white adipose tissue (WAT). CXCL13 was also highly expressed in WAT from high fat diet-fed mice. Hypoxic profile, typified by increased expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and decreased expression of adiponectin, was significantly induced by CXCL13 treatment during adipogenic differentiation. Conversely, the treatment of adipocytes with a neutralizing-antibody against CXCL13 as well as CXCR5 knockdown by specific siRNA effectively inhibited DFO-induced inflammation. The phosphorylation of Akt2, a protective factor of adipose inflammation, was significantly inhibited by CXCL13 treatment during adipogenic differentiation. Mechanistically, CXCL13 induces the expression of PHLPP1, an Akt2 phosphatase, through focal adhesion kinase (FAK) signaling; and correspondingly we show that CXCL13 and DFO-induced IL-6 and PAI-1 expression was blocked by Phlpp1 knockdown. Furthermore, we revealed the functional binding sites of PPARγ2 and HIF1-α within the Cxcl13 promoter. Taken together, these results indicate that CXCL13 is an adipocytokine that facilitates hypoxia-induced inflammation in adipocytes through FAK-mediated induction of PHLPP1 in autocrine and/or paracrine manner.

JNK inactivation suppresses osteogenic differentiation, but robustly induces osteopontin expression in osteoblasts through the induction of inhibitor of DNA binding 4 (Id4)

Osteoblasts are versatile cells involved in multiple whole-body processes, including bone formation and immune response. Secretory amounts and patterns of osteoblast-derived proteins such as osteopontin (OPN) and osteocalcin (OCN) modulate osteoblast function. However, the regulatory mechanism of OPN and OCN expression remains unknown. Here, we demonstrate that p54/p46 c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibition suppresses matrix mineralization and OCN expression but increases OPN expression in MC3T3-E1 cells and primary osteoblasts treated with differentiation inducers, including ascorbic acid, bone morphogenic protein-2, or fibroblast growth factor 2. Preinhibition of JNK before the onset of differentiation increased the number of osteoblasts that highly express OPN but not OCN (OPN-OBs), indicating that JNK affects OPN secretory phenotype at the early stage of osteogenic differentiation. Additionally, we identified JNK2 isoform as being critically involved in OPN-OB differentiation. Microarray analysis revealed that OPN-OBs express characteristic transcription factors, cell surface markers, and cytokines, including glycoprotein hormone α2 and endothelial cell-specific molecule 1. Moreover, we found that inhibitor of DNA binding 4 is an important regulator of OPN-OB differentiation and that dual-specificity phosphatase 16, a JNK-specific phosphatase, functions as an endogenous regulator of OPN-OB induction. OPN-OB phenotype was also observed following LPS from Porphyromonas gingivalis stimulation during osteogenic differentiation. Collectively, these results suggest that the JNK-Id4 signaling axis is crucial in the control of OPN and OCN expression during osteoblastic differentiation.-Kusuyama, J., Amir, M. S., Albertson, B. G., Bandow, K., Ohnishi, T., Nakamura, T., Noguchi, K., Shima, K., Semba, I., Matsuguchi, T. JNK inactivation suppresses osteogenic differentiation, but robustly induces osteopontin expression in osteoblasts through the induction of inhibitor of DNA binding 4 (Id4).

Genome-Wide Chromatin Structure Changes During Adipogenesis and Myogenesis

The recently developed high-throughput chromatin conformation capture (Hi-C) technology enables us to explore the spatial architecture of genomes, which is increasingly considered an important regulator of gene expression. To investigate the changes in three-dimensional (3D) chromatin structure and its mediated gene expression during adipogenesis and myogenesis, we comprehensively mapped 3D chromatin organization for four cell types (3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes, 3T3-L1-D adipocytes, C2C12 myoblasts, and C2C12-D myotubes). We demonstrate that the dynamic spatial genome architecture affected gene expression during cell differentiation. A considerable proportion (~22%) of the mouse genome underwent compartment A/B rearrangement during adipogenic and myogenic differentiation, and most (~80%) upregulated marker genes exhibited an active chromatin state with B to A switch or stable A compartment. More than half (65.4%-73.2%) of the topologically associating domains (TADs) are dynamic. The newly formed TAD and intensified local interactions in the Fabp gene cluster indicated more precise structural regulation of the expression of pro-differentiation genes during adipogenesis. About half (32.39%-59.04%) of the differential chromatin interactions (DCIs) during differentiation are promoter interactions, although these DCIs only account for a small proportion of genome-wide interactions (~9.67% in adipogenesis and ~4.24% in myogenesis). These differential promoter interactions were enriched with promoter-enhancer interactions (PEIs), which were mediated by typical adipogenic and myogenic transcription factors. Differential promoter interactions also included more differentially expressed genes than nonpromoter interactions. Our results provide a global view of dynamic chromatin interactions during adipogenesis and myogenesis and are a resource for studying long-range chromatin interactions mediating the expression of pro-differentiation genes.

Nitric oxide balances osteoblast and adipocyte lineage differentiation via the JNK/MAPK signaling pathway in periodontal ligament stem cells

Background

Critical tissues that undergo regeneration in periodontal tissue are of mesenchymal origin; thus, investigating the regulatory mechanisms underlying the fate of periodontal ligament stem cells could be beneficial for application in periodontal tissue regeneration. Nitric oxide (NO) regulates many biological processes in developing embryos and adult stem cells. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of NO on the function of human periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) as well as to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms.

Methods

Immunofluorescent staining and flow cytometry were used for stem cell identification. Western blot, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), immunofluorescent staining, and flow cytometry were used to examine the expression of NO-synthesizing enzymes. The proliferative capacity of PDLSCs was determined by EdU assays. The osteogenic potential of PDLSCs was tested using alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining, Alizarin Red staining, and calcium concentration detection. Oil Red O staining was used to analyze the adipogenic ability. Western blot, RT-PCR, and staining were used to examine the signaling pathway.

Results

Human PDLSCs expressed both inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) and produced NO. Blocking the generation of NO with the NOS inhibitor l-N^G-monomethyl arginine (l-NMMA) had no influence on PDLSC proliferation and apoptosis but significantly attenuated the osteogenic differentiation capacity and stimulated the adipogenic differentiation capacity of PDLSCs. Increasing the physiological level of NO with NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) significantly promoted the osteogenic differentiation capacity but reduced the adipogenic differentiation capacity of PDLSCs. NO balances the osteoblast and adipocyte lineage differentiation in periodontal ligament stem cells via the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway.

Conclusions

NO is essential for maintaining the balance between osteoblasts and adipocytes in PDLSCs via the JNK/MAPK signaling pathway.

Graphical Abstract

NO balances osteoblast and adipocyte lineage differentiation via JNK/MAPK signaling pathway

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s13287-018-0869-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.