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Rajeswari JJ, Faught E, Santos H, Vijayan MM. Mineralocorticoid receptor activates postnatal adiposity in zebrafish lacking proopiomelanocortin. J Cell Physiol 2024:e31428. [PMID: 39238189 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.31428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2024] [Revised: 08/14/2024] [Accepted: 08/26/2024] [Indexed: 09/07/2024]
Abstract
The proopiomelanocortin (Pomc)-derived peptides, including adrenocorticotropic hormone and α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-Msh), play both a central and a peripheral role in modulating the stress response. The central role is predominantly associated with nutrient homeostasis, while peripherally they play an important role in the synthesis of glucocorticoids (GCs) in response to stress. Pomc mutations are a major risk factor in the development of early-onset childhood obesity in humans. This is attributed primarily to their central effects on melanocortin receptor dysfunction leading to hyperphagia and reduced energy expenditure, while the peripheral mechanism contributing to obesity has largely been unexplored. Here, we tested the hypothesis that Pomc mutation-mediated adrenal insufficiency and the associated changes in GC signaling contribute to postnatal adiposity using zebrafish as a model. We generated a ubiquitous Pomc knockout zebrafish that mimicked the mammalian mutant phenotype of adrenal insufficiency and enhanced adiposity. The loss of Pomc inhibited stress-induced cortisol production and reprogrammed GC signaling by reducing glucocorticoid receptor responsiveness, whereas the mineralocorticoid receptor (Mr) signaling was enhanced. Larval feeding led to enhanced growth and adipogenesis in the Pomc mutants, and this was inhibited by eplerenone, an Mr antagonist. Altogether, our results underscore a key role for Mr signaling in early developmental adipogenesis and a possible target for therapeutic intervention for early-onset childhood obesity due to Pomc dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jithine J Rajeswari
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Erin Faught
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Helio Santos
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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Morocho-Jaramillo PA, Kotlar-Goldaper I, Zakarauskas-Seth BI, Purfürst B, Filosa A, Sawamiphak S. The zebrafish heart harbors a thermogenic beige fat depot analog of human epicardial adipose tissue. Cell Rep 2024; 43:113955. [PMID: 38507414 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.113955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Epicardial adipose tissue (eAT) is a metabolically active fat depot that has been associated with a wide array of cardiac homeostatic functions and cardiometabolic diseases. A full understanding of its diverse physiological and pathological roles is hindered by the dearth of animal models. Here, we show, in the heart of an ectothermic teleost, the zebrafish, the existence of a fat depot localized underneath the epicardium, originating from the epicardium and exhibiting the molecular signature of beige adipocytes. Moreover, a subset of adipocytes within this cardiac fat tissue exhibits primitive thermogenic potential. Transcriptomic profiling and cross-species analysis revealed elevated glycolytic and cardiac homeostatic gene expression with downregulated obesity and inflammatory hallmarks in the teleost eAT compared to that of lean aged humans. Our findings unveil epicardium-derived beige fat in the heart of an ectotherm considered to possess solely white adipocytes for energy storage and identify pathways that may underlie age-driven remodeling of human eAT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul-Andres Morocho-Jaramillo
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany; Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ilan Kotlar-Goldaper
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany; Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Bhakti I Zakarauskas-Seth
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany; Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Bettina Purfürst
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Alessandro Filosa
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Suphansa Sawamiphak
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany.
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Grignard E, de Jesus K, Hubert P. Regulatory Testing for Endocrine Disruptors; Need for Validated Methods and Integrated Approaches. FRONTIERS IN TOXICOLOGY 2022; 3:821736. [PMID: 35295107 PMCID: PMC8915824 DOI: 10.3389/ftox.2021.821736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
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Ambient temperature regulates uncoupling protein 1 expression but fails to induce adipocyte browning in zebrafish. ADVANCES IN TRADITIONAL MEDICINE 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s13596-021-00580-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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Generation of a Novel Transgenic Zebrafish for Studying Adipocyte Development and Metabolic Control. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22083994. [PMID: 33924375 PMCID: PMC8069137 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22083994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Revised: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Zebrafish have become a popular animal model for studying various biological processes and human diseases. The metabolic pathways and players conserved among zebrafish and mammals facilitate the use of zebrafish to understand the pathological mechanisms underlying various metabolic disorders in humans. Adipocytes play an important role in metabolic homeostasis, and zebrafish adipocytes have been characterized. However, a versatile and reliable zebrafish model for long-term monitoring of adipose tissues has not been reported. In this study, we generated stable transgenic zebrafish expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) in adipocytes. The transgenic zebrafish harbored adipose tissues that could be detected using GFP fluorescence and the morphology of single adipocyte could be investigated in vivo. In addition, we demonstrated the applicability of this model to the long-term in vivo imaging of adipose tissue development and regulation based on nutrition. The transgenic zebrafish established in this study may serve as an excellent tool to advance the characterization of white adipose tissue in zebrafish, thereby aiding the development of therapeutic interventions to treat metabolic diseases in humans.
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van de Venter M, Didloff J, Reddy S, Swanepoel B, Govender S, Dambuza NS, Williams S, Koekemoer TC, Venables L. Wild-Type Zebrafish ( Danio rerio) Larvae as a Vertebrate Model for Diabetes and Comorbidities: A Review. Animals (Basel) 2020; 11:E54. [PMID: 33396883 PMCID: PMC7824285 DOI: 10.3390/ani11010054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Revised: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Zebrafish have become a popular alternative to higher animals in biomedical and pharmaceutical research. The development of stable mutant lines to model target specific aspects of many diseases, including diabetes, is well reported. However, these mutant lines are much more costly and challenging to maintain than wild-type zebrafish and are simply not an option for many research facilities. As an alternative to address the disadvantages of advanced mutant lines, wild-type larvae may represent a suitable option. In this review, we evaluate organ development in zebrafish larvae and discuss established methods that use wild-type zebrafish larvae up to seven days post fertilization to test for potential drug candidates for diabetes and its commonly associated conditions of oxidative stress and inflammation. This provides an up to date overview of the relevance of wild-type zebrafish larvae as a vertebrate antidiabetic model and confidence as an alternative tool for preclinical studies. We highlight the advantages and disadvantages of established methods and suggest recommendations for future developments to promote the use of zebrafish, specifically larvae, rather than higher animals in the early phase of antidiabetic drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryna van de Venter
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Nelson Mandela University, PO Box 77000, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa; (J.D.); (S.R.); (B.S.); (S.G.); (S.W.); (T.C.K.); (L.V.)
| | - Jenske Didloff
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Nelson Mandela University, PO Box 77000, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa; (J.D.); (S.R.); (B.S.); (S.G.); (S.W.); (T.C.K.); (L.V.)
| | - Shanika Reddy
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Nelson Mandela University, PO Box 77000, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa; (J.D.); (S.R.); (B.S.); (S.G.); (S.W.); (T.C.K.); (L.V.)
| | - Bresler Swanepoel
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Nelson Mandela University, PO Box 77000, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa; (J.D.); (S.R.); (B.S.); (S.G.); (S.W.); (T.C.K.); (L.V.)
| | - Sharlene Govender
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Nelson Mandela University, PO Box 77000, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa; (J.D.); (S.R.); (B.S.); (S.G.); (S.W.); (T.C.K.); (L.V.)
| | - Ntokozo Shirley Dambuza
- Department of Pharmacy, Nelson Mandela University, PO Box 77000, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa;
| | - Saralene Williams
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Nelson Mandela University, PO Box 77000, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa; (J.D.); (S.R.); (B.S.); (S.G.); (S.W.); (T.C.K.); (L.V.)
| | - Trevor Craig Koekemoer
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Nelson Mandela University, PO Box 77000, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa; (J.D.); (S.R.); (B.S.); (S.G.); (S.W.); (T.C.K.); (L.V.)
| | - Luanne Venables
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Nelson Mandela University, PO Box 77000, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa; (J.D.); (S.R.); (B.S.); (S.G.); (S.W.); (T.C.K.); (L.V.)
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