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Aslan NA, Avcı E, Şenol H, Güler N. GDF11 level and its effect on prognosis in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. J Investig Med 2024; 72:341-348. [PMID: 38415361 DOI: 10.1177/10815589241238218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a hematologic malignancy characterized by the proliferation of CD34 positive self-renewing malignant hematopoietic stem cells. Previous studies have shown that the transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) pathway plays a role in AML pathogenesis, especially by affecting the microenvironment. Growth differentiation factor 11 (GDF11) is a member of the TGFβ superfamily, involved in embryological development and known as rejuvenating factor. In this study, our aim was to determine the serum GDF11 level in patients with AML, to compare it with the control group, to determine its relationship with follistatin, vimentin, and E-cadherin levels, and to determine whether GDF11 influences AML prognosis. Serum GDF11, vimentin, follistatin, and E-cadherin levels of newly diagnosed or relapsed/refractory AML patients and age- and gender-matched control group were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Serum GDF11 level was higher in the patient group (263.87 ± 126.54 ng/L) compared to the control group (211.54 ± 61.47 ng/L; p = 0.035). GDF11 level did not change according to age, gender, hemoglobin level, and bone marrow blast rate. No correlation was found between GDF11 level, response rates, and survival status of the patients. A positive correlation was detected between GDF11, E-cadherin, and vimentin levels. As a conclusion, increased serum GDF11 levels in AML patients may be linked to the regeneration ability of leukemic stem cells. There is a need for studies investigating GDF11 expression in myeloblasts.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Esin Avcı
- Pamukkale University School of Medicine, Denizli, Turkey
| | - Hande Şenol
- Pamukkale University School of Medicine, Denizli, Turkey
| | - Nil Güler
- Pamukkale University School of Medicine, Denizli, Turkey
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2
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Yamaguchi Y, Zhu M, Moaddel R, Palchamy E, Ferrucci L, Semba RD. Relationships of GDF8 and 11 and Their Antagonists With Decline of Grip Strength Among Older Adults in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2023; 78:1793-1798. [PMID: 37235639 PMCID: PMC10562884 DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glad135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Although growth/differentiation factor 11 (GDF11), growth/differentiation factor 8 (GDF8), and their circulating antagonists, which include GDF11 and GDF8 propeptides, follistatin (FST), WAP, Follistatin/Kazal, Immunoglobulin, Kunitz And Netrin Domain Containing (WFIKKN)1, and WFIKKN2, have been shown to influence skeletal muscle and aging in mice, the relationship of these circulating factors with human phenotypes is less clear. This study aimed to characterize the relationship between plasma GDF8, GDF11, FST, WFIKKN1, and WFIKKN2 concentrations with the decline of grip strength in 534 adults, ≥65 years, who participated in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging and had grip strength measured over time. Plasma GDF8 and GDF11 mature proteins, GDF8 and GDF11 propeptides, FST (isoform FST315 and cleaved form FST303), WFIKKN1, and WFIKKN2 concentrations were measured using selected reaction monitoring-tandem mass spectrometry at baseline. Grip strength was measured at baseline and at follow-up visits (median follow-up 8.87 years). Mean (standard deviation) grip strength declined in men and women by -0.84 (2.45) and -0.60 (1.32) kg/year, respectively. Plasma GDF8 and GDF11 mature proteins, GDF8 and GDF11 propeptides, FST315, FST303, WFIKKN1, and WFIKKN2 concentrations were not independently predictive of the decline of grip strength in men or women in multivariable linear regression analyses that adjusted for potential confounders. In conclusion, circulating GDF8, GDF11, and their antagonists do not appear to influence the decline of grip strength in older men or women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuko Yamaguchi
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Graduate School of Health Sciences, Kobe University, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Min Zhu
- National Institutes on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Ruin Moaddel
- National Institutes on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Elango Palchamy
- National Institutes on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Luigi Ferrucci
- National Institutes on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Richard D Semba
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Center for a Livable Future, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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3
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Park MJ, Choi KM. Interplay of skeletal muscle and adipose tissue: sarcopenic obesity. Metabolism 2023; 144:155577. [PMID: 37127228 DOI: 10.1016/j.metabol.2023.155577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Sarcopenic obesity is becoming a global health concern, owing to the rising older population, causing cardiometabolic morbidity and mortality. Loss of muscle exceeding normal age-related changes has been revealed to be associated with obesity, aggravating each other through complex interactions. Physiological regeneration and proliferation of muscle tissue are achieved through harmonious processes of regulated inflammation, autophagy, muscle satellite cell proliferation, and signaling molecule function. Adipokines and myokines are signaling molecules from adipose tissue and muscle, respectively, that exert autocrine, paracrine, and endocrine effects on fat and muscle tissues. These signaling molecules interact with each other to regulate metabolic homeostasis. However, excessive adiposity creates pro-inflammatory conditions, leading to metabolic disorders and the disorganization of systemic homeostasis. Therefore, obesity impedes muscle tissue regeneration and induces the loss of muscle mass and function. Numerous studies have attempted to demonstrate the pathophysiological interaction between sarcopenia and obesity, but the interwoven matrix of the relationship between myokines and adipokines has made it difficult for researchers to understand them. This review briefly describes updated information about the crosstalk between muscle and adipose tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Jeong Park
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung Mook Choi
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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4
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Bohn S, Hexemer L, Huang Z, Strohmaier L, Lenhardt S, Legewie S, Loewer A. State- and stimulus-specific dynamics of SMAD signaling determine fate decisions in individual cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2210891120. [PMID: 36857347 PMCID: PMC10013741 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2210891120] [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: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023] Open
Abstract
SMAD-mediated signaling regulates apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition to safeguard tissue homeostasis. However, it remains elusive how the relatively simple pathway can determine such a broad range of cell fate decisions and how it differentiates between varying ligands. Here, we systematically investigate how SMAD-mediated responses are modulated by various ligands of the transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) family and compare these ligand responses in quiescent and proliferating MCF10A cells. We find that the nature of the phenotypic response is mainly determined by the proliferation status, with migration and cell cycle arrest being dominant in proliferating cells for all tested TGFβ family ligands, whereas cell death is the major outcome in quiescent cells. In both quiescent and proliferating cells, the identity of the ligand modulates the strength of the phenotypic response proportional to the dynamics of induced SMAD nuclear-to-cytoplasmic translocation and, as a consequence, the corresponding gene expression changes. Interestingly, the proliferation state of a cell has little impact on the set of genes induced by SMAD signaling; instead, it modulates the relative cellular sensitivity to TGFβ superfamily members. Taken together, diversity of SMAD-mediated responses is mediated by differing cellular states, which determine ligand sensitivity and phenotypic effects, while the pathway itself merely serves as a quantitative relay from the cell membrane to the nucleus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Bohn
- Department of Biology, Technical University Darmstadt, 64287Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Lorenz Hexemer
- Department of Systems Biology, Institute for Biomedical Genetics, University of Stuttgart, 70569Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Zixin Huang
- Department of Biology, Technical University Darmstadt, 64287Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Laura Strohmaier
- Department of Systems Biology, Institute for Biomedical Genetics, University of Stuttgart, 70569Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Sonja Lenhardt
- Department of Biology, Technical University Darmstadt, 64287Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Stefan Legewie
- Department of Systems Biology, Institute for Biomedical Genetics, University of Stuttgart, 70569Stuttgart, Germany
- Stuttgart Research Center for Systems Biology, University of Stuttgart, 70569Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Alexander Loewer
- Department of Biology, Technical University Darmstadt, 64287Darmstadt, Germany
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5
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Zhang Y, Wang Y, Zheng G, Liu Y, Li J, Huang H, Xu C, Zeng Y, Zhang X, Qin J, Dai C, Hambrock HO, Hartmann U, Feng B, Mak KK, Liu Y, Lan HY, Huang Y, Zheng ZH, Xia Y. Follistatin-like 1 (FSTL1) interacts with Wnt ligands and Frizzled receptors to enhance Wnt/β-catenin signaling in obstructed kidneys in vivo. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:102010. [PMID: 35525270 PMCID: PMC9234244 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Follistatin (FS)-like 1 (FSTL1) is a member of the FS-SPARC (secreted protein, acidic and rich in cysteine) family of secreted and extracellular matrix proteins. The functions of FSTL1 have been studied in heart and lung injury as well as in wound healing; however, the role of FSTL1 in the kidney is largely unknown. Here, we show using single-cell RNA-Seq that Fstl1 was enriched in stromal cells in obstructed mouse kidneys. In addition, immunofluorescence demonstrated that FSTL1 expression was induced in fibroblasts during kidney fibrogenesis in mice and human patients. We demonstrate that FSTL1 overexpression increased renal fibrosis and activated the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, known to promote kidney fibrosis, but not the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β), Notch, Hedgehog, or Yes-associated protein (YAP) signaling pathways in obstructed mouse kidneys, whereas inhibition of FSTL1 lowered Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Importantly, we show that FSTL1 interacted with Wnt ligands and the Frizzled (FZD) receptors but not the coreceptor lipoprotein receptor–related protein 6 (LRP6). Specifically, we found FSTL1 interacted with Wnt3a through its extracellular calcium–binding (EC) domain and von Willebrand factor type C–like (VWC) domain, and with FZD4 through its EC domain. Furthermore, we show that FSTL1 increased the association of Wnt3a with FZD4 and promoted Wnt/β-catenin signaling and fibrogenesis. The EC domain interacting with both Wnt3a and FZD4 also enhanced Wnt3a signaling. Therefore, we conclude that FSTL1 is a novel extracellular enhancer of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zhang
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yang Wang
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Guoxun Zheng
- iHuman Institute, Shanghai Tech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Yang Liu
- Department of Nephrology, Center of Nephrology and Urology, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jinhong Li
- Department of Nephrology, Center of Nephrology and Urology, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Huihui Huang
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Chunhua Xu
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yelin Zeng
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Xiaoyi Zhang
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jinzhong Qin
- The Key Laboratory of Model Animal for Disease Study of Ministry of Education, Model Animal Research Center, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Chunsun Dai
- Center for Kidney Disease, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Harald O Hambrock
- Center for Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Ursula Hartmann
- Center for Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Bo Feng
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Kingston Kinglun Mak
- Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory (GRMH-GDL), Guangzhou, China
| | - Youhua Liu
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Hui-Yao Lan
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for Immune and Genetic Kidney Disease, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital and Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, and The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yu Huang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong
| | - Zhi-Hua Zheng
- Department of Nephrology, Center of Nephrology and Urology, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China.
| | - Yin Xia
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for Immune and Genetic Kidney Disease, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital and Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, and The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
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6
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Brown ML, Lopez A, Meyer N, Richter A, Thompson TB. FSTL3-Neutralizing Antibodies Enhance Glucose-Responsive Insulin Secretion in Dysfunctional Male Mouse and Human Islets. Endocrinology 2021; 162:6128796. [PMID: 33539535 PMCID: PMC8384134 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqab019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Diabetes is caused by insufficient insulin production from pancreatic beta cells or insufficient insulin action, leading to an inability to control blood glucose. While a wide range of treatments exist to alleviate the symptoms of diabetes, therapies addressing the root cause of diabetes through replacing lost beta cells with functional cells remain an object of active pursuit. We previously demonstrated that genetic deletion of Fstl3, a critical regulator of activin activity, enhanced beta cell number and glucose-responsive insulin production. These observations suggested the hypothesis that FSTL3 neutralization could be used to therapeutically enhance beta cell number and function in humans. To pursue this possibility, we developed an FSTL3-neutralizing antibody, FP-101, and characterized its ability to prevent or disrupt FSTL3 from complexing with activin or related ligands. This antibody was selective for FSTL3 relative to the closely related follistatin, thereby reducing the chance for off-target effects. In vitro assays with FP-101 and activin revealed that FP-101-mediated neutralization of FSTL3 can enhance both insulin secretion and glucose responsiveness to nonfunctional mouse and human islets under conditions that model diabetes. Thus, FSTL3 neutralization may provide a novel therapeutic strategy for treating diabetes through repairing dysfunctional beta cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa L Brown
- Department of Nutrition and Public Health, University of Saint Joseph, West Hartford, CT 06117, USA
- Correspondence: Melissa Brown, PhD, RD, CSSD, LD, University of Saint Joseph, 1678 Asylum Ave, West Hartford, CT 06117, USA. E-mail:
| | - Alexa Lopez
- Fairbanks Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Concord, MA 01742, USA
| | - Nolan Meyer
- Fairbanks Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Concord, MA 01742, USA
| | - Alden Richter
- Fairbanks Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Concord, MA 01742, USA
| | - Thomas B Thompson
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA
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7
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Park G, Qian W, Zhang MJ, Chen YH, Ma LW, Zeng N, Lu Q, Li YY, Ma WW, Yin XF, Zhou BR, Luo D. Platelet-rich plasma regulating the repair of ultraviolet B-induced acute tissue inflammation: adjusting macrophage polarization through the activin receptor-follistatin system. Bioengineered 2021; 12:3125-3136. [PMID: 34193023 PMCID: PMC8806634 DOI: 10.1080/21655979.2021.1944026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Ultraviolet B (UVB) is one of the most common exogenous factors in skin aging, especially photoaging. Once a large amount of UVB accumulates within a short period of time, skin tissue can become inflamed. It has also been found in clinics that platelet-rich plasma (PRP) can promote wound repair; therefore, the aim of this study was to identify the mechanism by which PRP repairs UVB-induced skin photodamage. We used PRP of Sprague-Dawley rats with the two-spin technique in the established acute UVB radiation photodamage model and harvested the corresponding skin after 1, 7, and 28 d. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to observe tissue inflammation. We found that PRP reduces inflammation in the early stages of UVB-induced acute skin damage, and then promotes the proliferation of collagen in the middle and late stages. Moreover, PRP can stimulate Act A and M1 polarization in the early stage, while inhibiting activin A (Act A) and inducing M2 polarization in the middle and late stages. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that PRP plays an important regulatory role in helping reduce UVB-induced acute skin tissue inflammation by adjusting macrophage polarization, which alleviates skin inflammation and stimulates collagen regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gajin Park
- Department of Dermatology, the First Affiliated of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Wen Qian
- Department of Dermatology, the First Affiliated of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Mei-Jie Zhang
- Department of Dermatology, the First Affiliated of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yi-He Chen
- Department of Dermatology, the First Affiliated of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Li-Wen Ma
- Department of Dermatology, the First Affiliated of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ni Zeng
- Department of Dermatology, the First Affiliated of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Qian Lu
- Department of Dermatology, the First Affiliated of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yue-Yue Li
- Department of Dermatology, the First Affiliated of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Wei-Wei Ma
- Department of Dermatology, the First Affiliated of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xu-Feng Yin
- Department of Dermatology, the First Affiliated of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Bing-Rong Zhou
- Department of Dermatology, the First Affiliated of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Dan Luo
- Department of Dermatology, the First Affiliated of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
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8
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Li M, Tang X, You W, Wang Y, Chen Y, Liu Y, Yuan H, Gao C, Chen X, Xiao Z, Ouyang H, Pang D. HMEJ-mediated site-specific integration of a myostatin inhibitor increases skeletal muscle mass in porcine. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2021; 26:49-62. [PMID: 34513293 PMCID: PMC8411015 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2021.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
As a robust antagonist of myostatin (MSTN), follistatin (FST) is an important regulator of skeletal muscle development, and the delivery of FST to muscle tissue represents a potential therapeutic strategy for muscular dystrophies. The N terminus and FSI domain of FST are the functional domains for MSTN binding. Here, we aimed to achieve site-specific integration of FSI-I-I, including the signal peptide, N terminus, and three FSI domains, into the last codon of the porcine MSTN gene using a homology-mediated end joining (HMEJ)-based strategy mediated by CRISPR-Cas9. Based on somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) technology, we successfully obtained FSI-I-I knockin pigs. H&E staining of longissimus dorsi and gastrocnemius cross-sections showed larger myofiber sizes in FSI-I-I knockin pigs than in controls. Moreover, the Smad and Erk pathways were inhibited, whereas the PI3k/Akt pathway was activated in FSI-I-I knockin pigs. In addition, the levels of MyoD, Myf5, and MyoG transcription were upregulated while that of MRF4 was downregulated in FSI-I-I knockin pigs. These results indicate that the FSI-I-I gene mediates skeletal muscle hypertrophy through an MSTN-related signaling pathway and the expression of myogenic regulatory factors. Overall, FSI-I-I knockin pigs with hypertrophic muscle tissue hold great promise as a therapeutic model for human muscular dystrophies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengjing Li
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Embryo Engineering, College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, 130062 Changchun, Jilin Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaochun Tang
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Embryo Engineering, College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, 130062 Changchun, Jilin Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Wenni You
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Embryo Engineering, College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, 130062 Changchun, Jilin Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yanbing Wang
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Embryo Engineering, College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, 130062 Changchun, Jilin Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yiwu Chen
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Embryo Engineering, College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, 130062 Changchun, Jilin Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ying Liu
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Embryo Engineering, College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, 130062 Changchun, Jilin Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hongming Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Embryo Engineering, College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, 130062 Changchun, Jilin Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Chuang Gao
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Embryo Engineering, College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, 130062 Changchun, Jilin Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xue Chen
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Embryo Engineering, College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, 130062 Changchun, Jilin Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhiwei Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Embryo Engineering, College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, 130062 Changchun, Jilin Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hongsheng Ouyang
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Embryo Engineering, College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, 130062 Changchun, Jilin Province, People’s Republic of China,Corresponding author: Hongsheng Ouyang, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Embryo Engineering, College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, 130062 Changchun, Jilin Province, People’s Republic of China.
| | - Daxin Pang
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Embryo Engineering, College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, 130062 Changchun, Jilin Province, People’s Republic of China,Corresponding author: Daxin Pang, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Embryo Engineering, College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, 130062 Changchun, Jilin Province, People’s Republic of China.
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9
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Lee SJ. Targeting the myostatin signaling pathway to treat muscle loss and metabolic dysfunction. J Clin Invest 2021; 131:148372. [PMID: 33938454 DOI: 10.1172/jci148372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the discovery of myostatin (MSTN; also known as GDF-8) as a critical regulator of skeletal muscle mass in 1997, there has been an extensive effort directed at understanding the cellular and physiological mechanisms underlying MSTN activity, with the long-term goal of developing strategies and agents capable of blocking MSTN signaling to treat patients with muscle loss. Considerable progress has been made in elucidating key components of this regulatory system, and in parallel with this effort has been the development of numerous biologics that have been tested in clinical trials for a wide range of indications, including muscular dystrophy, sporadic inclusion body myositis, spinal muscular atrophy, cachexia, muscle loss due to aging or following falls, obesity, and type 2 diabetes. Here, I review what is known about the MSTN regulatory system and the current state of efforts to target this pathway for clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Se-Jin Lee
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, Connecticut, USA.,University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Farmington, Connecticut, USA
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10
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Effect of Various Exercise Regimens on Selected Exercise-Induced Cytokines in Healthy People. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18031261. [PMID: 33572495 PMCID: PMC7908590 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18031261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Revised: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Different forms of physical activity—endurance, resistance or dynamic power—stimulate cytokine release from various tissues to the bloodstream. Receptors for exercise-induced cytokines are present in muscle tissue, adipose tissue, liver, brain, bones, cardiovascular system, immune system, pancreas, and skin. They have autocrine, paracrine and endocrine activities. Many of them regulate the myocyte growth and differentiation necessary for muscle hypertrophy and myogenesis. They also modify energy homeostasis, lipid, carbohydrate, and protein metabolism, regulate inflammation and exchange information (crosstalk) between remote organs. So far, interleukin 6 and irisin have been the best studied exercise-induced cytokines. However, many more can be grouped into myokines, hepatokines and adipomyokines. This review focuses on the less known exercise-induced cytokines such as myostatin, follistatin, decorin, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, fibroblast growth factor 21 and interleukin 15, and their relation to various forms of exercise, i.e., acute vs. chronic, regular training in healthy people.
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11
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Brown ML, Schneyer A. A Decade Later: Revisiting the TGFβ Family's Role in Diabetes. Trends Endocrinol Metab 2021; 32:36-47. [PMID: 33261990 DOI: 10.1016/j.tem.2020.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Revised: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
In 2010, we published a review summarizing the role of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGFβ) family of proteins in diabetes. At that time there were still many outstanding questions that needed to be answered. In this updated review, we revisit the topic and provide new evidence that supports findings from previous studies included in the 2010 review and adds to the knowledge base with new findings and information. The most substantial contributions in the past 10 years have been in the areas of human data, the investigation of TGFβ family members other than activin [e.g., bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), growth and differentiation factor 11 (GDF11), nodal], and the expansion of β-cell number through various mechanisms including transdifferentiation, which was previously believed to not be possible.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alan Schneyer
- Fairbanks Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Springfield, MA 01199, USA
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12
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Rodgers BD, Bishaw Y, Kagel D, Ramos JN, Maricelli JW. Micro-dystrophin Gene Therapy Partially Enhances Exercise Capacity in Older Adult mdx Mice. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2020; 17:122-132. [PMID: 31909085 PMCID: PMC6939027 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2019.11.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2019] [Accepted: 11/20/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Micro-dystrophin (μDys) gene therapeutics can improve striated muscle structure and function in different animal models of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Most studies, however, used young mdx mice that lack a pronounced dystrophic phenotype, short treatment periods, and limited muscle function tests. We, therefore, determined the relative efficacy of two previously described μDys gene therapeutics (rAAV6:μDysH3 and rAAV6:μDys5) in 6-month-old mdx mice using a 6-month treatment regimen and forced exercise. Forelimb and hindlimb grip strength, metabolic rate (VO2 max), running efficiency (energy expenditure), and serum creatine kinase levels similarly improved in mdx mice treated with either vector. Both vectors produced nearly identical dose-responses in all assays. They also partially prevented the degenerative effects of repeated high-intensity exercise on muscle histology, although none of the metrics examined was restored to normal wild-type levels. Moreover, neither vector had any consistent effect on respiration while exercising. These data together suggest that, although μDys gene therapy can improve isolated and systemic muscle function, it may be only partially effective when dystrophinopathies are advanced or when muscle structure is significantly challenged, as with high-intensity exercise. This further suggests that restoring muscle function to near-normal levels will likely require ancillary or combinatorial treatments capable of enhancing muscle strength.
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Affiliation(s)
- Buel D. Rodgers
- School of Molecular Biosciences, Washington Center for Muscle Biology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| | - Yemeserach Bishaw
- School of Molecular Biosciences, Washington Center for Muscle Biology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| | - Denali Kagel
- School of Molecular Biosciences, Washington Center for Muscle Biology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| | - Julian N. Ramos
- Department of Neurology, Senator Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Specialized Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Joseph W. Maricelli
- School of Molecular Biosciences, Washington Center for Muscle Biology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
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GDF11 promotes osteogenesis as opposed to MSTN, and follistatin, a MSTN/GDF11 inhibitor, increases muscle mass but weakens bone. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:4910-4920. [PMID: 32071240 PMCID: PMC7060712 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1916034117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
MSTN, a member of the TGF-β family, has been widely shown to suppress muscle growth, leading to an intense effort being directed at targeting MSTN to treat patients with muscle loss. GDF11 is another TGF-β family member closely related to MSTN, but its postnatal function is less clear. Using conditional knockout techniques, we show that GDF11 enhances bone mass in contrast to MSTN, emphasizing that MSTN/GDF11 inhibitors, such as FST, can induce adverse effects on bone through GDF11 inhibition. Because most MSTN inhibitors also inhibit GDF11 due to the high sequence similarity between MSTN and GDF11, our findings suggest that their opposing roles must be carefully considered when developing MSTN inhibitors for clinical applications. Growth and differentiation factor 11 (GDF11) and myostatin (MSTN) are closely related transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) family members, but their biological functions are quite distinct. While MSTN has been widely shown to inhibit muscle growth, GDF11 regulates skeletal patterning and organ development during embryogenesis. Postnatal functions of GDF11, however, remain less clear and controversial. Due to the perinatal lethality of Gdf11 null mice, previous studies used recombinant GDF11 protein to prove its postnatal function. However, recombinant GDF11 and MSTN proteins share nearly identical biochemical properties, and most GDF11-binding molecules have also been shown to bind MSTN, generating the possibility that the effects mediated by recombinant GDF11 protein actually reproduce the endogenous functions of MSTN. To clarify the endogenous functions of GDF11, here, we focus on genetic studies and show that Gdf11 null mice, despite significantly down-regulating Mstn expression, exhibit reduced bone mass through impaired osteoblast (OB) and chondrocyte (CH) maturations and increased osteoclastogenesis, while the opposite is observed in Mstn null mice that display enhanced bone mass. Mechanistically, Mstn deletion up-regulates Gdf11 expression, which activates bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling pathway to enhance osteogenesis. Also, mice overexpressing follistatin (FST), a MSTN/GDF11 inhibitor, exhibit increased muscle mass accompanied by bone fractures, unlike Mstn null mice that display increased muscle mass without fractures, indicating that inhibition of GDF11 impairs bone strength. Together, our findings suggest that GDF11 promotes osteogenesis in contrast to MSTN, and these opposing roles of GDF11 and MSTN must be considered to avoid the detrimental effect of GDF11 inhibition when developing MSTN/GDF11 inhibitors for therapeutic purposes.
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14
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Semba RD, Zhang P, Zhu M, Fabbri E, Gonzalez-Freire M, Carlson OD, Moaddel R, Tanaka T, Egan JM, Ferrucci L. Relationship of Circulating Growth and Differentiation Factors 8 and 11 and Their Antagonists as Measured Using Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry With Age and Skeletal Muscle Strength in Healthy Adults. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2019; 74:129-136. [PMID: 30380014 DOI: 10.1093/gerona/gly255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Growth and differentiation factors 8 (GDF8) and 11 (GDF11) have attracted attention as targets for rejuvenating interventions. The biological activity of these proteins may be affected by circulating antagonists such as their respective prodomains, follistatin (FST315), WFIKKN1, and WFIKKN2. Reports of the relationship of GDF8 and GDF11 and their antagonists with aging and aging phenotypes such as skeletal muscle strength have been conflicting possibly because of difficulties in measuring these proteins and polypeptides. Methods Plasma GDF8 and GDF11 and their antagonists were measured using a multiplexed selected reaction monitoring assay and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry in 160 healthy adults aged 22-93 years. Quadriceps strength was measured by knee extensor torque using isokinetic dynamometry. Results Spearman correlations with age were the following: GDF11 prodomain (r = .30, p = .001), GDF11 mature protein (r = .23, p = .004), FST315 (r = .32, p < .0001), WFIKKN1 (r = -.21, p = 0.008), and WFIKKN2 (r = .18, p = .02). Independent of age, FST315 and WFIKKN1 were negatively associated with knee strength (p = .02, p = .03, respectively) in a multivariable model that included both GDF8 and GDF11 mature proteins. Conclusions When measured by an antibody-free selected reaction monitoring assay, GDF8, GDF11, and their antagonists are found in the circulation in the ng/mL range. In healthy adults, plasma GDF11 and antagonists FST315, WFIKKN1, and WFIKKN2 differed by age. Antagonists of GDF8 and GDF11, but not GDF8 and GDF11, were independently associated with skeletal muscle strength. Further work is needed to characterize the relationship of these protein and polypeptides with sarcopenia-related phenotypes such as physical function and walking disability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard D Semba
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
| | - Pingbo Zhang
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
| | - Min Zhu
- National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Elisa Fabbri
- National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | | | - Olga D Carlson
- National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Ruin Moaddel
- National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Toshiko Tanaka
- National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Josephine M Egan
- National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Luigi Ferrucci
- National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland
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15
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Simoni-Nieves A, Gerardo-Ramírez M, Pedraza-Vázquez G, Chávez-Rodríguez L, Bucio L, Souza V, Miranda-Labra RU, Gomez-Quiroz LE, Gutiérrez-Ruiz MC. GDF11 Implications in Cancer Biology and Metabolism. Facts and Controversies. Front Oncol 2019; 9:1039. [PMID: 31681577 PMCID: PMC6803553 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2019.01039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2019] [Accepted: 09/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Growth Differentiation Factor 11 (GDF11), a member of the super family of the Transforming Growth Factor β, has gained more attention in the last few years due to numerous reports regarding its functions in other systems, which are different to those related to differentiation and embryonic development, such as age-related muscle dysfunction, skin biology, metabolism, and cancer. GDF11 is expressed in many tissues, including skeletal muscle, pancreas, kidney, nervous system, and retina, among others. GDF11 circulating levels and protein content in tissues are quite variable and are affected by pathological conditions or age. Although, GDF11 biology had a lot of controversies, must of them are only misunderstandings regarding the variability of its responses, which are independent of the tissue, grade of cellular differentiation or pathologies. A blunt fact regarding GDF11 biology is that its target cells have stemness feature, a property that could be found in certain adult cells in health and in disease, such as cancer cells. This review is focused to present and analyze the recent findings in the emerging research field of GDF11 function in cancer and metabolism, and discusses the controversies surrounding the biology of this atypical growth factor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arturo Simoni-Nieves
- Posgrado en Biología Experimental, DCBS, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, Mexico City, Mexico.,Laboratorio de Fisiología Celular y Biología Molecular, Departamento de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Monserrat Gerardo-Ramírez
- Posgrado en Biología Experimental, DCBS, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, Mexico City, Mexico.,Laboratorio de Fisiología Celular y Biología Molecular, Departamento de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Gibrán Pedraza-Vázquez
- Posgrado en Biología Experimental, DCBS, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, Mexico City, Mexico.,Laboratorio de Fisiología Celular y Biología Molecular, Departamento de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Lisette Chávez-Rodríguez
- Posgrado en Biología Experimental, DCBS, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, Mexico City, Mexico.,Laboratorio de Fisiología Celular y Biología Molecular, Departamento de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Leticia Bucio
- Laboratorio de Fisiología Celular y Biología Molecular, Departamento de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, Mexico City, Mexico.,Laboratorio de Medicina Experimental, Unidad de Medicina Translacional, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, UNAM/Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chavez, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Verónica Souza
- Laboratorio de Fisiología Celular y Biología Molecular, Departamento de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, Mexico City, Mexico.,Laboratorio de Medicina Experimental, Unidad de Medicina Translacional, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, UNAM/Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chavez, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Roxana U Miranda-Labra
- Laboratorio de Fisiología Celular y Biología Molecular, Departamento de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, Mexico City, Mexico.,Laboratorio de Medicina Experimental, Unidad de Medicina Translacional, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, UNAM/Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chavez, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Luis E Gomez-Quiroz
- Laboratorio de Fisiología Celular y Biología Molecular, Departamento de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, Mexico City, Mexico.,Laboratorio de Medicina Experimental, Unidad de Medicina Translacional, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, UNAM/Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chavez, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - María Concepción Gutiérrez-Ruiz
- Laboratorio de Fisiología Celular y Biología Molecular, Departamento de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, Mexico City, Mexico.,Laboratorio de Medicina Experimental, Unidad de Medicina Translacional, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, UNAM/Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chavez, Mexico City, Mexico
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16
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Long KK, O’Shea KM, Khairallah RJ, Howell K, Paushkin S, Chen KS, Cote SM, Webster MT, Stains JP, Treece E, Buckler A, Donovan A. Specific inhibition of myostatin activation is beneficial in mouse models of SMA therapy. Hum Mol Genet 2019; 28:1076-1089. [PMID: 30481286 PMCID: PMC6423420 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddy382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2018] [Revised: 10/29/2018] [Accepted: 10/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a neuromuscular disease characterized by loss of α-motor neurons, leading to profound skeletal muscle atrophy. Patients also suffer from decreased bone mineral density and increased fracture risk. The majority of treatments for SMA, approved or in clinic trials, focus on addressing the underlying cause of disease, insufficient production of full-length SMN protein. While restoration of SMN has resulted in improvements in functional measures, significant deficits remain in both mice and SMA patients following treatment. Motor function in SMA patients may be additionally improved by targeting skeletal muscle to reduce atrophy and improve muscle strength. Inhibition of myostatin, a negative regulator of muscle mass, offers a promising approach to increase muscle function in SMA patients. Here we demonstrate that muSRK-015P, a monoclonal antibody which specifically inhibits myostatin activation, effectively increases muscle mass and function in two variants of the pharmacological mouse model of SMA in which pharmacologic restoration of SMN has taken place either 1 or 24 days after birth to reflect early or later therapeutic intervention. Additionally, muSRK-015P treatment improves the cortical and trabecular bone phenotypes in these mice. These data indicate that preventing myostatin activation has therapeutic potential in addressing muscle and bone deficiencies in SMA patients. An optimized variant of SRK-015P, SRK-015, is currently in clinical development for treatment of SMA.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Kelly Howell
- SMA Foundation, 888 7th Avenue #400, New York, NY
| | | | - Karen S Chen
- SMA Foundation, 888 7th Avenue #400, New York, NY
| | - Shaun M Cote
- Scholar Rock Inc., 620 Memorial Drive, Cambridge, MA
| | | | - Joseph P Stains
- Department of Orthopedics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Erin Treece
- Scholar Rock Inc., 620 Memorial Drive, Cambridge, MA
| | - Alan Buckler
- Scholar Rock Inc., 620 Memorial Drive, Cambridge, MA
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17
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The influence of GDF11 on brain fate and function. GeroScience 2019; 41:1-11. [PMID: 30729414 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-019-00054-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2018] [Accepted: 01/18/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Growth differentiation factor 11 (GDF11) is a transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) protein that regulates aspects of central nervous system (CNS) formation and health throughout the lifespan. During development, GDF11 influences CNS patterning and the genesis, differentiation, maturation, and activity of new cells, which may be primarily dependent on local production and action. In the aged brain, exogenous, peripherally delivered GDF11 may enhance neurogenesis and angiogenesis, as well as improve neuropathological outcomes. This is in contrast to a predominantly negative influence on neurogenesis in the developing CNS. Seemingly antithetical effects may correspond to the cell types and mechanisms activated by local versus circulating concentrations of GDF11. Yet undefined, distinct mechanisms of action in young and aged brains may also play a role, which could include differential receptor and binding partner interactions. Exogenously increasing circulating GDF11 concentrations may be a viable approach for improving deleterious aspects of brain aging and neuropathology. Caution is warranted, however, since GDF11 appears to negatively influence muscle health and body composition. Nevertheless, an expanding understanding of GDF11 biology suggests that it is an important regulator of CNS formation and fate, and its manipulation may improve aspects of brain health in older organisms.
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18
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Castonguay R, Lachey J, Wallner S, Strand J, Liharska K, Watanabe AE, Cannell M, Davies MV, Sako D, Troy ME, Krishnan L, Mulivor AW, Li H, Keates S, Alexander MJ, Pearsall RS, Kumar R. Follistatin-288-Fc Fusion Protein Promotes Localized Growth of Skeletal Muscle. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2018; 368:435-445. [PMID: 30563942 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.118.252304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2018] [Accepted: 12/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Follistatin is an endogenous glycoprotein that promotes growth and repair of skeletal muscle by sequestering inhibitory ligands of the transforming growth factor-β superfamily and may therefore have therapeutic potential for neuromuscular diseases. Here, we sought to determine the suitability of a newly engineered follistatin fusion protein (FST288-Fc) to promote localized, rather than systemic, growth of skeletal muscle by capitalizing on the intrinsic heparin-binding ability of the follistatin-288 isoform. As determined by surface plasmon resonance and cell-based assays, FST288-Fc binds to activin A, activin B, myostatin (growth differentiation factor GDF8), and GDF11 with high affinity and neutralizes their activity in vitro. Intramuscular administration of FST288-Fc in mice induced robust, dose-dependent growth of the targeted muscle but not of surrounding or contralateral muscles, in contrast to the systemic effects of a locally administered fusion protein incorporating activin receptor type IIB (ActRIIB-Fc). Furthermore, systemic administration of FST288-Fc in mice did not alter muscle mass or body composition as determined by NMR, which again contrasts with the pronounced systemic activity of ActRIIB-Fc when administered by the same route. Subsequent analysis revealed that FST288-Fc in the circulation undergoes rapid proteolysis, thereby restricting its activity to individual muscles targeted by intramuscular administration. These results indicate that FST288-Fc can produce localized growth of skeletal muscle in a targeted manner with reduced potential for undesirable systemic effects. Thus, FST288-Fc and similar agents may be beneficial in the treatment of disorders with muscle atrophy that is focal, asymmetric, or otherwise heterogeneous.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Huiming Li
- Acceleron Pharma, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | | | | | | | - Ravi Kumar
- Acceleron Pharma, Cambridge, Massachusetts
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19
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Monsuur HN, van den Broek LJ, Koolwijk P, Niessen FB, Gibbs S. Endothelial cells enhance adipose mesenchymal stromal cell-mediated matrix contraction via ALK receptors and reduced follistatin: Potential role of endothelial cells in skin fibrosis. J Cell Physiol 2018; 233:6714-6722. [PMID: 29345319 PMCID: PMC6056025 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.26494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2017] [Accepted: 01/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Abnormal cutaneous wound healing can lead to formation of fibrotic hypertrophic scars. Although several clinical risk factors have been described, the cross‐talk between different cell types resulting in hypertrophic scar formation is still poorly understood. The aim of this in vitro study was to investigate whether endothelial cells (EC) may play a role in skin fibrosis, for example, hypertrophic scar formation after full‐thickness skin trauma. Using a collagen/elastin matrix, we developed an in vitro fibrosis model to study the interaction between EC and dermal fibroblasts or adipose tissue‐derived mesenchymal stromal cells (ASC). Tissue equivalents containing dermal fibroblasts and EC displayed a normal phenotype. In contrast, tissue equivalents containing ASC and EC displayed a fibrotic phenotype indicated by contraction of the matrix, higher gene expression of ACTA2, COL1A, COL3A, and less secretion of follistatin. The contraction was in part mediated via the TGF‐β pathway, as both inhibition of the ALK4/5/7 receptors and the addition of recombinant follistatin resulted in decreased matrix contraction (75 ± 11% and 24 ± 8%, respectively). In conclusion, our study shows that EC may play a critical role in fibrotic events, as seen in hypertrophic scars, by stimulating ASC‐mediated matrix contraction via regulation of fibrosis‐related proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanneke N Monsuur
- Department of Dermatology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Lenie J van den Broek
- Department of Dermatology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Pieter Koolwijk
- Department of Physiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Frank B Niessen
- Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Susan Gibbs
- Department of Dermatology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Oral Cell Biology, Academic Center for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), University of Amsterdam and VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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20
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Pons M, Koniaris LG, Moe SM, Gutierrez JC, Esquela-Kerscher A, Zimmers TA. GDF11 induces kidney fibrosis, renal cell epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, and kidney dysfunction and failure. Surgery 2018; 164:262-273. [PMID: 29731246 DOI: 10.1016/j.surg.2018.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2018] [Revised: 03/04/2018] [Accepted: 03/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND GDF11 modulates embryonic patterning and kidney organogenesis. Herein, we sought to define GDF11 function in the adult kidney and in renal diseases. METHODS In vitro renal cell lines, genetic, and murine in vivo renal injury models were examined. RESULTS Among tissues tested, Gdf11 was highest in normal adult mouse kidney. Expression was increased acutely after 5/6 nephrectomy, ischemia-reperfusion injury, kanamycin toxicity, or unilateral ureteric obstruction. Systemic, high-dose GDF11 administration in adult mice led to renal failure, with accompanying kidney atrophy, interstitial fibrosis, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition of renal tubular cells, and eventually death. These effects were associated with phosphorylation of SMAD2 and could be blocked by follistatin. In contrast, Gdf11 heterozygous mice showed reduced renal Gdf11 expression, renal fibrosis, and expression of fibrosis-associated genes both at baseline and after unilateral ureteric obstruction compared with wild-type littermates. The kidney-specific consequences of GDF11 dose modulation are direct effects on kidney cells. GDF11 induced proliferation and activation of NRK49f renal fibroblasts and also promoted epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition of IMCD-3 tubular epithelial cells in a SMAD3-dependent manner. CONCLUSION Taken together, these data suggest that GDF11 and its downstream signals are critical in vivo mediators of renal injury. These effects are through direct actions of GDF11 on renal tubular cells and fibroblasts. Thus, regulation of GDF11 presents a therapeutic target for diseases involving renal fibrosis and impaired tubular function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianne Pons
- Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis
| | | | - Sharon M Moe
- Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis; Roudebush Veterans Administration Medical Center, Indianapolis, IN
| | | | - Aurora Esquela-Kerscher
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Cell Biology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk
| | - Teresa A Zimmers
- Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis; Departments of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis; IU Simon Cancer Center, Indianapolis, IN
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21
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Semba RD, Zhang P, Zhu M, Fabbri E, Gonzalez-Freire M, Moaddel R, Geng-Spyropoulos M, Ferrucci L. A targeted proteomic assay for the measurement of plasma proteoforms related to human aging phenotypes. Proteomics 2018; 17. [PMID: 28508553 DOI: 10.1002/pmic.201600232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2016] [Revised: 03/31/2017] [Accepted: 05/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Circulating polypeptides and proteins have been implicated in reversing or accelerating aging phenotypes, including growth/differentiation factor 8 (GDF8), GDF11, eotaxin, and oxytocin. These proteoforms, which are defined as the protein products arising from a single gene due to alternative splicing and PTMs, have been challenging to study. Both GDF8 and GDF11 have known antagonists such as follistatin (FST), and WAP, Kazal, immunoglobulin, Kunitz, and NTR domain-containing proteins 1 and 2 (WFIKKN1, WFIKKN2). We developed a novel multiplexed SRM assay using LC-MS/MS to measure five proteins related to GDF8 and GDF11 signaling, and in addition, eotaxin, and oxytocin. Eighteen peptides consisting of 54 transitions were monitored and validated in pooled human plasma. In 24 adults, the mean (SD) concentrations (ng/mL) were as follows: GDF8 propeptide, 11.0 (2.4); GDF8 mature protein, 25.7 (8.0); GDF11 propeptide, 21.3 (10.9); GDF11 mature protein, 16.5 (12.4); FST, 29.8 (7.1); FST cleavage form FST303, 96.4 (69.2); WFIKKN1, 38.3 (8.3); WFIKKN2, 32.2 (10.5); oxytocin, 1.9 (0.9); and eotaxin, 2.3 (0.5). This novel multiplexed SRM assay should facilitate the study of the relationships of these proteoforms with major aging phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard D Semba
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Pingbo Zhang
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Min Zhu
- National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Elisa Fabbri
- National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Ruin Moaddel
- National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Luigi Ferrucci
- National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Park SS, Kwon ES, Kwon KS. Molecular mechanisms and therapeutic interventions in sarcopenia. Osteoporos Sarcopenia 2017; 3:117-122. [PMID: 30775515 PMCID: PMC6372765 DOI: 10.1016/j.afos.2017.08.098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2017] [Revised: 08/11/2017] [Accepted: 08/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Sarcopenia is the degenerative loss of muscle mass and function with aging. Recently sarcopenia was recognized as a clinical disease by the International Classification of Disease, 10th revision, Clinical Modification. An imbalance between protein synthesis and degradation causes a gradual loss of muscle mass, resulting in a decline of muscle function as a progress of sarcopenia. Many mechanisms involved in the onset of sarcopenia include age-related factors as well as activity-, disease-, and nutrition-related factors. The stage of sarcopenia reflecting the severity of conditions assists clinical management of sarcopenia. It is important that systemic descriptions of the disease conditions include age, sex, and other environmental risk factors as well as levels of physical function. To develop a new therapeutic intervention needed is the detailed understanding of molecular and cellular mechanisms by which apoptosis, autophagy, atrophy, and hypertrophy occur in the muscle stem cells, myotubes, and/or neuromuscular junction. The new strategy to managing sarcopenia will be signal-modulating small molecules, natural compounds, repurposing of old drugs, and muscle-specific microRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sung Sup Park
- Aging Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon, Korea
- Korea University of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Eun-Soo Kwon
- Aging Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Ki-Sun Kwon
- Aging Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon, Korea
- Korea University of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Korea
- Corresponding author. Aging Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, 125, Gwahak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34141, Korea.
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Follistatin N terminus differentially regulates muscle size and fat in vivo. Exp Mol Med 2017; 49:e377. [PMID: 28912572 PMCID: PMC5628274 DOI: 10.1038/emm.2017.135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2016] [Revised: 02/10/2017] [Accepted: 03/08/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Delivery of follistatin (FST) represents a promising strategy for both muscular dystrophies and diabetes, as FST is a robust antagonist of myostatin and activin, which are critical regulators of skeletal muscle and adipose tissues. FST is a multi-domain protein, and deciphering the function of different domains will facilitate novel designs for FST-based therapy. Our study aims to investigate the role of the N-terminal domain (ND) of FST in regulating muscle and fat mass in vivo. Different FST constructs were created and packaged into the adeno-associated viral vector (AAV). Overexpression of wild-type FST in normal mice greatly increased muscle mass while decreasing fat accumulation, whereas overexpression of an N terminus mutant or N terminus-deleted FST had no effect on muscle mass but moderately decreased fat mass. In contrast, FST-I-I containing the complete N terminus and double domain I without domain II and III had no effect on fat but increased skeletal muscle mass. The effects of different constructs on differentiated C2C12 myotubes were consistent with the in vivo finding. We hypothesized that ND was critical for myostatin blockade, mediating the increase in muscle mass, and was less pivotal for activin binding, which accounts for the decrease in the fat tissue. An in vitro TGF-beta1-responsive reporter assay revealed that FST-I-I and N terminus-mutated or -deleted FST showed differential responses to blockade of activin and myostatin. Our study provided direct in vivo evidence for a role of the ND of FST, shedding light on future potential molecular designs for FST-based gene therapy.
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Abstract
In addition to its roles in embryonic development, Growth and Differentiation Factor 11 (GDF 11) has recently drawn much interest about its roles in other processes, such as aging. GDF 11 has been shown to play pivotal roles in the rescue of the proliferative and regenerative capabilities of skeletal muscle, neural stem cells and cardiomyocytes. We would be remiss not to point that some controversy exists regarding the role of GDF 11 in biological processes and whether it will serve as a therapeutic agent. The latest studies have shown that the level of circulating GDF 11 correlates with the outcomes of patients with cardiovascular diseases, cancer and uremia. Based on these studies, GDF 11 is a promising candidate to serve as a novel biomarker of diseases. This brief review gives a detailed and concise view of the regulation and functions of GDF 11 and its roles in development, neurogenesis and erythropoiesis as well as the prospect of using this protein as an indicator of cardiac health and aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Jamaiyar
- Department of Integrative Medical Sciences, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH, USA; School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
| | - W Wan
- Department of Integrative Medical Sciences, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH, USA; Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Hubei, China
| | - D M Janota
- Department of Integrative Medical Sciences, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH, USA
| | - M K Enrick
- Department of Integrative Medical Sciences, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH, USA
| | - W M Chilian
- Department of Integrative Medical Sciences, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH, USA
| | - L Yin
- Department of Integrative Medical Sciences, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH, USA.
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Follistatin is a metastasis suppressor in a mouse model of HER2-positive breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res 2017; 19:66. [PMID: 28583174 PMCID: PMC5460489 DOI: 10.1186/s13058-017-0857-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2017] [Accepted: 05/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Follistatin (FST) is an intrinsic inhibitor of activin, a member of the transforming growth factor-β superfamily of ligands. The prognostic value of FST and its family members, the follistatin-like (FSTL) proteins, have been studied in various cancers. However, these studies, as well as limited functional analyses of the FSTL proteins, have yielded conflicting results on the role of these proteins in disease progression. Furthermore, very few have been focused on FST itself. We assessed whether FST may be a suppressor of tumorigenesis and/or metastatic progression in breast cancer. Methods Using publicly available gene expression data, we examined the expression patterns of FST and INHBA, a subunit of activin, in normal and cancerous breast tissue and the prognostic value of FST in breast cancer metastases, recurrence-free survival, and overall survival. The functional effects of activin and FST on in vitro proliferation, migration, and invasion of breast cancer cells were also examined. FST overexpression in an autochthonous mouse model of breast cancer was then used to assess the in vivo impact of FST on metastatic progression. Results Examination of multiple breast cancer datasets revealed that FST expression is reduced in breast cancers compared with normal tissue and that low FST expression predicts increased metastasis and reduced overall survival. FST expression was also reduced in a mouse model of HER2/Neu-induced metastatic breast cancer. We found that FST blocks activin-induced breast epithelial cell migration in vitro, suggesting that its loss may promote breast cancer aggressiveness. To directly determine if FST restoration could inhibit metastatic progression, we transgenically expressed FST in the HER2/Neu model. Although FST had no impact on tumor initiation or growth, it completely blocked the formation of lung metastases. Conclusions These data indicate that FST is a bona fide metastasis suppressor in this mouse model and support future efforts to develop an FST mimetic to suppress metastatic progression. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13058-017-0857-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Abstract
We review the evolution and structure of members of the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) family, antagonistic or agonistic modulators, and receptors that regulate TGF-β signaling in extracellular environments. The growth factor (GF) domain common to all family members and many of their antagonists evolved from a common cystine knot growth factor (CKGF) domain. The CKGF superfamily comprises six distinct families in primitive metazoans, including the TGF-β and Dan families. Compared with Wnt/Frizzled and Notch/Delta families that also specify body axes, cell fate, tissues, and other families that contain CKGF domains that evolved in parallel, the TGF-β family was the most fruitful in evolution. Complexes between the prodomains and GFs of the TGF-β family suggest a new paradigm for regulating GF release by conversion from closed- to open-arm procomplex conformations. Ternary complexes of the final step in extracellular signaling show how TGF-β GF dimers bind type I and type II receptors on the cell surface, and enable understanding of much of the specificity and promiscuity in extracellular signaling. However, structures suggest that when GFs bind repulsive guidance molecule (RGM) family coreceptors, type I receptors do not bind until reaching an intracellular, membrane-enveloped compartment, blurring the line between extra- and intracellular signaling. Modulator protein structures show how structurally diverse antagonists including follistatins, noggin, and members of the chordin family bind GFs to regulate signaling; complexes with the Dan family remain elusive. Much work is needed to understand how these molecular components assemble to form signaling hubs in extracellular environments in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew P Hinck
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260
| | - Thomas D Mueller
- Department of Plant Physiology and Biophysics, Julius-von-Sachs Institute of the University Wuerzburg, D-97082 Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Timothy A Springer
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine and Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
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27
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Chen JL, Colgan TD, Walton KL, Gregorevic P, Harrison CA. The TGF-β Signalling Network in Muscle Development, Adaptation and Disease. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2016; 900:97-131. [PMID: 27003398 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-27511-6_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Skeletal muscle possesses remarkable ability to change its size and force-producing capacity in response to physiological stimuli. Impairment of the cellular processes that govern these attributes also affects muscle mass and function in pathological conditions. Myostatin, a member of the TGF-β family, has been identified as a key regulator of muscle development, and adaptation in adulthood. In muscle, myostatin binds to its type I (ALK4/5) and type II (ActRIIA/B) receptors to initiate Smad2/3 signalling and the regulation of target genes that co-ordinate the balance between protein synthesis and degradation. Interestingly, evidence is emerging that other TGF-β proteins act in concert with myostatin to regulate the growth and remodelling of skeletal muscle. Consequently, dysregulation of TGF-β proteins and their associated signalling components is increasingly being implicated in muscle wasting associated with chronic illness, ageing, and inactivity. The growing understanding of TGF-β biology in muscle, and its potential to advance the development of therapeutics for muscle-related conditions is reviewed here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin L Chen
- Centre for Endocrinology and Metabolism, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, VIC, 3168, Australia.,Department of Molecular and Translational Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Muscle Research and Therapeutics Development, Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Timothy D Colgan
- Muscle Research and Therapeutics Development, Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia.,Department of Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Kelly L Walton
- Centre for Endocrinology and Metabolism, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, VIC, 3168, Australia.,Department of Molecular and Translational Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Paul Gregorevic
- Muscle Research and Therapeutics Development, Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia. .,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. .,Department of Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. .,Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, The University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Craig A Harrison
- Centre for Endocrinology and Metabolism, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, VIC, 3168, Australia. .,Department of Molecular and Translational Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. .,Department of Physiology, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
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28
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Namwanje M, Brown CW. Activins and Inhibins: Roles in Development, Physiology, and Disease. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 2016; 8:cshperspect.a021881. [PMID: 27328872 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a021881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 153] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Since their original discovery as regulators of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) secretion and erythropoiesis, the TGF-β family members activin and inhibin have been shown to participate in a variety of biological processes, from the earliest stages of embryonic development to highly specialized functions in terminally differentiated cells and tissues. Herein, we present the history, structures, signaling mechanisms, regulation, and biological processes in which activins and inhibins participate, including several recently discovered biological activities and functional antagonists. The potential therapeutic relevance of these advances is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Namwanje
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030
| | - Chester W Brown
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030 Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030 Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas 77030
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Khalil AM, Dotimas H, Kahn J, Lamerdin JE, Hayes DB, Gupta P, Franti M. Differential Binding Activity of TGF-β Family Proteins to Select TGF-β Receptors. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2016; 358:423-30. [PMID: 27340210 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.116.232322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2016] [Accepted: 06/22/2016] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Growth differentiation factor-11 (GDF11) and myostatin (MSTN) are highly related transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) ligands with 89% amino acid sequence homology. They have different biologic activities and diverse tissue distribution patterns. However, the activities of these ligands are indistinguishable in in vitro assays. SMAD2/3 signaling has been identified as the canonical pathway for GDF11 and MSTN, However, it remains unclear which receptor heterodimer and which antagonists preferentially mediate and regulate signaling. In this study, we investigated the initiation and regulation of GDF11 and MSTN signaling at the receptor level using a novel receptor dimerization detection technology. We used the dimerization platform to link early receptor binding events to intracellular downstream signaling. This approach was instrumental in revealing differential receptor binding activity within the TGF-β family. We verified the ActR2b/ALK5 heterodimer as the predominant receptor for GDF11- and MSTN-induced SMAD2/3 signaling. We also showed ALK7 specifically mediates activin-B signaling. We verified follistatin as a potent antagonist to neutralize both SMAD2/3 signaling and receptor dimerization. More remarkably, we showed that the two related antagonists, growth and differentiation factor-associated serum protein (GASP)-1 and GASP2, differentially regulate GDF11 (and MSTN) signaling. GASP1 blocks both receptor dimerization and downstream signaling. However, GASP2 blocks only downstream signaling without interference from receptor dimerization. Our data strongly suggest that physical binding of GDF11 (and MSTN) to both ActR2b and ALK5 receptors is required for initiation of signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashraf M Khalil
- Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (A.M.K., J.K., D.B.H., P.G., M.F.), Ridgefield, Connecticut; and DiscoverX Corporation (H.D., J.E.L.), Fremont, California
| | - Hyna Dotimas
- Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (A.M.K., J.K., D.B.H., P.G., M.F.), Ridgefield, Connecticut; and DiscoverX Corporation (H.D., J.E.L.), Fremont, California
| | - Julius Kahn
- Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (A.M.K., J.K., D.B.H., P.G., M.F.), Ridgefield, Connecticut; and DiscoverX Corporation (H.D., J.E.L.), Fremont, California
| | - Jane E Lamerdin
- Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (A.M.K., J.K., D.B.H., P.G., M.F.), Ridgefield, Connecticut; and DiscoverX Corporation (H.D., J.E.L.), Fremont, California
| | - David B Hayes
- Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (A.M.K., J.K., D.B.H., P.G., M.F.), Ridgefield, Connecticut; and DiscoverX Corporation (H.D., J.E.L.), Fremont, California
| | - Priyanka Gupta
- Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (A.M.K., J.K., D.B.H., P.G., M.F.), Ridgefield, Connecticut; and DiscoverX Corporation (H.D., J.E.L.), Fremont, California
| | - Michael Franti
- Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (A.M.K., J.K., D.B.H., P.G., M.F.), Ridgefield, Connecticut; and DiscoverX Corporation (H.D., J.E.L.), Fremont, California
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30
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Illendula A, Gilmour J, Grembecka J, Tirumala VSS, Boulton A, Kuntimaddi A, Schmidt C, Wang L, Pulikkan JA, Zong H, Parlak M, Kuscu C, Pickin A, Zhou Y, Gao Y, Mishra L, Adli M, Castilla LH, Rajewski RA, Janes KA, Guzman ML, Bonifer C, Bushweller JH. Small Molecule Inhibitor of CBFβ-RUNX Binding for RUNX Transcription Factor Driven Cancers. EBioMedicine 2016; 8:117-131. [PMID: 27428424 PMCID: PMC4919611 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2016.04.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2016] [Revised: 04/12/2016] [Accepted: 04/25/2016] [Indexed: 10/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcription factors have traditionally been viewed with skepticism as viable drug targets, but they offer the potential for completely novel mechanisms of action that could more effectively address the stem cell like properties, such as self-renewal and chemo-resistance, that lead to the failure of traditional chemotherapy approaches. Core binding factor is a heterodimeric transcription factor comprised of one of 3 RUNX proteins (RUNX1-3) and a CBFβ binding partner. CBFβ enhances DNA binding of RUNX subunits by relieving auto-inhibition. Both RUNX1 and CBFβ are frequently mutated in human leukemia. More recently, RUNX proteins have been shown to be key players in epithelial cancers, suggesting the targeting of this pathway could have broad utility. In order to test this, we developed small molecules which bind to CBFβ and inhibit its binding to RUNX. Treatment with these inhibitors reduces binding of RUNX1 to target genes, alters the expression of RUNX1 target genes, and impacts cell survival and differentiation. These inhibitors show efficacy against leukemia cells as well as basal-like (triple-negative) breast cancer cells. These inhibitors provide effective tools to probe the utility of targeting RUNX transcription factor function in other cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anuradha Illendula
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Jane Gilmour
- School of Cancer Sciences, Institute of Biomedical Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | | | | | - Adam Boulton
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Aravinda Kuntimaddi
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Charles Schmidt
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Lixin Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - John A Pulikkan
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Hongliang Zong
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mahmut Parlak
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Cem Kuscu
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Anna Pickin
- School of Cancer Sciences, Institute of Biomedical Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Yunpeng Zhou
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Yan Gao
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Lauren Mishra
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Mazhar Adli
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Lucio H Castilla
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Roger A Rajewski
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA
| | - Kevin A Janes
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Monica L Guzman
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Constanze Bonifer
- School of Cancer Sciences, Institute of Biomedical Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - John H Bushweller
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
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Canali S, Core AB, Zumbrennen-Bullough KB, Merkulova M, Wang CY, Schneyer AL, Pietrangelo A, Babitt JL. Activin B Induces Noncanonical SMAD1/5/8 Signaling via BMP Type I Receptors in Hepatocytes: Evidence for a Role in Hepcidin Induction by Inflammation in Male Mice. Endocrinology 2016; 157:1146-62. [PMID: 26735394 PMCID: PMC4769363 DOI: 10.1210/en.2015-1747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Induction of the iron regulatory hormone hepcidin contributes to the anemia of inflammation. Bone morphogenetic protein 6 (BMP6) signaling is a central regulator of hepcidin expression in the liver. Recently, the TGF-β/BMP superfamily member activin B was implicated in hepcidin induction by inflammation via noncanonical SMAD1/5/8 signaling, but its mechanism of action and functional significance in vivo remain uncertain. Here, we show that low concentrations of activin B, but not activin A, stimulate prolonged SMAD1/5/8 signaling and hepcidin expression in liver cells to a similar degree as canonical SMAD2/3 signaling, and with similar or modestly reduced potency compared with BMP6. Activin B stimulates hepcidin via classical activin type II receptors ACVR2A and ACVR2B, noncanonical BMP type I receptors activin receptor-like kinase 2 and activin receptor-like kinase 3, and SMAD5. The coreceptor hemojuvelin binds to activin B and facilitates activin B-SMAD1/5/8 signaling. Activin B-SMAD1/5/8 signaling has some selectivity for hepatocyte-derived cells and is not enabled by hemojuvelin in other cell types. Liver activin B mRNA expression is up-regulated in multiple mouse models of inflammation associated with increased hepcidin and hypoferremia, including lipopolysaccharide, turpentine, and heat-killed Brucella abortus models. Finally, the activin inhibitor follistatin-315 blunts hepcidin induction by lipopolysaccharide or B. abortus in mice. Our data elucidate a novel mechanism for noncanonical SMAD activation and support a likely functional role for activin B in hepcidin stimulation during inflammation in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanna Canali
- Program in Anemia Signaling Research (S.C., A.B.C., K.B.Z.-B., M.M., C.-Y.W., J.L.B.), Division of Nephrology, Program in Membrane Biology, Center for Systems Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114; Center for Hemochromatosis (S.C., A.P.), University Hospital of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena Italy 41124; and Department of Veterinary and Animal Science (A.S.), University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003
| | - Amanda B Core
- Program in Anemia Signaling Research (S.C., A.B.C., K.B.Z.-B., M.M., C.-Y.W., J.L.B.), Division of Nephrology, Program in Membrane Biology, Center for Systems Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114; Center for Hemochromatosis (S.C., A.P.), University Hospital of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena Italy 41124; and Department of Veterinary and Animal Science (A.S.), University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003
| | - Kimberly B Zumbrennen-Bullough
- Program in Anemia Signaling Research (S.C., A.B.C., K.B.Z.-B., M.M., C.-Y.W., J.L.B.), Division of Nephrology, Program in Membrane Biology, Center for Systems Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114; Center for Hemochromatosis (S.C., A.P.), University Hospital of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena Italy 41124; and Department of Veterinary and Animal Science (A.S.), University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003
| | - Maria Merkulova
- Program in Anemia Signaling Research (S.C., A.B.C., K.B.Z.-B., M.M., C.-Y.W., J.L.B.), Division of Nephrology, Program in Membrane Biology, Center for Systems Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114; Center for Hemochromatosis (S.C., A.P.), University Hospital of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena Italy 41124; and Department of Veterinary and Animal Science (A.S.), University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003
| | - Chia-Yu Wang
- Program in Anemia Signaling Research (S.C., A.B.C., K.B.Z.-B., M.M., C.-Y.W., J.L.B.), Division of Nephrology, Program in Membrane Biology, Center for Systems Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114; Center for Hemochromatosis (S.C., A.P.), University Hospital of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena Italy 41124; and Department of Veterinary and Animal Science (A.S.), University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003
| | - Alan L Schneyer
- Program in Anemia Signaling Research (S.C., A.B.C., K.B.Z.-B., M.M., C.-Y.W., J.L.B.), Division of Nephrology, Program in Membrane Biology, Center for Systems Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114; Center for Hemochromatosis (S.C., A.P.), University Hospital of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena Italy 41124; and Department of Veterinary and Animal Science (A.S.), University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003
| | - Antonello Pietrangelo
- Program in Anemia Signaling Research (S.C., A.B.C., K.B.Z.-B., M.M., C.-Y.W., J.L.B.), Division of Nephrology, Program in Membrane Biology, Center for Systems Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114; Center for Hemochromatosis (S.C., A.P.), University Hospital of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena Italy 41124; and Department of Veterinary and Animal Science (A.S.), University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003
| | - Jodie L Babitt
- Program in Anemia Signaling Research (S.C., A.B.C., K.B.Z.-B., M.M., C.-Y.W., J.L.B.), Division of Nephrology, Program in Membrane Biology, Center for Systems Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114; Center for Hemochromatosis (S.C., A.P.), University Hospital of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena Italy 41124; and Department of Veterinary and Animal Science (A.S.), University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003
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El Shafey N, Guesnon M, Simon F, Deprez E, Cosette J, Stockholm D, Scherman D, Bigey P, Kichler A. Inhibition of the myostatin/Smad signaling pathway by short decorin-derived peptides. Exp Cell Res 2016; 341:187-95. [PMID: 26844629 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2016.01.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2015] [Revised: 01/27/2016] [Accepted: 01/31/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Myostatin, also known as growth differentiation factor 8, is a member of the transforming growth factor-beta superfamily that has been shown to play a key role in the regulation of the skeletal muscle mass. Indeed, while myostatin deletion or loss of function induces muscle hypertrophy, its overexpression or systemic administration causes muscle atrophy. Since myostatin blockade is effective in increasing skeletal muscle mass, myostatin inhibitors have been actively sought after. Decorin, a member of the small leucine-rich proteoglycan family is a metalloprotein that was previously shown to bind and inactivate myostatin in a zinc-dependent manner. Furthermore, the myostatin-binding site has been shown to be located in the decorin N-terminal domain. In the present study, we investigated the anti-myostatin activity of short and soluble fragments of decorin. Our results indicate that the murine decorin peptides DCN48-71 and 42-65 are sufficient for inactivating myostatin in vitro. Moreover, we show that the interaction of mDCN48-71 to myostatin is strictly zinc-dependent. Binding of myostatin to activin type II receptor results in the phosphorylation of Smad2/3. Addition of the decorin peptide 48-71 decreased in a dose-dependent manner the myostatin-induced phosphorylation of Smad2 demonstrating thereby that the peptide inhibits the activation of the Smad signaling pathway. Finally, we found that mDCN48-71 displays a specificity towards myostatin, since it does not inhibit other members of the transforming growth factor-beta family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nelly El Shafey
- Unité de Technologies Chimiques et Biologiques pour la Santé, CNRS UMR8258-Inserm, U1022 - Université Paris Descartes, Chimie ParisTech, 75006 Paris, France
| | - Mickaël Guesnon
- Unité de Technologies Chimiques et Biologiques pour la Santé, CNRS UMR8258-Inserm, U1022 - Université Paris Descartes, Chimie ParisTech, 75006 Paris, France
| | - Françoise Simon
- Laboratoire de Biologie et Pharmacologie Appliquée, ENS Cachan, UMR8113 CNRS, IDA FR3242, 94230 Cachan, France
| | - Eric Deprez
- Laboratoire de Biologie et Pharmacologie Appliquée, ENS Cachan, UMR8113 CNRS, IDA FR3242, 94230 Cachan, France
| | - Jérémie Cosette
- Inserm, UMR 951, Université d'Evry Val d'Essonne, Genethon, 91000 Evry, France
| | - Daniel Stockholm
- Inserm, UMR 951, Université d'Evry Val d'Essonne, Genethon, 91000 Evry, France
| | - Daniel Scherman
- Unité de Technologies Chimiques et Biologiques pour la Santé, CNRS UMR8258-Inserm, U1022 - Université Paris Descartes, Chimie ParisTech, 75006 Paris, France
| | - Pascal Bigey
- Unité de Technologies Chimiques et Biologiques pour la Santé, CNRS UMR8258-Inserm, U1022 - Université Paris Descartes, Chimie ParisTech, 75006 Paris, France
| | - Antoine Kichler
- Unité de Technologies Chimiques et Biologiques pour la Santé, CNRS UMR8258-Inserm, U1022 - Université Paris Descartes, Chimie ParisTech, 75006 Paris, France; Laboratoire de Conception et Application de Molécules Bioactives UMR7199 CNRS-Université de Strasbourg, LabEx Medalis, Faculté de Pharmacie, 67401 Illkirch, France.
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Lee SB, Park SK, Kim YS. Production of bioactive chicken (Gallus gallus) follistatin-type proteins in E. coli. AMB Express 2015; 5:142. [PMID: 26302688 PMCID: PMC4547976 DOI: 10.1186/s13568-015-0142-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2015] [Accepted: 08/05/2015] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Follistatin (FST) is a cysteine-rich autocrine glycoprotein and plays an important role in mammalian prenatal and postnatal development. FST binds to and inhibit myostatin (MSTN), a potent negative regulator of skeletal muscle growth, and FST abundance enhances muscle growth in animals via inhibition of MSTN activity. The objective of this study was to produce biologically active, four chicken FST-type proteins in an Escherichia coli expression system. Gibson assembly cloning method was used to insert the DNA fragments of four FST-type proteins, designated as FST288, NDFSD1/2, NDFSD1, and NDFSD1/1, into pMALc5x vector downstream of the maltose-binding protein (MBP) gene, and the plasmids containing the inserts were eventually transformed into Shuffle E. coli strain for protein expression. We observed a soluble expression of the four MBP-fused FST-type proteins, and the proteins could be easily purified by the combination of amylose and heparin resin affinity chromatography. MBP-fused FST-type proteins demonstrated their affinity to anti-FST antibody. In an in vitro reporter gene assay to examine their potencies and selectivities to different ligands (MSTN, GDF11, and activin A), the four FST-type proteins (MBP-FST288, MBP-NDFSD1/2, MBP-NDFSD1, and MBP-NDFSD1/1) showed different potency and selectivity against the three ligands from each other. Ligand selectivity of each FST-type proteins was similar to its counterpart FST-type protein of eukaryotic origin. In conclusion, we could produce four FST-type proteins having different ligand selectivity in E. coli, and the results imply that economic production of a large amount of FST-type proteins with different ligand selectivity is possible to examine their potential use in meat-producing animals.
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GDF11 Increases with Age and Inhibits Skeletal Muscle Regeneration. Cell Metab 2015; 22:164-74. [PMID: 26001423 PMCID: PMC4497834 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2015.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 404] [Impact Index Per Article: 44.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2015] [Revised: 04/23/2015] [Accepted: 05/06/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Age-related frailty may be due to decreased skeletal muscle regeneration. The role of TGF-β molecules myostatin and GDF11 in regeneration is unclear. Recent studies showed an age-related decrease in GDF11 and that GDF11 treatment improves muscle regeneration, which were contrary to prior studies. We now show that these recent claims are not reproducible and the reagents previously used to detect GDF11 are not GDF11 specific. We develop a GDF11-specific immunoassay and show a trend toward increased GDF11 levels in sera of aged rats and humans. GDF11 mRNA increases in rat muscle with age. Mechanistically, GDF11 and myostatin both induce SMAD2/3 phosphorylation, inhibit myoblast differentiation, and regulate identical downstream signaling. GDF11 significantly inhibited muscle regeneration and decreased satellite cell expansion in mice. Given early data in humans showing a trend for an age-related increase, GDF11 could be a target for pharmacologic blockade to treat age-related sarcopenia.
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Makanji Y, Zhu J, Mishra R, Holmquist C, Wong WPS, Schwartz NB, Mayo KE, Woodruff TK. Inhibin at 90: from discovery to clinical application, a historical review. Endocr Rev 2014; 35:747-94. [PMID: 25051334 PMCID: PMC4167436 DOI: 10.1210/er.2014-1003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
When it was initially discovered in 1923, inhibin was characterized as a hypophysiotropic hormone that acts on pituitary cells to regulate pituitary hormone secretion. Ninety years later, what we know about inhibin stretches far beyond its well-established capacity to inhibit activin signaling and suppress pituitary FSH production. Inhibin is one of the major reproductive hormones involved in the regulation of folliculogenesis and steroidogenesis. Although the physiological role of inhibin as an activin antagonist in other organ systems is not as well defined as it is in the pituitary-gonadal axis, inhibin also modulates biological processes in other organs through paracrine, autocrine, and/or endocrine mechanisms. Inhibin and components of its signaling pathway are expressed in many organs. Diagnostically, inhibin is used for prenatal screening of Down syndrome as part of the quadruple test and as a biochemical marker in the assessment of ovarian reserve. In this review, we provide a comprehensive summary of our current understanding of the biological role of inhibin, its relationship with activin, its signaling mechanisms, and its potential value as a diagnostic marker for reproductive function and pregnancy-associated conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yogeshwar Makanji
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (Y.M., J.Z., C.H., W.P.S.W., T.K.W.), Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60610; Center for Molecular Innovation and Drug Discovery (R.M., C.H.), Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208; and Department of Molecular Biosciences (N.B.S., K.E.M., T.K.W.), Center for Reproductive Science, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208
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Guo H, Shen X, Xu Y, Yuan J, Zhao D, Hu W. Emodin prevents hypoxic-ischemic neuronal injury: Involvement of the activin A pathway. Neural Regen Res 2014; 8:1360-7. [PMID: 25206430 PMCID: PMC4107762 DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-5374.2013.15.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2012] [Accepted: 03/18/2013] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Emodin, an extract of dried rhizomes and the root of the Rhizoma Polygoni Cuspidati, can protect neurons from hypoxic-ischemic brain damage. This study aimed to verify the underlying mechanism. After PC12 cells had differentiated into neuron-like cells under the induction of mouse nerve growth factor, cells were subjected to oxygen-glucose deprivation and treated with emodin. Results showed that the viability of neuron-like cells cultured under an ischemia-hypoxia environment decreased, while the expression of activin A and caspase-3 in cells increased. Emodin raised the survival rate of oxygen-glucose deprived neuron-like cells, increased activin A expression, and decreased caspase-3 expression. Experimental findings indicate that emodin can inhibit neuronal apoptosis and alleviate the injury of nerve cells after oxygen-glucose deprivation through the activin A pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongliang Guo
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing 100020, China ; Beihua University, Jilin 132001, Jilin Province, China
| | - Xiaoran Shen
- Jilin Municipal Central Hospital, Jilin 132001, Jilin Province, China
| | - Ye Xu
- Jilin Medical College, Jilin 132001, Jilin Province, China
| | - Junliang Yuan
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing 100020, China
| | - Dongming Zhao
- Beihua University, Jilin 132001, Jilin Province, China
| | - Wenli Hu
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing 100020, China
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Wang CC, Bajikar SS, Jamal L, Atkins KA, Janes KA. A time- and matrix-dependent TGFBR3-JUND-KRT5 regulatory circuit in single breast epithelial cells and basal-like premalignancies. Nat Cell Biol 2014; 16:345-56. [PMID: 24658685 PMCID: PMC4035356 DOI: 10.1038/ncb2930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2013] [Accepted: 02/11/2014] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Basal-like breast carcinoma is characterized by poor prognosis and high intratumour heterogeneity. In an immortalized basal-like breast epithelial cell line, we identified two anticorrelated gene-expression programs that arise among single extracellular matrix (ECM)-attached cells during organotypic three-dimensional culture. The first contains multiple TGF-β-related genes including TGFBR3, whereas the second contains JUND and the basal-like marker KRT5. TGFBR3 and JUND interconnect through four negative-feedback loops to form a circuit that exhibits spontaneous damped oscillations in three-dimensional culture. The TGFBR3-JUND circuit is conserved in some premalignant lesions that heterogeneously express KRT5. The circuit depends on ECM engagement, as detachment causes a rewiring that is triggered by RPS6 dephosphorylation and maintained by juxtacrine tenascin C, which is critical for intraductal colonization of basal-like breast cancer cells in vivo. Intratumour heterogeneity need not stem from partial differentiation and could instead reflect dynamic toggling of cells between expression states that are not cell autonomous.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Breast Neoplasms/genetics
- Breast Neoplasms/metabolism
- Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating/genetics
- Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating/metabolism
- Cell Differentiation
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Epithelial Cells/cytology
- Epithelial Cells/metabolism
- Extracellular Matrix/metabolism
- Female
- Humans
- Keratin-5/metabolism
- Mice
- Mice, SCID
- Phosphorylation
- Proteoglycans/genetics
- Proteoglycans/metabolism
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun/metabolism
- RNA Interference
- RNA, Small Interfering
- Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta/genetics
- Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta/metabolism
- Ribosomal Protein S6/metabolism
- Signal Transduction
- Tenascin/metabolism
- Transcription, Genetic
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun-Chao Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, USA
| | - Sameer S. Bajikar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, USA
| | - Leen Jamal
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, USA
| | - Kristen A. Atkins
- Department of Pathology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, USA
| | - Kevin A. Janes
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, USA
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Breda L, Rivella S. Modulators of erythropoiesis: emerging therapies for hemoglobinopathies and disorders of red cell production. Hematol Oncol Clin North Am 2014; 28:375-86. [PMID: 24589272 PMCID: PMC3970239 DOI: 10.1016/j.hoc.2013.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Use of new compound such as inhibitors of JAK2 or transforming growth factor β-like molecules might soon revolutionize the treatment of β-thalassemia and related disorders. However, this situation requires careful optimization, noting the potential for off-target immune suppression for JAK2 inhibitors and the lack of mechanistic insights for the use of the ligand trap soluble molecules that sequester ligands of activin receptor IIA and B.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Breda
- Department of Pediatrics, Hematology-Oncology, Weill Cornell Medical College, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021, USA.
| | - Stefano Rivella
- Department of Pediatrics, Hematology-Oncology, Weill Cornell Medical College, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021, USA; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Weill Cornell Medical College, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021, USA
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39
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Braga M, Reddy ST, Vergnes L, Pervin S, Grijalva V, Stout D, David J, Li X, Tomasian V, Reid CB, Norris KC, Devaskar SU, Reue K, Singh R. Follistatin promotes adipocyte differentiation, browning, and energy metabolism. J Lipid Res 2014; 55:375-84. [PMID: 24443561 PMCID: PMC3934723 DOI: 10.1194/jlr.m039719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Follistatin (Fst) functions to bind and neutralize the activity of members of the transforming growth factor-β superfamily. Fst has a well-established role in skeletal muscle, but we detected significant Fst expression levels in interscapular brown and subcutaneous white adipose tissue, and further investigated its role in adipocyte biology. Fst expression was induced during adipogenic differentiation of mouse brown preadipocytes and mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) as well as in cold-induced brown adipose tissue from mice. In differentiated MEFs from Fst KO mice, the induction of brown adipocyte proteins including uncoupling protein 1, PR domain containing 16, and PPAR gamma coactivator-1α was attenuated, but could be rescued by treatment with recombinant FST. Furthermore, Fst enhanced thermogenic gene expression in differentiated mouse brown adipocytes and MEF cultures from both WT and Fst KO groups, suggesting that Fst produced by adipocytes may act in a paracrine manner. Our microarray gene expression profiling of WT and Fst KO MEFs during adipogenic differentiation identified several genes implicated in lipid and energy metabolism that were significantly downregulated in Fst KO MEFs. Furthermore, Fst treatment significantly increases cellular respiration in Fst-deficient cells. Our results implicate a novel role of Fst in the induction of brown adipocyte character and regulation of energy metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Braga
- Division of Endocrinology and Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, CA 90059; and
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40
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Brown ML, Ungerleider N, Bonomi L, Andrzejewski D, Burnside A, Schneyer A. Effects of activin A on survival, function and gene expression of pancreatic islets from non-diabetic and diabetic human donors. Islets 2014; 6:e1017226. [PMID: 25833251 PMCID: PMC4398300 DOI: 10.1080/19382014.2015.1017226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Emerging evidence suggests that activin with its associated receptors, second messengers, and antagonists would be excellent targets for therapeutic drug development in the treatment of diabetes. We undertook the current study to investigate the ability to extrapolate findings from rodent studies to human islets in which data thus far has been scarce. We tested the hypothesis that human islets synthesize activin and that activin participates in the regulation of islet β-cells. Human islets from 33 separate isolations were categorized based on functional status, culture status and diabetic status. Statistical comparisons were made by ANOVA with Tukey post-hoc adjustment for multiple comparisons. Experiments investigating activin utilized qPCR, FACS cell sorting, immunofluorescent antibody staining, functionality assays, viability assays and protein secretion assays. We have defined the transcript expression patterns of activin and the TGFβ superfamily in human islets. We found INHBA (the gene encoding activin A) to be the most highly expressed of the superfamily in normal, cultured islets. We elucidated a link between the islet microenvironment and activin A. We found differential ligand expression based on diabetic, culture and functional status. Further, this is also the first report that links direct effects of activin A with the ability to restore glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in human islets from type 2 diabetic donors thereby establishing the relevance of targeting activin for therapeutic drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa L Brown
- University of Massachusetts
Amherst; Amherst, MA USA
- Pioneer Valley Life Sciences
Institute; Springfield, MA USA
- Department of Nutrition; University of
Massachusetts; Amherst, MA USA
- Correspondence to: Melissa L Brown;
| | - Nathan Ungerleider
- University of Massachusetts
Amherst; Amherst, MA USA
- Pioneer Valley Life Sciences
Institute; Springfield, MA USA
| | - Lara Bonomi
- University of Massachusetts
Amherst; Amherst, MA USA
- Pioneer Valley Life Sciences
Institute; Springfield, MA USA
| | - Danielle Andrzejewski
- University of Massachusetts
Amherst; Amherst, MA USA
- Pioneer Valley Life Sciences
Institute; Springfield, MA USA
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences;
University of Massachusetts; Amherst, MA USA
| | - Amy Burnside
- University of Massachusetts
Amherst; Amherst, MA USA
- Pioneer Valley Life Sciences
Institute; Springfield, MA USA
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences;
University of Massachusetts; Amherst, MA USA
| | - Alan Schneyer
- University of Massachusetts
Amherst; Amherst, MA USA
- Pioneer Valley Life Sciences
Institute; Springfield, MA USA
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences;
University of Massachusetts; Amherst, MA USA
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41
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Guo H, Shen X, Xu Y, He Y, Hu W. The effect of activin A on signal transduction pathways in PC12 cells subjected to oxygen and glucose deprivation. Int J Mol Med 2013; 33:135-41. [PMID: 24173551 DOI: 10.3892/ijmm.2013.1539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2013] [Accepted: 10/02/2013] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
The processes and mechanisms underlying brain injuries due to ischemia and anoxia have yet to be determined. Additionally, few clinical treatements are currently available. Activins have a protective role in the restoration, differentiation, and survival of injured cells, including Activin A (ActA), which acts as a neuroprotectant. However, its exact mechanism of action remains to be determined. ActA has been shown to protect neurons following ischemic brain injury. In this study, PC12 cells were differentiated into neuron-like cells after stimulation with nerve growth factor to prepare an oxygen/glucose deprivation (OGD) model in neurons. The differentiated PC12 cells, subjected to the OGD model, were exposed to ActA. Results showed that the PC12 survival rate decreased after OGD, leading to an increase in caspase-3 expression in these cells. Pretreatment with ActA was able to partially prevent OGD-induced apoptosis, likely through the downregulation of caspase-3. Futhermore, ActA pretreatment increased the expression of key proteins in the ActA/Smads signal transduction pathway, which may promote neuroprotection after OGD. Therefore, exogenous ActA may function as a neuroprotectant and provide a novel therapeutic treatment for ischemic brain injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongliang Guo
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing 100020, P.R. China
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42
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Ungerleider NA, Bonomi LM, Brown ML, Schneyer AL. Increased activin bioavailability enhances hepatic insulin sensitivity while inducing hepatic steatosis in male mice. Endocrinology 2013; 154:2025-33. [PMID: 23533219 PMCID: PMC3740489 DOI: 10.1210/en.2012-1844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The development of insulin resistance is tightly linked to fatty liver disease and is considered a major health concern worldwide, although their mechanistic relationship remains controversial. Activin has emerging roles in nutrient homeostasis, but its metabolic effects on hepatocytes remain unknown. In this study, we investigated the effects of increased endogenous activin bioactivity on hepatic nutrient homeostasis by creating mice with inactivating mutations that deplete the circulating activin antagonists follistatin-like-3 (FSTL3) or the follistatin 315 isoform (FST315; FST288-only mice). We investigated liver histology and lipid content, hepatic insulin sensitivity, and metabolic gene expression including the HepG2 cell and primary hepatocyte response to activin treatment. Both FSTL3-knockout and FST288-only mice had extensive hepatic steatosis and elevated hepatic triglyceride content. Unexpectedly, insulin signaling, as assessed by phospho-Akt (a.k.a. protein kinase B), was enhanced in both mouse models. Pretreatment of HepG2 cells with activin A increased their response to subsequent insulin challenge. Gene expression analysis suggests that increased lipid uptake, enhanced de novo lipid synthesis, decreased lipolysis, and/or enhanced glucose uptake contribute to increased hepatic triglyceride content in these models. However, activin treatment recapitulated only some of these gene changes, suggesting that increased activin bioactivity may be only partially responsible for this phenotype. Nevertheless, our results indicate that activin enhances hepatocyte insulin response, which ultimately leads to hepatic steatosis despite the increased insulin sensitivity. Thus, regulation of activin bioactivity is critical for maintaining normal liver lipid homeostasis and response to insulin, whereas activin agonists may be useful for increasing liver insulin sensitivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan A Ungerleider
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Science, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, 661 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, USA
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43
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Scully MA, Pandya S, Moxley RT. Review of Phase II and Phase III clinical trials for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Expert Opin Orphan Drugs 2012. [DOI: 10.1517/21678707.2013.746939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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44
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Datta-Mannan A, Yaden B, Krishnan V, Jones BE, Croy JE. An engineered human follistatin variant: insights into the pharmacokinetic and pharmocodynamic relationships of a novel molecule with broad therapeutic potential. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2012; 344:616-23. [PMID: 23249626 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.112.201491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Human follistatin is a regulatory glycoprotein with widespread biologic functions, including antiinflammatory activities, wound-healing properties, and muscle-stimulating effects. The role of follistatin in a wide range of biologic activities shows promise for potential clinical application, which has prompted considerable interest in the investigation of the protein as a potential disease-modifying agent. In spite of this potential, the development of follistatin as a broad use biotherapeutic has been severely hindered by a poor understanding and characterization of its pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) relationships. Therefore, to better define these relationships, we performed in-depth analyses of the PK/PD relationships of native follistatin-315 (FST315). Our data indicate that the intrinsic PK/PD properties of native FST315 are poorly suited for acting as a parentally administered biotherapeutic with broad systemic effects. Here, we leveraged protein engineering to modify the PK characteristics of the native molecule by fusing FST315 to a murine IgG(1) Fc and removing the intrinsic heparan sulfate-binding activity of follistatin. The engineered variant molecule had ~100- and ~1600-fold improvements in terminal half-life and exposure, respectively. In contrast to the native FST315, the variant showed a robust, dose-dependent pharmacological effect when administered subcutaneously on a weekly basis in mouse models of muscle atrophy and degeneration. These studies highlight the underappreciated and critical relationship between optimizing multiple physical and chemical properties of follistatin on its overall PK/PD profile. Moreover, our findings provide the first documented strategy toward the development of a follistatin therapeutic with potential use in patients affected with skeletal muscle diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amita Datta-Mannan
- Department of Drug Disposition Development/Commercialization, Lilly Research Laboratories, Indianapolis, IN 46285, USA
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45
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Ge Y, Chen J. Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling network in skeletal myogenesis. J Biol Chem 2012; 287:43928-35. [PMID: 23115234 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.r112.406942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Mammalian (or mechanistic) target of rapamycin (mTOR) regulates a wide range of cellular and developmental processes by coordinating signaling responses to mitogens, nutrients, and various stresses. Over the last decade, mTOR has emerged as a master regulator of skeletal myogenesis, controlling multiple stages of the myofiber formation process. In this minireview, we present an emerging view of the signaling network underlying mTOR regulation of myogenesis, which contrasts with the well established mechanisms in the regulation of cell and muscle growth. Current questions for future studies are also highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yejing Ge
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
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46
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Bonomi L, Brown M, Ungerleider N, Muse M, Matzuk MM, Schneyer A. Activin B regulates islet composition and islet mass but not whole body glucose homeostasis or insulin sensitivity. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2012; 303:E587-96. [PMID: 22739106 PMCID: PMC3468507 DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.00177.2012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Based on the phenotype of the activin-like kinase-7 (ALK7)-null mouse, activins A and B have been proposed to play distinct roles in regulating pancreatic islet function and glucose homeostasis, with activin A acting to enhance islet function and insulin release while activin B antagonizes these actions. We therefore hypothesized that islets from activin B-null (BBKO) mice would have enhanced glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. In addition, we hypothesized that this enhanced islet function would translate into increased whole body glucose tolerance. We tested these hypotheses by analyzing glucose homeostasis, insulin secretion, and islet function in BBKO mice. No differences were observed in fasting glucose or insulin levels, glucose tolerance, or insulin sensitivity compared with weight-matched young or older males. Similarly, there were no significant differences in insulin secretion comparing islets from WT or BBKO males at either age. However, BBKO islets were more sensitive to activin A, myostatin (MSTN), and follistatin (FST) treatments, so that activin A and FST inhibited and MSTN enhanced glucose stimulated insulin secretion. While mean islet area and the distribution of islet areas were not different between the genotypes, islet mass, islet number, and the proportion of α-cells/islet were significantly reduced in BBKO islets. These results indicate that activin B does not antagonize activin A to influence whole body glucose homeostasis or β-cell function but does influence islet mass and proportion of α-cells/islet. Therefore, loss of activin B signaling alone does not account for the ALK7-null phenotype, but activin B may have important roles in modulating islet mass, islet number, and the cellular composition of islets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara Bonomi
- Pioneer Valley Life Science Institute, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Springfield MA, USA
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Seachrist DD, Johnson E, Magee C, Clay CM, Graham JK, Veeramachaneni DNR, Keri RA. Overexpression of follistatin in the mouse epididymis disrupts fluid resorption and sperm transit in testicular excurrent ducts. Biol Reprod 2012; 87:41. [PMID: 22649074 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.111.097527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Activin is a well-established modulator of male and female reproduction that stimulates the synthesis and secretion of follicle-stimulating hormone. Nonpituitary effects of activin have also been reported, although the paracrine actions of this growth factor in several reproductive tissues are not well understood. To identify the paracrine functions of activin during mammary gland morphogenesis and tumor progression, we produced transgenic mice that overexpress follistatin (FST), an intrinsic inhibitor of activin, under control of the mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) promoter. Although the MMTV-Fst mice were constructed to assess the role of activin in females, expression of the transgene was also observed in the testes and epididymides of males. While all 17 transgenic founder males exhibited copulatory behavior and produced vaginal plugs in females, only one produced live offspring. In contrast, transgenic females were fertile, permitting expansion of transgenic mouse lines. Light and transmission electron microscopic examination of the transgenic testes and epididymides revealed impairment of fluid resorption and sperm transit in the efferent ducts and initial segment of the epididymis, as indicated by accumulation of fluid and sperm stasis. Consequently, a variety of degenerative lesions were observed in the seminiferous epithelium, such as vacuolation and early stages of mineralization and fibrosis. Sperm collected from the caudae epididymidis of MMTV-Fst males had detached heads and were immotile. Together, these data reveal that activin signaling is essential for normal testicular excurrent duct function and that its blockade impairs fertility. These results also suggest that selective inhibitors of activin signaling may provide a useful approach for the development of male contraceptives without compromising androgen synthesis and actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darcie D Seachrist
- Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106-4965, USA
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Cash JN, Angerman EB, Keutmann HT, Thompson TB. Characterization of follistatin-type domains and their contribution to myostatin and activin A antagonism. Mol Endocrinol 2012; 26:1167-78. [PMID: 22593183 DOI: 10.1210/me.2012-1061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Follistatin (FST)-type proteins are important antagonists of some members of the large TGF-β family of cytokines. These include myostatin, an important negative regulator of muscle growth, and the closely related activin A, which is involved in many physiological functions, including maintenance of a normal reproductive axis. FST-type proteins, including FST and FST-like 3 (FSTL3), differentially inhibit various TGF-β family ligands by binding each ligand with two FST-type molecules. In this study, we sought to examine features that are important for ligand antagonism by FST-type proteins. Previous work has shown that a modified construct consisting of the FST N-terminal domain (ND) followed by two repeating follistatin domains (FSD), herein called FST ND-FSD1-FSD1, exhibits strong specificity for myostatin over activin A. Using cell-based assays, we show that FST ND-FSD1-FSD1 is unique in its specificity for myostatin as compared with similar constructs containing domains from FSTL3 and that the ND is critical to its activity. Furthermore, we demonstrate that FSD3 of FST provides affinity to ligand inhibition and confers resistance to perturbations in the ND and FSD2, likely through the interaction of FSD3 of one FST molecule with the ND of the other FST molecule. Additionally, our data suggest that this contact provides cooperativity to ligand antagonism. Cross-linking studies show that this interaction also potentiates formation of 1:2 ligand-FST complexes, whereas lack of FSD3 allows formation of 1:1 complexes. Altogether, these studies support that domain differences generate FST-type molecules that are each uniquely suited ligand antagonists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer N Cash
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Cincinnati Medical Sciences Building, 231 Albert Sabin Way, Cincinnati, Ohio 45267, USA
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Cash JN, Angerman EB, Kattamuri C, Nolan K, Zhao H, Sidis Y, Keutmann HT, Thompson TB. Structure of myostatin·follistatin-like 3: N-terminal domains of follistatin-type molecules exhibit alternate modes of binding. J Biol Chem 2011; 287:1043-53. [PMID: 22052913 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m111.270801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
TGF-β family ligands are involved in a variety of critical physiological processes. For instance, the TGF-β ligand myostatin is a staunch negative regulator of muscle growth and a therapeutic target for muscle-wasting disorders. Therefore, it is important to understand the molecular mechanisms of TGF-β family regulation. One form of regulation is through inhibition by extracellular antagonists such as the follistatin (Fst)-type proteins. Myostatin is tightly controlled by Fst-like 3 (Fstl3), which is the only Fst-type molecule that has been identified in the serum bound to myostatin. Here, we present the crystal structure of myostatin in complex with Fstl3. The structure reveals that the N-terminal domain (ND) of Fstl3 interacts uniquely with myostatin as compared with activin A, because it utilizes different surfaces on the ligand. This results in conformational differences in the ND of Fstl3 that alter its position in the type I receptor-binding site of the ligand. We also show that single point mutations in the ND of Fstl3 are detrimental to ligand binding, whereas corresponding mutations in Fst have little effect. Overall, we have shown that the NDs of Fst-type molecules exhibit distinctive modes of ligand binding, which may affect overall affinity of ligand·Fst-type protein complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer N Cash
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry, and Microbiology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45267, USA
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Brown ML, Kimura F, Bonomi LM, Ungerleider NA, Schneyer AL. Differential synthesis and action of TGFß superfamily ligands in mouse and rat islets. Islets 2011; 3:367-75. [PMID: 21964310 PMCID: PMC3329517 DOI: 10.4161/isl.3.6.18013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Members of the TGFß superfamily, including activins and TGFß, modulate glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) in vitro using rat islets while genetic manipulations that reduce TGFß superfamily signaling in vivo in mice produced hypoplastic islets and/or hyperglycemia. Moreover, deletion of Fstl3, an antagonist of activin and myostatin, resulted in enlarged islets and ß-cell hyperplasia. These studies suggest that endogenous TGFß superfamily ligands regulate ß-cell generation and/or function. To test this hypothesis, we examined endogenous TGFß ligand synthesis and action in isolated rat and mouse islets. We found that activin A, TGFß1, and myostatin treatment enhanced rat islet GSIS but none of the ligands tested enhanced GSIS in mouse islets. However, follistatin inhibited GSIS, consistent with a role for endogenous TGFß superfamily ligands in regulating insulin secretion. Endogenous expression of TGFß superfamily members was different in rat and mouse islets with myostatin being highly expressed in mouse islets and not detectable in rats. These results indicate that TGFß superfamily members directly regulate islet function in a species-specific manner while the ligands produced by islets differ between mice and rats. The lack of in vitro actions of ligands on mouse islets may be mechanical or result from species-specific actions of these ligands.
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