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Nakayama D, Makino T. Convergent accelerated evolution of mammal-specific conserved non-coding elements in hibernators. Sci Rep 2024; 14:11754. [PMID: 38782990 PMCID: PMC11116591 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-62455-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Mammals maintain their body temperature, yet hibernators can temporarily lower their metabolic rate as an energy-saving strategy. It has been proposed that hibernators evolved independently from homeotherms, and it is possible that the convergent evolution of hibernation involved common genomic changes among hibernator-lineages. Since hibernation is a seasonal trait, the evolution of gene regulatory regions in response to changes in season may have been important for the acquisition of hibernation traits. High-frequency accumulation of mutations in conserved non-coding elements (CNEs) could, in principle, alter the expression of neighboring genes and thereby contribute to the acquisition of new traits. To address this possibility, we performed a comparative genomic analysis of mammals to identify accelerated CNEs commonly associated with hibernation. We found that accelerated CNEs are common to hibernator-lineages and could be involved with hibernation. We also found that common factors of genes that located near accelerated CNEs and are differentially expressed between normal and hibernation periods related to gene regulation and cell-fate determination. It suggests that the molecular mechanisms controlling hibernation have undergone convergent evolution. These results help broaden our understanding of the genetic adaptations that facilitated hibernation in mammals and may offer insights pertaining to stress responses and energy conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daiki Nakayama
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Tohoku University, 6-3, Aramaki Aza Aoba, Aoba-Ku, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan
| | - Takashi Makino
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Tohoku University, 6-3, Aramaki Aza Aoba, Aoba-Ku, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan.
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, 6-3, Aramaki Aza Aoba, Aoba-Ku, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan.
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2
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Joli N, Concia L, Mocaer K, Guterman J, Laude J, Guerin S, Sciandra T, Bruyant F, Ait-Mohamed O, Beguin M, Forget MH, Bourbousse C, Lacour T, Bailleul B, Nef C, Savoie M, Tremblay JE, Campbell DA, Lavaud J, Schwab Y, Babin M, Bowler C. Hypometabolism to survive the long polar night and subsequent successful return to light in the diatom Fragilariopsis cylindrus. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2024; 241:2193-2208. [PMID: 38095198 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Diatoms, the main eukaryotic phytoplankton of the polar marine regions, are essential for the maintenance of food chains specific to Arctic and Antarctic ecosystems, and are experiencing major disturbances under current climate change. As such, it is fundamental to understand the physiological mechanisms and associated molecular basis of their endurance during the long polar night. Here, using the polar diatom Fragilariopsis cylindrus, we report an integrative analysis combining transcriptomic, microscopic and biochemical approaches to shed light on the strategies used to survive the polar night. We reveal that in prolonged darkness, diatom cells enter a state of quiescence with reduced metabolic and transcriptional activity, during which no cell division occurs. We propose that minimal energy is provided by respiration and degradation of protein, carbohydrate and lipid stores and that homeostasis is maintained by autophagy in prolonged darkness. We also report internal structural changes that manifest the morphological acclimation of cells to darkness, including the appearance of a large vacuole. Our results further show that immediately following a return to light, diatom cells are able to use photoprotective mechanisms and rapidly resume photosynthesis, demonstrating the remarkable robustness of polar diatoms to prolonged darkness at low temperature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie Joli
- Institut de Biologie de l'École Normale Supérieure (IBENS), École Normale Supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, PSL Université Paris, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Lorenzo Concia
- Institut de Biologie de l'École Normale Supérieure (IBENS), École Normale Supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, PSL Université Paris, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Karel Mocaer
- Cell Biology and Biophysics Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) & Collaboration for Joint PhD Degree between the European Molecular Biology Laboratory and the Heidelberg University, Faculty of Biosciences, 69117, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Julie Guterman
- Institut de Biologie de l'École Normale Supérieure (IBENS), École Normale Supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, PSL Université Paris, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Juliette Laude
- Institut de Biologie de l'École Normale Supérieure (IBENS), École Normale Supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, PSL Université Paris, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Sebastien Guerin
- Takuvik International Research Laboratory, Université Laval (Canada) & CNRS (France), Département de Biologie and Québec-Océan, Université Laval, Québec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Theo Sciandra
- Institut de Biologie de l'École Normale Supérieure (IBENS), École Normale Supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, PSL Université Paris, 75005, Paris, France
- Takuvik International Research Laboratory, Université Laval (Canada) & CNRS (France), Département de Biologie and Québec-Océan, Université Laval, Québec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Flavienne Bruyant
- Takuvik International Research Laboratory, Université Laval (Canada) & CNRS (France), Département de Biologie and Québec-Océan, Université Laval, Québec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Ouardia Ait-Mohamed
- Institut de Biologie de l'École Normale Supérieure (IBENS), École Normale Supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, PSL Université Paris, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Marine Beguin
- Takuvik International Research Laboratory, Université Laval (Canada) & CNRS (France), Département de Biologie and Québec-Océan, Université Laval, Québec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Marie-Helene Forget
- Takuvik International Research Laboratory, Université Laval (Canada) & CNRS (France), Département de Biologie and Québec-Océan, Université Laval, Québec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Clara Bourbousse
- Institut de Biologie de l'École Normale Supérieure (IBENS), École Normale Supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, PSL Université Paris, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Thomas Lacour
- Laboratoire PHYSiologie des micro ALGues (PDG-ODE-PHYTOX-PHYSALG), Centre Atlantique, 44 311, Nantes, France
| | - Benjamin Bailleul
- Laboratory of Chloroplast Biology and Light Sensing in Microalgae, Institut de Biologie Physico Chimique, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Paris, 75005, France
| | - Charlotte Nef
- Institut de Biologie de l'École Normale Supérieure (IBENS), École Normale Supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, PSL Université Paris, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Mireille Savoie
- Département de Biologie, Université Laval, Québec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada
| | | | | | - Johann Lavaud
- Takuvik International Research Laboratory, Université Laval (Canada) & CNRS (France), Département de Biologie and Québec-Océan, Université Laval, Québec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada
- UMR 6539 LEMAR-Laboratory of Environmental Marine Sciences, CNRS/Univ Brest/Ifremer/IRD, IUEM-Institut Européen de la Mer, Technopôle Brest-Iroise, rue Dumont d'Urville, 29280, Plouzané, France
| | - Yannick Schwab
- Cell Biology and Biophysics Unit and Electron Microscopy Core Facility, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), 69117, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Marcel Babin
- Takuvik International Research Laboratory, Université Laval (Canada) & CNRS (France), Département de Biologie and Québec-Océan, Université Laval, Québec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Chris Bowler
- Institut de Biologie de l'École Normale Supérieure (IBENS), École Normale Supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, PSL Université Paris, 75005, Paris, France
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3
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Junkins MS, Feng NY, Murphy LA, Curtis G, Merriman DK, Bagriantsev SN, Gracheva EO. Neural control of fluid homeostasis is engaged below 10°C in hibernation. Curr Biol 2024; 34:923-930.e5. [PMID: 38325375 PMCID: PMC11232715 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.01.035] [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: 05/14/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Thirteen-lined ground squirrels (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus) hibernate for several months each winter without access to water,1 but the mechanisms that maintain fluid homeostasis during hibernation are poorly understood. In torpor, when body temperature (TB) reaches 4°C, squirrels decrease metabolism, slow heart rate, and reduce plasma levels of the antidiuretic hormones arginine vasopressin (AVP) and oxytocin (OXT).1 Squirrels spontaneously undergo interbout arousal (IBA) every 2 weeks, temporarily recovering an active-like metabolism and a TB of 37°C for up to 48 h.1,2 Despite the low levels of AVP and OXT during torpor, profound increases in blood pressure and heart rate during the torpor-IBA transition are not associated with massive fluid loss, suggesting the existence of a mechanism that protects against diuresis at a low TB. Here, we demonstrate that the antidiuretic hormone release pathway is activated by hypothalamic supraoptic nucleus (SON) neurons early in the torpor-arousal transition. SON neuron activity, dense-core vesicle release from the posterior pituitary, and plasma hormone levels all begin to increase before TB reaches 10°C. In vivo fiber photometry of SON neurons from hibernating squirrels, together with RNA sequencing and c-FOS immunohistochemistry, confirms that SON is electrically, transcriptionally, and translationally active to monitor blood osmolality throughout the dynamic torpor-arousal transition. Our work emphasizes the importance of the antidiuretic pathway during the torpor-arousal transition and reveals that the neurophysiological mechanism that coordinates the hormonal response to retain fluid is active at an extremely low TB, which is prohibitive for these processes in non-hibernators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeleine S Junkins
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; Department of Neuroscience and Program in Cellular Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration and Repair, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Ni Y Feng
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; Department of Neuroscience and Program in Cellular Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration and Repair, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; Neuroscience & Behavior Program, Wesleyan University, 52 Lawn Ave, Middletown, CT 06459, USA.
| | - Lyle A Murphy
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Genevieve Curtis
- Department of Biology, Wesleyan University, 52 Lawn Ave, Middletown, CT 06459, USA
| | - Dana K Merriman
- Department of Biology, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, 800 Algoma Blvd, Oshkosh, WI 54901, USA
| | - Sviatoslav N Bagriantsev
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06510, USA.
| | - Elena O Gracheva
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; Department of Neuroscience and Program in Cellular Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration and Repair, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; Kavli Institute for Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06510, USA.
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4
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Haugg E, Borner J, Stalder G, Kübber‐Heiss A, Giroud S, Herwig A. Comparative transcriptomics of the garden dormouse hypothalamus during hibernation. FEBS Open Bio 2024; 14:241-257. [PMID: 37925593 PMCID: PMC10839406 DOI: 10.1002/2211-5463.13731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Torpor or heterothermy is an energy-saving mechanism used by endotherms to overcome harsh environmental conditions. During winter, the garden dormouse (Eliomys quercinus) hibernates with multiday torpor bouts and body temperatures of a few degrees Celsius, interrupted by brief euthermic phases. This study investigates gene expression within the hypothalamus, the key brain area controlling energy balance, adding information on differential gene expression potentially relevant to orchestrate torpor. A de novo assembled transcriptome of the hypothalamus was generated from garden dormice hibernating under constant darkness without food and water at 5 °C. Samples were collected during early torpor, late torpor, and interbout arousal. During early torpor, 765 genes were differentially expressed as compared with interbout arousal. Twenty-seven pathways were over-represented, including pathways related to hemostasis, extracellular matrix organization, and signaling of small molecules. Only 82 genes were found to be differentially expressed between early and late torpor, and no pathways were over-represented. During late torpor, 924 genes were differentially expressed relative to interbout arousal. Despite the high number of differentially expressed genes, only 10 pathways were over-represented. Of these, eight were also observed to be over-represented when comparing early torpor and interbout arousal. Our results are largely consistent with previous findings in other heterotherms. The addition of a transcriptome of a novel species may help to identify species-specific and overarching torpor mechanisms through future species comparisons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Haugg
- Institute of NeurobiologyUlm UniversityGermany
| | - Janus Borner
- Sackler Institute for Comparative GenomicsAmerican Museum of Natural HistoryNew YorkNYUSA
| | - Gabrielle Stalder
- Department of Interdisciplinary Life Sciences, Research Institute of Wildlife EcologyUniversity of Veterinary MedicineViennaAustria
| | - Anna Kübber‐Heiss
- Department of Interdisciplinary Life Sciences, Research Institute of Wildlife EcologyUniversity of Veterinary MedicineViennaAustria
| | - Sylvain Giroud
- Department of Interdisciplinary Life Sciences, Research Institute of Wildlife EcologyUniversity of Veterinary MedicineViennaAustria
- Energetics Lab, Department of BiologyNorthern Michigan UniversityMarquetteMIUSA
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5
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Li A, Leng H, Li Z, Jin L, Sun K, Feng J. Temporal dynamics of the bat wing transcriptome: Insight into gene-expression changes that enable protection against pathogen. Virulence 2023; 14:2156185. [PMID: 36599840 PMCID: PMC9815227 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2022.2156185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Skin acts as a mechanical barrier between the body and its surrounding environment and plays an important role in resistance to pathogens. However, we still know little regarding skin responses to physiological changes, particularly with regard to responses against potential pathogens. We herein executed RNA-seq on the wing of the Rhinolophus ferrumequinum to assess gene-expression variations at four physiological stages: pre-hibernation, hibernation (early-hibernation and late-hibernation), and post-hibernation, as well as the gene-expression patterns of infected and uninfected bats with the Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd). Our results showed that a greater number of differentially expressed genes between the more disparate physiological stages. Functional enrichment analysis showed that the down-regulated response pathways in hibernating bats included phosphorus metabolism and immune response, indicating metabolic suppression and decreased whole immune function. We also found up-regulated genes in post-hibernating bats that included C-type lectin receptor signalling, Toll-like receptor signalling pathway, and cell adhesion, suggesting that the immune response and skin integrity of the wing were improved after bats emerged from their hibernation and that this facilitated clearing Pd from the integument. Additionally, we found that the genes involved in cytokine or chemokine activity were up-regulated in late-hibernation compared to early-hibernation and that FOSB regulation of immune cell activation was differentially expressed in bats infected with Pd during late-hibernation, implying that the host's innate immune function was enhanced during late-hibernation so as to resist pathogenic infection. Our findings highlight the concept that maintenance of intrinsic immunity provides protection against pathogenic infections in highly resistant bats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aoqiang Li
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China,School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, China
| | - Haixia Leng
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
| | - Zhongle Li
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China,College of Life Science, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
| | - Longru Jin
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
| | - Keping Sun
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China,CONTACT Keping Sun
| | - Jiang Feng
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China,College of Life Science, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China,Jiang Feng
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Cuyutupa VR, Moser D, Diedrich V, Cheng Y, Billaud JN, Haugg E, Singer D, Bereiter-Hahn J, Herwig A, Choukér A. Blood transcriptomics mirror regulatory mechanisms during hibernation-a comparative analysis of the Djungarian hamster with other mammalian species. Pflugers Arch 2023; 475:1149-1160. [PMID: 37542567 PMCID: PMC10499953 DOI: 10.1007/s00424-023-02842-8] [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: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/07/2023]
Abstract
Hibernation enables many species of the mammalian kingdom to overcome periods of harsh environmental conditions. During this physically inactive state metabolic rate and body temperature are drastically downregulated, thereby reducing energy requirements (torpor) also over shorter time periods. Since blood cells reflect the organism´s current condition, it was suggested that transcriptomic alterations in blood cells mirror the torpor-associated physiological state. Transcriptomics on blood cells of torpid and non-torpid Djungarian hamsters and QIAGEN Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) revealed key target molecules (TMIPA), which were subjected to a comparative literature analysis on transcriptomic alterations during torpor/hibernation in other mammals. Gene expression similarities were identified in 148 TMIPA during torpor nadir among various organs and phylogenetically different mammalian species. Based on TMIPA, IPA network analyses corresponded with described inhibitions of basic cellular mechanisms and immune system-associated processes in torpid mammals. Moreover, protection against damage to the heart, kidney, and liver was deduced from this gene expression pattern in blood cells. This study shows that blood cell transcriptomics can reflect the general physiological state during torpor nadir. Furthermore, the understanding of molecular processes for torpor initiation and organ preservation may have beneficial implications for humans in extremely challenging environments, such as in medical intensive care units and in space.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Rojas Cuyutupa
- Laboratory of Translational Research 'Stress and Immunity', Department of Anesthesiology, LMU Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität in Munich, Marchioninistr. 15, Munich, 81377, Germany
| | - Dominique Moser
- Laboratory of Translational Research 'Stress and Immunity', Department of Anesthesiology, LMU Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität in Munich, Marchioninistr. 15, Munich, 81377, Germany
| | - Victoria Diedrich
- Institute of Neurobiology, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Yiming Cheng
- Gene Center and Department of Biochemistry, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität in Munich, Munich, Germany
- Institute for Diabetes and Obesity, Helmholtz, Munich, Neuherberg, Germany
| | | | - Elena Haugg
- Institute of Neurobiology, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Dominique Singer
- Division of Neonatology and Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, University Medical Center Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jürgen Bereiter-Hahn
- Institute for Cell Biology and Neurosciences, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Annika Herwig
- Institute of Neurobiology, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081, Ulm, Germany.
| | - Alexander Choukér
- Laboratory of Translational Research 'Stress and Immunity', Department of Anesthesiology, LMU Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität in Munich, Marchioninistr. 15, Munich, 81377, Germany.
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Kamata T, Yamada S, Sekijima T. Differential AMPK-mediated metabolic regulation observed in hibernation-style polymorphisms in Siberian chipmunks. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1220058. [PMID: 37664438 PMCID: PMC10468594 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1220058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Hibernation is a unique physiological phenomenon allowing extreme hypothermia in endothermic mammals. Hypometabolism and hypothermia tolerance in hibernating animals have been investigated with particular interest; recently, studies of cultured cells and manipulation of the nervous system have made it possible to reproduce physiological states related to hypothermia induction. However, much remains unknown about the periodic regulation of hibernation. In particular, the physiological mechanisms facilitating the switch from an active state to a hibernation period, including behavioral changes and the acquisition of hypothermia tolerance remain to be elucidated. AMPK is a protein known to play a central role not only in feeding behavior but also in metabolic regulation in response to starvation. Our previous research has revealed that chipmunks activate AMPK in the brain during hibernation. However, whether AMPK is activated during winter in non-hibernating animals is unknown. Previous comparative studies between hibernating and non-hibernating animals have often been conducted between different species, consequently it has been impossible to account for the effects of phylogenetic differences. Our long-term monitoring of siberian chipmunks, has revealed intraspecific variation between those individuals that hibernate annually and those that never become hypothermic. Apparent differences were found between hibernating and non-hibernating types with seasonal changes in lifespan and blood HP levels. By comparing seasonal changes in AMPK activity between these polymorphisms, we clarified the relationship between hibernation and AMPK regulation. In hibernating types, phosphorylation of p-AMPK and p-ACC was enhanced throughout the brain during hibernation, indicating that AMPK-mediated metabolic regulation is activated. In non-hibernating types, AMPK and ACC were not seasonally activated. In addition, AMPK activation in the hypothalamus had already begun during high Tb before hibernation. Changes in AMPK activity in the brain during hibernation may be driven by circannual rhythms, suggesting a hibernation-regulatory mechanism involving AMPK activation independent of Tb. The differences in brain AMPK regulation between hibernators and non-hibernators revealed in this study were based on a single species thus did not involve phylogenetic differences, thereby supporting the importance of brain temperature-independent AMPK activation in regulating seasonal metabolism in hibernating animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taito Kamata
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
- Faculty of Agriculture, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Shintaro Yamada
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
- Institute of Biomedical Science, Kansai Medical University, Osaka, Japan
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Mousavi S, Qiu H, Andrews MT, Checco JW. Peptidomic Analysis Reveals Seasonal Neuropeptide and Peptide Hormone Changes in the Hypothalamus and Pituitary of a Hibernating Mammal. ACS Chem Neurosci 2023; 14:2569-2581. [PMID: 37395621 PMCID: PMC10529138 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.3c00268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
During the winter, hibernating mammals undergo extreme changes in physiology, which allow them to survive several months without access to food. These animals enter a state of torpor, which is characterized by decreased metabolism, near-freezing body temperatures, and a dramatically reduced heart rate. The neurochemical basis of this regulation is largely unknown. Based on prior evidence suggesting that the peptide-rich hypothalamus plays critical roles in hibernation, we hypothesized that changes in specific cell-cell signaling peptides (neuropeptides and peptide hormones) underlie physiological changes during torpor/arousal cycles. To test this hypothesis, we used a mass spectrometry-based peptidomics approach to examine seasonal changes of endogenous peptides that occur in the hypothalamus and pituitary of a model hibernating mammal, the thirteen-lined ground squirrel (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus). In the pituitary, we observed changes in several distinct peptide hormones as animals prepared for torpor in October, exited torpor in March, and progressed from spring (March) to fall (August). In the hypothalamus, we observed an overall increase in neuropeptides in October (pre-torpor), a decrease as the animal entered torpor, and an increase in a subset of neuropeptides during normothermic interbout arousals. Notable changes were observed for feeding regulatory peptides, opioid peptides, and several peptides without well-established functions. Overall, our study provides critical insight into changes in endogenous peptides in the hypothalamus and pituitary during mammalian hibernation that were not available from transcriptomic measurements. Understanding the molecular basis of the hibernation phenotype may pave the way for future efforts to employ hibernation-like strategies for organ preservation, combating obesity, and treatment of stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Somayeh Mousavi
- Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588, United States
| | - Haowen Qiu
- Center for Biotechnology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588, United States
- The Nebraska Center for Integrated Biomolecular Communication (NCIBC), University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588, United States
| | - Matthew T. Andrews
- School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, United States
| | - James W. Checco
- Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588, United States
- The Nebraska Center for Integrated Biomolecular Communication (NCIBC), University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588, United States
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9
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Heinis FI, Alvarez S, Andrews MT. Mass spectrometry of the white adipose metabolome in a hibernating mammal reveals seasonal changes in alternate fuels and carnitine derivatives. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1214087. [PMID: 37449012 PMCID: PMC10337995 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1214087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Mammalian hibernators undergo substantial changes in metabolic function throughout the seasonal hibernation cycle. We report here the polar metabolomic profile of white adipose tissue isolated from active and hibernating thirteen-lined ground squirrels (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus). Polar compounds in white adipose tissue were extracted from five groups representing different timepoints throughout the seasonal activity-torpor cycle and analyzed using hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry in both the positive and negative ion modes. A total of 224 compounds out of 660 features detected after curation were annotated. Unsupervised clustering using principal component analysis revealed discrete clusters representing the different seasonal timepoints throughout hibernation. One-way analysis of variance and feature intensity heatmaps revealed metabolites that varied in abundance between active and torpid timepoints. Pathway analysis compared against the KEGG database demonstrated enrichment of amino acid metabolism, purine metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, and coenzyme A biosynthetic pathways among our identified compounds. Numerous carnitine derivatives and a ketone that serves as an alternate fuel source, beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), were among molecules found to be elevated during torpor. Elevated levels of the BHB-carnitine conjugate during torpor suggests the synthesis of beta-hydroxybutyrate in white adipose mitochondria, which may contribute directly to elevated levels of circulating BHB during hibernation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frazer I. Heinis
- School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, United States
| | - Sophie Alvarez
- Proteomics and Metabolomics Facility, Nebraska Center for Biotechnology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, United States
| | - Matthew T. Andrews
- School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, United States
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10
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Christmas MJ, Kaplow IM, Genereux DP, Dong MX, Hughes GM, Li X, Sullivan PF, Hindle AG, Andrews G, Armstrong JC, Bianchi M, Breit AM, Diekhans M, Fanter C, Foley NM, Goodman DB, Goodman L, Keough KC, Kirilenko B, Kowalczyk A, Lawless C, Lind AL, Meadows JRS, Moreira LR, Redlich RW, Ryan L, Swofford R, Valenzuela A, Wagner F, Wallerman O, Brown AR, Damas J, Fan K, Gatesy J, Grimshaw J, Johnson J, Kozyrev SV, Lawler AJ, Marinescu VD, Morrill KM, Osmanski A, Paulat NS, Phan BN, Reilly SK, Schäffer DE, Steiner C, Supple MA, Wilder AP, Wirthlin ME, Xue JR, Birren BW, Gazal S, Hubley RM, Koepfli KP, Marques-Bonet T, Meyer WK, Nweeia M, Sabeti PC, Shapiro B, Smit AFA, Springer MS, Teeling EC, Weng Z, Hiller M, Levesque DL, Lewin HA, Murphy WJ, Navarro A, Paten B, Pollard KS, Ray DA, Ruf I, Ryder OA, Pfenning AR, Lindblad-Toh K, Karlsson EK. Evolutionary constraint and innovation across hundreds of placental mammals. Science 2023; 380:eabn3943. [PMID: 37104599 PMCID: PMC10250106 DOI: 10.1126/science.abn3943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 61.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
Zoonomia is the largest comparative genomics resource for mammals produced to date. By aligning genomes for 240 species, we identify bases that, when mutated, are likely to affect fitness and alter disease risk. At least 332 million bases (~10.7%) in the human genome are unusually conserved across species (evolutionarily constrained) relative to neutrally evolving repeats, and 4552 ultraconserved elements are nearly perfectly conserved. Of 101 million significantly constrained single bases, 80% are outside protein-coding exons and half have no functional annotations in the Encyclopedia of DNA Elements (ENCODE) resource. Changes in genes and regulatory elements are associated with exceptional mammalian traits, such as hibernation, that could inform therapeutic development. Earth's vast and imperiled biodiversity offers distinctive power for identifying genetic variants that affect genome function and organismal phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J. Christmas
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, 751 32 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Irene M. Kaplow
- Department of Computational Biology, School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Neuroscience Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | | | - Michael X. Dong
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, 751 32 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Graham M. Hughes
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Xue Li
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Program in Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Patrick F. Sullivan
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina Medical School, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Allyson G. Hindle
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV 89154, USA
| | - Gregory Andrews
- Program in Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Joel C. Armstrong
- Genomics Institute, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Matteo Bianchi
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, 751 32 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ana M. Breit
- School of Biology and Ecology, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469, USA
| | - Mark Diekhans
- Genomics Institute, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Cornelia Fanter
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV 89154, USA
| | - Nicole M. Foley
- Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Daniel B. Goodman
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | | | - Kathleen C. Keough
- Fauna Bio, Inc., Emeryville, CA 94608, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Bogdan Kirilenko
- Faculty of Biosciences, Goethe-University, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany
- LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics, 60325 Frankfurt, Germany
- Senckenberg Research Institute, 60325 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Amanda Kowalczyk
- Department of Computational Biology, School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Neuroscience Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Colleen Lawless
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Abigail L. Lind
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Jennifer R. S. Meadows
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, 751 32 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Lucas R. Moreira
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Program in Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Ruby W. Redlich
- Department of Biological Sciences, Mellon College of Science, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Louise Ryan
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Ross Swofford
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Alejandro Valenzuela
- Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Institute of Evolutionary Biology (UPF-CSIC), Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Franziska Wagner
- Museum of Zoology, Senckenberg Natural History Collections Dresden, 01109 Dresden, Germany
| | - Ola Wallerman
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, 751 32 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ashley R. Brown
- Department of Computational Biology, School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Neuroscience Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Joana Damas
- The Genome Center, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Kaili Fan
- Program in Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - John Gatesy
- Division of Vertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY 10024, USA
| | - Jenna Grimshaw
- Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA
| | - Jeremy Johnson
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Sergey V. Kozyrev
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, 751 32 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Alyssa J. Lawler
- Neuroscience Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Mellon College of Science, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Voichita D. Marinescu
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, 751 32 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Kathleen M. Morrill
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Program in Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Austin Osmanski
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Nicole S. Paulat
- Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA
| | - BaDoi N. Phan
- Department of Computational Biology, School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Neuroscience Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Steven K. Reilly
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Daniel E. Schäffer
- Department of Computational Biology, School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Cynthia Steiner
- Conservation Genetics, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, Escondido, CA 92027, USA
| | - Megan A. Supple
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Aryn P. Wilder
- Conservation Genetics, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, Escondido, CA 92027, USA
| | - Morgan E. Wirthlin
- Department of Computational Biology, School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Neuroscience Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - James R. Xue
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | | | - Bruce W. Birren
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Steven Gazal
- Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | | | - Klaus-Peter Koepfli
- Center for Species Survival, Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Washington, DC 20008, USA
- Computer Technologies Laboratory, ITMO University, St. Petersburg 197101, Russia
- Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation, George Mason University, Front Royal, VA 22630, USA
| | - Tomas Marques-Bonet
- Catalan Institution of Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), 08010 Barcelona, Spain
- CNAG-CRG, Centre for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Institute of Evolutionary Biology (UPF-CSIC), Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
- Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Wynn K. Meyer
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA 18015, USA
| | - Martin Nweeia
- Department of Comprehensive Care, School of Dental Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa, Ontario K2P 2R1, Canada
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20002, USA
- Narwhal Genome Initiative, Department of Restorative Dentistry and Biomaterials Sciences, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Pardis C. Sabeti
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Beth Shapiro
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | | | - Mark S. Springer
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Emma C. Teeling
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Zhiping Weng
- Program in Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Michael Hiller
- Faculty of Biosciences, Goethe-University, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany
- LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics, 60325 Frankfurt, Germany
- Senckenberg Research Institute, 60325 Frankfurt, Germany
| | | | - Harris A. Lewin
- The Genome Center, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
- John Muir Institute for the Environment, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - William J. Murphy
- Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Arcadi Navarro
- Catalan Institution of Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), 08010 Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Institute of Evolutionary Biology (UPF-CSIC), Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
- BarcelonaBeta Brain Research Center, Pasqual Maragall Foundation, 08005 Barcelona, Spain
- CRG, Centre for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Benedict Paten
- Genomics Institute, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Katherine S. Pollard
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - David A. Ray
- Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA
| | - Irina Ruf
- Division of Messel Research and Mammalogy, Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Oliver A. Ryder
- Conservation Genetics, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, Escondido, CA 92027, USA
- Department of Evolution, Behavior and Ecology, School of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92039, USA
| | - Andreas R. Pfenning
- Department of Computational Biology, School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Neuroscience Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Kerstin Lindblad-Toh
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, 751 32 Uppsala, Sweden
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Elinor K. Karlsson
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Program in Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Program in Molecular Medicine, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
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11
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López JM, Carballeira P, Pozo J, León-Espinosa G, Muñoz A. Hypothalamic orexinergic neuron changes during the hibernation of the Syrian hamster. Front Neuroanat 2022; 16:993421. [PMID: 36157325 PMCID: PMC9501701 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2022.993421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Hibernation in small mammals is a highly regulated process with periods of torpor involving drops in body temperature and metabolic rate, as well as a general decrease in neural activity, all of which proceed alongside complex brain adaptive changes that appear to protect the brain from extreme hypoxia and low temperatures. All these changes are rapidly reversed, with no apparent brain damage occurring, during the short periods of arousal, interspersed during torpor—characterized by transitory and partial rewarming and activity, including sleep activation, and feeding in some species. The orexins are neuropeptides synthesized in hypothalamic neurons that project to multiple brain regions and are known to participate in the regulation of a variety of processes including feeding behavior, the sleep-wake cycle, and autonomic functions such as brown adipose tissue thermogenesis. Using multiple immunohistochemical techniques and quantitative analysis, we have characterized the orexinergic system in the brain of the Syrian hamster—a facultative hibernator. Our results revealed that orexinergic neurons in this species consisted of a neuronal population restricted to the lateral hypothalamic area, whereas orexinergic fibers distribute throughout the rostrocaudal extent of the brain, particularly innervating catecholaminergic and serotonergic neuronal populations. We characterized the changes of orexinergic cells in the different phases of hibernation based on the intensity of immunostaining for the neuronal activity marker C-Fos and orexin A (OXA). During torpor, we found an increase in C-Fos immunostaining intensity in orexinergic neurons, accompanied by a decrease in OXA immunostaining. These changes were accompanied by a volume reduction and a fragmentation of the Golgi apparatus (GA) as well as a decrease in the colocalization of OXA and the GA marker GM-130. Importantly, during arousal, C-Fos and OXA expression in orexinergic neurons was highest and the structural appearance and the volume of the GA along with the colocalization of OXA/GM-130 reverted to euthermic levels. We discuss the involvement of orexinergic cells in the regulation of mammalian hibernation and, in particular, the possibility that the high activation of orexinergic cells during the arousal stage guides the rewarming as well as the feeding and sleep behaviors characteristic of this phase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesús M. López
- Departamento de Biología Celular, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain
| | - Paula Carballeira
- Departamento de Biología Celular, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Pozo
- Departamento de Biología Celular, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain
| | - Gonzalo León-Espinosa
- Departamento de Química y Bioquímica, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad San Pablo-Centro de Estudios Universitarios (CEU), Madrid, Spain
| | - Alberto Muñoz
- Departamento de Biología Celular, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain
- Laboratorio Cajal de Circuitos Corticales, Centro de Tecnología Biomédica (CTB), Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Instituto Cajal, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
- *Correspondence: Alberto Muñoz,
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12
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Chen W, Mao X. Impacts of seasonality on gene expression in the Chinese horseshoe bat. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e8923. [PMID: 35592062 PMCID: PMC9100453 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Revised: 04/23/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Seasonality can cause changes in many environmental factors which potentially affects gene expression. Here, we used a bat species (Rhinolophus sinicus) from eastern China as a model to explore the molecular mechanisms of seasonal effects, in particular during phenological shifts in the spring and autumn. Based on the analysis of 45 RNA-seq samples, we found strong seasonal effects on gene expression, with a large number of genes identified as either specific or biased to each season. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis also identified multiple modules significantly associated with each season. These seasonal genes were further enriched into different functional categories. Consistent with effects of phenological shifts on bats, we found that genes related to promoting food intake were highly expressed in both autumn and spring. In addition, immunity genes were also highly expressed in both seasons although this seasonal immune response had tissue specificity in different seasons. In female bats, genes related to the delay of ovulation (e.g., NPPC, natriuretic peptide precursor type C) were highly expressed in October, while genes associated with the promotion of reproduction (e.g., DIO2, iodothyronine deiodinase 2) were biasedly expressed in April. Lastly, we found multiple known core clock genes in both October-biased and April-biased expressed genes, which may be involved in regulating the start and end of hibernation, respectively. Overall, together with studies in other land and aquatic animals, our work supports that seasonal gene expression variations may be a general evolutionary response to environmental changes in wild animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenli Chen
- School of Ecological and Environmental SciencesEast China Normal UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Xiuguang Mao
- School of Ecological and Environmental SciencesEast China Normal UniversityShanghaiChina
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13
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Hibernation slows epigenetic ageing in yellow-bellied marmots. Nat Ecol Evol 2022; 6:418-426. [PMID: 35256811 PMCID: PMC8986532 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-022-01679-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Species that hibernate generally live longer than would be expected based solely on their body size. Hibernation is characterized by long periods of metabolic suppression (torpor) interspersed by short periods of increased metabolism (arousal). The torpor–arousal cycles occur multiple times during hibernation, and it has been suggested that processes controlling the transition between torpor and arousal states cause ageing suppression. Metabolic rate is also a known correlate of longevity; we thus proposed the ‘hibernation–ageing hypothesis’ whereby ageing is suspended during hibernation. We tested this hypothesis in a well-studied population of yellow-bellied marmots (Marmota flaviventer), which spend 7–8 months per year hibernating. We used two approaches to estimate epigenetic age: the epigenetic clock and the epigenetic pacemaker. Variation in epigenetic age of 149 samples collected throughout the life of 73 females was modelled using generalized additive mixed models (GAMM), where season (cyclic cubic spline) and chronological age (cubic spline) were fixed effects. As expected, the GAMM using epigenetic ages calculated from the epigenetic pacemaker was better able to detect nonlinear patterns in epigenetic ageing over time. We observed a logarithmic curve of epigenetic age with time, where the epigenetic age increased at a higher rate until females reached sexual maturity (two years old). With respect to circannual patterns, the epigenetic age increased during the active season and essentially stalled during the hibernation period. Taken together, our results are consistent with the hibernation–ageing hypothesis and may explain the enhanced longevity in hibernators. Species that hibernate generally have longer lifespans than expected based on their body size. The authors show epigenetic ageing patterns from a natural population of hibernating yellow-bellied marmots consistent with the hypothesis that ageing is suspended during hibernation.
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14
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Junkins MS, Bagriantsev SN, Gracheva EO. Towards understanding the neural origins of hibernation. J Exp Biol 2022; 225:273864. [PMID: 34982152 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.229542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Hibernators thrive under harsh environmental conditions instead of initiating canonical behavioral and physiological responses to promote survival. Although the physiological changes that occur during hibernation have been comprehensively researched, the role of the nervous system in this process remains relatively underexplored. In this Review, we adopt the perspective that the nervous system plays an active, essential role in facilitating and supporting hibernation. Accumulating evidence strongly suggests that the hypothalamus enters a quiescent state in which powerful drives to thermoregulate, eat and drink are suppressed. Similarly, cardiovascular and pulmonary reflexes originating in the brainstem are altered to permit the profoundly slow heart and breathing rates observed during torpor. The mechanisms underlying these changes to the hypothalamus and brainstem are not currently known, but several neuromodulatory systems have been implicated in the induction and maintenance of hibernation. The intersection of these findings with modern neuroscience approaches, such as optogenetics and in vivo calcium imaging, has opened several exciting avenues for hibernation research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeleine S Junkins
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06510, USA.,Department of Neuroscience and Program in Cellular Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration and Repair, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Sviatoslav N Bagriantsev
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Elena O Gracheva
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06510, USA.,Department of Neuroscience and Program in Cellular Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration and Repair, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
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15
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Integrative transcription start site analysis and physiological phenotyping reveal torpor-specific expression program in mouse skeletal muscle. Commun Biol 2021; 4:1290. [PMID: 34782710 PMCID: PMC8592991 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02819-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Mice enter an active hypometabolic state, called daily torpor when they experience a lowered caloric intake under cold ambient temperature. During torpor, the oxygen consumption rate in some animals drops to less than 30% of the normal rate without harming the body. This safe but severe reduction in metabolism is attractive for various clinical applications; however, the mechanism and molecules involved are unclear. Therefore, here we systematically analyzed the gene expression landscape on the level of the RNA transcription start sites in mouse skeletal muscles under various metabolic states to identify torpor-specific transcribed regulatory patterns. We analyzed the soleus muscles from 38 mice in torpid and non-torpid conditions and identified 287 torpor-specific promoters out of 12,862 detected promoters. Furthermore, we found that the transcription factor ATF3 is highly expressed during torpor deprivation and its binding motif is enriched in torpor-specific promoters. Atf3 was also highly expressed in the heart and brown adipose tissue during torpor and systemically knocking out Atf3 affected the torpor phenotype. Our results demonstrate that mouse torpor combined with powerful genetic tools is useful for studying active hypometabolism.
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16
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Convergent evolution of a genomic rearrangement may explain cancer resistance in hystrico- and sciuromorpha rodents. NPJ Aging Mech Dis 2021; 7:20. [PMID: 34471123 PMCID: PMC8410860 DOI: 10.1038/s41514-021-00072-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The rodents of hystricomorpha and sciuromorpha suborders exhibit remarkably lower incidence of cancer. The underlying genetic basis remains obscure. We report a convergent evolutionary split of human 3p21.31, a locus hosting a large number of tumour-suppressor genes (TSGs) and frequently deleted in several tumour types, in hystrico- and sciuromorphs. Analysis of 34 vertebrate genomes revealed that the synteny of 3p21.31 cluster is functionally and evolutionarily constrained in most placental mammals, but exhibit large genomic interruptions independently in hystricomorphs and sciuromorphs, owing to relaxation of underlying constraints. Hystrico- and sciuromorphs, therefore, escape from pro-tumorigenic co-deletion of several TSGs in cis. The split 3p21.31 sub-clusters gained proximity to proto-oncogene clusters from elsewhere, which might further nullify pro-tumorigenic impact of copy number variations due to co-deletion or co-amplification of genes with opposing effects. The split of 3p21.31 locus coincided with the accelerated rate of its gene expression and the body mass evolution of ancestral hystrico- and sciuromorphs. The genes near breakpoints were associated with the traits specific to hystrico- and sciuromorphs, implying adaptive significance. We conclude that the convergently evolved chromosomal interruptions of evolutionarily constrained 3p21.31 cluster might have impacted evolution of cancer resistance, body mass variation and ecological adaptations in hystrico- and sciuromorphs.
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17
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Buggiotti L, Yurchenko AA, Yudin NS, Vander Jagt CJ, Vorobieva NV, Kusliy MA, Vasiliev SK, Rodionov AN, Boronetskaya OI, Zinovieva NA, Graphodatsky AS, Daetwyler HD, Larkin DM. Demographic History, Adaptation, and NRAP Convergent Evolution at Amino Acid Residue 100 in the World Northernmost Cattle from Siberia. Mol Biol Evol 2021; 38:3093-3110. [PMID: 33784744 PMCID: PMC8321547 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msab078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Native cattle breeds represent an important cultural heritage. They are a reservoir of genetic variation useful for properly responding to agriculture needs in the light of ongoing climate changes. Evolutionary processes that occur in response to extreme environmental conditions could also be better understood using adapted local populations. Herein, different evolutionary histories of the world northernmost native cattle breeds from Russia were investigated. They highlighted Kholmogory as a typical taurine cattle, whereas Yakut cattle separated from European taurines approximately 5,000 years ago and contain numerous ancestral and some novel genetic variants allowing their adaptation to harsh conditions of living above the Polar Circle. Scans for selection signatures pointed to several common gene pathways related to adaptation to harsh climates in both breeds. But genes affected by selection from these pathways were mostly different. A Yakut cattle breed-specific missense mutation in a highly conserved NRAP gene represents a unique example of a young amino acid residue convergent change shared with at least 16 species of hibernating/cold-adapted mammals from six distinct phylogenetic orders. This suggests a convergent evolution event along the mammalian phylogenetic tree and fast fixation in a single isolated cattle population exposed to a harsh climate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Buggiotti
- Royal Veterinary College, University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Andrey A Yurchenko
- The Federal Research Center Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (ICG SB RAS), Novosibirsk, Russia
- Kurchatov Genomics Center, Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Science, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Nikolay S Yudin
- The Federal Research Center Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (ICG SB RAS), Novosibirsk, Russia
- Kurchatov Genomics Center, Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Science, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | | | - Nadezhda V Vorobieva
- Department of the Diversity and Evolution of Genomes, Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Mariya A Kusliy
- Department of the Diversity and Evolution of Genomes, Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Sergei K Vasiliev
- Paleometal Archeology Department, Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Andrey N Rodionov
- L.K. Ernst Federal Research Centre for Animal Husbandry, Podolsk, Russia
| | - Oksana I Boronetskaya
- Moscow Agrarian Academy, Timiryazev Russian State Agrarian University, Moscow, Russia
| | | | - Alexander S Graphodatsky
- Department of the Diversity and Evolution of Genomes, Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Hans D Daetwyler
- Agriculture Victoria, AgriBio, Centre for AgriBioscience, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
- School of Applied Systems Biology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
| | - Denis M Larkin
- Royal Veterinary College, University of London, London, United Kingdom
- The Federal Research Center Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (ICG SB RAS), Novosibirsk, Russia
- Kurchatov Genomics Center, Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Science, Novosibirsk, Russia
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18
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Niiranen L, Mäkelä KA, Dona A, Krumsiek J, Karhu T, Mäkinen MJ, Thalmann O, Saarela S, Herzig KH. Seasonal Regulation of Metabolism: The Effect of Wintertime Fasting and Autumnal Fattening on Key Central Regulators of Metabolism and the Metabolic Profile of the Raccoon Dog ( Nyctereutes Procyonoides). Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22094965. [PMID: 34067001 PMCID: PMC8125260 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22094965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Revised: 04/24/2021] [Accepted: 04/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Investigations into the mechanisms regulating obesity are frantic and novel translational approaches are needed. The raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) is a canid species representing a promising model to study metabolic regulation in a species undergoing cycles of seasonal obesity and fasting. To understand the molecular mechanisms of metabolic regulation in seasonal adaptation, we analyzed key central nervous system and peripheral signals regulating food intake and metabolism from raccoon dogs after autumnal fattening and winter fasting. Expressions of neuropeptide Y (NPY), orexin-2 receptor (OX2R), pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) and leptin receptor (ObRb) were analyzed as examples of orexigenic and anorexigenic signals using qRT-PCR from raccoon dog hypothalamus samples. Plasma metabolic profiles were measured with 1H NMR-spectroscopy and LC-MS. Circulating hormones and cytokines were determined with canine specific antibody assays. Surprisingly, NPY and POMC were not affected by the winter fasting nor autumn fattening and the metabolic profiles showed a remarkable equilibrium, indicating conserved homeostasis. However, OX2R and ObRb expression changes suggested seasonal regulation. Circulating cytokine levels were not increased, demonstrating that the autumn fattening did not induce subacute inflammation. Thus, the raccoon dog developed seasonal regulatory mechanisms to accommodate the autumnal fattening and prolonged fasting making the species unique in coping with the extreme environmental challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Niiranen
- Research Unit of Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 5000, FIN-90014 Oulu, Finland; (L.N.); (K.A.M.); (T.K.); (O.T.)
| | - Kari A. Mäkelä
- Research Unit of Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 5000, FIN-90014 Oulu, Finland; (L.N.); (K.A.M.); (T.K.); (O.T.)
| | - Anthony Dona
- Kolling Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney, St Leonards, NSW 2065, Australia;
| | - Jan Krumsiek
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Englander Institute for Precision Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA;
| | - Toni Karhu
- Research Unit of Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 5000, FIN-90014 Oulu, Finland; (L.N.); (K.A.M.); (T.K.); (O.T.)
| | - Markus J. Mäkinen
- Cancer and Translational Medicine Research Unit, Department of Pathology, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 5000, FIN-90014 Oulu, Finland;
- Medical Research Center Oulu, P.O Box 8000, FIN-90014 Oulu, Finland
- Department of Pathology, Oulu University Hospital, P.O. Box 5000, FIN-90014 Oulu, Finland
| | - Olaf Thalmann
- Research Unit of Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 5000, FIN-90014 Oulu, Finland; (L.N.); (K.A.M.); (T.K.); (O.T.)
- Institute of Pediatrics, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, 60-572 Poznań, Poland
| | - Seppo Saarela
- Ecology and Genetics Research Unit, Faculty of Science, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 3000, FIN-90014 Oulu, Finland;
| | - Karl-Heinz Herzig
- Research Unit of Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 5000, FIN-90014 Oulu, Finland; (L.N.); (K.A.M.); (T.K.); (O.T.)
- Institute of Pediatrics, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, 60-572 Poznań, Poland
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +358-29-448-5280
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19
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Frare C, Drew KL. Seasonal changes in adenosine kinase in tanycytes of the Arctic ground squirrel (Urocitellus parryii). J Chem Neuroanat 2021; 113:101920. [PMID: 33515665 PMCID: PMC8091519 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchemneu.2021.101920] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Revised: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Hibernation is a seasonal strategy to conserve energy, characterized by modified thermoregulation, an increase in sleep pressure and drastic metabolic changes. Glial cells such as astrocytes and tanycytes are the brain metabolic sensors, but it remains unknown whether they contribute to seasonal expression of hibernation. The onset of hibernation is controlled by an undefined endogenous circannual rhythm in which adenosine plays a role through the activation of the A1 adenosine receptor (A1AR). Seasonal changes in brain levels of adenosine may contribute to an increase in A1AR sensitivity leading to the onset of hibernation. The primary regulator of extracellular adenosine concentration is adenosine kinase, which is located in astrocytes. Using immunohistochemistry to localize and quantify adenosine kinase in Arctic ground squirrels' brain collected during different seasons, we report lower expression of adenosine kinase in the third ventricle tanycytes in winter compared to summer; a similar change was not seen in astrocytes. Moreover, for the first time, we describe adenosine kinase expression in tanycyte cell bodies in the hypothalamus and in the area postrema, both brain regions involved in energy homeostasis. Next we describe seasonal changes in tanycyte morphology in the hypothalamus. Although still speculative, our findings contribute to a model whereby adenosine kinase in tanycytes regulates seasonal changes in extracellular concentration of adenosine underling the seasonal expression of hibernation.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Frare
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 900 Yukon Drive Rm. 194, Fairbanks, AK 99775-6160, USA; Institute of Arctic Biology, Center for Transformative Research in Metabolism, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2140 Koyukuk Drive, Fairbanks, AK 99775-7000 USA
| | - K L Drew
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 900 Yukon Drive Rm. 194, Fairbanks, AK 99775-6160, USA; Institute of Arctic Biology, Center for Transformative Research in Metabolism, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2140 Koyukuk Drive, Fairbanks, AK 99775-7000 USA.
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20
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Dias IB, Bouma HR, Henning RH. Unraveling the Big Sleep: Molecular Aspects of Stem Cell Dormancy and Hibernation. Front Physiol 2021; 12:624950. [PMID: 33867999 PMCID: PMC8047423 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.624950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2020] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Tissue-resident stem cells may enter a dormant state, also known as quiescence, which allows them to withstand metabolic stress and unfavorable conditions. Similarly, hibernating mammals can also enter a state of dormancy used to evade hostile circumstances, such as food shortage and low ambient temperatures. In hibernation, the dormant state of the individual and its cells is commonly known as torpor, and is characterized by metabolic suppression in individual cells. Given that both conditions represent cell survival strategies, we here compare the molecular aspects of cellular quiescence, particularly of well-studied hematopoietic stem cells, and torpor at the cellular level. Critical processes of dormancy are reviewed, including the suppression of the cell cycle, changes in metabolic characteristics, and cellular mechanisms of dealing with damage. Key factors shared by hematopoietic stem cell quiescence and torpor include a reversible activation of factors inhibiting the cell cycle, a shift in metabolism from glucose to fatty acid oxidation, downregulation of mitochondrial activity, key changes in hypoxia-inducible factor one alpha (HIF-1α), mTOR, reversible protein phosphorylation and autophagy, and increased radiation resistance. This similarity is remarkable in view of the difference in cell populations, as stem cell quiescence regards proliferating cells, while torpor mainly involves terminally differentiated cells. A future perspective is provided how to advance our understanding of the crucial pathways that allow stem cells and hibernating animals to engage in their 'great slumbers.'
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Affiliation(s)
- Itamar B. Dias
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Hjalmar R. Bouma
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
- Department of Internal Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Robert H. Henning
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
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21
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Giroud S, Habold C, Nespolo RF, Mejías C, Terrien J, Logan SM, Henning RH, Storey KB. The Torpid State: Recent Advances in Metabolic Adaptations and Protective Mechanisms †. Front Physiol 2021; 11:623665. [PMID: 33551846 PMCID: PMC7854925 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.623665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Torpor and hibernation are powerful strategies enabling animals to survive periods of low resource availability. The state of torpor results from an active and drastic reduction of an individual's metabolic rate (MR) associated with a relatively pronounced decrease in body temperature. To date, several forms of torpor have been described in all three mammalian subclasses, i.e., monotremes, marsupials, and placentals, as well as in a few avian orders. This review highlights some of the characteristics, from the whole organism down to cellular and molecular aspects, associated with the torpor phenotype. The first part of this review focuses on the specific metabolic adaptations of torpor, as it is used by many species from temperate zones. This notably includes the endocrine changes involved in fat- and food-storing hibernating species, explaining biomedical implications of MR depression. We further compare adaptive mechanisms occurring in opportunistic vs. seasonal heterotherms, such as tropical and sub-tropical species. Such comparisons bring new insights into the metabolic origins of hibernation among tropical species, including resistance mechanisms to oxidative stress. The second section of this review emphasizes the mechanisms enabling heterotherms to protect their key organs against potential threats, such as reactive oxygen species, associated with the torpid state. We notably address the mechanisms of cellular rehabilitation and protection during torpor and hibernation, with an emphasis on the brain, a central organ requiring protection during torpor and recovery. Also, a special focus is given to the role of an ubiquitous and readily-diffusing molecule, hydrogen sulfide (H2S), in protecting against ischemia-reperfusion damage in various organs over the torpor-arousal cycle and during the torpid state. We conclude that (i) the flexibility of torpor use as an adaptive strategy enables different heterothermic species to substantially suppress their energy needs during periods of severely reduced food availability, (ii) the torpor phenotype implies marked metabolic adaptations from the whole organism down to cellular and molecular levels, and (iii) the torpid state is associated with highly efficient rehabilitation and protective mechanisms ensuring the continuity of proper bodily functions. Comparison of mechanisms in monotremes and marsupials is warranted for understanding the origin and evolution of mammalian torpor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvain Giroud
- Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, Department of Interdisciplinary Life Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Caroline Habold
- University of Strasbourg, CNRS, IPHC, UMR 7178, Strasbourg, France
| | - Roberto F. Nespolo
- Instituto de Ciencias Ambientales y Evolutivas, Universidad Austral de Chile, ANID – Millennium Science Initiative Program-iBio, Valdivia, Chile
- Center of Applied Ecology and Sustainability, Departamento de Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Carlos Mejías
- Instituto de Ciencias Ambientales y Evolutivas, Universidad Austral de Chile, ANID – Millennium Science Initiative Program-iBio, Valdivia, Chile
- Center of Applied Ecology and Sustainability, Departamento de Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Jérémy Terrien
- Unité Mécanismes Adaptatifs et Evolution (MECADEV), UMR 7179, CNRS, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Brunoy, France
| | | | - Robert H. Henning
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
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22
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Fu R, Gillen AE, Grabek KR, Riemondy KA, Epperson LE, Bustamante CD, Hesselberth JR, Martin SL. Dynamic RNA Regulation in the Brain Underlies Physiological Plasticity in a Hibernating Mammal. Front Physiol 2021; 11:624677. [PMID: 33536943 PMCID: PMC7848201 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.624677] [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] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Hibernation is a physiological and behavioral phenotype that minimizes energy expenditure. Hibernators cycle between profound depression and rapid hyperactivation of multiple physiological processes, challenging our concept of mammalian homeostasis. How the hibernator orchestrates and survives these extremes while maintaining cell to organismal viability is unknown. Here, we enhance the genome integrity and annotation of a model hibernator, the 13-lined ground squirrel. Our new assembly brings this genome to near chromosome-level contiguity and adds thousands of previously unannotated genes. These new genomic resources were used to identify 6,505 hibernation-related, differentially-expressed and processed transcripts using RNA-seq data from three brain regions in animals whose physiological status was precisely defined using body temperature telemetry. A software tool, squirrelBox, was developed to foster further data analyses and visualization. SquirrelBox includes a comprehensive toolset for rapid visualization of gene level and cluster group dynamics, sequence scanning of k-mer and domains, and interactive exploration of gene lists. Using these new tools and data, we deconvolute seasonal from temperature-dependent effects on the brain transcriptome during hibernation for the first time, highlighting the importance of carefully timed samples for studies of differential gene expression in hibernation. The identified genes include a regulatory network of RNA binding proteins that are dynamic in hibernation along with the composition of the RNA pool. In addition to passive effects of temperature, we provide evidence for regulated transcription and RNA turnover during hibernation. Significant alternative splicing, largely temperature dependent, also occurs during hibernation. These findings form a crucial first step and provide a roadmap for future work toward defining novel mechanisms of tissue protection and metabolic depression that may 1 day be applied toward improving human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Fu
- RNA Bioscience Initiative, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Austin E Gillen
- RNA Bioscience Initiative, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Katharine R Grabek
- Fauna Bio Incorporated, Emeryville, CA, United States.,Department of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Kent A Riemondy
- RNA Bioscience Initiative, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - L Elaine Epperson
- Center for Genes, Environment & Health, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO, United States
| | - Carlos D Bustamante
- Department of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Jay R Hesselberth
- RNA Bioscience Initiative, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Sandra L Martin
- RNA Bioscience Initiative, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States.,Department of Cell & Developmental Biology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, United States
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23
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Hibernation as a Tool for Radiation Protection in Space Exploration. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:life11010054. [PMID: 33466717 PMCID: PMC7828799 DOI: 10.3390/life11010054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Revised: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
With new and advanced technology, human exploration has reached outside of the Earth's boundaries. There are plans for reaching Mars and the satellites of Jupiter and Saturn, and even to build a permanent base on the Moon. However, human beings have evolved on Earth with levels of gravity and radiation that are very different from those that we have to face in space. These issues seem to pose a significant limitation on exploration. Although there are plausible solutions for problems related to the lack of gravity, it is still unclear how to address the radiation problem. Several solutions have been proposed, such as passive or active shielding or the use of specific drugs that could reduce the effects of radiation. Recently, a method that reproduces a mechanism similar to hibernation or torpor, known as synthetic torpor, has started to become possible. Several studies show that hibernators are resistant to acute high-dose-rate radiation exposure. However, the underlying mechanism of how this occurs remains unclear, and further investigation is needed. Whether synthetic hibernation will also protect from the deleterious effects of chronic low-dose-rate radiation exposure is currently unknown. Hibernators can modulate their neuronal firing, adjust their cardiovascular function, regulate their body temperature, preserve their muscles during prolonged inactivity, regulate their immune system, and most importantly, increase their radioresistance during the inactive period. According to recent studies, synthetic hibernation, just like natural hibernation, could mitigate radiation-induced toxicity. In this review, we see what artificial hibernation is and how it could help the next generation of astronauts in future interplanetary missions.
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24
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Lim ASP. Diurnal and seasonal molecular rhythms in the human brain and their relation to Alzheimer disease. HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY 2021; 179:271-284. [PMID: 34225968 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-819975-6.00017-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Diurnal and seasonal rhythms influence many aspects of human physiology including brain function. Moreover, altered diurnal and seasonal behavioral and physiological rhythms have been linked to Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD). Understanding the molecular basis for these links may lead to identification of novel targets to mitigate the negative impact of normal and abnormal diurnal and seasonal rhythms on ADRD or to alleviate the adverse consequences of ADRD on normal diurnal and seasonal rhythms. Diurnally and seasonally rhythmic gene expression and epigenetic modification in the human neocortex may be a key mechanism underlying these links. This chapter will first review the observed epidemiological links between normal and abnormal diurnal and seasonal rhythmicity, cognitive impairment, and ADRD. Then it will review normal diurnal and seasonal rhythms of brain epigenetic modification and gene expression in model organisms. Finally, it will review evidence for diurnal and seasonal rhythms of epigenetic modification and gene expression the human brain in aging, Alzheimer's disease, and other brain disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew S P Lim
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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25
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Frare C, Williams CT, Drew KL. Thermoregulation in hibernating mammals: The role of the "thyroid hormones system". Mol Cell Endocrinol 2021; 519:111054. [PMID: 33035626 PMCID: PMC8091518 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2020.111054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2019] [Revised: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Hibernation is a unique evolutionary adaptation to conserve energy. During the pre-hibernation (i.e. fall) season, a progressive decline in core body temperature and further decrease in metabolism underlie a seasonal modulation in thermoregulation. The onset of hibernation requires marked changes in thermoregulatory attributes including adjustment in body temperature and tissue specific increases in thermogenic capacity. The hibernation season is characterized by a regulated suppression in thermogenesis allowing the onset of torpor interrupted by periodic activation of thermogenesis to sustain interbout arousals. Thyroid hormones are known to regulate both body temperature and metabolism, and for this reason, the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis and thyroid hormones have been investigated as modulators of thermogenesis in the phenomenon of hibernation, but the mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this review, we present an overview of what is known about the thermogenic roles of thyroid hormones in hibernating species across seasons and within the hibernating season (torpor-interbout arousal cycle). Overall, the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis and thyroid hormones play a role in the pre-hibernation season to enhance thermogenic capacity. During hibernation, thermogenesis is attenuated at the level of sympathetic premotor neurons within the raphe pallidus and by deiodinase expression in the hypothalamus. Further, as recent work highlights the direct effect of thyroid hormones within the central nervous system in activating thermogenesis, we speculate how similar mechanisms may occur in hibernating species to modulate thermogenesis across seasons and to sustain interbout arousals. However, further experiments are needed to elucidate the role of thyroid hormones in hibernation, moving towards the understanding that thyroid hormones metabolism, transport and availability within tissues may be the most telling indicator of thyroid status.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Frare
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, 99775, USA; Institute of Arctic Biology, Center for Transformative Research in Metabolism, University of Alaska Fairbanks 2140 Koyukuk Drive, Fairbanks, AK, 99775, USA
| | - Cory T Williams
- Institute of Arctic Biology, Center for Transformative Research in Metabolism, University of Alaska Fairbanks 2140 Koyukuk Drive, Fairbanks, AK, 99775, USA; Department of Biology and Wildlife, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, 99775, USA
| | - Kelly L Drew
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, 99775, USA; Institute of Arctic Biology, Center for Transformative Research in Metabolism, University of Alaska Fairbanks 2140 Koyukuk Drive, Fairbanks, AK, 99775, USA.
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26
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Shi Z, Qin M, Huang L, Xu T, Chen Y, Hu Q, Peng S, Peng Z, Qu LN, Chen SG, Tuo QH, Liao DF, Wang XP, Wu RR, Yuan TF, Li YH, Liu XM. Human torpor: translating insights from nature into manned deep space expedition. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2020; 96:642-672. [PMID: 33314677 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Revised: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
During a long-duration manned spaceflight mission, such as flying to Mars and beyond, all crew members will spend a long period in an independent spacecraft with closed-loop bioregenerative life-support systems. Saving resources and reducing medical risks, particularly in mental heath, are key technology gaps hampering human expedition into deep space. In the 1960s, several scientists proposed that an induced state of suppressed metabolism in humans, which mimics 'hibernation', could be an ideal solution to cope with many issues during spaceflight. In recent years, with the introduction of specific methods, it is becoming more feasible to induce an artificial hibernation-like state (synthetic torpor) in non-hibernating species. Natural torpor is a fascinating, yet enigmatic, physiological process in which metabolic rate (MR), body core temperature (Tb ) and behavioural activity are reduced to save energy during harsh seasonal conditions. It employs a complex central neural network to orchestrate a homeostatic state of hypometabolism, hypothermia and hypoactivity in response to environmental challenges. The anatomical and functional connections within the central nervous system (CNS) lie at the heart of controlling synthetic torpor. Although progress has been made, the precise mechanisms underlying the active regulation of the torpor-arousal transition, and their profound influence on neural function and behaviour, which are critical concerns for safe and reversible human torpor, remain poorly understood. In this review, we place particular emphasis on elaborating the central nervous mechanism orchestrating the torpor-arousal transition in both non-flying hibernating mammals and non-hibernating species, and aim to provide translational insights into long-duration manned spaceflight. In addition, identifying difficulties and challenges ahead will underscore important concerns in engineering synthetic torpor in humans. We believe that synthetic torpor may not be the only option for manned long-duration spaceflight, but it is the most achievable solution in the foreseeable future. Translating the available knowledge from natural torpor research will not only benefit manned spaceflight, but also many clinical settings attempting to manipulate energy metabolism and neurobehavioural functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhe Shi
- National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, and Department of Psychaitry, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China.,Key Laboratory for Quality Evaluation of Bulk Herbs of Hunan Province, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, 410208, China.,State Key Laboratory of Space Medicine Fundamentals and Application, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing, 100094, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Meng Qin
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Lu Huang
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Ministry of Education CNS Regeneration Collaborative Joint Laboratory, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Tao Xu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, 200233, China
| | - Ying Chen
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China
| | - Qin Hu
- College of Life Sciences and Bio-Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, 100024, China
| | - Sha Peng
- Key Laboratory for Quality Evaluation of Bulk Herbs of Hunan Province, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, 410208, China
| | - Zhuang Peng
- Key Laboratory for Quality Evaluation of Bulk Herbs of Hunan Province, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, 410208, China
| | - Li-Na Qu
- State Key Laboratory of Space Medicine Fundamentals and Application, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing, 100094, China
| | - Shan-Guang Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Space Medicine Fundamentals and Application, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing, 100094, China
| | - Qin-Hui Tuo
- Key Laboratory for Quality Evaluation of Bulk Herbs of Hunan Province, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, 410208, China
| | - Duan-Fang Liao
- Key Laboratory for Quality Evaluation of Bulk Herbs of Hunan Province, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, 410208, China
| | - Xiao-Ping Wang
- National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, and Department of Psychaitry, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
| | - Ren-Rong Wu
- National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, and Department of Psychaitry, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
| | - Ti-Fei Yuan
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200030, China.,Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, 226000, China
| | - Ying-Hui Li
- State Key Laboratory of Space Medicine Fundamentals and Application, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing, 100094, China
| | - Xin-Min Liu
- Key Laboratory for Quality Evaluation of Bulk Herbs of Hunan Province, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, 410208, China.,State Key Laboratory of Space Medicine Fundamentals and Application, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing, 100094, China.,Research Center for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development (IMPLAD), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100193, China
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27
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Wilsterman K, Ballinger MA, Williams CM. A unifying, eco‐physiological framework for animal dormancy. Funct Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn Wilsterman
- Biological Sciences University of Montana Missoula MT USA
- Integrative Biology University of California Berkeley CA USA
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Zhang J, Cai R, Liang J, Izaz A, Shu Y, Pan T, Wu X. Molecular mechanism of Chinese alligator (Alligator sinensis) adapting to hibernation. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART B-MOLECULAR AND DEVELOPMENTAL EVOLUTION 2020; 336:32-49. [PMID: 33231934 DOI: 10.1002/jez.b.23013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2020] [Revised: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Hibernation is a physiological state for Chinese alligators to cope with cold weather. In mammals, gene expression changes during hibernation and their regulatory mechanisms have been extensively studied, however, these studies in reptiles are still rare. Here, integrated analysis of messenger RNA (mRNA), microRNA (miRNA), and long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) reveals the molecular mechanisms of the hypothalamus, liver, and skeletal muscle in hibernating and active individuals. During hibernation, the number of genes increased in the hypothalamus, liver, and skeletal muscle was 585, 282, and 297, while the number of genes decreased was 215, 561, and 627, respectively, as compared with active individuals. Through Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis, the differential expressed genes were mainly enriched in DNA damage repair, biological rhythm, energy metabolism, myoprotein degradation, and other related items and pathways. Besides, 4740 miRNAs were identified in three tissues. Through the comprehensive analysis of miRNA and mRNA abundance profiles, 12,291, 6997, and 8232 miRNA-mRNA pairs all showed a negative correlation in the hypothalamus, liver, and skeletal muscle, respectively. Some miRNA target genes were related tobiological rhythm and energy metabolism, suggesting that miRNA may play an important role in the physiological metabolism of the hibernating adaptability of Chinese alligators. Moreover, 402, 230, and 130 differentially expressed lncRNAs were identified in the hypothalamus, liver, and skeletal muscle, respectively. The targeting relationship of four lncRNA-mRNA pairs were predicted, with the main function of target genes involved in the amino acid transportation. These results are helpful to further understand the molecular regulatory basis of the hibernation adaptation in Chinese alligators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jihui Zhang
- Key Laboratory for the Conservation and Utilization of Important Biological Resources of Anhui Province, Wuhu, China.,College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, China
| | - Ruiqing Cai
- Key Laboratory for the Conservation and Utilization of Important Biological Resources of Anhui Province, Wuhu, China.,College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, China
| | - Juanjuan Liang
- Key Laboratory for the Conservation and Utilization of Important Biological Resources of Anhui Province, Wuhu, China.,College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, China
| | - Ali Izaz
- Key Laboratory for the Conservation and Utilization of Important Biological Resources of Anhui Province, Wuhu, China.,College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, China
| | - Yilin Shu
- Key Laboratory for the Conservation and Utilization of Important Biological Resources of Anhui Province, Wuhu, China.,College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, China
| | - Tao Pan
- Key Laboratory for the Conservation and Utilization of Important Biological Resources of Anhui Province, Wuhu, China.,College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, China
| | - Xiaobing Wu
- Key Laboratory for the Conservation and Utilization of Important Biological Resources of Anhui Province, Wuhu, China.,College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, China
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29
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Capraro A, O'Meally D, Waters SA, Patel HR, Georges A, Waters PD. MicroRNA dynamics during hibernation of the Australian central bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps). Sci Rep 2020; 10:17854. [PMID: 33082398 PMCID: PMC7576210 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-73706-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Hibernation is a physiological state employed by many animals that are exposed to limited food and adverse winter conditions. Controlling tissue-specific and organism wide changes in metabolism and cellular function requires precise regulation of gene expression, including by microRNAs (miRNAs). Here we profile miRNA expression in the central bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps) using small RNA sequencing of brain, heart, and skeletal muscle from individuals in late hibernation and four days post-arousal. A total of 1295 miRNAs were identified in the central bearded dragon genome; 664 of which were novel to central bearded dragon. We identified differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRs) in all tissues and correlated mRNA expression with known and predicted target mRNAs. Functional analysis of DEmiR targets revealed an enrichment of differentially expressed mRNA targets involved in metabolic processes. However, we failed to reveal biologically relevant tissue-specific processes subjected to miRNA-mediated regulation in heart and skeletal muscle. In brain, neuroprotective pathways were identified as potential targets regulated by miRNAs. Our data suggests that miRNAs are necessary for modulating the shift in cellular metabolism during hibernation and regulating neuroprotection in the brain. This study is the first of its kind in a hibernating reptile and provides key insight into this ephemeral phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Capraro
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Faculty of Science, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW, 2052, Australia.
| | - Denis O'Meally
- Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
- Center for Gene Therapy, Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, Duarte, CA, 91010, USA
| | - Shafagh A Waters
- School of Women's & Children's Health, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Hardip R Patel
- John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Arthur Georges
- Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Paul D Waters
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Faculty of Science, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW, 2052, Australia
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Electroacupuncture Pretreatment against Cerebral Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury through Mitophagy. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2020; 2020:7486041. [PMID: 32963572 PMCID: PMC7499311 DOI: 10.1155/2020/7486041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2020] [Revised: 08/18/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury can induce the mitophagy of neurons in the ischemic brain. Electroacupuncture (EA) pretreatment has a protective effect on cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. However, its internal mechanism still needs to be further studied. The present study's purpose is to investigate whether mitophagy is involved in neuroprotection elicited by EA pretreatment in a rat model of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. The rats were pretreated with vehicle, EA at the Baihui (GV20) and Shuigou (GV26) acupoints 30 min daily, for 5 days consecutively prior to the focal cerebral ischemia injury induced by the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model. Compared to the sham group, the neurological scores, infarction volume, number of autophagosomes, FUNDC1, p62, and the ratio of LC3-II/I were significantly increased but mitochondrial membrane potential and autophagy-related protein p-mTORC1 significantly decreased in the I/R group. However, EA pretreatment significantly reversed these trends. Overall, the results of this study demonstrated that EA pretreatment protected the cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury which maybe correlated with mitophagy.
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31
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Mohr SM, Bagriantsev SN, Gracheva EO. Cellular, Molecular, and Physiological Adaptations of Hibernation: The Solution to Environmental Challenges. Annu Rev Cell Dev Biol 2020; 36:315-338. [PMID: 32897760 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-cellbio-012820-095945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Thriving in times of resource scarcity requires an incredible flexibility of behavioral, physiological, cellular, and molecular functions that must change within a relatively short time. Hibernation is a collection of physiological strategies that allows animals to inhabit inhospitable environments, where they experience extreme thermal challenges and scarcity of food and water. Many different kinds of animals employ hibernation, and there is a spectrum of hibernation phenotypes. Here, we focus on obligatory mammalian hibernators to identify the unique challenges they face and the adaptations that allow hibernators to overcome them. This includes the cellular and molecular strategies used to combat low environmental and body temperatures and lack of food and water. We discuss metabolic, neuronal, and hormonal cues that regulate hibernation and how they are thought to be coordinated by internal clocks. Last, we touch on questions that are left to be addressed in the field of hibernation research. Studies from the last century and more recent work reveal that hibernation is not simply a passive reduction in body temperature and vital parameters but rather an active process seasonally regulated at the molecular, cellular, and organismal levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah M Mohr
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06510, USA; .,Department of Neuroscience and Program in Cellular Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration and Repair, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06510, USA;
| | - Sviatoslav N Bagriantsev
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06510, USA;
| | - Elena O Gracheva
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06510, USA; .,Department of Neuroscience and Program in Cellular Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration and Repair, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06510, USA;
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32
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Sun H, Wang J, Xing Y, Pan YH, Mao X. Gut transcriptomic changes during hibernation in the greater horseshoe bat ( Rhinolophus ferrumequinum). Front Zool 2020; 17:21. [PMID: 32690984 PMCID: PMC7366455 DOI: 10.1186/s12983-020-00366-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2020] [Accepted: 07/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The gut is the major organ for nutrient absorption and immune response in the body of animals. Although effects of fasting on the gut functions have been extensively studied in model animals (e.g. mice), little is known about the response of the gut to fasting in a natural condition (e.g. hibernation). During hibernation, animals endure the long term of fasting and hypothermia. Results Here we generated the first gut transcriptome in a wild hibernating bat (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum). We identified 1614 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) during four physiological states (Torpor, Arousal, Winter Active and Summer Active). Gene co-expression network analysis assigns 926 DEGs into six modules associated with Torpor and Arousal. Our results reveal that in response to the stress of luminal nutrient deficiency during hibernation, the gut helps to reduce food intake by overexpressing genes (e.g. CCK and GPR17) that regulate the sensitivity to insulin and leptin. At the same time, the gut contributes energy supply by overexpressing genes that increase capacity for ketogenesis (HMGCS2) and selective autophagy (TEX264). Furthermore, we identified separate sets of multiple DEGs upregulated in Torpor and Arousal whose functions are involved in innate immunity. Conclusion This is the first gut transcriptome of a hibernating mammal. Our study identified candidate genes associated with regulation of food intake and enhance of innate immunity in the gut during hibernation. By comparing with previous studies, we found that two DEGs (CPE and HSPA8) were also significantly elevated during torpor in liver and brain of R. ferrumequinum and several DEGs (e.g. TXNIP and PDK1/4) were commonly upregulated during torpor in multiple tissues of different mammals. Our results support that shared expression changes may underlie the hibernation phenotype by most mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haijian Sun
- School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062 China
| | - Jiaying Wang
- Institute of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062 China
| | - Yutong Xing
- Institute of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062 China
| | - Yi-Hsuan Pan
- Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062 China
| | - Xiuguang Mao
- School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062 China.,Institute of Eco-Chongming (IEC), East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062 China
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33
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Abstract
Many animals differentially express behaviours across the annual cycle as life stages are coordinated with seasonal environmental conditions. Understanding of the mechanistic basis of such seasonal changes in behaviour has traditionally focused on the role of changes in circulating hormone levels. However, it is increasingly apparent that other endocrine regulation mechanisms such as changes in local hormone synthesis and receptor abundance also play a role. Here I review what is known about seasonal changes in steroid hormone receptor abundance in relation to seasonal behaviour in vertebrates. I find that there is widespread, though not ubiquitous, seasonal variation in the expression of steroid hormone receptors in the brain, with such variation being best documented in association with courtship, mating and aggression. The most common pattern of seasonal variation is for there to be upregulation of sex steroid receptors with the expression of courtship and mating behaviours, when circulating hormone levels are also high. Less well-documented are cases in which seasonal increases in receptor expression could compensate for low circulating hormone levels or seasonal downregulation that could serve a protective function. I conclude by identifying important directions for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather E Watts
- School of Biological Sciences, and Center for Reproductive Biology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
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34
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Al-Attar R, Storey KB. Suspended in time: Molecular responses to hibernation also promote longevity. Exp Gerontol 2020; 134:110889. [PMID: 32114078 DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2020.110889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2019] [Revised: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 02/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Aging in most animals is an inevitable process that causes or is a result of physiological, biochemical, and molecular changes in the body, and has a strong influence on an organism's lifespan. Although advancement in medicine has allowed humans to live longer, the prevalence of age-associated medical complications is continuously burdening older adults worldwide. Current animal models used in research to study aging have provided novel information that has helped investigators understand the aging process; however, these models are limiting. Aging is a complex process that is regulated at multiple biological levels, and while a single manipulation in these models can provide information on a process, it is not enough to understand the global regulation of aging. Some mammalian hibernators live up to 9.8-times higher than their expected average lifespan, and new research attributes this increase to their ability to hibernate. A common theme amongst these mammalian hibernators is their ability to greatly reduce their metabolic rate to a fraction of their normal rate and initiate cytoprotective responses that enable their survival. Metabolic rate depression is strictly regulated at different biological levels in order to enable the animal to not only survive, but to also do so by relying mainly on their limited internal fuels. As such, understanding both the global and specific regulatory mechanisms used to promote survival during hibernation could, in theory, allow investigators to have a better understanding of the aging process. This can also allow pharmaceutical industries to find therapeutics that could delay or reverse age-associated medical complications and promote healthy aging and longevity in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rasha Al-Attar
- Institute of Biochemistry and Department of Biology, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6, Canada.
| | - Kenneth B Storey
- Institute of Biochemistry and Department of Biology, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6, Canada.
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35
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Storey K, Logan S. Regrowth and neuronal protection are key for mammalian hibernation: roles for metabolic suppression. Neural Regen Res 2020; 15:2027-2028. [PMID: 32394950 PMCID: PMC7716035 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.282242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
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36
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Diatroptov ME, Rutovskaya MV, Kuznetsova EV, Diatroptova MA, Kosyreva AM, Dzhalilova DS, Ponomarenko EA, Panchelyuga VA, Stankevich AA. Infradian and Ultradian Rhythms of Body Temperature Resumption during Hibernation. Bull Exp Biol Med 2019; 168:291-294. [PMID: 31782004 DOI: 10.1007/s10517-019-04693-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The rhythms of short-term arousal episodes, associated with normalization of low body temperature, were studied in hibernating Erinaceus roumanicus. The episodes of body temperature recovery during hibernation were 1.7 times more incident during the acrophase of 4.058-day rhythm of glucocorticoid hormones, detected previously, than during the batiphase of this rhythm. Ultradian rhythm of arousal episodes conformed to a 4-h biorhythm: the maximum number of body temperature resumption episodes was recorded at 00.00-01.00, 04.00-05.00, 08.00-09.00, 12.00-13.00, 16.00-17.00, and 20.00-21.00. These data indicated that in mammals the mechanisms of infradian and ultradian rhythm maintenance were stable and did not depend on body temperature or were determined by external factors with periods of 4.058 days and 4 h.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - M V Rutovskaya
- A. N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution Problems, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - E V Kuznetsova
- A. N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution Problems, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | | | - A M Kosyreva
- Research Institute of Human Morphology, Moscow, Russia
| | | | | | - V A Panchelyuga
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Moscow region, Russia
| | - A A Stankevich
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Moscow region, Russia
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37
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Marchand A, Schwartz C. Perineuronal net expression in the brain of a hibernating mammal. Brain Struct Funct 2019; 225:45-56. [PMID: 31748912 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-019-01983-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2019] [Accepted: 11/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
During hibernation, mammals like the 13-lined ground squirrel cycle between physiological extremes. Most of the hibernation season is spent in bouts of torpor, where body temperature, heart rate, and cerebral blood flow are all very low. However, the ground squirrels periodically enter into interbout arousals (IBAs), where physiological parameters return to non-hibernating levels. During torpor, neurons in many brain regions shrink and become electrically quiescent, but reconnect and regain activity during IBA. Previous work showed evidence of extracellular matrix (ECM) changes occurring in the hypothalamus during hibernation that could be associated with this plasticity. Here, we examined expression of a specialized ECM structure, the perineuronal net (PNN), in the forebrain of ground squirrels in torpor, IBA, and summer (non-hibernating). PNNs are known to restrict plasticity, and could be important for retaining essential connections in the brain during hibernation. We found PNNs in three regions of the hypothalamus: ventrolateral hypothalamus, paraventricular nucleus (PVN), and anterior hypothalamic area. We also found PNNs throughout the cerebral cortex, amygdala, and lateral septum. The total area covered by PNNs within the PVN was significantly higher during IBA compared to non-hibernating and torpor (P < 0.01). Additionally, the amount of PNN coverage area per Nissl-stained neuron in the PVN was significantly higher in hibernation compared to non-hibernating (P < 0.05). No other significant differences were found across seasons. The PVN is involved in food intake and homeostasis, and PNNs found here could be essential for retaining vital life functions during hibernation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Marchand
- Department of Biology, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, 1725 State St., La Crosse, WI, 54601, USA
| | - Christine Schwartz
- Department of Biology, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, 1725 State St., La Crosse, WI, 54601, USA.
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38
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Wilbur SM, Barnes BM, Kitaysky AS, Williams CT. Tissue-specific telomere dynamics in hibernating arctic ground squirrels ( Urocitellus parryii). ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 222:jeb.204925. [PMID: 31515236 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.204925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Hibernation is used by a variety of mammals to survive seasonal periods of resource scarcity. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) released during periodic rewarming throughout hibernation, however, may induce oxidative damage in some tissues. Telomeres, which are the terminal sequences of linear chromosomes, may shorten in the presence of ROS, and thus the telomere length of an individual reflects the degree of accrued oxidative damage. This study quantified telomere length dynamics throughout hibernation in arctic ground squirrels (Urocitellus parryii). We hypothesized that telomere dynamics are tissue specific and predicted that telomere shortening would be most pronounced in brown adipose tissue (BAT), the organ that directly supports non-shivering thermogenesis during arousals. We used qPCR to determine relative telomere length (RTL) in DNA extracted from liver, heart, skeletal muscle (SM) and BAT of 45 juvenile and adult animals sampled either at mid- or late hibernation. Age did not have a significant effect on RTL in any tissue. At mid-hibernation, RTL of juvenile females was longer in BAT and SM than in liver and heart. In juvenile females, RTL in BAT and SM, but not in liver and heart, was shorter at late hibernation than at mid-hibernation. At late hibernation, juvenile males had longer RTL in BAT than did juvenile females, perhaps due to the naturally shorter hibernation duration of male arctic ground squirrels. Finally, BAT RTL at late hibernation negatively correlated with arousal frequency. Overall, our results suggest that, in a hibernating mammal, telomere shortening is tissue specific and that metabolically active tissues might incur higher levels of molecular damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara M Wilbur
- Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA
| | - Brian M Barnes
- Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA
| | - Alexander S Kitaysky
- Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA
| | - Cory T Williams
- Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA
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39
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas E Tomasi
- Department of Biology, Missouri State University, Springfield, MO, USA
| | - Briana N Anderson
- Department of Biology, Missouri State University, Springfield, MO, USA
| | - Theodore Garland
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, University of California – Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
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40
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Gattoni G, Bernocchi G. Calcium-Binding Proteins in the Nervous System during Hibernation: Neuroprotective Strategies in Hypometabolic Conditions? Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:E2364. [PMID: 31086053 PMCID: PMC6540041 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20092364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2019] [Revised: 05/06/2019] [Accepted: 05/11/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Calcium-binding proteins (CBPs) can influence and react to Ca2+ transients and modulate the activity of proteins involved in both maintaining homeostatic conditions and protecting cells in harsh environmental conditions. Hibernation is a strategy that evolved in vertebrate and invertebrate species to survive in cold environments; it relies on molecular, cellular, and behavioral adaptations guided by the neuroendocrine system that together ensure unmatched tolerance to hypothermia, hypometabolism, and hypoxia. Therefore, hibernation is a useful model to study molecular neuroprotective adaptations to extreme conditions, and can reveal useful applications to human pathological conditions. In this review, we describe the known changes in Ca2+-signaling and the detection and activity of CBPs in the nervous system of vertebrate and invertebrate models during hibernation, focusing on cytosolic Ca2+ buffers and calmodulin. Then, we discuss these findings in the context of the neuroprotective and neural plasticity mechanisms in the central nervous system: in particular, those associated with cytoskeletal proteins. Finally, we compare the expression of CBPs in the hibernating nervous system with two different conditions of neurodegeneration, i.e., platinum-induced neurotoxicity and Alzheimer's disease, to highlight the similarities and differences and demonstrate the potential of hibernation to shed light into part of the molecular mechanisms behind neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giacomo Gattoni
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK.
| | - Graziella Bernocchi
- Former Full Professor of Zoology, Neurogenesis and Comparative Neuromorphology, (Residence address) Viale Matteotti 73, I-27100 Pavia, Italy.
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Russell TL, Zhang J, Okoniewski M, Franke F, Bichet S, Hierlemann A. Medullary Respiratory Circuit Is Reorganized by a Seasonally-Induced Program in Preparation for Hibernation. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:376. [PMID: 31080399 PMCID: PMC6497738 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2018] [Accepted: 04/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Deep hibernators go through several cycles of profound drops in body temperature during the winter season, with core temperatures sometimes reaching near freezing. Yet unlike non-hibernating mammals, they can sustain breathing rhythms. The physiological processes that make this possible are still not understood. In this study, we focused on the medullary Ventral Respiratory Column of a facultative hibernator, the Syrian hamster. Using shortened day-lengths, we induced a "winter-adapted" physiological state, which is a prerequisite for hibernation. When recording electrophysiological signals from acute slices in the winter-adapted pre-Bötzinger complex (preBötC), spike trains showed higher spike rates, amplitudes, complexity, as well as higher temperature sensitivity, suggesting an increase in connectivity and/or synaptic strength during the winter season. We further examined action potential waveforms and found that the depolarization integral, as measured by the area under the curve, is selectively enhanced in winter-adapted animals. This suggests that a shift in the ion handling kinetics is also being induced by the winter-adaptation program. RNA sequencing of respiratory pre-motor neurons, followed by gene set enrichment analysis, revealed differential regulation and splicing in structural, synaptic, and ion handling genes. Splice junction analysis suggested that differential exon usage is occurring in a select subset of ion handling subunits (ATP1A3, KCNC3, SCN1B), and synaptic structure genes (SNCB, SNCG, RAB3A). Our findings show that the hamster respiratory center undergoes a seasonally-cued alteration in electrophysiological properties, likely protecting against respiratory failure at low temperatures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas L. Russell
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jichang Zhang
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Felix Franke
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Sandrine Bichet
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Department of Histology, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Andreas Hierlemann
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, Basel, Switzerland
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Hadj-Moussa H, Watts AJ, Storey KB. Genes of the undead: hibernation and death display different gene profiles. FEBS Lett 2019; 593:527-532. [PMID: 30767213 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.13338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2019] [Revised: 02/08/2019] [Accepted: 02/12/2019] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
A degree of regulation continues into death according to post-mortem transcriptome studies, which have identified 'zombie genes' that come alive hours and days after organismal death. We hypothesized that hibernation, representing the closest natural mammalian phenomenon to death, would display similar gene expression profiles. Exploring zombie genes using qPCR and available transcriptomic resources from multiple torpid tissues in 13-lined ground squirrels showed little in common with gene profiles observed following death. Hibernators repress transcription, surviving only on the transcripts required during profound slowdowns of metabolic rate and of most physiological functions, therefore not requiring zombie gene expression that could be the cell's last resort during stress. This is the first study to explore zombie gene responses to a near-death situation in a living system.
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Tessier SN, Wu CW, Storey KB. Molecular control of protein synthesis, glucose metabolism, and apoptosis in the brain of hibernating thirteen-lined ground squirrels. Biochem Cell Biol 2019; 97:536-544. [PMID: 30763120 DOI: 10.1139/bcb-2018-0256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Thirteen-lined ground squirrels (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus) are excellent models for studying acute brain ischemia because they show high resistance to reductions in blood flow and oxygen delivery without evidence of neurological damage. In this study, we analyzed the insulin signaling pathway and regulation of mitochondrial substrate oxidation in three regions of ground squirrel brain (forebrain, cerebellum, and brainstem), comparing summer, late torpor, and interbout arousal conditions. We found select decreases in phospho-Akt in the cerebellum during torpor compared with summer animals, as well as select increases in the forebrain during interbout arousal, suggesting that Akt may influence either metabolism or cytoprotective pathways. The phosphoprotein abundance of glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK3β) showed the most consistent trend across all three brain regions, with peak increases observed during deep torpor, suggesting a crucial role for this protein during hibernation. Furthermore, all three regions of the brain showed increased phospho-protein abundance of pyruvate dehydrogenase at serine 232 during both deep torpor and interbout arousal, and serine 300 during interbout arousal only, whereas other phosphorylation sites showed a region-specific expression pattern. Information collected from these studies sheds light on the molecular controls governing insulin signaling and fuel utilization in the brain of hibernating ground squirrels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon N Tessier
- Institute of Biochemistry and Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Cheng-Wei Wu
- Institute of Biochemistry and Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Kenneth B Storey
- Institute of Biochemistry and Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada.,Institute of Biochemistry and Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
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44
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Andrews MT. Molecular interactions underpinning the phenotype of hibernation in mammals. J Exp Biol 2019; 222:222/2/jeb160606. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.160606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Mammals maintain a constant warm body temperature, facilitating a wide variety of metabolic reactions. Mammals that hibernate have the ability to slow their metabolism, which in turn reduces their body temperature and leads to a state of hypothermic torpor. For this metabolic rate reduction to occur on a whole-body scale, molecular interactions that change the physiology of cells, tissues and organs are required, resulting in a major departure from normal mammalian homeostasis. The aim of this Review is to cover recent advances in the molecular biology of mammalian hibernation, including the role of small molecules, seasonal changes in gene expression, cold-inducible RNA-binding proteins, the somatosensory system and emerging information on hibernating primates. To underscore the importance of differential gene expression across the hibernation cycle, mRNA levels for 14,261 ground squirrel genes during periods of activity and torpor are made available for several tissues via an interactive transcriptome browser. This Review also addresses recent findings on molecular interactions responsible for multi-day survival of near-freezing body temperatures, single-digit heart rates and a slowed metabolism that greatly reduces oxygen consumption. A better understanding of how natural hibernators survive these physiological extremes is beginning to lead to innovations in human medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew T. Andrews
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
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45
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Caneo M, Julian V, Byrne AB, Alkema MJ, Calixto A. Diapause induces functional axonal regeneration after necrotic insult in C. elegans. PLoS Genet 2019; 15:e1007863. [PMID: 30640919 PMCID: PMC6347329 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1007863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2018] [Revised: 01/25/2019] [Accepted: 11/29/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Many neurons are unable to regenerate after damage. The ability to regenerate after an insult depends on life stage, neuronal subtype, intrinsic and extrinsic factors. C. elegans is a powerful model to test the genetic and environmental factors that affect axonal regeneration after damage, since its axons can regenerate after neuronal insult. Here we demonstrate that diapause promotes the complete morphological regeneration of truncated touch receptor neuron (TRN) axons expressing a neurotoxic MEC-4(d) DEG/ENaC channel. Truncated axons of different lengths were repaired during diapause and we observed potent axonal regrowth from somas alone. Complete morphological regeneration depends on DLK-1 but neuronal sprouting and outgrowth is DLK-1 independent. We show that TRN regeneration is fully functional since animals regain their ability to respond to mechanical stimulation. Thus, diapause induced regeneration provides a simple model of complete axonal regeneration which will greatly facilitate the study of environmental and genetic factors affecting the rate at which neurons die.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauricio Caneo
- Centro de Genómica y Bioinformática, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Mayor, Santiago de Chile, Chile
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencias de Valparaíso, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaiso, Chile
| | - Victoria Julian
- Neurobiology Department, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States of America
| | - Alexandra B. Byrne
- Neurobiology Department, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States of America
| | - Mark J. Alkema
- Neurobiology Department, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States of America
| | - Andrea Calixto
- Centro de Genómica y Bioinformática, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Mayor, Santiago de Chile, Chile
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencias de Valparaíso, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaiso, Chile
- * E-mail: ,
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Gonzalez-Riano C, León-Espinosa G, Regalado-Reyes M, García A, DeFelipe J, Barbas C. Metabolomic Study of Hibernating Syrian Hamster Brains: In Search of Neuroprotective Agents. J Proteome Res 2019; 18:1175-1190. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.8b00816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Gonzalo León-Espinosa
- Laboratorio Cajal de Circuitos Corticales (CTB), Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Campus Montegancedo, 28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain
- Instituto Cajal (CSIC), Avenida Doctor Arce 37, 28002 Madrid, Spain
| | - Mamen Regalado-Reyes
- Laboratorio Cajal de Circuitos Corticales (CTB), Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Campus Montegancedo, 28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Javier DeFelipe
- Laboratorio Cajal de Circuitos Corticales (CTB), Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Campus Montegancedo, 28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain
- Instituto Cajal (CSIC), Avenida Doctor Arce 37, 28002 Madrid, Spain
- CIBERNED, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, Calle de Valderrebollo, 5, 28031 Madrid, Spain
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Lazzeroni ME, Burbrink FT, Simmons NB. Hibernation in bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) did not evolve through positive selection of leptin. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:12576-12596. [PMID: 30619566 PMCID: PMC6308895 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2018] [Revised: 09/10/2018] [Accepted: 09/14/2018] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Temperature regulation is an indispensable physiological activity critical for animal survival. However, relatively little is known about the origin of thermoregulatory regimes in a phylogenetic context, or the genetic mechanisms driving the evolution of these regimes. Using bats as a study system, we examined the evolution of three thermoregulatory regimes (hibernation, daily heterothermy, and homeothermy) in relation to the evolution of leptin, a protein implicated in regulation of torpor bouts in mammals, including bats. A threshold model was used to test for a correlation between lineages with positively selected lep, the gene encoding leptin, and the thermoregulatory regimes of those lineages. Although evidence for episodic positive selection of lep was found, positive selection was not correlated with lineages of heterothermic bats, a finding that contradicts results from previous studies. Evidence from our ancestral state reconstructions suggests that the most recent common ancestor of bats used daily heterothermy and that the presence of hibernation is highly unlikely at this node. Hibernation likely evolved independently at least four times in bats-once in the common ancestor of Vespertilionidae and Molossidae, once in the clade containing Rhinolophidae and Rhinopomatidae, and again independently in the lineages leading to Taphozous melanopogon and Mystacina tuberculata. Our reconstructions revealed that thermoregulatory regimes never transitioned directly from hibernation to homeothermy, or the reverse, in the evolutionary history of bats. This, in addition to recent evidence that heterothermy is best described along a continuum, suggests that thermoregulatory regimes in mammals are best represented as an ordered continuous trait (homeothermy ← → daily torpor ← → hibernation) rather than as the three discrete regimes that evolve in an unordered fashion. These results have important implications for methodological approaches in future physiological and evolutionary research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Frank T. Burbrink
- Division of Vertebrate Zoology, Department of HerpetologyAmerican Museum of Natural HistoryNew YorkNew York
| | - Nancy B. Simmons
- Division of Vertebrate Zoology, Department of MammalogyAmerican Museum of Natural HistoryNew YorkNew York
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48
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Nespolo RF, Gaitan-Espitia JD, Quintero-Galvis JF, Fernandez FV, Silva AX, Molina C, Storey KB, Bozinovic F. A functional transcriptomic analysis in the relict marsupial Dromiciops gliroides
reveals adaptive regulation of protective functions during hibernation. Mol Ecol 2018; 27:4489-4500. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.14876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2018] [Revised: 09/05/2018] [Accepted: 09/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Roberto F. Nespolo
- Instituto de Ciencias Ambientales y Evolutivas; Facultad de Ciencias; Universidad Austral de Chile; Valdivia Chile
- Departamento de Ecología; Center of Applied Ecology and Sustainability (CAPES); Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas; Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile; Santiago Chile
- Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBio); Santiago Chile
| | - Juan Diego Gaitan-Espitia
- The Swire Institute of Marine Science and School of Biological Sciences; The University of Hong Kong; Hong Kong SAR China
- CSIRO Oceans & Atmosphere; Hobart Tasmania Australia
| | - Julian F. Quintero-Galvis
- Instituto de Ciencias Ambientales y Evolutivas; Facultad de Ciencias; Universidad Austral de Chile; Valdivia Chile
| | - Fernanda V. Fernandez
- Instituto de Fisiología; Facultad de Medicina; Universidad Austral de Chile; Valdivia Chile
| | - Andrea X. Silva
- AUSTRALomics, Vicerrectoría de Investigación, Desarrollo y Creación Artística; Universidad Austral de Chile; Valdivia Chile
| | - Cristian Molina
- AUSTRALomics, Vicerrectoría de Investigación, Desarrollo y Creación Artística; Universidad Austral de Chile; Valdivia Chile
| | - Kenneth B. Storey
- Department of Biology and Institute of Biochemistry; Carleton University; Ottawa Ontario Canada
| | - Francisco Bozinovic
- Departamento de Ecología; Center of Applied Ecology and Sustainability (CAPES); Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas; Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile; Santiago Chile
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49
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Logan SM, Wu CW, Storey KB. The squirrel with the lagging eIF2: Global suppression of protein synthesis during torpor. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2018; 227:161-171. [PMID: 30343059 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2018.10.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2018] [Accepted: 10/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Hibernating mammals use strong metabolic rate depression and a reduction in body temperature to near-ambient to survive the cold winter months. During torpor, protein synthesis is suppressed but can resume during interbout arousals. The current study aimed to identify molecular targets responsible for the global suppression of protein synthesis during torpor as well as possible mechanisms that could allow for selective protein translation to continue over this time. Relative changes in protein expression and/or phosphorylation levels of key translation factors (ribosomal protein S6, eIF4E, eIF2α, eEF2) and their upstream regulators (mTOR, TSC2, p70 S6K, 4EBP) were analyzed in liver and kidney of 13-lined ground squirrels (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus) sampled from six points over the torpor-arousal cycle. The results indicate that both organs reduce protein synthesis during torpor by decreasing mTOR and TSC2 phosphorylation between 30 and 70% of control levels. Translation resumes during interbout arousal when p-p70 S6K, p-rpS6, and p-4EBP levels returned to control values or above. Only liver translation factors were activated or disinhibited during periods of torpor itself, with >3-fold increases in total eIF2α and eEF2 protein levels, and a decrease in p-eEF2 (T56) to as low as 16% of the euthermic control value. These data shed light on a possible molecular mechanism involving eIF2α that could enable the translation of key transcripts during times of cell stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha M Logan
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Cheng-Wei Wu
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Kenneth B Storey
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6, Canada.
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50
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Gene expression profiling during hibernation in the European hamster. Sci Rep 2018; 8:13167. [PMID: 30177816 PMCID: PMC6120936 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-31506-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2018] [Accepted: 08/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Hibernation is an exceptional physiological response to a hostile environment, characterized by a seasonal period of torpor cycles involving dramatic reductions of body temperature and metabolism, and arousal back to normothermia. As the mechanisms regulating hibernation are still poorly understood, here we analysed the expression of genes involved in energy homeostasis, torpor regulation, and daily or seasonal timing using digital droplet PCR in various central and peripheral tissues sampled at different stages of torpor/arousal cycles in the European hamster. During torpor, the hypothalamus exhibited strongly down-regulated gene expression, suggesting that hypothalamic functions were reduced during this period of low metabolic activity. During both torpor and arousal, many structures (notably the brown adipose tissue) exhibited altered expression of deiodinases, potentially leading to reduced tissular triiodothyronine availability. During the arousal phase, all analysed tissues showed increased expression of the core clock genes Per1 and Per2. Overall, our data indicated that the hypothalamus and brown adipose tissue were the tissues most affected during the torpor/arousal cycle, and that clock genes may play critical roles in resetting the body’s clocks at the beginning of the active period.
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