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Qin X, Tan Y, Ren W, Zhou W, Niu R, Liang L, Li J, Cao K, Wei G, Zhu X, Huang M. Elevated expression of LCN13 through FXR activation ameliorates hepatocellular lipid accumulation and inflammation. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 131:111812. [PMID: 38493698 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.111812] [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: 12/16/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lipocalin 13 (LCN13) is a member of the lipocalin family that consists of numerous secretory proteins. LCN13 high-expression has been reported to possess anti-obesity and anti-diabetic effects. Although metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver diseases (MASLD) including metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) are frequently associated with obesity and insulin resistance, the functional role of endogenous LCN13 and the therapeutic effect of LCN13 in MASH and related metabolic deterioration have not been evaluated. METHODS We employed a methionine-choline deficient diet model and MASH cell models to investigate the role of LCN13 in MASH development. We sought to explore the effects of LCN13 on lipid metabolism and inflammation in hepatocytes under PA/OA exposure using Western blotting, real-time RT-PCR, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, hematoxylin and eosin staining, oil red O staining. Using RNA sequencing, chromatin immunoprecipitation assay, and luciferase reporter assays to elucidate whether farnesoid X receptor (FXR) regulates human LCN13 transcription as a transcription factor. RESULTS Our study found that LCN13 was down-regulated in MASH patients, MASH mouse and cell models. LCN13 overexpression in hepatocyte cells significantly inhibited lipid accumulation and inflammation in vitro. Conversely, LCN13 downregulation significantly exacerbated lipid accumulation and inflammatory responses in vivo and in vitro. Mechanistically, we provided the first evidence that LCN13 was transcriptionally activated by FXR, representing a novel direct target gene of FXR. And the key promoter region of LCN13 binds to FXR was also elucidated. We further revealed that LCN13 overexpression via FXR activation ameliorates hepatocellular lipid accumulation and inflammation in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, LCN13-down-regulated mice exhibited aggravated MASH phenotypes, including increased hepatic lipid accumulation and inflammation. CONCLUSION Our findings provide new insight regarding the protective role of LCN13 in MASH development and suggest an innovative therapeutic strategy for treating MASH or related metabolic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingliang Qin
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Sun Yat-sen University), MinisCtry of Education, Guangzhou 510080, China; Research Center for Clinical Laboratory Standard, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Yongyao Tan
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Sun Yat-sen University), MinisCtry of Education, Guangzhou 510080, China; Research Center for Clinical Laboratory Standard, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Weishu Ren
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Sun Yat-sen University), MinisCtry of Education, Guangzhou 510080, China; Research Center for Clinical Laboratory Standard, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Weiwei Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Sun Yat-sen University), MinisCtry of Education, Guangzhou 510080, China; Research Center for Clinical Laboratory Standard, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Rouxi Niu
- School of Biomedical Sciences, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, 999077, Hong Kong, China
| | - Linyue Liang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Sun Yat-sen University), MinisCtry of Education, Guangzhou 510080, China; Research Center for Clinical Laboratory Standard, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Jinling Li
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Sun Yat-sen University), MinisCtry of Education, Guangzhou 510080, China; Research Center for Clinical Laboratory Standard, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Kaiyuan Cao
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Sun Yat-sen University), MinisCtry of Education, Guangzhou 510080, China; Research Center for Clinical Laboratory Standard, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Guohong Wei
- Department of Endocrinology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
| | - Xun Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Sun Yat-sen University), MinisCtry of Education, Guangzhou 510080, China; Research Center for Clinical Laboratory Standard, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China; The Third People's Hospital of Zhuhai, Zhuhai 519060, China.
| | - Mingxing Huang
- The Third People's Hospital of Zhuhai, Zhuhai 519060, China.
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Brie B, Sarmento-Cabral A, Pascual F, Cordoba-Chacon J, Kineman RD, Becu-Villalobos D. Modifications of the GH Axis Reveal Unique Sexually Dimorphic Liver Signatures for Lcn13, Asns, Hamp2, Hao2, and Pgc1a. J Endocr Soc 2024; 8:bvae015. [PMID: 38370444 PMCID: PMC10872697 DOI: 10.1210/jendso/bvae015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Growth hormone (GH) modifies liver gene transcription in a sexually dimorphic manner to meet liver metabolic demands related to sex; thus, GH dysregulation leads to sex-biased hepatic disease. We dissected the steps of the GH regulatory cascade modifying GH-dependent genes involved in metabolism, focusing on the male-predominant genes Lcn13, Asns, and Cyp7b1, and the female-predominant genes Hao2, Pgc1a, Hamp2, Cyp2a4, and Cyp2b9. We explored mRNA expression in 2 settings: (i) intact liver GH receptor (GHR) but altered GH and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) levels (NeuroDrd2KO, HiGH, aHepIGF1kd, and STAT5bCA mouse lines); and (ii) liver loss of GHR, with or without STAT5b reconstitution (aHepGHRkd, and aHepGHRkd + STAT5bCA). Lcn13 was downregulated in males in most models, while Asns and Cyp7b1 were decreased in males by low GH levels or action, or constant GH levels, but unexpectedly upregulated in both sexes by the loss of liver Igf1 or constitutive Stat5b expression. Hao, Cyp2a4, and Cyp2b9 were generally decreased in female mice with low GH levels or action (NeuroDrd2KO and/or aHepGHRkd mice) and increased in HiGH females, while in contrast, Pgc1a was increased in female NeuroDrd2KO but decreased in STAT5bCA and aHepIGF1kd females. Bioinformatic analysis of RNAseq from aHepGHRkd livers stressed the greater impact of GHR loss on wide gene expression in males and highlighted that GH modifies almost completely different gene signatures in each sex. Concordantly, we show that altering different steps of the GH cascade in the liver modified liver expression of Lcn13, Asns, Cyp7b1, Hao2, Hamp2, Pgc1a, Cyp2a4, and Cyp2b9 in a sex- and gene-specific manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Belen Brie
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), 1428 Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Andre Sarmento-Cabral
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Florencia Pascual
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), 1428 Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Jose Cordoba-Chacon
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Rhonda Denise Kineman
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
- Research and Development Division, Jesse Brown Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Damasia Becu-Villalobos
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), 1428 Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Yang HH, Wang X, Li S, Liu Y, Akbar R, Fan GC. Lipocalin family proteins and their diverse roles in cardiovascular disease. Pharmacol Ther 2023; 244:108385. [PMID: 36966973 PMCID: PMC10079643 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2023.108385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Abstract
The lipocalin (LCN) family members, a group of small extracellular proteins with 160-180 amino acids in length, can be detected in all kingdoms of life from bacteria to human beings. They are characterized by low similarity of amino acid sequence but highly conserved tertiary structures with an eight-stranded antiparallel β-barrel which forms a cup-shaped ligand binding pocket. In addition to bind small hydrophobic ligands (i.e., fatty acids, odorants, retinoids, and steroids) and transport them to specific cells, lipocalins (LCNs) can interact with specific cell membrane receptors to activate their downstream signaling pathways, and with soluble macromolecules to form the complex. Consequently, LCNs exhibit great functional diversity. Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that LCN family proteins exert multiple layers of function in the regulation of many physiological processes and human diseases (i.e., cancers, immune disorders, metabolic disease, neurological/psychiatric disorders, and cardiovascular disease). In this review, we firstly introduce the structural and sequence properties of LCNs. Next, six LCNs including apolipoprotein D (ApoD), ApoM, lipocalin 2 (LCN2), LCN10, retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4), and Lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase (L-PGDS) which have been characterized so far are highlighted for their diagnostic/prognostic values and their potential effects on coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction injury. The roles of these 6 LCNs in cardiac hypertrophy, heart failure, diabetes-induced cardiac disorder, and septic cardiomyopathy are also summarized. Finally, their therapeutic potential for cardiovascular disease is discussed in each section.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui-Hui Yang
- Department of Pharmacology and Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
| | - Xiaohong Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
| | - Siru Li
- Department of Pharmacology and Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
| | - Yueying Liu
- Department of Pharmacology and Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
| | - Rubab Akbar
- Department of Pharmacology and Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
| | - Guo-Chang Fan
- Department of Pharmacology and Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA.
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Vps37a regulates hepatic glucose production by controlling glucagon receptor localization to endosomes. Cell Metab 2022; 34:1824-1842.e9. [PMID: 36243006 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2022.09.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Revised: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
During mammalian energy homeostasis, the glucagon receptor (Gcgr) plays a key role in regulating both glucose and lipid metabolisms. However, the mechanisms by which these distinct signaling arms are differentially regulated remain poorly understood. Using a Cy5-glucagon agonist, we show that the endosomal protein Vps37a uncouples glucose production from lipid usage downstream of Gcgr signaling by altering intracellular receptor localization. Hepatocyte-specific knockdown of Vps37a causes an accumulation of Gcgr in endosomes, resulting in overactivation of the cAMP/PKA/p-Creb signaling pathway to gluconeogenesis without affecting β-oxidation. Shifting the receptor back to the plasma membrane rescues the differential signaling and highlights the importance of the spatiotemporal localization of Gcgr for its metabolic effects. Importantly, since Vps37a knockdown in animals fed with a high-fat diet leads to hyperglycemia, although its overexpression reduces blood glucose levels, these data reveal a contribution of endosomal signaling to metabolic diseases that could be exploited for treatments of type 2 diabetes.
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Demir S, Wolff G, Wieder A, Maida A, Bühler L, Brune M, Hautzinger O, Feuchtinger A, Poth T, Szendroedi J, Herzig S, Ekim Üstünel B. TSC22D4 interacts with Akt1 to regulate glucose metabolism. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabo5555. [PMID: 36269831 PMCID: PMC9586482 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abo5555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Maladaptive insulin signaling is a key feature in the pathogenesis of severe metabolic disorders, including obesity and diabetes. Enhancing insulin sensitivity represents a major goal in the treatment of patients affected by diabetes. Here, we identify transforming growth factor-β1 stimulated clone 22 D4 (TSC22D4) as a novel interaction partner for protein kinase B/Akt1, a critical mediator of insulin/phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase signaling pathway. While energy deprivation and oxidative stress promote the TSC22D4-Akt1 interaction, refeeding mice or exposing cells to glucose and insulin impairs this interaction, which relies on an intrinsically disordered region (D2 domain) within TSC22D4. Functionally, the interaction with TSC22D4 reduces basal phosphorylation of Akt and its downstream targets during starvation, thereby promoting insulin sensitivity. Genetic, liver-specific reconstitution experiments in mice demonstrate that the interaction between TSC22D4 and Akt1 improves glucose handling and insulin sensitivity. Overall, our findings postulate a model whereby TSC22D4 acts as an environmental sensor and interacts with Akt1 to regulate insulin signaling and glucose metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sevgican Demir
- Joint Heidelberg-IDC Translational Diabetes Program, Inner Medicine 1, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Institute for Diabetes and Cancer (IDC), Helmholtz Diabetes Center, Helmholtz Center, Munich, Neuherberg, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Gretchen Wolff
- Joint Heidelberg-IDC Translational Diabetes Program, Inner Medicine 1, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Institute for Diabetes and Cancer (IDC), Helmholtz Diabetes Center, Helmholtz Center, Munich, Neuherberg, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Annika Wieder
- Joint Heidelberg-IDC Translational Diabetes Program, Inner Medicine 1, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Institute for Diabetes and Cancer (IDC), Helmholtz Diabetes Center, Helmholtz Center, Munich, Neuherberg, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Adriano Maida
- Joint Heidelberg-IDC Translational Diabetes Program, Inner Medicine 1, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Institute for Diabetes and Cancer (IDC), Helmholtz Diabetes Center, Helmholtz Center, Munich, Neuherberg, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Lea Bühler
- Joint Heidelberg-IDC Translational Diabetes Program, Inner Medicine 1, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Institute for Diabetes and Cancer (IDC), Helmholtz Diabetes Center, Helmholtz Center, Munich, Neuherberg, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Maik Brune
- Joint Heidelberg-IDC Translational Diabetes Program, Inner Medicine 1, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Institute for Diabetes and Cancer (IDC), Helmholtz Diabetes Center, Helmholtz Center, Munich, Neuherberg, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Oksana Hautzinger
- Joint Heidelberg-IDC Translational Diabetes Program, Inner Medicine 1, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Institute for Diabetes and Cancer (IDC), Helmholtz Diabetes Center, Helmholtz Center, Munich, Neuherberg, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Annette Feuchtinger
- Research Unit Analytical Pathology, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Institute of Pathology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Ingolstädter Landstraße 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Tanja Poth
- Center for Model System and Comparative Pathology (CMCP), Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Julia Szendroedi
- Joint Heidelberg-IDC Translational Diabetes Program, Inner Medicine 1, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Institute for Diabetes and Cancer (IDC), Helmholtz Diabetes Center, Helmholtz Center, Munich, Neuherberg, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Stephan Herzig
- Joint Heidelberg-IDC Translational Diabetes Program, Inner Medicine 1, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Institute for Diabetes and Cancer (IDC), Helmholtz Diabetes Center, Helmholtz Center, Munich, Neuherberg, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Bilgen Ekim Üstünel
- Joint Heidelberg-IDC Translational Diabetes Program, Inner Medicine 1, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Institute for Diabetes and Cancer (IDC), Helmholtz Diabetes Center, Helmholtz Center, Munich, Neuherberg, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
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