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Labat-de-Hoz L, Rubio-Ramos A, Correas I, Alonso MA. The MAL Family of Proteins: Normal Function, Expression in Cancer, and Potential Use as Cancer Biomarkers. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:2801. [PMID: 37345137 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15102801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The MAL family of integral membrane proteins consists of MAL, MAL2, MALL, PLLP, CMTM8, MYADM, and MYADML2. The best characterized members are elements of the machinery that controls specialized pathways of membrane traffic and cell signaling. This review aims to help answer the following questions about the MAL-family genes: (i) is their expression regulated in cancer and, if so, how? (ii) What role do they play in cancer? (iii) Might they have biomedical applications? Analysis of large-scale gene expression datasets indicated altered levels of MAL-family transcripts in specific cancer types. A comprehensive literature search provides evidence of MAL-family gene dysregulation and protein function repurposing in cancer. For MAL, and probably for other genes of the family, dysregulation is primarily a consequence of gene methylation, although copy number alterations also contribute to varying degrees. The scrutiny of the two sources of information, datasets and published studies, reveals potential prognostic applications of MAL-family members as cancer biomarkers-for instance, MAL2 in breast cancer, MAL2 and MALL in pancreatic cancer, and MAL and MYADM in lung cancer-and other biomedical uses. The availability of validated antibodies to some MAL-family proteins sanctions their use as cancer biomarkers in routine clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leticia Labat-de-Hoz
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Armando Rubio-Ramos
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Isabel Correas
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain
- Department of Molecular Biology, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Miguel A Alonso
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain
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Hart M, Diener C, Lunkes L, Rheinheimer S, Krammes L, Keller A, Meese E. miR-34a-5p as molecular hub of pathomechanisms in Huntington's disease. Mol Med 2023; 29:43. [PMID: 37013480 PMCID: PMC10295337 DOI: 10.1186/s10020-023-00640-7] [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: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although a pivotal role of microRNA (miRNA, miR) in the pathogenesis of Huntington's disease (HD) is increasingly recognized, the molecular functions of miRNAs in the pathomechanisms of HD await further elucidation. One of the miRNAs that have been associated with HD is miR-34a-5p, which was deregulated in the mouse R6/2 model and in human HD brain tissues. METHODS The aim of our study was to demonstrate interactions between miR-34a-5p and HD associated genes. By computational means we predicted 12 801 potential target genes of miR-34a-5p. An in-silico pathway analysis revealed 22 potential miR-34a-5p target genes in the KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) pathway "Huntington's disease". RESULTS Using our high-throughput miRNA interaction reporter assay (HiTmIR) we identified NDUFA9, TAF4B, NRF1, POLR2J2, DNALI1, HIP1, TGM2 and POLR2G as direct miR-34a-5p target genes. Direct binding of miR-34a-5p to target sites in the 3'UTRs of TAF4B, NDUFA9, HIP1 and NRF1 was verified by a mutagenesis HiTmIR assay and by determining endogenous protein levels for HIP1 and NDUFA9. STRING (Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins) analysis identified protein-protein interaction networks associated with HD like "Glutamine Receptor Signaling Pathway" and "Calcium Ion Transmembrane Import Into Cytosol". CONCLUSION Our study demonstrates multiple interactions between miR-34a-5p and HD associated target genes and thereby lays the ground for future therapeutic interventions using this miRNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Hart
- Institute of Human Genetics, Saarland University, Building 60, 66421, Homburg, Germany.
| | - Caroline Diener
- Institute of Human Genetics, Saarland University, Building 60, 66421, Homburg, Germany
| | - Laetitia Lunkes
- Institute of Human Genetics, Saarland University, Building 60, 66421, Homburg, Germany
| | - Stefanie Rheinheimer
- Institute of Human Genetics, Saarland University, Building 60, 66421, Homburg, Germany
| | - Lena Krammes
- Institute of Human Genetics, Saarland University, Building 60, 66421, Homburg, Germany
| | - Andreas Keller
- Chair for Clinical Bioinformatics, Saarland University, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Eckart Meese
- Institute of Human Genetics, Saarland University, Building 60, 66421, Homburg, Germany
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Dickson E, Fryklund C, Soylu-Kucharz R, Sjögren M, Stenkula KG, Björkqvist M. Altered Adipocyte Cell Size Distribution Prior to Weight Loss in the R6/2 Model of Huntington's Disease. J Huntingtons Dis 2023; 12:253-266. [PMID: 37718850 DOI: 10.3233/jhd-230587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Metabolic alterations contribute to disease onset and prognosis of Huntington's disease (HD). Weight loss in the R6/2 mouse model of HD is a consistent feature, with onset in mid-to-late stage of disease. OBJECTIVE In the present study, we aimed to investigate molecular and functional changes in white adipose tissue (WAT) that occur at weight loss in R6/2 mice. We further elaborated on the effect of leptin-deficiency and early obesity in R6/2 mice. METHODS We performed analyses at 12 weeks of age; a time point that coincides with the start of weight loss in our R6/2 mouse colony. Gonadal (visceral) and inguinal (subcutaneous) WAT depot weights were monitored, as well as adipocyte size distribution. Response to isoprenaline-stimulated glycerol release and insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in adipocytes from gonadal WAT was assessed. RESULTS In R6/2 mice, WAT depot weights were comparable to wildtype (WT) mice, and the response to insulin and isoprenaline in gonadal adipocytes was unaltered. Leptin-deficient R6/2 mice exhibited distinct changes compared to leptin-deficient WT mice. At 12 weeks, female leptin-deficient R6/2 mice had reduced body weight accompanied by an increased proportion of smaller adipocytes, while in contrast; male mice displayed a shift towards larger adipocyte sizes without a significant body weight reduction at this timepoint. CONCLUSIONS We here show that there are early sex-specific changes in adipocyte cell size distribution in WAT of R6/2 mice and leptin-deficient R6/2 mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elna Dickson
- Brain Disease Biomarker Unit, Wallenberg Neuroscience Center, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Claes Fryklund
- Glucose Transport and Protein Trafficking, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Rana Soylu-Kucharz
- Brain Disease Biomarker Unit, Wallenberg Neuroscience Center, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Marie Sjögren
- Brain Disease Biomarker Unit, Wallenberg Neuroscience Center, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Karin G Stenkula
- Glucose Transport and Protein Trafficking, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Maria Björkqvist
- Brain Disease Biomarker Unit, Wallenberg Neuroscience Center, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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Hypothalamic expression of huntingtin causes distinct metabolic changes in Huntington's disease mice. Mol Metab 2022; 57:101439. [PMID: 35007790 PMCID: PMC8814380 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2022.101439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective In Huntington's disease (HD), the disease-causing huntingtin (HTT) protein is ubiquitously expressed and causes both central and peripheral pathology. In clinical HD, a higher body mass index has been associated with slower disease progression, indicating the role of metabolic changes in disease pathogenesis. Underlying mechanisms of metabolic changes in HD remain poorly understood, but recent studies suggest the involvement of hypothalamic dysfunction. The present study aimed to investigate whether modulation of hypothalamic HTT levels would affect metabolic phenotype and disease features in HD using mouse models. Methods We used the R6/2 and BACHD mouse models that express different lengths of mutant HTT to develop lean- and obese phenotypes, respectively. We utilized adeno-associated viral vectors to overexpress either mutant or wild-type HTT in the hypothalamus of R6/2, BACHD, and their wild-type littermates. The metabolic phenotype was assessed by body weight measurements over time and body composition analysis using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry at the endpoint. R6/2 mice were further characterized using behavioral analyses, including rotarod, nesting-, and hindlimb clasping tests during early- and late-time points of disease progression. Finally, gene expression analysis was performed in R6/2 mice and wild-type littermates in order to assess transcriptional changes in the hypothalamus and adipose tissue. Results Hypothalamic overexpression of mutant HTT induced significant gender-affected body weight gain in all models, including wild-type mice. In R6/2 females, early weight gain shifted to weight loss during the corresponding late stage of disease despite increased fat accumulation. Body weight changes were accompanied by behavioral alterations. During the period of early weight gain, R6/2 mice displayed a comparable locomotor capacity to wild-type mice. When assessing behavior just prior to weight loss onset in R6/2 mice, decreased locomotor performance was observed in R6/2 females with hypothalamic overexpression of mutant HTT. Transcriptional downregulation of beta-3 adrenergic receptor (B3AR), adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARγ) in gonadal white adipose tissue was accompanied by distinct alterations in hypothalamic gene expression profiles in R6/2 females after mutant HTT overexpression. No significant effect on metabolic phenotype in R6/2 was seen in response to wild-type HTT overexpression. Conclusions Taken together, our findings provide further support for the role of HTT in metabolic control via hypothalamic neurocircuits. Understanding the specific central neurocircuits and their peripheral link underlying metabolic imbalance in HD may open up avenues for novel therapeutic interventions. Overexpression of hypothalamic huntingtin affects weight in Huntington's disease mice. Hypothalamic huntingtin expression results in gene expression changes in white fat and the hypothalamus. Hypothalamic huntingtin cannot prevent late-stage weight loss in R6/2 mice.
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Cheong RY, Baldo B, Sajjad MU, Kirik D, Petersén Å. Effects of mutant huntingtin inactivation on Huntington disease-related behaviours in the BACHD mouse model. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 2021; 47:564-578. [PMID: 33330988 PMCID: PMC8247873 DOI: 10.1111/nan.12682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Huntington disease (HD) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder with no disease-modifying treatments approved so far. Ongoing clinical trials are attempting to reduce huntingtin (HTT) expression in the central nervous system (CNS) using different strategies. Yet, the distribution and timing of HTT-lowering therapies required for a beneficial clinical effect is less clear. Here, we investigated whether HD-related behaviours could be prevented by inactivating mutant HTT at different disease stages and to varying degrees in an experimental model. METHODS We generated mutant BACHD mice with either a widespread or circuit-specific inactivation of mutant HTT by using Cre recombinase (Cre) under the nestin promoter or the adenosine A2A receptor promoter respectively. We also simulated a clinical gene therapy scenario with allele-specific HTT targeting by injections of recombinant adeno-associated viral (rAAV) vectors expressing Cre into the striatum of adult BACHD mice. All mice were assessed using behavioural tests to investigate motor, metabolic and psychiatric outcome measures at 4-6 months of age. RESULTS While motor deficits, body weight changes, anxiety and depressive-like behaviours are present in BACHD mice, early widespread CNS inactivation during development significantly improves rotarod performance, body weight changes and depressive-like behaviour. However, conditional circuit-wide mutant HTT deletion from the indirect striatal pathway during development and focal striatal-specific deletion in adulthood failed to rescue any of the HD-related behaviours. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that widespread targeting and the timing of interventions aimed at reducing mutant HTT are important factors to consider when developing disease-modifying therapies for HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Y. Cheong
- Translational Neuroendocrine Research UnitDepartment of Experimental Medical ScienceLund UniversityLundSweden
| | - Barbara Baldo
- Translational Neuroendocrine Research UnitDepartment of Experimental Medical ScienceLund UniversityLundSweden
- Present address:
Evotec SEHD Research and Translational SciencesHamburgGermany
| | - Muhammad U. Sajjad
- Translational Neuroendocrine Research UnitDepartment of Experimental Medical ScienceLund UniversityLundSweden
| | - Deniz Kirik
- Brain Repair and Imaging in Neural Systems UnitDepartment of Experimental Medical ScienceLund UniversityLundSweden
| | - Åsa Petersén
- Translational Neuroendocrine Research UnitDepartment of Experimental Medical ScienceLund UniversityLundSweden
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Erdenee S, Akhatayeva Z, Pan C, Cai Y, Xu H, Chen H, Lan X. An insertion/deletion within the CREB1 gene identified using the RNA-sequencing is associated with sheep body morphometric traits. Gene 2021; 775:145444. [PMID: 33484760 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2021.145444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Revised: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
In a previous study, the cyclic AMP response element-binding protein 1 (CREB1) gene, which is likely involved in the regulation of fat metabolism in sheep adipose tissue, was identified using RNA sequencing. CREB1 is a transcription factor that participates in the regulation of cell proliferation, differentiation, and survival as well as energy metabolism. Therefore, based on preliminary studies, this study aimed to reveal the correlation between the insertion/deletion (indel) polymorphism of the CREB1 gene and sheep growth traits. One insertion variation of the ovine CREB1 gene, C3-ins-26 bp, was investigated in 1847 Chinese and Mongolian sheep breeds. The minor allele frequencies in the CREB1 gene varied from 0.021 to 0.938. Further, statistical analyses indicated that the C3-ins-26 bp indel in the CREB1 gene was significantly related to various body measurements (body length, height, and index; chest width, depth, and width index; cannon circumference index; and height at the hip cross) in a Tan sheep population (p < 0.05). Collectively, these findings may provide important insights into marker-assisted selection of sheep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarantsetseg Erdenee
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Zhanerke Akhatayeva
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Chuanying Pan
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Yong Cai
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China; Science Experimental Center, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China.
| | - Hongwei Xu
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China; Science Experimental Center, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China.
| | - Hong Chen
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.
| | - Xianyong Lan
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.
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Schilling J, Broemer M, Atanassov I, Duernberger Y, Vorberg I, Dieterich C, Dagane A, Dittmar G, Wanker E, van Roon-Mom W, Winter J, Krauß S. Deregulated Splicing Is a Major Mechanism of RNA-Induced Toxicity in Huntington's Disease. J Mol Biol 2019; 431:1869-1877. [PMID: 30711541 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2019.01.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2018] [Revised: 01/21/2019] [Accepted: 01/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is caused by an expanded CAG repeat in the huntingtin (HTT) gene, translating into an elongated polyglutamine stretch. In addition to the neurotoxic mutant HTT protein, the mutant CAG repeat RNA can exert toxic functions by trapping RNA-binding proteins. While few examples of proteins that aberrantly bind to mutant HTT RNA and execute abnormal function in conjunction with the CAG repeat RNA have been described, an unbiased approach to identify the interactome of mutant HTT RNA is missing. Here, we describe the analysis of proteins that preferentially bind mutant HTT RNA using a mass spectrometry approach. We show that (I) the majority of proteins captured by mutant HTT RNA belong to the spliceosome pathway, (II) expression of mutant CAG repeat RNA induces mis-splicing in a HD cell model, (III) overexpression of one of the splice factors trapped by mutant HTT ameliorates the HD phenotype in a fly model and (VI) deregulated splicing occurs in human HD brain. Our data suggest that deregulated splicing is a prominent mechanism of RNA-induced toxicity in HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith Schilling
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 53127, Bonn, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
| | - Meike Broemer
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 53127, Bonn, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
| | - Ilian Atanassov
- Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, 50931 Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
| | - Yvonne Duernberger
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 53127, Bonn, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
| | - Ina Vorberg
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 53127, Bonn, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany; Department of Neurology, Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, 53127 Bonn, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
| | - Christoph Dieterich
- Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, 50931 Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
| | - Alina Dagane
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), 13092 Berlin, Germany
| | - Gunnar Dittmar
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), 13092 Berlin, Germany; Luxembourg Institute of Health, 1445 Strassen, Luxembourg
| | - Erich Wanker
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), 13092 Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Jennifer Winter
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
| | - Sybille Krauß
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 53127, Bonn, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
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Smatlikova P, Juhas S, Juhasova J, Suchy T, Hubalek Kalbacova M, Ellederova Z, Motlik J, Klima J. Adipogenic Differentiation of Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Pig Transgenic Model Expressing Human Mutant Huntingtin. J Huntingtons Dis 2018; 8:33-51. [PMID: 30584151 DOI: 10.3233/jhd-180303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although the highest expression of mutant huntingtin (mtHtt) was observed in the brain, its negative effects were also apparent in other tissues. Specifically, mtHtt impairs metabolic homeostasis and causes transcriptional dysregulation in adipose tissue. Adipogenic differentiation can be induced by the activation of two transcription factors: CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha (CEBPα) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ). These same transcription factors were found to be compromised in some tissues of Huntington's disease (HD) mouse models and in lymphocytes of HD patients. OBJECTIVE This study investigated the adipogenic potential of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from transgenic Huntington's disease (TgHD) minipigs expressing human mtHtt (1-548aa) containing 124 glutamines. Two differentiation conditions were used, employing PPARγ agonist rosiglitazone or indomethacin. METHODS Bone marrow MSCs were isolated from TgHD and WT minipig siblings and compared by their cluster of differentiation using flow cytometry. Their adipogenic potential in vitro was analyzed using quantitative immunofluorescence and western blot analysis of transcription factors and adipogenic markers. RESULTS Flow cytometry analysis did not reveal any significant difference between WT and TgHD MSCs. Nevertheless, following differentiation into adipocytes, the expression of CEBPα nuclear, PPARγ and adipogenic marker FABP4/AP2 were significantly lower in TgHD cells compared to WT cells. In addition, we proved both rosiglitazone and indomethacin to be efficient for adipogenic differentiation of porcine MSCs, with rosiglitazone showing a better adipogenic profile. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrated a negative influence of mtHtt on adipogenic differentiation of porcine MSCs in vitro associated with compromised expression of adipogenic transcription factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra Smatlikova
- PIGMOD Centre, Laboratory of Cell Regeneration and Plasticity, Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Libechov, Czech Republic.,Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Stefan Juhas
- PIGMOD Centre, Laboratory of Cell Regeneration and Plasticity, Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Libechov, Czech Republic
| | - Jana Juhasova
- PIGMOD Centre, Laboratory of Cell Regeneration and Plasticity, Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Libechov, Czech Republic
| | - Tomas Suchy
- Department of Composites and Carbon Materials, Institute of Rock Structure and Mechanics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic; Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Marie Hubalek Kalbacova
- Biomedical Centre, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University in Prague, Pilsen, Czech Republic; Institute of Pathological Physiology, 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Zdenka Ellederova
- PIGMOD Centre, Laboratory of Cell Regeneration and Plasticity, Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Libechov, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Motlik
- PIGMOD Centre, Laboratory of Cell Regeneration and Plasticity, Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Libechov, Czech Republic
| | - Jiri Klima
- PIGMOD Centre, Laboratory of Cell Regeneration and Plasticity, Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Libechov, Czech Republic
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Baldo B, Gabery S, Soylu-Kucharz R, Cheong RY, Henningsen JB, Englund E, McLean C, Kirik D, Halliday G, Petersén Å. SIRT1 is increased in affected brain regions and hypothalamic metabolic pathways are altered in Huntington disease. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 2018; 45:361-379. [PMID: 30019499 DOI: 10.1111/nan.12514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2018] [Accepted: 07/11/2018] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Metabolic dysfunction is involved in modulating the disease process in Huntington disease (HD) but the underlying mechanisms are not known. The aim of this study was to investigate if the metabolic regulators sirtuins are affected in HD. METHODS Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reactions were used to assess levels of SIRT1-3 and downstream targets in post mortem brain tissue from HD patients and control cases as well as after selective hypothalamic expression of mutant huntingtin (HTT) using recombinant adeno-associated viral vectors in mice. RESULTS We show that mRNA levels of the metabolic regulator SIRT1 are increased in the striatum and the cerebral cortex but not in the less affected cerebellum in post mortem HD brains. Levels of SIRT2 are only increased in the striatum and SIRT3 is not affected in HD. Interestingly, mRNA levels of SIRT1 are selectively increased in the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) and ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) in HD. Further analyses of the LHA and VMH confirmed pathological changes in these regions including effects on SIRT1 downstream targets and reduced mRNA levels of orexin (hypocretin), prodynorphin and melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) in the LHA and of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the VMH. Analyses after selective hypothalamic expression of mutant HTT suggest that effects on BDNF, orexin, dynorphin and MCH are early and direct, whereas changes in SIRT1 require more widespread expression of mutant HTT. CONCLUSIONS We show that SIRT1 expression is increased in HD-affected brain regions and that metabolic pathways are altered in the HD hypothalamus.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Baldo
- Translational Neuroendocrine Research Unit, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - S Gabery
- Translational Neuroendocrine Research Unit, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - R Soylu-Kucharz
- Translational Neuroendocrine Research Unit, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - R Y Cheong
- Translational Neuroendocrine Research Unit, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - J B Henningsen
- Translational Neuroendocrine Research Unit, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - E Englund
- Division of Oncology and Pathology, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - C McLean
- Department of Pathology, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Vic, Australia
| | - D Kirik
- B.R.A.I.N.S. Unit, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - G Halliday
- Brain and Mind Centre, Sydney Medical School, UNSW Medicine and NeuRA, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Å Petersén
- Translational Neuroendocrine Research Unit, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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McCourt AC, Jakobsson L, Larsson S, Holm C, Piel S, Elmér E, Björkqvist M. White Adipose Tissue Browning in the R6/2 Mouse Model of Huntington's Disease. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0159870. [PMID: 27486903 PMCID: PMC4972251 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0159870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2016] [Accepted: 07/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington’s disease (HD) is a fatal, autosomal dominantly inherited neurodegenerative disorder, characterised not only by progressive cognitive, motor and psychiatric impairments, but also of peripheral pathology. In both human HD and in mouse models of HD there is evidence of increased energy expenditure and weight loss, alongside altered body composition. Unlike white adipose tissue (WAT), brown adipose tissue (BAT), as well as brown-like cells within WAT, expresses the mitochondrial protein, uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1). UCP1 enables dissociation of cellular respiration from ATP utilization, resulting in the release of stored energy as heat. Hyperplasia of brown/beige cells in WAT has been suggested to enhance energy expenditure. In this study, we therefore investigated the gene expression profile, histological appearance, response to cold challenge and functional aspects of WAT in the R6/2 HD mouse model and selected WAT gene expression in the full-length Q175 mouse model of HD. WAT from R6/2 mice contained significantly more brown-like adipocyte regions and had a gene profile suggestive of the presence of brown-like adipocytes, such as higher Ucp1 expression. Cold exposure induced Ucp1 expression in R6/2 inguinal WAT to a markedly higher degree as compared to the thermogenic response in WT WAT. Alongside this, gene expression of transcription factors (Zfp516 and Pparα), important inducers of WAT browning, were increased in R6/2 inguinal WAT, and Creb1 was highlighted as a key transcription factor in HD. In addition to increased WAT Ucp1 expression, a trend towards increased mitochondrial oxygen consumption due to enhanced uncoupling activity was found in inguinal R6/2 WAT. Key gene expressional changes (increased expression of (Zfp516 and Pparα)) were replicated in inguinal WAT obtained from Q175 mice. In summary, for the first time, we here show that HD mouse WAT undergoes a process of browning, resulting in molecular and functional alterations that may contribute to the weight loss and altered metabolism observed with disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew C. McCourt
- Brain Disease Biomarker Unit, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, BMC A10, 22184 Lund, Sweden
| | - Lovisa Jakobsson
- Brain Disease Biomarker Unit, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, BMC A10, 22184 Lund, Sweden
| | - Sara Larsson
- Section for Diabetes, Metabolism and Endocrinology, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, BMC C11, 221 84 Lund, Sweden
| | - Cecilia Holm
- Section for Diabetes, Metabolism and Endocrinology, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, BMC C11, 221 84 Lund, Sweden
| | - Sarah Piel
- Mitochondrial Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, BMC A13, 221 84 Lund, Sweden
| | - Eskil Elmér
- Mitochondrial Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, BMC A13, 221 84 Lund, Sweden
| | - Maria Björkqvist
- Brain Disease Biomarker Unit, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, BMC A10, 22184 Lund, Sweden
- * E-mail:
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