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Nies VJM, Struik D, Wolfs MGM, Rensen SS, Szalowska E, Unmehopa UA, Fluiter K, van der Meer TP, Hajmousa G, Buurman WA, Greve JW, Rezaee F, Shiri-Sverdlov R, Vonk RJ, Swaab DF, Wolffenbuttel BHR, Jonker JW, van Vliet-Ostaptchouk JV. TUB gene expression in hypothalamus and adipose tissue and its association with obesity in humans. Int J Obes (Lond) 2017; 42:376-383. [PMID: 28852204 DOI: 10.1038/ijo.2017.214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2017] [Revised: 07/21/2017] [Accepted: 07/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES Mutations in the Tubby gene (TUB) cause late-onset obesity and insulin resistance in mice and syndromic obesity in humans. Although TUB gene function has not yet been fully elucidated, studies in rodents indicate that TUB is involved in the hypothalamic pathways regulating food intake and adiposity. Aside from the function in central nervous system, TUB has also been implicated in energy metabolism in adipose tissue in rodents. We aimed to determine the expression and distribution patterns of TUB in man as well as its potential association with obesity. SUBJECTS/METHODS In situ hybridization was used to localize the hypothalamic regions and cells expressing TUB mRNA. Using RT-PCR, we determined the mRNA expression level of the two TUB gene alternative splicing isoforms, the short and the long transcript variants, in the hypothalami of 12 obese and 12 normal-weight subjects, and in biopsies from visceral (VAT) and subcutaneous (SAT) adipose tissues from 53 severely obese and 24 non-obese control subjects, and correlated TUB expression with parameters of obesity and metabolic health. RESULTS Expression of both TUB transcripts was detected in the hypothalamus, whereas only the short TUB isoform was found in both VAT and SAT. TUB mRNA was detected in several hypothalamic regions involved in body weight regulation, including the nucleus basalis of Meynert and the paraventricular, supraoptic and tuberomammillary nuclei. We found no difference in the hypothalamic TUB expression between obese and control groups, whereas the level of TUB mRNA was significantly lower in adipose tissue of obese subjects as compared to controls. Also, TUB expression was negatively correlated with indices of body weight and obesity in a fat-depot-specific manner. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate high expression of TUB in the hypothalamus, especially in areas involved in body weight regulation, and the correlation between TUB expression in adipose tissue and obesity. These findings suggest a role for TUB in human obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- V J M Nies
- Section of Molecular Metabolism and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - D Struik
- Section of Molecular Metabolism and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - M G M Wolfs
- Department of Endocrinology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - S S Rensen
- Department of General Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Center, NUTRIM School for Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - E Szalowska
- Centre for Medical Biomics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - U A Unmehopa
- Department of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - K Fluiter
- Department of Genome Analysis, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - T P van der Meer
- Department of Endocrinology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - G Hajmousa
- Cardiovascular Regenerative Medicine, Department Pathology and Medical Biology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - W A Buurman
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - J W Greve
- Department of Surgery, Zuyderland Medical Center Heerlen; Dutch Obesity Clinic South, Heerlen, The Netherlands
| | - F Rezaee
- Centre for Medical Biomics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - R Shiri-Sverdlov
- Departments of Molecular Genetics, School of Nutrition & Translational Research in Metabolism (NUTRIM), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - R J Vonk
- Centre for Medical Biomics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - D F Swaab
- Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, an Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - B H R Wolffenbuttel
- Department of Endocrinology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - J W Jonker
- Section of Molecular Metabolism and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - J V van Vliet-Ostaptchouk
- Department of Endocrinology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.,Department of Epidemiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
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Wolfs MGM, Gruben N, Rensen SS, Verdam FJ, Greve JW, Driessen A, Wijmenga C, Buurman WA, Franke L, Scheja L, Koonen DPY, Shiri-Sverdlov R, van Haeften TW, Hofker MH, Fu J. Determining the association between adipokine expression in multiple tissues and phenotypic features of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in obesity. Nutr Diabetes 2015; 5:e146. [PMID: 25664838 PMCID: PMC4338415 DOI: 10.1038/nutd.2014.43] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2014] [Revised: 09/28/2014] [Accepted: 11/15/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an obesity-associated disease, and in obesity adipokines are believed to be involved in the development of NAFLD. However, it is still not clear whether adipokines in the liver and/or adipose tissues can be related to the development of specific characteristics of NAFLD, such as steatosis and inflammation. We aimed to address this question by simultaneously examining the adipokine expression in three tissue types in obese individuals. Methods: We enrolled 93 severely obese individuals with NAFLD, varying from simple steatosis to severe non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Their expression of 48 adipokines in the liver, visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) was correlated to their phenotypic features of NAFLD. We further determined whether the correlations were tissue specific and/or independent of covariates, including age, sex, obesity, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes (T2D). Results: The expression of adipokines showed a liver- and adipose tissue-specific pattern. We identified that the expression of leptin, angiopoietin 2 (ANGPT2) and chemerin in visceral adipose tissue (VAT) was associated with different NAFLD features, including steatosis, ballooning, portal and lobular inflammation. In addition, the expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF), plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1), insulin-like growth factor 1 (somatomedin C) (IGF1) and chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 10 (CXCL10) in the liver tissue and the expression of interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (IL1RN) in both the liver and SAT were associated with NAFLD features. The correlations between ANGPT2 and CXCL10, and NAFLD features were dependent on insulin resistance and T2D, but for the other genes the correlation with at least one NAFLD feature remained significant after correcting for the covariates. Conclusions: Our results suggest that in obese individuals, VAT-derived leptin and chemerin, and hepatic expression of TNF, IGF1, IL1RN and PAI-1 are involved in the development of NAFLD features. Further, functional studies are warranted to establish a causal relationship.
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Affiliation(s)
- M G M Wolfs
- Molecular Genetics Section, Department of Pediatrics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - N Gruben
- Molecular Genetics Section, Department of Pediatrics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - S S Rensen
- Department of General Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Center, NUTRIM School for Nutrition, Toxicology and Metabolism, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - F J Verdam
- Department of General Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Center, NUTRIM School for Nutrition, Toxicology and Metabolism, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - J W Greve
- Department of General Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Center, NUTRIM School for Nutrition, Toxicology and Metabolism, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - A Driessen
- 1] Department of Pathology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, NUTRIM School for Nutrition, Toxicology and Metabolism, Maastricht, The Netherlands [2] Department of Pathology, University Hospital Antwerp, Edegem, Belgium
| | - C Wijmenga
- Department of Genetics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - W A Buurman
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - L Franke
- 1] Department of Genetics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands [2] Institute of Cell and Molecular Science, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, UK
| | - L Scheja
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - D P Y Koonen
- Molecular Genetics Section, Department of Pediatrics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - R Shiri-Sverdlov
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - T W van Haeften
- 1] Molecular Genetics Section, Department of Pediatrics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands [2] Department of Internal Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - M H Hofker
- Molecular Genetics Section, Department of Pediatrics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - J Fu
- Department of Genetics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
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