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Guo X, Li Y, Chen X, Sun B, Guo X. Urocortin-1 promotes colorectal cancer cell migration and proliferation and inhibits apoptosis via inhibition of the p53 signaling pathway. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2024; 150:163. [PMID: 38546882 PMCID: PMC10978644 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-024-05693-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/01/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE To investigate the effect of urocortin-1 (UCN-1) on growth, migration, and apoptosis in colorectal cancer (CRC) in vivo and vitro and the mechanism by which UCN-1 modulates CRC cells in vitro. METHODS The correlation between UCN-1 and CRC was evaluated using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and a tissue microarray. The expression of UCN-1 in CRC cells was assessed using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and western blotting. In vitro, the influence of UCN-1 on the proliferation, apoptosis, and migration of HT-29, HCT-116, and RKO cells was explored using the celigo cell counting assay or cell counting kit-8 (CCK8), flow cytometry, and wound healing or Transwell assays, respectively. In vivo, the effect of UCN-1 on CRC growth and progression was evaluated in nude mice. The downstream pathway underlying UCN-1-mediated regulation of CRC was determined using the phospho-kinase profiler array in RKO cells. Lentiviruses were used to knockdown or upregulate UCN-1 expression in cells. RESULTS Both the TCGA and tissue microarray results showed that UCN-1 was strongly expressed in the tissues of patients with CRC. Furthermore, the tissue microarray results showed that the expression of UCN-1 was higher in male than in female patients, and high expression of UCN-1 was associated with higher risk of lymphatic metastasis and later pathological stage. UCN-1 knockdown caused a reduction in CRC cell proliferation, migration, and colony formation, as well as an increase in apoptosis. In xenograft experiments, tumors generated from RKO cells with UCN-1 knockdown exhibited reduced volumes and weights. A reduction in the expression of Ki-67 in xenograft tumors indicated that UCN-1 knockdown curbed tumor growth. The human phospho-kinase array showed that the p53 signaling pathway participated in UCN-1-mediated CRC development. The suppression in migration and proliferation caused by UCN-1 knockdown was reversed by inhibitors of p53 signal pathway, while the increase in cell apoptosis was suppressed. On the other hand, overexpression of UCN-1 promoted proliferation and migration and inhibited apoptosis in CRC cells. Overexpression of p53 reversed the effect of UCN-1 overexpression on CRC development. CONCLUSION UCN-1 promotes migration and proliferation and inhibits apoptosis via inhibition of the p53 signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolan Guo
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Ya Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Xiangyu Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Binghua Sun
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Xiaolan Guo
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.
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2
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Zhu C, Li S. The peripheral corticotropin releasing factor family's role in vasculitis. Vascul Pharmacol 2024; 154:107275. [PMID: 38184094 DOI: 10.1016/j.vph.2023.107275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/31/2023] [Indexed: 01/08/2024]
Abstract
Corticotropin releasing factor family peptides (CRF peptides) include 4 members, corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH), Urocortin (UCN1), UCN2 and UCN3. CRF peptides function via the two distinct receptors, CRF1 and CRF2. Among them, CRH/CRF1 has been recognized to influence immunity/inflammation peripherally. Both pro- and anti-inflammatory effects of CRH are reported. Likewise, UCNs, peripherally in cardiovascular system have been documented to have both potent protective and harmful effects, with UCN1 acting on both CRF1 & CRF2 and UCN2 & UCN3 on CRF2. We and others also observe protective and detrimental effects of CRF peptides/receptors on vasculature, with the latter of predominantly higher incidence, i.e., they play an important role in the development of vasculitis while in some cases they are found to counteract vascular inflammation. The pro-vasculitis effects of CRH & UCNs include increasing vascular endothelial permeability, interrupting endothelial adherens & tight junctions leading to hyperpermeability, stimulating immune/inflammatory cells to release inflammatory factors, and promoting angiogenesis by VEGF release while the anti-vasculitis effects may be just the opposite, depending on many factors such as different CRF receptor types, species and systemic conditions. Furthermore, CRF peptides' pro-vasculitis effects are found to be likely related to cPLA2 and S1P receptor signal pathway. This minireview will focus on summarizing the peripheral effects of CRF peptides on vasculature participating in the processes of vasculitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Zhu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Longmian Avenue, 101, Nanjing, China
| | - Shengnan Li
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Longmian Avenue, 101, Nanjing, China.
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3
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Milicic M, Gaszner B, Berta G, Pintér E, Kormos V. The Lack of TRPA1 Ion Channel Does Not Affect the Chronic Stress-Induced Activation of the Locus Ceruleus. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1765. [PMID: 38339042 PMCID: PMC10855130 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
We have previously proven the involvement of transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) in stress adaptation. A lack of TRPA1 affects both urocortin 1 (member of the corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) family) content of the Edinger-Westphal nucleus. The noradrenergic locus ceruleus (LC) is also an important player in mood control. We aimed at investigating whether the TRPA1 is expressed in the LC, and to test if the response to chronic variable mild stress (CVMS) is affected by a lack of TRPA1. The TRPA1 expression was examined via RNAscope in situ hybridization. We investigated TRPA1 knockout and wildtype mice using the CVMS model of depression. Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and FOSB double immunofluorescence were used to test the functional neuromorphological changes in the LC. No TRPA1 expression was detected in the LC. The TH content was not affected by CVMS exposure. The CVMS-induced FOSB immunosignal did not co-localize with the TH neurons. TRPA1 is not expressed in the LC. A lack of functional TRPA1 receptor neither directly nor indirectly affects the TH content of LC neurons under CVMS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milica Milicic
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Medical School, University of Pécs, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary; (M.M.); (E.P.)
| | - Balázs Gaszner
- Department of Anatomy, Medical School and Research Group for Mood Disorders, University of Pécs, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary;
| | - Gergely Berta
- Department of Medical Biology, Medical School, University of Pécs, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary;
| | - Erika Pintér
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Medical School, University of Pécs, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary; (M.M.); (E.P.)
| | - Viktória Kormos
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Medical School, University of Pécs, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary; (M.M.); (E.P.)
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4
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Dimas A, Goussia A, Papoudou-Bai A, Politi A, Paschopoulos M, Navrozoglou I, Makrigiannakis A, Vrekoussis T. The expression of corticotropin-releasing hormone family peptides in premalignant and malignant vulvar lesions. Clin Transl Oncol 2024; 26:260-268. [PMID: 37382757 PMCID: PMC10761541 DOI: 10.1007/s12094-023-03249-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To examine the relation of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) family peptides with inflammatory processes and oncogenesis, emphasizing in vulvar inflammatory, premalignant and malignant lesions, as well as to investigate the possibility of lesion cells immunoescaping, utilizing FAS/FAS-L complex. METHODS Immunohistochemical expression of CRH, urocortin (UCN), FasL and their receptors CRHR1, CRHR2 and Fas was studied in vulvar tissue sections obtained from patients with histologically confirmed diagnosis of lichen, vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) and vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC). The patient cohort was selected from a tertiary teaching Hospital in Greece, between 2005 and 2015. For each of the disease categories, immunohistochemical staining was evaluated and the results were statistically compared. RESULTS A progressive increase of the cytoplasmic immunohistochemical expression of CRH and UCN, from precancerous lesions to VSCC was observed. A similar increase was detected for Fas and FasL expression. Nuclear localization of UCN was demonstrated in both premalignant and VSCC lesions, with staining being significantly intensified in carcinomas, particularly in the less differentiated tumor areas or in the areas at invasive tumor front. CONCLUSIONS Stress response system and CRH family peptides seem to have a role in inflammation maintenance and progression of vulvar premalignant lesions to malignancy. It seems that stress peptides may locally modulate the stroma through Fas/FasL upregulation, possibly contributing to vulvar cancer development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anna Goussia
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45110, Ioannina, Greece
- Department of Pathology, University Hospital of Ioannina, 45110, Ioannina, Greece
- Department of Pathology, German Oncology Center, Limassol, Cyprus
| | - Alexandra Papoudou-Bai
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45110, Ioannina, Greece
- Department of Pathology, University Hospital of Ioannina, 45110, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Anastasia Politi
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology, Andreas Syggros Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 16121, Athens, Greece
| | - Minas Paschopoulos
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45110, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Iordanis Navrozoglou
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45110, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Antonis Makrigiannakis
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Health Science, University of Crete, 71500, Iraklio, Greece
| | - Thomas Vrekoussis
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Health Science, University of Crete, 71500, Iraklio, Greece
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Alcántara-Alonso V, Dallmann R, Lehnert H, de Gortari P, Grammatopoulos DK. CRH-R2 signalling modulates feeding and circadian gene expression in hypothalamic mHypoA-2/30 neurons. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1266081. [PMID: 37900150 PMCID: PMC10600019 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1266081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The hypothalamic type 2 corticotropin releasing hormone receptor (CRH-R2) plays critical roles in homeostatic regulation, particularly in fine tuning stress recovery. During acute stress, the CRH-R2 ligands CRH and urocortins promote adaptive responses and feeding inhibition. However, in rodent models of chronic stress, over-exposure of hypothalamic CRH-R2 to its cognate agonists is associated with urocortin 2 (Ucn2) resistance; attenuated cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB) phosphorylation and increased food intake. The molecular mechanisms involved in these altered CRH-R2 signalling responses are not well described. In the present study, we used the adult mouse hypothalamus-derived cell line mHypoA-2/30 to investigate CRH-R2 signalling characteristics focusing on gene expression of molecules involved in feeding and circadian regulation given the role of clock genes in metabolic control. We identified functional CRH-R2 receptors expressed in mHypoA-2/30 cells that differentially regulate CREB and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation and downstream expression of the appetite-regulatory genes proopiomelanocortin (Pomc) and neuropeptide Y (Npy) in accordance with an anorexigenic effect. We studied for the first time the effects of Ucn2 on clock genes in native and in a circadian bioluminescence reporter expressing mHypoA-2/30 cells, detecting enhancing effects of Ucn2 on mRNA levels and rhythm amplitude of the circadian regulator Aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator-like protein 1 (Bmal1), which could facilitate anorexic responses in the activity circadian phase. These data uncover novel aspects of CRH-R2 hypothalamic signalling that might be important in regulation of circadian feeding during stress responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viridiana Alcántara-Alonso
- Translational Medicine, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
- Laboratorio de Neurofisiología Molecular, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Robert Dallmann
- Translational Medicine, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | - Hendrik Lehnert
- Rectorate, Paris Lodron Universität Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Patricia de Gortari
- Laboratorio de Neurofisiología Molecular, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Dimitris K. Grammatopoulos
- Translational Medicine, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
- Institute of Precision Diagnostics and Translational Medicine, Pathology, University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW), National Health Service (NHS) Trust, Coventry, United Kingdom
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6
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Balogh B, Vecsernyés M, Stayer‐Harci A, Berta G, Tarjányi O, Sétáló G. Urocortin stimulates the
ERK1
/2 signaling pathway and the proliferation of
HeLa
cells via
CRF
receptor 1. FEBS Open Bio 2023; 13:818-832. [PMID: 36971048 PMCID: PMC10153344 DOI: 10.1002/2211-5463.13602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) stimulates adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) secretion from the pituitary gland and is an essential regulator of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis. Isoforms of CRF receptor are known to mediate the effects of urocortin stress ligands on the regulation of stress responses, anxiety, and feeding behavior; however, urocortin stress ligands also influence cell proliferation. In view of the tumor-promoting capacity of prolonged stress, here we investigated (a) the effect of urocortin on cell proliferative signaling via extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2, (b) the expression and cellular distribution of the specific CRF receptor isoforms, and (c) the intracellular localization of phosphorylated ERK1/2 in HeLa cells. Stimulation of cell proliferation was observed in the presence of 10 nm urocortin. Our data also suggest that MAP kinase MEK, the transcription factors E2F-1 and p53, and PKB/Akt are involved in this process. These findings may have therapeutic relevance for the targeted treatment of various malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bálint Balogh
- Department of Medical Biology and Central Electron Microscope Laboratory, Medical SchoolUniversity of PécsHungary
| | - Mónika Vecsernyés
- Department of Medical Biology and Central Electron Microscope Laboratory, Medical SchoolUniversity of PécsHungary
- Signal Transduction Research GroupJános Szentágothai Research CentrePécsHungary
| | - Alexandra Stayer‐Harci
- Department of Medical Biology and Central Electron Microscope Laboratory, Medical SchoolUniversity of PécsHungary
- Signal Transduction Research GroupJános Szentágothai Research CentrePécsHungary
| | - Gergely Berta
- Department of Medical Biology and Central Electron Microscope Laboratory, Medical SchoolUniversity of PécsHungary
- Signal Transduction Research GroupJános Szentágothai Research CentrePécsHungary
| | - Oktávia Tarjányi
- Department of Medical Biology and Central Electron Microscope Laboratory, Medical SchoolUniversity of PécsHungary
- Signal Transduction Research GroupJános Szentágothai Research CentrePécsHungary
| | - György Sétáló
- Department of Medical Biology and Central Electron Microscope Laboratory, Medical SchoolUniversity of PécsHungary
- Signal Transduction Research GroupJános Szentágothai Research CentrePécsHungary
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7
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Dzieza-Grudnik A, Siga O, Walczewska J, Wizner B, Wolkow PP, Messerli FH, Grodzicki T. Urocortin 2 - a protective effect in hypertension? J Physiol Pharmacol 2023; 74. [PMID: 37245228 DOI: 10.26402/jpp.2023.1.01] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023]
Abstract
Urocortin 2, an endogenous selective ligand for the corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor type 2, has been suggested to exert cardioprotective effects. We analyzed the possible relationship between the level of Ucn2 and specific indicators of cardiovascular risk factors in patients with untreated hypertension and in healthy subjects. Sixty seven subjects were recruited: 38 with newly diagnosed treatment-naive hypertension (with no pharmacological treatment - HT group) and 29 healthy subjects without hypertension (nHT group). We evaluated ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, Ucn2 levels and metabolic indices. Multivariable regression analyses were performed to assess the effects of gender, age, and Ucn2 levels on metabolic indices or blood pressure (BP) level. Log of Ucn2 levels were higher in healthy subjects than in hypertensive patients (2.44±0.7 versus 2.09±0.66, p<.05) and correlated inversely with 24-hour diastolic blood pressure, and both night-time systolic and diastolic blood pressure regardless of age and gender (R2=0.06; R2=0.06; R2=0.052; respectively). Furthermore, Ucn2 levels inversely correlated with cholesterol and low-density cholesterol (LDL) concentrations in healthy subjects only. Ucn2 was independently related to total cholesterol (but not to LDL) regardless of age, gender and the presence of hypertension (R2=0.18). However, we did not find any relationship between urocortin 2, body mass index or waist-hip ratio as well as parameters of glucose metabolism. Our data indicates that higher levels of urocortin 2 are related to more favorable lipid profiles and lower blood pressure.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Dzieza-Grudnik
- Jagiellonian University Medical College, Department of Internal Medicine and Gerontology, Cracow, Poland
| | - O Siga
- Jagiellonian University Medical College, Department of Internal Medicine and Gerontology, Cracow, Poland
| | - J Walczewska
- Jagiellonian University Medical College, Department of Internal Medicine and Gerontology, Cracow, Poland.
| | - B Wizner
- Jagiellonian University Medical College, Department of Internal Medicine and Gerontology, Cracow, Poland
| | - P P Wolkow
- Jagiellonian University Medical College, Center for Medical Genomics Omicron, Cracow, Poland
| | - F H Messerli
- Swiss Cardiovascular Center, University of Bern, Switzerland
- Mount Sinai Icahn School of Medicine, New York, United State of America
- Jagiellonian University, Cracow, Poland
| | - T Grodzicki
- Jagiellonian University Medical College, Department of Internal Medicine and Gerontology, Cracow, Poland
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8
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Lai NC, Tan Z, Giamouridis D, Gao MH, Hammond HK. Urocortin 2 Gene Transfer for Systolic and Diastolic Dysfunction Due to Chronically Increased Left Ventricular Pressure. Hum Gene Ther 2022; 33:1091-1100. [PMID: 36053712 PMCID: PMC9595638 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2022.132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
We used transverse aortic constriction (TAC) in mice to test the hypothesis that urocortin 2 (Ucn2) gene transfer would increase left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic function in the pressure-stressed LV. Three groups were studied: (1) control mice (no TAC); (2) mice that received saline 6 weeks after TAC; and (3) mice that received Ucn2 gene transfer 6 weeks after TAC, using adeno-associated virus 8 encoding murine Ucn2 (AAV8.mUcn2; 2 × 1013 genome copies (gc)/kg, i.v. per mouse). Echocardiography was performed 6 and 12 weeks after TAC. In terminal studies 12 weeks after TAC, rates of LV pressure development and decay and Tau were measured, and LV cardiac myocytes (CMs) were isolated and cytosolic Ca2+ transients and sarcomere shortening rates recorded. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and immunoblotting were used to measure key proteins in LV samples. A CM cell line (HL-1) was used to explore mechanisms. Concentric LV hypertrophy was evident on echocardiography 6 weeks after TAC. Twelve weeks after TAC, LV ejection fraction (EF) was higher in mice that received Ucn2 gene transfer (TAC-saline: 65% ± 3%; TAC-Ucn2: 75% ± 2%; p = 0.01), as was LV peak +dP/dt (1.9-fold increase; p = 0.001) and LV peak -dP/dt (1.7-fold increase; p = 0.017). Tau was more rapid (23% reduction, p = 0.02), indicating improved diastolic function. The peak rates of sarcomere shortening (p = 0.002) and lengthening (p = 0.002) were higher in CMs from TAC-Ucn2 mice, and Tau was reduced (p = 0.001). LV (Ser-16) phosphorylation of phospholamban (PLB) was increased in TAC-Ucn2 mice (p = 0.025), and also was increased in HL-1 cells treated with angiotensin II to induce hypertrophy and incubated with Ucn2 peptide (p = 0.001). Ucn2 gene transfer in TAC-induced heart failure with preserved ejection fraction increased cardiac function in the intact LV and provided corresponding benefits in CMs isolated from study animals, including increased myofilament Ca2+ sensitivity during contraction. The mechanism includes enhanced CM Ca2+ handling associated with increased (Ser-16)-PLB.
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Affiliation(s)
- N. Chin Lai
- Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Zhen Tan
- Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Dimosthenis Giamouridis
- Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Mei Hua Gao
- Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California, USA
| | - H. Kirk Hammond
- Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California, USA
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9
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Grunddal KV, Trammell SAJ, Bæch-Laursen C, Andersen DB, Xu SFS, Andersen H, Gillum MP, Ghiasi SM, Novak I, Tyrberg B, Li C, Rosenkilde MM, Hartmann B, Holst JJ, Kuhre RE. Opposing roles of the entero-pancreatic hormone urocortin-3 in glucose metabolism in rats. Diabetologia 2022; 65:1018-1031. [PMID: 35325259 PMCID: PMC9076751 DOI: 10.1007/s00125-022-05675-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
AIM/HYPOTHESIS Urocortin-3 (UCN3) is a glucoregulatory peptide produced in the gut and pancreatic islets. The aim of this study was to clarify the acute effects of UCN3 on glucose regulation following an oral glucose challenge and to investigate the mechanisms involved. METHODS We studied the effect of UCN3 on blood glucose, gastric emptying, glucose absorption and secretion of gut and pancreatic hormones in male rats. To supplement these physiological studies, we mapped the expression of UCN3 and the UCN3-sensitive receptor, type 2 corticotropin-releasing factor receptor (CRHR2), by means of fluorescence in situ hybridisation and by gene expression analysis. RESULTS In rats, s.c. administration of UCN3 strongly inhibited gastric emptying and glucose absorption after oral administration of glucose. Direct inhibition of gastrointestinal motility may be responsible because UCN3's cognate receptor, CRHR2, was detected in gastric submucosal plexus and in interstitial cells of Cajal. Despite inhibited glucose absorption, post-challenge blood glucose levels matched those of rats given vehicle in the low-dose UCN3 group, because UCN3 concomitantly inhibited insulin secretion. Higher UCN3 doses did not further inhibit gastric emptying, but the insulin inhibition progressed resulting in elevated post-challenge glucose and lipolysis. Incretin hormones and somatostatin (SST) secretion from isolated perfused rat small intestine was unaffected by UCN3 infusion; however, UCN3 infusion stimulated secretion of somatostatin from delta cells in the isolated perfused rat pancreas which, unlike alpha cells and beta cells, expressed Crhr2. Conversely, acute antagonism of CRHR2 signalling increased insulin secretion by reducing SST signalling. Consistent with these observations, acute drug-induced inhibition of CRHR2 signalling improved glucose tolerance in rats to a similar degree as administration of glucagon-like peptide-1. UCN3 also powerfully inhibited glucagon secretion from isolated perfused rat pancreas (perfused with 3.5 mmol/l glucose) in a SST-dependent manner, suggesting that UCN3 may be involved in glucose-induced inhibition of glucagon secretion. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION Our combined data indicate that UCN3 is an important glucoregulatory hormone that acts through regulation of gastrointestinal and pancreatic functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaare V Grunddal
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical, Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Samuel A J Trammell
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical, Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Cecilie Bæch-Laursen
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical, Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Centre for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Daniel B Andersen
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical, Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Centre for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Stella F S Xu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical, Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Centre for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Helle Andersen
- Global Obesity and Liver Disease Research, Novo Nordisk, Måløv, Denmark
| | - Matthew P Gillum
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Centre for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Seyed M Ghiasi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Section of Cell Biology and Functional Genomics, Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College, London, UK
| | - Ivana Novak
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Björn Tyrberg
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Chien Li
- Global Obesity and Liver Disease Research, Novo Nordisk, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Mette M Rosenkilde
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical, Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Bolette Hartmann
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical, Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Centre for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jens J Holst
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical, Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Centre for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Rune E Kuhre
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical, Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
- Global Obesity and Liver Disease Research, Novo Nordisk, Måløv, Denmark.
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11
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Ivanova D, Li X, Liu Y, McIntyre C, Fernandes C, Lass G, Kong L, O’Byrne KT. Role of Posterodorsal Medial Amygdala Urocortin-3 in Pubertal Timing in Female Mice. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:893029. [PMID: 35655799 PMCID: PMC9152449 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.893029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder impedes pubertal development and disrupts pulsatile LH secretion in humans and rodents. The posterodorsal sub-nucleus of the medial amygdala (MePD) is an upstream modulator of the hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) pulse generator, pubertal timing, as well as emotional processing and anxiety. Psychosocial stress exposure alters neuronal activity within the MePD increasing the expression of Urocortin3 (Ucn3) and its receptor corticotropin-releasing factor type-2 receptor (CRFR2) while enhancing the inhibitory output from the MePD to key hypothalamic reproductive centres. We test the hypothesis that psychosocial stress, processed by the MePD, is relayed to the hypothalamic GnRH pulse generator to delay puberty in female mice. We exposed C57Bl6/J female mice to the predator odor, 2,4,5-Trimethylthiazole (TMT), during pubertal transition and examined the effect on pubertal timing, pre-pubertal LH pulses and anxiety-like behaviour. Subsequently, we virally infected Ucn3-cre-tdTomato female mice with stimulatory DREADDs targeting MePD Ucn3 neurons and determined the effect on pubertal timing and pre-pubertal LH pulse frequency. Exposure to TMT during pubertal development delayed puberty, suppressed pre-pubertal LH pulsatility and enhanced anxiety-like behaviour, while activation of MePD Ucn3 neurons reduced LH pulse frequency and delayed puberty. Early psychosocial stress exposure decreases GnRH pulse generator frequency delaying puberty while inducing anxiety-behaviour in female mice, an effect potentially involving Ucn3 neurons in the MePD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deyana Ivanova
- Department of Women and Children’s Health, Faculty of Life Science and Medicine, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - XiaoFeng Li
- Department of Women and Children’s Health, Faculty of Life Science and Medicine, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Yali Liu
- Department of Assisted Reproduction, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Caitlin McIntyre
- Department of Women and Children’s Health, Faculty of Life Science and Medicine, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Cathy Fernandes
- Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Geffen Lass
- Department of Women and Children’s Health, Faculty of Life Science and Medicine, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Lingsi Kong
- Department of Women and Children’s Health, Faculty of Life Science and Medicine, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kevin T. O’Byrne
- Department of Women and Children’s Health, Faculty of Life Science and Medicine, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
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12
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Flisher MF, Shin D, Huising MO. Urocortin3: Local inducer of somatostatin release and bellwether of beta cell maturity. Peptides 2022; 151:170748. [PMID: 35065098 PMCID: PMC10881066 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2022.170748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Revised: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Urocortin 3 (UCN3) is a peptide hormone expressed in pancreatic islets of Langerhans of both human alpha and human beta cells and solely in murine beta cells. UCN3 signaling acts locally within the islet to activate its cognate receptor, corticotropin releasing hormone receptor 2 (CRHR2), which is expressed by delta cells, to potentiate somatostatin (SST) negative feedback to reduce islet cell hormone output. The functional importance of UCN3 signaling in the islet is to modulate the amount of SST tone allowing for finely tuned regulation of insulin and glucagon secretion. UCN3 signaling is a hallmark of functional beta cell maturation, increasing the beta cell glucose threshold for insulin secretion. In doing so, UCN3 plays a relevant functional role in accurately maintaining blood glucose homeostasis. Additionally, UCN3 acts as an indicator of beta cell maturation and health, as UCN3 is not expressed in immature beta cells and is downregulated in dedifferentiated and dysfunctional beta cell states. Here, we review the mechanistic underpinnings of UCN3 signaling, its net effect on islet cell hormone output, as well as its value as a marker for beta cell maturation and functional status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcus F Flisher
- Department of Neurobiology, Physiology & Behavior, College of Biological Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Donghan Shin
- Department of Neurobiology, Physiology & Behavior, College of Biological Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Mark O Huising
- Department of Neurobiology, Physiology & Behavior, College of Biological Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA, United States; Department of Physiology and Membrane Biology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, United States.
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13
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Abstract
Glucose homeostasis is maintained by the glucoregulatory hormones, glucagon, insulin and somatostatin, secreted from the islets of Langerhans. Glucagon is the body's most important anti-hypoglycemic hormone, mobilizing glucose from glycogen stores in the liver in response to fasting, thus maintaining plasma glucose levels within healthy limits. Glucagon secretion is regulated by both circulating nutrients, hormones and neuronal inputs. Hormones that may regulate glucagon secretion include locally produced insulin and somatostatin, but also urocortin-3, amylin and pancreatic polypeptide, and from outside the pancreas glucagon-like peptide-1 and 2, peptide tyrosine tyrosine and oxyntomodulin, glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide, neurotensin and ghrelin, as well as the hypothalamic hormones arginine-vasopressin and oxytocin, and calcitonin from the thyroid. Each of these hormones have distinct effects, ranging from regulating blood glucose, to regulating appetite, stomach emptying rate and intestinal motility, which makes them interesting targets for treating metabolic diseases. Awareness regarding the potential effects of the hormones on glucagon secretion is important since secretory abnormalities could manifest as hyperglycemia or even lethal hypoglycemia. Here, we review the effects of each individual hormone on glucagon secretion, their interplay, and how treatments aimed at modulating the plasma levels of these hormones may also influence glucagon secretion and glycemic control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel B Andersen
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Panum Institute, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200, Copenhagen N, Denmark; Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jens J Holst
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Panum Institute, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200, Copenhagen N, Denmark; Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
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14
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Kavalakatt S, Khadir A, Madhu D, Devarajan S, Warsame S, AlKandari H, AlMahdi M, Koistinen HA, Al‐Mulla F, Tuomilehto J, Abubaker J, Tiss A. Circulating levels of urocortin neuropeptides are impaired in children with overweight. Obesity (Silver Spring) 2022; 30:472-481. [PMID: 35088550 PMCID: PMC9305428 DOI: 10.1002/oby.23356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Revised: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The corticotropin-releasing factor neuropeptides (corticotropin-releasing hormone [CRH] and urocortin [UCN]-1,2,3) and spexin contribute to the regulation of energy balance and inhibit food intake in mammals. However, the status of these neuropeptides in children with overweight has yet to be elucidated. This study investigated the effect of increased body weight on the circulating levels of these neuropeptides. METHODS A total of 120 children with a mean age of 12 years were enrolled in the study. Blood samples were collected to assess the circulating levels of neuropeptides and were correlated with various anthropometric, clinical, and metabolic markers. RESULTS Plasma levels of UCNs were altered in children with overweight but less so in those with obesity. Furthermore, the expression pattern of UCN1 was opposite to that of UCN2 and UCN3, which suggests a compensatory effect. However, no significant effect of overweight and obesity was observed on CRH and spexin levels. Finally, UCN3 independently associated with circulating zinc-alpha-2-glycoprotein and UCN2 levels, whereas UCN1 was strongly predicted by TNFα levels. CONCLUSIONS Significant changes in neuropeptide levels were primarily observed in children with overweight and were attenuated with increased obesity. This suggests the presence of a compensatory mechanism for neuropeptides to curb the progression of obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sina Kavalakatt
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Research DivisionDasman Diabetes InstituteKuwait
- Faculty of MedicineUniversity of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
| | - Abdelkrim Khadir
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Research DivisionDasman Diabetes InstituteKuwait
| | - Dhanya Madhu
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Research DivisionDasman Diabetes InstituteKuwait
| | | | - Samia Warsame
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Research DivisionDasman Diabetes InstituteKuwait
| | | | | | - Heikki A. Koistinen
- Department of MedicineHelsinki University HospitalHelsinkiFinland
- Minerva Foundation Institute for Medical ResearchHelsinkiFinland
- Department of Public Health and WelfareFinnish Institute for Health and WelfareHelsinkiFinland
| | | | - Jaakko Tuomilehto
- Department of Public Health and WelfareFinnish Institute for Health and WelfareHelsinkiFinland
- Department of Public HealthUniversity of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
- Diabetes Research GroupKing Abdulaziz UniversityJeddahSaudi Arabia
| | - Jehad Abubaker
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Research DivisionDasman Diabetes InstituteKuwait
| | - Ali Tiss
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Research DivisionDasman Diabetes InstituteKuwait
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15
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Gaszner T, Farkas J, Kun D, Ujvári B, Berta G, Csernus V, Füredi N, Kovács LÁ, Hashimoto H, Reglődi D, Kormos V, Gaszner B. Fluoxetine treatment supports predictive validity of the three hit model of depression in male PACAP heterozygous mice and underpins the impact of early life adversity on therapeutic efficacy. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:995900. [PMID: 36213293 PMCID: PMC9537566 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.995900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
According to the three hit concept of depression, interaction of genetic predisposition altered epigenetic programming and environmental stress factors contribute to the disease. Earlier we demonstrated the construct and face validity of our three hit concept-based mouse model. In the present work, we aimed to examine the predictive validity of our model, the third willnerian criterion. Fluoxetine treatment was applied in chronic variable mild stress (CVMS)-exposed (environmental hit) CD1 mice carrying one mutated allele of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide gene (genetic hit) that were previously exposed to maternal deprivation (epigenetic hit) vs. controls. Fluoxetine reduced the anxiety level in CVMS-exposed mice in marble burying test, and decreased the depression level in tail suspension test if mice were not deprived maternally. History of maternal deprivation caused fundamental functional-morphological changes in response to CVMS and fluoxetine treatment in the corticotropin-releasing hormone-producing cells of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and central amygdala, in tyrosine-hydroxylase content of ventral tegmental area, in urocortin 1-expressing cells of the centrally projecting Edinger-Westphal nucleus, and serotonergic cells of the dorsal raphe nucleus. The epigenetic background of alterations was approved by altered acetylation of histone H3. Our findings further support the validity of both the three hit concept and that of our animal model. Reversal of behavioral and functional-morphological anomalies by fluoxetine treatment supports the predictive validity of the model. This study highlights that early life stress does not only interact with the genetic and environmental factors, but has strong influence also on therapeutic efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamás Gaszner
- Department of Anatomy, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
- Research Group for Mood Disorders, Centre for Neuroscience & Szentágothai Research Centre, University Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - József Farkas
- Department of Anatomy, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
- Research Group for Mood Disorders, Centre for Neuroscience & Szentágothai Research Centre, University Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Dániel Kun
- Department of Anatomy, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
- Research Group for Mood Disorders, Centre for Neuroscience & Szentágothai Research Centre, University Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Balázs Ujvári
- Department of Anatomy, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
- Research Group for Mood Disorders, Centre for Neuroscience & Szentágothai Research Centre, University Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Gergely Berta
- Department of Medical Biology, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Valér Csernus
- Department of Anatomy, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Nóra Füredi
- Department of Anatomy, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
- Research Group for Mood Disorders, Centre for Neuroscience & Szentágothai Research Centre, University Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - László Ákos Kovács
- Department of Anatomy, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
- Research Group for Mood Disorders, Centre for Neuroscience & Szentágothai Research Centre, University Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Hitoshi Hashimoto
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
- Molecular Research Center for Children’s Mental Development, United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Kanazawa University, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Chiba University and University of Fukui, Suita, Osaka, Japan
- Division of Bioscience, Institute for Datability Science, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
- Transdimensional Life Imaging Division, Institute for Open and Transdisciplinary Research Initiatives, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
- Department of Molecular Pharmaceutical Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Dóra Reglődi
- Department of Anatomy, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
- ELKH-PTE PACAP Research Group Department of Anatomy, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Viktória Kormos
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Medical School & Szentágothai Research Centre, Molecular Pharmacology Research Group, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Balázs Gaszner
- Department of Anatomy, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
- Research Group for Mood Disorders, Centre for Neuroscience & Szentágothai Research Centre, University Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
- *Correspondence: Balázs Gaszner,
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16
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Autry AE, Wu Z, Kapoor V, Kohl J, Bambah-Mukku D, Rubinstein ND, Marin-Rodriguez B, Carta I, Sedwick V, Tang M, Dulac C. Urocortin-3 neurons in the mouse perifornical area promote infant-directed neglect and aggression. eLife 2021; 10:e64680. [PMID: 34423776 PMCID: PMC8452308 DOI: 10.7554/elife.64680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
While recent studies have uncovered dedicated neural pathways mediating the positive control of parenting, the regulation of infant-directed aggression and how it relates to adult-adult aggression is poorly understood. Here we show that urocortin-3 (Ucn3)-expressing neurons in the hypothalamic perifornical area (PeFAUcn3) are activated during infant-directed attacks in males and females, but not other behaviors. Functional manipulations of PeFAUcn3 neurons demonstrate the role of this population in the negative control of parenting in both sexes. PeFAUcn3 neurons receive input from areas associated with vomeronasal sensing, stress, and parenting, and send projections to hypothalamic and limbic areas. Optogenetic activation of PeFAUcn3 axon terminals in these regions triggers various aspects of infant-directed agonistic responses, such as neglect, repulsion, and aggression. Thus, PeFAUcn3 neurons emerge as a dedicated circuit component controlling infant-directed neglect and aggression, providing a new framework to understand the positive and negative regulation of parenting in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anita E Autry
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Center for Brain Science, Harvard UniversityCambridgeUnited States
- Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Albert Einstein College of MedicineBronxUnited States
| | - Zheng Wu
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Center for Brain Science, Harvard UniversityCambridgeUnited States
| | - Vikrant Kapoor
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Center for Brain Science, Harvard UniversityCambridgeUnited States
| | - Johannes Kohl
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Center for Brain Science, Harvard UniversityCambridgeUnited States
| | - Dhananjay Bambah-Mukku
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Center for Brain Science, Harvard UniversityCambridgeUnited States
| | - Nimrod D Rubinstein
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Center for Brain Science, Harvard UniversityCambridgeUnited States
| | - Brenda Marin-Rodriguez
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Center for Brain Science, Harvard UniversityCambridgeUnited States
| | - Ilaria Carta
- Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Albert Einstein College of MedicineBronxUnited States
| | - Victoria Sedwick
- Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Albert Einstein College of MedicineBronxUnited States
| | - Ming Tang
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Center for Brain Science, Harvard UniversityCambridgeUnited States
- FAS Informatics Group, Harvard UniversityCambridgeUnited States
| | - Catherine Dulac
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Center for Brain Science, Harvard UniversityCambridgeUnited States
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Pintér D, Balangó B, Simon B, Palotai M, Csabafi K, Dobó É, Ibos KE, Bagosi Z. The effects of CRF and the urocortins on the hippocampal acetylcholine release in rats. Neuropeptides 2021; 88:102147. [PMID: 33932861 DOI: 10.1016/j.npep.2021.102147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2021] [Revised: 03/06/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and the urocortins (Ucn1, Ucn2 and Ucn3) are structurally related neuropeptides which act via two distinct CRF receptors, CRF1 and CRF2, with putatively antagonistic effects in the brain. CRF and Ucn1 activate both CRF1 and CRF2, while Ucn2 and Ucn3 activate selectively CRF2. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of CRF, Ucn1, Ucn2 and Ucn3 on the hippocampal acetylcholine release through which they may modulate cognitive functions, including attention, learning and memory. In this purpose male Wistar rats were used, their hippocampus was isolated, dissected, incubated, superfused and stimulated electrically. The hippocampal slices were first pretreated with selective CRF1 antagonist antalarmin or selective CRF2 antagonist astressin2B, and then treated with non-selective CRF1 agonists, CRF or Ucn1, and selective CRF2 agonists, Ucn2 or Ucn3. The hippocampal acetylcholine release was increased significantly by CRF and Ucn1 and decreased significantly by Ucn2 and Ucn3. The increasing effect of CRF and Ucn1 was reduced significantly by antalarmin, but not astressin2B. In contrast, the decreasing effect of Ucn2 and Ucn3 was reversed significantly by the selective CRF2, but not the selective CRF1 antagonist. Our results demonstrate that CRF and Ucn1 stimulate the hippocampal acetylcholine release through CRF1, whereas Ucn2 and Ucn3 inhibit the hippocampal acetylcholine release through CRF2. Therefore, the present study suggests the existence of two apparently opposing CRF systems in the hippocampus, through which CRF and the urocortins might modulate cholinergic activity and thereby cognitive functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dávid Pintér
- Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, Hungary.
| | - Beáta Balangó
- Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, Hungary
| | - Balázs Simon
- Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, Hungary
| | - Miklós Palotai
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Krisztina Csabafi
- Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, Hungary
| | - Éva Dobó
- Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, Hungary
| | - Katalin Eszter Ibos
- Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, Hungary
| | - Zsolt Bagosi
- Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, Hungary
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18
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Lopes PC, de Bruijn R. Neurotranscriptomic changes associated with chick-directed parental care in adult non-reproductive Japanese quail. Sci Rep 2021; 11:15481. [PMID: 34326416 PMCID: PMC8322411 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-94927-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
For many species, parental care critically affects offspring survival. But what drives animals to display parental behaviours towards young? In mammals, pregnancy-induced physiological transformations seem key in preparing the neural circuits that lead towards attraction (and reduced-aggression) to young. Beyond mammalian maternal behaviour, knowledge of the neural mechanisms that underlie young-directed parental care is severely lacking. We took advantage of a domesticated bird species, the Japanese quail, for which parental behaviour towards chicks can be induced in virgin non-reproductive adults through a sensitization procedure, a process that is not effective in all animals. We used the variation in parental responses to study neural transcriptomic changes associated with the sensitization procedure itself and with the outcome of the procedure (i.e., presence of parental behaviours). We found differences in gene expression in the hypothalamus and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, but not the nucleus taeniae. Two genes identified are of particular interest. One is neurotensin, previously only demonstrated to be causally associated with maternal care in mammals. The other one is urocortin 3, causally demonstrated to affect young-directed neglect and aggression in mammals. Because our studies were conducted in animals that were reproductively quiescent, our results reflect core neural changes that may be associated with avian young-directed care independently of extensive hormonal stimulation. Our work opens new avenues of research into understanding the neural basis of parental care in non-placental species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia C Lopes
- Schmid College of Science and Technology, Chapman University, Orange, CA, USA.
| | - Robert de Bruijn
- Schmid College of Science and Technology, Chapman University, Orange, CA, USA
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19
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Li F, Hu D, Dieter C, Ansong C, Sussel L, Orr G. Single Molecule-Based fliFISH Validates Radial and Heterogeneous Gene Expression Patterns in Pancreatic Islet β-Cells. Diabetes 2021; 70:1117-1122. [PMID: 33685924 PMCID: PMC8173798 DOI: 10.2337/db20-0802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-Seq) technologies have greatly enhanced our understanding of islet cell transcriptomes and have revealed the existence of β-cell heterogeneity. However, comparison of scRNA-Seq data sets from different groups have highlighted inconsistencies in gene expression patterns, primarily due to variable detection of lower abundance transcripts. Furthermore, such analyses are unable to uncover the spatial organization of heterogeneous gene expression. In this study, we used fluctuation localization imaging-based fluorescence in situ hybridization (fliFISH) to quantify transcripts in single cells in mouse pancreatic islet sections. We compared the expression patterns of Insulin 2 (Ins2) with Mafa and Ucn3, two genes expressed in β-cells as they mature, as well as Rgs4, a factor with variably reported expression in the islet. This approach accurately quantified transcripts across a wide range of expression levels, from single copies to >100 copies/cell in one islet. Importantly, fliFISH allowed evaluation of transcript heterogeneity in the spatial context of an intact islet. These studies confirm the existence of a high degree of heterogeneous gene expression levels within the islet and highlight relative and radial expression patterns that likely reflect distinct β-cell maturation states along the radial axis of the islet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangjia Li
- Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA
| | - Dehong Hu
- Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA
| | - Cailin Dieter
- Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO
| | - Charles Ansong
- Biological Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA
| | - Lori Sussel
- Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO
| | - Galya Orr
- Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA
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20
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Tillinger A, Mravec B. Vagotomy Affects Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Changes of Urocortin 2 Gene Expression in the Brain and on the Periphery. Neurochem Res 2021; 46:159-164. [PMID: 33170479 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-020-03165-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Revised: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The corticotropin-releasing hormone family of peptides is involved in regulating the neuroendocrine stress response. Also, the vagus nerve plays an important role in the transmission of immune system-related signals to brain structures, thereby orchestrating the neuroendocrine stress response. Therefore, we investigated gene expression of urocortin 2 (Ucn2) and c-fos, a markers of neuronal activity, within the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN), a brain structure involved in neuroendocrine and neuroimmune responses, as well as in the adrenal medulla and spleen in vagotomized rats exposed to immune challenge. In addition, markers of neuroendocrine stress response activity were investigated in the adrenal medulla, spleen, and plasma. Intraperitoneal administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced a significant increase of c-fos and Ucn2 gene expression in the PVN, and adrenal medulla as well as increases of plasma corticosterone levels. In addition, LPS administration induced a significant increase in the gene expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT) in the adrenal medulla. In the spleen, LPS administration increased gene expression of c-fos, while gene expression of TH and PNMT was significantly reduced, and gene expression of Ucn2 was not affected. Subdiaphragmatic vagotomy significantly attenuated the LPS-induced increases of gene expression of c-fos and Ucn2 in the PVN and Ucn2 in the adrenal medulla. Our data has shown that Ucn2 may be involved in regulation of the HPA axis in response to immune challenge. In addition, our findings indicate that the effect of immune challenge on gene expression of Ucn2 is mediated by vagal pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrej Tillinger
- Institute of Experimental Endocrinology, Biomedical Research Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia.
| | - Boris Mravec
- Institute of Experimental Endocrinology, Biomedical Research Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
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21
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Azoury ME, Tarayrah M, Afonso G, Pais A, Colli ML, Maillard C, Lavaud C, Alexandre-Heymann L, Gonzalez-Duque S, Verdier Y, Vinh J, Pinto S, Buus S, Dubois-Laforgue D, Larger E, Beressi JP, Bruno G, Eizirik DL, You S, Mallone R. Peptides Derived From Insulin Granule Proteins Are Targeted by CD8 + T Cells Across MHC Class I Restrictions in Humans and NOD Mice. Diabetes 2020; 69:2678-2690. [PMID: 32928873 DOI: 10.2337/db20-0013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
The antigenic peptides processed by β-cells and presented through surface HLA class I molecules are poorly characterized. Each HLA variant (e.g., the most common being HLA-A2 and HLA-A3) carries some peptide-binding specificity. Hence, features that, despite these specificities, remain shared across variants may reveal factors favoring β-cell immunogenicity. Building on our previous description of the HLA-A2/A3 peptidome of β-cells, we analyzed the HLA-A3-restricted peptides targeted by circulating CD8+ T cells. Several peptides were recognized by CD8+ T cells within a narrow frequency (1-50/106), which was similar in donors with and without type 1 diabetes and harbored variable effector/memory fractions. These epitopes could be classified as conventional peptides or neoepitopes, generated either via peptide cis-splicing or mRNA splicing (e.g., secretogranin-5 [SCG5]-009). As reported for HLA-A2-restricted peptides, several epitopes originated from β-cell granule proteins (e.g., SCG3, SCG5, and urocortin-3). Similarly, H-2Kd-restricted CD8+ T cells recognizing the murine orthologs of SCG5, urocortin-3, and proconvertase-2 infiltrated the islets of NOD mice and transferred diabetes into NOD/scid recipients. The finding of granule proteins targeted in both humans and NOD mice supports their disease relevance and identifies the insulin granule as a rich source of epitopes, possibly reflecting its impaired processing in type 1 diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mahmoud Tarayrah
- Université de Paris, Institut Cochin, CNRS, INSERM, Paris, France
| | - Georgia Afonso
- Université de Paris, Institut Cochin, CNRS, INSERM, Paris, France
| | - Aurore Pais
- Université de Paris, Institut Cochin, CNRS, INSERM, Paris, France
| | - Maikel L Colli
- Université Libre de Bruxelles Center for Diabetes Research and Welbio, Medical Faculty, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Claire Maillard
- Université de Paris, Institut Cochin, CNRS, INSERM, Paris, France
| | - Cassandra Lavaud
- Université de Paris, Institut Cochin, CNRS, INSERM, Paris, France
| | - Laure Alexandre-Heymann
- Université de Paris, Institut Cochin, CNRS, INSERM, Paris, France
- Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Paris Centre-Université de Paris, Cochin Hospital, Service de Diabétologie et Immunologie Clinique, Paris, France
| | - Sergio Gonzalez-Duque
- Université de Paris, Institut Cochin, CNRS, INSERM, Paris, France
- École Supérieure de Physique et de Chimie Industrielles Paris, Université Paris Sciences et Lettres, Spectrométrie de Masse Biologique et Protéomique, CNRS USR3149, Paris, France
| | - Yann Verdier
- École Supérieure de Physique et de Chimie Industrielles Paris, Université Paris Sciences et Lettres, Spectrométrie de Masse Biologique et Protéomique, CNRS USR3149, Paris, France
| | - Joelle Vinh
- École Supérieure de Physique et de Chimie Industrielles Paris, Université Paris Sciences et Lettres, Spectrométrie de Masse Biologique et Protéomique, CNRS USR3149, Paris, France
| | - Sheena Pinto
- Division of Developmental Immunology, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Soren Buus
- Laboratory of Experimental Immunology, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Danièle Dubois-Laforgue
- Université de Paris, Institut Cochin, CNRS, INSERM, Paris, France
- Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Paris Centre-Université de Paris, Cochin Hospital, Service de Diabétologie et Immunologie Clinique, Paris, France
| | - Etienne Larger
- Université de Paris, Institut Cochin, CNRS, INSERM, Paris, France
- Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Paris Centre-Université de Paris, Cochin Hospital, Service de Diabétologie et Immunologie Clinique, Paris, France
| | - Jean-Paul Beressi
- Service de Diabétologie, Centre Hospitalier de Versailles André Mignot, Le Chesnay, France
| | - Graziella Bruno
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Decio L Eizirik
- Université Libre de Bruxelles Center for Diabetes Research and Welbio, Medical Faculty, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Sylvaine You
- Université de Paris, Institut Cochin, CNRS, INSERM, Paris, France
| | - Roberto Mallone
- Université de Paris, Institut Cochin, CNRS, INSERM, Paris, France
- Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Paris Centre-Université de Paris, Cochin Hospital, Service de Diabétologie et Immunologie Clinique, Paris, France
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Abstract
Pancreatic beta cells are the only cell type in our body capable of producing and secreting insulin to instruct the insulin-sensitive cells and tissues of our bodies to absorb nutrients after a meal. Accurate control of insulin release is of critical importance; too little insulin leads to diabetes, while an excess of insulin can cause potentially fatal hypoglycaemia. Yet, the pancreas of most people will control insulin secretion safely and effectively over decades and in response to glucose excursions driven by tens of thousands of meals. Because we only become aware of the important contributions of the pancreas when it fails to maintain glucose homeostasis, it is easy to forget just how well insulin release from a healthy pancreas is matched to insulin need to ensure stable blood glucose levels. Beta cells achieve this feat by extensive crosstalk with the rest of the endocrine cell types in the islet, notably the glucagon-producing alpha cells and somatostatin-producing delta cells. Here I will review the important paracrine contributions that each of these cells makes to the stimulation and subsequent inhibition of insulin release in response to a transient nutrient stimulation, and make the case that a breakdown of this local crosstalk contributes to the pathophysiology of diabetes. Graphical abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark O Huising
- Department of Neurobiology, Physiology & Behavior, College of Biological Sciences, University of California, 196 Briggs Hall, 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
- Department of Physiology and Membrane Biology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
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23
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Huang JL, Lee S, Hoek P, van der Meulen T, Van R, Huising MO. Genetic deletion of Urocortin 3 does not prevent functional maturation of beta cells. J Endocrinol 2020; 246:69-78. [PMID: 32369775 PMCID: PMC7286360 DOI: 10.1530/joe-19-0535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
There is great interest in generating functionally mature beta cells from stem cells, as loss of functional beta cell mass contributes to the pathophysiology of diabetes. Identifying markers of beta cell maturity is therefore very helpful for distinguishing stem cells that have been successfully differentiated into fully mature beta cells from stem cells that did not. Urocortin 3 (UCN3) is a peptide hormone whose expression is associated with the acquisition of functional maturity in beta cells. The onset of its expression occurs after other beta cell maturity markers are already expressed and its loss marks the beginning of beta cell dedifferentiation. Its expression pattern is therefore tightly correlated with beta cell maturity. While this makes UCN3 an excellent marker of beta cell maturity, it is not established whether UCN3 is required for beta cell maturation. Here, we compared gene expression and function of beta cells from Ucn3-null mice relative to WT mice to determine whether beta cells are functionally mature in the absence of UCN3. Our results show that genetic deletion of Ucn3 does not cause a loss of beta cell maturity or an increase in beta cell dedifferentiation. Furthermore, virgin beta cells, first identified as insulin-expressing, UCN3-negative beta cells, can still be detected at the islet periphery in Ucn3-null mice. Beta cells from Ucn3-null mice also exhibit normal calcium response when exposed to high glucose. Collectively, these observations indicate that UCN3 is an excellent mature beta cell marker that is nevertheless not necessary for beta cell maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica L. Huang
- Department of Neurobiology, Physiology & Behavior, College of Biological Sciences, University of California, Davis, California
| | - Sharon Lee
- Department of Neurobiology, Physiology & Behavior, College of Biological Sciences, University of California, Davis, California
| | - Pelle Hoek
- Department of Neurobiology, Physiology & Behavior, College of Biological Sciences, University of California, Davis, California
| | - Talitha van der Meulen
- Department of Neurobiology, Physiology & Behavior, College of Biological Sciences, University of California, Davis, California
| | - Richard Van
- Department of Neurobiology, Physiology & Behavior, College of Biological Sciences, University of California, Davis, California
| | - Mark O. Huising
- Department of Neurobiology, Physiology & Behavior, College of Biological Sciences, University of California, Davis, California
- Department of Physiology and Membrane Biology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, California
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24
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Abstract
The corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) family of peptides, including urocortin (UCN) 1, 2 and 3, are established hypothalamic neuroendocrine peptides, regulating the physiological and behaviour responses to stress indirectly, via the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. More recently, these peptides have been implicated in diverse roles in peripheral organs through direct signalling, including in placental and pancreatic islet physiology. CRH has been shown to stimulate insulin release through activation of its cognate receptors, CRH receptor 1 (CRHR1) and 2. However, the physiological significance of this is unknown. We have previously reported that during mouse pregnancy, expression of CRH peptides increase in mouse placenta suggesting that these peptides may play a role in various biological functions associated with pregnancy, particularly the pancreatic islet adaptations that occur in the pregnant state to compensate for the physiological increase in maternal insulin resistance. In the current study, we show that mouse pregnancy is associated with increased circulating levels of UCN2 and that when we pharmacologically block endogenous CRHR signalling in pregnant mice, impairment of glucose tolerance is observed. This effect on glucose tolerance was comparable to that displayed with specific CRHR2 blockade and not with specific CRHR1 blockade. No effects on insulin sensitivity or the proliferative capacity of β-cells were detected. Thus, CRHR2 signalling appears to be involved in β-cell adaptive responses to pregnancy in the mouse, with endogenous placental UCN2 being the likely signal mediating this.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sian J S Simpson
- Department of Diabetes, School of Life Course Sciences, Faculty of Life Science and Medicine, King’s College London, London, UK
- Correspondence should be addressed to S J S Simpson:
| | - Lorna I F Smith
- Department of Diabetes, School of Life Course Sciences, Faculty of Life Science and Medicine, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Peter M Jones
- Department of Diabetes, School of Life Course Sciences, Faculty of Life Science and Medicine, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - James E Bowe
- Department of Diabetes, School of Life Course Sciences, Faculty of Life Science and Medicine, King’s College London, London, UK
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25
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Choy KW, Tsai APY, Lin PBC, Wu MY, Lee C, Alias A, Pang CY, Liew HK. The Role of Urocortins in Intracerebral Hemorrhage. Biomolecules 2020; 10:biom10010096. [PMID: 31935997 PMCID: PMC7022917 DOI: 10.3390/biom10010096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2019] [Revised: 12/31/2019] [Accepted: 01/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) causes an accumulation of blood in the brain parenchyma that disrupts the normal neurological function of the brain. Despite extensive clinical trials, no medical or surgical therapy has shown to be effective in managing ICH, resulting in a poor prognosis for the patients. Urocortin (UCN) is a 40-amino-acid endogenous neuropeptide that belongs to the corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) family. The effect of UCN is activated by binding to two G-protein coupled receptors, CRH-R1 and CRH-R2, which are expressed in brain neurons and glial cells in various brain regions. Current research has shown that UCN exerts neuroprotective effects in ICH models via anti-inflammatory effects, which generally reduced brain edema and reduced blood-brain barrier disruption. These effects gradually help in the improvement of the neurological outcome, and thus, UCN may be a potential therapeutic target in the treatment of ICH. This review summarizes the data published to date on the role of UCN in ICH and the possible protective mechanisms underlined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ker Woon Choy
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh 42300, Malaysia;
| | - Andy Po-Yi Tsai
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; (A.P.-Y.T.); (P.B.-C.L.)
| | - Peter Bor-Chian Lin
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; (A.P.-Y.T.); (P.B.-C.L.)
| | - Meng-Yu Wu
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, New Taipei 231, Taiwan;
- Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien 970, Taiwan
| | - Chihyi Lee
- College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA;
| | - Aspalilah Alias
- Department of Basic Sciences and Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Nilai 71800, Malaysia;
| | - Cheng-Yoong Pang
- Department of Medical Research, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, No. 707, Section 3, Zhong-yang Road, Hualien 970, Taiwan
- CardioVascular Research Center, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Hualien 970, Taiwan
- Institute of Medical Sciences, Tzu Chi University, Hualien 970, Taiwan
- Correspondence: (C.-Y.P.); or (H.-K.L.); Tel.: +886-3-8561825 (ext. 15911) (H.-K.L.); Fax: +886-3-8562019 (H.-K.L.)
| | - Hock-Kean Liew
- Department of Medical Research, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, No. 707, Section 3, Zhong-yang Road, Hualien 970, Taiwan
- CardioVascular Research Center, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Hualien 970, Taiwan
- PhD Program in Pharmacology and Toxicology, Tzu Chi University, Hualien 970, Taiwan
- Neuro-Medical Scientific Center, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Hualien 970, Taiwan
- Correspondence: (C.-Y.P.); or (H.-K.L.); Tel.: +886-3-8561825 (ext. 15911) (H.-K.L.); Fax: +886-3-8562019 (H.-K.L.)
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26
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Zhang X, Liu Y, Qi J, Tian Z, Tang N, Chen D, Li Z. Progress in understanding the roles of Urocortin3 (UCN3) in the control of appetite from studies using animal models. Peptides 2019; 121:170124. [PMID: 31415798 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2019.170124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2019] [Revised: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 08/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Urocortin3 (UCN3), the newest member of corticotrophin releasing hormone (CRH) family polypeptides, is an anorexic factor discovered in 2001, which has a strong inhibitory effect on animal appetite regulation. UCN3 is widely distributed in various tissues of animals and has many biological functions. Based on the research progress of UCN3 on mammals and non-mammals, this paper summarized the discovery, tissue distribution, appetite regulation and mechanism of UCN3 in animals, in order to provide a reference for feeding regulation and growth in mammals and fish in further research and production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Zhang
- Department of Aquaculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, 211# Huimin Road, Chengdu, Sichuan, China; The Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Fisheries College, Ocean University of China, 5# Yushan Road, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Yanling Liu
- Department of Aquaculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, 211# Huimin Road, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Jinwen Qi
- Department of Aquaculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, 211# Huimin Road, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Zhengzhi Tian
- Department of Aquaculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, 211# Huimin Road, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Ni Tang
- Department of Aquaculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, 211# Huimin Road, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Defang Chen
- Department of Aquaculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, 211# Huimin Road, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Zhiqiong Li
- Department of Aquaculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, 211# Huimin Road, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
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Yuan J, Hasdemir B, Tan T, Chheda C, Rivier J, Pandol SJ, Bhargava A. Protective effects of urocortin 2 against caerulein-induced acute pancreatitis. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0217065. [PMID: 31100090 PMCID: PMC6524941 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0217065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2018] [Accepted: 05/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Because little is known about the role of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) agonists in regulating responses in pancreatitis, we evaluated the effects of urocortin 2 (UCN2) and stressin1 in caerulein-induced acute pancreatitis (AP) model in rats. Male rats were pretreated with UCN2 or stressin1 for 30 min followed by induction of AP with supraphysiologic doses of caerulein. Serum amylase and lipase activity, pancreatic tissue necrosis, immune cell infiltrate, nuclear factor (NF)-κB activity, trypsin levels, and intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) were ascertained. UCN2, but not stressin1 attenuated the severity of AP in rats. UCN2, but not stressin1, reduced serum amylase and lipase activity, cell necrosis and inflammatory cell infiltration in AP. NF-κB activity in pancreatic nuclear extracts increased in AP and UCN2 treatment reduced caerulein-induced increases in NF-κB activity by 42%. UCN2 treatment prevented caerulein-induced degradation of IκB-α in the cytosolic fraction as well as increased levels of p65 subunit of NF-κB in the cytosolic fraction. Pancreatic UCN2 levels decreased in AP compared with saline. UCN2 evoked [Ca2+]i responses in primary acinar cells and abolished caerulein-evoked [Ca2+]i responses at 0.1nM, and decreased by ~50% at 1.0nM caerulein. UCN2 stimulation resulted in redistribution of a portion of F-actin from the apical to the basolateral pole. UCN2 prevented the massive redistribution of F-actin observed with supraphysiologic doses of caerulein. UCN2, but not stressin1 attenuated severity of an experimental pancreatitis model. The protective effects of UCN2, including anti-inflammatory and anti-necrotic effects involve activation of the CRF2 receptor, [Ca2+]i signaling, and inhibition of NF-κB activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingzhen Yuan
- Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
- Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
| | - Burcu Hasdemir
- The Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
- Department of OB/GYN, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
| | - Tanya Tan
- Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
| | - Chintan Chheda
- Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
| | - Jean Rivier
- The Salk Institute, The Clayton Foundation Laboratories for Peptide Biology, La Jolla, CA, United States of America
| | - Stephen J. Pandol
- Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
- Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
| | - Aditi Bhargava
- The Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
- Department of OB/GYN, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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28
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Bagosi Z, Csabafi K, Karasz G, Jászberényi M, Földesi I, Siska A, Szabó G, Telegdy G. The effects of the urocortins on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis - similarities and discordancies between rats and mice. Peptides 2019; 112:1-13. [PMID: 30414887 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2018.10.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2018] [Revised: 10/16/2018] [Accepted: 10/30/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The urocortins (Ucn I, Ucn II and Ucn III) are structural analogues of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF). The aim of our present experiments was to compare the effects of the urocortins on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in rats and mice, including the hypothalamic adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) secretagogues, such as CRF and arginine vasopressin (AVP). Therefore, male CFLP mice and male Wistar rats were injected intracerebroventricularly (icv) with 0.5, 1, 2 and 5 μg/2 μl of Ucn I, Ucn II or Ucn III. After 30 min the animals were decapitated, and then, hypothalamic CRF and AVP concentrations and plasma ACTH and corticosterone (CORT) levels were measured. All measurements were performed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), except that of the plasma CORT level, which was determined by chemofluorescent assay. Ucn I increased significantly the hypothalamic CRF and AVP concentrations in both rats and mice. Ucn II and Ucn III influenced significantly only the hypothalamic CRF concentration in rats, without affecting the hypothalamic AVP concentration. In contrast, Ucn II and Ucn III increased significantly only the hypothalamic AVP concentration in mice, without affecting the hypothalamic CRF concentration. The hypothalamic changes were reflected more or less accurately by changes of the plasma ACTH and CORT levels. The present experiments demonstrate that the urocortins regulate the HPA axis centrally via modulation of the hypothalamic ACTH secretagogues and that there are some similarities and discordancies between rats and mice regarding this regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zsolt Bagosi
- Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, Hungary.
| | - Krisztina Csabafi
- Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, Hungary
| | - Gergely Karasz
- Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, Hungary
| | - Miklós Jászberényi
- Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, Hungary
| | - Imre Földesi
- Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, Hungary
| | - Andrea Siska
- Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, Hungary
| | - Gyula Szabó
- Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, Hungary
| | - Gyula Telegdy
- Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, Hungary
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29
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Abstract
The corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) system is well known for its major role in coordinating the endocrine, autonomic and behavioral responses to stress. These functions have been shown to be mediated mainly by the binding of the CRF neuropeptide to its specific receptor CRFR1. Yet, the CRF system comprises several more neuropeptides, including the three urocortins, UCN1, UCN2 and UCN3, of which the latter two bind specifically to a distinct receptor-CRFR2. Unlike the brain-wide abundant expression of CRF and CRFR1, the brain expression of the urocortins and CRFR2 is rather restricted and seems to be focused in limbic areas associated with social behavior. Here, we will review accumulating evidence from recent studies that unfold the role of UCN2 and UCN3 in regulating mammalian social behavior, via activation of CRFR2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shlomo Wagner
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, the Integrated Brain and Behavior Research Center (IBBR), Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Mt. Carmel, 3498838, Haifa, Israel.
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30
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Frankiensztajn LM, Gur-Pollack R, Wagner S. A combinatorial modulation of synaptic plasticity in the rat medial amygdala by oxytocin, urocortin3 and estrogen. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2018; 92:95-102. [PMID: 29674171 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2018] [Revised: 04/07/2018] [Accepted: 04/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The medial nucleus of the amygdala (MeA) plays a pivotal role in a variety of mammalian social behaviors. Specifically, activity of the hypothalamic pro-social neuropeptide oxytocin in the MeA was shown to be crucial for social recognition memory. The MeA is also a hub of neuroendocrine activity and expresses a large number of receptors of neuropeptides and hormones. These include oxytocin receptor, estrogen receptor alpha and corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) receptor type 2 (CRFR2). In a previous study we found that intracerebroventricular (ICV) oxytocin application to anesthetized rats promotes long-term depression (LTD) of the MeA response to electrical stimulation of its main sensory input, the accessory olfactory bulb (AOB). We also reported that this type of synaptic plasticity contributes to long-term social recognition memory. Here we used similar methodology to examine the possibility that various neuromodulators pose a combinatorial effect on synaptic plasticity in the MeA. We found that ICV administration of the CRF-related peptide urocortin3 fifteen minutes before oxytocin, caused long-term potentiation (LTP), via CRFR2 activation. Similarly, ICV administration of 17β-estradiol forty-five minutes before oxytocin induced LTP, which was blocked by an antagonist of the estrogen receptors alpha and beta. Notably, none of these two neuromodulators had any effect on its own, suggesting that they both turn the oxytocin-mediated synaptic plasticity from LTD to LTP. Finally, we found that application of 17β-estradiol, forty-five minutes before urocortin3 also caused LTP in the MeA response to AOB stimulation, even without oxytocin application. We suggest that the combinatorial modulation of the bidirectional synaptic plasticity in the AOB-MeA pathway by oxytocin, 17β-estradiol and urocotin-3 serves to modify social information processing according to the animal's internal state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linoy Mia Frankiensztajn
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, The Integrated Brain and Behavior Research Center (IBBR), University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel
| | - Rotem Gur-Pollack
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, The Integrated Brain and Behavior Research Center (IBBR), University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel
| | - Shlomo Wagner
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, The Integrated Brain and Behavior Research Center (IBBR), University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel.
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Slominski AT, Zmijewski MA, Plonka PM, Szaflarski JP, Paus R. How UV Light Touches the Brain and Endocrine System Through Skin, and Why. Endocrinology 2018; 159:1992-2007. [PMID: 29546369 PMCID: PMC5905393 DOI: 10.1210/en.2017-03230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 254] [Impact Index Per Article: 42.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2017] [Accepted: 02/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The skin, a self-regulating protective barrier organ, is empowered with sensory and computing capabilities to counteract the environmental stressors to maintain and restore disrupted cutaneous homeostasis. These complex functions are coordinated by a cutaneous neuro-endocrine system that also communicates in a bidirectional fashion with the central nervous, endocrine, and immune systems, all acting in concert to control body homeostasis. Although UV energy has played an important role in the origin and evolution of life, UV absorption by the skin not only triggers mechanisms that defend skin integrity and regulate global homeostasis but also induces skin pathology (e.g., cancer, aging, autoimmune responses). These effects are secondary to the transduction of UV electromagnetic energy into chemical, hormonal, and neural signals, defined by the nature of the chromophores and tissue compartments receiving specific UV wavelength. UV radiation can upregulate local neuroendocrine axes, with UVB being markedly more efficient than UVA. The locally induced cytokines, corticotropin-releasing hormone, urocortins, proopiomelanocortin-peptides, enkephalins, or others can be released into circulation to exert systemic effects, including activation of the central hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, opioidogenic effects, and immunosuppression, independent of vitamin D synthesis. Similar effects are seen after exposure of the eyes and skin to UV, through which UVB activates hypothalamic paraventricular and arcuate nuclei and exerts very rapid stimulatory effects on the brain. Thus, UV touches the brain and central neuroendocrine system to reset body homeostasis. This invites multiple therapeutic applications of UV radiation, for example, in the management of autoimmune and mood disorders, addiction, and obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrzej T Slominski
- Department of Dermatology, Comprehensive Cancer Center Cancer Chemoprevention Program, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
- VA Medical Center, Birmingham, Alabama
- Correspondence: Andrzej T. Slominski, MD, PhD, Department of Dermatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294. E-mail:
| | | | - Przemyslaw M Plonka
- Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
| | - Jerzy P Szaflarski
- Departments of Neurology and Neurobiology and the UAB Epilepsy Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Ralf Paus
- Centre for Dermatology Research, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- Department of Dermatology & Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
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Ohno S, Hashimoto H, Fujihara H, Fujiki N, Yoshimura M, Maruyama T, Motojima Y, Saito R, Ueno H, Sonoda S, Ohno M, Umezu Y, Hamamura A, Saeki S, Ueta Y. Increased oxytocin-monomeric red fluorescent protein 1 fluorescent intensity with urocortin-like immunoreactivity in the hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system of aged transgenic rats. Neurosci Res 2018; 128:40-49. [PMID: 28859972 DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2017.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2017] [Revised: 07/29/2017] [Accepted: 08/01/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
To visualize oxytocin in the hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system, we generated a transgenic rat that expresses the oxytocin-monomeric red fluorescent protein 1 (mRFP1) fusion gene. In the present study, we examined the age-related changes of oxytocin-mRFP1 fluorescent intensity in the posterior pituitary (PP), the supraoptic nucleus (SON) and the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of transgenic rats. The mRFP1 fluorescent intensities were significantly increased in the PP, the SON and the PVN of 12-, 18- and 24-month-old transgenic rats in comparison with 3-month-old transgenic rats. Immunohistochemical staining for urocortin, which belongs to the family of corticotropin-releasing factor family, revealed that the numbers of urocortin-like immunoreactive (LI) cells in the SON and the PVN were significantly increased in 12-, 18- and 24-month-old transgenic rats in comparison with 3-month-old transgenic rats. Almost all of urocortin-LI cells co-exist mRFP1-expressing cells in the SON and the PVN of aged transgenic rats. These results suggest that oxytocin content of the hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system may be modulated by age-related regulation. The physiological role of the co-existence of oxytocin and urocortin in the SON and PVN of aged rats remains unclear.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shigeo Ohno
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu 807-8555, Japan; Kokura Rehabilitation Hospital, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu 803-0861, Japan
| | - Hirofumi Hashimoto
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu 807-8555, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Fujihara
- Department of Ergonomics, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu 807-8555, Japan
| | - Nobuhiro Fujiki
- Department of Ergonomics, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu 807-8555, Japan
| | - Mitsuhiro Yoshimura
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu 807-8555, Japan
| | - Takashi Maruyama
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu 807-8555, Japan
| | - Yasuhito Motojima
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu 807-8555, Japan
| | - Reiko Saito
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu 807-8555, Japan
| | - Hiromichi Ueno
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu 807-8555, Japan
| | - Satomi Sonoda
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu 807-8555, Japan
| | - Motoko Ohno
- Kokura Rehabilitation Hospital, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu 803-0861, Japan
| | - Yuichi Umezu
- Kokura Rehabilitation Hospital, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu 803-0861, Japan
| | - Akinori Hamamura
- Kokura Rehabilitation Hospital, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu 803-0861, Japan
| | - Satoru Saeki
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu 807-8555, Japan
| | - Yoichi Ueta
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu 807-8555, Japan.
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Wang J, Yi J, Siegel PB, Cline MA, Gilbert ER. Stress-induced suppression of neuropeptide Y-induced hunger in anorexic chicks involves corticotrophin-releasing factor signalling and the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus. J Neuroendocrinol 2017; 29. [PMID: 29121414 DOI: 10.1111/jne.12555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2017] [Revised: 10/23/2017] [Accepted: 11/03/2017] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
The Virginia lines of chickens have been selected for low (LWS) or high (HWS) juvenile body weight and have different severities of anorexia and obesity, respectively. The LWS that are exposed to stressors at hatch are refractory to neuropeptide Y (NPY)-induced food intake and the objective of the present study was to determine the underlying mechanisms. Chicks were exposed to a stressor (-20°C for 6 minutes and 22°C and delayed access to food for 24 hours) after hatching and the hypothalamic nuclei, including the lateral hypothalamus (LH), paraventricular nucleus (PVN), ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) and arcuate nucleus (ARC), were collected 5 days later. In LWS but not HWS, stress exposure up-regulated corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF), CRF receptor subtypes 1 and 2 (CRFR1 and CRFR2, respectively), melanocortin receptor 4 and urocortin 3 in the PVN, as well as CRFR2 mRNA in the VMH and ARC. In LWS, stress exposure was also associated with greater NPY and NPY receptor subtype 5 mRNA in the ARC and PVN, respectively, as well as decreased agouti-related peptide mRNA in the ARC. In HWS, stress exposure was associated with increased CRFR1 and decreased cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript in the ARC and PVN, respectively. Refractoriness of the food intake response to NPY in LWS may thus result from the over-riding anorexigenic tone in the PVN associated with CRF signalling. Indeed, the orexigenic effect of NPY was restored when LWS were injected with a CRF receptor antagonist, astressin, before stress exposure. The results of the present study provide insights into the molecular basis of eating disorders and suggest that CRF signalling in the PVN may exacerbate the anorexic phenotype in the presence of environmental stressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Wang
- Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - J Yi
- Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - P B Siegel
- Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - M A Cline
- Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - E R Gilbert
- Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
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Williams TA, Bergstrome JC, Scott J, Bernier NJ. CRF and urocortin 3 protect the heart from hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced apoptosis in zebrafish. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2017; 313:R91-R100. [PMID: 28539353 PMCID: PMC5582954 DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00045.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2017] [Revised: 05/08/2017] [Accepted: 05/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Fish routinely experience environmental hypoxia and have evolved various strategies to tolerate this challenge. Given the key role of the CRF system in coordinating the response to stressors and its cardioprotective actions against ischemia in mammals, we sought to characterize the cardiac CRF system in zebrafish and its role in hypoxia tolerance. We established that all genes of the CRF system, the ligands CRFa, CRFb, urotensin 1 (UTS1), and urocortin 3 (UCN3); the two receptor subtypes (CRFR1 and CRFR2); and the binding protein (CRFBP) are expressed in the heart of zebrafish: crfr1 > crfr2 = crfbp > crfa > ucn3 > crfb > uts1 In vivo, exposure to 5% O2 saturation for 15 min and 90 min of recovery resulted in four- to five-fold increases in whole heart crfb and ucn3 mRNA levels but did not affect the gene expression of other CRF system components. In vitro, as assessed by monitoring caspase 3 activity and the number of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling-positive cells, pretreatment of excised whole hearts with CRF or UCN3 for 30 min prevented the increase in apoptosis associated with exposure to 1% O2 saturation for 30 min with a 24-h recovery. Lastly, the addition of the nonselective CRF receptor antagonist αh-CRF(9-41) prevented the cytoprotective effects of CRF. We show that the CRF system is expressed in fish heart, is upregulated by hypoxia, and is cytoprotective. These findings identify a novel role for the CRF system in fish and a new strategy to tolerate hypoxia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tegan A Williams
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jillian C Bergstrome
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Juliana Scott
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Nicholas J Bernier
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
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Ducarouge B, Pelissier-Rota M, Powell R, Buisson A, Bonaz B, Jacquier-Sarlin M. Involvement of CRF2 signaling in enterocyte differentiation. World J Gastroenterol 2017; 23:5127-5145. [PMID: 28811708 PMCID: PMC5537180 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v23.i28.5127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2017] [Revised: 05/06/2017] [Accepted: 07/12/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM To determine the role of corticotropin releasing factor receptor (CRF2) in epithelial permeability and enterocyte cell differentiation.
METHODS For this purpose, we used rat Sprague Dawley and various colon carcinoma cell lines (SW620, HCT8R, HT-29 and Caco-2 cell lines). Expression of CRF2 protein was analyzed by fluorescent immunolabeling in normal rat colon and then by western blot in dissociated colonic epithelial cells and in the lysates of colon carcinoma cell lines or during the early differentiation of HT-29 cells (ten first days). To assess the impact of CRF2 signaling on colonic cell differentiation, HT-29 and Caco-2 cells were exposed to Urocortin 3 recombinant proteins (Ucn3, 100 nmol/L). In some experiments, cells were pre-exposed to the astressin 2b (A2b) a CRF2 antagonist in order to inhibit the action of Ucn3. Intestinal cell differentiation was first analyzed by functional assays: the trans-cellular permeability and the para-cellular permeability were determined by Dextran-FITC intake and measure of the transepithelial electrical resistance respectively. Morphological modifications associated to epithelial dysfunction were analyzed by confocal microscopy after fluorescent labeling of actin (phaloidin-TRITC) and intercellular adhesion proteins such as E-cadherin, p120ctn, occludin and ZO-1. The establishment of mature adherens junctions (AJ) was monitored by following the distribution of AJ proteins in lipid raft fractions, after separation of cell lysates on sucrose gradients. Finally, the mRNA and the protein expression levels of characteristic markers of intestinal epithelial cell (IEC) differentiation such as the transcriptional factor krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) or the dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV) were performed by RT-PCR and western blot respectively. The specific activities of DPPIV and alkaline phosphatase (AP) enzymes were determined by a colorimetric method.
RESULTS CRF2 protein is preferentially expressed in undifferentiated epithelial cells from the crypts of colon and in human colon carcinoma cell lines. Furthermore, CRF2 expression is down regulated according to the kinetic of HT-29 cell differentiation. By performing functional assays, we found that Ucn3-induced CRF2 signaling alters both para- and trans-cellular permeability of differentiated HT-29 and Caco-2 cells. These effects are partly mediated by Ucn3-induced morphological changes associated with the disruption of mature AJ in HT-29 cells and tight junctions (TJ) in Caco-2 cells. Ucn3-mediated activation of CRF2 decreases mRNA and protein expression levels of KLF4 a transcription factor involved in IEC differentiation. This signaling is correlated to a down-regulation of key IEC markers such as DPPIV and AP, at both transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels.
CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that CRF2 signaling could modulate IEC differentiation. These mechanisms could be relevant to the stress induced epithelial alterations found in inflammatory bowel diseases.
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La Marca-Ghaemmaghami P, Dainese SM, Stalla G, Haller M, Zimmermann R, Ehlert U. Second-trimester amniotic fluid corticotropin-releasing hormone and urocortin in relation to maternal stress and fetal growth in human pregnancy. Stress 2017; 20:231-240. [PMID: 28347187 DOI: 10.1080/10253890.2017.1312336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
This study explored the association between the acute psychobiological stress response, chronic social overload and amniotic fluid corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and urocortin (UCN) in 34 healthy, second-trimester pregnant women undergoing amniocentesis. The study further examined the predictive value of second-trimester amniotic fluid CRH and UCN for fetal growth and neonatal birth outcome. The amniocentesis served as a naturalistic stressor, during which maternal state anxiety and salivary cortisol was measured repeatedly and an aliquot of amniotic fluid was collected. The pregnant women additionally completed a questionnaire on chronic social overload. Fetal growth parameters were obtained at amniocentesis using fetal ultrasound biometry and at birth from medical records. The statistical analyzes revealed that the acute maternal psychobiological stress response was unassociated with the amniotic fluid peptides, but that maternal chronic overload and amniotic CRH were positively correlated. Moreover, amniotic CRH was negatively associated with fetal size at amniocentesis and positively with growth in size from amniocentesis to birth. Hardly any studies have previously explored whether acute maternal psychological stress influences fetoplacental CRH or UCN levels significantly. Our findings suggest that (i) chronic, but not acute maternal stress may affect fetoplacental CRH secretion and that (ii) CRH is complexly involved in fetal growth processes as previously shown in animals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sara M Dainese
- a Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy , University of Zurich , Zurich , Switzerland
| | - Günter Stalla
- b Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry , Munich , Germany
| | - Marina Haller
- c Department of Psychological Methods, Evaluation and Statistics , University of Zurich , Zurich , Switzerland
| | - Roland Zimmermann
- d Department of Obstetrics , University Hospital of Zurich , Zurich , Switzerland
| | - Ulrike Ehlert
- a Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy , University of Zurich , Zurich , Switzerland
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Hosono K, Yamashita J, Kikuchi Y, Hiraki-Kajiyama T, Okubo K. Three urocortins in medaka: identification and spatial expression in the central nervous system. J Neuroendocrinol 2017; 29. [PMID: 28370873 DOI: 10.1111/jne.12472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2016] [Revised: 02/10/2017] [Accepted: 03/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The urocortin (UCN) group of neuropeptides includes urocortin 1/sauvagine/urotensin 1 (UTS1), urocortin 2 (UCN2) and urocortin 3 (UCN3). In recent years, evidence has accumulated showing that UCNs play pivotal roles in mediating stress response and anxiety in mammals. Evidence has also emerged regarding the evolutionary conservation of UCNs in vertebrates, but very little information is available about UCNs in non-mammalian vertebrates. Indeed, at present, there are no reports of the empirical identification of ucn2 in non-mammalian vertebrates or of the distribution of ucn2 and ucn3 expression in the adult central nervous system (CNS) of these animals. To gain insight into the evolutionary nature of UCNs in vertebrates, we cloned uts1, ucn2 and ucn3 in a teleost fish, medaka and examined the spatial expression of these genes in the adult brain and spinal cord. Although all known UCN2 genes except those in rodents have been reported to likely lack the necessary structural features to produce a functional pre-pro-protein, all three UCN genes in medaka, including ucn2, displayed all of these features, suggesting their functionality. The three UCN genes exhibited distinct spatial expression patterns in the medaka brain: uts1 was primarily expressed in broad regions of the dorsal telencephalon, ucn2 was expressed in restricted regions of the thalamus and brainstem and ucn3 was expressed in discrete nuclei throughout many regions of the brain. We also found that these genes were all expressed throughout the medaka spinal cord, each with a distinct spatial pattern. Given that many of these regions have been implicated in stress responses and anxiety, the three UCNs may serve distinct physiological roles in the medaka CNS, including those involved in stress and anxiety, as shown in the mammalian CNS.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Hosono
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - J Yamashita
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Y Kikuchi
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - T Hiraki-Kajiyama
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan
- RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Wako, Saitama, Japan
| | - K Okubo
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan
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Abstract
Direct reprogramming of autologous cells from diabetes patients to insulin producing cells is a new method for pancreatic cell replacement therapy. At present, transdifferentiation among mature cells is achieved mainly by introducing foreign genes into the starting tissue with viral vector, but there are potentical safety problems. In the present study, we delivered plasmids carrying Pdx1, Neurog3 and MafA genes (PNM) into mouse hepatocytes by hydrodynamics tail vein injection, investigated islet β cells markers in transfected cells from protein and mRNA level, and then observed the long-term control of blood glucose in diabetic mice. We found that hepatocytes could be directly reprogrammed into insulin-producing cells after PNM gene transfection by non-viral hydrodynamics injection, and fasting blood glucose was reduced to normal, and lasted until 100 days after transfection. Intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT) showed that glucose regulation ability was improved gradually and the serum insulin level approached to the level of normal mice with time. Insulin-positive cells were found in the liver tissue, and the expression of various islet β-cell-specific genes were detected at the mRNA level, including islet mature marker gene Ucn3. In conclusion, we provide a new approach for the treatment of diabetes by in vivo direct reprogramming of liver cells to insulin producing cells through non-viral methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Fei Yang
- The Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Cellular Therapy, The Second Clinical Medical College (Shenzhen People's Hospital), Ji'nan University, Shenzhen, China
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Pilbrow AP, Lewis KA, Perrin MH, Sweet WE, Moravec CS, Tang WHW, Huising MO, Troughton RW, Cameron VA. Cardiac CRFR1 Expression Is Elevated in Human Heart Failure and Modulated by Genetic Variation and Alternative Splicing. Endocrinology 2016; 157:4865-4874. [PMID: 27754786 PMCID: PMC5133347 DOI: 10.1210/en.2016-1448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and the CRF-related peptides, urocortin (Ucn)-1, Ucn2, and Ucn3 signal through receptors CRFR1 and CRFR2 to restore homeostasis in response to stress. The Ucns exert potent cardioprotective effects and may have clinical utility in heart failure. To explore the activity of this system in the heart, we measured the levels of myocardial gene expression of the CRF/Ucn family of ligands/receptors and investigated genetic variation and alternative splicing of CRFR1 in 110 heart failure patients and 108 heart donors. Using quantitative real-time PCR, we detected CRFR1, CRFR2, CRF, Ucn1, Ucn2, and Ucn3 in all samples. CRFR2α was the most abundant receptor and Ucn3 the most abundant ligand, both in patients and donors. Compared with donors, cardiac expression of CRFR1, CRF, and Ucn3 was higher (P < .001) and CRFR2α lower (P = .012) in patients. In patients and donors, genetic variation within CRFR1, represented by the chromosome 17q21.31 inversion polymorphism, was associated with markedly higher CRFR1 expression (P < .001), making CRFR1 and CRFR2α expression almost equivalent in some patients. A novel, truncated splice variant of CRFR1, designated CRFR1j, was identified and shown to exert a dominant-negative effect on CRFR1 signaling in vitro. The novel variant was expressed in a greater proportion of patients (60%) than donors (3%, P < .001). In summary, cardiac expression of CRFR1, CRF, and Ucn3 genes is elevated in heart failure and may contribute to the activation of the CRF/Ucn system in these patients. A common variant within the CRFR1 gene and a novel CRFR1 splice variant may modulate CRFR1 expression and signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna P Pilbrow
- Peptide Biology Laboratories (A.P.P., K.A.L., M.H.P., M.O.H.), The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California 92037; Christchurch Heart Institute (A.P.P., R.W.T., V.A.C.), Department of Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand; Kaufman Center for Heart Failure (W.E.S., C.S.M., W.H.W.T.), Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio 44195
| | - Kathy A Lewis
- Peptide Biology Laboratories (A.P.P., K.A.L., M.H.P., M.O.H.), The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California 92037; Christchurch Heart Institute (A.P.P., R.W.T., V.A.C.), Department of Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand; Kaufman Center for Heart Failure (W.E.S., C.S.M., W.H.W.T.), Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio 44195
| | - Marilyn H Perrin
- Peptide Biology Laboratories (A.P.P., K.A.L., M.H.P., M.O.H.), The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California 92037; Christchurch Heart Institute (A.P.P., R.W.T., V.A.C.), Department of Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand; Kaufman Center for Heart Failure (W.E.S., C.S.M., W.H.W.T.), Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio 44195
| | - Wendy E Sweet
- Peptide Biology Laboratories (A.P.P., K.A.L., M.H.P., M.O.H.), The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California 92037; Christchurch Heart Institute (A.P.P., R.W.T., V.A.C.), Department of Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand; Kaufman Center for Heart Failure (W.E.S., C.S.M., W.H.W.T.), Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio 44195
| | - Christine S Moravec
- Peptide Biology Laboratories (A.P.P., K.A.L., M.H.P., M.O.H.), The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California 92037; Christchurch Heart Institute (A.P.P., R.W.T., V.A.C.), Department of Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand; Kaufman Center for Heart Failure (W.E.S., C.S.M., W.H.W.T.), Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio 44195
| | - W H Wilson Tang
- Peptide Biology Laboratories (A.P.P., K.A.L., M.H.P., M.O.H.), The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California 92037; Christchurch Heart Institute (A.P.P., R.W.T., V.A.C.), Department of Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand; Kaufman Center for Heart Failure (W.E.S., C.S.M., W.H.W.T.), Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio 44195
| | - Mark O Huising
- Peptide Biology Laboratories (A.P.P., K.A.L., M.H.P., M.O.H.), The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California 92037; Christchurch Heart Institute (A.P.P., R.W.T., V.A.C.), Department of Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand; Kaufman Center for Heart Failure (W.E.S., C.S.M., W.H.W.T.), Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio 44195
| | - Richard W Troughton
- Peptide Biology Laboratories (A.P.P., K.A.L., M.H.P., M.O.H.), The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California 92037; Christchurch Heart Institute (A.P.P., R.W.T., V.A.C.), Department of Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand; Kaufman Center for Heart Failure (W.E.S., C.S.M., W.H.W.T.), Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio 44195
| | - Vicky A Cameron
- Peptide Biology Laboratories (A.P.P., K.A.L., M.H.P., M.O.H.), The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California 92037; Christchurch Heart Institute (A.P.P., R.W.T., V.A.C.), Department of Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand; Kaufman Center for Heart Failure (W.E.S., C.S.M., W.H.W.T.), Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio 44195
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van der Doelen RHA, Robroch B, Arnoldussen IA, Schulpen M, Homberg JR, Kozicz T. Serotonin and urocortin 1 in the dorsal raphe and Edinger-Westphal nuclei after early life stress in serotonin transporter knockout rats. Neuroscience 2016; 340:345-358. [PMID: 27826101 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2016.10.072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2016] [Revised: 10/29/2016] [Accepted: 10/31/2016] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The interaction of early life stress (ELS) and the serotonin transporter (5-HTT) gene-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) has been associated with increased risk to develop depression in later life. We have used the maternal separation paradigm as a model for ELS exposure in homozygous and heterozygous 5-HTT knockout rats and measured urocortin 1 (Ucn1) mRNA and/or protein levels, Ucn1 DNA methylation, as well as 5-HT innervation in the centrally projecting Edinger-Westphal (EWcp) and dorsal raphe (DR) nuclei, both implicated in the regulation of stress response. We found that ELS and 5-HTT genotype increased the number of 5-HT neurons in specific DR subdivisions, and that 5-HTT knockout rats showed decreased 5-HT innervation of EWcp-Ucn1 neurons. Furthermore, ELS was associated with increased DNA methylation of the promoter region of the Ucn1 gene and increased expression of 5-HT receptor 1A in the EWcp. In contrast, 5-HTT deficiency was associated with site-specific alterations in DNA methylation of the Ucn1 promoter, and heterozygous 5-HTT knockout rats showed decreased expression of CRF receptor 1 in the EWcp. Together, our findings extend the existing literature on the relationship between EWcp-Ucn1 and DR-5-HT neurons. These observations will further our understanding on their potential contribution to mediate affect as a function of ELS interacting with 5-HTTLPR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rick H A van der Doelen
- Department of Anatomy, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Berit Robroch
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Ilse A Arnoldussen
- Department of Anatomy, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Maya Schulpen
- Department of Anatomy, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Judith R Homberg
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Tamás Kozicz
- Department of Anatomy, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Department of Pediatrics, Hayward Genetics Center, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA.
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Chen SJ. Network analysis of Urocortins. Neuro Endocrinol Lett 2016; 37:461-466. [PMID: 28315631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2016] [Accepted: 09/16/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Urocortins (Ucns), members of corticotropin releasing factor family, play critical roles in a number of pathological and physiological conditions. Many proteins have been reported to participate in Ucns signaling pathways, which formed complex interaction networks. METHODS STITCH ('search tool for interactions of chemicals') is an interaction network database that provides exploration of the known and predicted interactions among large sets of chemicals and proteins. RESULTS In this study, using STITCH, interaction networks of Ucns were constructed by database mining, and then their topological parameters and important nodes were analyzed by network related tools. This may help a quick and thorough overview of the Ucns mechanisms underlying in a visual format.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shao-Jun Chen
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhejiang Pharmaceutical College, Ningbo, China
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Calderón-Sánchez E, Díaz I, Ordóñez A, Smani T. Urocortin-1 Mediated Cardioprotection Involves XIAP and CD40-Ligand Recovery: Role of EPAC2 and ERK1/2. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0147375. [PMID: 26840743 PMCID: PMC4739601 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0147375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2015] [Accepted: 01/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Aims Urocortin-1 (Ucn-1) is an endogenous peptide that protects heart from ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) injuries. Ucn-1 is known to prevent cardiac cell death, but its role in the transcription of specific genes related to survival signaling pathway has not been fully defined. The aim of this study was to investigate the molecular signaling implicated in the improvement of cardiac myocytes survival induced by Ucn-1. Methods and Results Ucn-1 administration before ischemia and at the onset of reperfusion, in rat hearts perfused in Langendorff system, fully recovered heart contractility and other hemodynamic parameters. Ucn-1 enhanced cell viability and decreased lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release in adult cardiac myocytes subjected to simulated I/R. Annexin V-FITC/PI staining indicated that Ucn-1 promoted cell survival and decreased cell necrosis through Epac2 (exchange protein directly activated by cAMP) and ERK1/2 (extracellular signal–regulated kinases 1/2) activation. We determined that Ucn-1 shifted cell death from necrosis to apoptosis and activated caspases 9 and 3/7. Furthermore, mini-array, RT-qPCR and protein analyses of apoptotic genes showed that Ucn-1 upregulated the expression of CD40lg, Xiap and BAD in cells undergoing I/R, involving Epac2 and ERK1/2 activation. Conclusions Our data indicate that Ucn-1 efficiently protected hearts from I/R damage by increasing the cell survival and stimulated apoptotic genes, CD40lg, Xiap and BAD, overexpression through the activation of Epac2 and ERK1/2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Calderón-Sánchez
- Grupo de Fisiopatología Cardiovascular, Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla-IBiS, HUVR/Universidad de Sevilla/CSIC, Seville, Spain
| | - Ignacio Díaz
- Grupo de Fisiopatología Cardiovascular, Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla-IBiS, HUVR/Universidad de Sevilla/CSIC, Seville, Spain
| | - Antonio Ordóñez
- Grupo de Fisiopatología Cardiovascular, Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla-IBiS, HUVR/Universidad de Sevilla/CSIC, Seville, Spain
- * E-mail: (TS); (AO)
| | - Tarik Smani
- Grupo de Fisiopatología Cardiovascular, Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla-IBiS, HUVR/Universidad de Sevilla/CSIC, Seville, Spain
- Departamento de Fisiología Médica y Biofísica, Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain
- * E-mail: (TS); (AO)
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Chouridou E, Lambropoulou M, Koureta M, Zarouchlioti C, Balgouranidou I, Nena E, Papadopoulos N, Chatzaki E. Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) system localization in human fetal heart. Hormones (Athens) 2016; 15:55-64. [PMID: 27377597 DOI: 10.14310/horm.2002.1661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2015] [Accepted: 12/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) family consists of the neuropeptides CRF, Ucn I, II and III and the binding sites CRFR1, CRFR2 and CRF-BP. It regulates stress response and the homeostasis of an organism. In this study, we examined the presence of the CRF system in the human hearts of normal and pathological fetuses. DESIGN Heart tissues from 40 archival human fetuses were divided into Group A (without pathology, 'normal'), Group B (with chromosomal abnormalities) and Group C (with congenital disorders). Immunohistochemistry was used to localize the CRF system. Results correlated to gestational trimester and pathology. RESULTS Immunoreactivity for all antigens was found in cardiac myocytes of all groups, in almost all samples, except Ucn III which was present in almost half of the fetuses of Groups B and C and was not detected at all in Group A. Ucn III was more often present during the earlier stage of development (<21weeks) and in fetuses with congenital disorders. In a fetus diagnosed with heart pathology, all but Ucn III antigens were also present. CONCLUSIONS We localized a complete CRF system in the human fetal heart and correlated the presence of Ucn III to development and pathology. More studies are needed to verify and clarify the exact role of the CRF system in the human fetal heart.
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Affiliation(s)
- Efterpi Chouridou
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Dragana, Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | - Maria Lambropoulou
- Laboratory of Histology-Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Dragana, Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | - Maria Koureta
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Dragana, Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | - Christina Zarouchlioti
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Dragana, Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | - Ioanna Balgouranidou
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Dragana, Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | - Evangelia Nena
- Laboratory of Hygiene and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Dragana, Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | - Nikolaos Papadopoulos
- Laboratory of Histology-Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Dragana, Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | - Ekaterini Chatzaki
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Dragana, Alexandroupolis, Greece
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Borges LE, Bloise E, Dela Cruz C, Galleri L, Apa R, Petraglia F, Reis FM. Urocortin 1 expression and secretion by human umbilical vein endothelial cells: In vitro effects of interleukin 8, interferon γ, lipopolysaccharide, endothelin 1, prostaglandin F-2α, estradiol, progesterone and dexamethasone. Peptides 2015; 74:64-9. [PMID: 26549126 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2015.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2015] [Revised: 10/05/2015] [Accepted: 10/12/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Urocortin 1 (Ucn1) is a 40-amino-acid peptide that has vasodilatory activity and displays immunomodulatory and antioxidant properties. Maternal and cord plasma Ucn1 levels are increased in preeclampsia and preterm labor, but the mechanisms of such increase are poorly known. Thus, we investigated Ucn1 localization in human umbilical cord and assessed some potential stimuli to Ucn1 release by human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Human umbilical cords were obtained at uncomplicated term pregnancy (n=11). Ucn1 localization was assessed by immunohistochemistry and quantified. HUVEC were grown in vitro to confluence, then incubated with serial concentrations of interleukin (IL)-8, interferon (INF)-γ, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), endothelin (ET)-1, prostaglandin (PG)F-2α, estradiol, progesterone and dexamethasone and Ucn1 concentrations were measured in the supernatants. Ucn1 was immunolocalized with similar intensity in umbilical cord arteries, vein and Wharton's jelly. Ucn1 mRNA was detected in all HUVEC cultures and Ucn1 peptide was detectable in culture medium from untreated cells at different time points. Incubation with IFN-γ increased Ucn1 secretion in a dose-dependent manner. Treatments with IL-8, LPS, ET-1 and dexamethasone were able to increase three to fourfold Ucn1 release from cultured endothelial cells. In conclusion, umbilical vessels express Ucn1 and may be a contributive source of Ucn1 release into fetal-placental circulation. IL-8, IFN-γ, LPS, ET-1 and dexamethasone promote Ucn1 secretion from cultured HUVEC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lavínia E Borges
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, Section of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Siena, Siena, Italy; Division of Human Reproduction, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Enrrico Bloise
- Laboratory of Translational Endocrinology, Carlos Chagas Filho Biophysics Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Department of Morphology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Cynthia Dela Cruz
- Division of Human Reproduction, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Letizia Galleri
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, Section of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Rosanna Apa
- Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Felice Petraglia
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, Section of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
| | - Fernando M Reis
- Division of Human Reproduction, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
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May PJ, Warren S, Bohlen MO, Barnerssoi M, Horn AKE. A central mesencephalic reticular formation projection to the Edinger-Westphal nuclei. Brain Struct Funct 2015; 221:4073-4089. [PMID: 26615603 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-015-1147-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2015] [Accepted: 11/12/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The central mesencephalic reticular formation, a region associated with horizontal gaze control, has recently been shown to project to the supraoculomotor area in primates. The Edinger-Westphal nucleus is found within the supraoculomotor area. It has two functionally and anatomically distinct divisions: (1) the preganglionic division, which contains motoneurons that control both the actions of the ciliary muscle, which focuses the lens, and the sphincter pupillae muscle, which constricts the iris, and (2) the centrally projecting division, which contains peptidergic neurons that play a role in food and fluid intake, and in stress responses. In this study, we used neuroanatomical tracers in conjunction with immunohistochemistry in Macaca fascicularis monkeys to examine whether either of these Edinger-Westphal divisions receives synaptic input from the central mesencephalic reticular formation. Anterogradely labeled reticular axons were observed making numerous boutonal associations with the cholinergic, preganglionic motoneurons of the Edinger-Westphal nucleus. These associations were confirmed to be synaptic contacts through the use of confocal and electron microscopic analysis. The latter indicated that these terminals generally contained pleomorphic vesicles and displayed symmetric, synaptic densities. Examination of urocortin-1-positive cells in the same cases revealed fewer examples of unambiguous synaptic relationships, suggesting the centrally projecting Edinger-Westphal nucleus is not the primary target of the projection from the central mesencephalic reticular formation. We conclude from these data that the central mesencephalic reticular formation must play a here-to-for unexpected role in control of the near triad (vergence, lens accommodation and pupillary constriction), which is used to examine objects in near space.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul J May
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, 39216, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, 39216, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, 39216, USA
| | - Susan Warren
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, 39216, USA
| | - Martin O Bohlen
- Department of Program in Neuroscience, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, 39216, USA
| | - Miriam Barnerssoi
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology I, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Pettenkoferstrasse 11, 80336, Munich, Germany
| | - Anja K E Horn
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology I, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Pettenkoferstrasse 11, 80336, Munich, Germany.
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Priego T, Sánchez J, Picó C, Ahrens W, De Henauw S, Kourides Y, Lissner L, Molnár D, Moreno LA, Russo P, Siani A, Veidebaum T, Palou A. TAS1R3 and UCN2 Transcript Levels in Blood Cells Are Associated With Sugary and Fatty Food Consumption in Children. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2015; 100:3556-64. [PMID: 26168276 DOI: 10.1210/jc.2015-1976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT New types of dietary exposure biomarkers are needed to implement effective strategies for obesity prevention in children. Of special interest are biomarkers of consumption of food rich in simple sugars and fat because their intake has been associated with obesity development. Peripheral blood cells (PBCs) represent a promising new tool for identifying novel, transcript-based biomarkers. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to study potential associations between the transcripts of taste receptor type 1 member 3 (TAS1R3) and urocortin II (UCN2) genes in PBCs and the frequency of sugary and fatty food consumption in children. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Four hundred sixty-three children from the IDEFICS cohort were selected to include a similar number of boys and girls, both normal-weight and overweight, belonging to eight European countries. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Anthropometric parameters (measured at baseline and in a subset of 193 children after 2 years), food consumption frequency and transcript levels of TAS1R3 and UCN2 genes in PBCs were measured. RESULTS Children with low-frequency consumption of sugary foods displayed higher TAS1R3 expression levels with respect to those with intermediate or high frequency. In turn, children with high-frequency consumption of fatty foods showed lower UCN2 expression levels with respect to those with low or intermediate frequency. Moreover, transcripts of TAS1R3 were related with body mass index and fat-mass changes after a 2-year follow-up period, with low expression levels of this gene being related with increased fat accumulation over time. CONCLUSION The transcripts of TAS1R3 and UCN2 in PBCs may be considered potential biomarkers of consumption of sugary and fatty food, respectively, to complement data of food-intake questionnaires.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Priego
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Nutrition and Biotechnology (Nutrigenomics) (T.P., J.S., C.P., A.P.), University of the Balearic Islands and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición, CIBEROBN, Palma de Mallorca 07122, Spain; Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology-BIPS (W.A.), Bremen D-28359, Germany; Institute of Statistics, Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science (W.A.), Bremen University, Bremen 28359, Germany; Department of Public Health/Department of Movement and Sport Sciences (S.D.H.), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium; Research and Education of Child Health Institute (Y.K.), Strovolos 2015, Cyprus; Department of Public Health and Community Medicine (L.L.), University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg 405 30, Sweden; Department of Pediatrics (D.M.), University of Pécs, Pécs 7622, Hungary; Growth, Exercise, Nutrition and Development Research group (L.A.M.), Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza 50018, Spain; Unit of Epidemiology and Population Genetics (P.R., A.S.), Institute of Food Sciences, National Research Council, Avellino 83100, Italy; and National Institute for Health Development (T.V.), Tervise Arengu Instituut, Tallinn 11619, Estonia
| | - J Sánchez
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Nutrition and Biotechnology (Nutrigenomics) (T.P., J.S., C.P., A.P.), University of the Balearic Islands and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición, CIBEROBN, Palma de Mallorca 07122, Spain; Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology-BIPS (W.A.), Bremen D-28359, Germany; Institute of Statistics, Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science (W.A.), Bremen University, Bremen 28359, Germany; Department of Public Health/Department of Movement and Sport Sciences (S.D.H.), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium; Research and Education of Child Health Institute (Y.K.), Strovolos 2015, Cyprus; Department of Public Health and Community Medicine (L.L.), University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg 405 30, Sweden; Department of Pediatrics (D.M.), University of Pécs, Pécs 7622, Hungary; Growth, Exercise, Nutrition and Development Research group (L.A.M.), Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza 50018, Spain; Unit of Epidemiology and Population Genetics (P.R., A.S.), Institute of Food Sciences, National Research Council, Avellino 83100, Italy; and National Institute for Health Development (T.V.), Tervise Arengu Instituut, Tallinn 11619, Estonia
| | - C Picó
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Nutrition and Biotechnology (Nutrigenomics) (T.P., J.S., C.P., A.P.), University of the Balearic Islands and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición, CIBEROBN, Palma de Mallorca 07122, Spain; Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology-BIPS (W.A.), Bremen D-28359, Germany; Institute of Statistics, Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science (W.A.), Bremen University, Bremen 28359, Germany; Department of Public Health/Department of Movement and Sport Sciences (S.D.H.), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium; Research and Education of Child Health Institute (Y.K.), Strovolos 2015, Cyprus; Department of Public Health and Community Medicine (L.L.), University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg 405 30, Sweden; Department of Pediatrics (D.M.), University of Pécs, Pécs 7622, Hungary; Growth, Exercise, Nutrition and Development Research group (L.A.M.), Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza 50018, Spain; Unit of Epidemiology and Population Genetics (P.R., A.S.), Institute of Food Sciences, National Research Council, Avellino 83100, Italy; and National Institute for Health Development (T.V.), Tervise Arengu Instituut, Tallinn 11619, Estonia
| | - W Ahrens
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Nutrition and Biotechnology (Nutrigenomics) (T.P., J.S., C.P., A.P.), University of the Balearic Islands and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición, CIBEROBN, Palma de Mallorca 07122, Spain; Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology-BIPS (W.A.), Bremen D-28359, Germany; Institute of Statistics, Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science (W.A.), Bremen University, Bremen 28359, Germany; Department of Public Health/Department of Movement and Sport Sciences (S.D.H.), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium; Research and Education of Child Health Institute (Y.K.), Strovolos 2015, Cyprus; Department of Public Health and Community Medicine (L.L.), University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg 405 30, Sweden; Department of Pediatrics (D.M.), University of Pécs, Pécs 7622, Hungary; Growth, Exercise, Nutrition and Development Research group (L.A.M.), Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza 50018, Spain; Unit of Epidemiology and Population Genetics (P.R., A.S.), Institute of Food Sciences, National Research Council, Avellino 83100, Italy; and National Institute for Health Development (T.V.), Tervise Arengu Instituut, Tallinn 11619, Estonia
| | - S De Henauw
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Nutrition and Biotechnology (Nutrigenomics) (T.P., J.S., C.P., A.P.), University of the Balearic Islands and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición, CIBEROBN, Palma de Mallorca 07122, Spain; Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology-BIPS (W.A.), Bremen D-28359, Germany; Institute of Statistics, Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science (W.A.), Bremen University, Bremen 28359, Germany; Department of Public Health/Department of Movement and Sport Sciences (S.D.H.), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium; Research and Education of Child Health Institute (Y.K.), Strovolos 2015, Cyprus; Department of Public Health and Community Medicine (L.L.), University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg 405 30, Sweden; Department of Pediatrics (D.M.), University of Pécs, Pécs 7622, Hungary; Growth, Exercise, Nutrition and Development Research group (L.A.M.), Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza 50018, Spain; Unit of Epidemiology and Population Genetics (P.R., A.S.), Institute of Food Sciences, National Research Council, Avellino 83100, Italy; and National Institute for Health Development (T.V.), Tervise Arengu Instituut, Tallinn 11619, Estonia
| | - Y Kourides
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Nutrition and Biotechnology (Nutrigenomics) (T.P., J.S., C.P., A.P.), University of the Balearic Islands and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición, CIBEROBN, Palma de Mallorca 07122, Spain; Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology-BIPS (W.A.), Bremen D-28359, Germany; Institute of Statistics, Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science (W.A.), Bremen University, Bremen 28359, Germany; Department of Public Health/Department of Movement and Sport Sciences (S.D.H.), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium; Research and Education of Child Health Institute (Y.K.), Strovolos 2015, Cyprus; Department of Public Health and Community Medicine (L.L.), University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg 405 30, Sweden; Department of Pediatrics (D.M.), University of Pécs, Pécs 7622, Hungary; Growth, Exercise, Nutrition and Development Research group (L.A.M.), Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza 50018, Spain; Unit of Epidemiology and Population Genetics (P.R., A.S.), Institute of Food Sciences, National Research Council, Avellino 83100, Italy; and National Institute for Health Development (T.V.), Tervise Arengu Instituut, Tallinn 11619, Estonia
| | - L Lissner
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Nutrition and Biotechnology (Nutrigenomics) (T.P., J.S., C.P., A.P.), University of the Balearic Islands and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición, CIBEROBN, Palma de Mallorca 07122, Spain; Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology-BIPS (W.A.), Bremen D-28359, Germany; Institute of Statistics, Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science (W.A.), Bremen University, Bremen 28359, Germany; Department of Public Health/Department of Movement and Sport Sciences (S.D.H.), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium; Research and Education of Child Health Institute (Y.K.), Strovolos 2015, Cyprus; Department of Public Health and Community Medicine (L.L.), University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg 405 30, Sweden; Department of Pediatrics (D.M.), University of Pécs, Pécs 7622, Hungary; Growth, Exercise, Nutrition and Development Research group (L.A.M.), Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza 50018, Spain; Unit of Epidemiology and Population Genetics (P.R., A.S.), Institute of Food Sciences, National Research Council, Avellino 83100, Italy; and National Institute for Health Development (T.V.), Tervise Arengu Instituut, Tallinn 11619, Estonia
| | - D Molnár
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Nutrition and Biotechnology (Nutrigenomics) (T.P., J.S., C.P., A.P.), University of the Balearic Islands and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición, CIBEROBN, Palma de Mallorca 07122, Spain; Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology-BIPS (W.A.), Bremen D-28359, Germany; Institute of Statistics, Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science (W.A.), Bremen University, Bremen 28359, Germany; Department of Public Health/Department of Movement and Sport Sciences (S.D.H.), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium; Research and Education of Child Health Institute (Y.K.), Strovolos 2015, Cyprus; Department of Public Health and Community Medicine (L.L.), University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg 405 30, Sweden; Department of Pediatrics (D.M.), University of Pécs, Pécs 7622, Hungary; Growth, Exercise, Nutrition and Development Research group (L.A.M.), Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza 50018, Spain; Unit of Epidemiology and Population Genetics (P.R., A.S.), Institute of Food Sciences, National Research Council, Avellino 83100, Italy; and National Institute for Health Development (T.V.), Tervise Arengu Instituut, Tallinn 11619, Estonia
| | - L A Moreno
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Nutrition and Biotechnology (Nutrigenomics) (T.P., J.S., C.P., A.P.), University of the Balearic Islands and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición, CIBEROBN, Palma de Mallorca 07122, Spain; Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology-BIPS (W.A.), Bremen D-28359, Germany; Institute of Statistics, Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science (W.A.), Bremen University, Bremen 28359, Germany; Department of Public Health/Department of Movement and Sport Sciences (S.D.H.), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium; Research and Education of Child Health Institute (Y.K.), Strovolos 2015, Cyprus; Department of Public Health and Community Medicine (L.L.), University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg 405 30, Sweden; Department of Pediatrics (D.M.), University of Pécs, Pécs 7622, Hungary; Growth, Exercise, Nutrition and Development Research group (L.A.M.), Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza 50018, Spain; Unit of Epidemiology and Population Genetics (P.R., A.S.), Institute of Food Sciences, National Research Council, Avellino 83100, Italy; and National Institute for Health Development (T.V.), Tervise Arengu Instituut, Tallinn 11619, Estonia
| | - P Russo
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Nutrition and Biotechnology (Nutrigenomics) (T.P., J.S., C.P., A.P.), University of the Balearic Islands and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición, CIBEROBN, Palma de Mallorca 07122, Spain; Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology-BIPS (W.A.), Bremen D-28359, Germany; Institute of Statistics, Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science (W.A.), Bremen University, Bremen 28359, Germany; Department of Public Health/Department of Movement and Sport Sciences (S.D.H.), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium; Research and Education of Child Health Institute (Y.K.), Strovolos 2015, Cyprus; Department of Public Health and Community Medicine (L.L.), University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg 405 30, Sweden; Department of Pediatrics (D.M.), University of Pécs, Pécs 7622, Hungary; Growth, Exercise, Nutrition and Development Research group (L.A.M.), Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza 50018, Spain; Unit of Epidemiology and Population Genetics (P.R., A.S.), Institute of Food Sciences, National Research Council, Avellino 83100, Italy; and National Institute for Health Development (T.V.), Tervise Arengu Instituut, Tallinn 11619, Estonia
| | - A Siani
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Nutrition and Biotechnology (Nutrigenomics) (T.P., J.S., C.P., A.P.), University of the Balearic Islands and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición, CIBEROBN, Palma de Mallorca 07122, Spain; Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology-BIPS (W.A.), Bremen D-28359, Germany; Institute of Statistics, Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science (W.A.), Bremen University, Bremen 28359, Germany; Department of Public Health/Department of Movement and Sport Sciences (S.D.H.), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium; Research and Education of Child Health Institute (Y.K.), Strovolos 2015, Cyprus; Department of Public Health and Community Medicine (L.L.), University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg 405 30, Sweden; Department of Pediatrics (D.M.), University of Pécs, Pécs 7622, Hungary; Growth, Exercise, Nutrition and Development Research group (L.A.M.), Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza 50018, Spain; Unit of Epidemiology and Population Genetics (P.R., A.S.), Institute of Food Sciences, National Research Council, Avellino 83100, Italy; and National Institute for Health Development (T.V.), Tervise Arengu Instituut, Tallinn 11619, Estonia
| | - T Veidebaum
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Nutrition and Biotechnology (Nutrigenomics) (T.P., J.S., C.P., A.P.), University of the Balearic Islands and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición, CIBEROBN, Palma de Mallorca 07122, Spain; Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology-BIPS (W.A.), Bremen D-28359, Germany; Institute of Statistics, Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science (W.A.), Bremen University, Bremen 28359, Germany; Department of Public Health/Department of Movement and Sport Sciences (S.D.H.), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium; Research and Education of Child Health Institute (Y.K.), Strovolos 2015, Cyprus; Department of Public Health and Community Medicine (L.L.), University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg 405 30, Sweden; Department of Pediatrics (D.M.), University of Pécs, Pécs 7622, Hungary; Growth, Exercise, Nutrition and Development Research group (L.A.M.), Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza 50018, Spain; Unit of Epidemiology and Population Genetics (P.R., A.S.), Institute of Food Sciences, National Research Council, Avellino 83100, Italy; and National Institute for Health Development (T.V.), Tervise Arengu Instituut, Tallinn 11619, Estonia
| | - A Palou
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Nutrition and Biotechnology (Nutrigenomics) (T.P., J.S., C.P., A.P.), University of the Balearic Islands and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición, CIBEROBN, Palma de Mallorca 07122, Spain; Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology-BIPS (W.A.), Bremen D-28359, Germany; Institute of Statistics, Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science (W.A.), Bremen University, Bremen 28359, Germany; Department of Public Health/Department of Movement and Sport Sciences (S.D.H.), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium; Research and Education of Child Health Institute (Y.K.), Strovolos 2015, Cyprus; Department of Public Health and Community Medicine (L.L.), University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg 405 30, Sweden; Department of Pediatrics (D.M.), University of Pécs, Pécs 7622, Hungary; Growth, Exercise, Nutrition and Development Research group (L.A.M.), Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza 50018, Spain; Unit of Epidemiology and Population Genetics (P.R., A.S.), Institute of Food Sciences, National Research Council, Avellino 83100, Italy; and National Institute for Health Development (T.V.), Tervise Arengu Instituut, Tallinn 11619, Estonia
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Voltolini C, Battersby S, Novembri R, Torricelli M, Severi FM, Petraglia F, Norman JE. Urocortin 2 role in placental and myometrial inflammatory mechanisms at parturition. Endocrinology 2015; 156:670-9. [PMID: 25426872 DOI: 10.1210/en.2014-1432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of the study was to investigate urocortin (Ucn)2 involvement in placental and myometrial inflammatory pathways associated with parturition by evaluating: 1) Ucn2 and its receptor, CRH-receptor type 2 (CRH-R2), expression in laboring/nonlaboring human gestational tissues and in mouse utero-placental tissues approaching delivery; and 2) Ucn2 effect on myometrial contractility and on the expression of inflammatory mediators (prostaglandin F2α receptor and cytokines) and regulation of Ucn2 by TNF-α in cultured myometrial cell line. Placenta (n = 16), fetal membranes (n = 16), and myometrium (n = 22) were obtained from healthy pregnant women delivering at term by vaginal/elective caesarean delivery and from timed-pregnant mice on days 16-19. Expression of Ucn2/CRH-R2 in human/mouse tissues and inflammatory mediators in myometrial cell lines were measured by RT-PCR or ELISA, mouse Ucn2/CRH-R2 protein localization by immunohistochemistry. Ucn2 but not CRH-R2 was up-regulated (P < .05) in all human tissues in labor (compared with before labor) and increased significantly (P < .01) in mouse placenta approaching delivery. Ucn2 was up-regulated by TNF-α via nuclear factor-κB (NF-kB) in myometrium cell lines (P < .05 or P < .01 on the basis of treatment doses) and increased proinflammatory mediators and prostaglandin F (PGF2α) receptor expression (P < .05) via CRH-R2, without a direct effect on contractility. Placental and myometrial Ucn2 may play a role in the endocrine-inflammatory processes of parturition, representing a potential target for treating inflammation-induced obstetric complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Voltolini
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine (C.V., R.N., M.T., F.M.S., F.P.), University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; and Medical Research Council Centre for Reproductive Health (S.B., J.E.N.), University of Edinburgh, EH16 4TY Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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Abstract
Exercise training has been looked on as a non-pharmacologic approach to treating ovariectomy (OVX)-induced dysfunctions. In this study, we investigated whether chronic exercise impacts on expression of urocortins (UCNs) and corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor type 2 (CRHR2) in myocardium of OVX rats. Bilateral OVX or sham-operation was performed under anesthesia. Both groups were then divided into two subgroups, with or without treadmill training for 8 weeks. It was found that OVX as well as exercise did not affect the mRNA levels of UCN, UCN2 and UCN3 in myocardium. OVX caused down-regulation of CRHR2 in myocardium. Exercise training reversed the OVX-induced reduction of CRHR2, but had no influence on CRHR2 level in sham rats. OVX resulted in a decrease in estrogen receptor α (ERα) expression in myocardium, which was restored by exercise. Moreover, exercise training also reversed OVX-induced down-regulation of specific protein-1 (Sp-1) expression in myocardium. CRHR2 expression level correlated with Sp-1 and ERα level in myocardium. These results indicate that exercise training can restore the CRHR2 level in myocardium of OVX rats, which is associated with ERα and Sp-1 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiping Tang
- a School of Kinesiology, Key Laboratory of Exercise and Health Sciences of Ministry of Education, Shanghai University of Sport , Shanghai , China and
| | - Yujun Wang
- a School of Kinesiology, Key Laboratory of Exercise and Health Sciences of Ministry of Education, Shanghai University of Sport , Shanghai , China and
| | - Xiaoyan Zhu
- b Department of Physiology , Second Military Medical University , Shanghai , China
| | - Xin Ni
- b Department of Physiology , Second Military Medical University , Shanghai , China
| | - Binhai Cong
- b Department of Physiology , Second Military Medical University , Shanghai , China
| | - Jianqiang Lu
- a School of Kinesiology, Key Laboratory of Exercise and Health Sciences of Ministry of Education, Shanghai University of Sport , Shanghai , China and
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Ikeda K, Fujioka K, Tachibana T, Kim SU, Tojo K, Manome Y. Secretion of urocortin I by human glioblastoma cell lines, possibly via the constitutive pathway. Peptides 2015; 63:63-70. [PMID: 25239507 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2014.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2014] [Revised: 09/08/2014] [Accepted: 09/08/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and its family of peptides, i.e., urocortins (UCNs), play a critical role in systemic and peripheral stress-response systems and are widely expressed not only in normal tissues but also in various types of cancer cells. Given limited understanding of the mechanism of UCN I secretion, we investigated the UCN I secretory pathway in human neural stem cells (HNSCs) and in two glioblastoma cell lines, e.g., A172 and U-138 MG. Immunoreactivities for CRF receptors were detected in A172 glioblastoma cells, but not in HNSCs or U-138 glioblastoma cells, while UCN I immunoreactivity was detected in A172 and U-138 MG glioblastoma cell lines by both light field and electron microscopy. Interestingly, electron microscopy revealed UCN I immunoreactivtiy in vesicle-like structures in the plasma membrane of the glioblastoma cells. Tracking of a hybrid fluorescent protein containing a UCN I signal peptide expressed in A172 human glioblastoma cells revealed that fluorescence in secretory granules could be decreased by cycloheximide (100μg/ml), indicating that the forward transport of secretory granules containing fluorescent protein was not altered by the inhibition of protein synthesis by cycloheximide. Retrograde transport and the fusion of fluorescent granules in A172 human glioblastoma cells was induced by brefeldin A (10μg/ml), indicating that UCN I secretory granules may be transported via the constitutive pathway. Based on these results, it appears that UCN I is secreted from human glioblastoma cells by exocytosis through constitutive secretory granules, indicating that transcription of UCN I mRNA may be correlated to secretion of UCN I protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keiichi Ikeda
- Division of Molecular Cell Biology, Core Research Facilities for Basic Science, Research Center for Medical Sciences, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo 105-8461, Japan.
| | - Kouki Fujioka
- Division of Molecular Cell Biology, Core Research Facilities for Basic Science, Research Center for Medical Sciences, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo 105-8461, Japan
| | - Toshiaki Tachibana
- Division of Molecular Cell Biology, Core Research Facilities for Basic Science, Research Center for Medical Sciences, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo 105-8461, Japan
| | - Seung U Kim
- Medical Research Institute, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 2B5
| | - Katsuyoshi Tojo
- Division of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo 105-8461, Japan
| | - Yoshinobu Manome
- Division of Molecular Cell Biology, Core Research Facilities for Basic Science, Research Center for Medical Sciences, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo 105-8461, Japan
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Walczewska J, Dzieza-Grudnik A, Siga O, Grodzicki T. The role of urocortins in the cardiovascular system. J Physiol Pharmacol 2014; 65:753-766. [PMID: 25554979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2014] [Accepted: 12/01/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Urocortins (Ucn) 1, 2 and 3 are a group of endogenous peptide hormones belonging to the corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) family of peptides. The presence of urocortins has been detected in the central nervous system as well as in peripheral tissues. They play an important role in a stress response (with respect to its duration, intensity and restoration of homeostasis). They also act as regulatory factors of the cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, reproductive and immune systems. Urocortins act by binding to G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCR). The "central" effects of urocortins are mediated mainly by activation of CRH receptor 1 (CRH-R1), and the "peripheral" effects by activation of CRH-R2. Ucn2 and Ucn3 are selective CRH-R2 agonists and have much higher binding affinity to this receptor than CRH and Ucn1. Recent studies have shown that urocortins exert various biological effects in the cardiovascular system, such as vasodilation, positive inotropic and lusitropic effects, as well as cardioprotection against ischemia-reperfusion injury. They also suppress the renin-angiotensin system and may have an impact on the sympathetic nervous system. Urocortins and CRH-R2 may be a potential therapeutic target in coronary heart disease, congestive heart failure and hypertension. This review summarizes the data published to date on the role of urocortins in the cardiovascular system.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Walczewska
- Department of Internal Medicine and Gerontology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Cracow, Poland.
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