scholarly journals Human POMC processing in vitro and in vivo revealed by quantitative peptidomics

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Kirwan ◽  
Richard Kay ◽  
Bas Brouwers ◽  
Vicente Herranz-Perez ◽  
Magdalena Jura ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTHuman obesity can result from the aberrant production or processing of proopiomelanocortin (POMC) in hypothalamic neurons, but it is unclear which human POMC-derived peptides are most relevant to body weight regulation. To address this question, we analysed both hypothalamic neurons derived from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) and primary human hypothalamic tissue using quantitative liquid chromatography tandem mass spectroscopy (LC-MS/MS). In both in vitro- and in vivo-derived samples, we found that POMC was processed into β-melanocyte stimulating hormone (β-MSH), whose existence in the human brain has been controversial. β-MSH and desacetyl α-MSH (d-α-MSH) were produced at roughly equimolar concentrations and in vast excess to acetylated α-MSH (5-to 200-fold), suggesting that the importance of both d-α-MSH and β-MSH to human obesity has been underestimated. Since body weight is sensitive to changes in MSH concentration, we asked whether hPSC-derived hypothalamic neurons could provide mechanistic insights into the processing and secretion of MSH peptides. We found that cultured human hypothalamic neurons appropriately trafficked POMC and its derivatives, and robustly (P<0.0001) secreted them when depolarised. Furthermore, the adipocyte-derived hormone leptin significantly (P<0.01) promoted their production of both d-α-MSH and β-MSH. These results establish hPSC-derived hypothalamic neurons as a model system for studying human-specific aspects of POMC processing that might be therapeutically harnessed to treat obesity.

2019 ◽  
Vol 101 (2) ◽  
pp. 328-337 ◽  
Author(s):  
Constantine A Simintiras ◽  
José M Sánchez ◽  
Michael McDonald ◽  
Patrick Lonergan

Abstract Conceptus elongation is a fundamental developmental event coinciding with a period of significant pregnancy loss in cattle. The process has yet to be recapitulated in vitro, whereas in vivo it is directly driven by uterine secretions and indirectly influenced by systemic progesterone. To better understand the environment facilitating this critical reproductive phenomenon, we interrogated the biochemical composition of uterine luminal fluid from heifers with high vs physiological circulating progesterone on days 12–14 of the estrous cycle—the window of conceptus elongation-initiation—by high-throughput untargeted ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectroscopy. A total of 233 biochemicals were identified, clustering within 8 superpathways [amino acids (33.9%), lipids (32.2%), carbohydrates (8.6%), nucleotides (8.2%), xenobiotics (6.4%), cofactors and vitamins (5.2%), energy substrates (4.7%), and peptides (0.9%)] and spanning 66 metabolic subpathways. Lipids dominated total progesterone (39.1%) and day (57.1%) effects; however, amino acids (48.5%) and nucleotides (14.8%) accounted for most day by progesterone interactions. Corresponding pathways over-represented in response to day and progesterone include (i) methionine, cysteine, s-adenosylmethionine, and taurine (9.3%); (ii) phospholipid (7.4%); and (iii) (hypo)xanthine and inosine purine metabolism (5.6%). Moreover, under physiological conditions, the uterine lumen undergoes a metabolic shift after day 12, and progesterone supplementation increases total uterine luminal biochemical abundance at a linear rate of 0.41-fold day−1–resulting in a difference (P ≤ 0.0001) by day 14. This global metabolic analysis of uterine fluid during the initiation of conceptus elongation offers new insights into the biochemistry of maternal–embryo communication, with implications for improving ruminant fertility.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Adelaide A Bernard ◽  
Irene Ojeda Naharros ◽  
Florence Bourgain Guglielmetti ◽  
Xinyu Yue ◽  
Christian Vaisse

Abstract Genetic studies in humans and mice have demonstrated that the Melanocortin 4 Receptor (MC4R) is essential for adequate regulation of food intake and body weight. MC4R is expressed in a small population of hypothalamic neurons and very little is known about its molecular and cellular dynamics in vivo. We have recently demonstrated that MC4R localizes to and functions at the primary cilia of select hypothalamic neurons to control energy homeostasis. The primary cilium is a solitary hair-like organelle that serves as an antenna sensing extracellular environment. Defective primary cilia lead to a series of conditions known as ciliopathies, that can manifest through a variety of clinical features, including hyperphagia and obesity. Here we establish that the ciliary localization and the body weight regulating activity of MC4R is dependent on a single-pass transmembrane accessory protein: the Melanocortin Receptor Associated Protein 2 (MRAP2). Specifically, we show that deleting MRAP2 specifically from MC4R neurons (MC4RMRAP2-/-) leads to early onset obesity and hyperphagia. In vitro, co-expression of MRAP2 in ciliated IMCD3 cells increases MC4R localization to the primary cilium. We further demonstrate that MRAP2 and MC4R colocalize specifically at the primary cilium in vivo, and that MC4R fails to localize to the primary cilium when MRAP2 is deleted. These findings highlight the role of the primary cilium in the control of energy homeostasis, and the importance of accessory proteins for the localization of GPCRs to the primary cilium where they exert their function, in this case being critical for the regulation of energy homeostasis.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michele Dei Cas ◽  
Jessica Rizzo ◽  
Mariangela Scavone ◽  
Eti Femia ◽  
Gian Marco Podda ◽  
...  

AbstractLow-dose aspirin (ASA) is used to prevent cardiovascular events. The most commonly used formulation is enteric-coated ASA (EC-ASA) that may be absorbed more slowly and less efficiently in some patients. To uncover these “non-responders” patients, the availability of proper analytical methods is pivotal in order to study the pharmacodynamics, the pharmacokinetics and the metabolic fate of ASA. We validated a high-throughput, isocratic reversed-phase, negative MRM, LC–MS/MS method useful for measuring circulating ASA and salicylic acid (SA) in blood and plasma. ASA-d4 and SA-d4 were used as internal standards. The method was applied to evaluate: (a) the "in vitro" ASA degradation by esterases in whole blood and plasma, as a function of time and concentration; (b) the "in vivo" kinetics of ASA and SA after 7 days of oral administration of EC-ASA or plain-ASA (100 mg) in healthy volunteers (three men and three women, 37–63 years). Parameters of esterases activity were Vmax 6.5 ± 1.9 and Km 147.5 ± 64.4 in plasma, and Vmax 108.1 ± 20.8 and Km 803.2 ± 170.7 in whole blood. After oral administration of the two formulations, tmax varied between 3 and 6 h for EC-ASA and between 0.5 and 1.0 h for plain-ASA. Higher between-subjects variability was seen after EC-ASA, and one subject had a delayed absorption over eight hours. Plasma AUC was 725.5 (89.8–1222) for EC-ASA, and 823.1(624–1196) ng h/mL (median, 25–75% CI) for plain ASA. After the weekly treatment, serum levels of TxB2 were very low (< 10 ng/mL at 24 h from the drug intake) in all the studied subjects, regardless of the formulation or the tmax. This method proved to be suitable for studies on aspirin responsiveness.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (8) ◽  
pp. 3995
Author(s):  
Cheong-Yong Yun ◽  
Nahyun Choi ◽  
Jae Un Lee ◽  
Eun Jung Lee ◽  
Ji Young Kim ◽  
...  

Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), which is linked to autophagy regulation and melanogenesis regulation, is activated by marliolide. In this study, we investigated the effect of a marliolide derivative on melanosome degradation through the autophagy pathway. The effect of the marliolide derivative on melanosome degradation was investigated in α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH)-treated melanocytes, melanosome-incorporated keratinocyte, and ultraviolet (UV)B-exposed HRM-2 mice (melanin-possessing hairless mice). The marliolide derivative, 5-methyl-3-tetradecylidene-dihydro-furan-2-one (DMF02), decreased melanin pigmentation by melanosome degradation in α-MSH-treated melanocytes and melanosome-incorporated keratinocytes, evidenced by premelanosome protein (PMEL) expression, but did not affect melanogenesis-associated proteins. The UVB-induced hyperpigmentation in HRM-2 mice was also reduced by a topical application of DMF02. DMF02 activated Nrf2 and induced autophagy in vivo, evidenced by decreased PMEL in microtubule-associated proteins 1A/1B light chain 3B (LC3)-II-expressed areas. DMF02 also induced melanosome degradation via autophagy in vitro, and DMF02-induced melanosome degradation was recovered by chloroquine (CQ), which is a lysosomal inhibitor. In addition, Nrf2 silencing by siRNA attenuated the DMF02-induced melanosome degradation via the suppression of p62. DMF02 induced melanosome degradation in melanocytes and keratinocytes by regulating autophagy via Nrf2-p62 activation. Therefore, Nrf2 activator could be a promising therapeutic agent for reducing hyperpigmentation.


Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 331
Author(s):  
Jung-Yun Lee ◽  
Tae Yang Kim ◽  
Hanna Kang ◽  
Jungbae Oh ◽  
Joo Woong Park ◽  
...  

Excess body weight is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes (T2D) and associated metabolic complications, and weight loss has been shown to improve glycemic control and decrease morbidity and mortality in T2D patients. Weight-loss strategies using dietary interventions produce a significant decrease in diabetes-related metabolic disturbance. We have previously reported that the supplementation of low molecular chitosan oligosaccharide (GO2KA1) significantly inhibited blood glucose levels in both animals and humans. However, the effect of GO2KA1 on obesity still remains unclear. The aim of the study was to evaluate the anti-obesity effect of GO2KA1 on lipid accumulation and adipogenic gene expression using 3T3-L1 adipocytes in vitro and plasma lipid profiles using a Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat model. Murine 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were stimulated to differentiate under the adipogenic stimulation in the presence and absence of varying concentrations of GO2KA1. Adipocyte differentiation was confirmed by Oil Red O staining of lipids and the expression of adipogenic gene expression. Compared to control group, the cells treated with GO2KA1 significantly decreased in intracellular lipid accumulation with concomitant decreases in the expression of key transcription factors, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha (CEBP/α). Consistently, the mRNA expression of downstream adipogenic target genes such as fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4), fatty acid synthase (FAS), were significantly lower in the GO2KA1-treated group than in the control group. In vivo, male SD rats were fed a high fat diet (HFD) for 6 weeks to induced obesity, followed by oral administration of GO2KA1 at 0.1 g/kg/body weight or vehicle control in HFD. We assessed body weight, food intake, plasma lipids, levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) for liver function, and serum level of adiponectin, a marker for obesity-mediated metabolic syndrome. Compared to control group GO2KA1 significantly suppressed body weight gain (185.8 ± 8.8 g vs. 211.6 ± 20.1 g, p < 0.05) with no significant difference in food intake. The serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels were significantly lower in the GO2KA1-treated group than in the control group, whereas the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) level was higher in the GO2KA1 group. The GO2KA1-treated group also showed a significant reduction in ALT and AST levels compared to the control. Moreover, serum adiponectin levels were significantly 1.5-folder higher than the control group. These in vivo and in vitro findings suggest that dietary supplementation of GO2KA1 may prevent diet-induced weight gain and the anti-obesity effect is mediated in part by inhibiting adipogenesis and increasing adiponectin level.


2014 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
pp. 1341-1343 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan P. Wiederhold ◽  
Laura K. Najvar ◽  
Annette W. Fothergill ◽  
Rosie Bocanegra ◽  
Marcos Olivo ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTWe evaluated thein vitroandin vivoactivities of the investigational arylamidine T-2307 against echinocandin-resistantCandida albicans. T-2307 demonstrated potentin vitroactivity, and daily subcutaneous doses between 0.75 and 6 mg/kg of body weight significantly improved survival and reduced fungal burden compared to placebo control and caspofungin (10 mg/kg/day) in mice with invasive candidiasis caused by an echinocandin-resistant strain. Thus, T-2307 may have potential use in the treatment of echinocandin-resistantC. albicansinfections.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianru Pan ◽  
Huocong He ◽  
Ying Su ◽  
Guangjin Zheng ◽  
Junxin Wu ◽  
...  

GST-TAT-SOD was the fusion of superoxide dismutase (SOD), cell-permeable peptide TAT, and glutathione-S-transferase (GST). It was proved to be a potential selective radioprotector in vitro in our previous work. This study evaluated the in vivo radioprotective activity of GST-TAT-SOD against whole-body irradiation. We demonstrated that intraperitoneal injection of 0.5 ml GST-TAT-SOD (2 kU/ml) 2 h before the 6 Gy whole-body irradiation in mice almost completely prevented the splenic damage. It could significantly enhance the splenic antioxidant activity which kept the number of splenic white pulp and consequently resisted the shrinkage of the spleen. Moreover, the thymus index, hepatic antioxidant activity, and white blood cell (WBC) count of peripheral blood in irradiated mice pretreated with GST-TAT-SOD also remarkably increased. Although the treated and untreated irradiated mice showed no significant difference in the growth rate of animal body weight at 7 days postirradiation, the highest growth rate of body weight was observed in the GST-TAT-SOD-pretreated group. Furthermore, GST-TAT-SOD pretreatment increased resistance against 8 Gy whole-body irradiation and enhanced 30 d survival. The overall effect of GST-TAT-SOD seemed to be a bit more powerful than that of amifostine. In conclusion, GST-TAT-SOD would be a safe and potentially promising radioprotector.


1973 ◽  
Vol 51 (12) ◽  
pp. 933-941 ◽  
Author(s):  
Njanoor Narayanan ◽  
Jacob Eapen

The effect of cycloheximide in vitro and in vivo on the incorporation of labelled amino acids into protein by muscles, liver, kidneys, and brain of rats and pigeons was studied. In vitro incorporation of amino acids into protein by muscle microsomes, myofibrils, and myofibrillar ribosomes was not affected by cycloheximide. In contrast, administration of the antibiotic into intact animals at a concentration of 1 mg/kg body weight resulted in considerable inhibition of amino acid incorporation into protein by muscles, liver, kidneys, and brain. This inhibition was observed in all the subcellular fractions of these tissues during a period of 10–40 min after the administration of the precursor. Tissue homogenates derived from in vivo cycloheximide-treated animals did not show significant alteration in in vitro amino acid incorporation with the exception of brain, which showed a small but significant enhancement.


1995 ◽  
Vol 74 (4) ◽  
pp. 1473-1484 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Chen ◽  
P. Q. Trombley ◽  
A. N. van den Pol

1. The developmental changes in gamma-aminobutyrate (GABA)-, glutamate-, and glycine-mediated currents in cultured embryonic neurons (n = 134) from rat hypothalamus were studied with the use of whole cell voltage-clamp recording. 2. GABA-evoked currents were detected in neurons cultured from 15-day embryos (E15) a few hours after plating. Every neuron studied from the time of plating at E15 to 2 wk later responded to GABA (30 microM). The peak and steady-state currents evoked by GABA increased by four- to fivefold within 2 wk in culture. The time constants of the desensitization of GABA currents did not change during this period. The properties of the responses to GABA were not altered by different culture densities or substrates. 3. Glycine activated receptors that were pharmacologically distinct from GABA receptors on hypothalamic neurons. The glycine responses increased by > 50-fold within 2 wk in culture. The percentage of cells responding to glycine (500 microM) was 20% at 0 days in vitro (DIV), and increased to 100% at 6 DIV. Astrocytes increased both the amplitude of glycine-mediated currents and the percentage of cells responding to glycine. 4. Glutamate-mediated currents developed later than GABA-mediated currents. The percentage of cells responding to glutamate (500 microM) increased within the 1st wk, from 20% on the day of plating to 100% after 6 DIV. Both the peak currents and the steady-state currents mediated by glutamate increased by 20-fold during the 2 wk in culture. Both the amplitude of the responses to glutamate and the percentage of cells responding to glutamate were increased by growing neurons either on an astrocyte substrate or in high-density cultures. 5. The currents and conductance changes elicited by GABA were greater than those generated by glutamate or glycine throughout the period examined. This difference was particularly evident in younger cells. After 3 days in vitro, GABA (30 microM) elicited a mean current of 1,648 pA, whereas glutamate (500 microM) only elicited a 266-pA current, and glycine (500 microM) elicited a 278-pA current from neurons growing on an astrocyte layer. 6. The expression of amino acid receptors was heterogeneous among hypothalamic neurons in younger cultures. Whereas all neurons expressed GABA receptors, some developing neurons did not express detectable glutamate receptors or glycine receptors. 7. Each of the three amino acid-evoked currents increased from E15 (1 DIV) to E20 (1 DIV), indicating an intrinsic development in the expression of the amino acid receptors in vivo. The GABA, glutamate, and glycine currents at E15, 10 DIV were similar to the currents at E20, 5 DIV (both 25 days after conception), suggesting parallel developmental patterns for amino acid receptor expression in vitro and in vivo. 8. Together, these data suggest that GABA may play a major role in early development because hypothalamic neurons are more sensitive to GABA than to either glutamate or glycine. However, glutamate and glycine receptors appear more sensitive to regulation by the local environment than GABA receptors because culture density and the astrocyte substrate have greater inductive effects on glutamate and glycine receptors than on GABA receptors.


2018 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 154-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fenglin Zhang ◽  
Jingjing Ye ◽  
Yingying Meng ◽  
Wei Ai ◽  
Han Su ◽  
...  

Background/Aims: It has been implicated that calcium supplementation is involved in reducing body weight/fat and improving glucose homeostasis. However, the underlying mechanisms are still not fully understood. Here, we investigated the effects of calcium supplementation on adipogenesis and glucose homeostasis in porcine bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (pBMSCs) and high fat diet (HFD)-fed mice and explored the involved signaling pathways. Methods: In vitro, pBMSCs were treated with 4 mM extracellular calcium ([Ca2+]o) and/or 1 μM nifedipine, 0.1 μM BAPTA-AM, 1 μM KN-93, 50 nM wortmannin for 10 days. The intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) levels were measured using Fluo 3-AM by flow cytometry. The adipogenic differentiation of pBMSCs was determined by Oil Red-O staining and triglyceride assay. The expression of marker genes involved in adipogenesis (peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ (PPARγ) and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein α (C/EBPα)) and glucose uptake (glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4)), as well as the activation of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) and PI3K/Akt-FoxO1/AS160 signaling pathways were determined by Western blotting. Glucose uptake and utilization were examined using 2-NBDG assay and glucose content assay, respectively. In vivo, C57BL/6J male mice were fed a HFD (containing 1.2% calcium) without or with 0.6% (w/w) calcium chloride in drinking water for 13 weeks. The adipogenesis, glucose homeostasis and the involvement of CaMKII and PI3K/Akt signaling pathway were also assessed. Results: In vitro, [Ca2+]o stimulated pBMSCs adipogenesis by increasing [Ca2+]i level and activating CaMKII and PI3K/Akt-FoxO1 pathways. In addition, [Ca2+]o promoted glucose uptake/utilization by enhancing AS160 phosphorylation, GLUT4 expression and translocation. However, the stimulating effects of [Ca2+]o on pBMSCs adipogenesis and glucose uptake/utilization were abolished by L-VGCC blocker Nifedipine, [Ca2+]i chelator BAPTA-AM, CaMKII inhibitor KN-93, or PI3K inhibitor Wortmannin. In vivo, calcium supplementation decreased body weight and fat content, increased adipocyte number, and improved glucose homeostasis, with elevated PPARγ and GLUT4 expression and PI3K/Akt activation in iWAT. Conclusion: calcium supplementation enhanced adipogenesis and glucose uptake in pBMSCs, which was coincident with the increased adipocyte number and improved glucose homeostasis in HFD-fed mice, and was associated with activation of CaMKII and PI3K/Akt-FoxO1/AS160 pathways. These data provided a broader understanding of the mechanisms underlying calcium-induced body weight/fat loss and glycemic control.


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