scholarly journals Mitochondrial stress-induced GDF15-GFRAL axis promotes anxiety-like behavior and CRH-dependent anorexia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carla Igual Gil ◽  
Bethany M. Coull ◽  
Wenke Jonas ◽  
Rachel Lippert ◽  
Mario Ost ◽  
...  

Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) is a stress-induced cytokine that modulates food intake and energy metabolism. Until now, most mechanistic studies on GDF15 rely on pharmacological interventions using exogenous GDF15, but little is known about its mode of action when induced both chronically and endogenously. Mitochondrial stress is one of the most described physiological conditions that induces GDF15, and therefore an important model to study the underlying mechanisms of endogenous GDF15 action. Here, using a mouse model of mitochondrial dysfunction via elevated respiratory uncoupling in skeletal muscle, we show a circadian oscillation of muscle-derived GDF15 to promote a daytime-restricted anorexia without signs of nausea or reduced physical activity, contrary to findings using recombinant GDF15. We find that mitochondrial stress-induced GDF15 associates with increased anxiety and hypothalamic corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) induction, without further activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and corticosterone response. Strikingly, the daytime-restricted anorexia, lean phenotype, systemic shift in substrate metabolism and anxiety-like behavior are completey abolished in conditions of mitochondrial stress coupled with genetic ablation of the GDF15 receptor GDNF receptor alpha-like (GFRAL), which is predominantly expressed in the hindbrain. Finally, we demonstrate that stress-induced GDF15-GFRAL signaling is required for hypothalamic CRH induction to control diurnal food intake in a CRH-receptor 1 (CRHR1)-dependent manner. With this, we uncover for the first time a molecular target of the GDF15-GFRAL axis that links anxiolytic and anorectic behavior as downstream effects of the chronic activation of this pathway by mitochondrial stress.

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-38
Author(s):  
Chen Lei ◽  
Pan Xiang ◽  
Shen Yonggang ◽  
Song Kai ◽  
Zhong Xingguo ◽  
...  

The aim of this study was to determine whether polydatin, a glucoside of resveratrol isolated from the root of Polygonum cuspidatum, warranted development as a potential therapeutic for ameliorating the pain originating from gallbladder spasm disorders and the underlying mechanisms. Guinea pig gallbladder smooth muscles were treated with polydatin and specific inhibitors to explore the mechanisms underpinning polydatin-induced relaxation of carbachol-precontracted guinea pig gallbladder. Our results shown that polydatin relaxed carbachol-induced contraction in a dose-dependent manner through the nitric oxide/cyclic guanosine monophosphate/protein kinase G and the cyclic adenosine monophosphate/protein kinase A signaling pathways as well as the myosin light chain kinase and potassium channels. Our findings suggested that there was value in further exploring the potential therapeutic use of polydatin in gallbladder spasm disorders.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 307-317
Author(s):  
Yuan Yang ◽  
Jin Huang ◽  
Jianzhong Li ◽  
Huansheng Yang ◽  
Yulong Yin

Background: Butyric acid (BT), a short-chain fatty acid, is the preferred colonocyte energy source. The effects of BT on the differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis of small intestinal epithelial cells of piglets and its underlying mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. Methods: In this study, it was found that 0.2-0.4 mM BT promoted the differentiation of procine jejunal epithelial (IPEC-J2) cells. BT at 0.5 mM or higher concentrations significantly impaired cell viability in a dose- and time-dependent manner. In addition, BT at high concentrations inhibited the IPEC-J2 cell proliferation and induced cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase. Results: Our results demonstrated that BT triggered IPEC-J2 cell apoptosis via the caspase8-caspase3 pathway accompanied by excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) and TNF-α production. BT at high concentrations inhibited cell autophagy associated with increased lysosome formation. It was found that BT-reduced IPEC-J2 cell viability could be attenuated by p38 MAPK inhibitor SB202190. Moreover, SB202190 attenuated BT-increased p38 MAPK target DDIT3 mRNA level and V-ATPase mRNA level that were responsible for normal acidic lysosomes. Conclusion: In conclusion, 1) at 0.2-0.4 mM, BT promotes the differentiation of IPEC-J2 cells; 2) BT at 0.5 mM or higher concentrations induces cell apoptosis via the p38 MAPK pathway; 3) BT inhibits cells autophagy and promotes lysosome formation at high concentrations.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhimin Zhang ◽  
Congying Wei ◽  
Yanfen Zhou ◽  
Tao Yan ◽  
Zhengqiang Wang ◽  
...  

Homocysteine- (Hcy-) induced endothelial cell apoptosis has been suggested as a cause of Hcy-dependent vascular injury, while the proposed molecular pathways underlying this process are unclear. In this study, we investigated the adverse effects of Hcy on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and the underlying mechanisms. Our results demonstrated that moderate-dose Hcy treatment induced HUVEC apoptosis in a time-dependent manner. Furthermore, prolonged Hcy treatment increased the expression of NOX4 and the production of intracellular ROS but decreased the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), resulting in the leakage of cytochrome c and activation of caspase-3. Prolonged Hcy treatment also upregulated glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78), activated protein kinase RNA-like ER kinase (PERK), and induced the expression of C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) and the phosphorylation of NF-κb. The inhibition of NOX4 decreased the production of ROS and alleviated the Hcy-induced HUVEC apoptosis and ER stress. Blocking the PERK pathway partly alleviated Hcy-induced HUVEC apoptosis and the activation of NF-κb. Taken together, our results suggest that Hcy-induced mitochondrial dysfunction crucially modulated apoptosis and contributed to the activation of ER stress in HUVEC. The excessive activation of the PERK pathway partly contributed to Hcy-induced HUVEC apoptosis and the phosphorylation of NF-κb.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi Zheng ◽  
Meimei Wu ◽  
Ting Gao ◽  
Li Meng ◽  
Xiaowei Ding ◽  
...  

Ample evidence suggests that estrogens have strong influences on the occurrence of stress-related mood disorders, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Through multiple approaches, we demonstrate that the G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) is widely distributed along the HPA axis and in brain structures critically involved in mood control. Genetic ablation of GPER in the rat resulted in significantly lower basal serum corticosterone level but enhanced ACTH release in response to acute restraint stress, especially in the female. GPER-/- rats of either sex displayed increased anxiety-like behaviors and deficits in learning and memory. Additionally, GPER deficiency led to aggravation of anxiety-like behaviors following single-prolonged stress (SPS). SPS caused significant decreases in serum corticosterone in WT but not in GPER-deficient rats. The results highlight an important role of GPER at multiple sites in regulation of the HPA axis and mood.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Zhang ◽  
Guoyu Yin ◽  
Heping Zhao ◽  
Hanzhi Ling ◽  
Zhen Xie ◽  
...  

AbstractIn inflamed joints, enhanced hyaluronic acid (HA) degradation is closely related to the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). KIAA1199 has been identified as a hyaladherin that mediates the intracellular degradation of HA, but its extracellular function remains unclear. In this study, we found that the serum and synovial levels of secreted KIAA1199 (sKIAA1199) and low-molecular-weight HA (LMW-HA, MW < 100 kDa) in RA patients were significantly increased, and the positive correlation between them was shown for the first time. Of note, treatment with anti-KIAA1199 mAb effectively alleviated the severity of arthritis and reduced serum LMW-HA levels and cytokine secretion in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mice. In vitro, sKIAA1199 was shown to mediate exogenous HA degradation by attaching to the cell membrane of RA fibroblast-like synoviosytes (RA FLS). Furthermore, the HA-degrading activity of sKIAA1199 depended largely on its adhesion to the membrane, which was achieved by its G8 domain binding to ANXA1. In vivo, kiaa1199-KO mice exhibited greater resistance to collagen-induced arthritis. Interestingly, this resistance could be partially reversed by intra-articular injection of vectors encoding full-length KIAA1199 instead of G8-deleted KIAA119 mutant, which further confirmed the indispensable role of G8 domain in KIAA1199 involvement in RA pathological processes. Mechanically, the activation of NF-κB by interleukin-6 (IL-6) through PI3K/Akt signaling is suggested to be the main pathway to induce KIAA1199 expression in RA FLS. In conclusion, our study supported the contribution of sKIAA1199 to RA pathogenesis, providing a new therapeutic target for RA by blocking sKIAA1199-mediated HA degradation.


Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 1311
Author(s):  
Magdalena Chmur ◽  
Andrzej Bajguz

Brassinolide (BL) represents brassinosteroids (BRs)—a group of phytohormones that are essential for plant growth and development. Brassinazole (Brz) is as a synthetic inhibitor of BRs’ biosynthesis. In the present study, the responses of Wolffia arrhiza to the treatment with BL, Brz, and the combination of BL with Brz were analyzed. The analysis of BRs and Brz was performed using LC-MS/MS. The photosynthetic pigments (chlorophylls, carotenes, and xanthophylls) levels were determined using HPLC, but protein and monosaccharides level using spectrophotometric methods. The obtained results indicated that BL and Brz influence W. arrhiza cultures in a concentration-dependent manner. The most stimulatory effects on the growth, level of BRs (BL, 24-epibrassinolide, 28-homobrassinolide, 28-norbrassinolide, catasterone, castasterone, 24-epicastasterone, typhasterol, and 6-deoxytyphasterol), and the content of pigments, protein, and monosaccharides, were observed in plants treated with 0.1 µM BL. Whereas the application of 1 µM and 10 µM Brz caused a significant decrease in duckweed weight and level of targeted compounds. Application of BL caused the mitigation of the Brz inhibitory effect and enhanced the BR level in duckweed treated with Brz. The level of BRs was reported for the first time in duckweed treated with BL and/or Brz.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Je-Jung Lee ◽  
In Ho Park ◽  
Man Sup Kwak ◽  
Woo Joong Rhee ◽  
Songhee H. Kim ◽  
...  

AbstractAlthough cellular senescence has emerged as a novel therapeutic concept in cancer, its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) and stimulator of interferon genes (STING) are involved in senescence. However, their interactions in senescence have not been reported. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the relationships between HMGB1 and STING in senescence in cancer and other cells. In mouse melanoma cells and several other cell lines, doxorubicin treatment induced senescence in an HMGB1-dependent manner. These responses were mediated by STING, and this function of STING was negatively regulated by the E3 ligase tripartite motif protein 30α (TRIM30α). We also found that HMGB1 bound to the TRIM30α promoter and then suppressed its expression by inhibiting its transcription, which enhanced STING-induced senescence. This mechanism was further mediated by signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6) and p21. Overall, our findings demonstrated that HMGB1 orchestrated STING-STAT6-p21-mediated senescence by regulating TRIM30α as an alternative anticancer mechanism.


Biomolecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1025
Author(s):  
Ahmed Alalaiwe ◽  
Jia-You Fang ◽  
Hsien-Ju Lee ◽  
Chun-Hui Chiu ◽  
Ching-Yun Hsu

Curcumin is a known anti-adipogenic agent for alleviating obesity and related disorders. Comprehensive comparisons of the anti-adipogenic activity of curcumin with other curcuminoids is minimal. This study compared adipogenesis inhibition with curcumin, demethoxycurcumin (DMC), and bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDMC), and their underlying mechanisms. We differentiated 3T3-L1 cells in the presence of curcuminoids, to determine lipid accumulation and triglyceride (TG) production. The expression of adipogenic transcription factors and lipogenic proteins was analyzed by Western blot. A significant reduction in Oil red O (ORO) staining was observed in the cells treated with curcuminoids at 20 μM. Inhibition was increased in the order of curcumin < DMC < BDMC. A similar trend was observed in the detection of intracellular TG. Curcuminoids suppressed differentiation by downregulating the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α (C/EBPα), leading to the downregulation of the lipogenic enzymes acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) and fatty acid synthase (FAS). AMP-activated protein kinase α (AMPKα) phosphorylation was also activated by BDMC. Curcuminoids reduced the release of proinflammatory cytokines and leptin in 3T3-L1 cells in a dose-dependent manner, with BDMC showing the greatest potency. BDMC at 20 μM significantly decreased leptin by 72% compared with differentiated controls. Molecular docking computation indicated that curcuminoids, despite having structural similarity, had different interaction positions to PPARγ, C/EBPα, and ACC. The docking profiles suggested a possible interaction of curcuminoids with C/EBPα and ACC, to directly inhibit their expression.


2013 ◽  
Vol 304 (7) ◽  
pp. E677-E685 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa A. Burmeister ◽  
Jennifer Ayala ◽  
Daniel J. Drucker ◽  
Julio E. Ayala

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) suppresses food intake via activation of a central (i.e., brain) GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R). Central AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a nutrient-sensitive regulator of food intake that is inhibited by anorectic signals. The anorectic effect elicited by hindbrain GLP-1R activation is attenuated by the AMPK stimulator AICAR. This suggests that central GLP-1R activation suppresses food intake via inhibition of central AMPK. The present studies examined the mechanism(s) by which central GLP-1R activation inhibits AMPK. Supporting previous findings, AICAR attenuated the anorectic effect elicited by intracerebroventricular (icv) administration of the GLP-1R agonist exendin-4 (Ex-4). We demonstrate that Ex-4 stimulates glycolysis and suppresses AMPK phosphorylation in a glucose-dependent manner in hypothalamic GT1-7 cells. This suggests that inhibition of AMPK and food intake by Ex-4 requires central glucose metabolism. Supporting this, the glycolytic inhibitor 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) attenuated the anorectic effect of Ex-4. However, icv glucose did not enhance the suppression of food intake by Ex-4. AICAR had no effect on Ex-4-mediated reduction in locomotor activity. We also tested whether other carbohydrates affect the anorectic response to Ex-4. Intracerebroventricular pretreatment with the sucrose metabolite fructose, an AMPK activator, attenuated the anorectic effect of Ex-4. This potentially explains the increased food intake observed in sucrose-fed mice. In summary, we propose a model whereby activation of the central GLP-1R reduces food intake via glucose metabolism-dependent inhibition of central AMPK. We also suggest that fructose stimulates food intake by impairing central GLP-1R action. This has significant implications given the correlation between sugar consumption and obesity.


Drug Research ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 69 (12) ◽  
pp. 665-670 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Jalili-Nik ◽  
Hamed Sabri ◽  
Ehsan Zamiri ◽  
Mohammad Soukhtanloo ◽  
Mostafa Karimi Roshan ◽  
...  

AbstractGlioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the fatal type of astrocytic tumors with a survival rate of 12 months. The present study, for the first time, evaluated the cytotoxic impacts of Ferula latisecta (F. latisecta) hydroalcoholic extract on U87 GBM cell line. The MTT assay measured the cellular toxicity following 24- and 48 h treatment with various doses of F. latisecta (0–800 μg/mL). Apoptosis was evaluated by an Annexin V/propidium iodide (PI) staining 24 h after treatment by F. latisecta. Moreover, to determine the cellular metastasis of U87 cells, we used a gelatin zymography assay (matrix metalloproteinase [MMP]-2/-9 enzymatic activity). The outcomes showed that F. latisecta mitigated the viability of U87 cells in a concentration- and time-dependent manner with IC50 values of 145.3 and 192.3 μg/mL obtained for 24- and 48 h treatments, respectively. F. latisecta induced apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner after 24 h. Also, MMP-9 activity was significantly decreased following 24 h after treatment concentration-dependently with no change in MMP-2 enzymatic activity. This study showed that F. latisecta induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis, and mitigated metastasis of U87 GBM cells. Hence, F. latisecta could be beneficial as a promising natural herb against GBM after further studies.


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