Pituitary Hormones mRNA Abundance in the Mediterranean Sea Bass Dicentrarchus labrax: Seasonal Rhythms, Effects of Melatonin and Water Salinity

In fish, most hormonal productions of the pituitary gland display daily and/or seasonal rhythmic patterns under control by upstream regulators, including internal biological clocks. The pineal hormone melatonin, one main output of the clocks, acts at different levels of the neuroendocrine axis. Melatonin rhythmic production is synchronized mainly by photoperiod and temperature. Here we aimed at better understanding the role melatonin plays in regulating the pituitary hormonal productions in a species of scientific and economical interest, the euryhaline European sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax. We investigated the seasonal variations in mRNA abundance of pituitary hormones in two groups of fish raised one in sea water (SW fish), and one in brackish water (BW fish). The mRNA abundance of three melatonin receptors was also studied in the SW fish. Finally, we investigated the in vitro effects of melatonin or analogs on the mRNA abundance of pituitary hormones at two times of the year and after adaptation to different salinities. We found that (1) the reproductive hormones displayed similar mRNA seasonal profiles regardless of the fish origin, while (2) the other hormones exhibited different patterns in the SW vs. the BW fish. (3) The melatonin receptors mRNA abundance displayed seasonal variations in the SW fish. (4) Melatonin affected mRNA abundance of most of the pituitary hormones in vitro; (5) the responses to melatonin depended on its concentration, the month investigated and the salinity at which the fish were previously adapted. Our results suggest that the productions of the pituitary are a response to multiple factors from internal and external origin including melatonin. The variety of the responses described might reflect a high plasticity of the pituitary in a fish that faces multiple external conditions along its life characterized by marked daily and seasonal changes in photoperiod, temperature and salinity.

Effects of Isochronal Induced Feed Restriction With Transition Period On mRNA Abundance of The Hepatic Genes Related to Lipid Metabolism in Fat-Tailed Ewes

The process of fat mobilization during the transition period requires deep re-orchestration of the energy indices, and understanding its mechanism has generated considerable interest among the TP-related studies. The present study aims to validate the effect of feed restriction and TP on the mRNA abundance of hepatic genes related to fat metabolism in fat-tailed sheep. Twenty pregnant ewes with the age of 40.8 ± 6.2 (mean ± standard error) month were randomly assigned to Control (n=10) or Restriction (n=10), and investigated from week -5 to 5 relative to parturition. Control animals received 100% DM during the trial. Restriction animals received 100% DM through weeks -5, -1, 1 and 5 and were fed with 50, 65, and 80% DM in the weeks -4, -3, -2 and 2,3, and 4, respectively. On the third week of experiment (65%) during both pre and post-partum, the hepatic tissue was biopsied, and the mRNA load of the fatty acid synthase, acetyl-CoA carboxylase, carnitine palmitoyltransferase (CPT) 1, CPT2, and acyl-CoA synthase long-chain family member-1 genes was quantified by the TaqMan qPCR technique. Data were analyzed using the Mixed Model procedure of SAS. The mRNA abundance of the target genes was not influenced by feed restriction, during the pre and postpartum periods. Parturition suppressed the mRNA abundance of target genes in both groups. It can be concluded that the liver of the fat-tailed sheep would have a higher capacity for the metabolism of free fatty acids mobilization during the feed insufficiency and the challenging period of transition.

Transcriptional Profiling of Macrophages Reveals Distinct Parasite Stage-driven Signatures During Early Infection by Leishmania Donovani

Macrophages undergo swift changes in mRNA abundance upon pathogen invasion. Herein we describe early remodelling of the macrophage transcriptome during infection by amastigotes or promastigotes of Leishmania donovani. Approximately 10% - 16% of host mRNAs were differentially modulated in L. donovani-infected macrophages when compared to uninfected controls. This response was partially stage-specific as a third of changes in mRNA abundance were either exclusively driven by one of the parasite forms or significantly different between them. Gene ontology analyses identified categories associated with immune functions (e.g. antigen presentation and leukocyte activation) among significantly downregulated mRNAs while cytoprotective-related categories (e.g. DNA repair and apoptosis inhibition) were enriched in upregulated transcripts during amastigote infection. Interestingly a combination of upregulated (e.g. cellular response to IFNβ) and repressed (e.g. leukocyte activation, chemotaxis) immune-related transcripts were overrepresented in the promastigote-infected dataset. In addition, Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA®) coupled specific mRNA subsets with a number of upstream transcriptional regulators predicted to be modulated in macrophages infected with L. donovani amastigotes (e.g. STAT1 inhibition) or promastigotes (e.g. NRF2, IRF3, and IRF7 activation). Overall, our results indicate that early parasite stage-driven transcriptional remodelling in macrophages contributes to orchestrate both protective and deleterious host cell responses during L. donovani infection.

155 Low Insulin Sensitivity Is Associated with Increased Body Fat and Changes in Gene Expression of Lipogenic Enzymes in the Adipose Tissue of Finishing Pigs

Variations in body fat (BF) among pigs can be associated with differences in insulin sensitivity given the insulin anabolic effect in lipid synthesis. The study objectives were to characterize this association and compare the relative mRNA abundance of genes associated with insulin resistance and de novo lipogenesis in the adipose tissue of fat and lean pigs. Thirty 95 kg pigs, catheterized in the jugular vein, received an oral dose of 1.75 g glucose/kg of BW after 18 hours of fasting. Blood samples were collected at -20, -10, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, 210, 240, 300 and 360 minutes following glucose ingestion. Insulin sensitivity indexes were calculated and analyzed. The BF (%) was estimated by dual X-ray densitometry. The 8 fattest (22 % BF) and the 8 leanest pigs (17.2 % BF) were used to determine the relative mRNA abundance of studied genes using real-time qPCR analyses. Insulin sensitivity was determined using QUICKI and Matsuda indexes, respectively, and their association with body fat was studied with Spearman correlations. Differences in gene expression and insulin sensitivity between fat and lean pigs were studied with a one-way ANOVA. The QUICKI and Matsuda indexes negatively correlated with BF (r = -0.67 and r = -0.59; P < 0.001). Fat pigs had reduced insulin sensitivity and higher relative mRNA abundance of lipogenic enzymes (ACACA, ACLY, FASN; P < 0.05) than lean pigs. The higher expression level of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) combined with the trend (P < 0.10) of lower expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-γ) in fat pigs may explain part of their reduced insulin sensitivity. These results suggest that an increased BF is associated with reduced insulin sensitivity and greater expression of lipogenic enzymes in pig adipose tissue.

243 Relationship Among Granulosa Cell Gnrh-i, -II, and Receptor Mrna Abundance and Follicular Fluid Steroid Hormone Concentrations of Bovine Antral Follicles at Specific Stages of Follicular Development

Transcript abundance of two forms of GnRH and its receptor have been characterized in bovine ovaries. The objective was to investigate the relationship of GnRH-1, GnRH-2, GnRH-R, intrafollicular estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) during follicular development. Ovaries were collected from beef cows at specific stages of follicular development [pre-selection (PRE, n = 9), post-selection (POST, n = 9), and post-selection 24h after luteal regression (PG, n = 9)]. The largest follicle per stage was aspirated to obtain granulosa cells (GC) and follicular fluid (FF). Total cellular RNA was extracted from GC and RT-PCR was performed for GnRH-1, GnRH-2, GnRH-R and GAPDH. Radioimmunoassays were performed to determine FF concentrations of E2 and P4. Data were analyzed using the MIXED and REG procedures in SAS. There was no difference (P ≥ 0.23) in mRNA abundance of GnRH-2, GnRH-R or FF concentrations of P4 across follicular stages. There was an effect of stage on FF E2 (PRE: 17,925±20,273, POST: 28,458±21,503, and PG: 252,616±21,503 pg/mL; P < 0.01). Stage affected GnRH-1 mRNA abundance (PRE: 2.28±0.55, POST: 0.92±0.55, and PG: 0.11±0.55; P = 0.03). There was no relationship of GnRH-1 and GnRH-2 mRNA abundance or effect of FF P4 on GnRH-R mRNA abundance (P ≥ 0.23). There was no effect of FF P4 on GnRH-1 mRNA abundance (P = 0.68). There was no effect of FF E2 on GnRH-2 mRNA abundance (P = 0.66). As FF E2 increased GnRH-R mRNA abundance tended to increase (P = 0.10;r2=0.13). As FF P4 concentrations increased GnRH-2 mRNA abundance tended to decrease (P = 0.09;r2=0.12). As FF E2 increased GnRH-1 mRNA abundance decreased (P = 0.02;r2=0.20). In conclusion, there were differences in peptide and receptor mRNA abundance of GnRH in relation to FF E2 and P4 at specific stages of follicular development. This is supportive of a regulatory relationship between ovarian GnRH and steroidogenesis. This work is supported by AFRI Grant No.2018-67016-27578 from USDA. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Abundance and Activation is increased with the β-Adrenergic agonist Zilpaterol Hydrochloride in Muscle from Feedlot Cattle

The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of Zilpaterol Hydrochloride (ZH) on myogenic or adipogenic gene and protein expression in skeletal muscle. Two feeding trials and one cell culture experiments were conducted. Semimembranosus muscle tissue was collected from steers that had been fed a diet containing 8.3 mg of ZH/kg DM for the last 0 or 20 d of the finishing period with a 3 d withdrawal period. To test the mode of action an in vitromodel was used with, isolated bovine satellite cells isolated from muscle tissue. Real Time-QPCR (RTQPCR) was used to measure the relative mRNA abundance of Adenosine Monophosphate Protein Kinase α (AMPK), Myosin Heavy Chain (MHC) I, MHCIIA, MHCIIX, Insulin-like Growth Factor I (IGF-I), β-adrenergic receptor (βAR) 1 and 2, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), and Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase (SCD). Western blotting was used to measure the relative protein abundance of AMPK and Phosphorylated-AMPK (pAMPK). No differences were detected in relative mRNA abundance of AMPK, MHCIIA, IGF-I, βAR1 and βAR2. However, MHCI, SCD, and PPARγ mRNA expression was decreased and MHCIIX mRNA increased from ZH fed cattle compared to non-ZH. For one experiment, AMPK protein expression increased, while in another experiment, AMPK phosphorylation increased with ZH fed animals. The increase in MHCIIX mRNA with ZH fed cattle indicated the start of a fiber type shift towards larger diameter fibers. This shift may have been due to increased expression and phosphorylation of AMPK. These data suggest that the shift increase in MHCIIX was likely due to the ZH administration.

SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Regulation of Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 and Tissue Renin-Angiotensin Systems: Influence of Biologic Sex

Angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is an enzyme that limits activity of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and also serves as a receptor for the SARS-CoV-2 Spike (S) protein. Binding of S protein to ACE2 causes internalization which activates local RAS. ACE2 is on the X chromosome and its expression is regulated by sex hormones. In this study, we defined ACE2 mRNA abundance and examined effects of S protein on ACE2 activity and/or angiotensin II (AngII) levels in pivotal tissues (lung, adipose) from male and female mice. In lung, ACE2 mRNA abundance was reduced following gonadectomy (GDX) of male and female mice and was higher in XX than XY mice of the Four Core Genotypes (FCG). Reductions in lung ACE2 mRNA abundance by GDX occurred in XX, but not XY FCG female mice. Lung mRNA abundance of ADAM17 and TMPRSS2, enzymes that shed cell surface ACE2 and facilitate viral cell entry, was reduced by GDX in male but not female mice. For comparison, adipose ACE2 mRNA abundance was higher in female than male mice and higher in XX than XY FCG mice. Adipose ADAM17 mRNA abundance was increased by GDX of male and female mice. S protein reduced ACE2 activity in alveolar type II epithelial cells and 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Administration of S protein to male and female mice increased lung AngII levels and decreased adipose ACE2 activity in male but not female mice. These results demonstrate that sex differences in ACE2 expression levels may impact local RAS following S protein exposures.

The antiviral state has shaped the CpG composition of the vertebrate interferome to avoid self-targeting

Antiviral defenses can sense viral RNAs and mediate their destruction. This presents a challenge for host cells since they must destroy viral RNAs while sparing the host mRNAs that encode antiviral effectors. Here, we show that highly upregulated interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs), which encode antiviral proteins, have distinctive nucleotide compositions. We propose that self-targeting by antiviral effectors has selected for ISG transcripts that occupy a less self-targeted sequence space. Following interferon (IFN) stimulation, the CpG-targeting antiviral effector zinc-finger antiviral protein (ZAP) reduces the mRNA abundance of multiple host transcripts, providing a mechanistic explanation for the repression of many (but not all) interferon-repressed genes (IRGs). Notably, IRGs tend to be relatively CpG rich. In contrast, highly upregulated ISGs tend to be strongly CpG suppressed. Thus, ZAP is an example of an effector that has not only selected compositional biases in viral genomes but also appears to have notably shaped the composition of host transcripts in the vertebrate interferome.

The m6A reader YTHDC2 is essential for escape from KSHV SOX-induced RNA decay

The role m6A modifications have increasingly been associated with diverse set of roles in modulating viruses and influencing the outcomes of viral infection. Here we report that the landscape of m6A deposition is drastically shifted during KSHV (Kaposi Sarcoma Associated herpesvirus) lytic infection for both viral and host transcripts. In line with previous reports, we also saw an overall decrease in host methylation in favor of viral mRNA along with 5' hypomethylation and 3' hypermethylation. During KSHV lytic infection, a major shift in overall mRNA abundance is driven by the viral endoribonuclease SOX, which induces the decay of greater than 70% of transcripts. Here, we reveal that Interlukin-6 (IL-6) mRNA, a well-characterized SOX-resistant transcript, is m6A modified during lytic infection. Furthermore, we show that this modification falls within the IL-6 SOX Resistance Element (SRE), an RNA element in IL-6 3' UTR that was previously shown to be sufficient for protection from SOX cleavage. We show that the presence of this m6A modification is essential to confer SOX resistance to the IL-6 mRNA. We next show that this modification recruits the m6A reader YTHDC2 and found that YTHDC2 is necessary for the escape of the IL-6 transcript. These results shed light on how the host cell has evolved to use RNA modifications to circumvent viral manipulation of RNA fate during KSHV infection.

Abstract 111: Conjoining Gene Expression And Cell Organization With Imaging To Explore Cell States In Hipsc-derived Cardiomyocytes

The Allen Institute for Cell Science is developing a state space of stem cell structural signatures to study changes in cellular organization of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) and other cell states through differentiation. Towards this goal, we have used CRISPR/Cas9 to generate a collection of ~50 endogenous fluorescently tagged hiPSC lines (www.allencell.org), each expressing a monoallelic EGFP-tagged protein that localizes to a particular cellular structure or organelle. In this study, we focuson hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes and compare the relationship between sarcomeric structural organization and gene expression signatures at large scale. We developed several tools and novel quantitative approaches to achieve this: 1) scarless GFP-tagging of cardiac genes such as ACTN2 to study the organization and morphogenesis of the contractile apparatus; 2) a robust protocol for differentiation of hiPSCs into cardiomyocytes and methods for preparing cells for imaging; and 3) a quantitative, image-based platform for the systematic and automated classification of subcellular organization in single cells. We use these approaches to quantify subcellular organization and gene expression in >30,000 individual human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes, producing a publicly available dataset that describes the population distributions of local and global sarcomere organization, mRNA abundance, and correlations between these traits. While the mRNA abundance of some phenotypically important genes correlates with subcellular organization (e.g., MYH7), these two cellular metrics are heterogeneous and often uncorrelated, which suggests that geneexpression alone is not sufficient to classify cell states. Instead, we posit thatcell state should be defined by observing full distributions of quantitative, multidimensional traits in single cells that also account for space, time, and function. This platform provides a multidimensional approach to classify hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes based on structural organization and gene expression in single cells.