Increased Triglyceride Synthesis Research Articles

EFFECT OF DAHLIA TUBER INULIN EXTRACT ON FATTY LIVER IN TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS RATS

Several studies show a correlation between intestinal microbiota disturbances and metabolic disorders, including type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Fatty liver is one of the complications that occurs due to T2DM. Fatty liver is characterized by the accumulation of lipids in the liver in response to increased triglyceride synthesis in hepatocytes and is thought to be associated with disturbances in the gut microbiota so that changes in the gut microbiota can be a potential target for T2DM treatment. It is known that inulin, a prebiotic, can improve intestinal microbiota disorders. This study aims to analyze the effect of administering inulin from dahlia tubers on fatty liver in T2DM rats.The research design is an experimental study with a post-test-only control group design conducted from June to November 2023. The study used twenty male Rattus norvegicus Wistar strain divided into five groups: a control group, a T2DM-induced group, T2DM groups given inulin extract at doses of 0.5 mg/gBW, 1.0 mg/gBW, and 1.5 mg/gBW. The results showed that the T2DM group had a higher significant percentage of fatty liver (p <0.01) than the control group. Compared to the T2DM group, there was a decrease in the percentage of fatty liver in the T2DM groups given inulin at all doses (p<0.05). This study concluded that inulin administration can reduce fatty liver in T2DM rats. Keywords : Dahlia tubers., fatty liver., inulin., type 2 diabetes mellitus

Relationship Between Physical Activity and Body Mass Index with Uric Acid Levels in The Community

Physical activity is related to uric acid levels in the blood, and an increase in body mass index (BMI) is associated with an increase in uric acid levels due to increased triglyceride synthesis in the liver associated with increased purine synthesis by new routes, thereby accelerating uric acid production. The results of Riskesdas in 2018 showed the number of joint diseases from the weighted average results in Ogan Komering Ulu Regency was 1,040. This study aims to determine whether there is a relationship between BMI, physical activity, and uric acid levels in the community in Sukaraya Village, East Baturaja District, Ogan Komering Ulu Regency in 2023. This study used an accidental sampling method with a cross-sectional approach and involved 67 respondents with criteria aged between 26 and 45 years, living in Sukaraya Village, being able to read and communicate well, and being willing to be respondents, while the exclusion criteria in this study were not willing to be respondents and could not communicate, and willing to be a respondent, while the exclusion criteria in this study are not willing to be a respondent and cannot be communicated with. The instruments used were the International Physical Activity Quitioner (IPAQ) questionnaire to measure physical activity, scales to measure body weight and height, and uric acid sticks and digital devices (easytouch) to measure uric acid levels. Data were processed using SPSS and chi-square analysis to determine the relationship between the independent variable and the dependent variable. The results of chi-square data analysis showed a relationship between physical activity and uric acid levels (p-value 0.005) and a relationship between BMI and uric acid levels (p-value 0.000). Physical activity and BMI index correlate with uric acid levels in residents in Sukaraya Village, East Baturaja District, Ogan Komering Ulu Regency. It is necessary to increase knowledge about joint health for the community by providing counseling on joint health and also holding activities such as gymnastics so that physical activity and body mass index can be controlled so as to reduce the risk of high uric acid levels.

Myostatin deletion alters hormone metabolism shifts in obese skeletal muscle of C57/Bl6 mice

Objective: Myostatin deletion improves cardiometabolic disease outcomes observed in obesity without any changes in activity in mice. Hormone balance is dysregulated in obesity, resulting in low testosterone and high estradiol levels, which have been shown to correlate with higher risk for developing associated cardiometabolic disease outcomes. However, the basis of these alterations and how they impact factors that improve obese cardiometabolic outcomes are unknown. Methods: Control and obese mice ( db/db) with or without myostatin deletion to induce hypermuscularity were used. Plasme from mice were analyzed for hormone levels via radioimmunoassay (RIA). Aromatase inhibition was performed via dosing 10mg/kg/day via water. Quantitative PCR was used cytochrome P450 enzymes involved in estrogen metabolism in the liver, skeletal muscle, and visceral white adipose tissue. C2C12 overexpression of CYP1B1 and treatment with hydroxyestrogens in vitro was performed and respective enzyme mRNA expression assessed. Results: Deletion of myostatin increased muscle mass by >30% and resulted in and improved glucose tolerance in the context of obesity without any changes in activity. Obesity decreased plasma testosterone 30% and increased estrogen 20% with no change in gonadal weight, which was improved in the absence of myostatin. CYP1B1, an enzyme that converts estradiol to toxic hydroxy estrogens, showed 2.5-fold expression in obese skeletal muscle, which is reduced in the absence of myostatin, with no change in other cytochrome P450s involved in estrogen metabolism. Inhibition of aromatase reduces estrogen and improves testosterone plasma concentration, indicating the excess estrogen in obesity is derived primarily from testosterone conversion. Aromatase expression was increased in obesity but unaffected by changes in muscle mass, this indicates an alteration to downstream estrogen metabolism. In C2C12 cells, overexpression of myostatin recapitulated changes in CYP1B1 expression seen in vivo, suggesting a direct link between the myokine and sex hormone metabolism. In addition, treatment of C2C12 cells with CYP1B1 derived hydroxyestrogens caused a tandem increase in SCD1 expression, indicating a causal link between CYP1B1 activity in obesity to increased triglyceride synthesis. Conclusion: In summary, obesity causes a shift in sex hormone levels towards estrogen production, which is improved by myostatin deletion. A potential mechanism responsible could be altered estrogen metabolism, leading to decreased estrogen levels without restoration of androgen levels. These data suggest CYP1B1 drives the conversion of estrogen to hydroxestrogens, known to harbor carcinogenic and pro-lipidemic influences, in skeletal muscle which may also contribute to cardiometabolic disease. Whether targeting CYP1B1 improves cardiometabolic function in obesity remains to be determined. D.W. Stepp and D.J. Fulton are supported by NIH 1R01HL147159. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

GPAT3 is a potential therapeutic target to overcome sorafenib resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Sorafenib is the standard treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but acquired resistance during the treatment greatly limits its clinical efficiency. Lipid metabolic disorder plays an important role in hepatocarcinogenesis. However, whether and how lipid metabolic reprogramming regulates sorafenib resistance of HCC cells remains vague. Methods: Sorafenib resistant HCC cells were established by continuous induction. UHPLC-MS/MS, proteomics, and flow cytometry were used to assess the lipid metabolism. ChIP and western blot were used to reflect the interaction of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) with glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase 3 (GPAT3). Gain- and loss-of function studies were applied to explore the mechanism driving sorafenib resistance of HCC. Flow cytometry and CCK8 in vitro, and tumor size in vivo were used to evaluate the sorafenib sensitivity of HCC cells. Results: Our metabolome data revealed a significant enrichment of triglycerides in sorafenib-resistant HCC cells. Further analysis using proteomics and genomics techniques demonstrated a significant increase in the expression of GPAT3 in the sorafenib-resistant groups, which was found to be dependent on the activation of STAT3. The restoration of GPAT3 resensitized HCC cells to sorafenib, while overexpression of GPAT3 led to insensitivity to sorafenib. Mechanistically, GPAT3 upregulation increased triglyceride synthesis, which in turn stimulated the NF-κB/Bcl2 signaling pathway, resulting in apoptosis tolerance upon sorafenib treatment. Furthermore, our in vitro and in vivo studies revealed that pan-GPAT inhibitors effectively reversed sorafenib resistance in HCC cells. Conclusions: Our data demonstrate that GPAT3 elevation in HCC cells reprograms triglyceride metabolism which contributes to acquired resistance to sorafenib, which suggests GPAT3 as a potential target for enhancing the sensitivity of HCC to sorafenib.

Comparative and Predictive Analysis of Clinical and Metabolic Features of Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa.

Eating disorders have become increasingly prevalent over the years; the age at which they appear has decreased, and they can lead to serious illness or death. Therefore, the number of studies on the matter has increased. Eating disorders like anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN) are affected by many factors including mental illnesses that can have serious physical and psychological consequences. Accordingly, the present study aimed to compare the clinical and metabolic features of patients with AN and BN and identify potential biomarkers for distinguishing between the two disorders. Clinical data of 41 participants who sought treatment for eating disorders between 2012 and 2022, including 29 AN patients and 12 BN patients, were obtained from NPIstanbul Brain Hospital in Istanbul, Turkey. The study included the clinical variables of both outpatient and inpatient treatments. Principal component analysis (PCA) was utilized to gain insights into differentiating AN and BN patients based on clinical characteristics, while machine learning techniques were applied to identify eating disorders. The study found that thyroid hormone levels in patients with AN and BN were influenced by non-thyroidal illness syndrome (NTIS), which could be attributed to various factors, including psychiatric disorders, substance abuse, and medication use. Lipid profile comparisons revealed higher triglyceride levels in the BN group (P<0.05), indicating increased triglyceride synthesis and storage as an energy source. Liver function tests showed lower levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in BN patients (P<0.05), while higher prolactin levels (P<0.05) suggested an altered hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Imbalances in minerals such as calcium and magnesium (P<0.05) were observed in individuals with eating disorders. PCA effectively differentiated AN and BN patients based on clinical features, and the Naïve Bayes (NB) model showed promising results in identifying eating disorders. The findings of the study provide important insights into AN and BN patients' clinical features and may help guide future research and treatment strategies for these conditions.

Antibody against apolipoprotein-A1, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and cardiovascular risk: a translational study

BackgroundNon-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common liver disease increasing cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Autoantibodies against apolipoprotein A-1 (AAA-1) are a possible novel CVD risk factor promoting inflammation and disrupting cellular lipid homeostasis, two prominent pathogenic features of NAFLD. We explored the role of AAA-1 in NAFLD and their association with CVD risk.MethodsHepaRG cells and liver sections from ApoE−/− mice exposed to AAA-1 were used for lipid quantification and conditional protein expression. Randomly selected sera from 312 subjects of the Prevention of Renal and Vascular End-stage Disease (PREVEND) general population cohort were used to measure AAA-1. A Fatty Liver Index (FLI) ≥ 60 and a 10-year Framingham Risk Score (FRS) ≥ 20% were used as proxy of NAFLD and high CVD risk, respectively.ResultsIn-vitro and mouse models showed that AAA-1 increased triglyceride synthesis leading to steatosis, and promoted inflammation and hepatocyte injury. In the 112 PREVEND participants with FLI ≥ 60, AAA-1 were associated with higher FRS, alkaline phosphatase levels, lower HDL cholesterol and tended to display higher FLI values. Univariate linear and logistic regression analyses (LRA) confirmed significant associations between AAA-1, FLI and FRS ≥ 20%, while in adjusted LRA, FLI was the sole independent predictor of FRS ≥ 20% (OR: 1.05, 95%CI 1.01–1.09, P = 0.003). AAA-1 was not an independent FLI predictor.ConclusionsAAA-1 induce a NAFLD-compatible phenotype in vitro and in mice. Intricate associations exist between AAA-1, CVD risk and FLI in the general population. Further work is required to refine the role of AAA-1 in NAFLD and to determine if the AAA-1 association with CVD is affected by hepatic steatosis.

Subclinical ketosis leads to lipid metabolism disorder by downregulating the expression of acetyl-coenzyme A acetyltransferase 2 in dairy cows

Ketosis is a metabolic disease that often occurs in dairy cows postpartum and is a result of disordered lipid metabolism. Acetyl-coenzyme A (CoA) acetyltransferase 2 (ACAT2) is important for balancing cholesterol and triglyceride (TG) metabolism; however, its role in subclinical ketotic dairy cows is unclear. This study aimed to explore the potential correlation between ACAT2 and lipid metabolism disorders in subclinical ketotic cows through in vitro and in vivo experiments. In the in vivo experiment, liver tissue and blood samples were collected from healthy cows (CON, n = 6, β-hydroxybutyric acid [BHBA] concentration <1.0 mM) and subclinical ketotic cows (subclinical ketosis [SCK], n = 6, BHBA concentration = 1.2-3.0 mM) to explore the effect of ACAT2 on lipid metabolism disorders in SCK cows. For the in vitro experiment, bovine hepatocytes (BHEC) were used as the model. The effects of BHBA on ACAT2 and lipid metabolism were investigated via BHBA concentration gradient experiments. Subsequently, the relation between ACAT2 and lipid metabolism disorder was explored by transfection with siRNA of ACAT2. Transcriptomics showed an upregulation of differentially expression genes during lipid metabolism and significantly lower ACAT2 mRNA levels in the SCK group. Compared with the CON group in vivo, the SCK group showed significantly higher expression levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) and sterol regulator element binding protein 1c (SREBP1c) and significantly lower expression levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα), carnitine palmitoyl-transferase 1A (CPT1A), sterol regulatory element binding transcription factor 2 (SREBP2), and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGCR). Moreover, the SCK group had a significantly higher liver TG content and significantly lower plasma total cholesterol (TC) and free cholesterol content. These results were indicative of TG and cholesterol metabolism disorders in the liver of dairy cows with SCK. Additionally, the SCK group showed an increased expression of perilipin-2 (PLIN2), decreased expression of apolipoprotein B, and decreased plasma concentration of very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL) and low-density lipoproteins cholesterol (LDL-C) by downregulating ACAT2, which indicated an accumulation of TG in liver. In vitro experiments showed that BHBA induced an increase in the TG content of BHEC, decreased content TC, increased expression of PPARγ and SREBP1c, and decreased expression of PPARα, CPT1A, SREBP2, and HMGCR. Additionally, BHBA increased the expression of PLIN2 in BHEC, decreased the expression and fluorescence intensity of ACAT2, and decreased the VLDL and LDL-C contents. Furthermore, silencing ACAT2 expression increased the TG content; decreased the TC, VLDL, and LDL-C contents; decreased the expression of HMGCR and SREBP2; and increased the expression of SREBP1c; but had no effect on the expression of PLIN2. These results suggest that ACAT2 downregulation in BHEC promotes TG accumulation and inhibits cholesterol synthesis, leading to TG and cholesterol metabolic disorders. In conclusion, ACAT2 downregulation in the SCK group inhibited cholesterol synthesis, increased TG synthesis, and reduced the contents of VLDL and LDL-C, eventually leading to disordered TG and cholesterol metabolism.

Korelasi indeks massa tubuh terhadap rasio trigliserida dan high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol pada wanita usia subur dengan obesitas

Body mass index correlation with triglyceride and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol ratio of reproductive age women with obesityBackground: Obesity in women of reproductive age is thought to be one of the triggers of coronary heart disease. Body mass index (BMI) correlates well with the percentage of body fat, which is a strong indicator of coronary heart disease. Accumulation of visceral adipocytes releases excess free fatty acids, resulting in increased triglyceride synthesis. Furthermore, in a state of hypertriglyceridemia, there is a decrease in HDL levels and an increase in HDL catabolism resulting in decreased HDL levels. Examination of the ratio of triglyceride levels and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL-C) is a strong indicator of cardiovascular disease.Objective: The aim of his study was to investigate the correlation between BMI and TG/HDL-C ratio in women of reproductive age.Methods: Using an analytical approach with a cross-sectional design. Furthermore, height and weight were measured with Smic ZT 120. At the same time as this examination, venous blood was taken from the median cubital area to be used to check the level of triglycerides and HDL-C in the serum. TG examination with GPO-PAP and HDL-C direct method. The bivariate analysis uses the Spearman Rank correlation test, while the multivariate analysis uses the linear regression test.Results: TG levels were 106 (34-363) mg/dl, HDL-C levels were 48.19 ± 9.91 mg/dl, and the ratio between the two was 2.26 (0.52-9.58). Spearman Rank analysis obtained the value of r was 0.573, p-value 0.0001.Conclusions: There is a significant positive correlation between BMI and the ratio of TG/HDL-C levels in adult women of reproductive age with obesity.

Cadmium induces triglyceride levels via microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTTP) accumulation caused by lysosomal deacidification regulated by endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca2+ homeostasis

Cadmium (Cd) exposure induced lipid metabolic disorder with changes in lipid composition, as well as triglyceride (TG) levels. Liver is the main organ maintaining body TG level and previous studies suggested that Cd exposure might increase TG synthesis but reduce TG uptake in liver. However, the effects of Cd exposure on TG secretion from liver and underlying mechanism are still unclear. In the present study, the data revealed that Cd exposure increased TG levels in the HepG2 cells and the cultured medium by increasing the expression of microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTTP), which was abrogated by siRNA knockdown of MTTP. MTTP was synergistically accumulated after Cd exposure or treated with proteasome inhibitor MG132 and lysosome inhibitor chloroquine (CQ), which suggested the Cd increased MTTP protein stability by inhibiting both the proteasome and the lysosomal protein degradation pathways. In addition, our results demonstrated that Cd exposure inhibited the lysosomal acidic degradation pathway through disrupting endoplastic reticulum (ER) Ca2+ homeostasis. Cd-induced MTTP protein and TG levels were significantly reduced by pretreatments of BAPTA/AM chelation of intracellular Ca2+, 2-APB inhibition of ER Ca2+ release channel inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (IP3R) and CDN1163 activation of ER Ca2+ reuptake pump sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA). These results suggest that Cd-induced ER Ca2+ release impaired the lysosomal acidity, which associated with MTTP protein accumulation and contributed to increased TG levels.

Prenatal dexamethasone exposure induces nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in male rat offspring via the miR-122/YY1/ACE2-MAS1 pathway

Epidemiological studies have shown that nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has an intrauterine developmental origin. We aimed to demonstrate that NAFLD is caused by prenatal dexamethasone exposure (PDE) in adult male rat offspring and to investigate the intrauterine programming mechanism. Liver samples were obtained on gestational day (GD) 21 and postnatal week (PW) 28. The effects and epigenetic mechanism of dexamethasone were studied with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) hepatoid differentiated cells and other cell models. In the PDE group, lipid accumulation increased, triglyceride synthesis-related gene expression increased, and oxidation-related gene expression decreased in livers of adult male rat offspring. In utero, hepatic triglyceride synthesis increased and oxidative function decreased in PDE fetal male rats. Moreover, low hepatic miR-122 expression, high Yin Yang-1 (YY1) expression and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2)-Mas receptor (MAS1) signaling pathway inhibition were observed before and after birth. At the cellular level, dexamethasone (100–2500 nM) elevated the intracellular triglyceride content, increased triglyceride synthesis-related gene expression and decreased oxidation-related gene expression. Dexamethasone treatment also decreased miR-122 expression, increased YY1 expression and inhibited the ACE2-MAS1 signaling pathway. Interference or overexpression of glucocorticoid receptor (GR), miR-122, YY1 and ACE2 could reverse the changes in downstream gene expression. In summary, PDE could induce NAFLD in adult male rat offspring. The programming mechanism included inhibition of miR-122 expression after GR activation, and dexamethasone increased hepatocyte YY1 expression; these effects resulted in ACE2-MAS1 signaling pathway inhibition, which led to increased hepatic triglyceride synthesis and decreased oxidative function. The increased triglyceride synthesis and decreased oxidative function of hepatocytes caused by low miR-122 expression due to dexamethasone could continue postnatally, eventually leading to NAFLD in adult rat offspring.

Hoxa11 and Hoxa13 facilitate slow-twitch muscle formation in C2C12 cells and indirectly affect the lipid deposition of 3T3-L1 cells.

Muscle-fiber type in livestock skeletal muscles influences meat quality, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We previously showed that Homeobox A11 (Hoxa11) and Homeobox A13 (Hoxa13) are differentially expressed in fast- and slow-twitch muscles, but their effects on the formation of muscle-fiber types and intramuscular fat deposition have not been investigated. Here, our results revealed that overexpression of Hoxa11 and Hoxa13 delayed cell-cycle progression in C2C12 myoblasts, reduced their proliferation, and promoted their differentiation into slow-twitch muscle fibers. Knockdown experiments produced the opposite results. The conditioned media of differentiated C2C12 cells with Hoxa11/Hoxa13 overexpression or knockdown were harvested. Staining results showed that adipogenesis of preadipocytes was significantly promoted by Hoxa13 knockdown C2C12 cell culture medium. Changes in lipid accumulation were due to a reduction in lipid decomposition and an increase in triglyceride synthesis; genes related to fatty-acid synthesis were decreased. In conclusion, our study showed that Hoxa11 and Hoxa13 promote slow-twitch muscle formation and indirectly regulate preadipocyte adipogenesis, which may facilitate meat-quality improvement in the future.

LPIAT1/MBOAT7 depletion increases triglyceride synthesis fueled by high phosphatidylinositol turnover

ObjectiveNon-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common prelude to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The genetic rs641738 C>T variant in the lysophosphatidylinositol acyltransferase 1 (LPIAT1)/membrane bound O-acyltransferase domain-containing 7, which...

High Fiber and Beta Carotene from Sweet Potatoes and Pumpkin Improve Insulin Resistance by Inhibition of Sterol Regulatory Binding Protein 1c in Liver of Hypertriglyceridemic Rats

BACKGROUND: High sterol regulatory binding protein 1c (SREBP-1c) gene expression increases triglyceride synthesis, which induces insulin resistance. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) from fiber fermentation and beta carotene may inhibit SREBP-1c gene expression.&#x0D; AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the high fiber and beta carotene diet on improving insulin resistance in hypertriglyceridemia rats.&#x0D; METHODS: A total of 25 Wistar male rats were divided into five groups: (1) Normal control (NC); (2) hypertriglyceridemia control (HC); (3) hypertriglyceridemia rats with treatment 1 (HT1); (4) hypertriglyceridemia rats with treatment 2 (HT2); and (5) hypertriglyceridemia rats with treatment 1 (HT3). The HT1, HT2, and HT3 received fiber 1.0 g; 2.0 g; and 3.1 g and beta carotene 725.7 μg; 1451.5 μg; and 2177.2 μg per day, respectively, for 6 weeks. The HC received high fat and fructose diet and the NC received a standard diet. The levels of triglyceride were analyzed using the colorimetric method before and after treatment. At the end of the study, the expression of SREBP-1c was identified by a quantitative polymerase chain reaction.&#x0D; RESULTS: High fat and fructose diet increased the levels of triglyceride (36.53 ± 1.27 vs. 119.79 ± 7.73), but high fiber and beta carotene diet can reduce triglyceride levels in HT1 (94.58 ± 4.53 vs. 77.70 ± 7.97); HT2 (115.58 ± 4.76 vs. 66.90 ± 3.11); and HT3 (103.87 ± 7.47 vs. 62.06 ± 4.45). The decreased triglyceride levels were related to low SREBP-1c gene expression, especially in the liver. Low SREBP-1c gene expression was correlated with homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance index with r = 0.414; p &lt; 0.05 in the liver and r = 0.158; p &gt; 0.05 in white adipose tissues.&#x0D; CONCLUSION: High fiber and beta carotene diet can improve insulin resistance through inhibition of SREBP-1c gene expression.

UFM1-Specific Ligase 1 Ligating Enzyme 1 Mediates Milk Protein and Fat Synthesis-Related Gene Expression via the JNK Signaling Pathway in Mouse Mammary Epithelial Cells.

Ubiquitin-like modifier 1 ligating enzyme 1 (UFL1) has been characterized as a ubiquitin-like (Ubl) protein that affects a range of cellular processes across various pathways. In this study, mouse mammary epithelial cells (HC11 cell line) and UFL1 knockout (KO) mice were used to establish UFL1 knockdown models to explore the influence of UFL1 on milk protein and fat synthesis in the mouse mammary gland and the underlying mechanisms. This is the first study to show UFL1 localization in mouse mammary epithelial cells. UFL1 depletion by transfected UFL1 siRNA (siUFL1) caused aggravated apoptosis. In addition, UFL1 depletion suppressed milk protein synthesis-related protein level in vivo and in vitro. Conversely, ACACA and FASN expressions increased in UFL1-deficient mice. Moreover, UFL1 depletion increased triglyceride synthesis levels and inhibited the p-JNK expression. Importantly, the expression of proteins related to milk protein synthesis was decreased in JNK- and UFL1-deficient cells, whereas proteins related to milk fat synthesis showed the opposite trend, indicating that UFL1 affects milk protein and fat synthesis via the suppression of JNK activation. Overall, our findings indicate that UFL1 plays a key role in mammary milk and fat synthesis via JNK activation.

Greasing the Wheels of Regeneration

In this issue of Neuron, Yang etal. (2020) identify glycerolipid metabolism as a neuron-intrinsic mechanism that regulates axonal growth and regeneration. Shifting glycerolipid metabolism toward increased triglyceride synthesis blocks PNS neuron regeneration, whereas shifting it toward membrane phospholipid synthesis overcomes regeneration failure in CNS neurons.

FoxO3 regulates hepatic triglyceride metabolism via modulation of the expression of sterol regulatory-element binding protein 1c

BackgroundExcessive intrahepatic lipid accumulation is the major characteristic of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We sought to identify the mechanisms involved in hepatic triglyceride (TG) homeostasis. Forkhead box class O (FoxO) transcription factors have been shown to play an important role in hepatic metabolism. However, little is known about the effect of FoxO3 on hepatic TG metabolism.MethodsLiver biopsy samples from patients with NALFD and liver tissues from high glucose and high sucrose (HFHS) fed mice, ob/ob mice and db/db mice were collected for protein and mRNA analysis. HepG2 cells were transfected with small interfering RNA to mediate FoxO3 knockdown, or adenovirus and plasmid to mediate FoxO3 overexpression. FoxO3-cDNA was delivered by adenovirus to the liver of C57BL/6 J male mice on a chow diet or on a high-fat diet, followed by determination of hepatic lipid metabolism. Sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c (SREBP1c) luciferase reporter gene plasmid was co-transfected into HepG2 cells with FoxO3 overexpression plasmid.ResultsFoxO3 expression was increased in the livers of HFHS mice, ob/ob mice, db/db mice and patients with NAFLD. Knockdown of FoxO3 reduced whereas overexpression of FoxO3 increased cellular TG concentrations in HepG2 cells. FoxO3 gain-of-function caused hepatic TG deposition in C57BL/6 J mice on a chow diet and aggravated hepatic steatosis when fed a high-fat diet. Analysis of the transcripts established the increased expression of genes related to TG synthesis, including SREBP1c, SCD1, FAS, ACC1, GPAM and DGAT2 in mouse liver. Mechanistically, overexpression of FoxO3 stimulated the expression of SREBP1c, whereas knockdown of FoxO3 inhibited the expression of SREBP1c. Luciferase reporter assays showed that SREBP1c regulated the transcriptional activity of the SREBP1c promoter.ConclusionsFoxO3 promotes the transcriptional activity of the SREBP1c promoter, thus leading to increased TG synthesis and hepatic TG accumulation.

Fatty Liver Due to Increased de novo Lipogenesis: Alterations in the Hepatic Peroxisomal Proteome.

In non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) caused by ectopic lipid accumulation, lipotoxicity is a crucial molecular risk factor. Mechanisms to eliminate lipid overflow can prevent the liver from functional complications. This may involve increased secretion of lipids or metabolic adaptation to ß-oxidation in lipid-degrading organelles such as mitochondria and peroxisomes. In addition to dietary factors, increased plasma fatty acid levels may be due to increased triglyceride synthesis, lipolysis, as well as de novo lipid synthesis (DNL) in the liver. In the present study, we investigated the impact of fatty liver caused by elevated DNL, in a transgenic mouse model with liver-specific overexpression of human sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (alb-SREBP-1c), on hepatic gene expression, on plasma lipids and especially on the proteome of peroxisomes by omics analyses, and we interpreted the results with knowledge-based analyses. In summary, the increased hepatic DNL is accompanied by marginal gene expression changes but massive changes in peroxisomal proteome. Furthermore, plasma phosphatidylcholine (PC) as well as lysoPC species were altered. Based on these observations, it can be speculated that the plasticity of organelles and their functionality may be directly affected by lipid overflow.

Maternal undernutrition induces fetal hepatic lipid metabolism disorder and affects the development of fetal liver in a sheep model.

Undernutrition accelerates body fat mobilization to alleviate negative energy balance, which disrupts homeostasis of lipid metabolism in maternal liver. However, little is known about its effect on fetal metabolism and development. Here, a sheep model was used to explore whether maternal undernutrition induces fetal lipid metabolism disorder and further inhibits fetal hepatic development. Twenty pregnant ewes were either fed normally or restricted to 30% level for 15 d, after which fetal hepatic samples were collected to conduct transcriptome, metabolome, histomorphology, and biochemical analysis. Results showed that maternal undernutrition altered the general transcriptome profile and metabolic mode in fetal liver. Fatty acid oxidation and ketogenesis were enhanced in fetal livers of undernourished ewes, which might be promoted by the activated peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α signaling pathway, whereas cholesterol, steroid, and fatty acid synthesis were repressed. Maternal undernutrition increased triglyceride synthesis, decreased triglyceride degradation, and inhibited phospholipid degradation and synthesis in fetal liver. In addition, our data revealed that maternal undernutrition extremely inhibited DNA replication, cell cycle progression, and antiapoptosis and broke the balance between cell proliferation and apoptosis in fetal liver, indicating that maternal undernutrition affects the growth and development of fetal liver. Generally, these findings provide evidence that maternal undernutrition during pregnancy disturbs fetal lipid metabolism and inhibits fetal hepatic development in sheep, which greatly contribute to the further study of fetal metabolism and development in human beings.-Xue, Y., Guo, C., Hu, F., Zhu, W., Mao, S. Maternal undernutrition induces fetal hepatic lipid metabolism disorder and affects the development of fetal liver in a sheep model.

A randomized 3-way crossover study indicates that high-protein feeding induces de novo lipogenesis in healthy humans.

BACKGROUNDDietary changes have led to the growing prevalence of type 2 diabetes and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. A hallmark of both disorders is hepatic lipid accumulation, derived in part from increased de novo lipogenesis. Despite the popularity of high-protein diets for weight loss, the effect of dietary protein on de novo lipogenesis is poorly studied. We aimed to characterize the effect of dietary protein on de novo lipid synthesis.METHODSWe use a 3-way crossover interventional study in healthy males to determine the effect of high-protein feeding on de novo lipogenesis, combined with in vitro models to determine the lipogenic effects of specific amino acids. The primary outcome was a change in de novo lipogenesis–associated triglycerides in response to protein feeding.RESULTSWe demonstrate that high-protein feeding, rich in glutamate, increases de novo lipogenesis–associated triglycerides in plasma (1.5-fold compared with control; P < 0.0001) and liver-derived very low-density lipoprotein particles (1.8-fold; P < 0.0001) in samples from human subjects (n = 9 per group). In hepatocytes, we show that glutamate-derived carbon is incorporated into triglycerides via palmitate. In addition, supplementation with glutamate, glutamine, and leucine, but not lysine, increased triglyceride synthesis and decreased glucose uptake. Glutamate, glutamine, and leucine increased activation of protein kinase B, suggesting that induction of de novo lipogenesis occurs via the insulin signaling cascade.CONCLUSIONThese findings provide mechanistic insight into how select amino acids induce de novo lipogenesis and insulin resistance, suggesting that high-protein feeding to tackle diabetes and obesity requires greater consideration.FUNDINGThe research was supported by UK Medical Research Council grants MR/P011705/1, MC_UP_A090_1006 and MR/P01836X/1. JLG is supported by the Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, National Institute for Health Research (NIHR).

An alternative membrane topology permits lipid droplet localization of peroxisomal fatty acyl-CoA reductase 1.

Fatty acyl-CoA reductase 1 (Far1) is a ubiquitously expressed peroxisomal membrane protein that generates the fatty alcohols required for the biosynthesis of ether lipids. Lipid droplet localization of exogenously expressed and endogenous human Far1 was observed by fluorescence microscopy under conditions of increased triglyceride synthesis in tissue culture cells. This unexpected finding was supported further by correlative light electron microscopy and subcellular fractionation. Selective permeabilization, protease sensitivity and N-glycosylation tagging suggested that Far1 is able to assume two different membrane topologies, differing in the orientation of the short hydrophilic C-terminus towards the lumen or the cytosol, respectively. Two closely spaced hydrophobic domains are contained within the C-terminal region. When analyzed separately, the second domain was sufficient for the localization of a fluorescent reporter to lipid droplets. Targeting of Far1 to lipid droplets was not impaired in either Pex19 or ASNA1 (also known as TRC40) CRISPR/Cas9 knockout cells. In conclusion, our data suggest that Far1 is a novel member of the rather exclusive group of dual topology membrane proteins. At the same time, Far1 shows lipid metabolism-dependent differential subcellular localizations to peroxisomes and lipid droplets.