Transcription Factor 7-like 2 Research Articles

Transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7l2) regulates CNS myelination separating from its role in upstream oligodendrocyte differentiation.

Oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) differentiation into oligodendrocytes (OLs) and subsequent myelination are two closely coordinated yet differentially regulated steps for myelin formation and repair in the CNS. Previously thought as an inhibitory factor by activating Wnt/beta-catenin signaling, we and others have demonstrated that the Transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7l2) promotes OL differentiation independent of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling activation. However, it remains elusive if TCF7l2 directly controls CNS myelination separating from its role in upstream oligodendrocyte differentiation. This is partially because of the lack of genetic animal models that could tease out CNS myelination from upstream OL differentiation. Here, we report that constitutively depleting TCF7l2 transiently inhibited oligodendrocyte differentiation during early postnatal development, but it impaired CNS myelination in the long term in adult mice. Using time-conditional and developmental-stage-specific genetic approaches, we further showed that depleting TCF7l2 in already differentiated OLs did not impact myelin protein gene expression nor oligodendroglial populations, instead, it perturbed CNS myelination in the adult. Therefore, our data convincingly demonstrate the crucial role of TCF7l2 in regulating CNS myelination independent of its role in upstream oligodendrocyte differentiation.

Transcription factor 7 like 2 promotes metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma via NEDD9-mediated activation of AKT/mTOR signaling pathway

BackgroundHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors of the digestive system, and the exact mechanism of HCC is still unclear. Transcription factor 7 like 2 (TCF7L2) plays a pivotal role in cell proliferation and stemness maintenance. However, the exact mechanism of TCF7L2 in HCC remains unclear.MethodsClinical samples and public databases were used to analyze the expression and prognosis of TCF7L2 in HCC. The function of TCF7L2 in HCC was studied in vitro and in vivo. ChIP and luciferase assays were used to explore the molecular mechanism of TCF7L2. The relationship between TCF7L2 and NEDD9 was verified in HCC clinical samples by tissue microarrays.ResultsThe expression of TCF7L2 was upregulated in HCC, and high expression of TCF7L2 was associated with poor prognosis of HCC patients. Overexpression of TCF7L2 promoted the metastasis of HCC in vitro and in vivo, while Knockdown of TCF7L2 showed the opposite effect. Mechanically, TCF7L2 activated neural precursor cell expressed developmentally downregulated protein 9 (NEDD9) transcription by binding to the -1522/-1509 site of the NEDD9 promoter region, thereby increasing the phosphorylation levels of AKT and mTOR. The combination of TCF7L2 and NEDD9 could distinguish the survival of HCC patients.ConclusionsThis study demonstrated that TCF7L2 promotes HCC metastasis by activating AKT/mTOR pathway in a NEDD9-dependent manner, suggesting that potential of TCF7L2 and NEDD9 as prognostic markers and therapeutic targets for HCC.

Frequency of Transcription Factor 7-like 2 rs12255372 Mutation among Bangladeshi Adult Type 2 Diabetes Patients

Background: While the etiology of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is complex, genetic markers for T2DM are surfacing fast, and amidst such markers, the transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) gene has been emerged as the most promising T2DM-causing gene. The intronic variant rs12255372 of the TCF7L2 gene has been found to be strongly associated with T2DM in different ethnic populations. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to determine the frequency of rs12255372 polymorphism in the TCF7L2 gene in Bangladeshi adult population with T2DM. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Endocrinology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University. Eighty T2DM patients were recruited consecutively by nonrandom sampling, who signed the informed consent, history, and clinical features including height, weight, and waist circumferences were recorded. Blood samples were collected. Genomic DNA was extracted and single-nucleotide polymorphisms rs12255372 (G>T) were determined by the restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) method. Statistical Analysis: RFLP results were analyzed by the gel electrophoresis to get the frequency of rs12255372 polymorphism. The independent segregation of alleles was tested for Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium using the Chi-square test of goodness of fit. P ≤0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The minor (T) allele frequencies (MAF) for rs12255372 (G>T) among T2DM was 28%. The observed genotype frequencies of rs12255372 (G>T) were different than those expected from the Hardy–Weinberg equation. Conclusion: The minor T allele frequency of rs12255372 (G>T) among T2DM participants was about one-fourth.

Haplotype-based association study of TCF7L2 gene variants with the development of diabetic retinopathy in an Iranian population

ABSTRACT Background Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is recognized as one of the most prevalent complications of diabetes and a major cause of morbidity. Transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2), a pivotal component in the Wnt-signaling pathway, plays a significant role in β-cell development, blood-glucose homeostasis, cell survival, cell migration, and cell proliferation. Thus, this study aimed to assess the association between TCF7L2 variants (rs7903146, rs11196205, and rs12255372) with DR in a population-based association study. Materials and Methods DNA was extracted from whole blood of all subjects by salting-out procedure. Total 524 T2DM patients including 234 T2DM individuals without DR and 290 T2DM individuals with DR were genotyped by TaqMan assay technology. Clinical characteristics of subjects were conducted to evaluate the plausible association between TCF7L2 variants and DR with univariate linear regression analysis. Results Demographic analysis between case and control groups revealed significant differences in FBS, HbA1c, lipidemia, heart disease, and family history of T2DM (p < 0.05). No significant difference was observed in either genotypes distribution or allele frequency (p > 0.05) between T2DM individuals with and without DR in any models of inheritance. Genotype-phenotype association showed no significant association. Result of analysis indicated that HbAlc with adjusted OR of 1.8 (p < 0.0001) and first-degree relatives of family history with adjusted OR of 3.04 (p < 0.0001) were significantly associated with DR. Finally, haplotype analysis showed no noticeable association. Conclusion In conclusion, there was no significant genetic association between rs7903146, rs11196205, and rs12255372 with DR among T2DM Iranians; however, these variants may play unknown roles in other populations.

Conditional Deletion of β-Catenin in the Mediobasal Hypothalamus Impairs Adaptive Energy Expenditure in Response to High-Fat Diet and Exacerbates Diet-Induced Obesity.

β-Catenin is a bifunctional molecule that is an effector of the wingless-related integration site (Wnt) signaling to control gene expression and contributes to the regulation of cytoskeleton and neurotransmitter vesicle trafficking. In its former role, β-catenin binds transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2), which shows strong genetic associations with the pathogenesis of obesity and type-2 diabetes. Here, we sought to determine whether β-catenin plays a role in the neuroendocrine regulation of body weight and glucose homeostasis. Bilateral injections of adeno-associated virus type-2 (AAV2)-mCherry-Cre were placed into the arcuate nucleus of adult male and female β-catenin flox mice, to specifically delete β-catenin expression in the mediobasal hypothalamus (MBH-β-cat KO). Metabolic parameters were then monitored under conditions of low-fat (LFD) and high-fat diet (HFD). On LFD, MBH-β-cat KO mice showed minimal metabolic disturbances, but on HFD, despite having only a small difference in weekly caloric intake, the MBH-β-cat KO mice were significantly heavier than the control mice in both sexes (p < 0.05). This deficit seemed to be due to a failure to show an adaptive increase in energy expenditure seen in controls, which served to offset the increased calories by HFD. Both male and female MBH-β-cat KO mice were highly glucose intolerant when on HFD and displayed a significant reduction in both leptin and insulin sensitivity compared with controls. This study highlights a critical role for β-catenin in the hypothalamic circuits regulating body weight and glucose homeostasis and reveals potential mechanisms by which genetic variation in this pathway could impact on development of metabolic disease.

TCF7L2: A potential key regulator of antidepressant effects on hippocampal astrocytes in depression model mice

Clinical and preclinical studies suggest that hippocampal astrocyte dysfunction is involved in the pathophysiology of depression; however, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we attempted to identify the hippocampal astrocytic transcripts associated with antidepressant effects in a mouse model of depression. We used a chronic corticosterone-induced mouse model of depression to assess the behavioral effects of amitriptyline, a tricyclic antidepressant. Hippocampal astrocytes were isolated using fluorescence-activated cell sorting, and RNA sequencing was performed to evaluate the transcriptional profiles associated with depressive effects and antidepressant responses. Depression model mice exhibited typical depression-like behaviors that improved after amitriptyline treatment; the depression group mice also had significantly reduced GFAP-positive astrocyte numbers in hippocampal subfields. Comprehensive transcriptome analysis of hippocampal astrocytes showed opposing responses to amitriptyline in depression group and control mice, suggesting the importance of using the depression model. Transcription factor 7 like 2 (TCF7L2) was the only upstream regulator gene altered in depression model mice and restored in amitriptyline-treated depression model mice. In fact, TCF7L2 expression was significantly decreased in the depression group. The level of TCF7L2 long non-coding RNA, which controls mRNA expression of the TCF7L2 gene, was also significantly decreased in this group and recovered after amitriptyline treatment. The Gene Ontology biological processes associated with astrocytic TCF7L2 included proliferation, differentiation, and cytokine production. We identified TCF7L2 as a gene associated with depression- and antidepressant-like behaviors in response to amitriptyline in hippocampal astrocytes. Our findings could provide valuable insights into the mechanism of astrocyte-mediated antidepressant effects.

Association between Transcription Factor 7-Like 2 Gene Polymorphisms rs7903146 and rs12255372 with the Risk of Diabetic Nephropathy among South Indian Population

Abstract Introduction: Transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) gene has been associated with the genetic predisposition of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and diabetic nephropathy (DN) in different populations. The study aimed to explore the correlation between rs7903146 and rs12255372 polymorphisms of TCF7L2 gene and DN among the South Indian population. Methods: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based direct sequencing method and allele-specific PCR were used to determine the genotypes of TCF7L2 polymorphisms in 20 normal glucose tolerance (NGT) participants, 35 T2DM patients without DN and 35 T2DM patients with DN. The differences in genotype and allelic distribution between the study groups were analyzed by Chi-square test and odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) which were used to indicate the relative risk of DN. Results: The distribution of TCF7L2 gene polymorphism rs7903146 prevalence was as follows: in the NGT group, CC, 65%; CT, 30%; TT, 5%; in the T2DM without DN group, CC, 25.71%; CT, 62.86%; TT, 11.43%; and in the T2DM with DN group, CC, 31.43%; CT, 60.0%; TT, 8.57%. The distribution of rs12255372 was as follows: in the NGT group, GG, 80%; GT, 15%; TT, 5%; in the T2DM without DN group, GG, 42.86%; GT, 41.46%; TT, 8.57%; and in the T2DM with DN group, GG, 48.57%; GT, 40%; TT, 5.71%. The T allele of rs7903146 polymorphism was associated with an increased risk of T2DM without DN (OR = 3.0; 95% CI = 1.21–7.437; P = 0.010) and T2DM with DN (OR = 2.51; 95% CI = 1.00–6.252; P = 0.04), and the T allele of rs12255372 polymorphism was also associated with increased risk of T2DM without DN (OR = 3.42; 95% CI = 1.18–9.902; P = 0.018) and not with T2DM with DN when compared with NGT individuals. Conclusion: In our study, the T allele of the rs7903146 single-nucleotide polymorphism in the TCF7L2 gene confers the risk of developing DN in diabetes patients, but the T allele of the rs12255372 polymorphism in the TCF7L2 gene is associated with T2DM and its association with DN is arbitrated through T2DM.

PLZF protein forms a complex with protein TET1 to target TCF7L2 in undifferentiated spermatogonia

The transcription factor promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger (PLZF, also known as ZBTB16) is critical for the self-renewal of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs). However, the function of PLZF in SSCs is not clear. Here, we found that PLZF acted as an epigenetic regulator of stem cell maintenance and self-renewal of germ cells. The PLZF protein interacts with the ten-eleven translocation 1 (TET1) protein and subsequently acts as a modulator to regulate the expression of self-renewal-related genes. Furthermore, Transcription Factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) is promoted by the coordination of PLZF and Tri-methylation of lysine 4 on histone H3 (H3K4me3). In addition, testicular single-cell sequencing indicated that TCF7L2 is commonly expressed in the PLZF cluster. We demonstrated that PLZF directly targets TCF7L2 and alters the landscape of histone methylation in the SSCs nucleus. Meanwhile, the RD domain and Zn finger domain of PLZF synergize with H3K4me3 and directly upregulate TCF7L2 expression at the transcriptional level. Additionally, we identified a new association between PLZF and the histone methyltransferase EZH2 at the genomic level. Our study identified a new association between PLZF and H3K4me3, established the novel PLZF&TET1-H3K4me3-TCF7L2 axis at the genomic level which regulates undifferentiated spermatogonia, and provided a platform for studying germ cell development in male domestic animals.

The pseudokinase TRIB3 controls adipocyte lipid homeostasis and proliferation in vitro and in vivo

ObjectiveIn vivo studies in humans and mice have implicated the pseudokinase Tribbles 3 (TRIB3) in various aspects of energy metabolism. Whilst cell-based studies indicate a role for TRIB3 in adipocyte differentiation and function, it is unclear if and how these cellular functions may contribute to overall metabolic health. MethodsWe investigated the metabolic phenotype of whole-body Trib3 knockout (Trib3KO) mice, focusing on adipocyte and adipose tissue functions. In addition, we combined lipidomics, transcriptomics, interactomics and phosphoproteomics analyses to elucidate cell-intrinsic functions of TRIB3 in pre- and mature adipocytes. ResultsTrib3KO mice display increased adiposity, but their insulin sensitivity remains unaltered. Trib3KO adipocytes are smaller and display higher Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA) levels, indicating potential alterations in either i) proliferation-differentiation balance, ii) impaired expansion after cell division, or iii) an altered balance between lipid storage and release, or a combination thereof. Lipidome analyses suggest TRIB3 involvement in the latter two processes, as triglyceride storage is reduced and membrane composition, which can restrain cellular expansion, is altered. Integrated interactome, phosphoproteome and transcriptome analyses support a role for TRIB3 in all three cellular processes through multiple cellular pathways, including Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase- (MAPK/ERK), Protein Kinase A (PKA)-mediated signaling and Transcription Factor 7 like 2 (TCF7L2) and Beta Catenin-mediated gene expression. ConclusionsOur findings support TRIB3 playing multiple distinct regulatory roles in the cytoplasm, nucleus and mitochondria, ultimately controlling adipose tissue homeostasis, rather than affecting a single cellular pathway.

Endothelial Cell-Derived Lactate Triggers Bone Mesenchymal Stem Cell Histone Lactylation to Attenuate Osteoporosis.

Blood vessels play a role in osteogenesis and osteoporosis; however, the role of vascular metabolism in these processes remains unclear. The present study finds that ovariectomized mice exhibit reduced blood vessel density in the bone and reduced expression of the endothelial glycolytic regulator pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2). Endothelial cell (EC)-specific deletion of Pkm2 impairs osteogenesis and worsens osteoporosis in mice. This is attributed to the impaired ability of bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) to differentiate into osteoblasts. Mechanistically, EC-specific deletion of Pkm2 reduces serum lactate levels secreted by ECs, which affect histone lactylation in BMSCs. Using joint CUT&Tag and RNA sequencing analyses, collagen type I alpha 2 chain (COL1A2), cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP), ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase 1 (ENPP1), and transcription factor 7 like 2 (TCF7L2) as osteogenic genes regulated by histone H3K18la lactylation are identified. PKM2 overexpression in ECs, lactate addition, and exercise restore the phenotype of endothelial PKM2-deficient mice. Furthermore, serum metabolomics indicate that patients with osteoporosis have relatively low lactate levels. Additionally, histone lactylation and related osteogenic genes of BMSCs are downregulated in patients with osteoporosis. In conclusion, glycolysis in ECs fuels BMSC differentiation into osteoblasts through histone lactylation, and exercise partially ameliorates osteoporosis by increasing serum lactate levels.

Identifying Genetic Signatures Associated with Oncogene-Induced Replication Stress in Osteosarcoma and Screening for Potential Targeted Drugs.

Osteosarcoma is the most common type of primary malignant bone tumor. Due to the lack of selectivity and sensitivity of chemotherapy drugs to tumor cells, coupled with the use of large doses, chemotherapy drugs often have systemic toxicity. The use of modern sequencing technology to screen tumor markers in a large number of tumor samples is a common method for screening highly specific and selective anti-tumor drugs. This study aims to identify potential biomarkers using the latest reported gene expression signatures of oncogene-induced replication stress (ORS) in aggressive cancers, and potential anti-osteosarcoma drugs were screened in different drug databases. In this study, we obtained 89 osteosarcoma-related samples in the TARGET database, all of which included survival information. According to the median expression of each of six reported ORS gene markers (NAT10/DDX27/ZNF48/C8ORF33/MOCS3/MPP6), we divided 89 osteosarcoma gene expression datasets into a high expression group and a low expression group and then performed a differentially expressed gene (DEG) analysis. The coexisting genes of 6 groups of DEGs were used as replication stress-related genes (RSGs) of osteosarcoma. Then, key RSGs were screened using LASSO regression, a Cox risk proportional regression prognostic model and a tenfold cross-validation test. GSE21257 datasets collected from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database were used to verify the prognostic model. The final key RSGs selected were used in the L1000PWD and DGIdb databases to mine potential drugs. After further validation by the prognostic model, we identified seven genes associated with ORS in osteosarcoma as key RSGs, including transcription factor 7 like 2 (TCF7L2), solute carrier family 27 member 4 (SLC27A4), proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 5 (PCSK5), nucleolar protein 6 (NOL6), coiled-coil-coil-coil-coil-helix domain containing 4 (CHCHD4), eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3 subunit B (EIF3B), and synthesis of cytochrome C oxidase 1 (SCO1). Then, we screened the seven key RSGs in two drug databases and found six potential anti-osteosarcoma drugs (D GIdb database: repaglinide, tacrolimus, sirolimus, cyclosporine, and hydrochlorothiazide; L1000PWD database: the small molecule VU-0365117-1). Seven RSGs (TCF7L2, SLC27A4, PCSK5, NOL6, CHCHD4, EIF3B, and SCO1) may be associated with the ORS gene signatures in osteosarcoma. Repaglinide, tacrolimus, sirolimus, cyclosporine, hydrochlorothiazide and the small molecule VU-0365117-1 are potential therapeutic drugs for osteosarcoma.

Association of common variants of TCF7L2 and PCSK2 with gestational diabetes mellitus in West Bengal, India

The genetic etiology of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) was suggested to overlap with type-2 diabetes(T2D). Transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) and Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin type 2 (PCSK2) are T2D susceptibility genes of the insulin synthesis/processing pathway. We analyzed associations of TCF7L2 and PCSK2 variants with GDM risk and evaluated their potential impact on impaired insulin processing in an eastern Indian population. The study included 114 GDM (case) and 228 non-GDM pregnant women (control). rs7903146, rs4132670, rs12255372 of TCF7L2, and rs2269023 of PCSK2 were genotyped by PCR-RFLP, and genotype distributions were compared between case and control. Fasting serum proinsulin and C-peptide levels were measured by ELISA and the Proinsulin/C-peptide ratio was considered an indicator of proinsulin conversion. Significantly higher frequency of risk allele (T) of rs12255372 (p = 0.02, OR = 2.0, 95%CI = 1.11–3.64) and rs4132670 (p = 0.002, OR = 2.26, 95%CI = 1.32–3.87) of TCF7L2 was found in GDM cases than non-GDM controls; TT genotype was associated with significantly increased disease risk. In rs7903146 (TCF7L2) and rs2269023 (PCSK2), although the frequency of risk allele (T) was not significantly higher in cases than controls, an association of TT for both variants remained significant with higher GDM risk in the recessive model. Increased serum pro-insulin and proinsulin:c-peptide ratio was found in GDM than non-GDM women and the phenomenon showed significant association with careers of risk alleles for TCF7L2 variants. In conclusion, TCF7L2 and PCSK2 variants are related to GDM risk in the studied population and hence may serve as potential biomarkers for assessing the disease risk. TCF7L2 variants contribute to impaired insulin processing.

Novel linkage and association of TCF7L2 variants with PCOS in Italian families.

Transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) gene variants confer risk for type 2 diabetes and metabolic traits. We investigated the role of TCF7L2-variants in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), which is a common endocrine metabolic disorder affecting women of reproductive age. We tested whether TCF7L2 variants are in linkage to and/or in linkage disequilibrium [(LD), namely linkage and association)] with PCOS. Within 212 families from the Italian peninsular population, we analyzed 78 variants using Pseudomarker software for linkage to and LD with PCOS under the dominant model with complete penetrance (D1). In a secondary analysis, we tested the variants under the recessive models with complete penetrance (R1), dominant with incomplete penetrance (D2), and recessive with incomplete penetrance (R2). We tested through in silico analysis the risk variants to detect any potential functional effects. We identified a total of 14 variants in the TCF7L2 gene significantly linked to and/or in LD with the risk of PCOS (p < 0.05) across different models. This study is the first to report TCF7L2 linkage and linkage disequilibrium in Italian families with PCOS.

Association of transcription factor 7-like 2 rs12255372 polymorphism with susceptibility of type 2 diabetes mellitus in Bangladeshi population.

Polymorphism of transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) has a link with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) through β cell dysfunction that causes defect in blood glucose homeostasis. This case-control study recruited 67 T2DM as cases and 65 age-matched healthy individuals as controls to determine whether the polymorphism rs12255372 (G > T) in the TCF7L2 gene have an association with T2DM in Bangladeshi population. Genomic DNA was purified from peripheral whole blood sample and direct Sanger sequencing was done for genotyping of SNP. Bivariate logistic regression was done to find out the association between genetic variant and T2DM. In our study, the minor T allele frequency was significantly more frequent in T2DM group than healthy controls (29.1% vs. 16.9%). After adjusting with confounding factors, heterozygous-genotype GT had higher odds of developing T2DM (OR 2.4; 95% CI: 1.0-5.5; p value = 0.04) and in dominant model, having SNP in TCF7L2 increased the risk of T2DM 2.3 times (95% CI: 1.0-5.2; p value = 0.04). In interaction model, genetic susceptible SNP cases interacted significantly with increasing age and BMI, female gender, and having family history of diabetes mellitus to develop T2DM (pinteraction < 0.001). Having minor T allele either in heterozygous or homozygous variant form of rs12255372 (G > T) TCF7L2 had significant association with T2DM. In conclusion, TCF7L2 gene variant increases risk of developing T2DM among the Bangladeshi population.

Genome-wide DNA methylation and transcriptome expression profiles of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with systemic sclerosis with interstitial lung disease.

This study aims to investigate the genome-wide DNA methylation and transcriptome expression profiles of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) with interstitial lung disease (ILD), and to analyze the effects of DNA methylation on Wnt/β-catenin and chemokine signaling pathways. PBMCs were collected from 19 patients with SSc (SSc group) and 18 healthy persons (control group). Among SSc patients, there were 10 patients with ILD (SSc with ILD subgroup) and 9 patients without ILD (SSc without ILD subgroup). The genome-wide DNA methylation and gene expression level were analyzed by using Illumina 450K methylation chip and Illumina HT-12 v4.0 gene expression profiling chip. The effect of DNA methylation on Wnt/β-catenin and chemokine signal pathways was investigated. Genome-wide DNA methylation analysis identified 71 hypermethylated CpG sites and 98 hypomethylated CpG sites in the SSc with ILD subgroup compared with the SSc without ILD subgroup. Transcriptome analysis distinguished 164 upregulated genes and 191 downregulated genes in the SSc with ILD subgroup as compared with the SSc without ILD subgroup. In PBMCs of the SSc group, 35 genes in Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway were hypomethylated, while frizzled-1 (FZD1), mitogen-activated protein kinase 9 (MAPK9), mothers against DPP homolog 2 (SMAD2), transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2), and wingless-type MMTV integration site family, member 5B (WNT5B) mRNA expressions were upregulated as compared with the control group (all P<0.05). Compared with the SSc without ILD subgroup, the mRNA expressions of dickkopf homolog 2 (DKK2), FZD1, MAPK9 were upregulated in the SSc with ILD subgroup, but the differences were not statistically significant (all P>0.05). In PBMCs of the SSc group, 38 genes in chemokine signaling pathway were hypomethylated, while β-arrestin 1 (ARRB1), C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 10 (CXCL10), C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 16 (CXCL16), FGR, and neutrophil cytosolic factor 1C (NCF1C) mRNA expressions were upregulated as compared with the control group (all P<0.05). Compared with the SSc without ILD subgroup, the mRNA expressions of ARRB1, CXCL10, CXCL16 were upregulated in the SSc with ILD subgroup, but the differences were not statistically significant (all P>0.05). There are differences in DNA methylation and transcriptome profiles between SSc with ILD and SSc without ILD. The expression levels of multiple genes in Wnt/β- catenin and chemokine signaling pathways are upregulated, which might be associatea with the pathogenesis of SSc.

Pregnancy-associated Steroid Effects on Insulin Sensitivity, Adipogenesis, and Lipogenesis: Role of Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway.

The shift in maternal energy metabolism characteristic of pregnancy is thought to be driven by various hormonal changes, especially of ovarian and placental steroids. Imbalances in circulating estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) levels during this period are often associated with metabolic disturbances leading to the development of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Since abnormalities in the Wnt pathway effector transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) are commonly associated with the occurrence of GDM, we hypothesized that the canonical or β-catenin-dependent Wnt signaling pathway mediates the metabolic actions of E2 and P4. Our study was aimed at elucidating the metabolic function of the steroids E2 and P4, and examining the role of the canonical Wnt signaling pathway in mediating the actions of these steroids. The ovariectomized (OVX) rat was used as a model system to study the effect of known concentrations of exogenously administered E2 and P4. Niclosamide (Nic) was administered to block Wnt signaling. 3T3-L1 cells were used to analyze changes in differentiation in the presence of the steroids or niclosamide. In the present study, we observed that E2 enhanced insulin sensitivity and inhibited lipogenesis while P4 increased lipogenic gene expression-in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, and in adipose tissue and skeletal muscle of OVX rats when the dosage of E2 and P4 mimicked that of pregnancy. Both E2 and P4 were also found to upregulate Wnt signaling. Nic nhibited the steroid-mediated increase in Wnt signaling in adipocytes and OVX rats. The insulin-sensitizing and antilipogenic actions of E2 were found to be mediated by the canonical Wnt pathway, but the effects of P4 on lipogenesis appeared to be independent of it. Additionally, it was observed that inhibition of Wnt signaling by Nic hastened adipogenic differentiation, and the inhibitory effect of E2 on differentiation was prevented by Nic. The findings presented in this study highlight the role of steroids and Wnt pathway in glucose and lipid metabolism and are relevant to understanding the pathophysiology of metabolic disorders arising from hormonal disturbances.

Single Nucleotide Polymorphism at rs7903146 of Transcription Factor 7-like 2 gene Among Subjects with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Myanmar.

To investigate the association between the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs7903146 in the transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) gene and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and to examine the impact of this variant on pancreatic beta-cell function in the Myanmar population. A case-control study was undertaken in 100 subjects with T2DM and 113 controls. The SNP rs7903146 was genotyped using the allele-specific polymerase chain reaction method. Plasma glucose and serum insulin levels were determined using the enzymatic colorimetric method and ELISA respectively. Beta-cell function was calculated by the HOMA-β formula. The frequencies of carrier genotypes (CT and TT) were higher in subjects with T2DM than in controls. The minor T alleles of rs7903146 were found to statistically increase type 2 diabetes risk than the C allele with an allelic odds ratio of 2.07 (95% CI 1.39-3.09, p=0.0004). The mean HOMA-β level of the group with non-carrier genotype (CC) was significantly higher than that of the groups with carrier genotypes (CT and TT) in subjects with T2DM and controls with a p-value of 0.0003 and less than 0.0001, respectively. The rs7903146 variant of the TCF7L2 gene was found to be associated with T2DM and low β-cell function among Myanmar subjects.

The pro- and antineoplastic effects of deoxycholic acid in pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell models

BackgroundCommensal bacteria secrete metabolites that reach distant cancer cells through the circulation and influence cancer behavior. Deoxycholic acid (DCA), a hormone-like metabolite, is a secondary bile acid specifically synthesized by intestinal microbes. DCA may have both pro- and antineoplastic effects in cancers.Methods and resultsThe pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell lines, Capan-2 and BxPC-3, were treated with 0.7 µM DCA, which corresponds to the reference concentration of DCA in human serum. DCA influenced the expression of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related genes, significantly decreased the expression level of the mesenchymal markers, transcription factor 7- like 2 (TCF7L2), snail family transcriptional repressor 2 (SLUG), CLAUDIN-1, and increased the expression of the epithelial genes, zona occludens 1 (ZO-1) and E-CADHERIN, as shown by real-time PCR and Western blotting. Consequently, DCA reduced the invasion capacity of pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells in Boyden chamber experiments. DCA induced the protein expression of oxidative/nitrosative stress markers. Moreover, DCA reduced aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) activity in an Aldefluor assay and ALDH1 protein level, suggesting that DCA reduced stemness in pancreatic adenocarcinoma. In Seahorse experiments, DCA induced all fractions of mitochondrial respiration and glycolytic flux. The ratio of mitochondrial oxidation and glycolysis did not change after DCA treatment, suggesting that cells became hypermetabolic.ConclusionDCA induced antineoplastic effects in pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells by inhibiting EMT, reducing cancer stemness, and inducing oxidative/nitrosative stress and procarcinogenic effects such as hypermetabolic bioenergetics.

A Pilot Study on the Prevalence of Transcription Factor 7-Like 2 Gene (TCFL2), Rs290487 in Ethnic Groups with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Bayelsa State of Nigeria

The negative impact of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) on individuals, families, health system and the economic development as a whole, is an important justification for research in this field. The present study is a hospital-based case-control type to ascertain the genetic susceptibility of T2DM among a sample population of various ethnic groups resident in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Also evaluated was the relationship between transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCFL2) rs12255372 and rs290487 genetic polymorphisms with development of T2DM. Genotyping of TCFL2 rs12255372 and rs290487 were carried out using the polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. Among the indigenous groups, the allelic frequencies determined for the abnormal (CC) and the normal (TT) genotypes were 94.4 and 5.6 (%), respectively; whereas, the values 91.7 and 8.3 (%), in that other, were determined for the non-indigenous groups. A convincing significant difference was found between subjects with T2DMne and their counterpart controls within indigenous people of Bayelsa State with respect to confounders, including age (t=8.046, p&lt;0.00001), BMI (t =2.628, p&lt;0.0190), waist circumference (t=2.800, p=0.0091) and fasting blood sugar (t=3.212, p&lt; 0.0006). This study verified the association of TCFL2 rs290487 with the development of T2DM in indigenous and non-indigenous people in Bayelsa State. The risk conferred by the homozygous CC genotype was higher than that of the heterozygous TC state – a fact indicative of an additive model of inheritance.

345 The Role of TCF7L2 in Hepatic Metabolic Zonation

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Single nucleotide polymorphisms in the transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) gene are associated with Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The metabolic function of TCF7L2 in the liver remains to be fully elucidated, but we hypothesized that TCF7L2 contributes to NAFLD through regulation of zonal metabolic pathways. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: Using single nuclei RNA sequencing, we examined Tcf7l2 expression in periportal (PP) hepatocytes around the portal triad and pericentral (PC) hepatocytes surrounding the central vein of the liver. To visualize TCF7L2 transcriptional activity we used a TCF reporter mice, which expresses an H2B-eGFP fusion protein downstream of the conserved TCF DNA binding site. We disrupted Tcf7l2 transcriptional activity in mouse liver by breeding mice with a floxed Tcf7l2 exon 11, which encodes part of the DNA binding domain (DBD), to albumin-Cre mice (Hep-TCF7L2ΔDBD). Eight-week-old mice were fed a choline-deficient amino acid-defined high fat (CDAHFD) diet for 8 weeks. In liver samples harvested from these mice, we examined disruption to several key zonated metabolic pathways, and quantified the development of fibrosis. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Single nuclei analysis revealed that Tcf7l2 mRNA was expressed primarily in parenchymal cells of the liver but was ubiquitous across the liver lobule. However, in immunofluorescence analysis of TCF reporter mice, the transcriptional activity of TCF7L2 was highly restricted to PC hepatocytes. Classic PC hepatocyte markers, including glutamine synthetase (Glul), were absent in Hep-TCF7L2ΔDBD mice. Following the CDAHFD, Hep-TCF7L2ΔDBD mice developed more severe fibrosis in histological analysis, and expressed elevated levels of genes involved in fibrogenesis, collagen synthesis and TGFβsignaling. Hep-TCF7L2ΔDBD mice also displayed hepatic cholesterol accumulation following the CDAHFD, which was likely the result of impaired pericentral bile acid synthesis. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: Our results suggest that TCF7L2 plays an important role in the regulation of zonated metabolic pathways, which may contribute to the development of fibrosis. Ongoing analyses are exploring the mechanisms regulating the zonal transcriptional activity of TCF7L2.