bims-mimcad 2023-12-31 papers

bims-mimcad

Biomed News

on Mitochondrial metabolism and cardiometabolic diseases

Issue of 2023–12–31
eleven papers selected by
Henver Brunetta, University of Guelph

Mitochondrial electron transport chain, ceramide, and coenzyme Q are linked in a pathway that drives insulin resistance in skeletal muscle.
Distinct lactate metabolism between hepatocytes and myotubes revealed by live cell imaging with genetically encoded indicators.
EXPRESS: Rosiglitazone improves insulin resistance but does not improve exercise capacity in individuals with impaired glucose tolerance: A randomized clinical study.
High-fat diets: You are what you eat….your extracellular vesicles too!
Ceramide enhanced the hepatic glucagon response through regulation of CREB activity.
Wnt/β-catenin signaling activation promotes lipogenesis in the steatotic liver via physical mTOR interaction.
Mutations in DNAJC19 cause altered mitochondrial structure and increased mitochondrial respiration in human iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes.
Protein N-myristoylation plays a critical role in the mitochondrial localization of human mitochondrial complex I accessory subunit NDUFB7.
Autologous mitochondrial transplantation in male mice as a strategy to prevent deleterious effects of peripheral ischemia-reperfusion.
The P2Y2 Receptor Mediates Terminal Adipocyte Differentiation and Insulin Resistance: Evidence for a Dual G-protein Coupling Mode.
Impact of fasting on the AMPK and PGC-1α axis in rodent and human skeletal muscle: A systematic review.

Elife. 2023 Dec 27. pii: RP87340. [Epub ahead of print]12

Mitochondrial electron transport chain, ceramide, and coenzyme Q are linked in a pathway that drives insulin resistance in skeletal muscle.

Alexis Diaz-Vegas, Søren Madsen, Kristen C Cooke, Luke Carroll, Jasmine X Y Khor, Nigel Turner, Xin Y Lim, Miro A Astore, Jonathan C Morris, Anthony S Don, Amanda Garfield, Simona Zarini, Karin A Zemski Berry, Andrew P Ryan, Bryan C Bergman, Joseph T Brozinick, David E James, James G Burchfield.

  Insulin resistance (IR) is a complex metabolic disorder that underlies several human diseases, including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Despite extensive research, the precise mechanisms underlying IR development remain poorly understood. Previously we showed that deficiency of coenzyme Q (CoQ) is necessary and sufficient for IR in adipocytes and skeletal muscle (Fazakerley et al., 2018). Here, we provide new insights into the mechanistic connections between cellular alterations associated with IR, including increased ceramides, CoQ deficiency, mitochondrial dysfunction, and oxidative stress. We demonstrate that elevated levels of ceramide in the mitochondria of skeletal muscle cells result in CoQ depletion and loss of mitochondrial respiratory chain components, leading to mitochondrial dysfunction and IR. Further, decreasing mitochondrial ceramide levels in vitro and in animal models (mice, C57BL/6J) (under chow and high-fat diet) increased CoQ levels and was protective against IR. CoQ supplementation also rescued ceramide-associated IR. Examination of the mitochondrial proteome from human muscle biopsies revealed a strong correlation between the respirasome system and mitochondrial ceramide as key determinants of insulin sensitivity. Our findings highlight the mitochondrial ceramide-CoQ-respiratory chain nexus as a potential foundation of an IR pathway that may also play a critical role in other conditions associated with ceramide accumulation and mitochondrial dysfunction, such as heart failure, cancer, and aging. These insights may have important clinical implications for the development of novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment of IR and related metabolic disorders.

Keywords:  biochemistry; cell biology; ceramides; chemical biology; coenzyme Q; human; insulin resistance; mitochondria; mouse; muscle; rat

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.87340
Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2023 Dec 20. pii: S0006-291X(23)01510-3. [Epub ahead of print]694 149416

Distinct lactate metabolism between hepatocytes and myotubes revealed by live cell imaging with genetically encoded indicators.

Mina Horikoshi, Kazuki Harada, Saki Tsuno, Tetsuya Kitaguchi, Masami Yokota Hirai, Mitsuharu Matsumoto, Shin Terada, Takashi Tsuboi.

  The process of glycolysis breaks down glycogen stored in muscles, producing lactate through pyruvate to generate energy. Excess lactate is then released into the bloodstream. When lactate reaches the liver, it is converted to glucose, which muscles utilize as a substrate to generate ATP. Although the biochemical study of lactate metabolism in hepatocytes and skeletal muscle cells has been extensive, the spatial and temporal dynamics of this metabolism in live cells are still unknown. We observed the dynamics of metabolism-related molecules in primary cultured hepatocytes and a skeletal muscle cell line upon lactate overload. Our observations revealed an increase in cytoplasmic pyruvate concentration in hepatocytes, which led to glucose release. Skeletal muscle cells exhibited elevated levels of lactate and pyruvate levels in both the cytoplasm and mitochondrial matrix. However, mitochondrial ATP levels remained unaffected, indicating that the increased lactate can be converted to pyruvate but is unlikely to be utilized for ATP production. The findings suggest that excess lactate in skeletal muscle cells is taken up into mitochondria with little contribution to ATP production. Meanwhile, lactate released into the bloodstream can be converted to glucose in hepatocytes for subsequent utilization in skeletal muscle cells.

Keywords:  Cori cycle; Hepatocytes; L6 cells; Lactate metabolism; Live cell imaging

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbrc.2023.149416
J Investig Med. 2023 Dec 26. 10815589231225183

EXPRESS: Rosiglitazone improves insulin resistance but does not improve exercise capacity in individuals with impaired glucose tolerance: A randomized clinical study.

Layla A Abushamat, Irene E Schauer, Cecilia C Low Wang, Stacey Mitchell, Leah Herlache, Mark Bridenstine, Roy Durbin, Janet K Snell-Bergeon, Judith G Regensteiner, Jane Eb Reusch.

  Dysmetabolic states, such as type 2 diabetes (T2D), characterized by insulin resistance (IR), are associated with fatty liver, increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, and decreased functional exercise capacity (FEC). Rosiglitazone (RO) improves exercise capacity and IR in T2D. However, the effects of RO on FEC and other markers of CVD risk in prediabetes are unknown. We hypothesized that insulin sensitization with RO would improve exercise capacity and markers of CVD risk in participants with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). Exercise performance (peak oxygen consumption and oxygen uptake kinetics), IR (HOMA-IR and QUICKI), and surrogate cardiovascular endpoints [coronary artery calcium (CAC) volume and density and C-reactive protein (CRP)] were measured in participants with IGT after 12 and 18 months of RO or placebo (PL). RO did not significantly improve exercise capacity. Glycemic measures and insulin resistance were significantly lower in people on RO compared to placebo at 18 months. CAC volume progression was not different between PL and RO groups. RO did not improve exercise capacity during an 18-month intervention despite improved IR and glycemia in people with IGT. Future studies should explore why effects on FEC with RO occur in T2D but not IGT. Understanding these questions may help in targeting therapeutic approaches in T2D and IGT.

Keywords:  Exercise; Hyperglycemia; Thiazolidinediones

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1177/10815589231225183
J Extracell Vesicles. 2024 Jan;13(1): e12382

High-fat diets: You are what you eat….your extracellular vesicles too!

Sophie Rome, Stefano Tacconi.

  Recent works indicate that the lipid composition of extracellular vesicles (EVs) can modify their biological functions and their incorporation into recipient cells. In particular high-fat diets affect EV biogenesis, EV lipid composition, EV targeting and consequently the cross-talk between tissues. This review connects different research topics to show that a vicious circle is established during the development of high-fat diet-induced obesity, connecting the alteration of lipid metabolism, the composition of extracellular vesicles and the spread of deleterious lipids between tissues, which participates in NAFLD/NASH and diabetes development. According to the studies described in this review, it is urgent to take an interest in this question as the modulation of EV lipid composition could be an important factor to take into account during the therapeutic management of patients suffering from metabolic syndrome and related pathologies such as obesity and diabetes. Furthermore, as lipid modification of EVs is a strategy currently being tested to enable better integration into their target tissue or cell, it is important to consider the impact of these lipid modifications on the homeostasis of these targets.

Keywords:  NAFLD; NASH; diabetes; extracellular vesicles; high-fat diets; lipids; metabolic syndrome; obesity

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1002/jev2.12382
Clin Nutr. 2023 Dec 12. pii: S0261-5614(23)00430-2. [Epub ahead of print]43(2): 366-378

Ceramide enhanced the hepatic glucagon response through regulation of CREB activity.

Jizheng Wang, Dan Wang, Shan Lu, Yifang Hu, Yaoqi Ge, Xiaoxuan Qin, Yanfei Mo, Jingbao Kan, Dong Li, Rihua Zhang, Yun Liu, Wen-Song Zhang.

   BACKGROUND & AIMS: Hyperglycemia is associated with lipid disorders in patients with diabetes. Ceramides are metabolites involved in sphingolipid metabolism that accumulate during lipid disorders and exert deleterious effects on glucose and lipid metabolism. However, the effects of ceramide on glucagon-mediated hepatic gluconeogenesis remain largely unknown. This study was designed to investigate the impact of ceramides on gluconeogenesis in the context of the hepatic glucagon response, with the aim of finding new pharmacological interventions for hyperglycemia in diabetes.
METHODS: Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to quantify ceramide content in the serum of patients with diabetes. Primary hepatocytes were isolated from male C57BL/6J mice to study the effects of ceramide on hepatic glucose production. Immunofluorescence staining was performed to view cAMP-responsive element-binding protein (CREB)- regulated transcription co-activator 2 (CRTC2) nuclear translocation in hepatocytes. Serine palmitoyl-transferase, long chain base subunit 2 (Sptlc2) knockdown mice were generated using an adeno-associated virus containing shRNA, and hepatic glucose production was assessed glucagon tolerance and pyruvate tolerance tests in mice fed a normal chow diet and high-fat diet.
RESULTS: Increased ceramide levels were observed in the serum of patients newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. De novo ceramide synthesis was activated in mice with metabolic disorders. Ceramide enhanced hepatic glucose production in primary hepatocytes. In contrast, genetic silencing of Sptlc2 prevented this process. Mechanistically, ceramides de-phosphorylate CRTC2 (Ser 171) and facilitate its translocation into the nucleus for CREB activation, thereby augmenting the hepatic glucagon response. Hepatic Sptlc2 silencing blocked ceramide generation in the liver and thus restrained the hepatic glucagon response in mice fed a normal chow diet and high-fat diet.
CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that ceramide serves as an intracellular messenger that augments hepatic glucose production by regulating CRTC2/CREB activity in the context of the hepatic glucagon response, suggesting that CRTC2 phosphorylation might be a potential node for pharmacological interventions to restrain the hyperglycemic response during fasting in diabetes.

Keywords:  CRTC2; Ceramide; Diabetes; Gluconeogenesis; Overnutrition; Sptlc2

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clnu.2023.12.008
Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2023 ;14 1289004

Wnt/β-catenin signaling activation promotes lipogenesis in the steatotic liver via physical mTOR interaction.

Kewei Wang, Rong Zhang, Nadja Lehwald, Guo-Zhong Tao, Bowen Liu, Bo Liu, Yangseok Koh, Karl G Sylvester.

   Background and aims: Wnt/β-catenin signaling plays an important role in regulating hepatic metabolism. This study is to explore the molecular mechanisms underlying the potential crosstalk between Wnt/β-catenin and mTOR signaling in hepatic steatosis.
Methods: Transgenic mice (overexpress Wnt1 in hepatocytes, Wnt+) mice and wild-type littermates were given high fat diet (HFD) for 12 weeks to induce hepatic steatosis. Mouse hepatocytes cells (AML12) and those transfected to cause constitutive β-catenin stabilization (S33Y) were treated with oleic acid for lipid accumulation.
Results: Wnt+ mice developed more hepatic steatosis in response to HFD. Immunoblot shows a significant increase in the expression of fatty acid synthesis-related genes (SREBP-1 and its downstream targets ACC, AceCS1, and FASN) and a decrease in fatty acid oxidation gene (MCAD) in Wnt+ mice livers under HFD. Wnt+ mice also revealed increased Akt signaling and its downstream target gene mTOR in response to HFD. In vitro, increased lipid accumulation was detected in S33Y cells in response to oleic acid compared to AML12 cells reinforcing the in vivo findings. mTOR inhibition by rapamycin led to a down-regulation of fatty acid synthesis in S33Y cells. In addition, β-catenin has a physical interaction with mTOR as verified by co-immunoprecipitation in hepatocytes.
Conclusions: Taken together, our results demonstrate that β-catenin stabilization through Wnt signaling serves a central role in lipid metabolism in the steatotic liver through up-regulation of fatty acid synthesis via Akt/mTOR signaling. These findings suggest hepatic Wnt signaling may represent a therapeutic strategy in hepatic steatosis.

Keywords:  Wnt signaling; beta-catenin (B-catenin); fatty acid synthesis; hepatic steatosis; high fat diet

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2023.1289004
Mol Metab. 2023 Dec 23. pii: S2212-8778(23)00193-X. [Epub ahead of print] 101859

Mutations in DNAJC19 cause altered mitochondrial structure and increased mitochondrial respiration in human iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes.

Anna Janz, Katharina Walz, Alexandra Cirnu, Jessica Surjanto, Daniela Urlaub, Miriam Leskien, Michael Kohlhaas, Alexander Nickel, Theresa Brand, Naoko Nose, Philipp Wörsdörfer, Nicole Wagner, Takahiro Higuchi, Christoph Maack, Jan Dudek, Kristina Lorenz, Eva Klopocki, Süleyman Ergün, Henry J Duff, Brenda Gerull.

   BACKGROUND: Dilated cardiomyopathy with ataxia (DCMA) is an autosomal recessive disorder arising from truncating mutations in DNAJC19, which encodes an inner mitochondrial membrane protein. Clinical features include an early onset, often life-threatening, cardiomyopathy associated with other metabolic features. Here, we aim to understand the metabolic and pathophysiological mechanisms of mutant DNAJC19 for the development of cardiomyopathy.
METHODS: We generated induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs) of two affected siblings with DCMA and a gene-edited truncation variant (tv) of DNAJC19which all lack the conserved DnaJ interaction domain. The mutant iPSC-CMs and their respective control cells were subjected to various analyses, including assessments of morphology, metabolic function, and physiological consequences such as Ca2+ kinetics, contractility, and arrhythmic potential. Validation of respiration analysis was done in a gene-edited HeLa cell line (DNAJC19tvHeLa).
RESULTS: Structural analyses revealed mitochondrial fragmentation and abnormal cristae formation associated with an overall reduced mitochondrial protein expression in mutant iPSC-CMs. Morphological alterations were associated with higher oxygen consumption rates (OCRs) in all three mutant iPSC-CMs, indicating higher electron transport chain activity to meet cellular ATP demands. Additionally, increased extracellular acidification rates suggested an increase in overall metabolic flux, while radioactive tracer uptake studies revealed decreased fatty acid uptake and utilization of glucose. Mutant iPSC-CMs also showed increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) and an elevated mitochondrial membrane potential. Increased mitochondrial respiration with pyruvate and malate as substrates was observed in mutant DNAJC19tv HeLa cells in addition to an upregulation of respiratory chain complexes, while cellular ATP-levels remain the same. Moreover, mitochondrial alterations were associated with increased beating frequencies, elevated diastolic Ca2+ concentrations, reduced sarcomere shortening and an increased beat-to-beat rate variability in mutant cell lines in response to β-adrenergic stimulation.
CONCLUSIONS: Loss of the DnaJ domain disturbs cardiac mitochondrial structure with abnormal cristae formation and mitochondrial function, which suggests that DNAJC19 plays an essential role in mitochondrial morphogenesis and biogenesis. Moreover, increased mitochondrial respiration, altered substrate utilization, increased ROS production and abnormal Ca2+ kinetics provide insights into the pathogenesis of DCMA-related cardiomyopathy.

Keywords:  Contractility; Dilated cardiomyopathy with ataxia; Genetics; Metabolism; Mitochondria; OXPHOS; ROS

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molmet.2023.101859
Sci Rep. 2023 12 27. 13(1): 22991

Protein N-myristoylation plays a critical role in the mitochondrial localization of human mitochondrial complex I accessory subunit NDUFB7.

Haruna Harada, Koko Moriya, Hirotsugu Kobuchi, Naotada Ishihara, Toshihiko Utsumi.

The present study examined human N-myristoylated proteins that specifically localize to mitochondria among the 1,705 human genes listed in MitoProteome, a mitochondrial protein database. We herein employed a strategy utilizing cellular metabolic labeling with a bioorthogonal myristic acid analog in transfected COS-1 cells established in our previous studies. Four proteins, DMAC1, HCCS, NDUFB7, and PLGRKT, were identified as N-myristoylated proteins that specifically localize to mitochondria. Among these proteins, DMAC1 and NDUFB7 play critical roles in the assembly of complex I of the mitochondrial respiratory chain. DMAC1 functions as an assembly factor, and NDUFB7 is an accessory subunit of complex I. An analysis of the intracellular localization of non-myristoylatable G2A mutants revealed that protein N-myristoylation occurring on NDUFB7 was important for the mitochondrial localization of this protein. Furthermore, an analysis of the role of the CHCH domain in NDUFB7 using Cys to Ser mutants revealed that it was essential for the mitochondrial localization of NDUFB7. Therefore, the present results showed that NDUFB7, a vital component of human mitochondrial complex I, was N-myristoylated, and protein N-myrisotylation and the CHCH domain were both indispensable for the specific targeting and localization of NDUFB7 to mitochondria.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-50390-z
Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 2023 Dec 25.

Autologous mitochondrial transplantation in male mice as a strategy to prevent deleterious effects of peripheral ischemia-reperfusion.

Lauréline Boutonnet, Joris Mallard, Anne-Laure Charles, Elyse Hucteau, Bernard Geny, Anne Lejay, Antoine Grandperrin.

  Background and objective: Ischemia-reperfusion (IR) is known to induce severe tissue damage, notably through mitochondrial dysfunction. Mitochondrial transplantation has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy in cardiac IR, however few studies have previously assessed its efficacy in the context of peripheral IR. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the effect of mitochondrial transplantation in a hindlimb model of IR injury. Methods: Thirty-six SWISS mice were divided into three groups: control (CTL, n=12), ischemia-reperfusion (IR, n=12) and IR with mitochondrial transplantation (MT, n=12). Ischemia (2 hours) was induced using the tourniquet model, around the right hind limb in IR and MT groups. In MT group, mitochondria isolated from the right rectus muscle, a non-ischemic region, were injected shortly before reperfusion. Mitochondrial respiration, calcium retention capacity and western blotting analysis were performed 2 hours after reperfusion. Results: Compared to CTL group, IR led to a decrease in the mitochondrial respiratory capacity, particularly for the basal state (-30%; p=0.015) and the oxidative phosphorylation (-36%; p=0.024), as well as calcium retention capacity (-45%; p=0.007). Interestingly, mitochondrial transplantation partially restored these functions since no difference between MT and CTL groups were found. Additionally, the administration of healthy mitochondria resulted in a positive regulation of redox balance and mitochondrial dynamics within the skeletal muscle. Conclusion: While further investigations are needed to better characterize underlying mechanisms, mitochondrial transplantation represents a promising strategy in the setting of IR-induced muscular damage.

Keywords:  Skeletal muscle; mPTP; mitochondrial dynamics; mitochondrial function; reactive oxygen species

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpcell.00639.2023
J Biol Chem. 2023 Dec 21. pii: S0021-9258(23)02617-0. [Epub ahead of print] 105589

The P2Y2 Receptor Mediates Terminal Adipocyte Differentiation and Insulin Resistance: Evidence for a Dual G-protein Coupling Mode.

Shenqi Qian, Yi Shi, Jared Senfeld, Qianman Peng, Jianzhong Shen.

  Several P2Y nucleotide receptors have been shown to be involved in the early stage of adipocyte differentiation in vitro and insulin resistance in obese mice; however, the exact receptor subtype(s) and its underlying molecular mechanism in relevant human cells are unclear. Here, using human primary visceral preadipocytes as a model, we found that during preadipocyte-to-mature adipocyte differentiation, the P2Y2 nucleotide receptor (P2Y2R) was the most upregulated subtype among the eight known P2Y receptors and the only one further dramatically upregulated after inflammatory TNFα treatment. Functional studies indicated that the P2Y2R induced intracellular Ca2+, ERK1/2, and JNK signaling but not the p38 pathway. In addition, stimulation of the P2Y2R suppressed basal and insulin-induced phosphorylation of AKT, accompanied by decreased GLUT4 membrane translocation and glucose uptake in mature adipocytes, suggesting a role of P2Y2R in insulin resistance. Mechanistically, we found that activation of P2Y2R did not increase lipolysis but suppressed PIP3 generation. Interestingly, activation of P2Y2R triggered Gi-protein coupling, and pertussis toxin pretreatment largely inhibited P2Y2R-mediated ERK1/2 signaling and cAMP suppression. Further, treatment of the cells with AR-C 118925XX, a selective P2Y2R antagonist, significantly inhibited adipogenesis, and P2Y2R knockout decreased mouse body weight gain with smaller eWAT mass infiltrated with fewer macrophages as compared to wild-type mice in response to a Western diet. Thus, we revealed that terminal adipocyte differentiation and inflammation selectively upregulate P2Y2R expression and that P2Y2R mediates insulin resistance by suppressing the AKT signaling pathway, highlighting P2Y2R as a potential new drug target to combat obesity and type-2 diabetes.

Keywords:  AKT; P2Y2 receptor; adipocytes; insulin resistance; obesity

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105589
Metabolism. 2023 Dec 26. pii: S0026-0495(23)00372-4. [Epub ahead of print] 155768

Impact of fasting on the AMPK and PGC-1α axis in rodent and human skeletal muscle: A systematic review.

K L Storoschuk, D Lesiuk, J Nuttall, M LeBouedec, A Khansari, H Islam, B J Gurd.

  Based primarily on evidence from rodent models fasting is currently believed to improve metabolic health in via activation of the AMPK-PGC-1α axis in skeletal muscle. However, it is unclear whether the skeletal muscle AMPK-PGC-1α axis is activated by fasting in humans. The current systematic review examined the fasting response in skeletal muscle from 34 selected studies (7 human, 21 mouse, and 6 rat). From these studies, we gathered 38 unique data points related to AMPK and 47 related to PGC-1α. In human studies, fasting mediated activation of the AMPK-PGC-1α axis is largely absent. Although evidence does support fasting-induced activation of the AMPK-PGC-1α axis in rodent skeletal muscle, the evidence is less robust than anticipated. Our findings question the ability of fasting to activate the AMPK-PGC-1α axis in human skeletal muscle and suggest that the metabolic benefits of fasting in humans are associated with caloric restriction rather than the induction of mitochondrial biogenesis. Registration: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/KWNQY.

Keywords:  AMPK; Fasting; Mitochondrial biogenesis; PGC-1α

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.metabol.2023.155768