bims-musmir 2024-05-26 papers

bims-musmir

Biomed News

on microRNAs in muscle

Issue of 2024‒05‒26
eighteen papers selected by
Kasia Whysall, University of Galway

Subthalamic nucleus-language network connectivity predicts dopaminergic modulation of speech function in Parkinson's disease.
Loss of function of FAM177A1, a Golgi complex localized protein, causes a novel neurodevelopmental disorder.
miR-423-5p Regulates Skeletal Muscle Growth and Development by Negatively Inhibiting Target Gene SRF.
Fibro-adipogenic progenitors in physiological adipogenesis and intermuscular adipose tissue remodeling.
Imaging analysis for muscle stem cells and regeneration.
Acetate Alleviates Gut Microbiota Depletion-Induced Retardation of Skeletal Muscle Growth and Development in Young Mice.
Eliminating elevated p53 signaling fails to rescue skeletal muscle defects or extend survival in lamin A/C-deficient mice.
Curcumin affects autophagy of prolactinoma cells by upregulating miR-206 to exert antitumor effects.
Single-cell spatial transcriptomics reveals a dystrophic trajectory following a developmental bifurcation of myoblast cell fates in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy.
Inactivation of Myostatin Delays Senescence via TREX1-SASP in Bovine Skeletal Muscle Cells.
LncRNA 4930581F22Rik promotes myogenic differentiation by regulating the ERK/MAPK signaling pathway.
In vivo cyclic overexpression of Yamanaka factors restricted to neurons reverses age-associated phenotypes and enhances memory performance.
Up-regulation of cholesterol synthesis by lysosomal defects requires a functional mitochondrial respiratory chain.
Piceatannol Upregulates SIRT1 Expression in Skeletal Muscle Cells and in Human Whole Blood: In Vitro Assay and a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel-Group Comparison Trial.
Differential impact of sex on regulation of skeletal muscle mitochondrial function and protein homeostasis by hypoxia-inducible factor-1α in normoxia.
CISD3/MiNT is required for complex I function, mitochondrial integrity, and skeletal muscle maintenance.
microRNA and the Post-Transcriptional Response to Oxidative Stress during Neuronal Differentiation: Implications for Neurodevelopmental and Psychiatric Disorders.
Skeletal Muscle Injury in Chronic Kidney Disease-From Histologic Changes to Molecular Mechanisms and to Novel Therapies.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2024 May 28. 121(22): e2316149121

Subthalamic nucleus-language network connectivity predicts dopaminergic modulation of speech function in Parkinson's disease.

Weidong Cai, Christina B Young, Rui Yuan, Byeongwook Lee, Sephira Ryman, Jeehyun Kim, Laurice Yang, Taylor F Levine, Victor W Henderson, Kathleen L Poston, Vinod Menon.

  Speech impediments are a prominent yet understudied symptom of Parkinson's disease (PD). While the subthalamic nucleus (STN) is an established clinical target for treating motor symptoms, these interventions can lead to further worsening of speech. The interplay between dopaminergic medication, STN circuitry, and their downstream effects on speech in PD is not yet fully understood. Here, we investigate the effect of dopaminergic medication on STN circuitry and probe its association with speech and cognitive functions in PD patients. We found that changes in intrinsic functional connectivity of the STN were associated with alterations in speech functions in PD. Interestingly, this relationship was characterized by altered functional connectivity of the dorsolateral and ventromedial subdivisions of the STN with the language network. Crucially, medication-induced changes in functional connectivity between the STN's dorsolateral subdivision and key regions in the language network, including the left inferior frontal cortex and the left superior temporal gyrus, correlated with alterations on a standardized neuropsychological test requiring oral responses. This relation was not observed in the written version of the same test. Furthermore, changes in functional connectivity between STN and language regions predicted the medication's downstream effects on speech-related cognitive performance. These findings reveal a previously unidentified brain mechanism through which dopaminergic medication influences speech function in PD. Our study sheds light into the subcortical-cortical circuit mechanisms underlying impaired speech control in PD. The insights gained here could inform treatment strategies aimed at mitigating speech deficits in PD and enhancing the quality of life for affected individuals.

Keywords:  dopamine; functional connectivity; language; speech; subthalamic nuclei

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2316149121
Genet Med. 2024 May 16. pii: S1098-3600(24)00100-X. [Epub ahead of print] 101166

Loss of function of FAM177A1, a Golgi complex localized protein, causes a novel neurodevelopmental disorder.

Undiagnosed Diseases Network

  PURPOSE: The function of FAM177A1 and its relationship to human disease is largely unknown. Recent studies have demonstrated FAM177A1 to be a critical immune-associated gene. One previous case study has linked FAM177A1 to a neurodevelopmental disorder in four siblings.METHODS: We identified five individuals from three unrelated families with biallelic variants in FAM177A1. The physiological function of FAM177A1 was studied in a zebrafish model organism and human cell lines with loss-of-function variants similar to the affected cohort.
RESULTS: These individuals share a characteristic phenotype defined by macrocephaly, global developmental delay, intellectual disability, seizures, behavioral abnormalities, hypotonia, and gait disturbance. We show that FAM177A1 localizes to the Golgi complex in mammalian and zebrafish cells. Intersection of the RNA-seq and metabolomic datasets from FAM177A1-deficient human fibroblasts and whole zebrafish larvae demonstrated dysregulation of pathways associated with apoptosis, inflammation, and negative regulation of cell proliferation.
CONCLUSION: Our data sheds light on the emerging function of FAM177A1 and defines FAM177A1-related neurodevelopmental disorder as a new clinical entity.

Keywords:  FAM177A1; developmental delay; inflammation; intellectual disability; macrocephaly; neurodevelopment; zebrafish

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gim.2024.101166
Genes (Basel). 2024 May 10. pii: 606. [Epub ahead of print]15(5):

miR-423-5p Regulates Skeletal Muscle Growth and Development by Negatively Inhibiting Target Gene SRF.

Yanqin Pang, Jing Liang, Jianfang Huang, Ganqiu Lan, Fumei Chen, Hui Ji, Yunxiang Zhao.

  The process of muscle growth directly affects the yield and quality of pork food products. Muscle fibers are created during the embryonic stage, grow following birth, and regenerate during adulthood; these are all considered to be phases of muscle development. A multilevel network of transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and pathway levels controls this process. An integrated toolbox of genetics and genomics as well as the use of genomics techniques has been used in the past to attempt to understand the molecular processes behind skeletal muscle growth and development in pigs under divergent selection processes. A class of endogenous noncoding RNAs have a major regulatory function in myogenesis. But the precise function of miRNA-423-5p in muscle development and the related molecular pathways remain largely unknown. Using target prediction software, initially, the potential target genes of miR-423-5p in the Guangxi Bama miniature pig line were identified using various selection criteria for skeletal muscle growth and development. The serum response factor (SRF) was found to be one of the potential target genes, and the two are negatively correlated, suggesting that there may be targeted interactions. In addition to being strongly expressed in swine skeletal muscle, miR-423-5p was also up-regulated during C2C12 cell development. Furthermore, real-time PCR analysis showed that the overexpression of miR-423-5p significantly reduced the expression of myogenin and the myogenic differentiation antigen (p < 0.05). Moreover, the results of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) demonstrated that the overexpression of miR-423-5p led to a significant reduction in SRF expression (p < 0.05). Furthermore, miR-423-5p down-regulated the luciferase activities of report vectors carrying the 3' UTR of porcine SRF, confirming that SRF is a target gene of miR-423-5p. Taken together, miR-423-5p's involvement in skeletal muscle differentiation may be through the regulation of SRF.

Keywords:  Guangxi Bama miniature pig; miRNA-423-5p; microRNA; muscle development; serum response factor

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/genes15050606
Mol Aspects Med. 2024 May 23. pii: S0098-2997(24)00036-0. [Epub ahead of print]97 101277

Fibro-adipogenic progenitors in physiological adipogenesis and intermuscular adipose tissue remodeling.

Marcelo Flores-Opazo, Daniel Kopinke, Françoise Helmbacher, Rodrigo Fernández-Verdejo, Mauro Tuñón-Suárez, Gordon S Lynch, Osvaldo Contreras.

  Excessive accumulation of intermuscular adipose tissue (IMAT) is a common pathological feature in various metabolic and health conditions and can cause muscle atrophy, reduced function, inflammation, insulin resistance, cardiovascular issues, and unhealthy aging. Although IMAT results from fat accumulation in muscle, the mechanisms underlying its onset, development, cellular components, and functions remain unclear. IMAT levels are influenced by several factors, such as changes in the tissue environment, muscle type and origin, extent and duration of trauma, and persistent activation of fibro-adipogenic progenitors (FAPs). FAPs are a diverse and transcriptionally heterogeneous population of stromal cells essential for tissue maintenance, neuromuscular stability, and tissue regeneration. However, in cases of chronic inflammation and pathological conditions, FAPs expand and differentiate into adipocytes, resulting in the development of abnormal and ectopic IMAT. This review discusses the role of FAPs in adipogenesis and how they remodel IMAT. It highlights evidence supporting FAPs and FAP-derived adipocytes as constituents of IMAT, emphasizing their significance in adipose tissue maintenance and development, as well as their involvement in metabolic disorders, chronic pathologies and diseases. We also investigated the intricate molecular pathways and cell interactions governing FAP behavior, adipogenesis, and IMAT accumulation in chronic diseases and muscle deconditioning. Finally, we hypothesize that impaired cellular metabolic flexibility in dysfunctional muscles impacts FAPs, leading to IMAT. A deeper understanding of the biology of IMAT accumulation and the mechanisms regulating FAP behavior and fate are essential for the development of new therapeutic strategies for several debilitating conditions.

Keywords:  Adipocytes; Adipogenesis; FAPs; IMAT; Metabolism; Obesity; Skeletal muscle

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mam.2024.101277
Front Cell Dev Biol. 2024 ;12 1411401

Imaging analysis for muscle stem cells and regeneration.

Smrithi Karthikeyan, Atsushi Asakura.

  Composed of a diverse variety of cells, the skeletal muscle is one of the body's tissues with the remarkable ability to regenerate after injury. One of the key players in the regeneration process is the muscle satellite cell (MuSC), a stem cell population for skeletal muscle, as it is the source of new myofibers. Maintaining MuSC quiescence during homeostasis involves complex interactions between MuSCs and other cells in their corresponding niche in adult skeletal muscle. After the injury, MuSCs are activated to enter the cell cycle for cell proliferation and differentiate into myotubes, followed by mature myofibers to regenerate muscle. Despite decades of research, the exact mechanisms underlying MuSC maintenance and activation remain elusive. Traditional methods of analyzing MuSCs, including cell cultures, animal models, and gene expression analyses, provide some insight into MuSC biology but lack the ability to replicate the 3-dimensional (3-D) in vivo muscle environment and capture dynamic processes comprehensively. Recent advancements in imaging technology, including confocal, intra-vital, and multi-photon microscopies, provide promising avenues for dynamic MuSC morphology and behavior to be observed and characterized. This chapter aims to review 3-D and live-imaging methods that have contributed to uncovering insights into MuSC behavior, morphology changes, interactions within the muscle niche, and internal signaling pathways during the quiescence to activation (Q-A) transition. Integrating advanced imaging modalities and computational tools provides a new avenue for studying complex biological processes in skeletal muscle regeneration and muscle degenerative diseases such as sarcopenia and Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).

Keywords:  Duchenne muscular dystrophy; endothelial cell; muscle regeneration; muscle stem cell; myogenesis; niche; satellite cell; skeletal muscle

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3389/fcell.2024.1411401
Int J Mol Sci. 2024 May 08. pii: 5129. [Epub ahead of print]25(10):

Acetate Alleviates Gut Microbiota Depletion-Induced Retardation of Skeletal Muscle Growth and Development in Young Mice.

Guitao Yang, Jinwei Zhang, Yan Liu, Jing Sun, Liangpeng Ge, Lu Lu, Keren Long, Xuewei Li, Dengfeng Xu, Jideng Ma.

  The normal growth and development of skeletal muscle is essential for the health of the body. The regulation of skeletal muscle by intestinal microorganisms and their metabolites has been continuously demonstrated. Acetate is the predominant short-chain fatty acids synthesized by gut microbiota through the fermentation of dietary fiber; however, the underlying molecular mechanisms governing the interaction between acetate and skeletal muscle during the rapid growth stage remains to be further elucidated. Herein, specific pathogen-free (SPF) mice, germ-free (GF) mice, and germ-free mice supplemented with sodium acetate (GS) were used to evaluate the effects of acetate on the skeletal muscle growth and development of young mice with gut microbiota deficiency. We found that the concentration of serum acetate, body mass gain, succinate dehydrogenase activity, and expression of the myogenesis maker gene of skeletal muscle in the GS group were higher than those in the GF group, following sodium acetate supplementation. Furthermore, the transcriptome analysis revealed that acetate activated the biological processes that regulate skeletal muscle growth and development in the GF group, which are otherwise inhibited due to a gut microbiota deficiency. The in vitro experiment showed that acetate up-regulated Gm16062 to promote skeletal muscle cell differentiation. Overall, our findings proved that acetate promotes skeletal muscle growth and development in young mice via increasing Gm16062 expression.

Keywords:  Gm16062; acetate; gut microbiota; skeletal muscle

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25105129
Cell Death Discov. 2024 May 22. 10(1): 245

Eliminating elevated p53 signaling fails to rescue skeletal muscle defects or extend survival in lamin A/C-deficient mice.

Tyler J Kirby, Hind C Zahr, Ern Hwei Hannah Fong, Jan Lammerding.

Lamins A and C, encoded by the LMNA gene, are nuclear intermediate filaments that provide structural support to the nucleus and contribute to chromatin organization and transcriptional regulation. LMNA mutations cause muscular dystrophies, dilated cardiomyopathy, and other diseases. The mechanisms by which many LMNA mutations result in muscle-specific diseases have remained elusive, presenting a major hurdle in the development of effective treatments. Previous studies using striated muscle laminopathy mouse models found that cytoskeletal forces acting on mechanically fragile Lmna-mutant nuclei led to transient nuclear envelope rupture, extensive DNA damage, and activation of DNA damage response (DDR) pathways in skeletal muscle cells in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, hearts of Lmna mutant mice have elevated activation of the tumor suppressor protein p53, a central regulator of DDR signaling. We hypothesized that elevated p53 activation could present a pathogenic mechanism in striated muscle laminopathies, and that eliminating p53 activation could improve muscle function and survival in laminopathy mouse models. Supporting a pathogenic function of p53 activation in muscle, stabilization of p53 was sufficient to reduce contractility and viability in wild-type muscle cells in vitro. Using three laminopathy models, we found that increased p53 activity in Lmna-mutant muscle cells primarily resulted from mechanically induced damage to the myonuclei, and not from altered transcriptional regulation due to loss of lamin A/C expression. However, global deletion of p53 in a severe muscle laminopathy model did not reduce the disease phenotype or increase survival, indicating that additional drivers of disease must contribute to the disease pathogenesis.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41420-024-01998-1
J Biochem Mol Toxicol. 2024 Jun;38(6): e23734

Curcumin affects autophagy of prolactinoma cells by upregulating miR-206 to exert antitumor effects.

Jia-Feng Duan, Qiu-Juan Zhang, Jin Zhu, Jia-Hui Lu.

  We explored the effects of curcumin on the aberrant biological behaviors of prolactinoma cells and the downstream pathways through which curcumin exerts its antitumor effects. We used quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assays to measure miR-206 expression levels in peripheral blood samples from patients with prolactinoma before and after curcumin treatment. We also investigated the proliferation level, viability, and invasion ability of groups of cells treated with different concentrations of curcumin using 3-(4,5)-dimethylthiahiazo (-z-y1)-3-di-phenytetrazoliumromide (MTT) assays, cell cloning assays, and Transwell assays, respectively. Furthermore, we determined the levels of autophagy-related proteins and protein kinase B/mammalian target of the rapamycin (Akt/mTOR) signaling pathway-related proteins in each group of treated cells by western blot. Curcumin treatment upregulated miR-206 expression levels in the peripheral blood of patients with prolactinoma and in GH3 cells. Knockdown of miR-206 expression enhanced the proliferation and invasive ability of GH3 cells, while curcumin treatment effectively inhibited the aberrant biological behavior of GH3 cells enhanced by miR-206 knockdown. miR-206 knockdown also activated the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway and inhibited autophagy in GH3 cells, and these changes were effectively reversed by curcumin treatment. Thus, curcumin inhibited the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway and promoted cell autophagy by miR-206 upregulation, resulting in antitumor effects that inhibited prolactinoma cell proliferation and invasion.

Keywords:  autophagy; curcumin; miR‐206; prolactinoma

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1002/jbt.23734
Genome Res. 2024 May 22. pii: gr.278717.123. [Epub ahead of print]

Single-cell spatial transcriptomics reveals a dystrophic trajectory following a developmental bifurcation of myoblast cell fates in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy.

Lujia Chen, Xiangduo Kong, Kevin G Johnston, Ali Mortazavi, Todd C Holmes, Zhiqun Tan, Kyoko Yokomori, Xiangmin Xu.

Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is linked to abnormal de-repression of the transcription activator DUX4. This effect is localized to a low percentage of cells, requiring single-cell analysis. However, single-cell/nucleus RNA-seq cannot fully capture the transcriptome of multinucleated large myotubes. To circumvent these issues, we use MERFISH (Multiplexed Error Robust Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization) spatial transcriptomics that allows profiling of RNA transcripts at a subcellular resolution. We simultaneously examined spatial distributions of 140 genes, including 24 direct DUX4 targets, in in vitro differentiated control, isogenic D4Z4 contraction mutant and FSHD patient myotubes and unfused mononuclear cells (MNCs), as well as the individual nuclei within them. We find myocyte nuclei segregate into 2 clusters defined by expression of DUX4 target genes, which is exclusively found in patient/mutant nuclei, while MNCs cluster based on developmental state. Patient/mutant myotubes are found in "FSHD-hi" and "FSHD-lo" states with the former signified by high DUX4 target expression and decreased muscle gene expression. Pseudotime analyses reveal a clear bifurcation of myoblast differentiation into control and FSHD-hi myotube branches, with variable numbers of DUX4 target expressing nuclei found in multinucleated FSHD-hi myotubes. Gene coexpression modules related to extracellular matrix and stress gene ontologies are significantly altered in patient/mutant myotubes compared to control. We also identify distinct subpathways within the DUX4 gene network that may differentially contribute to the disease transcriptomic phenotype. Taken together, our MERFISH-based study provides effective gene network profiling of multinucleated cells and identifies FSHD-induced transcriptomic alterations during myoblast differentiation.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1101/gr.278717.123
Int J Mol Sci. 2024 May 12. pii: 5277. [Epub ahead of print]25(10):

Inactivation of Myostatin Delays Senescence via TREX1-SASP in Bovine Skeletal Muscle Cells.

Miaomiao Yang, Li Gao, Yajie Gao, Zhenting Hao, Xinyu Zhou, Guanghua Su, Chunling Bai, Zhuying Wei, Xuefei Liu, Lei Yang, Guangpeng Li.

  The myostatin (MSTN) gene also regulates the developmental balance of skeletal muscle after birth, and has long been linked to age-related muscle wasting. Many rodent studies have shown a correlation between MSTN and age-related diseases. It is unclear how MSTN and age-associated muscle loss in other animals are related. In this study, we utilized MSTN gene-edited bovine skeletal muscle cells to investigate the mechanisms relating to MSTN and muscle cell senescence. The expression of MSTN was higher in older individuals than in younger individuals. We obtained consecutively passaged senescent cells and performed senescence index assays and transcriptome sequencing. We found that senescence hallmarks and the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) were decreased in long-term-cultured myostatin inactivated (MT-KO) bovine skeletal muscle cells (bSMCs). Using cell signaling profiling, MSTN was shown to regulate the SASP, predominantly through the cycle GMP-AMP synthase-stimulator of antiviral genes (cGAS-STING) pathway. An in-depth investigation by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) analysis revealed that MSTN influenced three prime repair exonuclease 1 (TREX1) expression through the SMAD2/3 complex. The downregulation of MSTN contributed to the activation of the MSTN-SMAD2/3-TREX1 signaling axis, influencing the secretion of SASP, and consequently delaying the senescence of bSMCs. This study provided valuable new insight into the role of MSTN in cell senescence in large animals.

Keywords:  SASP; TREX1; cGAS-STING; cell senescence; myostatin; skeletal muscle cell

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25105277
Heliyon. 2024 May 15. 10(9): e30640

LncRNA 4930581F22Rik promotes myogenic differentiation by regulating the ERK/MAPK signaling pathway.

Wei-Cai Chen, Wan-Xin Chen, Ye-Ya Tan, Ying-Jun Xu, Yi Luo, Shi-Yu Qian, Wan-Yi Xu, Meng-Chun Huang, Yan-Hua Guo, Zhi-Gang Zhou, Qi Zhang, Jian-Xi Lu, Shu-Juan Xie.

  The skeletal muscle is the largest organ in mammals and is the primary motor function organ of the body. Our previous research has shown that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are significant in the epigenetic control of skeletal muscle development. Here, we observed progressive upregulation of lncRNA 4930581F22Rik expression during skeletal muscle differentiation. Knockdown of lncRNA 4930581F22Rik hindered skeletal muscle differentiation and resulted in the inhibition of the myogenic markers MyHC and MEF2C. Furthermore, we found that lncRNA 4930581F22Rik regulates myogenesis via the ERK/MAPK signaling pathway, and this effect could be attenuated by the ERK-specific inhibitor PD0325901. Additionally, in vivo mice injury model results revealed that lncRNA 4930581F22Rik is involved in skeletal muscle regeneration. These results establish a theoretical basis for understanding the contribution of lncRNAs in skeletal muscle development and regeneration.

Keywords:  Differentiation; ERK/MAPK signaling; Regeneration; Skeletal muscle; lncRNA 4930581F22Rik

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e30640
Commun Biol. 2024 May 24. 7(1): 631

In vivo cyclic overexpression of Yamanaka factors restricted to neurons reverses age-associated phenotypes and enhances memory performance.

Alejandro Antón-Fernández, Marta Roldán-Lázaro, Laura Vallés-Saiz, Jesús Ávila, Félix Hernández.

In recent years, there has been success in partially reprogramming peripheral organ cells using cyclic Yamanaka transcription factor (YF) expression, resulting in the reversal of age-related pathologies. In the case of the brain, the effects of partial reprogramming are scarcely known, and only some of its effects have been observed through the widespread expression of YF. This study is the first to exclusively partially reprogram a specific subpopulation of neurons in the cerebral cortex of aged mice. The in vivo model demonstrate that YF expression in postmitotic neurons does not dedifferentiate them, and it avoids deleterious effects observed with YF expression in other cell types. Additionally, our study demonstrates that only cyclic, not continuous, expression of YF result in a noteworthy enhancement of cognitive function in adult mice. This enhancement is closely tied to increased neuronal activation in regions related to memory processes, reversed aging-related epigenetic markers and to increased plasticity, induced by the reorganization of the extracellular matrix. These findings support the therapeutic potential of targeted partial reprogramming of neurons in addressing age-associated phenotypes and neurodegenerative diseases correlated with aging.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-024-06328-w
J Biol Chem. 2024 May 21. pii: S0021-9258(24)01904-5. [Epub ahead of print] 107403

Up-regulation of cholesterol synthesis by lysosomal defects requires a functional mitochondrial respiratory chain.

Francesco Agostini, Leonardo Pereyra, Justin Dale, King Faisal Yambire, Silvia Maglioni, Alfonso Schiavi, Natascia Ventura, Ira Milosevic, Nuno Raimundo.

Mitochondria and lysosomes are two organelles that carry out both signaling and metabolic roles in cells. Recent evidence has shown that mitochondria and lysosomes are dependent on one another, as primary defects in one cause secondary defects in the other. Although there are functional impairments in both cases, the signaling consequences of primary mitochondrial dysfunction and lysosomal defects are dissimilar. Here, we used RNA sequencing to obtain transcriptomes from cells with primary mitochondrial or lysosomal defects to identify the global cellular consequences associated with mitochondrial or lysosomal dysfunction. We used these data to determine the pathways affected by defects in both organelles, which revealed a prominent role for the cholesterol synthesis pathway. We observed a transcriptional up-regulated of this pathway in cellular and murine models of lysosomal defects, while it is transcriptionally down-regulated in cellular and murine models of mitochondrial defects. We identified a role for the post-transcriptional regulation of transcription factor SREBF1, a master regulator of cholesterol and lipid biosynthesis, in models of mitochondrial respiratory chain deficiency. Furthermore, we found that retention of Ca2+ in lysosomes of cells with mitochondrial respiratory chain defects contributes to the differential regulation of the cholesterol synthesis pathway in the mitochondrial and lysosomal defects tested. Finally, we verified in vivo, using a model of mitochondria-associated disease in C. elegans, that normalization of lysosomal Ca2+ levels results in partial rescue of the developmental delay induced by the respiratory chain deficiency.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbc.2024.107403
Life (Basel). 2024 May 05. pii: 589. [Epub ahead of print]14(5):

Piceatannol Upregulates SIRT1 Expression in Skeletal Muscle Cells and in Human Whole Blood: In Vitro Assay and a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel-Group Comparison Trial.

Kenta Tanaka, Shinpei Kawakami, Sadao Mori, Takumi Yamaguchi, Eriko Saito, Yuko Setoguchi, Yuko Matsui, Eisaku Nishimura, Shukuko Ebihara, Toshihiro Kawama.

  Piceatannol (PIC), a polyphenol abundant in passion fruit seeds, is reported to promote fat metabolism. This study investigated whether PIC affects sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) expression and metabolic factors in C2C12 skeletal muscle cells. C2C12 myotubes were stimulated with PIC, and alterations in gene expression, protein levels, mitochondrial DNA content, and fatty acid levels were assessed using real-time PCR, Western blotting, and Nile red staining. Furthermore, we examined changes in SIRT1 expression following the consumption of a test food containing 100 mg PIC for 2 weeks among adults with varying age and body mass index ranges. Both PIC and passion fruit seed extract induced SIRT1 expression in C2C12 myotubes to a greater extent than resveratrol. PIC also increased the expression of genes associated with mitochondrial biogenesis and fatty acid utilization, increased mitochondrial DNA content, and suppressed oleic acid-induced fat accumulation. Moreover, participants who consumed PIC exhibited significantly higher SIRT1 mRNA expression in whole blood compared to those in the placebo group. These findings suggest that PIC induces SIRT1 expression both in vitro and in the human body, which may promote mitochondrial biosynthesis and fat metabolism.

Keywords:  SIRT1; fat metabolism; mitochondria; passion fruit seed; piceatannol; resveratrol; skeletal muscle

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/life14050589
J Physiol. 2024 May 18.

Differential impact of sex on regulation of skeletal muscle mitochondrial function and protein homeostasis by hypoxia-inducible factor-1α in normoxia.

Nicole Welch, Saurabh Mishra, Annette Bellar, Pugazhendhi Kannan, Amrit Gopan, Maryam Goudarzi, Jasmine King, Mathew Luknis, Ryan Musich, Vandana Agrawal, James Bena, Cameron J Koch, Ling Li, Belinda Willard, Yatrik M Shah, Srinivasan Dasarathy.

  Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α is continuously synthesized and degraded in normoxia. During hypoxia, HIF1α stabilization restricts cellular/mitochondrial oxygen utilization. Cellular stressors can stabilize HIF1α even during normoxia. However, less is known about HIF1α function(s) and sex-specific effects during normoxia in the basal state. Since skeletal muscle is the largest protein store in mammals and protein homeostasis has high energy demands, we determined HIF1α function at baseline during normoxia in skeletal muscle. Untargeted multiomics data analyses were followed by experimental validation in differentiated murine myotubes with loss/gain of function and skeletal muscle from mice without/with post-natal muscle-specific Hif1a deletion (Hif1amsd). Mitochondrial oxygen consumption studies using substrate, uncoupler, inhibitor, titration protocols; targeted metabolite quantification by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry; and post-mitotic senescence markers using biochemical assays were performed. Multiomics analyses showed enrichment in mitochondrial and cell cycle regulatory pathways in Hif1a deleted cells/tissue. Experimentally, mitochondrial oxidative functions and ATP content were higher with less mitochondrial free radical generation with Hif1a deletion. Deletion of Hif1a also resulted in higher concentrations of TCA cycle intermediates and HIF2α proteins in myotubes. Overall responses to Hif1amsd were similar in male and female mice, but changes in complex II function, maximum respiration, Sirt3 and HIF1β protein expression and muscle fibre diameter were sex-dependent. Adaptive responses to hypoxia are mediated by stabilization of constantly synthesized HIF1α. Despite rapid degradation, the presence of HIF1α during normoxia contributes to lower mitochondrial oxidative efficiency and greater post-mitotic senescence in skeletal muscle. In vivo responses to HIF1α in skeletal muscle were differentially impacted by sex. KEY POINTS: Hypoxia-inducible factor -1α (HIF1α), a critical transcription factor, undergoes continuous synthesis and proteolysis, enabling rapid adaptive responses to hypoxia by reducing mitochondrial oxygen consumption. In mammals, skeletal muscle is the largest protein store which is determined by a balance between protein synthesis and breakdown and is sensitive to mitochondrial oxidative function. To investigate the functional consequences of transient HIF1α expression during normoxia in the basal state, myotubes and skeletal muscle from male and female mice with HIF1α knockout were studied using complementary multiomics, biochemical and metabolite assays. HIF1α knockout altered the electron transport chain, mitochondrial oxidative function, signalling molecules for protein homeostasis, and post-mitotic senescence markers, some of which were differentially impacted by sex. The cost of rapid adaptive responses mediated by HIF1α is lower mitochondrial oxidative efficiency and post-mitotic senescence during normoxia.

Keywords:  hypoxia inducible factor‐1 alpha; muscle‐specific deletion; normoxia; physiology; sex‐differences

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1113/JP285339
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2024 May 28. 121(22): e2405123121

CISD3/MiNT is required for complex I function, mitochondrial integrity, and skeletal muscle maintenance.

Rachel Nechushtai, Linda Rowland, Ola Karmi, Henri-Baptiste Marjault, Thi Thao Nguyen, Shubham Mittal, Raheel S Ahmed, DeAna Grant, Camila Manrique-Acevedo, Faruck Morcos, José N Onuchic, Ron Mittler.

  Mitochondria play a central role in muscle metabolism and function. A unique family of iron-sulfur proteins, termed CDGSH Iron Sulfur Domain-containing (CISD/NEET) proteins, support mitochondrial function in skeletal muscles. The abundance of these proteins declines during aging leading to muscle degeneration. Although the function of the outer mitochondrial CISD/NEET proteins, CISD1/mitoNEET and CISD2/NAF-1, has been defined in skeletal muscle cells, the role of the inner mitochondrial CISD protein, CISD3/MiNT, is currently unknown. Here, we show that CISD3 deficiency in mice results in muscle atrophy that shares proteomic features with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. We further reveal that CISD3 deficiency impairs the function and structure of skeletal muscles, as well as their mitochondria, and that CISD3 interacts with, and donates its [2Fe-2S] clusters to, complex I respiratory chain subunit NADH Ubiquinone Oxidoreductase Core Subunit V2 (NDUFV2). Using coevolutionary and structural computational tools, we model a CISD3-NDUFV2 complex with proximal coevolving residue interactions conducive of [2Fe-2S] cluster transfer reactions, placing the clusters of the two proteins 10 to 16 Å apart. Taken together, our findings reveal that CISD3/MiNT is important for supporting the biogenesis and function of complex I, essential for muscle maintenance and function. Interventions that target CISD3 could therefore impact different muscle degeneration syndromes, aging, and related conditions.

Keywords:  Duchenne muscular dystrophy; NDUFV2; NEET/CISD proteins; complex I; mitochondria

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2405123121
Life (Basel). 2024 Apr 26. pii: 562. [Epub ahead of print]14(5):

microRNA and the Post-Transcriptional Response to Oxidative Stress during Neuronal Differentiation: Implications for Neurodevelopmental and Psychiatric Disorders.

Behnaz Khavari, Michelle M Barnett, Ebrahim Mahmoudi, Michael P Geaghan, Adam Graham, Murray J Cairns.

  Oxidative stress is one of the most important environmental exposures associated with psychiatric disorders, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain to be elucidated. In a previous study, we observed a substantial alteration of the gene expression landscape in neuron-like cells that were differentiated from SH-SY5Y cells after or during exposure to oxidative stress, with a subset of dysregulated genes being enriched for neurodevelopmental processes. To further explore the regulatory mechanisms that might account for such profound perturbations, we have now applied small RNA-sequencing to investigate changes in the expression of miRNAs. These molecules are known to play crucial roles in brain development and response to stress through their capacity to suppress gene expression and influence complex biological networks. Through these analyses, we observed more than a hundred differentially expressed miRNAs, including 80 previously reported to be dysregulated in psychiatric disorders. The seven most influential miRNAs associated with pre-treatment exposure, including miR-138-5p, miR-96-5p, miR-34c-5p, miR-1287-5p, miR-497-5p, miR-195-5p, and miR-16-5p, supported by at least 10 negatively correlated mRNA connections, formed hubs in the interaction network with 134 genes enriched with neurobiological function, whereas in the co-treatment condition, miRNA-mRNA interaction pairs were enriched in cardiovascular and immunity-related disease ontologies. Interestingly, 12 differentially expressed miRNAs originated from the DLK1-DIO3 location, which encodes a schizophrenia-associated miRNA signature. Collectively, our findings suggest that early exposure to oxidative stress, before and during prenatal neuronal differentiation, might increase the risk of mental illnesses in adulthood by disturbing the expression of miRNAs that regulate neurodevelopmentally significant genes and networks.

Keywords:  DLK1-DIO3; immune system; miR-137; miR-181b; miRNA; neurodevelopment; oxidative stress; psychiatric disorders

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/life14050562
Int J Mol Sci. 2024 May 08. pii: 5117. [Epub ahead of print]25(10):

Skeletal Muscle Injury in Chronic Kidney Disease-From Histologic Changes to Molecular Mechanisms and to Novel Therapies.

Kylie Heitman, Matthew S Alexander, Christian Faul.

  Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with significant reductions in lean body mass and in the mass of various tissues, including skeletal muscle, which causes fatigue and contributes to high mortality rates. In CKD, the cellular protein turnover is imbalanced, with protein degradation outweighing protein synthesis, leading to a loss of protein and cell mass, which impairs tissue function. As CKD itself, skeletal muscle wasting, or sarcopenia, can have various origins and causes, and both CKD and sarcopenia share common risk factors, such as diabetes, obesity, and age. While these pathologies together with reduced physical performance and malnutrition contribute to muscle loss, they cannot explain all features of CKD-associated sarcopenia. Metabolic acidosis, systemic inflammation, insulin resistance and the accumulation of uremic toxins have been identified as additional factors that occur in CKD and that can contribute to sarcopenia. Here, we discuss the elevation of systemic phosphate levels, also called hyperphosphatemia, and the imbalance in the endocrine regulators of phosphate metabolism as another CKD-associated pathology that can directly and indirectly harm skeletal muscle tissue. To identify causes, affected cell types, and the mechanisms of sarcopenia and thereby novel targets for therapeutic interventions, it is important to first characterize the precise pathologic changes on molecular, cellular, and histologic levels, and to do so in CKD patients as well as in animal models of CKD, which we describe here in detail. We also discuss the currently known pathomechanisms and therapeutic approaches of CKD-associated sarcopenia, as well as the effects of hyperphosphatemia and the novel drug targets it could provide to protect skeletal muscle in CKD.

Keywords:  chronic kidney disease; fibroblast growth factor 23; klotho; parathyroid hormone; phosphate; sarcopenia; skeletal muscle atrophy; vitamin D

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25105117