Project description:In an effort to reduce hepatic glucose production and lower plasma glucose levels that are characteristics of diabetes, we have devised a treatment whereby we enhance glycolysis in the liver of a type 2 diabetic mouse model (KK/H1J). We achieve this by raising the levels of a potent regulator of glucose metabolism, fructose-2,6-bisphosphate (F26BP). Treating the mice in this way, we have demonstrated amelioration of the diabetic phenotype in terms of lowering plasma glucose and insulin levels. These treated mice also display reduced weight gain, reduced adiposity, and normalized plasma and hepatic lipid levels. These latter metabolic changes brought about by raising F26BP levels are counterintuitive. A concurrent increase in glycolysis and lipogenesis is expected, however, we observe an increase in glycolysis with a concurrent decrease in lipogenesis. Preliminary analysis of gene expression in these mice has revealed alterations in gene expression of several genes that support the therapeutic effect of raising F26BP levels. To further profile F26BP effects on hepatic gene expression, we have applied a comprehensive approach to identify sets of genes and thereby biological pathways that are differentially regulated when hepatic glycolysis is accelerated in diabetic mice. Comparing diabetic and treated animals, we hope to further clarify the molecular and genetic signature of type 2 diabetes and obesity and elucidate how this signature is affected by raising F26BP levels. Our study examining gene array as well as the hepatic proteome has identified multiple gene and protein expression changes. Of particular relevance, we note that fatty acid metabolism and cholesterol metabolism pathways are significantly down-regulated in diabetic mice treated with a PFK-2 mutant engineered to raise F26BP levels, which underlie the changes we see in the metabolic parameters. 6 KK/H1J mice, a polygenic model of type 2 diabetes and obesity, weighing approximately 35g were used in this study. 3 mice were injected with GFP control adenovirus and 3 mice were injected with bisphosphatase deficient PFK-2 adenovirus (BPD). Mice were followed for 7 days before livers were extracted. Total cellular RNA was extracted from each mouse and analyzed by microarray separately.
Project description:We have shown in a previous study that the intake of persimmon peel (PP) extract altered hepatic gene expression of insulin signaling and enhanced tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptors in nonobese type 2 diabetic Goto–Kakizaki rats. We also showed the alteration of gene expression in fatty acid synthesis and metabolism. To evaluate the effect of PP extract on obese diabetic KK-Ay mice, we fed them a diet mixed with 0.1% of the extract for 8 weeks. The plasma total ketone bodies level of the treated mice were significantly lower than that of the untreated mice. The hepatic gene expression profiles of treated mice indicated upregulation of fatty acid biosynthesis-associated gene expression. Hepatic nonesterified palmitic acid content was higher in treated mice than in untreated mice. These results suggest that the intake of PP extract enhances hepatic fatty acid biosynthesis of KK-Ay mice, reducing their plasma total ketone bodies level.
Project description:Acetaminophen is a widely used antipyretic and analgesic drug, and its overdose is the leading cause of drug-induced acute liver failure. This study aimed to investigate the effect and mechanism of Lacticaseibacillus casei Shirota (LcS), an extensively used and highly studied probiotic, on acetaminophen-induced acute liver injury. C57BL/6 mice were gavaged with LcS suspension or saline once daily for 7 days before the acute liver injury was induced via intraperitoneal injection of 300 mg/kg acetaminophen. The results showed that LcS significantly decreased acetaminophen-induced liver and ileum injury, as demonstrated by reductions in the increases in aspartate aminotransferase, total bile acids, total bilirubin, indirect bilirubin and hepatic cell necrosis. Moreover, LcS alleviated the acetaminophen-induced intestinal mucosal permeability, elevation in serum IL-1α and lipopolysaccharide, and decreased levels of serum eosinophil chemokine (eotaxin) and hepatic glutathione levels. Furthermore, analysis of the gut microbiota and metabolome showed that LcS reduced the acetaminophen-enriched levels of Cyanobacteria, Oxyphotobacteria, long-chain fatty acids, cholesterol and sugars in the gut. Additionally, the transcriptome and proteomics showed that LcS mitigated the downregulation of metabolism and immune pathways as well as glutathione formation during acetaminophen-induced acute liver injury. This is the first study showing that pretreatment with LcS alleviates acetaminophen-enriched acute liver injury, and it provides a reference for the application of LcS.
Project description:In an effort to reduce hepatic glucose production and lower plasma glucose levels that are characteristics of diabetes, we have devised a treatment whereby we enhance glycolysis in the liver of a type 2 diabetic mouse model (KK/H1J). We achieve this by raising the levels of a potent regulator of glucose metabolism, fructose-2,6-bisphosphate (F26BP). Treating the mice in this way, we have demonstrated amelioration of the diabetic phenotype in terms of lowering plasma glucose and insulin levels. These treated mice also display reduced weight gain, reduced adiposity, and normalized plasma and hepatic lipid levels. These latter metabolic changes brought about by raising F26BP levels are counterintuitive. A concurrent increase in glycolysis and lipogenesis is expected, however, we observe an increase in glycolysis with a concurrent decrease in lipogenesis. Preliminary analysis of gene expression in these mice has revealed alterations in gene expression of several genes that support the therapeutic effect of raising F26BP levels. To further profile F26BP effects on hepatic gene expression, we have applied a comprehensive approach to identify sets of genes and thereby biological pathways that are differentially regulated when hepatic glycolysis is accelerated in diabetic mice. Comparing diabetic and treated animals, we hope to further clarify the molecular and genetic signature of type 2 diabetes and obesity and elucidate how this signature is affected by raising F26BP levels. Our study examining gene array as well as the hepatic proteome has identified multiple gene and protein expression changes. Of particular relevance, we note that fatty acid metabolism and cholesterol metabolism pathways are significantly down-regulated in diabetic mice treated with a PFK-2 mutant engineered to raise F26BP levels, which underlie the changes we see in the metabolic parameters.
Project description:Introgressed variants from other species can be an important source of genetic variation because they may arise rapidly, can include multiple mutations on a single haplotype, and have often been pretested by selection in the species of origin. Although introgressed alleles are generally deleterious, several studies have reported introgression as the source of adaptive alleles-including the rodenticide-resistant variant of Vkorc1 that introgressed from Mus spretus into European populations of Mus musculus domesticus. Here, we conducted bidirectional genome scans to characterize introgressed regions into one wild population of M. spretus from Spain and three wild populations of M. m. domesticus from France, Germany, and Iran. Despite the fact that these species show considerable intrinsic postzygotic reproductive isolation, introgression was observed in all individuals, including in the M. musculus reference genome (GRCm38). Mus spretus individuals had a greater proportion of introgression compared with M. m. domesticus, and within M. m. domesticus, the proportion of introgression decreased with geographic distance from the area of sympatry. Introgression was observed on all autosomes for both species, but not on the X-chromosome in M. m. domesticus, consistent with known X-linked hybrid sterility and inviability genes that have been mapped to the M. spretus X-chromosome. Tract lengths were generally short with a few outliers of up to 2.7 Mb. Interestingly, the longest introgressed tracts were in olfactory receptor regions, and introgressed tracts were significantly enriched for olfactory receptor genes in both species, suggesting that introgression may be a source of functional novelty even between species with high barriers to gene flow.
Project description:We created mice, which are deficient for Myc specifically in cardiac myocytes by crossing crossed Myc-floxed mice (Mycfl/fl) and MLC-2VCre/+ mice. Serial analysis of earlier stages of gestation revealed that Myc-deficient mice died prematurely at E13.5-14.5. Morphological analyses of E13.5 Myc-null embryos showed normal ventricular size and structure; however, decreased cardiac myocyte proliferation and increased apoptosis was observed. BrdU incorporation rates were also decreased significantly in Myc-null myocardium. Myc-null mice displayed a 3.67-fold increase in apoptotic cardiomyocytes by TUNEL assay. We examined global gene expression using oligonucleotide microarrays. Numerous genes involved in mitochondrial death pathways were dysregulated including Bnip3L and Birc2. Keywords: wildtype vs Myc-null