Project description:Background & Aims: Although hepcidin expression was shown to be induced by the BMP signaling pathway, it is not yet known how iron regulates hepcidin and which of the BMP molecules is the endogenous regulator of iron homeostasis in vivo. We therefore assessed liver transcription profiles of mice fed an iron-deficient or an iron-enriched diet and looked for genes that were regulated similarly to hepcidin in that context. Methods: Genome-wide liver expression profiles of mice of the B6 and D2 genetic backgrounds subjected to iron-deficient, -balanced, or -enriched diets were obtained using Agilent Whole Genome microarrays. Real-time quantitative-PCR and western-blots were used to confirm microarray results and compare gene expression variations induced by secondary iron deficiency or iron overload with those consecutive to Smad4 or Hamp1-deficiency. Results: Among 1419 transcripts significantly modulated by the dietary iron content, four were regulated similarly to the hepcidin genes Hamp1 and Hamp2. They are coding for Bmp6, the regulator of Bmp/Smad signal transduction Smad7, the negative regulator of basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) proteins Id1, and a protein with a bHLH domain, Atoh8. The iron overload developed by Smad4 and Hamp1-deficient mice also increased Bmp6 transcription. Body iron stores influence Smad1/5/8 phosphorylation and, as shown by analysis of mice with liver-specific disruption of Smad4, the binding partner for the receptor-activated Smads is necessary for activation of Smad7, Id1, and Atoh8 transcription by iron. Conclusions: Liver expression of Bmp6, Smad7, Id1, and Atoh8 is regulated by body iron stores and may participate in hepcidin regulation through the Bmp/Smad pathway. Keywords: response to dietary iron content
Project description:Homeostatic adaptation to systemic iron overload involves transcriptional induction of bone morphogenetic protein 6 (BMP6) in liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs). BMP6 is then secreted to activate signaling to the iron hormone hepcidin (Hamp) in neighboring hepatocytes. To explore the mechanism for iron sensing by LSECs, we generated TfrcTek-Cre mice with endothelial cell-specific ablation of transferrin receptor 1 (Tfr1). We also used wild type mice to characterize LSEC-specific molecular responses to iron by single cell transcriptomics. TfrcTek-Cre animals tend to have increased liver iron content compared to Tfrcfl/fl controls but do not exhibit blunted Bmp6 or Hamp mRNA expression. They respond to dietary iron challenges with Bmp6 and Hamp induction, yet sometimes to levels slightly lower relative to liver iron load. We noted that liver Bmp6 and Hamp mRNA levels significantly correlated with serum non-transferrin bound iron (NTBI) that emerged following dietary iron loading in both TfrcTek-Cre and Tfrcfl/fl mice. High dietary iron triggered more profound alterations in the LSEC transcriptome of Tfrcfl/fl mice compared to holo-transferrin injection. These culminated in robust induction of Bmp6 and other nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) target genes, as well as Myc target genes involved in ribosomal biogenesis and protein synthesis. Taken together, our data suggest that during systemic iron overload, LSECs internalize NTBI, which promotes oxidative stress and thereby transcriptionally induces Bmp6 via Nrf2. The contribution of Tfr1 and transferrin-bound iron to Bmp6 induction is minimal.
Project description:Iron induces hepcidin by activating bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)6-SMAD signaling. Liver endothelial cells (LECs) produce BMP6, but the molecular mechanisms are incompletely understood. To address this, we performed proteomics and RNA-sequencing on LECs from iron-adequate and iron-loaded mice. Gene set enrichment analysis identified transcription factors activated by high iron, including Nrf-2, which was previously reported to contribute to BMP6 regulation, and proto-oncogene c-Jun (encoded by Jun). Jun knockdown blocked Bmp6, but not Nrf-2 pathway, induction by iron in LEC cultures. Moreover, chromatin immunoprecipitation of mouse livers showed iron-dependent c-Jun binding to predicted sites in Bmp6 regulatory regions. Finally, c-Jun inhibitor blunted induction of Bmp6 and hepcidin, but not Nrf-2 activity, in iron-loaded mice. However, Bmp6 expression and iron parameters were unchanged in endothelial Jun knockout mice. Our data suggest that c-Jun participates in iron-mediated BMP6 regulation independent of Nrf-2, though the mechanisms may be redundant and/or multifactorial.
Project description:Iron induces hepcidin by activating bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)6-SMAD signaling, which is critical for regulation of systemic iron homeostasis. High iron levels induce BMP6 production in liver endothelial cells, but the molecular mechanisms by which iron regulates BMP6 are incompletely understood. To address this, we performed RNA-sequencing on sorted liver endothelial cells from iron-adequate and iron-loaded mice.
Project description:BMP6 is an iron-sensing cytokine produced by liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs). The transcription factor NRF2 was proposed to induce Bmp6 expression in response to iron-triggered oxidative stress, and NRF2 knock-out mice were shown not capable of regulating Bmp6 in response to massive diet-imposed iron overload. However, LSEC Bmp6 expression levels in the hemochromatosis mouse model reflect hepatocytic, not endothelial iron content. Hence, it is not fully resolved how iron signals translate into alterations of Bmp6 mRNA levels. To further explore the mechanisms of Bmp6 regulation, we employed female mice aged 10-11 months that are hallmarked by hepatocytic, but not LSEC iron accumulation and decreased transferrin saturation, hinting at the absence of systemic iron overload. We found that LSECs of aged mice exhibit increased Bmp6 levels as compared to young controls, but do not show oxidative stress or a transcriptional signature characteristic of activated NFR2-mediated signaling in FACS-sorted LSECs. We further observed that primary murine LSECs derived from both wild-type and NRF2 knock-out mice induce Bmp6 in response to acute iron exposure. By analyzing RNA sequencing data of FACS-sorted LSECs from aged versus young mice, as well as upon acute injections of iron citrate in young mice, we identified ETS1 as a candidate transcription factor involved in Bmp6 regulation. By conducting siRNA-mediated knock-down and small-molecule treatments in primary LSECs, we show that Bmp6 transcription is regulated in an NRF2-independent manner via ETS1, which is activated downstream of p38 MAP kinase-mediated signaling. This knowledge expands the understanding of Bmp6 transcriptional control in both iron-triggered oxidative stress and under the conditions uncoupled to LSECs reactive oxygen species levels.
Project description:BMP6 is an iron-sensing cytokine produced by liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs). The transcription factor NRF2 was proposed to induce Bmp6 expression in response to iron-triggered oxidative stress, and NRF2 knock-out mice were shown not capable of regulating Bmp6 in response to massive diet-imposed iron overload. However, LSEC Bmp6 expression levels in the hemochromatosis mouse model reflect hepatocytic, not endothelial iron content. Hence, it is not fully resolved how iron signals translate into alterations of Bmp6 mRNA levels. To further explore the mechanisms of Bmp6 regulation, we employed female mice aged 10-11 months that are hallmarked by hepatocytic, but not LSEC iron accumulation and decreased transferrin saturation, hinting at the absence of systemic iron overload. We found that LSECs of aged mice exhibit increased Bmp6 levels as compared to young controls, but do not show oxidative stress or a transcriptional signature characteristic of activated NFR2-mediated signaling in FACS-sorted LSECs. We further observed that primary murine LSECs derived from both wild-type and NRF2 knock-out mice induce Bmp6 in response to acute iron exposure. By analyzing RNA sequencing data of FACS-sorted LSECs from aged versus young mice, as well as upon acute injections of iron citrate in young mice, we identified ETS1 as a candidate transcription factor involved in Bmp6 regulation. By conducting siRNA-mediated knock-down and small-molecule treatments in primary LSECs, we show that Bmp6 transcription is regulated in an NRF2-independent manner via ETS1, which is activated downstream of p38 MAP kinase-mediated signaling. This knowledge expands the understanding of Bmp6 transcriptional control in both iron-triggered oxidative stress and under the conditions uncoupled to LSECs reactive oxygen species levels.
Project description:SILAC based protein correlation profiling using size exclusion of protein complexes derived from Mus musculus tissues (Heart, Liver, Lung, Kidney, Skeletal Muscle, Thymus)
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:SILAC based protein correlation profiling using size exclusion of protein complexes derived from seven Mus musculus tissues (Heart, Brain, Liver, Lung, Kidney, Skeletal Muscle, Thymus)
Project description:Mutations in repulsive guidance molecule c (RGMc) / hemojuvelin (HJV) cause juvenile hemochromatosis, an aggravated iron overload disorder that presents early in life. Patients with juvenile hemochromatosis, and RGMc knockout mice, have diminished expression of the key iron-regulatory peptide, hepcidin. This suggests that RGMc plays a critical role in the regulation of iron homeostasis; however the mechanisms of RGMc actions are unknown. Recent studies have shown that RGMc directly binds to the growth factors, bone morphogenetic protein 2 and 6 (BMP2 and BMP6), and it is possible that this interaction regulates aspects of iron metabolism. We used microarrays to examine the effects of RGMc on BMP2- and BMP6-mediated gene expression. In our experimental model we treated Hep3B liver cells that had been serum starved for 16 hours as follows: (1) un-treated, (2) BMP2, (3) BMP2 + 10-fold molar excess of Noggin (a potent BMP2 inhibitor), (4) BMP2 + 20-fold molar excess of RGMc, (5) BMP6, (6) BMP6 + 10-fold molar excess of Noggin, (7) BMP6 + 20-fold molar excess of RGMc. Binding was allowed to proceed for BMP and Noggin or RGMc for 3 hr at 20°C prior to treatment of Hep3B cells. Treatment time was 4 hr at which cells were collected for RNA isolation.