Project description:Sex differences in liver gene expression are dictated by sex-differences in circulating growth hormone (GH) profiles. Presently, the pituitary hormone dependence of mouse liver gene expression was investigated on a global scale to discover sex-specific early GH response genes that might contribute to sex-specific regulation of downstream GH targets and to ascertain whether intrinsic sex-differences characterize hepatic responses to plasma GH stimulation. RNA expression analysis using 41,000-feature microarrays revealed two distinct classes of sex-specific mouse liver genes: genes subject to positive regulation (class-I) and genes subject to negative regulation by pituitary hormones (class-II). Genes activated or repressed in hypophysectomized (Hypox) mouse liver within 30-90min of GH pulse treatment at a physiological dose were identified as direct targets of GH action (early response genes). Intrinsic sex-differences in the GH responsiveness of a subset of these early response genes were observed. Notably, 45 male-specific genes, including five encoding transcriptional regulators that may mediate downstream sex-specific transcriptional responses, were rapidly induced by GH (within 30min) in Hypox male but not Hypox female mouse liver. The early GH response genes were enriched in 29 male-specific targets of the transcription factor Mef2, whose activation in hepatic stellate cells is associated with liver fibrosis leading to hepatocellular carcinoma, a male-predominant disease. Thus, the rapid activation by GH pulses of certain sex-specific genes is modulated by intrinsic sex-specific factors, which may be associated with prior hormone exposure (epigenetic mechanisms) or genetic factors that are pituitary-independent, and could contribute to sex-differences in predisposition to liver cancer or other hepatic pathophysiologies.
Project description:Characterization of Directly Regulated Thyroid Hormone Mediated Gene Expression Following Short-Term Perturbations in Thyroid Hormone Levels in Juvenile Mice
Project description:To investigate the effect of thyroid hormone and its receptor on glucose and lipid metabolism in white adipose tissue (WAT), and the effect of thyroid hormone and its receptor on WAT regulation on glucose metabolism and obesity. We constructed mice with adipose tissue-specific knockout of thyroid hormone receptor beta(ATRβKO mice). ATRβKO mice were given T3 stimulation or high-fat feeding. We then performed gene expression profiling analysis using data obtained from RNA-seq of White adipose tissue from knockout ATRβKO mice treated with T3 or HFD feeding.
Project description:We used microarrays to investigate differential gene expression in different thyroid hormone receptor beta mouse models. Hypothyroid wild type, TRbeta KO and TRbeta GS mutant mice were treated with T3 or vehicle alone. Microarray analysis revealed that the gene expression pattern in TRbeta GS mutant mice was similar to that in TRbeta KO mice.
Project description:NCoR1 (Nuclear receptor Co-Repressor) and SMRT (Silencing Mediator of Retinoid and Thyroid hormone receptor) are well-recognized coregulators of nuclear receptor (NR) action. However, their unique roles in the regulation of thyroid hormone (TH) signaling in specific cell types have not been determined. To accomplish this we generated a mouse model that lacked function of either NCoR1 or SMRT or both in the liver only. Despite both corepressors being present in the liver, SMRT had no ability to regulate TH signaling when deleted in either euthyroid or hypothyroid animals. In contrast, disruption of NCoR1 action confirmed that it is the principal mediator of TH sensitivity in vivo. While SMRT played little role in TH signaling alone, when disrupted in combination with NCoR1 it greatly accentuated the activation of hepatic lipogenesis regulated by NCoR1. Thus, corepressor specificity exists in vivo and NCoR1 is the principal regulator of TH action in the liver. However, both NCoR1 and SMRT collaborate to control hepatic lipogenesis and lipid storage, which likely reflects their cooperative activity in regulating the action of multiple NRs including the thyroid hormone receptor (TR). RNA was extracted from livers from 3 individual mice for each group (Double-floxed, Liver specific-SMRT knock out, and Liver specific-double knock out); all were euthyroid, female mice
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.