Project description:Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is a key metabolic regulator which was recently discovered as stress-induced myokine and common denominator of muscle mitochondrial disease. However, its precise function and pathophysiological relevance remains unknown. Here we demonstrate that white adipose tissue (WAT) is the major target of muscle mitochondrial stress-induced FGF21. Strikingly, substantial browning and metabolic remodeling of subcutaneous WAT, together with the reduction of circulating triglycerides and cholesterol are fully FGF21 dependent. Unexpectedly and in contrast to prior expectations, we found a negligible role of FGF21 in muscle stress-related improved glycemic control, obesity resistance and hepatic lipid homeostasis. Furthermore, we show that the protective muscle mitohormesis and metabolic stress adaptation does not require FGF21 action. Taken together, our data imply that although FGF21 drives WAT remodeling, this effect and FGF21 as stress hormone per se may not be essential for the adaptive response under muscle mitochondrial stress conditions. Wildtype male mice and FGF21-knockout male mice, together with muscle specific UCP1-transgenic male animals, and double cross of FGF21-KO with UCP1-Tg male mice, were kept on a standardized low fat diet for 40 weeks. After sacrifice, subcutaneous white adipose tisseu (scWAT) was rapidly removed, weighed, and snap frozen in liquid nitrogen and used for RNA isolation and whole genome gene expression microarray hybridisation using Agilent arrays.
Project description:Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is a key metabolic regulator which was recently discovered as stress-induced myokine and common denominator of muscle mitochondrial disease. However, its precise function and pathophysiological relevance remains unknown. Here we demonstrate that white adipose tissue (WAT) is the major target of muscle mitochondrial stress-induced FGF21. Strikingly, substantial browning and metabolic remodeling of subcutaneous WAT, together with the reduction of circulating triglycerides and cholesterol are fully FGF21 dependent. Unexpectedly and in contrast to prior expectations, we found a negligible role of FGF21 in muscle stress-related improved glycemic control, obesity resistance and hepatic lipid homeostasis. Furthermore, we show that the protective muscle mitohormesis and metabolic stress adaptation does not require FGF21 action. Taken together, our data imply that although FGF21 drives WAT remodeling, this effect and FGF21 as stress hormone per se may not be essential for the adaptive response under muscle mitochondrial stress conditions.
Project description:Chronic stress disorders lead to metabolic complications, including hepatic lipid accumulation. Here we address the role of FGF21 in the hepatic metabolic regulation in a mouse model for chronic variable stress (Cvs). Global FGF21KO and WT mice show an intact stress response with short-term Cvs induced alterations in hepatic lipid metabolism, mitochondrial function and gene expression. Hepatic steatosis is found with the highest significance in enrichment analyses of hepatic transcriptome data, with PPARa and SREBP-1 as main upstream regulatory molecules, which are directly associated to FGF21. After 3 months recovery, stress-related metabolic improvements are not visible in FGF21KO mice in contrast to WT mice, indicating the crucial role of FGF21 in the post-stress metabolic adaptations. Overall, we suggest that Cvs-induced gene regulation determines the metabolic late effects after stress. Furthermore, FGF21 is a key player in the protection from stress-induced hepatic lipid accumulation.
Project description:Background & Aims: Transporters of the SLC25 mitochondrial carrier superfamily bridge cytoplasmic and mitochondrial metabolism by channeling metabolites across mitochondrial membranes and are pivotal for metabolic homeostasis. Despite their physiological relevance as gatekeepers of cellular metabolism, most of the SLC25 family members remain uncharacterized. We undertook a comprehensive tissue distribution analysis of all Slc25 family members across metabolic organs and identified SLC25A47 as a liver-specific mitochondrial carrier. Method: We used a murine loss-of-function (LOF) model to unravel the role of this transporter in mitochondrial and hepatic homeostasis. We performed extensive metabolic phenotyping and molecular characterization of Slc25a47hep-/- mice. Results: Slc25a47hep-/- mice displayed a wide variety of metabolic abnormalities, as a result of sustained energy deficiency in the liver originating from impaired mitochondrial respiration in this organ. This mitochondrial phenotype was associated with a robust activation of the mitochondrial stress response in the liver, which in turn, induced the secretion of several mitokines, amongst which FGF21 played a preponderant role in the translation of the effects of the MSR on systemic physiology. To dissect the FGF21-dependent and -independent physiological changes induced by the loss of Slc25a47, we generated a double Slc25a47-Fgf21 LOF mouse model, and demonstrated that several aspects of the hypermetabolic state was entirely driven by hepatic secretion of FGF21. On the other hand, the metabolic fuel inflexibility induced by loss of Slc25a47 could not be rescued by genetical removal of Fgf21. Conclusion: Collectively, our data place SLC25A47 at the center of mitochondrial homeostasis, which upon dysfunction triggers robust liver-specific and systemic adaptive stress responses.
Project description:Chronic stress leads post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and to metabolic complications, including fatty liver. It is feasible, that stress immediately initiates molecular mechanisms to alter energy metabolism and glucose homeostasis which interfere with hepatic lipid accumulation after stress recovery. We aim to elucidate these molecular mechanisms of long term stress effects on metabolism and focus on physiological adaptation and the role of FGF21, which is protective in hepatic lipid accumulation. Methods FGF21 knockout and control mice were exposed to chronic variable stress (Cvs) and recovered for 3 months to simulate PTSD. We determined in vivo and ex vivo energy metabolism, mitochondrial function by extracellular flux analysis, alterations in DNA modifying enzymes and gene regulation immediately after stress and after the recovery period to determine long term alterations. Results Chronic stress leads to reduced insulin sensitivity and hepatic lipid accumulation with increased fatty acid uptake (FAU), stress-induced lipolysis, and reduction in NAD+/NAD ratio and Sirt activity. Immediately after stress, PPARa and SREBP-1 target genes are differentially regulated and are involved in the development of stress-induced fatty liver. After recovery, insulin sensitivity increases but insulin-induced de novo lipogenesis (DNL) is reduced and FAU is increased. HDAC and MT activity are suppressed, whereas HAT activity increases, linking metabolic adjustments to transcriptional regulators. Thus, key metabolic genes are differentially regulated and secreted proteins indicate the activation of liver disease by Cvs only in FGF21WT. GR binding to the Cd36 promoter is altered. After stress recovery, serum FGF21 is increased and protects against lipid accumulation. FGF21 interacts by attenuating DNL, increasing FAU and HAT activity, and balancing mitochondrial activity. Higher long-term stress-induced activation and binding of GR to the FGF21 promoter may contribute to the prolonged FGF21 release. Conclusions We show that previous stress exposure determines predisposition to fatty liver disease is regulated by FGF21. Immediately after Cvs, altered gene regulation and activity of DNA-modifying enzymes determine the metabolic late effects seen in PTSD. FGF21 functions after chronic stress exposure i) to protect against hepatic lipid accumulation, ii) to maintain mitochondrial capacity, and iii) to mediate in the modulation of DNA-modifying enzymes. These findings highlight the protective role of FGF21 even in stress-induced hepatic lipid accumulation.
Project description:Progressive mitochondrial respiratory chain (RC) deficiency is associated with a wide spectrum of adult-onset degenerative diseases, as well as with normal aging. We have previously generated the Deletor mice to model late-onset progressive RC defects. Here we report novel tissue-specific pathways contributing to mitochondrial disease pathogenesis, identified by gene expression analysis. We found that RC-deficient muscle fibers secrete the fasting-induced hormone, fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21). This response leads to fatty acid recruitment from adipocytes and resistance to high-fat-diet induced obesity in mice, but does not affect glucose or insulin metabolism. FGF21 is also induced in the muscle of mitochondrial myopathy patients and in other RC-deficient mice. These data show that skeletal muscle is an endocrine organ, which signals its energy deficiency through FGF21. Furthermore, RC deficiency in single muscle fibers initiates a global starvation response. These data have important implications for conditions with primary or secondary RC deficiency. Mice overexpressing mutant Twinkle (C10ORF2) protein are the first animal model for Progressive External Ophtalmoplegia (PEO). Using PEO-model and wt-mice, skeletal muscle (quadriceps femoris) was analyzed for gene expression profile.
Project description:Mitochondrial integrated stress response emerged as a major adaptive pathway to respiratory chain deficiency, but tissue-specifics of its regulation or how it adapts to different levels of mitochondrial dysfunction are largely unknown. Here we report that diverse levels of mitochondrial cardiomyopathy activate mitoISR, including high production of FGF21, a cytokine with both paracrine and endocrine function, shown to be induced by respiratory chain dysfunction. Remarkably, although being fully dispensable for the cell-autonomous and systemic responses to severe mitochondrial cardiomyopathy, in the conditions of mild-to-moderate cardiac OXPHOS dysfunction, FGF21 regulates a portion of the mitoISR. In the absence of FGF21, a large part of the metabolic adaptation to mitochondrial dysfunction (one-carbon metabolism, transsulfuration and serine and proline biosynthesis) is strongly blunted, independent of the primary mitoISR activator ATF4. Collectively, our work highlights the complexity of mitochondrial stress responses by revealing the importance of the tissue-specificity and dose-dependency of the mitoISR.
Project description:Progressive mitochondrial respiratory chain (RC) deficiency is associated with a wide spectrum of adult-onset degenerative diseases, as well as with normal aging. We have previously generated the Deletor mice to model late-onset progressive RC defects. Here we report novel tissue-specific pathways contributing to mitochondrial disease pathogenesis, identified by gene expression analysis. We found that RC-deficient muscle fibers secrete the fasting-induced hormone, fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21). This response leads to fatty acid recruitment from adipocytes and resistance to high-fat-diet induced obesity in mice, but does not affect glucose or insulin metabolism. FGF21 is also induced in the muscle of mitochondrial myopathy patients and in other RC-deficient mice. These data show that skeletal muscle is an endocrine organ, which signals its energy deficiency through FGF21. Furthermore, RC deficiency in single muscle fibers initiates a global starvation response. These data have important implications for conditions with primary or secondary RC deficiency.
Project description:Progressive mitochondrial respiratory chain (RC) deficiency is associated with a wide spectrum of adult-onset degenerative diseases, as well as with normal aging. We have previously generated the Deletor mice to model late-onset progressive RC defects. Here we report novel tissue-specific pathways contributing to mitochondrial disease pathogenesis, identified by gene expression analysis. We found that RC-deficient muscle fibers secrete the fasting-induced hormone, fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21). This response leads to fatty acid recruitment from adipocytes and resistance to high-fat-diet induced obesity in mice, but does not affect glucose or insulin metabolism. FGF21 is also induced in the muscle of mitochondrial myopathy patients and in other RC-deficient mice. These data show that skeletal muscle is an endocrine organ, which signals its energy deficiency through FGF21. Furthermore, RC deficiency in single muscle fibers initiates a global starvation response. These data have important implications for conditions with primary or secondary RC deficiency.
Project description:This experiment was conducted to identify mRNA transcripts alteration in muscle from skeletal muscle-sepcific Fundc1-knockout mice. The following abstract from the submitted manuscript describes the major findings of this work. Mitophagy directs muscle-adipose crosstalk to alleviate dietary obesity. Tingting Fu, Zhisheng Xu, Lin Liu, Qiqi Guo, Hao Wu, Xijun Liang, Danxia Zhou, Liwei Xiao, Lei Liu, Yong Liu, Min-Sheng Zhu, Quan Chen and Zhenji Gan. The quality of mitochondria in skeletal muscle is essential for maintaining metabolic homeostasis during adaptive stress responses. However, the precise control mechanism of muscle mitochondrial quality and its physiological impacts remain unclear. Here, we demonstrate that FUNDC1, a mediator of mitophagy, plays a critical role in controlling muscle mitochondrial quality as well as metabolic homeostasis. Skeletal muscle-specific ablation of FUNDC1 in mice resulted in LC3-mediated mitophagy defect, leading to impaired mitochondrial energetics. This caused decreased muscle fat utilization and endurance capacity during exercise. Interestingly, mice lacking muscle FUNDC1 were protected against high-fat diet-induced obesity with improved systemic insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance despite reduced muscle mitochondrial energetics. Mechanistically, FUNDC1 deficiency elicited a retrograde response in muscle that upregulated FGF21 expression, thereby promoting the thermogenic remodeling of adipose tissue. Thus, these findings reveal a pivotal role of FUNDC1-dependent mitochondrial quality-control in mediating the muscle-adipose dialogue to regulate systemic metabolism.