Project description:Recent studies have identified the pervasive presence of nano- and microplastics (NMP) in atmospheric air, leading to inevitable human exposure. Human skin, with an extensive surface area of 1.5-2 m², is constantly exposed to airborne NMP, yet the dermal implications of such exposure remain elusive. Our investigation employed fragmented polystyrene (fPS), a plastic commonly found in the air, to evaluate dermal penetration using various skin models. We utilized pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (py-GC/MS) to quantify fPS that had penetrated the skin model. Furthermore, we examined the biological alterations in skin keratinocytes consequent to fPS exposure and analyzed the regulation of inflammatory response markers. Our findings reveal deleterious effects on skin keratinocytes, underlining the potential risks posed by short-term fPS exposure. This multifaceted skin model study offers new perspectives on the toxicological impacts of NMP.
Project description:Liver-specific Knockdown of JNK1 Up-regulates Proliferator-activated Receptor Coactivator 1 and Increases Plasma Triglyceride despite Reduced Glucose and Insulin Levels in Diet-induced Obese Mice. The c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs) have been implicated in the development of insulin resistance, diabetes, and obesity. Genetic disruption of JNK1, but not JNK2, improves insulin sensitivity in diet-induced obese (DIO) mice. We applied RNA interference to investigate the specific role of hepatic JNK1 in contributing to insulin resistance in DIO mice. Adenovirus-mediated delivery of JNK1 short-hairpin RNA (Ad-shJNK1) resulted in almost complete knockdown of hepatic JNK1 protein without affecting JNK1 protein in other tissues. Liver-specific knockdown of JNK1 resulted in significant reductions in circulating insulin and glucose levels, by 57 and 16%, respectively. At the molecular level, JNK1 knockdown mice had sustained and significant increase of hepatic Akt phosphorylation. Furthermore, knockdown of JNK1 enhanced insulin signaling in vitro. Unexpectedly, plasma triglyceride levels were robustly elevated upon hepatic JNK1 knockdown. Concomitantly, expression of proliferator-activated receptor coactivator 1, glucokinase, and microsomal triacylglycerol transfer protein was increased. Further gene expression analysis demonstrated that knockdown of JNK1 up-regulates the hepatic expression of clusters of genes in glycolysis and several genes in triglyceride synthesis pathways. Our results demonstrate that liver-specific knockdown of JNK1 lowers circulating glucose and insulin levels but increases triglyceride levels in DIO mice. Experiment Overall Design: Liver sample from vehicle, GFP Adv-shRNA, or Jnk1 Adv-shRNA treated DIO mice with 5, 4, and 5 replicates, respectively
Project description:Individuals with hepatic steatosis often display several metabolic abnormalities including insulin resistance and muscle atrophy. Previously, we found that hepatic steatosis results in an altered hepatokine secretion profile, thereby inducing skeletal muscle insulin resistance via inter-organ crosstalk. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether the altered secretion profile in the state of hepatic steatosis also induces skeletal muscle atrophy via effects on muscle protein turnover. To investigate this, eight-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were fed a chow (4.5% fat) or a high-fat diet (HFD; 45% fat) for 12 weeks to induce hepatic steatosis, after which the livers were excised and cut into ~200 µm slices. Slices were cultured to collect secretion products (conditioned medium; CM). Differentiated L6-GLUT4myc myotubes were incubated with chow or HFD CM to measure glucose uptake. Differentiated C2C12 myotubes were incubated with chow or HFD CM to measure protein synthesis and breakdown, and gene expression via RNA sequencing. Furthermore, proteomics analysis was performed in chow and HFD CM. It was found that HFD CM caused insulin resistance in L6-GLUT4myc myotubes compared with chow CM, as indicated by a blunted insulin-stimulated increase in glucose uptake. Furthermore, protein breakdown was increased in C2C12 cells incubated with HFD CM, while there was no effect on protein synthesis. RNA profiling of C2C12 cells indicated that 197 genes were differentially expressed after incubation with HFD CM, compared with chow CM, and pathway analysis showed that pathways related to anatomical structure and function were enriched. Proteomic analysis of the CM showed that 32 proteins were differentially expressed in HFD CM compared with chow CM. Pathway enrichment analysis indicated that these proteins had important functions with respect to insulin-like Growth Factor transport and uptake, and affect post-translational processes, including protein folding, protein secretion and protein phosphorylation. In conclusion, the results of this study support the hypothesis that secretion products from the liver contribute to the development of muscle atrophy in individuals with hepatic steatosis.
Project description:Liver-specific Knockdown of JNK1 Up-regulates Proliferator-activated Receptor Coactivator 1 and Increases Plasma Triglyceride despite Reduced Glucose and Insulin Levels in Diet-induced Obese Mice. The c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs) have been implicated in the development of insulin resistance, diabetes, and obesity. Genetic disruption of JNK1, but not JNK2, improves insulin sensitivity in diet-induced obese (DIO) mice. We applied RNA interference to investigate the specific role of hepatic JNK1 in contributing to insulin resistance in DIO mice. Adenovirus-mediated delivery of JNK1 short-hairpin RNA (Ad-shJNK1) resulted in almost complete knockdown of hepatic JNK1 protein without affecting JNK1 protein in other tissues. Liver-specific knockdown of JNK1 resulted in significant reductions in circulating insulin and glucose levels, by 57 and 16%, respectively. At the molecular level, JNK1 knockdown mice had sustained and significant increase of hepatic Akt phosphorylation. Furthermore, knockdown of JNK1 enhanced insulin signaling in vitro. Unexpectedly, plasma triglyceride levels were robustly elevated upon hepatic JNK1 knockdown. Concomitantly, expression of proliferator-activated receptor coactivator 1, glucokinase, and microsomal triacylglycerol transfer protein was increased. Further gene expression analysis demonstrated that knockdown of JNK1 up-regulates the hepatic expression of clusters of genes in glycolysis and several genes in triglyceride synthesis pathways. Our results demonstrate that liver-specific knockdown of JNK1 lowers circulating glucose and insulin levels but increases triglyceride levels in DIO mice. Keywords: Treatment Response
Project description:Plastics are one of the most preoccupying emerging pollutants. Macroplastics released in the environment degrade into microplastics and nanoplastics. Because of their small size, these micro and nano plastic particles can enter the food chain and, in addition to their ecotoxicological effects, contaminate humans with still unknown biological effects. Plastics being particulate pollutants, they are handled in the human body by scavenger cells such as macrophages, which are important players in the immune system. In order to get a better appraisal of the effects of plastic particles on macrophages, we have studied the effects of unmodified polystyrene particles of 0.1, 1 and 10 micrometers of diameter, by a combination of proteomics and targeted approaches. Proteomics showed important adaptive changes of the proteome in response to exposure to plastics, with more than one third of the detected proteins showing a significance change in their abundance in response to cell exposure to at least one plastic beads size. These changes affected for example mitochondrial, lysosomal or cytoskeletal proteins. Although an increase in the mitochondrial transmembrane potential was detected in response to 10 micrometer beads, no alteration in cell viability was observed. Similarly, no lysosomal dysfunction and no alteration in the phagocytic capability of the cells was observed in response to exposure to plastic. When the inflammatory response was examined, no increase in the secretion of tumor necrosis factor or interleukin 6 was observed. Oppositely, the secretion of these cytokines in response to lipopolysaccharide was observed after exposure to plastic, which suggested a decreased ability of macrophages to respond to bacterial infection. In conclusion, these results provide a better understanding of the responses of macrophages to exposure to polystyrene particles of different sizes.
Project description:Purpose: To investigate the effects of DCHP expoure on F1 male hepatic metabolic disorders Methods: 8 week male WT mice were exposed to DCHP by oral gavage for 4 weeks, 3 week old F1 male mice were fed with HFD for 9 weeks, glucose and insulin tolerant tests were performed at 10-11 week old, liver RNA was isolated for further transcriptome analysis Results: Mice from DCHP exposure sires displayed glucose/insulin resistant phenotype, together with upregulation in inflammatoy related genes in the liver
Project description:We assessed the change in hepatic transciptional pattern after treatment with SGLT-2 inhibitors canagliflozin in a mice model of diet-induced obesity. Pharmacologic inhibition of the renal sodium/glucose cotransporter-2 induces glycosuria and reduces glycemia. Given that SGLT2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) reduce mortality and CV risk in T2D, improved understanding of molecular mechanisms mediating these metabolic effects is required. Treatment of obese but nondiabetic mice with the SGLT2i canagliflozin (CANA) reduces adiposity, improves glucose tolerance despite reduced plasma insulin, increases plasma ketones, and improves plasma lipid profiles. We utilized an integrated transcriptomic-metabolomics approach to demonstrate that CANA modulates key nutrient-sensing pathways, with activation of AMPK and inhibition of mTOR, independent of insulin or glucagon sensitivity or signaling. Moreover, CANA induces transcriptional reprogramming to activate catabolic pathways, increase fatty acid oxidation, reduce hepatic steatosis and diacylglycerol content, and increase hepatic and plasma levels of FGF21. Taken together, these data demonstrate that SGLT-2 inhibition triggers a fasting-like transcriptional and metabolic paradigm.
Project description:Insulin resistance represents a hallmark during the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) and in the pathogenesis of obesity-associated disturbances of glucose and lipid metabolism 1,2,3. MicroRNA (miR)-dependent posttranscriptional gene silencing has recently been recognized to control gene expression in disease development and progression including that of insulin-resistant T2D. MiRs, whose deregulation alters hepatic insulin sensitivity include miR-143, miR-181 and miR-103/107. Here we report that expression of miR-802 is increased in liver of two obese mouse models and of obese human subjects. Inducible transgenic overexpression of miR-802 in mice causes impaired glucose tolerance and attenuates insulin sensitivity, while reduction of miR-802 expression improves glucose tolerance and insulin action. We identify Hnf1b as a target of miR-802-dependent silencing and shRNA-mediated reduction of Hnf1b in liver causes glucose intolerance, impairs insulin signaling and promotes hepatic gluconeogenesis. In turn, hepatic overexpression of Hnf1b improves insulin sensitivity in db/db mice. Thus, the present study defines a critical role for deregulated expression of miR-802 in the development of obesity-associated impairment of glucose metabolism via targeting Hnf1b and assigns Hnf1b an unexpected role in the control of hepatic insulin sensitivity.
Project description:Background: The prevalence of type 2 diabetes has increased dramatically in recent decades. Increasing brown adipose tissue (BAT) mass and activity has recently emerged as an interesting approach to not only increase energy expenditure, but also improve glucose homeostasis. BAT can be recruited by prolonged cold exposure in lean, healthy humans. Here, we tested whether cold acclimation could have therapeutic value for patients with type 2 diabetes by improving insulin sensitivity. Methods: Eight type 2 diabetic patients (age 59.3±5.8 years, BMI 29.8±3.2 kg/m2) followed a cold acclimation protocol, consisting of intermittent cold exposure (6 hours/day, 14-14.5 °C) for 12 consecutive days. Before and after cold acclimation, cold-induced BAT activity was assessed by [18F]FDG-PET/CT scanning, insulin sensitivity at thermoneutrality by a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp, and muscle and WAT biopsies were taken. Results: Cold-induced BAT activity was low, but increased in all patients upon cold acclimation (SUV from 0.40±0.29 to 0.63±0.78, p<0.05). Interestingly, insulin sensitivity showed a very pronounced 40% increase upon cold acclimation (glucose rate of disappearance from 14.9±4.1 to 20.5±6.9 μmol kg-1 min-1, p<0.05). A 40% increase in insulin sensitivity cannot be explained by BAT glucose uptake, in fact basal skeletal muscle GLUT4 content and translocation was markedly increased after cold acclimation, without effects on insulin signaling or AMPk activation. Conclusions: Regular mild cold exposure has marked effects on insulin sensitivity, which are accompanied by small increases in BAT activity and more pronounced effects on skeletal muscle. These data suggest a novel therapeutic option for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Microarray analysis was performed on abdominal subcutaneous white adipose tissue samples from human type 2 diabetic patients before, and after 10 days of cold acclimation. A total of 14 samples, from 7 subjects, were used for the microarray analysis.