Quantitative In Vivo Proteomics of Metformin Response in Liver Reveals AMPK-Dependent and -Independent Signaling Networks

AMPK Activation Downregulates TXNIP, Rab5, and Rab7 Within Minutes, Thereby Inhibiting the Endocytosis-Mediated Entry of Human Pathogenic Viruses

Cellular metabolism must adapt rapidly to environmental alterations and adjust nutrient uptake. Low glucose availability activates the AMP-dependent kinase (AMPK) pathway. We demonstrate that activation of AMPK or the downstream Unc-51-like autophagy-activating kinase (ULK1) inhibits receptor-mediated endocytosis. Beyond limiting dextran uptake, this activation prevents endocytic uptake of human pathogenic enveloped and non-enveloped, positive- and negative-stranded RNA viruses, such as yellow fever, dengue, tick-borne encephalitis, chikungunya, polio, rubella, rabies lyssavirus, and SARS-CoV-2, not only in mammalian and insect cells but also in precision-cut lung slices and neuronal organoids. ULK1 activation inhibited enveloped viruses but not EV71. However, receptor presentation at the cytoplasmic membrane remained unaffected, indicating that receptor binding was unchanged, while later stages of endocytosis were targeted via two distinct pathways. Drug-induced activation of the AMPK pathway reduced early endocytic factor TXNIP by suppressing translation. In contrast, the amounts of Rab5 and the late endosomal marker Rab7 decreased due to translation inactivation and ULK1-dependent proteasome activation within minutes. Furthermore, activation of AMPK hindered the late replication steps of SARS-CoV-2 by reducing viral RNAs and proteins and the endo-lysosomal markers LAMP1 and GRP78, suggesting a reduction in early and late endosomes and lysosomes. Inhibition of the PI3K and mTORC2 pathways, which sense amino acid and growth factor availability, promotes AMPK activity and blocks viral entry. Our results indicate that AMPK and ULK1 emerge as restriction factors of cellular endocytosis, impeding the receptor-mediated endocytic entry of enveloped and non-enveloped RNA viruses.

Cardiomyocyte STIM1 downregulation exacerbates post-Myocardial Infarction remodeling by dysregulating mitochondrial ultrastructure and metabolic signaling

Background

Loss of stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1) expression in smooth muscle cells protects against ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. Whether and how decreased STIM1 expression in cardiomyocytes (CM) impacts cardiac remodeling in response to I/R injury remains unknown.

Objective

To examine mechanisms by which decreased CM-STIM1 expression in the adult heart modulates cardiac function before and after I/R injury.

Methods

8-week old mice underwent cardiotropic AAV9-mediated gene transfer of shRNA directed against STIM1 (shSTIM1). Control (Ctrl) mice underwent shRNA luciferase or PBS injections. Ctrl and shSTIM1 mice were then challenged by 30-min coronary occlusion to induce MI, in-vivo . Mechanical, structural and electrophysiological (EP) properties were compared 1-week following MI. In a second cohort of mice, the impact of CM-STIM1 knockdown per se on upstream metabolic signaling, mitochondrial ultrastructure, and electrophysiological properties were studied.

Results

CM-STIM1 expression was markedly decreased in shSTIM1 vs Ctrl hearts. Challenge with in-vivo I/R injury resulted in more pronounced (p<0.0001) LV dysfunction indexed by % drop in fractional shortening in shSTIM1 (44.3%) vs Ctrl (12.2%) hearts 1-week post-MI. Similarly, post-MI structural remodeling and the extent of fibrosis were more severe in shSTIM1 vs Ctrl despite comparable infarct size (p=0.514). Consistently, shSTIM1 exhibited greater impairment in post-MI EP function including predisposition to spatially-discordant action potential alternans. To understand mechanisms underlying this differential remodeling, we examined the impact of CM-STIM1 downregulation on mitochondrial ultrastructure and regulation by metabolic signaling. Quantification of mitochondrial morphology revealed smaller, more rounded mitochondria caused by CM-STIM1 downregulation per se . Underlying these changes was a marked (by 55%, p=0.0057) increase in phosphorylated (p)DRP1 at S616 along with reduced OPA1 expression. Mitochondrial alterations were associated with significant decreases in AMPK downstream signaling with loss of phosphorylated-to-total Raptor and ACC expression in shSTIM1-vs-Ctrl hearts consistent with impaired fatty acid oxidation. These MI-independent metabolic alterations coincided with higher pro-arrhythmic vulnerability under conditions of elevated heart rate.

Conclusions

Our findings reveal that decreased CM-STIM1 expression exacerbates post-MI remodeling likely by altering metabolic processes and mitochondrial network dynamics.Functionally, STIM1-dependent mitochondrial alterations impact EP function during conditions of elevated heart rate even without the confounding influence of MI.

How mass spectrometry can be exploited to study AMPK

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a key regulator of metabolism and a recognised target for the treatment of metabolic diseases such as Type 2 diabetes (T2D). Here, we review how mass spectrometry (MS) can be used to study short-term control by AMPK via protein phosphorylation and long-term control due to changes in protein expression. We discuss how MS can quantify AMPK subunit levels in tissues from different species. We propose hydrogen-deuterium exchange (HDX)-MS to investigate molecular mechanisms of AMPK activation and thermoproteomic profiling (TPP) to assess off-target effects of pharmacological AMPK activators/inhibitors. Lastly, because large MS data sets are generated, we consider different approaches that can be used for their interpretation.

The Research Progress of Metformin Regulation of Metabolic Reprogramming in Malignant Tumors

BACKGROUND

Metabolism reprogramming is a crucial hallmark of malignant tumors. Tumor cells demonstrate enhanced metabolic efficiency, converting nutrient inputs into glucose, amino acids, and lipids essential for their malignant proliferation and progression. Metformin, a commonly prescribed medication for type 2 diabetes mellitus, has garnered attention for its potential anticancer effects beyond its established hypoglycemic benefits.

METHODS

This review adopts a comprehensive approach to delineate the mechanisms underlying metabolite abnormalities within the primary metabolic processes of malignant tumors.

RESULTS

This review examines the abnormal activation of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) in these metabolic pathways, encompassing aerobic glycolysis with increased lactate production in glucose metabolism, heightened lipid synthesis and cholesterol accumulation in lipid metabolism, and glutamine activation alongside abnormal protein post-translational modifications in amino acid and protein metabolism. Furthermore, the intricate metabolic pathways and molecular mechanisms through which metformin exerts its anticancer effects are synthesized and analyzed, particularly its impacts on AMP-activated protein kinase activation and the mTOR pathway. The analysis reveals a multifaceted understanding of how metformin can modulate tumor metabolism, targeting key nodes in metabolic reprogramming essential for tumor growth and progression. The review compiles evidence that supports metformin's potential as an adjuvant therapy for malignant tumors, highlighting its capacity to interfere with critical metabolic pathways.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, this review offers a comprehensive overview of the plausible mechanisms mediating metformin's influence on tumor metabolism, fostering a deeper comprehension of its anticancer mechanisms. By expanding the clinical horizons of metformin and providing insight into metabolism-targeted tumor therapies, this review lays the groundwork for future research endeavors aimed at refining and advancing metabolic intervention strategies for cancer treatment.

Research progress on the role of mitochondria in the process of hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury

During liver ischemia-reperfusion injury, existing mechanisms involved oxidative stress, calcium overload, and the activation of inflammatory responses involve mitochondrial injury. Mitochondrial autophagy, a process that maintains the normal physiological activity of mitochondria, promotes cellular metabolism, improves cellular function, and facilitates organelle renewal. Mitochondrial autophagy is involved in oxidative stress and apoptosis, of which the PINK1-Parkin pathway is a major regulatory pathway, and the deletion of PINK1 and Parkin increases mitochondrial damage, reactive oxygen species production, and inflammatory response, playing an important role in mitochondrial quality regulation. In addition, proper mitochondrial permeability translational cycle regulation can help maintain mitochondrial stability and mitigate hepatocyte death during ischemia-reperfusion injury. This mechanism is also closely related to oxidative stress, calcium overload, and the aforementioned autophagy pathway, all of which leads to the augmentation of the mitochondrial membrane permeability transition pore opening and cause apoptosis. Moreover, the release of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) due to oxidative stress further aggravates mitochondrial function impairment. Mitochondrial fission and fusion are non-negligible processes required to maintain the dynamic renewal of mitochondria and are essential to the dynamic stability of these organelles. The Bcl-2 protein family also plays an important regulatory role in the mitochondrial apoptosis signaling pathway. A series of complex mechanisms work together to cause hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury (HIRI). This article reviews the role of mitochondria in HIRI, hoping to provide new therapeutic clues for alleviating HIRI in clinical practice.

Systematic Investigation of Dose-Dependent Protein Thermal Stability Changes to Uncover the Mechanisms of the Pleiotropic Effects of Metformin

Metformin is a widely used drug to treat type II diabetes. Beyond lowering blood sugar, it has been reported to have pleiotropic effects such as suppressing cancer growth and attenuating cell oxidative stress and inflammation. However, the underlying mechanisms of these effects remain to be explored. Here, we systematically study the thermal stability changes of proteins in liver cells (HepG2) induced by a wide dosage range of metformin by using the proteome integral solubility alteration (PISA) assay. The current results demonstrate that, besides the most accepted target of metformin (complex I), low concentrations of metformin (such as 0.2 μM) stabilize the complex IV subunits, suggesting its important role in the sugar-lowering effect. Low-dose metformin also results in stability alterations of ribosomal proteins, correlating with its inhibitive effect on cell proliferation. We further find that low-concentration metformin impacts mitochondrial cargo and vesicle transport, while high-concentration metformin affects cell redox responses and cell membrane protein sorting. This study provides mechanistic insights into the molecular mechanisms of lowering blood sugar and the pleiotropic effects of metformin.

Calcium signalling in hepatic metabolism: Health and diseases

The flexibility between the wide array of hepatic functions relies on calcium (Ca2+) signalling. Indeed, Ca2+ is implicated in the control of many intracellular functions as well as intercellular communication. Thus, hepatocytes adapt their Ca2+ signalling depending on their nutritional and hormonal environment, leading to opposite cellular functions, such as glucose storage or synthesis. Interestingly, hepatic metabolic diseases, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases, are associated with impaired Ca2+ signalling. Here, we present the hepatocytes' toolkit for Ca2+ signalling, complete with regulation systems and signalling pathways activated by nutrients and hormones. We further discuss the current knowledge on the molecular mechanisms leading to alterations of Ca2+ signalling in hepatic metabolic diseases, and review the literature on the clinical impact of Ca2+-targeting therapeutics.

Role of STIM1 in the Regulation of Cardiac Energy Substrate Preference

The heart requires a variety of energy substrates to maintain proper contractile function. Glucose and long-chain fatty acids (FA) are the major cardiac metabolic substrates under physiological conditions. Upon stress, a shift of cardiac substrate preference toward either glucose or FA is associated with cardiac diseases. For example, in pressure-overloaded hypertrophic hearts, there is a long-lasting substrate shift toward glucose, while in hearts with diabetic cardiomyopathy, the fuel is switched toward FA. Stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1), a well-established calcium (Ca2+) sensor of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca2+ store, is increasingly recognized as a critical player in mediating both cardiac hypertrophy and diabetic cardiomyopathy. However, the cause-effect relationship between STIM1 and glucose/FA metabolism and the possible mechanisms by which STIM1 is involved in these cardiac metabolic diseases are poorly understood. In this review, we first discussed STIM1-dependent signaling in cardiomyocytes and metabolic changes in cardiac hypertrophy and diabetic cardiomyopathy. Second, we provided examples of the involvement of STIM1 in energy metabolism to discuss the emerging role of STIM1 in the regulation of energy substrate preference in metabolic cardiac diseases and speculated the corresponding underlying molecular mechanisms of the crosstalk between STIM1 and cardiac energy substrate preference. Finally, we briefly discussed and presented future perspectives on the possibility of targeting STIM1 to rescue cardiac metabolic diseases. Taken together, STIM1 emerges as a key player in regulating cardiac energy substrate preference, and revealing the underlying molecular mechanisms by which STIM1 mediates cardiac energy metabolism could be helpful to find novel targets to prevent or treat cardiac metabolic diseases.

Metformin: update on mechanisms of action and repurposing potential

Currently, metformin is the first-line medication to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in most guidelines and is used daily by >200 million patients. Surprisingly, the mechanisms underlying its therapeutic action are complex and are still not fully understood. Early evidence highlighted the liver as the major organ involved in the effect of metformin on reducing blood levels of glucose. However, increasing evidence points towards other sites of action that might also have an important role, including the gastrointestinal tract, the gut microbial communities and the tissue-resident immune cells. At the molecular level, it seems that the mechanisms of action vary depending on the dose of metformin used and duration of treatment. Initial studies have shown that metformin targets hepatic mitochondria; however, the identification of a novel target at low concentrations of metformin at the lysosome surface might reveal a new mechanism of action. Based on the efficacy and safety records in T2DM, attention has been given to the repurposing of metformin as part of adjunct therapy for the treatment of cancer, age-related diseases, inflammatory diseases and COVID-19. In this Review, we highlight the latest advances in our understanding of the mechanisms of action of metformin and discuss potential emerging novel therapeutic uses.

Metabolic orchestration of cell death by AMPK-mediated phosphorylation of RIPK1

Adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activity is stimulated to promote metabolic adaptation upon energy stress. However, sustained metabolic stress may cause cell death. The mechanisms by which AMPK dictates cell death are not fully understood. We report that metabolic stress promoted receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 (RIPK1) activation mediated by TRAIL receptors, whereas AMPK inhibited RIPK1 by phosphorylation at Ser415 to suppress energy stress-induced cell death. Inhibiting pS415-RIPK1 by Ampk deficiency or RIPK1 S415A mutation promoted RIPK1 activation. Furthermore, genetic inactivation of RIPK1 protected against ischemic injury in myeloid Ampkα1-deficient mice. Our studies reveal that AMPK phosphorylation of RIPK1 represents a crucial metabolic checkpoint, which dictates cell fate response to metabolic stress, and highlight a previously unappreciated role for the AMPK-RIPK1 axis in integrating metabolism, cell death, and inflammation.

Technological development of multidimensional liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry in proteome research

Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) is the method of choice for high-throughput proteomic research. Limited by the peak capacity, the separation performance of conventional single-dimensional LC hampers the development of proteomics. Combining different separation modes orthogonally, multidimensional liquid chromatography (MDLC) with high peak capacity was developed to address this challenge. MDLC has evolved rapidly since its establishment, and the progress of proteomics has been greatly facilitated by the advent of novel MDLC-MS-based methods. In this paper, we will review the advances of MDLC-MS-based methodologies and technologies in proteomics studies, from different perspectives including novel application scenarios and proteomic targets, automation, miniaturization, and the improvement of the classic methods in recent years. In addition, attempts regarding new MDLC-MS models are also mentioned together with the outlook of MDLC-MS-based proteomics methods.

LKB1-Dependent Regulation of TPI1 Creates a Divergent Metabolic Liability between Human and Mouse Lung Adenocarcinoma

KRAS is the most frequently mutated oncogene in human lung adenocarcinomas (hLUAD), and activating mutations frequently co-occur with loss-of-function mutations in TP53 or STK11/LKB1. However, mutation of all three genes is rarely observed in hLUAD, even though engineered comutation is highly aggressive in mouse lung adenocarcinoma (mLUAD). Here, we provide a mechanistic explanation for this difference by uncovering an evolutionary divergence in the regulation of triosephosphate isomerase (TPI1). In hLUAD, TPI1 activity is regulated via phosphorylation at Ser21 by the salt inducible kinases (SIK) in an LKB1-dependent manner, modulating flux between the completion of glycolysis and production of glycerol lipids. In mice, Ser21 of TPI1 is a Cys residue that can be oxidized to alter TPI1 activity without a need for SIKs or LKB1. Our findings suggest this metabolic flexibility is critical in rapidly growing cells with KRAS and TP53 mutations, explaining why the loss of LKB1 creates a liability in these tumors.

SIGNIFICANCE

Utilizing phosphoproteomics and metabolomics in genetically engineered human cell lines and genetically engineered mouse models (GEMM), we uncover an evolutionary divergence in metabolic regulation within a clinically relevant genotype of human LUAD with therapeutic implications. Our data provide a cautionary example of the limits of GEMMs as tools to study human diseases such as cancers. This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 799.

Elevated basal AMP-activated protein kinase activity sensitizes colorectal cancer cells to growth inhibition by metformin

Expression and activity of the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) α1 catalytic subunit of the heterotrimeric kinase significantly correlates with poor outcome for colorectal cancer patients. Hence there is considerable interest in uncovering signalling vulnerabilities arising from this oncogenic elevation of AMPKα1 signalling. We have therefore attenuated mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) control of AMPKα1 to generate a mutant colorectal cancer in which AMPKα1 signalling is elevated because AMPKα1 serine 347 cannot be phosphorylated by mTORC1. The elevated AMPKα1 signalling in this HCT116 α1.S347A cell line confers hypersensitivity to growth inhibition by metformin. Complementary chemical approaches confirmed this relationship in both HCT116 and the genetically distinct HT29 colorectal cells, as AMPK activators imposed vulnerability to growth inhibition by metformin in both lines. Growth inhibition by metformin was abolished when AMPKα1 kinase was deleted. We conclude that elevated AMPKα1 activity modifies the signalling architecture in such a way that metformin treatment compromises cell proliferation. Not only does this mutant HCT116 AMPKα1-S347A line offer an invaluable resource for future studies, but our findings suggest that a robust biomarker for chronic AMPKα1 activation for patient stratification could herald a place for the well-tolerated drug metformin in colorectal cancer therapy.

Phosphoproteomic analysis of metformin signaling in colorectal cancer cells elucidates mechanism of action and potential therapeutic opportunities

BACKGROUND

The biguanide drug metformin is a safe and widely prescribed drug for type 2 diabetes. Interestingly, hundreds of clinical trials have been set to evaluate the potential role of metformin in the prevention and treatment of cancer including colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the "metformin signaling" remains controversial.

AIMS AND METHODS

To interrogate cell signaling induced by metformin in CRC and explore the druggability of the metformin-rewired phosphorylation network, we performed integrative analysis of phosphoproteomics, bioinformatics, and cell proliferation assays on a panel of 12 molecularly heterogeneous CRC cell lines. Using the high-resolute data-independent analysis mass spectrometry (DIA-MS), we monitored a total of 10,142 proteins and 56,080 phosphosites (P-sites) in CRC cells upon a short- and a long-term metformin treatment.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

We found that metformin tended to primarily remodel cell signaling in the long-term and only minimally regulated the total proteome expression levels. Strikingly, the phosphorylation signaling response to metformin was highly heterogeneous in the CRC panel, based on a network analysis inferring kinase/phosphatase activities and cell signaling reconstruction. A "MetScore" was determined to assign the metformin relevance of each P-site, revealing new and robust phosphorylation nodes and pathways in metformin signaling. Finally, we leveraged the metformin P-site signature to identify pharmacodynamic interactions and confirmed a number of candidate metformin-interacting drugs, including navitoclax, a BCL-2/BCL-xL inhibitor. Together, we provide a comprehensive phosphoproteomic resource to explore the metformin-induced cell signaling for potential cancer therapeutics. This resource can be accessed at https://yslproteomics.shinyapps.io/Metformin/.

Nutrient-sensing mTORC1 and AMPK pathways in chronic kidney diseases

Nutrients such as glucose, amino acids and lipids are fundamental sources for the maintenance of essential cellular processes and homeostasis in all organisms. The nutrient-sensing kinases mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) are expressed in many cell types and have key roles in the control of cell growth, proliferation, differentiation, metabolism and survival, ultimately contributing to the physiological development and functions of various organs, including the kidney. Dysregulation of these kinases leads to many human health problems, including cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, metabolic disorders and kidney diseases. In the kidney, physiological levels of mTOR and AMPK activity are required to support kidney cell growth and differentiation and to maintain kidney cell integrity and normal nephron function, including transport of electrolytes, water and glucose. mTOR forms two functional multi-protein kinase complexes, mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) and mTOR complex 2 (mTORC2). Hyperactivation of mTORC1 leads to podocyte and tubular cell dysfunction and vulnerability to injury, thereby contributing to the development of chronic kidney diseases, including diabetic kidney disease, obesity-related kidney disease and polycystic kidney disease. Emerging evidence suggests that targeting mTOR and/or AMPK could be an effective therapeutic approach to controlling or preventing these diseases.

Implications of genetic variations, differential gene expression, and allele-specific expression on metformin response in drug-naïve type 2 diabetes

PURPOSE

Metformin is widely used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) individuals. Clinically, inter-individual variability of metformin response is of significant concern and is under interrogation. In this study, a targeted exome and whole transcriptome analysis were performed to identify predictive biomarkers of metformin response in drug-naïve T2DM individuals.

METHODS

The study followed a prospective study design. Drug-naïve T2DM individuals (n = 192) and controls (n = 223) were enrolled. T2DM individuals were administered with metformin monotherapy and defined as responders and non-responders based on their glycated haemoglobin change over three months. 146 T2DM individuals were used for the final analysis and remaining samples were lost during the follow-up. Target exome sequencing and RNA-seq was performed to analyze genetic and transcriptome profile. The selected SNPs were validated by genotyping and allele specific gene expression using the TaqMan assay. The gene prioritization, enrichment analysis, drug-gene interactions, disease-gene association, and correlation analysis were performed using various tools and databases.

RESULTS

rs1050152 and rs272893 in SLC22A4 were associated with improved response to metformin. The copy number loss was observed in PPARGC1A in the non-responders. The expression analysis highlighted potential differentially expressed targets for predicting metformin response (n = 35) and T2DM (n = 14). The expression of GDF15, TWISTNB, and RPL36A genes showed a maximum correlation with the change in HbA1c levels. The disease-gene association analysis highlighted MAGI2 rs113805659 to be linked with T2DM.

CONCLUSION

The results provide evidence for the genetic variations, perturbed transcriptome, allele-specific gene expression, and pathways associated with metformin drug response in T2DM.

Obligatory Role of AMPK Activation and Antioxidant Defense Pathway in the Regulatory Effects of Metformin on Cellular Protection and Prevention of Lens Opacity

Increasing levels of oxidative-stress due to deterioration of the Nrf2 (NFE2-related factor)/ARE (antioxidant response element) pathway is found to be a primary cause of aging pathobiology. Metformin having anti-aging effects can delay/halt aging-related diseases. Herein, using lens epithelial cell lines (LECs) of human (h) or mouse (m) and aging h/m primary LECs along with lenses as model systems, we demonstrated that Metformin could correct deteriorated Bmal1/Nrf2/ARE pathway by reviving AMPK-activation, and transcriptional activities of Bmal1/Nrf2, resulting in increased antioxidants enzymatic activity and expression of Phase II enzymes. This ensued reactive oxygen species (ROS) mitigation with cytoprotection and prevention of lens opacity in response to aging/oxidative stress. It was intriguing to observe that Metformin internalized lens/LECs and upregulated OCTs (Organic Cation Transporters). Mechanistically, we found that Metformin evoked AMPK activation-dependent increase of Bmal1, Nrf2, and antioxidants transcription by promoting direct E-Box and ARE binding of Bmal1 and Nrf2 to the promoters. Loss-of-function and disruption of E-Box/ARE identified that Metformin acted by increasing Bmal1/Nrf2-mediated antioxidant expression. Data showed that AMPK-activation was a requisite for Bmal1/Nrf2-antioxidants-mediated defense, as pharmacologically inactivating AMPK impeded the Metformin's effect. Collectively, the results for the first-time shed light on the hitherto incompletely uncovered crosstalk between the AMPK and Bmal1/Nrf2/antioxidants mediated by Metformin for blunting oxidative/aging-linked pathobiology.

Dynamic 3D genome reorganization during development and metabolic stress of the porcine liver

Liver development is a complex process that is regulated by a series of signaling pathways. Three-dimensional (3D) chromatin architecture plays an important role in transcriptional regulation; nonetheless, its dynamics and role in the rapid transition of core liver functions during development and obesity-induced metabolic stress remain largely unexplored. To investigate the dynamic chromatin architecture during liver development and under metabolic stress, we generated high-resolution maps of chromatin architecture for porcine livers across six major developmental stages (from embryonic day 38 to the adult stage) and under a high-fat diet-induced obesity. The characteristically loose chromatin architecture supports a highly plastic genome organization during early liver development, which fundamentally contributes to the rapid functional transitions in the liver after birth. We reveal the multi-scale reorganization of chromatin architecture and its influence on transcriptional regulation of critical signaling processes during liver development, and show its close association with transition in hepatic functions (i.e., from hematopoiesis in the fetus to metabolism and immunity after birth). The limited changes in chromatin structure help explain the observed metabolic adaptation to excessive energy intake in pigs. These results provide a global overview of chromatin architecture dynamics associated with the transition of physiological liver functions between prenatal development and postnatal maturation, and a foundational resource that allows for future in-depth functional characterization.

AMPK: restoring metabolic homeostasis over space and time

The evolution of AMPK and its homologs enabled exquisite responsivity and control of cellular energetic homeostasis. Recent work has been critical in establishing the mechanisms that determine AMPK activity, novel targets of AMPK action, and the distribution of AMPK-mediated control networks across the cellular landscape. The role of AMPK as a hub of metabolic control has led to intense interest in pharmacologic activation as a therapeutic avenue for a number of disease states, including obesity, diabetes, and cancer. As such, critical work on the compartmentalization of AMPK, its downstream targets, and the systems it influences has progressed in recent years. The variegated distribution of AMPK-mediated control of metabolic homeostasis has revealed key insights into AMPK in normal biology and future directions for AMPK-based therapeutic strategies.

Metformin attenuates the epithelial-mesenchymal transition of lens epithelial cells through the AMPK/TGF-β/Smad2/3 signalling pathway

Posterior capsule opacification (PCO) is a common ocular fibrosis disease related to the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of human lens epithelial cells (HLECs). However, safe and effective drugs that prevent or treat PCO are lacking. Metformin (Mtf) has been used to treat fibrosis-related diseases affecting many organs and tissues, but its effect on ocular fibrosis-related diseases is unclear. We investigated whether Mtf can inhibit EMT and fibrosis in HLECs to prevent and treat PCO and elucidated the potential molecular mechanism. Here, we established an HLEC model of TGF-β-induced EMT and found that 400 μM Mtf inhibited vertical and lateral migration and EMT-related gene and protein expression in HLECs. Smad2/3 are downstream molecules of TGF-β that enter the nucleus to regulate EMT-related gene expression during the occurrence and development of PCO. We revealed that Mtf suppressed TGF-β-induced Smad2/3 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation. Mtf induces AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation. In this study, we found that Mtf induced the activation of AMPK phosphorylation in HLECs. To further explore the mechanism of Mtf, we pretreated HLECs with Compound C (an AMPK inhibitor) to repeat the above experiments and found that Compound C abolished the inhibitory effect of Mtf on HLEC EMT and the TGF-β/Smad2/3 signalling pathway. Thus, Mtf targets AMPK phosphorylation to inhibit the TGF-β/Smad2/3 signalling pathway and prevent HLEC EMT. Notably, we first illustrated the AMPK/TGF-β/Smad2/3 signalling pathway in HLECs, which may provide a new therapeutic strategy for PCO.

Newly-found functions of metformin for the prevention and treatment of age-related macular degeneration

Metformin (MET), a first-line oral agent used to treat diabetes, exerts its function mainly by activating adenosine monophosphate-activated protein. The accumulation of oxidized phospholipids in the outer layer of the retina plays a key role in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells death and the formation of choroidal neovascularization (CNV), which mean the development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Recent studies have shown that MET can regulate lipid metabolism, inhibit inflammation, and prohibit retinal cell death and CNV formation due to various pathological factors. Here, newly discovered functions of MET that may be used for the prevention and treatment of AMD were reviewed.

LKB1 up-regulation inhibits hypothalamic inflammation and attenuates diet-induced obesity in mice

BACKGROUND

Diet-induced obesity (DIO) is associated with chronic, low-grade inflammation in the hypothalamus. The inflammatory pathway of the hypothalamus is activated during obesity, and inhibition of activation of the inflammatory pathway can partially reverse obesity. Therefore, exploring new targets for inhibiting hypothalamic inflammation will provide new ideas for the prevention and treatment of obesity. Liver kinase B1 (LKB1), a serine/threonine kinase, is a tumor suppressor and metabolic regulator. Recent studies have shown that LKB1 has a certain anti-inflammatory effect. However, a role of LKB1 in the regulation of hypothalamic inflammation remains unclear. Therefore, we examined whether LKB1 overexpression in the hypothalamus could weaken the hypothalamic inflammation and inhibit the development of obesity.

METHODS

LKB1 overexpressing adeno-associated virus (AAV) particles were injected stereotactically into the third ventricle (3 V) of C57BL/6 mice fed with HFD. We assessed changes in body mass and adiposity, food intake, hypothalamic inflammatory markers, and energy and glucose metabolism.

RESULTS

LKB1 up-regulation in hypothalamus attenuated diet-induced hypothalamic inflammation, reduced food intake and body weight gain. In addition, the overexpression of hypothalamic LKB1 increased the insulin sensitivity and improved whole-body lipid metabolism, which attenuated hepatic fat accumulation and serum lipid levels.

CONCLUSION

Hypothalamic LKB1 up-regulation attenuates hypothalamic inflammation, and protects against hypothalamic inflammation induced damage to melanocortin system, resulting in lower food intake and lower fat mass accumulation, which consequently protects mice from the development of obesity. Our data suggest LKB1 as a novel negative regulator of hypothalamic inflammation, and also a potentially important target for treating other inflammatory diseases.

The role of protein kinase D (PKD) in intracellular nutrient sensing and regulation of adaptive responses to the obese environment

Obesity is associated with ectopic accumulation of lipids, which is implicated in the development of insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease. As the global prevalence of obesity continues to rise, it is becoming increasingly important to understand the underlying cellular mechanisms of this disease. Protein kinase D (PKD) is an intracellular signalling kinase with well characterized roles in intracellular vesicle transport and secretion, cancer cell proliferation and cardiac hypertrophy. However, emerging evidence also highlights PKD as a novel nutrient sensor. PKD activation is mediated by the accumulation of the lipid intermediate diacylglycerol, and PKD activity in the liver, heart and adipose tissue increases upon feeding. In obesity, PKD signalling is linked to reduced insulin signalling and dysfunction in adipose tissue, liver and heart, whilst in the pancreas, PKD is essential for the compensatory increase in glucose-stimulated insulin secretion from β-cells during obesity. Collectively, these studies reveal aspects of PKD signalling that are involved in the tissue-specific responses to obesity. This review summarizes the emerging evidence suggesting that PKD plays an important role in regulating the adaptive response to the obese environment.

SARS-CoV-2 and mitochondrial health: implications of lifestyle and ageing

Infection with SARs-COV-2 displays increasing fatality with age and underlying co-morbidity, in particular, with markers of the metabolic syndrome and diabetes, which seems to be associated with a "cytokine storm" and an altered immune response. This suggests that a key contributory factor could be immunosenescence that is both age-related and lifestyle-induced. As the immune system itself is heavily reliant on mitochondrial function, then maintaining a healthy mitochondrial system may play a key role in resisting the virus, both directly, and indirectly by ensuring a good vaccine response. Furthermore, as viruses in general, and quite possibly this new virus, have also evolved to modulate immunometabolism and thus mitochondrial function to ensure their replication, this could further stress cellular bioenergetics. Unlike most sedentary modern humans, one of the natural hosts for the virus, the bat, has to "exercise" regularly to find food, which continually provides a powerful adaptive stimulus to maintain functional muscle and mitochondria. In effect the bat is exposed to regular hormetic stimuli, which could provide clues on how to resist this virus. In this paper we review the data that might support the idea that mitochondrial health, induced by a healthy lifestyle, could be a key factor in resisting the virus, and for those people who are perhaps not in optimal health, treatments that could support mitochondrial function might be pivotal to their long-term recovery.

Stimulator of IFN genes mediates neuroinflammatory injury by suppressing AMPK signal in experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage

BACKGROUND

Neuroinflammation is closely associated with the poor prognosis in subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) patients. This study was aimed to determine the role of stimulator of IFN genes (STING), an essential regulator to innate immunity, in the context of SAH.

METHODS

A total of 344 male C57BL/6 J mice were subjected to endovascular perforation to develop a model of SAH. Selective STING antagonist C-176 and STING agonist CMA were administered at 30 min or 1 h post-modeling separately. To investigate the underlying mechanism, the AMPK inhibitor compound C was administered intracerebroventricularly at 30 min before surgery. Post-SAH assessments included SAH grade, neurological test, brain water content, western blotting, RT-PCR, and immunofluorescence. Oxygenated hemoglobin was introduced into BV2 cells to establish a SAH model in vitro.

RESULTS

STING was mainly distributed in microglia, and microglial STING expression was significantly increased after SAH. Administration of C-176 substantially attenuated SAH-induced brain edema and neuronal injury. More importantly, C-176 significantly alleviated both short-term and persistent neurological dysfunction after SAH. Meanwhile, STING agonist CMA remarkably exacerbated neuronal injury and deteriorated neurological impairments. Mechanically, STING activation aggravated neuroinflammation via promoting microglial activation and polarizing into M1 phenotype, evidenced by microglial morphological changes, as well as the increased level of microglial M1 markers including IL-1β, iNOS, IL-6, TNF-α, MCP-1, and NLRP3 inflammasome, while C-176 conferred a robust anti-inflammatory effect. However, all the mentioned beneficial effects of C-176 including alleviated neuroinflammation, attenuated neuronal injury and the improved neurological function were reversed by AMPK inhibitor compound C. Meanwhile, the critical role of AMPK signal in C-176 mediated anti-inflammatory effect was also confirmed in vitro.

CONCLUSION

Microglial STING yielded neuroinflammation after SAH, while pharmacologic inhibition of STING could attenuate SAH-induced inflammatory injury at least partly by activating AMPK signal. These data supported the notion that STING might be a potential therapeutic target for SAH.

Spatial control of AMPK signaling at subcellular compartments

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a master regulator of energy homeostasis that functions to restore the energy balance by phosphorylating its substrates during altered metabolic conditions. AMPK activity is tightly controlled by diverse regulators including its upstream kinases LKB1 and CaMKK2. Recent studies have also identified the localization of AMPK at different intracellular compartments as another key mechanism for regulating AMPK signaling in response to specific stimuli. This review discusses the AMPK signaling associated with different subcellular compartments, including lysosomes, endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, Golgi apparatus, nucleus, and cell junctions. Because altered AMPK signaling is associated with various pathologic conditions including cancer, targeting AMPK signaling in different subcellular compartments may present attractive therapeutic approaches for treatment of disease.

Metformin lowers glucose 6-phosphate in hepatocytes by activation of glycolysis downstream of glucose phosphorylation

The chronic effects of metformin on liver gluconeogenesis involve repression of the G6pc gene, which is regulated by the carbohydrate-response element-binding protein through raised cellular intermediates of glucose metabolism. In this study we determined the candidate mechanisms by which metformin lowers glucose 6-phosphate (G6P) in mouse and rat hepatocytes challenged with high glucose or gluconeogenic precursors. Cell metformin loads in the therapeutic range lowered cell G6P but not ATP and decreased G6pc mRNA at high glucose. The G6P lowering by metformin was mimicked by a complex 1 inhibitor (rotenone) and an uncoupler (dinitrophenol) and by overexpression of mGPDH, which lowers glycerol 3-phosphate and G6P and also mimics the G6pc repression by metformin. In contrast, direct allosteric activators of AMPK (A-769662, 991, and C-13) had opposite effects from metformin on glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, and cell G6P. The G6P lowering by metformin, which also occurs in hepatocytes from AMPK knockout mice, is best explained by allosteric regulation of phosphofructokinase-1 and/or fructose bisphosphatase-1, as supported by increased metabolism of [3-³H]glucose relative to [2-³H]glucose; by an increase in the lactate m2/m1 isotopolog ratio from [1,2-¹³C₂]glucose; by lowering of glycerol 3-phosphate an allosteric inhibitor of phosphofructokinase-1; and by marked G6P elevation by selective inhibition of phosphofructokinase-1; but not by a more reduced cytoplasmic NADH/NAD redox state. We conclude that therapeutically relevant doses of metformin lower G6P in hepatocytes challenged with high glucose by stimulation of glycolysis by an AMP-activated protein kinase-independent mechanism through changes in allosteric effectors of phosphofructokinase-1 and fructose bisphosphatase-1, including AMP, P_i, and glycerol 3-phosphate.