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Opurum PC, Decker ST, Stuart D, Peterlin AD, Paula VL, Siripoksup P, Drummond MJ, Sanchez A, Ramkumar N, Funai K. Combined sedentarism and high-fat diet induce early signs of kidney injury in C57BL/6J mice. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 2025; 328:F850-F860. [PMID: 40327334 DOI: 10.1152/ajprenal.00259.2024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2024] [Revised: 09/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2025] [Indexed: 05/07/2025] Open
Abstract
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a progressive disorder marked by a decline in kidney function. Obesity and sedentary behavior contribute to the development of CKD, though mechanisms by which this occurs are poorly understood. This knowledge gap is worsened by the lack of a reliable murine CKD model that does not rely on injury, toxin, or gene deletion to induce a reduction in kidney function. High-fat diet (HFD) feeding alone is insufficient to cause reduced kidney function until later in life. Here, we used a small mouse cage (SMC), a recently developed mouse model of sedentariness, to study its effect on kidney function. Wild-type C57BL/6J male mice were housed in sham or SMC housing for 6 mo with HFD in room (22°C) or thermoneutral (30°C) conditions. Despite hyperinsulinemia induced by the SMC + HFD intervention, kidneys from these mice displayed normal glomerular filtration rate. However, the kidneys showed early signs of kidney injury, including increases in collagen I and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin transcripts, as well as fibrosis by histology, primarily in the inner medullary/papilla region. High-resolution respirometry and fluorometry experiments showed no statistically significant changes in the capacities for respiration, ATP synthesis, or electron leak. These data confirm the technical challenge in modeling human CKD. They further support the notion that obesity and a sedentary lifestyle make the kidneys more vulnerable, but additional insults are likely required for the pathogenesis of CKD.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Physical inactivity is a risk factor for chronic kidney disease. Our laboratory recently developed a new mouse model of physical inactivity (small mouse cage housing) that more closely recapitulates the metabolic disturbances that occur with sedentary behavior. In this paper, we performed an in-depth phenotyping of kidney function and metabolic parameters in response to small mouse cage housing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Precious C Opurum
- Diabetes & Metabolism Research Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
- Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
| | - Stephen T Decker
- Diabetes & Metabolism Research Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
- Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
- Molecular Medicine Program, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
| | - Deborah Stuart
- Division of Nephrology & Hypertension, School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
| | - Alek D Peterlin
- Diabetes & Metabolism Research Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
- Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
| | - Venisia L Paula
- Diabetes & Metabolism Research Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
- Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
| | - Piyarat Siripoksup
- Diabetes & Metabolism Research Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
- Department of Physical Therapy & Athletic Training, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
| | - Micah J Drummond
- Diabetes & Metabolism Research Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
- Division of Nephrology & Hypertension, School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
- Department of Physical Therapy & Athletic Training, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
| | - Alejandro Sanchez
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, Cancer Hospital, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
| | - Nirupama Ramkumar
- Diabetes & Metabolism Research Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
- Division of Nephrology & Hypertension, School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
| | - Katsuhiko Funai
- Diabetes & Metabolism Research Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
- Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
- Molecular Medicine Program, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
- Department of Physical Therapy & Athletic Training, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, Cancer Hospital, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
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2
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Bunk J, Hussain MF, Delgado-Martin M, Samborska B, Ersin M, Shaw A, Rahbani JF, Kazak L. The Futile Creatine Cycle powers UCP1-independent thermogenesis in classical BAT. Nat Commun 2025; 16:3221. [PMID: 40185737 PMCID: PMC11971250 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-58294-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2025] [Indexed: 04/07/2025] Open
Abstract
Classical brown adipose tissue (BAT) is traditionally viewed as relying exclusively on uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) for thermogenesis via inducible proton leak. However, the physiological significance of UCP1-independent mechanisms linking substrate oxidation to ATP turnover in classical BAT has remained unclear. Here, we identify the Futile Creatine Cycle (FCC), a mitochondrial-localized energy-wasting pathway involving creatine phosphorylation by creatine kinase b (CKB) and phosphocreatine hydrolysis by tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP), as a key UCP1-independent thermogenic mechanism in classical BAT. Reintroducing mitochondrial-targeted CKB exclusively into interscapular brown adipocytes in vivo restores thermogenesis and cold tolerance in mice lacking native UCP1 and CKB, in a TNAP-dependent manner. Furthermore, mice with inducible adipocyte-specific co-deletion of TNAP and UCP1 exhibit severe cold-intolerance. These findings challenge the view that BAT thermogenesis depends solely on UCP1 because of insufficient ATP synthase activity and establishes the FCC as a physiologically relevant thermogenic pathway in classical BAT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakub Bunk
- Rosalind & Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Mohammed F Hussain
- Rosalind & Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Maria Delgado-Martin
- Rosalind & Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Bozena Samborska
- Rosalind & Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Mina Ersin
- Rosalind & Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Abhirup Shaw
- Rosalind & Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Janane F Rahbani
- Rosalind & Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Lawrence Kazak
- Rosalind & Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
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3
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Duan J, Karri SS, Forouzesh K, Mortimer T, Plikus MV, Benitah SA, Takahashi JS, Andersen B. Designing and Evaluating Circadian Experiments on Mouse Skin. J Invest Dermatol 2025; 145:484-493. [PMID: 39891645 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2025.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2024] [Revised: 12/27/2024] [Accepted: 01/08/2025] [Indexed: 02/03/2025]
Abstract
All skin layers and cutaneous appendages harbor a robust circadian clock, whose phase is under the influence of light through the central clock in the suprachiasmatic nucleus. The skin clock coordinates fundamental biological processes, including metabolism and stem cell activation. It also prominently modulates activity of skin-resident immune cells and the inflammatory response. Numerous diurnally regulated genes in the skin have been implicated in skin diseases in GWASs. Therefore, the mouse skin is a powerful model for understanding the diverse roles of circadian biology in maintaining tissue health and the initiation and propagation of disease states. When planning experiments to study the circadian biology of mouse skin, multiple technical and biological factors must be carefully considered. In this paper, we provide comprehensive guidance on the general circadian experimental design and associated housing for the mice. We highlight the importance of aligning sample collection with the desired hair cycle stage and animal age. We introduce methods to disrupt the clock in the skin, including altering light and feeding schedules as well as using transgenic mouse models. Finally, we discuss the use of transcriptomic data, both bulk and single cell, for circadian studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junyan Duan
- Center for Complex Biological Systems, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, USA; The NSF-Simons Center for Multiscale Cell Fate Research, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Satya Swaroop Karri
- Department of Biological Chemistry, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, USA; Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Kiarash Forouzesh
- Department of Biological Chemistry, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, USA; Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Thomas Mortimer
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maksim V Plikus
- Center for Complex Biological Systems, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, USA; The NSF-Simons Center for Multiscale Cell Fate Research, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, USA; Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, USA; Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Salvador Aznar Benitah
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain; Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joseph S Takahashi
- Department of Neuroscience, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Bogi Andersen
- Center for Complex Biological Systems, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, USA; Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, USA.
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4
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Deota S, Pendergast JS, Kolthur-Seetharam U, Esser KA, Gachon F, Asher G, Dibner C, Benitah SA, Escobar C, Muoio DM, Zhang EE, Hotamışlıgil GS, Bass J, Takahashi JS, Rabinowitz JD, Lamia KA, de Cabo R, Kajimura S, Longo VD, Xu Y, Lazar MA, Verdin E, Zierath JR, Auwerx J, Drucker DJ, Panda S. The time is now: accounting for time-of-day effects to improve reproducibility and translation of metabolism research. Nat Metab 2025; 7:454-468. [PMID: 40097742 DOI: 10.1038/s42255-025-01237-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2025] [Indexed: 03/19/2025]
Abstract
The constant expansion of the field of metabolic research has led to more nuanced and sophisticated understanding of the complex mechanisms that underlie metabolic functions and diseases. Collaborations with scientists of various fields such as neuroscience, immunology and drug discovery have further enhanced the ability to probe the role of metabolism in physiological processes. However, many behaviours, endocrine and biochemical processes, and the expression of genes, proteins and metabolites have daily ~24-h biological rhythms and thus peak only at specific times of the day. This daily variation can lead to incorrect interpretations, lack of reproducibility across laboratories and challenges in translating preclinical studies to humans. In this Review, we discuss the biological, environmental and experimental factors affecting circadian rhythms in rodents, which can in turn alter their metabolic pathways and the outcomes of experiments. We recommend that these variables be duly considered and suggest best practices for designing, analysing and reporting metabolic experiments in a circadian context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaunak Deota
- Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | | | - Ullas Kolthur-Seetharam
- Department of Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, India
- Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Hyderabad, India
| | - Karyn A Esser
- Department of Physiology and Aging, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Frédéric Gachon
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Gad Asher
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Charna Dibner
- Department of Surgery and Department of Cell Physiology and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Salvador Aznar Benitah
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), the Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
- Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carolina Escobar
- Departamento de Anatomía, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Deborah M Muoio
- Departments of Medicine and Pharmacology & Cancer Biology, Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - Gökhan S Hotamışlıgil
- Sabri Ülker Center for Metabolic Research, Department of Molecular Metabolism, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Joseph Bass
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Molecular Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Joseph S Takahashi
- Department of Neuroscience, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Joshua D Rabinowitz
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Katja A Lamia
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology and Department of Molecular Medicine, the Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Rafael de Cabo
- Translational Gerontology Branch, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Shingo Kajimura
- Division of Endocrinology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Valter D Longo
- Longevity Institute, Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- AIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, Italian Foundation for Cancer Research Institute of Molecular Oncology, Milan, Italy
| | - Ying Xu
- CAM-SU Genomic Resource Center, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Mitchell A Lazar
- Institute for Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism and Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Eric Verdin
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA, USA
| | - Juleen R Zierath
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Johan Auwerx
- Laboratory of Integrative Systems Physiology, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Daniel J Drucker
- The Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mt. Sinai Hospital and the Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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5
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Miles TK, Odle AK, Byrum SD, Lagasse AN, Haney AC, Ortega VG, Herdman AK, MacNicol MC, MacNicol AM, Childs GV. Ablation of Leptin Receptor Signaling Alters Somatotrope Transcriptome Maturation in Female Mice. Endocrinology 2025; 166:bqaf036. [PMID: 39964842 PMCID: PMC11919818 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqaf036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2024] [Revised: 01/13/2025] [Accepted: 02/14/2025] [Indexed: 02/20/2025]
Abstract
Anterior pituitary somatotropes respond to metabolic signals from the adipokine leptin to optimize functional responses to the body's nutritional state via growth hormone (GH) secretion. Molecular targets of leptin in pituitary somatotropes include GH, the GH-releasing hormone receptor (GHRHR), and, in females, the transcription factor POU1F1, all of which are dependent on leptin stimulation for expression. To identify the trophic mechanisms underlying leptin action upon somatotropes, we analyzed single-cell gene transcriptomes comparing pituitaries from a female mouse model bearing somatotropes lacking leptin receptors (LEPR-null mutants) and control pituitaries. Computational clustering of results identified all common pituitary cell types and differentially expressed genes. Mutant female somatotrope clusters showed decreased levels of Gh and Htatsf1 mRNA, which was also reduced in mutant pituitaries lacking Prop1 or POU1F1. Mutant somatotropes also showed increased expression of markers for pituitary stem and progenitor cells (eg, Sox9) and increased (1.73-6.7 fold) expression of nonsomatotrope hormones, Pomc, Lhb, Tshb, Cga, and Prl. Conversely, the mutant female Sox2-positive stem cell cluster showed decreased expression of markers for stem cells and increased expression of pituitary hormone genes. The data support a model in which the female pituitary somatotrope cell population's development and/or maintenance requires leptin trophic signals and also suggests that, in the absence of normal somatotrope maturation, pituitary stem cells are driven towards premature differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiffany K Miles
- Department of Neuroscience and Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Angela K Odle
- Department of Neuroscience and Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Stephanie D Byrum
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
- Arkansas Children’s Research Institute, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Alex N Lagasse
- Department of Neuroscience and Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Anessa C Haney
- Department of Neuroscience and Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Victoria G Ortega
- Department of Neuroscience and Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Ashley K Herdman
- Department of Neuroscience and Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Melanie C MacNicol
- Department of Neuroscience and Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Angus M MacNicol
- Department of Neuroscience and Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Gwen V Childs
- Department of Neuroscience and Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
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6
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Bruno P, Schüler T, Rosshart SP. Born to be wild: utilizing natural microbiota for reliable biomedical research. Trends Immunol 2025; 46:17-28. [PMID: 39690004 DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2024.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2024] [Revised: 11/11/2024] [Accepted: 11/19/2024] [Indexed: 12/19/2024]
Abstract
Laboratory mice housed under specific pathogen-free (SPF) conditions are the standard model in biomedical research. However, experiments with a particular inbred mouse strain performed in different laboratories often yield inconsistent or conflicting data due to housing-specific variations in the composition and diversity of SPF microbiota. These variations affect immune and nonimmune cell functions, leading to systemic physiological changes. Consequently, microbiota-dependent inconsistencies have raised general doubts regarding the suitability of mice as model organisms. Since stability positively correlates with biological diversity, we postulate that increasing species diversity can improve microbiota stability and mouse physiology, enhancing robustness, reproducibility, and experimental validity. Similar to the generation of inbred mouse strains in the last century, we suggest a worldwide initiative to define a transplantable 'wild' microbiota that stably colonizes mice irrespective of housing conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Bruno
- Department of Microbiome Research, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany.
| | - Thomas Schüler
- Institute of Molecular and Clinical Immunology, Medical Faculty, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.
| | - Stephan P Rosshart
- Department of Microbiome Research, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany; Department of Medicine II, Faculty of Medicine, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
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7
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Bailoo JD, Bergeson SE, Ponomarev I, Willms JO, Kisby BR, Cornwall GA, MacDonald CC, Lawrence JJ, Ganapathy V, Sivaprakasam S, Panthagani P, Trasti S, Varholick JA, Findlater M, Deonarine A. A bespoke water T-maze apparatus and protocol: an optimized, reliable, and repeatable method for screening learning, memory, and executive functioning in laboratory mice. Front Behav Neurosci 2024; 18:1492327. [PMID: 39720305 PMCID: PMC11666379 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2024.1492327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2024] [Accepted: 10/16/2024] [Indexed: 12/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The Morris Water Maze (MWM) is the most commonly used assay for evaluating learning and memory in laboratory mice. Despite its widespread use, contemporary reviews have highlighted substantial methodological variation in experimental protocols and that the associated testing procedures are acutely (each trial) and chronically (testing across days) stressful; stress impairs attention, memory consolidation and the retrieval of learned information. Moreover, the interpretation of behavior within the MWM is often difficult because of wall hugging, non-spatial swim strategies, floating, and jumping off the escape platform. Together, these issues may compromise the reproducibility, generalizability, and predictability of experimental results, as well as animal welfare. To address these issues, and as an initial proof-of-principle, we first narrowed the spatial dimensions of the MWM by using a T-insert, which constrained and reduced the overall length of time/distance that the animal must swim in order to navigate to the escape platform, thus reducing stress and off-task behavior. Given the robust performance observed across spatial acquisition (learning and memory) as well as during reversal learning (executive function), we further reduced (by 43%) the overall distance and time that the animal must swim in order to find the escape platform in a bespoke standalone Water T-Maze (WTM). We show, across five experiments, procedural refinements to our protocol and demonstrate robust, reliable and reproducible indicators of learning, memory and executive functioning in a task that is also significantly more efficient (3 days of testing within the WTM vs. 11 days of testing within the MWM). Taken together, our WTM apparatus and protocol are a significant improvement over other water-based apparatuses and protocols for evaluating learning, memory, and executive functioning in laboratory mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy Davidson Bailoo
- Department of Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, United States
| | - Susan E. Bergeson
- Department of Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, United States
| | - Igor Ponomarev
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, United States
| | - Joshua O. Willms
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, United States
| | - Brent R. Kisby
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, United States
| | - Gail A. Cornwall
- Department of Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, United States
| | - Clinton C. MacDonald
- Department of Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, United States
| | - J. Josh Lawrence
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, United States
- Garrison Institute on Aging, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, United States
| | - Vadivel Ganapathy
- Department of Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, United States
| | - Sathish Sivaprakasam
- Department of Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, United States
| | - Praneetha Panthagani
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, United States
| | - Scott Trasti
- Department of Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, United States
| | - Justin A. Varholick
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Michael Findlater
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California Merced, Merced, CA, United States
| | - Amrika Deonarine
- Department of Civil, Environmental, and Construction Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, United States
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8
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Ma C, Shen B, Chen L, Yang G. Impacts of circadian disruptions on behavioral rhythms in mice. FASEB J 2024; 38:e70183. [PMID: 39570004 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202401536r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2024] [Revised: 10/11/2024] [Accepted: 11/04/2024] [Indexed: 11/22/2024]
Abstract
Circadian rhythms are fundamental biological processes that recur approximately every 24 h, with the sleep-wake cycle or circadian behavior being a well-known example. In the field of chronobiology, mice serve as valuable model animals for studying mammalian circadian rhythms due to their genetic similarity to humans and the availability of various genetic tools for manipulation. Monitoring locomotor activity in mice provides valuable insights into the impact of various conditions or disturbances on circadian behavior. In this review, we summarized the effects of disturbance of biological rhythms on circadian behavior in mice. External factors, especially light exert a significant impact on circadian behavior. Additionally, feeding timing, food composition, ambient temperature, and physical exercise contribute to variations in the behavior of the mouse. Internal factors, including gender, age, genetic background, and clock gene mutation or deletion, are effective as well. Understanding the effects of circadian disturbances on murine behavior is essential for gaining insights into the underlying mechanisms of circadian regulation and developing potential therapeutic interventions for circadian-related disorders in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changxiao Ma
- Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences Affiliated Zhoupu Hospital, Shanghai, China
- School of Bioengineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China
| | - Bingyi Shen
- School of Bioengineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China
| | - Lihong Chen
- Health Science Center, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Guangrui Yang
- Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences Affiliated Zhoupu Hospital, Shanghai, China
- School of Clinical Medicine, Shanghai University of Medicine & Health Sciences, Shanghai, China
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9
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Landen JG, Vandendoren M, Killmer S, Bedford NL, Nelson AC. Huddling substates in mice facilitate dynamic changes in body temperature and are modulated by Shank3b and Trpm8 mutation. Commun Biol 2024; 7:1186. [PMID: 39304735 PMCID: PMC11415358 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06781-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2024] [Accepted: 08/26/2024] [Indexed: 09/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Social thermoregulation is a means of maintaining homeostatic body temperature. While adult mice are a model organism for studying both social behavior and energy regulation, the relationship between huddling and core body temperature (Tb) is poorly understood. Here, we develop a behavioral paradigm and computational tools to identify active-huddling and quiescent-huddling as distinct thermal substates. We find that huddling is an effective thermoregulatory strategy in female but not male groups. At 23 °C (room temperature), but not 30 °C (near thermoneutrality), huddling facilitates large reductions in Tb and Tb-variance. Notably, active-huddling is associated with bidirectional changes in Tb, depending on its proximity to bouts of quiescent-huddling. Further, group-housed animals lacking the synaptic scaffolding gene Shank3b have hyperthermic Tb and spend less time huddling. In contrast, individuals lacking the cold-sensing gene Trpm8 have hypothermic Tb - a deficit that is rescued by increased huddling time. These results reveal how huddling behavior facilitates acute adjustments of Tb in a state-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason G Landen
- Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA
- University of Wyoming Sensory Biology Center, Laramie, WY, USA
| | - Morgane Vandendoren
- Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA
- University of Wyoming Sensory Biology Center, Laramie, WY, USA
| | - Samantha Killmer
- Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA
- University of Wyoming Sensory Biology Center, Laramie, WY, USA
| | - Nicole L Bedford
- Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA
| | - Adam C Nelson
- Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA.
- University of Wyoming Sensory Biology Center, Laramie, WY, USA.
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10
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Opurum PC, Decker ST, Stuart D, Peterlin AD, Paula VL, Siripoksup P, Drummond MJ, Sanchez A, Ramkumar N, Funai K. Six months of physical inactivity is insufficient to cause chronic kidney disease in C57BL/6J mice. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.08.29.610415. [PMID: 39257785 PMCID: PMC11384017 DOI: 10.1101/2024.08.29.610415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/12/2024]
Abstract
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a progressive disorder marked by a decline in kidney function. Obesity and sedentary behavior contribute to the development of CKD, though mechanisms by which this occurs are poorly understood. This knowledge gap is worsened by the lack of a reliable murine CKD model that does not rely on injury, toxin, or gene deletion to induce a reduction in kidney function. High-fat diet (HFD) feeding alone is insufficient to cause reduced kidney function until later in life. Here, we employed a small mouse cage (SMC), a recently developed mouse model of sedentariness, to study its effect on kidney function. Wildtype C57BL/6J male mice were housed in sham or SMC housing for six months with HFD in room (22°C) or thermoneutral (30°C) conditions. Despite hyperinsulinemia induced by the SMC+HFD intervention, kidneys from these mice displayed normal glomerular filtration rate (GFR). However, the kidneys showed early signs of kidney injury, including increases in Col1a1 and NGAL transcripts, as well as fibrosis by histology, primarily in the inner medullary/papilla region. High-resolution respirometry and fluorometry experiments showed no statistically significant changes in the capacities for respiration, ATP synthesis, or electron leak. These data confirm the technical challenge in modeling human CKD. They further support the notion that obesity and a sedentary lifestyle make the kidneys more vulnerable, but additional insults are likely required for the pathogenesis of CKD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Precious C. Opurum
- Diabetes & Metabolism Research Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
- Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Stephen T. Decker
- Diabetes & Metabolism Research Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
- Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
- Molecular Medicine Program, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Deborah Stuart
- Division of Nephrology & Hypertension, School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Alek D. Peterlin
- Diabetes & Metabolism Research Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
- Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Venisia L. Paula
- Diabetes & Metabolism Research Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
- Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Piyarat Siripoksup
- Diabetes & Metabolism Research Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
- Department of Physical Therapy & Athletic Training, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Micah J. Drummond
- Diabetes & Metabolism Research Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
- Division of Nephrology & Hypertension, School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
- Department of Physical Therapy & Athletic Training, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Alejandro Sanchez
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, Cancer Hospital, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Nirupama Ramkumar
- Diabetes & Metabolism Research Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
- Division of Nephrology & Hypertension, School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Katsuhiko Funai
- Diabetes & Metabolism Research Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
- Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
- Molecular Medicine Program, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
- Department of Physical Therapy & Athletic Training, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, Cancer Hospital, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
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11
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Wang R, Gomez Salazar M, Pruñonosa Cervera I, Coutts A, French K, Pinto MM, Gohlke S, García-Martín R, Blüher M, Schofield CJ, Kourtzelis I, Stimson RH, Bénézech C, Christian M, Schulz TJ, Gudmundsson EF, Jennings LL, Gudnason VG, Chavakis T, Morton NM, Emilsson V, Michailidou Z. Adipocyte deletion of the oxygen-sensor PHD2 sustains elevated energy expenditure at thermoneutrality. Nat Commun 2024; 15:7483. [PMID: 39209825 PMCID: PMC11362468 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51718-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/14/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Enhancing thermogenic brown adipose tissue (BAT) function is a promising therapeutic strategy for metabolic disease. However, predominantly thermoneutral modern human living conditions deactivate BAT. We demonstrate that selective adipocyte deficiency of the oxygen-sensor HIF-prolyl hydroxylase (PHD2) gene overcomes BAT dormancy at thermoneutrality. Adipocyte-PHD2-deficient mice maintain higher energy expenditure having greater BAT thermogenic capacity. In human and murine adipocytes, a PHD inhibitor increases Ucp1 levels. In murine brown adipocytes, antagonising the major PHD2 target, hypoxia-inducible factor-(HIF)-2a abolishes Ucp1 that cannot be rescued by PHD inhibition. Mechanistically, PHD2 deficiency leads to HIF2 stabilisation and binding of HIF2 to the Ucp1 promoter, thus enhancing its expression in brown adipocytes. Serum proteomics analysis of 5457 participants in the deeply phenotyped Age, Gene and Environment Study reveal that serum PHD2 associates with increased risk of metabolic disease. Here we show that adipose-PHD2-inhibition is a therapeutic strategy for metabolic disease and identify serum PHD2 as a disease biomarker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rongling Wang
- Centre for Cardiovascular Sciences, Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Mario Gomez Salazar
- Centre for Cardiovascular Sciences, Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Iris Pruñonosa Cervera
- Centre for Cardiovascular Sciences, Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Amanda Coutts
- Department of Biosciences, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Clifton, Nottingham, UK
| | - Karen French
- Centre for Cardiovascular Sciences, Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Marlene Magalhaes Pinto
- Centre for Cardiovascular Sciences, Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Sabrina Gohlke
- Department of Adipocyte Development and Nutrition, German Institute of Human Nutrition, Potsdam-Rehbrücke, Nuthetal, Germany
| | - Ruben García-Martín
- Department of Immunology and Oncology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología/CSIC (CNB-CSIC), Campus-UAM, Madrid, Spain
| | - Matthias Blüher
- Helmholtz Institute for Metabolic, Obesity and Vascular Research (HI-MAG) of the Helmholtz Zentrum München at the University of Leipzig and University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Christopher J Schofield
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford Institute for Antimicrobial Research University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Ioannis Kourtzelis
- Hull York Medical School, York Biomedical Research Institute, University of York, York, UK
| | - Roland H Stimson
- Centre for Cardiovascular Sciences, Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Cécile Bénézech
- Centre for Cardiovascular Sciences, Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Mark Christian
- Department of Biosciences, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Clifton, Nottingham, UK
| | - Tim J Schulz
- Department of Adipocyte Development and Nutrition, German Institute of Human Nutrition, Potsdam-Rehbrücke, Nuthetal, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), München-Neuherberg, Germany
| | | | - Lori L Jennings
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Vilmundur G Gudnason
- Icelandic Heart Association, Kopavogur, Iceland
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Triantafyllos Chavakis
- Centre for Cardiovascular Sciences, Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), München-Neuherberg, Germany
- Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Paul Langerhans Institute Dresden, Helmholtz Zentrum München, University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Nicholas M Morton
- Centre for Cardiovascular Sciences, Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Department of Biosciences, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Clifton, Nottingham, UK
| | - Valur Emilsson
- Icelandic Heart Association, Kopavogur, Iceland
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Zoi Michailidou
- Centre for Cardiovascular Sciences, Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
- Department of Biosciences, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Clifton, Nottingham, UK.
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12
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Raun SH, Braun JL, Karavaeva I, Henriquez-Olguín C, Ali MS, Møller LLV, Gerhart-Hines Z, Fajardo VA, Richter EA, Sylow L. Mild Cold Stress at Ambient Temperature Elevates Muscle Calcium Cycling and Exercise Adaptations in Obese Female Mice. Endocrinology 2024; 165:bqae102. [PMID: 39136248 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqae102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 08/28/2024]
Abstract
CONTEXT Housing temperature is a critical regulator of mouse metabolism and thermoneutral housing can improve model translation to humans. However, the impact of housing temperature on the ability of wheel running exercise training to rescue the detrimental effect of diet-induced obese mice is currently not fully understood. OBJECTIVE To investigate how housing temperature affects muscle metabolism in obese mice with regard to calcium handling and exercise training (ET) adaptations in skeletal muscle, and benefits of ET on adiposity and glucometabolic parameters. METHODS Lean or obese female mice were housed at standard ambient temperature (22 °C) or thermoneutrality (30 °C) with/without access to running wheels. The metabolic phenotype was investigated using glucose tolerance tests, indirect calorimetry, and body composition. Molecular muscle adaptations were measured using immunoblotting, qPCR, and spectrophotometric/fluorescent assays. RESULTS Obese female mice housed at 22 °C showed lower adiposity, lower circulating insulin levels, improved glucose tolerance, and elevated basal metabolic rate compared to 30 °C housing. Mice exposed to voluntary wheel running exhibited a larger fat loss and higher metabolic rate at 22 °C housing compared to thermoneutrality. In obese female mice, glucose tolerance improved after ET independent of housing temperature. Independent of diet and training, 22 °C housing increased skeletal muscle sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase (SERCA) activity. Additionally, housing at 22 °C elevated the induction of training-responsive muscle proteins in obese mice. CONCLUSION Our findings highlight that housing temperature significantly influences adiposity, insulin sensitivity, muscle physiology, and exercise adaptations in diet-induced obese female mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steffen H Raun
- Molecular Metabolism in Cancer and Ageing, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 2200, Denmark
| | - Jessica L Braun
- Muscle Plasticity in Health and Disease, Department of Kinesiology, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, Brock University, St. Catharines, L2A 3A1, Canada
| | - Iuliia Karavaeva
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 2200, Denmark
| | - Carlos Henriquez-Olguín
- The August Krogh Section for Molecular Physiology, Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 2100, Denmark
- Exercise Science Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Finis Terrae, Santiago 7501015, Chile
| | - Mona S Ali
- Molecular Metabolism in Cancer and Ageing, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 2200, Denmark
| | - Lisbeth L V Møller
- Molecular Metabolism in Cancer and Ageing, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 2200, Denmark
| | - Zachary Gerhart-Hines
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 2200, Denmark
| | - Val A Fajardo
- Muscle Plasticity in Health and Disease, Department of Kinesiology, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, Brock University, St. Catharines, L2A 3A1, Canada
| | - Erik A Richter
- The August Krogh Section for Molecular Physiology, Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 2100, Denmark
| | - Lykke Sylow
- Molecular Metabolism in Cancer and Ageing, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 2200, Denmark
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13
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Farooqi IS, Xu Y. Translational potential of mouse models of human metabolic disease. Cell 2024; 187:4129-4143. [PMID: 39067442 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.07.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2024] [Revised: 07/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
Obesity causes significant morbidity and mortality globally. Research in the last three decades has delivered a step-change in our understanding of the fundamental mechanisms that regulate energy homeostasis, building on foundational discoveries in mouse models of metabolic disease. However, not all findings made in rodents have translated to humans, hampering drug discovery in this field. Here, we review how studies in mice and humans have informed our current framework for understanding energy homeostasis, discuss their challenges and limitations, and offer a perspective on how human studies may play an increasingly important role in the discovery of disease mechanisms and identification of therapeutic targets in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Sadaf Farooqi
- University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories, Institute of Metabolic Science and NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge, UK.
| | - Yong Xu
- USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology and Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
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14
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Hao L, Khan MSH, Zu Y, Liu J, Wang S. Thermoneutrality Inhibits Thermogenic Markers and Exacerbates Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:8482. [PMID: 39126051 PMCID: PMC11312964 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25158482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2024] [Revised: 07/30/2024] [Accepted: 08/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) affects over a third of the US population and 25% globally, with current treatments proving ineffective. This study investigates whether manipulating brown adipose tissue (BAT) and beige fat activity by housing C57BL/6J mice at thermoneutral (27 °C) or standard temperatures (22 °C) impacts NAFLD development. Male mice were fed either a chow diet (CHD) or a "fast food" diet (FFD) for 10 weeks. Mice at 27 °C had reduced food intake but increased body weight and plasma leptin levels. FFD-fed mice at 27 °C had greater liver weight (2.6 vs. 1.8 g), triglyceride content (7.6 vs. 3.9 mg/g), and hepatic steatosis compared to those at 22 °C. Gene expression of fatty acid synthase, sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1, and fatty acid translocase CD36 was elevated in FFD-fed mice at 27 °C, but not in CHD-fed mice. Thermoneutral housing also reduced expression of thermogenic markers in BAT and inguinal white adipose tissue (WAT) and caused BAT whitening. In conclusion, thermoneutrality inhibits thermogenic markers and exacerbates NAFLD. Activating BAT or promoting WAT browning via cold exposure or other stimuli may offer a strategy for managing NAFLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Hao
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA; (M.S.H.K.); (Y.Z.); (J.L.)
- Department of Allied and Public Health, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indian, PA 15705, USA
| | - Md Shahjalal Hossain Khan
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA; (M.S.H.K.); (Y.Z.); (J.L.)
| | - Yujiao Zu
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA; (M.S.H.K.); (Y.Z.); (J.L.)
| | - Jie Liu
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA; (M.S.H.K.); (Y.Z.); (J.L.)
| | - Shu Wang
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA; (M.S.H.K.); (Y.Z.); (J.L.)
- College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
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15
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Reynés B, García-Ruiz E, van Schothorst EM, Keijer J, Oliver P, Palou A. TLCD4 as Potential Transcriptomic Biomarker of Cold Exposure. Biomolecules 2024; 14:935. [PMID: 39199323 PMCID: PMC11352221 DOI: 10.3390/biom14080935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2024] [Revised: 07/26/2024] [Accepted: 07/31/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Cold exposure induces metabolic adaptations that can promote health benefits, including increased energy disposal due to lipid mobilization in adipose tissue (AT). This study aims to identify easily measurable biomarkers mirroring the effect of cold exposure on AT. (2) Methods: Transcriptomic analysis was performed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and distinct AT depots of two animal models (ferrets and rats) exposed to cold, and in PBMCs of cold-exposed humans. (3) Results: One week of cold exposure (at 4 °C) affected different metabolic pathways and gene expression in the AT of ferrets, an animal model with an AT more similar to humans than that of rodents. However, only one gene, Tlcd4, was affected in the same way (overexpressed) in aortic perivascular and inguinal AT depots and in PBMCs, making it a potential biomarker of interest. Subsequent targeted analysis in rats showed that 1 week at 4 °C also induced Tlcd4 expression in brown AT and PBMCs, while 1 h at 4 °C resulted in reduced Tlcd4 mRNA levels in retroperitoneal white AT. In humans, no clear effects were observed. Nevertheless, decreased PBMC TLCD4 expression was observed after acute cold exposure in women with normal weight, although this effect could be attributed to short-term fasting during the procedure. No effect was evident in women with overweight or in normal-weight men. (4) Conclusions: Our results obtained for different species point toward TLCD4 gene expression as a potential biomarker of cold exposure/fat mobilization that could tentatively be used to address the effectiveness of cold exposure-mimicking therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bàrbara Reynés
- Nutrigenomics, Biomarkers and Risk Evaluation (NuBE) Group, University of the Balearic Islands, 07122 Palma, Spain; (B.R.)
- Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands (IdISBa), 07120 Palma, Spain
- CIBER of Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Estefanía García-Ruiz
- Nutrigenomics, Biomarkers and Risk Evaluation (NuBE) Group, University of the Balearic Islands, 07122 Palma, Spain; (B.R.)
- CIBER of Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Evert M. van Schothorst
- Human and Animal Physiology, Wageningen University, 6708 WD Wageningen, The Netherlands; (E.M.v.S.)
| | - Jaap Keijer
- Human and Animal Physiology, Wageningen University, 6708 WD Wageningen, The Netherlands; (E.M.v.S.)
| | - Paula Oliver
- Nutrigenomics, Biomarkers and Risk Evaluation (NuBE) Group, University of the Balearic Islands, 07122 Palma, Spain; (B.R.)
- Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands (IdISBa), 07120 Palma, Spain
- CIBER of Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Andreu Palou
- Nutrigenomics, Biomarkers and Risk Evaluation (NuBE) Group, University of the Balearic Islands, 07122 Palma, Spain; (B.R.)
- Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands (IdISBa), 07120 Palma, Spain
- CIBER of Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
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16
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Landen JG, Vandendoren M, Killmer S, Bedford NL, Nelson AC. Huddling substates in mice facilitate dynamic changes in body temperature and are modulated by Shank3b and Trpm8 mutation. RESEARCH SQUARE 2024:rs.3.rs-3904829. [PMID: 38978581 PMCID: PMC11230468 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3904829/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
Social thermoregulation is a means of maintaining homeostatic body temperature. While adult mice are a model organism for studying both social behavior and energy regulation, the relationship between huddling and core body temperature (Tb) is poorly understood. Here, we develop a behavioral paradigm and computational tools to identify active-huddling and quiescent-huddling as distinct thermal substates. We find that huddling is an effective thermoregulatory strategy in female but not male groups. At 23°C (room temperature), but not 30°C (near thermoneutrality), huddling facilitates large reductions in Tb and Tb-variance. Notably, active-huddling is associated with bidirectional changes in Tb, depending on its proximity to bouts of quiescent-huddling. Further, group-housed animals lacking the synaptic scaffolding gene Shank3b have hyperthermic Tb and spend less time huddling. In contrast, individuals lacking the cold-sensing gene Trpm8 have hypothermic Tb - a deficit that is rescued by increased huddling time. These results reveal how huddling behavior facilitates acute adjustments of Tb in a state-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason G. Landen
- Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA
- University of Wyoming Sensory Biology Center, Laramie, WY, USA
| | - Morgane Vandendoren
- Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA
- University of Wyoming Sensory Biology Center, Laramie, WY, USA
| | - Samantha Killmer
- Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA
- University of Wyoming Sensory Biology Center, Laramie, WY, USA
| | - Nicole L. Bedford
- Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA
| | - Adam C. Nelson
- Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA
- University of Wyoming Sensory Biology Center, Laramie, WY, USA
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17
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Škop V, Liu N, Xiao C, Stinson E, Chen KY, Hall KD, Piaggi P, Gavrilova O, Reitman ML. Beyond day and night: The importance of ultradian rhythms in mouse physiology. Mol Metab 2024; 84:101946. [PMID: 38657735 PMCID: PMC11070603 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2024.101946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2024] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Our circadian world shapes much of metabolic physiology. In mice ∼40% of the light and ∼80% of the dark phase time is characterized by bouts of increased energy expenditure (EE). These ultradian bouts have a higher body temperature (Tb) and thermal conductance and contain virtually all of the physical activity and awake time. Bout status is a better classifier of mouse physiology than photoperiod, with ultradian bouts superimposed on top of the circadian light/dark cycle. We suggest that the primary driver of ultradian bouts is a brain-initiated transition to a higher defended Tb of the active/awake state. Increased energy expenditure from brown adipose tissue, physical activity, and cardiac work combine to raise Tb from the lower defended Tb of the resting/sleeping state. Thus, unlike humans, much of mouse metabolic physiology is episodic with large ultradian increases in EE and Tb that correlate with the active/awake state and are poorly aligned with circadian cycling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vojtěch Škop
- Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Obesity Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; Centre for Experimental Medicine, Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Prague, Czech Republic; Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - Naili Liu
- Mouse Metabolism Core, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Cuiying Xiao
- Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Obesity Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Emma Stinson
- Phoenix Epidemiology and Clinical Research Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, NIH, Phoenix, AZ 85016, USA
| | - Kong Y Chen
- Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Obesity Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Kevin D Hall
- Laboratory of Biological Modeling, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Paolo Piaggi
- Phoenix Epidemiology and Clinical Research Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, NIH, Phoenix, AZ 85016, USA; Department of Information Engineering, University of Pisa, Pisa 56122, Italy
| | - Oksana Gavrilova
- Mouse Metabolism Core, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Marc L Reitman
- Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Obesity Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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18
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Rahbani JF, Bunk J, Lagarde D, Samborska B, Roesler A, Xiao H, Shaw A, Kaiser Z, Braun JL, Geromella MS, Fajardo VA, Koza RA, Kazak L. Parallel control of cold-triggered adipocyte thermogenesis by UCP1 and CKB. Cell Metab 2024; 36:526-540.e7. [PMID: 38272036 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2024.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
That uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) is the sole mediator of adipocyte thermogenesis is a conventional viewpoint that has primarily been inferred from the attenuation of the thermogenic output of mice genetically lacking Ucp1 from birth (germline Ucp1-/-). However, germline Ucp1-/- mice harbor secondary changes within brown adipose tissue. To mitigate these potentially confounding ancillary changes, we constructed mice with inducible adipocyte-selective Ucp1 disruption. We find that, although germline Ucp1-/- mice succumb to cold-induced hypothermia with complete penetrance, most mice with the inducible deletion of Ucp1 maintain homeothermy in the cold. However, inducible adipocyte-selective co-deletion of Ucp1 and creatine kinase b (Ckb, an effector of UCP1-independent thermogenesis) exacerbates cold intolerance. Following UCP1 deletion or UCP1/CKB co-deletion from mature adipocytes, moderate cold exposure triggers the regeneration of mature brown adipocytes that coordinately restore UCP1 and CKB expression. Our findings suggest that thermogenic adipocytes utilize non-paralogous protein redundancy-through UCP1 and CKB-to promote cold-induced energy dissipation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janane F Rahbani
- Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1A3, Canada
| | - Jakub Bunk
- Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1A3, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - Damien Lagarde
- Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1A3, Canada
| | - Bozena Samborska
- Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1A3, Canada
| | - Anna Roesler
- Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1A3, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - Haopeng Xiao
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Abhirup Shaw
- Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1A3, Canada
| | - Zafir Kaiser
- Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1A3, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - Jessica L Braun
- Department of Kinesiology, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON L2S 3A1, Canada
| | - Mia S Geromella
- Department of Kinesiology, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON L2S 3A1, Canada
| | - Val A Fajardo
- Department of Kinesiology, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON L2S 3A1, Canada
| | - Robert A Koza
- MaineHealth Institute for Research, Scarborough, ME 04074, USA
| | - Lawrence Kazak
- Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1A3, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada.
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19
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Gębczyński AK, Sadowska J, Konarzewski M. Differences in the range of thermoneutral zone between mouse strains: potential effects on translational research. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2024; 326:R91-R99. [PMID: 38009211 DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00154.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/28/2023]
Abstract
Laboratory mice are commonly used for studies emulating human metabolism. To render human energetics, their ratio of daily (DEE) to basal (BMR) energy expenditure of 1.7-1.8 should be maintained. However, the DEE/BMR ratio strongly depends on whether a given study using a mouse model is carried out above, or below the lower critical temperature (LCT) of the thermoneutral zone, which is rarely considered in translational research. Here, we used mice artificially selected for high or low rates of BMR along with literature data to analyze the effect of ambient temperature on possible systematic bias in DEE/BMR. We demonstrated that the estimated LCTs of mice from the high and low BMR lines differ by more than 7°C. Furthermore, the range of variation of LCTs of mouse strains used in translational research spans from 23 to 33°C. Differences between LCTs in our selected mice and other mouse strains are mirrored by differences in their DEE-to-BMR ratio, on average increasing it at the rate of 0.172°C-1 at temperatures below LCT. Given the wide range of LCTs in different mouse strains, we conclude that the energetic cost of thermoregulation may differ greatly for different mouse strains with a potentially large impact on translational outcomes. Thus, the LCT of a given mouse strain is an important factor that must be considered in designing translational studies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Julita Sadowska
- Faculty of Biology, University of Białystok, Białystok, Poland
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20
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Miles TK, Odle AK, Byrum SD, Lagasse A, Haney A, Ortega VG, Bolen CR, Banik J, Reddick MM, Herdman A, MacNicol MC, MacNicol AM, Childs GV. Anterior Pituitary Transcriptomics Following a High-Fat Diet: Impact of Oxidative Stress on Cell Metabolism. Endocrinology 2023; 165:bqad191. [PMID: 38103263 PMCID: PMC10771268 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqad191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
Anterior pituitary cell function requires a high level of protein synthesis and secretion which depend heavily on mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate production and functional endoplasmic reticula. Obesity adds stress to tissues, requiring them to adapt to inflammation and oxidative stress, and adding to their allostatic load. We hypothesized that pituitary function is vulnerable to the stress of obesity. Here, we utilized a 10- to 15-week high-fat diet (HFD, 60%) in a thermoneutral environment to promote obesity, testing both male and female FVB.129P mice. We quantified serum hormones and cytokines, characterized the metabolic phenotype, and defined changes in the pituitary transcriptome using single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis. Weight gain was significant by 3 weeks in HFD mice, and by 10 weeks all HFD groups had gained 20 g. HFD females (15 weeks) had increased energy expenditure and decreased activity. All HFD groups showed increases in serum leptin and decreases in adiponectin. HFD caused increased inflammatory markers: interleukin-6, resistin, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and tumor necrosis factorα. HFD males and females also had increased insulin and increased TSH, and HFD females had decreased serum prolactin and growth hormone pulse amplitude. Pituitary single-cell transcriptomics revealed modest or no changes in pituitary cell gene expression from HFD males after 10 or 15 weeks or from HFD females after 10 weeks. However, HFD females (15 weeks) showed significant numbers of differentially expressed genes in lactotropes and pituitary stem cells. Collectively, these studies reveal that pituitary cells from males appear to be more resilient to the oxidative stress of obesity than females and identify the most vulnerable pituitary cell populations in females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiffany K Miles
- Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Angela K Odle
- Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Stephanie D Byrum
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
- Department of Biomedical informatics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
- Arkansas Children's Research Institute, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Alex Lagasse
- Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Anessa Haney
- Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Victoria G Ortega
- Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Cole R Bolen
- Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Jewel Banik
- Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Milla M Reddick
- Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Ashley Herdman
- Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Melanie C MacNicol
- Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Angus M MacNicol
- Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Gwen V Childs
- Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
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21
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Wittek L, Touma C, Nitezki T, Laeger T, Krämer S, Raila J. Reduction in Cold Stress in an Innovative Metabolic Cage Housing System Increases Animal Welfare in Laboratory Mice. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2866. [PMID: 37760266 PMCID: PMC10525209 DOI: 10.3390/ani13182866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Housing in metabolic cages can induce a pronounced stress response. Metabolic cage systems imply housing mice on metal wire mesh for the collection of urine and feces in addition to monitoring food and water intake. Moreover, mice are single-housed, and no nesting, bedding, or enrichment material is provided, which is often argued to have a not negligible impact on animal welfare due to cold stress. We therefore attempted to reduce stress during metabolic cage housing for mice by comparing an innovative metabolic cage (IMC) with a commercially available metabolic cage from Tecniplast GmbH (TMC) and a control cage. Substantial refinement measures were incorporated into the IMC cage design. In the frame of a multifactorial approach for severity assessment, parameters such as body weight, body composition, food intake, cage and body surface temperature (thermal imaging), mRNA expression of uncoupling protein 1 (Ucp1) in brown adipose tissue (BAT), fur score, and fecal corticosterone metabolites (CMs) were included. Female and male C57BL/6J mice were single-housed for 24 h in either conventional Macrolon cages (control), IMC, or TMC for two sessions. Body weight decreased less in the IMC (females-1st restraint: -6.94%; 2nd restraint: -6.89%; males-1st restraint: -8.08%; 2nd restraint: -5.82%) compared to the TMC (females-1st restraint: -13.2%; 2nd restraint: -15.0%; males-1st restraint: -13.1%; 2nd restraint: -14.9%) and the IMC possessed a higher cage temperature (females-1st restraint: 23.7 °C; 2nd restraint: 23.5 °C; males-1st restraint: 23.3 °C; 2nd restraint: 23.5 °C) compared with the TMC (females-1st restraint: 22.4 °C; 2nd restraint: 22.5 °C; males-1st restraint: 22.6 °C; 2nd restraint: 22.4 °C). The concentration of fecal corticosterone metabolites in the TMC (females-1st restraint: 1376 ng/g dry weight (DW); 2nd restraint: 2098 ng/g DW; males-1st restraint: 1030 ng/g DW; 2nd restraint: 1163 ng/g DW) was higher compared to control cage housing (females-1st restraint: 640 ng/g DW; 2nd restraint: 941 ng/g DW; males-1st restraint: 504 ng/g DW; 2nd restraint: 537 ng/g DW). Our results show the stress potential induced by metabolic cage restraint that is markedly influenced by the lower housing temperature. The IMC represents a first attempt to target cold stress reduction during metabolic cage application thereby producing more animal welfare friendlydata.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Wittek
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology of Nutrition, Institute of Nutritional Science, University of Potsdam, 14558 Nuthetal, Germany (T.L.); (J.R.)
| | - Chadi Touma
- Department of Behavioural Biology, Osnabruck University, 49076 Osnabruck, Germany;
| | - Tina Nitezki
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology of Nutrition, Institute of Nutritional Science, University of Potsdam, 14558 Nuthetal, Germany (T.L.); (J.R.)
| | - Thomas Laeger
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology of Nutrition, Institute of Nutritional Science, University of Potsdam, 14558 Nuthetal, Germany (T.L.); (J.R.)
| | - Stephanie Krämer
- Interdisciplinary Center of 3Rs in Animal Research (ICAR3R), Clinic of Veterinary Medicine, Justus Liebig University of Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany;
| | - Jens Raila
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology of Nutrition, Institute of Nutritional Science, University of Potsdam, 14558 Nuthetal, Germany (T.L.); (J.R.)
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22
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Grobe CC, Reho JJ, Brown-Williams D, Ziegler AA, Mathieu NM, Lawton SB, Fekete EM, Brozoski DT, Wackman KK, Burnett CM, Nakagawa P, Sigmund CD, Segar JL, Grobe JL. Cardiometabolic Effects of DOCA-Salt in Mice Depend on Ambient Temperature. Hypertension 2023; 80:1871-1880. [PMID: 37470185 PMCID: PMC10528934 DOI: 10.1161/hypertensionaha.122.20415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mice prefer warmer environments than humans. For this reason, behavioral and physiological thermoregulatory responses are engaged by mice in response to a standard room temperature of 22 to 24 °C. Autonomic mechanisms mediating thermoregulatory responses overlap with mechanisms activated in hypertension, and, therefore, we hypothesized that housing at thermoneutral temperatures (TNs; 30 °C) would modify the cardiometabolic effects of deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-salt in mice. METHODS The effects of DOCA-salt treatment upon ingestive behaviors, energy expenditure, blood pressure, heart rate (HR), and core temperature were assessed in C57BL/6J mice housed at room temperature or TN. RESULTS Housing at TN reduced food intake, energy expenditure, blood pressure, and HR and attenuated HR responses to acute autonomic blockade by chlorisondamine. At room temperature, DOCA-salt caused expected increases in fluid intake, sodium retention in osmotically inactive pools, blood pressure, core temperature, and also caused expected decreases in fat-free mass, total body water, and HR. At TN, the effects of DOCA-salt upon fluid intake, fat gains, hydration, and core temperature were exaggerated, but effects on energy expenditure and HR were blunted. Effects of DOCA-salt upon blood pressure were similar for 3 weeks and exaggerated by TN housing in the fourth week. CONCLUSIONS Ambient temperature robustly influences behavioral and physiological functions in mice, including metabolic and cardiovascular phenotype development in response to DOCA-salt treatment. Studying cardiometabolic responses of mice at optimal ambient temperatures promises to improve the translational relevance of rodent models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Connie C. Grobe
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226
| | - John J. Reho
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226
- Comprehensive Rodent Metabolic Phenotyping Core, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226
| | | | - Alisha A. Ziegler
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226
| | - Natalia M. Mathieu
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226
| | - Samuel B.R. Lawton
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226
| | - Eva M. Fekete
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226
| | - Daniel T. Brozoski
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226
| | - Kelsey K. Wackman
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226
- Comprehensive Rodent Metabolic Phenotyping Core, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226
| | - Colin M.L. Burnett
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226
| | - Pablo Nakagawa
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226
- Cardiovascular Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226
| | - Curt D. Sigmund
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226
- Cardiovascular Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226
- Neuroscience Research Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226
| | - Jeffrey L. Segar
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226
- Cardiovascular Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226
| | - Justin L. Grobe
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226
- Comprehensive Rodent Metabolic Phenotyping Core, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226
- Cardiovascular Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226
- Neuroscience Research Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226
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23
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Sattgast LH, Wong CP, Branscum AJ, Olson DA, Aguirre-Burk AM, Iwaniec UT, Turner RT. Small changes in thermoregulation influence cancellous bone turnover balance in distal femur metaphysis in growing female mice. Bone Rep 2023; 18:101675. [PMID: 37007217 PMCID: PMC10063413 DOI: 10.1016/j.bonr.2023.101675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Mice are typically housed at temperatures well below their thermoneutral zone. When individually housed at room temperature (~22 °C) mice experience cold stress which results in cancellous bone loss and has the potential to alter the skeletal response to treatment. It is not clear if there is a threshold temperature for cold stress-induced bone loss. It is also not clear if alternative strategies for attenuating cold stress, such as group housing, influence bone accrual and turnover. This study aimed to determine how small differences in temperature (4 °C) or heat loss (individual versus group housing with nestlets) influence bone in growing female C57BL/6 J mice. Five-week-old mice were randomized by weight to 1 of 4 treatment groups (N = 10/group): 1) baseline, 2) single housed at 22 °C, 3) single housed at 26 °C, or 4) group housed (n = 5/cage) with nestlets at 22 °C. Mice in the baseline group were sacrificed 1 week later, at 6 weeks of age. The other 3 groups of mice were maintained at their respective temperatures and housing conditions for 13 weeks until 18 weeks of age. Compared to baseline, mice single housed at room temperature had increased body weight and femur size, but dramatically decreased cancellous bone volume fraction in distal femur metaphysis. The cancellous bone loss was attenuated but not prevented in mice individually housed at 26 °C or group housed at 22 °C. In conclusion, by impacting thermogenesis or heat loss, modest differences in housing conditions could influence experimental results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara H. Sattgast
- Skeletal Biology Laboratory, School of Biological and Population Health Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Carmen P. Wong
- Skeletal Biology Laboratory, School of Biological and Population Health Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Adam J. Branscum
- Biostatistics Program, School of Biological and Population Health Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Dawn A. Olson
- Skeletal Biology Laboratory, School of Biological and Population Health Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Allan M. Aguirre-Burk
- Skeletal Biology Laboratory, School of Biological and Population Health Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Urszula T. Iwaniec
- Skeletal Biology Laboratory, School of Biological and Population Health Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
- Center for Healthy Aging Research, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Russell T. Turner
- Skeletal Biology Laboratory, School of Biological and Population Health Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
- Center for Healthy Aging Research, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
- Corresponding author at: Skeletal Biology Laboratory, School of Biological and Population Health Sciences, 127 Milam Hall, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA.
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24
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Jung F, Frey K, Zimmer D, Mühlhaus T. DeepSTABp: A Deep Learning Approach for the Prediction of Thermal Protein Stability. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24087444. [PMID: 37108605 PMCID: PMC10138888 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24087444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Proteins are essential macromolecules that carry out a plethora of biological functions. The thermal stability of proteins is an important property that affects their function and determines their suitability for various applications. However, current experimental approaches, primarily thermal proteome profiling, are expensive, labor-intensive, and have limited proteome and species coverage. To close the gap between available experimental data and sequence information, a novel protein thermal stability predictor called DeepSTABp has been developed. DeepSTABp uses a transformer-based protein language model for sequence embedding and state-of-the-art feature extraction in combination with other deep learning techniques for end-to-end protein melting temperature prediction. DeepSTABp can predict the thermal stability of a wide range of proteins, making it a powerful and efficient tool for large-scale prediction. The model captures the structural and biological properties that impact protein stability, and it allows for the identification of the structural features that contribute to protein stability. DeepSTABp is available to the public via a user-friendly web interface, making it accessible to researchers in various fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix Jung
- Computational Systems Biology, RPTU University of Kaiserslautern, 67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Kevin Frey
- Computational Systems Biology, RPTU University of Kaiserslautern, 67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - David Zimmer
- Computational Systems Biology, RPTU University of Kaiserslautern, 67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Timo Mühlhaus
- Computational Systems Biology, RPTU University of Kaiserslautern, 67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
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25
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Abstract
Brown adipose tissue (BAT) displays the unique capacity to generate heat through uncoupled oxidative phosphorylation that makes it a very attractive therapeutic target for cardiometabolic diseases. Here, we review BAT cellular metabolism, its regulation by the central nervous and endocrine systems and circulating metabolites, the plausible roles of this tissue in human thermoregulation, energy balance, and cardiometabolic disorders, and the current knowledge on its pharmacological stimulation in humans. The current definition and measurement of BAT in human studies relies almost exclusively on BAT glucose uptake from positron emission tomography with 18F-fluorodeoxiglucose, which can be dissociated from BAT thermogenic activity, as for example in insulin-resistant states. The most important energy substrate for BAT thermogenesis is its intracellular fatty acid content mobilized from sympathetic stimulation of intracellular triglyceride lipolysis. This lipolytic BAT response is intertwined with that of white adipose (WAT) and other metabolic tissues, and cannot be independently stimulated with the drugs tested thus far. BAT is an interesting and biologically plausible target that has yet to be fully and selectively activated to increase the body's thermogenic response and shift energy balance. The field of human BAT research is in need of methods able to directly, specifically, and reliably measure BAT thermogenic capacity while also tracking the related thermogenic responses in WAT and other tissues. Until this is achieved, uncertainty will remain about the role played by this fascinating tissue in human cardiometabolic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- André C Carpentier
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier universitaire de Sherbrooke, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, J1H 5N4, Canada
| | - Denis P Blondin
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier universitaire de Sherbrooke, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, J1H 5N4, Canada
| | | | - Denis Richard
- Centre de recherche de l’Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec, Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, G1V 4G5, Canada
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26
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Nehme J, Yang D, Altulea A, Varela-Eirin M, Wang L, Hu S, Wu Y, Togo J, Niu C, Speakman JR, Demaria M. High dietary protein and fat contents exacerbate hepatic senescence and SASP in mice. FEBS J 2023; 290:1340-1347. [PMID: 34908245 DOI: 10.1111/febs.16292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Revised: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Dietary choices have a profound impact on the aging process. In addition to the total amount of energy intake, macronutrient composition influences both health and lifespan. However, the exact mechanisms by which dietary macronutrients influence onset and progression of age-associated features remain poorly understood. Cellular senescence is a state of stable growth arrest characterized by the secretion of numerous bioactive molecules with pro-inflammatory properties. Accumulation of senescent cells is considered one of the basic mechanisms of aging and an important contributor to chronic inflammation and tissue degeneration. Whether dietary macronutrients affect the accumulation and the phenotype of senescent cells with age is still unknown. Here, we show that feeding on diets with varying ratios of dietary macronutrients for 3 months has a significant effect on different senescence-associated markers in the mouse liver. High protein intake is associated with higher expression levels of the two classical senescence-associated growth arrest genes, p21 and p16. Furthermore, the expression of many pro-inflammatory secretory markers was increased in diets enriched in protein and further enhanced by increases in fat content. These results provide preliminary evidence that dietary macronutrients have a significant influence on senescence markers and merit further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamil Nehme
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing (ERIBA), University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), University of Groningen (RUG), The Netherlands.,Doctoral School of Science and Technology, Lebanese University, Hadath, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Dengbao Yang
- Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing Technology and Business University, China
| | - Abdullah Altulea
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing (ERIBA), University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), University of Groningen (RUG), The Netherlands
| | - Marta Varela-Eirin
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing (ERIBA), University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), University of Groningen (RUG), The Netherlands
| | - Lu Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Yantai University, China
| | - Sumei Hu
- Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing Technology and Business University, China.,Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, Beijing Engineering and Technology Research Center of Food Additives, National Soybean Processing Industry Technology Innovation Center, Beijing Technology and Business University, China
| | - Yingga Wu
- Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing Technology and Business University, China
| | - Jacques Togo
- Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing Technology and Business University, China
| | - Chaoqun Niu
- Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing Technology and Business University, China
| | - John R Speakman
- Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing Technology and Business University, China.,Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, UK
| | - Marco Demaria
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing (ERIBA), University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), University of Groningen (RUG), The Netherlands
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27
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The metabolic cost of physical activity in mice using a physiology-based model of energy expenditure. Mol Metab 2023; 71:101699. [PMID: 36858190 PMCID: PMC10090438 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2023.101699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Physical activity is a major component of total energy expenditure (TEE) that exhibits extreme variability in mice. Our objective was to construct a general, physiology-based model of TEE to accurately quantify the energy cost of physical activity. METHODS Spontaneous home cage physical activity, body temperature, TEE, and energy intake were measured with frequent sampling. The energy cost of activity was modeled considering six contributors to TEE (basal metabolic rate, thermic effect of food, body temperature, cold induced thermogenesis, physical activity, and body weight). An ambient temperature of 35 °C was required to remove the contribution from cold induced thermogenesis. Basal metabolic rate was adjusted for body temperature using a Q10 temperature coefficient. RESULTS We developed a TEE model that robustly explains 70-80% of the variance in TEE at 35 °C while fitting only two parameters, the basal metabolic rate and the mass-specific energy cost per unit of physical activity, which averaged 60 cal/km/g body weight. In Ucp1-/- mice the activity cost was elevated by 60%, indicating inefficiency and increased muscle thermogenesis. The diurnal rhythm in TEE was quantitatively explained by the combined diurnal differences in physical activity, body temperature, and energy intake. CONCLUSIONS The physiology-based model of TEE allows quantifying the energy cost of physical activity. While applied here to mice, the model should be generally valid across species. Due to the effect of body temperature, we suggest that basal metabolic rate measurements be corrected to a reference body temperature, including in humans. Having an accurate cost of physical activity allows mechanistic dissection of disorders of energy homeostasis, including obesity.
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Johnson JM, Peterlin AD, Balderas E, Sustarsic EG, Maschek JA, Lang MJ, Jara-Ramos A, Panic V, Morgan JT, Villanueva CJ, Sanchez A, Rutter J, Lodhi IJ, Cox JE, Fisher-Wellman KH, Chaudhuri D, Gerhart-Hines Z, Funai K. Mitochondrial phosphatidylethanolamine modulates UCP1 to promote brown adipose thermogenesis. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eade7864. [PMID: 36827367 PMCID: PMC9956115 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ade7864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Thermogenesis by uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) is one of the primary mechanisms by which brown adipose tissue (BAT) increases energy expenditure. UCP1 resides in the inner mitochondrial membrane (IMM), where it dissipates membrane potential independent of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthase. Here, we provide evidence that phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) modulates UCP1-dependent proton conductance across the IMM to modulate thermogenesis. Mitochondrial lipidomic analyses revealed PE as a signature molecule whose abundance bidirectionally responds to changes in thermogenic burden. Reduction in mitochondrial PE by deletion of phosphatidylserine decarboxylase (PSD) made mice cold intolerant and insensitive to β3 adrenergic receptor agonist-induced increase in whole-body oxygen consumption. High-resolution respirometry and fluorometry of BAT mitochondria showed that loss of mitochondrial PE specifically lowers UCP1-dependent respiration without compromising electron transfer efficiency or ATP synthesis. These findings were confirmed by a reduction in UCP1 proton current in PE-deficient mitoplasts. Thus, PE performs a previously unknown role as a temperature-responsive rheostat that regulates UCP1-dependent thermogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan M. Johnson
- Diabetes and Metabolism Research Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Alek D. Peterlin
- Diabetes and Metabolism Research Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- Utah Center for Clinical and Translational Research, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Enrique Balderas
- Nora Eccles Harrison Cardiovascular Research and Training Institute, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Elahu G. Sustarsic
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - J. Alan Maschek
- Diabetes and Metabolism Research Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- Metabolomics Core Research Facility, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Marisa J. Lang
- Diabetes and Metabolism Research Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Alejandro Jara-Ramos
- Nora Eccles Harrison Cardiovascular Research and Training Institute, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Vanja Panic
- Diabetes and Metabolism Research Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Jeffrey T. Morgan
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Claudio J. Villanueva
- Diabetes and Metabolism Research Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Alejandro Sanchez
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Jared Rutter
- Diabetes and Metabolism Research Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Irfan J. Lodhi
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Lipid Research, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - James E. Cox
- Diabetes and Metabolism Research Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- Metabolomics Core Research Facility, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | | | - Dipayan Chaudhuri
- Nora Eccles Harrison Cardiovascular Research and Training Institute, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Zachary Gerhart-Hines
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Katsuhiko Funai
- Diabetes and Metabolism Research Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- Molecular Medicine Program, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
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Ziqubu K, Dludla PV, Mthembu SXH, Nkambule BB, Mabhida SE, Jack BU, Nyambuya TM, Mazibuko-Mbeje SE. An insight into brown/beige adipose tissue whitening, a metabolic complication of obesity with the multifactorial origin. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1114767. [PMID: 36875450 PMCID: PMC9978510 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1114767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Brown adipose tissue (BAT), a thermoregulatory organ known to promote energy expenditure, has been extensively studied as a potential avenue to combat obesity. Although BAT is the opposite of white adipose tissue (WAT) which is responsible for energy storage, BAT shares thermogenic capacity with beige adipose tissue that emerges from WAT depots. This is unsurprising as both BAT and beige adipose tissue display a huge difference from WAT in terms of their secretory profile and physiological role. In obesity, the content of BAT and beige adipose tissue declines as these tissues acquire the WAT characteristics via the process called "whitening". This process has been rarely explored for its implication in obesity, whether it contributes to or exacerbates obesity. Emerging research has demonstrated that BAT/beige adipose tissue whitening is a sophisticated metabolic complication of obesity that is linked to multiple factors. The current review provides clarification on the influence of various factors such as diet, age, genetics, thermoneutrality, and chemical exposure on BAT/beige adipose tissue whitening. Moreover, the defects and mechanisms that underpin the whitening are described. Notably, the BAT/beige adipose tissue whitening can be marked by the accumulation of large unilocular lipid droplets, mitochondrial degeneration, and collapsed thermogenic capacity, by the virtue of mitochondrial dysfunction, devascularization, autophagy, and inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khanyisani Ziqubu
- Department of Biochemistry, North-West University, Mmabatho, South Africa
| | - Phiwayinkosi V. Dludla
- Biomedical Research and Innovation Platform, South African Medical Research Council, Tygerberg, South Africa
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Agriculture, University of Zululand, KwaDlangezwa, South Africa
| | - Sinenhlanhla X. H. Mthembu
- Department of Biochemistry, North-West University, Mmabatho, South Africa
- Biomedical Research and Innovation Platform, South African Medical Research Council, Tygerberg, South Africa
| | - Bongani B. Nkambule
- School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Sihle E. Mabhida
- Biomedical Research and Innovation Platform, South African Medical Research Council, Tygerberg, South Africa
| | - Babalwa U. Jack
- Biomedical Research and Innovation Platform, South African Medical Research Council, Tygerberg, South Africa
| | - Tawanda M. Nyambuya
- Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health and Applied Sciences, Namibia University of Science and Technology, Windhoek, Namibia
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Dumenil T, Le TT, Rawle DJ, Yan K, Tang B, Nguyen W, Bishop C, Suhrbier A. Warmer ambient air temperatures reduce nasal turbinate and brain infection, but increase lung inflammation in the K18-hACE2 mouse model of COVID-19. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 859:160163. [PMID: 36395835 PMCID: PMC9659553 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Warmer climatic conditions have been associated with fewer COVID-19 cases. Herein we infected K18-hACE2 mice housed at the standard animal house temperature of ∼22 °C, or at ∼31 °C, which is considered to be thermoneutral for mice. On day 2 post infection, RNA-Seq analyses showed no significant differential gene expression lung in lungs of mice housed at the two temperatures, with almost identical viral loads and type I interferon responses. There was also no significant difference in viral loads in lungs on day 5, but RNA-Seq and histology analyses showed clearly elevated inflammatory signatures and infiltrates. Thermoneutrality thus promoted lung inflammation. On day 2 post infection mice housed at 31 °C showed reduced viral loads in nasal turbinates, consistent with increased mucociliary clearance at the warmer ambient temperature. These mice also had reduced virus levels in the brain, and an ensuing amelioration of weight loss and a delay in mortality. Warmer air temperatures may thus reduce infection of the upper respiratory track and the olfactory epithelium, resulting in reduced brain infection. Potential relevance for anosmia and neurological sequelae in COVID-19 patients is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Troy Dumenil
- Immunology Department, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland 4029, Australia
| | - Thuy T Le
- Immunology Department, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland 4029, Australia
| | - Daniel J Rawle
- Immunology Department, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland 4029, Australia
| | - Kexin Yan
- Immunology Department, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland 4029, Australia
| | - Bing Tang
- Immunology Department, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland 4029, Australia
| | - Wilson Nguyen
- Immunology Department, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland 4029, Australia
| | - Cameron Bishop
- Immunology Department, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland 4029, Australia
| | - Andreas Suhrbier
- Immunology Department, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland 4029, Australia; Australian Infectious Disease Research Centre, GVN Center of Excellence, Brisbane, Queensland 4029, 4072, Australia.
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Repeated short excursions from thermoneutrality suffice to restructure brown adipose tissue. Biochimie 2023:S0300-9084(23)00006-8. [PMID: 36657658 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2023.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Given the presence of brown adipose tissue in adult humans, an important issue is whether human brown adipose tissue is recruitable. Cold exposure is the canonical recruitment treatment; however, in experimental animals (mice), recruitment of brown adipose tissue is normally induced by placing the mice in constant cold, a procedure not feasible in humans. For possible translational applications, we have therefore investigated whether shorter daily excursions from thermoneutrality would suffice to qualitatively and quantitatively induce recruitment in mice. Mice, housed at thermoneutrality (30 °C) to mimic human conditions, were transferred every day for 4 weeks to cool conditions (18 °C), for 0, 15, 30, 120 and 420 min (or placed constantly in 18 °C). On the examination day, the mice were not exposed to cold. Very short daily exposures (≤30 min) were sufficient to induce structural changes in the form of higher protein density in brown adipose tissue, changes that may affect the identification of the tissue in e.g. computer tomography and other scan studies. To estimate thermogenic capacity, UCP1 protein levels were followed. No UCP1 protein was detectable in inguinal white adipose tissue. In the interscapular brown adipose tissue, a remarkable two-phase reaction was seen. Very short daily exposures (≤30 min) were sufficient to induce a significant increase in total UCP1 levels. For attainment of full cold acclimation, the mice had, however, to remain exposed to the cold. The studies indicate that marked alterations in brown adipose tissue composition can be induced in mammals through relatively modest stimulation events.
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32
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Unger CA, Hope MC, Aladhami AK, Velázquez KT, Enos RT. How stable is your vivarium's temperature? Fluctuations in vivarium temperature significantly impact metabolism and behavior impeding scientific reproducibility. Physiol Behav 2023; 258:114029. [PMID: 36372225 PMCID: PMC10797230 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2022.114029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The purpose of this investigation was to examine the variability in vivarium temperature and the impact that this has on metabolic and behavioral outcomes in mice. METHODS Daily vivarium temperature was monitored every day for a two-year period. Behavioral and metabolic phenotyping were assessed in male and female C57BL/6 (n = 71/sex) mice over the course of 2 years. RESULTS Vivarium temperature was found to fluctuate on a monthly, daily, and even an hourly basis of approximately ±5ºC. A 5ºC change in temperature was found to result in daily changes in total energy expenditure (35% and 27%), resting energy expenditure (39% for both sexes), movement (51% and 37%), food consumption (35% and 29%), and sleep duration (15% and 13%) for female and male mice, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Fluctuations in vivarium temperature can dramatically impact metabolic and behavioral outcomes, which impedes scientific reproducibility. This awareness and the guidelines we propose in this publication will hopefully help to enhance the reproducibility of pre-clinical animal research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian A Unger
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of South Carolina-School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, United States
| | - Marion C Hope
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of South Carolina-School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, United States
| | - Ahmed K Aladhami
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of South Carolina-School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, United States; University of Baghdad, Nursing College, Baghdad, Iraq
| | - Kandy T Velázquez
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of South Carolina-School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, United States
| | - Reilly T Enos
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of South Carolina-School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, United States.
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33
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Randomization, design and analysis for interdependency in aging research: no person or mouse is an island. NATURE AGING 2022; 2:1101-1111. [PMID: 37063472 PMCID: PMC10099485 DOI: 10.1038/s43587-022-00333-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Investigators traditionally use randomized designs and corresponding analysis procedures to make causal inferences about the effects of interventions, assuming independence between an individual's outcome and treatment assignment and the outcomes of other individuals in the study. Often, such independence may not hold. We provide examples of interdependency in model organism studies and human trials and group effects in aging research and then discuss methodologic issues and solutions. We group methodologic issues as they pertain to (1) single-stage individually randomized trials; (2) cluster-randomized controlled trials; (3) pseudo-cluster-randomized trials; (4) individually randomized group treatment; and (5) two-stage randomized designs. Although we present possible strategies for design and analysis to improve the rigor, accuracy and reproducibility of the science, we also acknowledge real-world constraints. Consequences of nonadherence, differential attrition or missing data, unintended exposure to multiple treatments and other practical realities can be reduced with careful planning, proper study designs and best practices.
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34
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Sadler DG, Treas L, Sikes JD, Porter C. A modest change in housing temperature alters whole body energy expenditure and adipocyte thermogenic capacity in mice. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2022; 323:E517-E528. [PMID: 36351253 PMCID: PMC9744648 DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.00079.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Typical vivarium temperatures (20-26°C) induce facultative thermogenesis in mice, a process attributable in part to uncoupling protein-1 (UCP1). The impact of modest changes in housing temperature on whole body and adipose tissue energetics in mice remains unclear. Here, we determined the effects of transitioning mice from 24°C to 30°C on total energy expenditure and adipose tissue protein signatures. C57BL/6J mice were housed at 24°C for 2 wk and then either remained at 24°C (n = 16/group, 8M/8F) or were transitioned to 30°C (n = 16/group, 8M/8F) for 4 wk. Total energy expenditure and its components were determined by indirect calorimetry. Interscapular brown adipose tissue (iBAT) and inguinal white adipose tissue (iWAT) proteins were quantified by Western blot and quantitative proteomics. Transitioning from 24°C to 30°C reduced total energy expenditure in both male (-25%) and female (-16%) mice, which was attributable to lower basal energy expenditure in males (-36%) and females (-40%). Total iBAT UCP1 protein content was 50% lower at 30°C compared with 24°C, whereas iWAT UCP1 protein content was similar between conditions. iBAT UCP1 protein content remained 20-fold greater than iWAT at 30°C. In iBAT and iWAT, 183 and 41 proteins were differentially expressed between 24°C and 30°C, respectively. iWAT proteins (257) differentially expressed between sexes at 30°C were not differentially expressed at 24°C. Thus, 30°C housing lowers total energy expenditure of mice when compared with an ambient temperature (24°C) that falls within the National Research Council's guidelines for housing laboratory mice. Lower iBAT UCP1 content accompanied chronic housing at 30°C. Furthermore, housing temperature influences sexual dimorphism in the iWAT proteome. These data have implications regarding the optimization of preclinical models of human disease.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Housing mice at 30°C reduced the basal and total energy expenditure compared with 24°C, which was accompanied by a reduction in brown adipose tissue UCP1 content. Proteomic profiling demonstrated the brown adipose tissue and white adipose tissue proteomes were largely influenced by housing temperature and sex, respectively. Therefore, 30°C housing revealed sexual dimorphism in the white adipose tissue proteome that was largely absent in animals housed at 24°C.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel G Sadler
- Arkansas Children's Research Institute, Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas
| | - Lillie Treas
- Arkansas Children's Research Institute, Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas
| | - James D Sikes
- Arkansas Children's Research Institute, Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas
| | - Craig Porter
- Arkansas Children's Research Institute, Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas
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35
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Rahbani JF, Scholtes C, Lagarde DM, Hussain MF, Roesler A, Dykstra CB, Bunk J, Samborska B, O'Brien SL, Tripp E, Pacis A, Angueira AR, Johansen OS, Cinkornpumin J, Hossain I, Lynes MD, Zhang Y, White AP, Pastor WA, Chondronikola M, Sidossis L, Klein S, Kralli A, Cypess AM, Pedersen SB, Jessen N, Tseng YH, Gerhart-Hines Z, Seale P, Calebiro D, Giguère V, Kazak L. ADRA1A-Gα q signalling potentiates adipocyte thermogenesis through CKB and TNAP. Nat Metab 2022; 4:1459-1473. [PMID: 36344764 PMCID: PMC9684074 DOI: 10.1038/s42255-022-00667-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Noradrenaline (NA) regulates cold-stimulated adipocyte thermogenesis1. Aside from cAMP signalling downstream of β-adrenergic receptor activation, how NA promotes thermogenic output is still not fully understood. Here, we show that coordinated α1-adrenergic receptor (AR) and β3-AR signalling induces the expression of thermogenic genes of the futile creatine cycle2,3, and that early B cell factors, oestrogen-related receptors and PGC1α are required for this response in vivo. NA triggers physical and functional coupling between the α1-AR subtype (ADRA1A) and Gαq to promote adipocyte thermogenesis in a manner that is dependent on the effector proteins of the futile creatine cycle, creatine kinase B and tissue-non-specific alkaline phosphatase. Combined Gαq and Gαs signalling selectively in adipocytes promotes a continual rise in whole-body energy expenditure, and creatine kinase B is required for this effect. Thus, the ADRA1A-Gαq-futile creatine cycle axis is a key regulator of facultative and adaptive thermogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janane F Rahbani
- Rosalind & Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Charlotte Scholtes
- Rosalind & Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Damien M Lagarde
- Rosalind & Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Mohammed F Hussain
- Rosalind & Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Anna Roesler
- Rosalind & Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Christien B Dykstra
- Rosalind & Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Jakub Bunk
- Rosalind & Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Bozena Samborska
- Rosalind & Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Shannon L O'Brien
- Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- Centre of Membrane Proteins and Receptors (COMPARE), Universities of Birmingham and Nottingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Emma Tripp
- Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- Centre of Membrane Proteins and Receptors (COMPARE), Universities of Birmingham and Nottingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Alain Pacis
- Rosalind & Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Anthony R Angueira
- Institute for Diabetes, Obesity & Metabolism and Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Olivia S Johansen
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Ishtiaque Hossain
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Matthew D Lynes
- Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Scarborough, ME, USA
| | - Yang Zhang
- Section on Integrative Physiology and Metabolism, Research Division, Joslin Diabetes Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Andrew P White
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - William A Pastor
- Rosalind & Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Maria Chondronikola
- Department of Nutrition and Radiology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Labros Sidossis
- Department of Kinesiology and Health, School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Samuel Klein
- Division of Geriatrics and Nutritional Science, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Anastasia Kralli
- Department of Physiology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Aaron M Cypess
- Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Obesity Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Steen B Pedersen
- Steno Diabetes Center Aarhus, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Aarhus N, Denmark
| | - Niels Jessen
- Steno Diabetes Center Aarhus, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Aarhus N, Denmark
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Yu-Hua Tseng
- Section on Integrative Physiology and Metabolism, Research Division, Joslin Diabetes Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Zachary Gerhart-Hines
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Patrick Seale
- Institute for Diabetes, Obesity & Metabolism and Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Davide Calebiro
- Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- Centre of Membrane Proteins and Receptors (COMPARE), Universities of Birmingham and Nottingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Vincent Giguère
- Rosalind & Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Lawrence Kazak
- Rosalind & Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
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36
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John LM, Petersen N, Gerstenberg MK, Torz L, Pedersen K, Christoffersen BØ, Kuhre RE. Housing-temperature reveals energy intake counter-balances energy expenditure in normal-weight, but not diet-induced obese, male mice. Commun Biol 2022; 5:946. [PMID: 36088386 PMCID: PMC9464191 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03895-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Most metabolic studies on mice are performed at room temperature, although under these conditions mice, unlike humans, spend considerable energy to maintain core temperature. Here, we characterize the impact of housing temperature on energy expenditure (EE), energy homeostasis and plasma concentrations of appetite- and glucoregulatory hormones in normal-weight and diet-induced obese (DIO) C57BL/6J mice fed chow or 45% high-fat-diet, respectively. Mice were housed for 33 days at 22, 25, 27.5, and 30 °C in an indirect-calorimetry-system. We show that energy expenditure increases linearly from 30 °C towards 22 °C and is ~30% higher at 22 °C in both mouse models. In normal-weight mice, food intake counter-balances EE. In contrast, DIO mice do not reduce food intake when EE is lowered. By end of study, mice at 30 °C, therefore, had higher body weight, fat mass and plasma glycerol and triglycerides than mice at 22 °C. Dysregulated counterbalancing in DIO mice may result from increased pleasure-based eating. The impact of ambient housing temperature on the interaction of energy intake, energy expenditure and glycemic control in normal and diet-induced obese mice is examined.
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Kolbe T, Lassnig C, Poelzl A, Palme R, Auer KE, Rülicke T. Effect of Different Ambient Temperatures on Reproductive Outcome and Stress Level of Lactating Females in Two Mouse Strains. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12162141. [PMID: 36009730 PMCID: PMC9405067 DOI: 10.3390/ani12162141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The optimal temperature for laboratory mice has been under discussion for some time. Current standard temperature is 20 °C–24 °C but it has been suggested to elevate the standard to 30 °C, which is the thermoneutral zone for mice. In this study, the effect of different cage temperatures (20 °C, 25 °C, 30 °C) on reproduction and stress hormone metabolite excretion was evaluated in lactating females of two commonly used mouse strains. Pup loss was higher, and weights of mothers and pups were reduced at 30 °C compared to the lower temperatures. In addition, pups showed increased tail length at weaning under the high temperature (30 °C). There was no difference in stress hormone metabolite excretion in mice between temperature groups. We could not show any detrimental effects of the lower or higher cage temperature on stress hormone metabolite excretion, but found decreased reproductive outcome under the higher temperature. Abstract Ambient temperature is an important non-biotic environmental factor influencing immunological and oncological parameters in laboratory mice. It is under discussion which temperature is more appropriate and whether the commonly used room temperature in rodent facilities of about 21 °C represents a chronic cold stress or the 30 °C of the thermoneutral zone constitutes heat stress for the animals. In this study, we selected the physiological challenging period of lactation to investigate the influence of a cage temperature of 20 °C, 25 °C, and 30 °C, respectively, on reproductive performance and stress hormone levels in two frequently used mouse strains. We found that B6D2F1 hybrid mothers weaned more pups compared to C57BL/6N mothers, and that the number of weaned pups was reduced when mothers of both strains were kept at 30 °C. Furthermore, at 30 °C, mothers and pups showed reduced body weight at weaning and offspring had longer tails. Despite pronounced temperature effects on reproductive parameters, we did not find any temperature effects on adrenocortical activity in breeding and control mice. Independent of the ambient temperature, however, we found that females raising pups showed elevated levels of faecal corticosterone metabolites (FCMs) compared to controls. Peak levels of stress hormone metabolites were measured around birth and during the third week of lactation. Our results provide no evidence of an advantage for keeping lactating mice in ambient temperatures near the thermoneutral zone. In contrast, we found that a 30 °C cage temperature during lactation reduced body mass in females and their offspring and declined female reproductive performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Kolbe
- Biomodels Austria, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria
- Department IFA-Tulln, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, 1180 Vienna, Austria
- Correspondence:
| | - Caroline Lassnig
- Biomodels Austria, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Andrea Poelzl
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Rupert Palme
- Unit of Physiology, Pathophysiology and Experimental Endocrinology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Kerstin E. Auer
- Institute of in vivo and in vitro Models, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Thomas Rülicke
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria
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Zhao Z, Yang R, Li M, Bao M, Huo D, Cao J, Speakman JR. Effects of ambient temperatures between 5 and 35 oC on energy balance, body mass and body composition in mice. Mol Metab 2022; 64:101551. [PMID: 35870706 PMCID: PMC9382332 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2022.101551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Considerable attention is currently focused on the potential to switch on brown adipose tissue (BAT), or promote browning of white adipose tissue, to elevate energy expenditure and thereby reduce obesity levels. These processes are already known to be switched on by cold exposure. Yet humans living in colder regions do not show lower levels of obesity. This could be because humans shield themselves from external temperatures, or because the resultant changes in BAT and thermogenesis are offset by elevated food intake, or reductions in other components of expenditure. Scope of Review We exposed mice to 11 different ambient temperatures between 5 and 35 °C and characterized their energy balance and body weight/composition. As it got colder mice progressively increased their energy expenditure coincident with changes in thyroid hormone levels and increased BAT activity. Simultaneously, these increases in expenditure were matched by elevated food intake, and body mass remained stable. Nevertheless, within this envelope of unchanged body mass there were significant changes in body composition – with increases in the sizes of the liver and small intestine, presumably to support the greater food intake, and reductions in the level of stored fat – maximally providing about 10% of the total elevated energy demands. Major Conclusions Elevating activity of BAT may be a valid strategy to reduce fat storage even if overall body mass is unchanged but if it is mostly offset by elevated food intake, as found here, then the impacts may be small. Male and female mice were exposed to 11 different ambient temperatures between 5 and 35 °C. As it got colder mice increased both energy expenditure and food intake. Increased energy expenditure was coincident with increased THs and BAT activity. Stored fat was considerably reduced in colder conditions, providing about 10% of the elevated energy requirements. Elevating activity of BAT may be a valid strategy to reduce fat storage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhijun Zhao
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035, China.
| | - Rui Yang
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035, China
| | - Min Li
- Shenzhen key laboratory of metabolic health, Center for Energy Metabolism and Reproduction, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Menghuan Bao
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035, China
| | - Daliang Huo
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035, China
| | - Jing Cao
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035, China
| | - John R Speakman
- Shenzhen key laboratory of metabolic health, Center for Energy Metabolism and Reproduction, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China; Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK; State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100100, China.
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Liu X, Jin Z, Summers S, Derous D, Li M, Li B, Li L, Speakman JR. Calorie restriction and calorie dilution have different impacts on body fat, metabolism, behavior, and hypothalamic gene expression. Cell Rep 2022; 39:110835. [PMID: 35584669 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Revised: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Caloric restriction is a robust intervention to increase lifespan. Giving less food (calorie restriction [CR]) or allowing free access to a diluted diet with indigestible components (calorie dilution [CD]) are two methods to impose restriction. CD does not generate the same lifespan effect as CR. We compare responses of C57BL/6 mice with equivalent levels of CR and CD. The two groups have different responses in fat loss, circulating hormones, and metabolic rate. CR mice are hungrier, as assessed by behavioral assays. Although gene expression of Npy, Agrp, and Pomc do not differ between CR and CD groups, CR mice had a distinctive hypothalamic gene-expression profile with many genes related to starvation upregulated relative to CD. While both result in lower calorie intake, CR and CD are not equivalent procedures. Increased hunger under CR supports the hypothesis that hunger signaling is a key process mediating the benefits of CR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, PRC; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shijingshan District, Beijing 100049, PRC; Research Group Adipocytes and Metabolism, Institute for Diabetes and Obesity, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg 85764, Germany; German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany; Technische Universität München, Ismaningerstraße 22, 81675 München, Germany
| | - Zengguang Jin
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 2TZ, Scotland, UK
| | - Stephanie Summers
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Metabolic Health, Center for Energy Metabolism and Reproduction, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, PRC
| | - Davina Derous
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Metabolic Health, Center for Energy Metabolism and Reproduction, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, PRC
| | - Min Li
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 2TZ, Scotland, UK
| | - Baoguo Li
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, PRC
| | - Li Li
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, PRC
| | - John R Speakman
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 2TZ, Scotland, UK; Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Metabolic Health, Center for Energy Metabolism and Reproduction, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, PRC; CAS Center of Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Kunming, PRC.
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Matsumura S, Miyakita M, Miyamori H, Kyo S, Shima D, Yokokawa T, Ishikawa F, Sasaki T, Jinno T, Tanaka J, Goto T, Momma K, Ishihara K, Berdeaux R, Inoue K. Stimulation of G s signaling in MC4R cells by DREADD increases energy expenditure, suppresses food intake, and increases locomotor activity in mice. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2022; 322:E436-E445. [PMID: 35344393 DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.00439.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) plays an important role in the regulation of appetite and energy expenditure in humans and rodents. Impairment of MC4R signaling causes severe obesity. MC4R mainly couples to the G-protein Gs. Ligand binding to MC4R activates adenylyl cyclase resulting in increased intracellular cAMP levels. cAMP acts as a secondary messenger, regulating various cellular processes. MC4R can also couple with Gq and other signaling pathways. Therefore, the contribution of MC4R/Gs signaling to energy metabolism and appetite remains unclear. To study the effect of Gs signaling activation in MC4R cells on whole body energy metabolism and appetite, we generated a novel mouse strain that expresses a Gs-coupled designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs [Gs-DREADD (GsD)] selectively in MC4R-expressing cells (GsD-MC4R mice). Chemogenetic activation of the GsD by a designer drug [deschloroclozapine (DCZ); 0.01∼0.1 mg/kg body wt] in MC4R-expressing cells significantly increased oxygen consumption and locomotor activity. In addition, GsD activation significantly reduced the respiratory exchange ratio, promoting fatty acid oxidation, but did not affect core (rectal) temperature. A low dose of DCZ (0.01 mg/kg body wt) did not suppress food intake, but a high dose of DCZ (0.1 mg/kg body wt) suppressed food intake in MC4R-GsD mice, although either DCZ dose (0.01 or 0.1 mg/kg body wt) did not affect food intake in the control mice. In conclusion, the current study demonstrated that the stimulation of Gs signaling in MC4R-expressing cells increases energy expenditure and locomotor activity and suppresses appetite.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We report that Gs signaling in melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R)-expressing cells regulates energy expenditure, appetite, and locomotor activity. These findings shed light on the mechanism underlying the regulation of energy metabolism and locomotor activity by MC4R/cAMP signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shigenobu Matsumura
- Division of Food Science and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Department of Clinical Nutrition, Graduate School of Comprehensive Rehabilitation, Osaka Prefecture University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Motoki Miyakita
- Division of Food Science and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Haruka Miyamori
- Division of Food Science and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Satomi Kyo
- Department of Food and Nutrition, Kyoto Women's University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Daisuke Shima
- Department of Food Sciences and Human Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture, Ryukoku University, Shiga, Japan
| | - Takumi Yokokawa
- Division of Food Science and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Fuka Ishikawa
- Division of Food Science and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Tsutomu Sasaki
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Tomoki Jinno
- Division of Food Science and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Jin Tanaka
- Division of Food Science and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Goto
- Division of Food Science and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Keiko Momma
- Department of Food and Nutrition, Kyoto Women's University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Kengo Ishihara
- Department of Food Sciences and Human Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture, Ryukoku University, Shiga, Japan
| | - Rebecca Berdeaux
- Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas
| | - Kazuo Inoue
- Division of Food Science and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
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Li M, Speakman JR. Setting Ambient Temperature Conditions to Optimize Translation of Molecular Work from the Mouse to Human: The "Goldilocks Solution". Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2448:235-250. [PMID: 35167101 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2087-8_15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Temperature has a profound effect on many aspects of murine physiology. This raises the question of the best temperature at which mice should be housed to maximize the translational potential to humans. The temperatures at which mice have been routinely kept for studies of molecular physiology (20-21 °C) maximize the comfort of animal handling staff. There is a widespread movement suggesting we should perform experiments instead on mice housed at 30 °C. This often produces very different outcomes. Here we analyze the basis of this suggestion and show that while 20-21 °C is too cold, 30 °C is probably too hot. Rather we suggest an intermediate temperature "the Goldilocks solution" of 25-26 °C is probably optimal. This should be combined with providing animals with nesting material so that they can construct nests to generate microclimates that are within their own control. Providing copious nesting material has additional spin-off advantages in terms of increasing environmental enrichment. Ultimately, however, advocating a single temperature to mimic human physiology is plagued by the problem that humans vary widely in the temperature environments they experience, with consequences for human disease. Hence studying responses at a range of temperatures may provide the greatest insights and translational potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Li
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory for Metabolic Health, Center for Energy Metabolism and Reproduction, Shenzhen, Institutes of Advanced Technology, Shenzhen, China
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Scotland, UK
| | - John R Speakman
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory for Metabolic Health, Center for Energy Metabolism and Reproduction, Shenzhen, Institutes of Advanced Technology, Shenzhen, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Scotland, UK.
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42
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Tournissac M, Leclerc M, Valentin-Escalera J, Vandal M, Bosoi CR, Planel E, Calon F. Metabolic determinants of Alzheimer's disease: A focus on thermoregulation. Ageing Res Rev 2021; 72:101462. [PMID: 34534683 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2021.101462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a complex age-related neurodegenerative disease, associated with central and peripheral metabolic anomalies, such as impaired glucose utilization and insulin resistance. These observations led to a considerable interest not only in lifestyle-related interventions, but also in repurposing insulin and other anti-diabetic drugs to prevent or treat dementia. Body temperature is the oldest known metabolic readout and mechanisms underlying its maintenance fail in the elderly, when the incidence of AD rises. This raises the possibility that an age-associated thermoregulatory deficit contributes to energy failure underlying AD pathogenesis. Brown adipose tissue (BAT) plays a central role in thermogenesis and maintenance of body temperature. In recent years, the modulation of BAT activity has been increasingly demonstrated to regulate energy expenditure, insulin sensitivity and glucose utilization, which could also provide benefits for AD. Here, we review the evidence linking thermoregulation, BAT and insulin-related metabolic defects with AD, and we propose mechanisms through which correcting thermoregulatory impairments could slow the progression and delay the onset of AD.
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43
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Garg P, Strigini M, Peurière L, Vico L, Iandolo D. The Skeletal Cellular and Molecular Underpinning of the Murine Hindlimb Unloading Model. Front Physiol 2021; 12:749464. [PMID: 34737712 PMCID: PMC8562483 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.749464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Bone adaptation to spaceflight results in bone loss at weight bearing sites following the absence of the stimulus represented by ground force. The rodent hindlimb unloading model was designed to mimic the loss of mechanical loading experienced by astronauts in spaceflight to better understand the mechanisms causing this disuse-induced bone loss. The model has also been largely adopted to study disuse osteopenia and therefore to test drugs for its treatment. Loss of trabecular and cortical bone is observed in long bones of hindlimbs in tail-suspended rodents. Over the years, osteocytes have been shown to play a key role in sensing mechanical stress/stimulus via the ECM-integrin-cytoskeletal axis and to respond to it by regulating different cytokines such as SOST and RANKL. Colder experimental environments (~20-22°C) below thermoneutral temperatures (~28-32°C) exacerbate bone loss. Hence, it is important to consider the role of environmental temperatures on the experimental outcomes. We provide insights into the cellular and molecular pathways that have been shown to play a role in the hindlimb unloading and recommendations to minimize the effects of conditions that we refer to as confounding factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyanka Garg
- INSERM, U1059 Sainbiose, Université Jean Monnet, Mines Saint-Étienne, Université de Lyon, Saint-Étienne, France
| | - Maura Strigini
- INSERM, U1059 Sainbiose, Université Jean Monnet, Mines Saint-Étienne, Université de Lyon, Saint-Étienne, France
| | - Laura Peurière
- INSERM, U1059 Sainbiose, Université Jean Monnet, Mines Saint-Étienne, Université de Lyon, Saint-Étienne, France
| | - Laurence Vico
- INSERM, U1059 Sainbiose, Université Jean Monnet, Mines Saint-Étienne, Université de Lyon, Saint-Étienne, France
| | - Donata Iandolo
- INSERM, U1059 Sainbiose, Université Jean Monnet, Mines Saint-Étienne, Université de Lyon, Saint-Étienne, France
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Palliyaguru DL, Shiroma EJ, Nam JK, Duregon E, Vieira Ligo Teixeira C, Price NL, Bernier M, Camandola S, Vaughan KL, Colman RJ, Deighan A, Korstanje R, Peters LL, Dickinson SL, Ejima K, Simonsick EM, Launer LJ, Chia CW, Egan J, Allison DB, Churchill GA, Anderson RM, Ferrucci L, Mattison JA, de Cabo R. Fasting blood glucose as a predictor of mortality: Lost in translation. Cell Metab 2021; 33:2189-2200.e3. [PMID: 34508697 PMCID: PMC9115768 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2021.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Revised: 01/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Aging leads to profound changes in glucose homeostasis, weight, and adiposity, which are considered good predictors of health and survival in humans. Direct evidence that these age-associated metabolic alterations are recapitulated in animal models is lacking, impeding progress to develop and test interventions that delay the onset of metabolic dysfunction and promote healthy aging and longevity. We compared longitudinal trajectories, rates of change, and mortality risks of fasting blood glucose, body weight, and fat mass in mice, nonhuman primates, and humans throughout their lifespans and found similar trajectories of body weight and fat in the three species. In contrast, fasting blood glucose decreased late in life in mice but increased over the lifespan of nonhuman primates and humans. Higher glucose was associated with lower mortality in mice but higher mortality in nonhuman primates and humans, providing a cautionary tale for translating age-associated metabolic changes from mice to humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dushani L Palliyaguru
- Translational Gerontology Branch, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Eric J Shiroma
- Laboratory of Epidemiology and Population Sciences, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - John K Nam
- Translational Gerontology Branch, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Eleonora Duregon
- Translational Gerontology Branch, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | | | - Nathan L Price
- Translational Gerontology Branch, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA; Vascular Biology and Therapeutics Program, Integrative Cell Signaling and Neurobiology of Metabolism Program, Department of Comparative Medicine, Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Michel Bernier
- Translational Gerontology Branch, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Simonetta Camandola
- Translational Gerontology Branch, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Kelli L Vaughan
- Translational Gerontology Branch, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Ricki J Colman
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Keisuke Ejima
- School of Public Health, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
| | - Eleanor M Simonsick
- Translational Gerontology Branch, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Lenore J Launer
- Laboratory of Epidemiology and Population Sciences, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Chee W Chia
- Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Josephine Egan
- Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - David B Allison
- School of Public Health, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
| | | | - Rozalyn M Anderson
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison and Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Luigi Ferrucci
- Translational Gerontology Branch, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Julie A Mattison
- Translational Gerontology Branch, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Rafael de Cabo
- Translational Gerontology Branch, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.
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Albracht-Schulte K, Wilson S, Johnson P, Pahlavani M, Ramalingam L, Goonapienuwala B, Kalupahana NS, Festuccia WT, Scoggin S, Kahathuduwa CN, Moustaid-Moussa N. Sex-Dependent Effects of Eicosapentaenoic Acid on Hepatic Steatosis in UCP1 Knockout Mice. Biomedicines 2021; 9:1549. [PMID: 34829779 PMCID: PMC8615653 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9111549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Revised: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Visceral obesity may be a driving factor in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) development. Previous studies have shown that the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), ameliorates obesity in high-fat (HF) fed male, C57Bl/6 mice at thermoneutral conditions, independent of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1). Our goals herein were to investigate sex-dependent mechanisms of EPA in the livers of wild type (WT) and UCP1 knockout (KO) male and female mice fed a HF diet (45% kcal fat; WT-HF, KO-HF) with or without supplementation of 36 g/kg EPA (WT-EPA, KO-EPA). KO significantly increased body weight in males, with no significant reductions with EPA in the WT or KO groups. In females, there were no significant differences in body weight among KO groups and no effects of EPA. In males, liver TGs were significantly higher in the KO-HF group and reduced with EPA, which was not observed in females. Accordingly, gene and protein markers of mitochondrial oxidation, peroxisomal biogenesis and oxidation, as well as metabolic futile cycles were sex-dependently impacted by KO and EPA supplementation. These findings suggest a genotypic difference in response to dietary EPA supplementation on the livers of male and female mice with diet-induced obesity and housed at thermoneutrality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kembra Albracht-Schulte
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Obesity Research Institute, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA; (K.A.-S.); (S.W.); (P.J.); (M.P.); (L.R.); (B.G.); (N.S.K.); (S.S.)
| | - Savanna Wilson
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Obesity Research Institute, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA; (K.A.-S.); (S.W.); (P.J.); (M.P.); (L.R.); (B.G.); (N.S.K.); (S.S.)
| | - Paige Johnson
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Obesity Research Institute, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA; (K.A.-S.); (S.W.); (P.J.); (M.P.); (L.R.); (B.G.); (N.S.K.); (S.S.)
| | - Mandana Pahlavani
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Obesity Research Institute, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA; (K.A.-S.); (S.W.); (P.J.); (M.P.); (L.R.); (B.G.); (N.S.K.); (S.S.)
| | - Latha Ramalingam
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Obesity Research Institute, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA; (K.A.-S.); (S.W.); (P.J.); (M.P.); (L.R.); (B.G.); (N.S.K.); (S.S.)
| | - Bimba Goonapienuwala
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Obesity Research Institute, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA; (K.A.-S.); (S.W.); (P.J.); (M.P.); (L.R.); (B.G.); (N.S.K.); (S.S.)
| | - Nishan S. Kalupahana
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Obesity Research Institute, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA; (K.A.-S.); (S.W.); (P.J.); (M.P.); (L.R.); (B.G.); (N.S.K.); (S.S.)
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya 20400, Sri Lanka
| | - William T. Festuccia
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil;
| | - Shane Scoggin
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Obesity Research Institute, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA; (K.A.-S.); (S.W.); (P.J.); (M.P.); (L.R.); (B.G.); (N.S.K.); (S.S.)
| | - Chanaka N. Kahathuduwa
- Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Department of Laboratory Sciences and Primary Care, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA;
| | - Naima Moustaid-Moussa
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Obesity Research Institute, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA; (K.A.-S.); (S.W.); (P.J.); (M.P.); (L.R.); (B.G.); (N.S.K.); (S.S.)
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Brzęk P, Gębczyński A, Selewestruk P, Książek A, Sadowska J, Konarzewski M. Significance of variation in basal metabolic rate in laboratory mice for translational experiments. J Comp Physiol B 2021; 192:161-169. [PMID: 34595579 PMCID: PMC8816319 DOI: 10.1007/s00360-021-01410-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2021] [Revised: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
The basal metabolic rate (BMR) accounts for 60–70% of the daily energy expenditure (DEE) in sedentary humans and at least 50% of the DEE in laboratory mice in the thermoneutral zone. Surprisingly, however, the significance of the variation in the BMR is largely overlooked in translational research using such indices as physical activity level (PAL), i.e., the ratio of DEE/BMR. In particular, it is unclear whether emulation of human PAL in mouse models should be carried out within or below the thermoneutral zone. It is also unclear whether physical activity within the thermoneutral zone is limited by the capacity to dissipate heat generated by exercise and obligatory metabolic processes contributing to BMR. We measured PAL and spontaneous physical activity (SPA) in laboratory mice from two lines, divergently selected towards either high or low level of BMR, and acclimated to 30 °C (i.e., the thermoneutral zone), 23 or 4 °C. The mean PAL did not differ between both lines in the mice acclimated to 30 °C but became significantly higher in the low BMR mouse line at the lower ambient temperatures. Acclimation to 30 °C reduced the mean locomotor activity but did not affect the significant difference observed between the selected lines. We conclude that carrying out experiments within the thermoneutral zone can increase the consistency of translational studies aimed at the emulation of human energetics, without affecting the variation in physical activity correlated with BMR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paweł Brzęk
- Faculty of Biology, University of Białystok, Ciołkowskiego 1J, 15-245, Białystok, Poland.
| | - Andrzej Gębczyński
- Faculty of Biology, University of Białystok, Ciołkowskiego 1J, 15-245, Białystok, Poland
| | - Piotr Selewestruk
- Faculty of Biology, University of Białystok, Ciołkowskiego 1J, 15-245, Białystok, Poland
| | - Aneta Książek
- Faculty of Biology, University of Białystok, Ciołkowskiego 1J, 15-245, Białystok, Poland
| | - Julita Sadowska
- Faculty of Biology, University of Białystok, Ciołkowskiego 1J, 15-245, Białystok, Poland
| | - Marek Konarzewski
- Faculty of Biology, University of Białystok, Ciołkowskiego 1J, 15-245, Białystok, Poland
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Wargent ET, Ahmad SJS, Lu QR, Kostenis E, Arch JRS, Stocker CJ. Leanness and Low Plasma Leptin in GPR17 Knockout Mice Are Dependent on Strain and Associated With Increased Energy Intake That Is Not Suppressed by Exogenous Leptin. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2021; 12:698115. [PMID: 34646232 PMCID: PMC8503278 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2021.698115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have shown that agonists of GPR17 stimulate, while antagonists inhibit feeding. However, whole body knockout of GPR17 in mice of the C57Bl/6 strain did not affect energy balance, whereas selective knockout in oligodendrocytes or pro-opiomelanocortin neurons provided protection from high fat diet-induced obesity and impaired glucose homeostasis. We reasoned that whole body knockout of GPR17 in mice of the 129 strain might elicit more marked effects because the 129 strain is more susceptible than the C57Bl/6 strain to increased sympathetic activity and less susceptible to high fat diet-induced obesity. Consistent with this hypothesis, compared to wild-type mice, and when fed on either a chow or a high fat diet, GPR17 -/- mice of the 129 strain displayed increased expression of uncoupling protein-1 in white adipose tissue, lower body weight and fat content, reduced plasma leptin, non-esterified fatty acids and triglycerides, and resistance to high fat diet-induced glucose intolerance. Not only energy expenditure, but also energy intake was raised. Administration of leptin did not suppress the increased food intake in GPR17 -/- mice of the 129 strain, whereas it did suppress food intake in GPR17 +/+ mice. The only difference between GPR17 +/- and GPR17 +/+ mice of the C57Bl/6 strain was that the body weight of the GPR17 -/- mice was lower than that of the GPR17 +/+ mice when the mice were fed on a standard chow diet. We propose that the absence of GPR17 raises sympathetic activity in mice of the 129 strain in response to a low plasma fuel supply, and that the consequent loss of body fat is partly mitigated by increased energy intake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward T. Wargent
- Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Buckingham, Buckingham, United Kingdom
| | - Suhaib J. S. Ahmad
- Department of Surgery, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Qing Richard Lu
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Department of Pediatrics, Brain Tumor Center, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | | | - Jonathan R. S. Arch
- Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Buckingham, Buckingham, United Kingdom
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Abstract
AbstractThe received wisdom on how activity affects energy expenditure is that the more activity is undertaken, the more calories will have been burned by the end of the day. Yet traditional hunter-gatherers, who lead physically hard lives, burn no more calories each day than Western populations living in labor-saving environments. Indeed, there is now a wealth of data, both for humans and other animals, demonstrating that long-term lifestyle changes involving increases in exercise or other physical activities do not result in commensurate increases in daily energy expenditure (DEE). This is because humans and other animals exhibit a degree of energy compensation at the organismal level, ameliorating some of the increases in DEE that would occur from the increased activity by decreasing the energy expended on other biological processes. And energy compensation can be sizable, reaching many hundreds of calories in humans. But the processes that are downregulated in the long-term to achieve energy compensation are far from clear, particularly in humans-we do not know how energy compensation is achieved. My review here of the literature on relevant exercise intervention studies, for both humans and other species, indicates conflict regarding the role, if any, of basal metabolic rate (BMR) or low-level activity such as fidgeting play, particularly once changes in body composition are factored out. In situations where BMR and low-level activity are not major components of energy compensation, what then drives it? I discuss how changes in mitochondrial efficiency and changes in circadian fluctuations in BMR may contribute to our understanding of energy management. Currently unexplored, these mechanisms and others may provide important insights into the mystery of how energy compensation is achieved.
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McKie GL, Wright DC. The confounding effects of sub-thermoneutral housing temperatures on aerobic exercise-induced adaptations in mouse subcutaneous white adipose tissue. Biol Lett 2021; 17:20210171. [PMID: 34186002 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2021.0171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Mice are the most commonly used model organism for human biology, and failure to acknowledge fundamental differences in thermal biology between these species has confounded the study of adipose tissue metabolism in mice and its translational relevance to humans. Here, using exercise biochemistry as an example, we highlight the subtle yet detrimental effects sub-thermoneutral housing temperatures can have on the study of adipose tissue metabolism in mice. We encourage academics and publishers to consider ambient housing temperature as a key determinant in the methodological conception and reporting of all research on rodent white adipose tissue metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greg L McKie
- Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1
| | - David C Wright
- Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1
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50
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Sass F, Schlein C, Jaeckstein MY, Pertzborn P, Schweizer M, Schinke T, Ballabio A, Scheja L, Heeren J, Fischer AW. TFEB deficiency attenuates mitochondrial degradation upon brown adipose tissue whitening at thermoneutrality. Mol Metab 2021; 47:101173. [PMID: 33516944 PMCID: PMC7903014 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2021.101173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2020] [Revised: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Brown adipose tissue (BAT) thermogenesis offers the potential to improve metabolic health in mice and humans. However, humans predominantly live under thermoneutral conditions, leading to BAT whitening, a reduction in BAT mitochondrial content and metabolic activity. Recent studies have established mitophagy as a major driver of mitochondrial degradation in the whitening of thermogenic brite/beige adipocytes, yet the pathways mediating mitochondrial breakdown in whitening of classical BAT remain largely elusive. The transcription factor EB (TFEB), a master regulator of lysosomal biogenesis and autophagy belonging to the MiT family of transcription factors, is the only member of this family that is upregulated during whitening, pointing toward a role of TFEB in whitening-associated mitochondrial breakdown. METHODS We generated brown adipocyte-specific TFEB knockout mice, and induced BAT whitening by thermoneutral housing. We characterized gene and protein expression patterns, BAT metabolic activity, systemic metabolism, and mitochondrial localization using in vivo and in vitro approaches. RESULTS Under low thermogenic activation conditions, deletion of TFEB preserves mitochondrial mass independently of mitochondriogenesis in BAT and primary brown adipocytes. However, this does not translate into elevated thermogenic capacity or protection from diet-induced obesity. Autophagosomal/lysosomal marker levels are altered in TFEB-deficient BAT and primary adipocytes, and lysosomal markers co-localize and co-purify with mitochondria in TFEB-deficient BAT, indicating trapping of mitochondria in late stages of mitophagy. CONCLUSION We identify TFEB as a driver of BAT whitening, mediating mitochondrial degradation via the autophagosomal and lysosomal machinery. This study provides proof of concept that interfering with the mitochondrial degradation machinery can increase mitochondrial mass in classical BAT under human-relevant conditions. However, it must be considered that interfering with autophagy may result in accumulation of non-functional mitochondria. Future studies targeting earlier steps of mitophagy or target recognition are therefore warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederike Sass
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Christian Schlein
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; Department of Internal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Michelle Y Jaeckstein
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Paul Pertzborn
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Michaela Schweizer
- Core Facility of Electron Microscopy, Center for Molecular Neurobiology ZMNH, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Thorsten Schinke
- Department of Osteology and Biomechanics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Andrea Ballabio
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Pozzuoli, Italy; Department of Medical and Translational Sciences, Medical Genetics, Federico II University, Naples, Italy; Department of Molecular and Human Genetics and Neurological Research Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ludger Scheja
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Joerg Heeren
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Alexander W Fischer
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; Department of Molecular Metabolism, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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