Loss of FoxOs in muscle reveals sex-based differences in insulin sensitivity but mitigates diet-induced obesity

FOXO1 represses PPARα-Mediated induction of FGF21 gene expression

Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) has emerged as a metabolic regulator that exerts potent anti-diabetic and lipid-lowering effects in animal models of obesity and type 2 diabetes, showing a protective role in fatty liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma progression. Hepatic expression of FGF21 is regulated by PPARα and is induced by fasting. Ablation of FoxO1 in liver has been shown to increase FGF21 expression in hyperglycemia. To better understand the role of FOXO1 in the regulation of FGF21 expression we have modified HepG2 human hepatoma cells to overexpress FoxO1 and PPARα. Here we show that FoxO1 represses PPARα-mediated FGF21 induction, and that the repression acts on the FGF21 gene promoter without affecting other PPARα target genes. Additionally, we demonstrate that FoxO1 physically interacts with PPARα and that FoxO1/3/4 depletion in skeletal muscle contributes to increased Fgf21 tissue levels. Taken together, these data indicate that FOXO1 is a PPARα-interacting protein that antagonizes PPARα activity on the FGF21 promoter. Because other PPARα target genes remained unaffected, these results suggest a highly specific mechanism implicated in FGF21 regulation. We conclude that FGF21 can be specifically modulated by FOXO1 in a PPARα-dependent manner.

Loss of FoxOs in muscle increases strength and mitochondrial function during aging

BACKGROUND

Muscle mitochondrial decline is associated with aging-related muscle weakness and insulin resistance. FoxO transcription factors are targets of insulin action and deletion of FoxOs improves mitochondrial function in diabetes. However, disruptions in proteostasis and autophagy are hallmarks of aging and the effect of chronic inhibition of FoxOs in aged muscle is unknown. This study investigated the role of FoxOs in regulating muscle strength and mitochondrial function with age.

METHODS

We measured muscle strength, cross-sectional area, muscle fibre-type, markers of protein synthesis/degradation, central nuclei, glucose/insulin tolerance, and mitochondrial bioenergetics in 4.5-month (Young) and 22-24-month-old (Aged) muscle-specific FoxO1/3/4 triple KO (TKO) and littermate control (Ctrl) mice.

RESULTS

Lean mass was increased in Aged TKO compared with both Aged Ctrl and younger groups by 26-33% (P < 0.01). Muscle strength, measured by max force of tibialis anterior (TA) contraction, was 20% lower in Aged Ctrl compared with Young Ctrls (P < 0.01) but was not decreased in Aged TKOs. Increased muscle strength in Young and Aged TKO was associated with 18-48% increased muscle weights compared with Ctrls (P < 0.01). Muscle cross-sectional analysis of TA, soleus, and plantaris revealed increases in fibre size distribution and a 2.5-10-fold increase in central nuclei in Young and Aged TKO mice, without histologic signs of muscle damage. Age-dependent increases in Gadd45a and Ube4a expression as well accumulation of K48 polyubiquitinated proteins were observed in quad and TA but were prevented by FoxO deletion. Young and Aged TKO muscle showed minimal changes in autophagy flux and no accumulation of autophagosomes compared with Ctrl groups. Increased strength in Young and Aged TKO was associated with a 10-20% increase in muscle mitochondrial respiration using glutamate/malate/succinate compared with controls (P < 0.05). OXPHOS subunit expression and complex I activity were decreased 16-34% in Aged Ctrl compared with Young Ctrl but were prevented in Aged TKO. Both Aged Ctrl and Aged TKO showed impaired glucose tolerance by 33% compared to young groups (P < 0.05) indicating improved strength and mitochondrial respiration are not due to improved glycemia.

CONCLUSIONS

FoxO deletion increases muscle strength even during aging. Deletion of FoxOs maintains muscle strength in part by mild suppression of atrophic pathways, including inhibition of Gadd45a and Ube4a expression, without accumulation of autophagosomes in muscle. Deletion of FoxOs also improved mitochondrial function by maintenance of OXPHOS in both young and aged TKO.

The insulin signaling pathway a century after its discovery: Sexual dimorphism in insulin signaling

Since practically a century ago, the insulin pathway was discovered in both vertebrates and invertebrates, implying an evolutionarily ancient origin. After a century of research, it is now clear that the insulin signal transduction pathway is a critical, flexible and pleiotropic pathway, evolving into multiple anabolic functions besides glucose homeostasis. It regulates paramount aspects of organismal well-being like growth, longevity, intermediate metabolism, and reproduction. Part of this diversification has been attained by duplications and divergence of both ligands and receptors riding on a common general signal transduction system. One of the aspects that is strikingly different is its usage in reproduction, particularly in male versus female development and fertility within the same species. This review highlights sexual divergence in metabolism and reproductive tract differences, the occurrence of sexually "exaggerated" traits, and sex size differences that are due to the sexes' differential activity/response to the insulin signaling pathway.

Sex Differences in Glucose Homeostasis

Sexual dimorphism has been demonstrated to have an effect on various physiological functions. In this regard, researchers have investigated its impact on glucose homeostasis in both preclinical and clinical studies. Sex differences mainly arise from physiological factors such as sex hormones, body fat and muscle distribution, and sex chromosomes. The sexual dimorphism has also been studied in the context of diabetes. Reflecting the prevalence of the disease among the population, studies focusing on the sex difference in type 1 diabetes (T1D) are not common as the ones in type 2 diabetes (T2D). T1D is reported as the only major specific autoimmune disease that exhibits a male predominance. Clinical studies have demonstrated that impaired fasting glucose is more frequent in men whereas women more commonly exhibit impaired glucose tolerance. Understanding the sex difference in glucose homeostasis becomes more attractive when focusing on the findings that highlight sexual dimorphism on the efficacy or adverse effect profile of antidiabetic medications. Thus, in this chapter, we aimed to discuss the impact of sex on the glucose homeostasis both in health and in diabetes.

In-depth investigations of the molecular basis underlying sex differences among middle-aged and elderly schizophrenia populations

Sex can influence almost all aspects of schizophrenia. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying sex differences in schizophrenia remain poorly understood. In this project, the dataset GSE107638 containing neuronal RNA-seq data and age/sex information of individuals with or without schizophrenia were retrieved. Schizophrenia samples were divided into young male (M-1), young female (F-1), middle-aged and elderly male (M-2) and middle-aged and elderly female (F-2) groups. Next, green/yellow/turquoise modules related to the M-2 trait and turquoise module correlated with the F-2 trait were identified by weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) analysis (soft thresholding power: 13; min module size: 200). Crucial genes in the M-2 green, M-2 turquoise and F-2 turquoise modules were identified by WGCNA, gene significance/module membership, and protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis. Moreover, 2067 and 934 differentially expressed genes (|log2 fold-change| ≥0.58 and P-value < 0.05) in M-2 and F-2 schizophrenia subgroups versus same-age and same-sex counterparts were identified, respectively. Additionally, 82 core genes in the M-2 turquoise module and 4 hub genes in the F-2 turquoise module were differentially expressed in M-2 and F-2 schizophrenia subgroups versus their counterparts, respectively. Among the 82 hub genes, 15 genes were found to be correlated with neuronal development by the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis. Also, 2 potential PPI networks related to neuronal development were identified. Taken together, multiple potential hub genes and 2 potential neurobiological networks related to schizophrenia sex differences and disease progression were identified among middle-aged and elderly schizophrenia populations.

Phytochemicals targeting NAFLD through modulating the dual function of forkhead box O1 (FOXO1) transcription factor signaling pathways

Literature evidence reveals that natural compounds are potential candidates for ameliorating obesity-associated non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) by targeting forkhead box O1 (FOXO1) transcription factor. FOXO1 has a dual and complex role in regulating both increase and decrease in lipid accumulation in hepatocytes and adipose tissues (AT) at different stages of NAFLD. In insulin resistance (IR), it is constitutively expressed, resulting in increased hepatic glucose output and lipid metabolism irregularity. The studies on different phytochemicals indicate that dysregulation of FOXO1 causes disturbance in cellular nutrients homeostasis, and the natural entities have an enduring impact on the mitigation of these abnormalities. The current review communicates and evaluates certain phytochemicals through different search engines, targeting FOXO1 and its downstream cellular pathways to find lead compounds as potential therapeutic agents for treating NAFLD and related metabolic disorders. The findings of this review confirm that polyphenols, flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, and anthocyanins are capable of modulating FOXO1 and associated signaling pathways, and they are potential therapeutic agents for NAFLD and related complications. HIGHLIGHTS: • FOXO1 has the potential to be targeted by novel drugs from natural sources for the treatment of NAFLD and obesity. • FOXO1 regulates cellular autophagy, inflammation, oxidative stress, and lipogenesis through alternative mechanisms. • Phytochemicals treat NAFLD by acting on FOXO1 or SREBP1c and PPARγ transcription factor signaling pathways.

Functional resilience of C57BL/6J mouse heart to dietary fat overload

Molecular mechanisms underlying cardiac dysfunction and subsequent heart failure in diabetic cardiomyopathy are incompletely understood. Initially we intended to test the role of G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 (GRK2), a potential mediator of cardiac dysfunction in diabetic cardiomyopathy, but found that control animals on HFD did not develop cardiomyopathy. Cardiac function was preserved in both wild-type and GRK2 knockout animals fed high-fat diet as indicated by preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) although heart mass was increased. The absence of cardiac dysfunction led us to rigorously evaluate the utility of diet-induced obesity to model diabetic cardiomyopathy in mice. Using pure C57BL/6J animals and various diets formulated with different sources of fat-lard (32% saturated fat, 68% unsaturated fat) or hydrogenated coconut oil (95% saturated fat), we consistently observed left ventricular hypertrophy, preserved LVEF, and preserved contractility measured by invasive hemodynamics in animals fed high-fat diet. Gene expression patterns that characterize pathological hypertrophy were not induced, but a modest induction of various collagen isoforms and matrix metalloproteinases was observed in heart with high-fat diet feeding. PPARα-target genes that enhance lipid utilization such as Pdk4, CD36, AcadL, and Cpt1b were induced, but mitochondrial energetics was not impaired. These results suggest that although long-term fat feeding in mice induces cardiac hypertrophy and increases cardiac fatty acid metabolism, it may not be sufficient to activate pathological hypertrophic mechanisms that impair cardiac function or induce cardiac fibrosis. Thus, additional factors that are currently not understood may contribute to the cardiac abnormalities previously reported by many groups.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Dietary fat overload (DFO) is widely used to model diabetic cardiomyopathy but the utility of this model is controversial. We comprehensively characterized cardiac contractile and mitochondrial function in C57BL6/J mice fed with lard-based or saturated fat-enriched diets initiated at two ages. Despite cardiac hypertrophy, contractile and mitochondrial function is preserved, and molecular adaptations likely limit lipotoxicity. The resilience of these hearts to DFO underscores the need to develop robust alternative models of diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Insulin and IGF-1 receptors regulate complex-I dependent mitochondrial bioenergetics and supercomplexes via FoxOs in muscle

Decreased skeletal muscle strength and mitochondrial dysfunction are characteristic of diabetes. Action of insulin and IGF-1 through insulin receptor (IR) and IGF-1 receptor (IGF1R) maintain muscle mass via suppression of FoxOs, but whether FoxO activation coordinates atrophy in concert with mitochondrial dysfunction is unknown. We show that mitochondrial respiration and complex-I activity were decreased in streptozotocin (STZ) diabetic muscle, but these defects were reversed following muscle-specific FoxO1/3/4 triple knockout in STZ-FoxO TKO. In the absence of systemic glucose or lipid abnormalities, muscle-specific IR knockout (M-IR-/-) or combined IR/IGF1R knockout (MIGIRKO) impaired mitochondrial respiration, decreased ATP production, and increased ROS. These mitochondrial abnormalities were not present in muscle-specific IR/IGF1R and FoxO1/3/4 quintuple knockout mice (M-QKO). Acute tamoxifen-inducible deletion of IR/IGF1R also decreased muscle pyruvate respiration, complex-I activity, and supercomplex assembly. Although autophagy was increased when IR/IGF1R were deleted in muscle, mitophagy was not increased. Mechanistically, RNA-seq revealed that complex-I core subunits were decreased in STZ-diabetic and MIGIRKO muscle, and these changes were not present with FoxO knockout in STZ-FoxO TKO and M-QKO. Thus, insulin-deficient diabetes or loss of insulin/IGF-1 action in muscle decreases complex-I driven mitochondrial respiration and supercomplex assembly, in part by FoxO-mediated repression of Complex-I subunit expression.

Multi-omic profiling of primary mouse neutrophils predicts a pattern of sex and age-related functional regulation

Neutrophils are the most abundant human white blood cell and constitute a first line of defense in the innate immune response. Neutrophils are short-lived cells, and thus the impact of organismal aging on neutrophil biology, especially as a function of biological sex, remains poorly understood. Here, we describe a multi-omic resource of mouse primary bone marrow neutrophils from young and old female and male mice, at the transcriptomic, metabolomic and lipidomic levels. We identify widespread regulation of neutrophil 'omics' landscapes with organismal aging and biological sex. In addition, we leverage our resource to predict functional differences, including changes in neutrophil responses to activation signals. To date, this dataset represents the largest multi-omics resource for neutrophils across sex and ages. This resource identifies neutrophil characteristics which could be targeted to improve immune responses as a function of sex and/or age.

Energy Metabolism Focused Analysis of Sexual Dimorphism in Biological Aging and Hypothesized Sex-specificity in Sirtuin Dependency

The process of biological aging or senescence refers to the gradual loss of homeostasis and subsequent loss of function - leading to higher chances of mortality. Many mechanisms and driving forces have been suggested to facilitate the evolution of a molecular circuit acting as a trade-off between survival and proliferation, resulting in senescence. A major observation on biological aging and longevity in humans and model organisms is the prevalence of significant sexual divergence in the onset, mechanisms and effects of aging associated processes. In the current account, we describe possible mechanisms by which aging, sex and reproduction are evolutionarily intertwined in order to maintain systemic energy homeostasis. We also interrogate existing literature on the sexual dimorphism of genetic, cellular, metabolic, endocrine and epigenetic processes driving cellular and systemic aging. Subsequently, based on available evidence, we propose a hypothetic model of sex-limited decoupling of female longevity from sirtuins, a major family of regulator proteins of the survival-proliferation trade-off. We also provide necessary considerations to be made in order to test the hypothesis and explore the physiological and therapeutic implications of this decoupling event in male and female longevity after reaching reproductive maturity. HYPOTHESIS STATEMENT: Sirtuins provide survival benefits in a sex-nonspecific manner but the dependency on sirtuins in driving metabolic networks after reaching reproductive maturity is evolutionarily decoupled from female longevity.

Role of FoxO1 in regulating autophagy in type 2 diabetes mellitus (Review)

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a major chronic disease that is characterized by pancreatic β-cell dysfunction and insulin resistance. Autophagy is a highly conserved intracellular recycling pathway and is involved in regulating intracellular homeostasis. Transcription factor Forkhead box O1 (FoxO1) also regulates fundamental cellular processes, including cell differentiation, metabolism and apoptosis, and proliferation to cellular stress. Increasing evidence suggest that autophagy and FoxO1 are involved in the pathogenesis of T2DM, including β-cell viability, apoptosis, insulin secretion and peripheral insulin resistance. Recent studies have demonstrated that FoxO1 improves insulin resistance by regulating target tissue autophagy. The present review summarizes current literature on the role of autophagy and FoxO1 in T2DM. The participation of FoxO1 in the development and occurrence of T2DM via autophagy is also discussed.

Molecular Insulin Actions Are Sexually Dimorphic in Lipid Metabolism

The increment in energy-dense food and low physical activity has contributed to the current obesity pandemic, which is more prevalent in women than in men. Insulin is an anabolic hormone that regulates the metabolism of lipids, carbohydrates, and proteins in adipose tissue, liver, and skeletal muscle. During obesity, nutrient storage capacity is dysregulated due to a reduced insulin action on its target organs, producing insulin resistance, an early marker of metabolic dysfunction. Insulin resistance in adipose tissue is central in metabolic diseases due to the critical role that this tissue plays in energy homeostasis. We focused on sexual dimorphism on the molecular mechanisms of insulin actions and their relationship with the physiology and pathophysiology of adipose tissue. Until recently, most of the physiological and pharmacological studies were done in males without considering sexual dimorphism, which is relevant. There is ample clinical and epidemiological evidence of its contribution to the establishment and progression of metabolic diseases. Sexual dimorphism is a critical and often overlooked factor that should be considered in design of sex-targeted therapeutic strategies and public health policies to address obesity and diabetes.

Correlation between alterations of gut microbiota and miR-122-5p expression in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Background

To investigate the correlation between gut microbiota and circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) in patients with primary diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and to explore the possible mechanisms of miRNA-gut microbiota crosstalke network in the regulation of the insulin signaling pathway and glucose homeostasis in T2DM.

Methods

T2DM patients and normal controls were recruited. Fasting plasma and fecal samples were collected from the subjects, and their biochemical indexes including fasting blood glucose (FBG), glycated hemoglobin (HbAlc), cholesterol (TC), total triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and insulin were recorded. The variations in intestinal microbiota in the two groups were analyzed using 16S rRNA third-generation sequencing technology, and the differential expression of miRNAs between the groups was screened using miRNA high-throughput sequencing. The correlation and association between specifically changed intestinal microbiota and miRNA expressions were analyzed using a combination of bioinformatics analysis and statistical methods. Finally, 16S functional gene prediction analysis and target gene enrichment pathway analysis were carried out to predict relevant gut microbiota and miRNAs.

Results

Compared with normal controls, the biochemical indexes of HAlbc, FBG, TG, TC, LDL, HDL, and insulin were significantly different in T2DM patients (P<0.001, P<0.001, P=0.0125, P=0.98, P<0.001 P=0.022, and P=0.0013, respectively). The two groups also showed significantly different intestinal microbiota distribution and miRNA expression characteristics, including in the counts of Bacteriodes. uniformis and Phascolarctobacterium. Faecium (P=0.023, 0.031), which were negatively correlated (P=0.014, FC = -2.36) with the expression levels of serum miR-122-5p (r=−0.68, −0.60, P=0.01, 0.01).

Conclusions

This study discovered specific gut microbiota and miRNA characteristics in patients with a primary diagnosis of T2DM. A negative correlation between miR-122-5p and the intestinal bacteria Bacteriodes. uniformis and Phascolarctobacterium. Faecium was also revealed, suggesting that the crosstalke between miRNA and gut microbiota may regulate the insulin secretion and signal transduction by controling key genes of glucose metabolism during the development of T2DM.

Loss of iRhom2 accelerates fat gain and insulin resistance in diet-induced obesity despite reduced adipose tissue inflammation

BACKGROUND

Low-grade inflammation and metabolic dysregulation are common comorbidities of obesity, both of which are associated with alterations in iRhom2-regulated pro-inflammatory cytokine and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) ligand signaling.

OBJECTIVE

Our objective was to determine the role of iRhom2 in the regulation of low-grade inflammation and metabolic dysregulation in a murine model of diet-induced obesity.

METHODS

Wild type (WT) and iRhom2-deficient mice were fed normal chow (NC) or a high-fat diet (HFD) starting at 5 weeks of age for up to 33 weeks. Body composition, glucose and insulin tolerance, feeding behavior, and indirect calorimetry were measured at defined time points. Adipose tissue cytokine expression and inflammatory lesions known as crown-like structures (CLS) were analyzed at the end-point of the study.

RESULTS

iRhom2-deficient mice show accelerated fat gain on a HFD, accompanied by insulin resistance. Indirect calorimetry did not demonstrate changes in energy expenditure or food intake, but locomotor activity was significantly reduced in HFD iRhom2-deficient mice. Interestingly, CLS, macrophage infiltration, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) production were decreased in adipose tissue from HFD iRhom2-deficient mice, but circulating cytokines were unchanged. In inguinal and perigonadal fat, the EGFR ligand amphiregulin was markedly induced in HFD controls but completely prevented in iRhom2-deficient mice, suggesting a potentially dominant role of EGFR-dependent mechanisms over TNF in the modulation of insulin sensitivity.

CONCLUSIONS

This study elucidates a novel role for iRhom2 as an immuno-metabolic regulator that affects adipose tissue inflammation independent of insulin resistance.