MAP4K4 and IL-6+ Th17 cells play important roles in non-obese type 2 diabetes

Longitudinal Variations in Th and Treg Cells Before and After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention, and Their Intercorrelations and Prognostic Value in Acute Syndrome Patients

T helper (Th) and regulatory T (Treg) cells regulate atherosclerosis, plaque, inflammation to involve in acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The current study aimed to investigate the clinical implications of Th and Treg cells in ACS patients receiving percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Blood Th1, Th2, Th17 and Treg cells were detected in 160 ACS patients before PCI, after PCI, at 1 month (M). Short physical performance battery (SPPB) at M1/M3 and major adverse cardiac event (MACE) during follow-ups were evaluated. Th1 and Th17 both showed upward trends during PCI, then greatly declined at M1 (P < 0.001). Th2 exhibited an upward trend during PCI but decreased slightly at M1 (P < 0.001). Treg remained stable during PCI but elevated at M1 (P < 0.001). Moreover, a positive correlation between Th1 and Th17, a negative correlation between Th17 and Treg, were discovered at several timepoints (most P < 0.050). Interestingly, the receiver operating curve (ROC) analyses revealed that Th1 [area under curve (AUC) between 0.633-0.645] and Th17 (AUC between 0.626-0.699) exhibited values estimating SPPB score <= 6 points at M1 or M3 to some extent. Importantly, Th1 (AUC between 0.708-0.710), Th17 (AUC between 0.694-0.783), and Treg (AUC between 0.706-0.729) predicted MACE risk. Multivariate models involving Th and Treg cells along with other characteristics revealed acceptable values estimating SPPB score <= 6 points at M1 or M3 (AUC between 0.690-0.813), and good values predicting MACE risk (AUC between 0.830-0.971). Dynamic variations in Th and Treg cells can predict the prognosis of ACS patients receiving PCI.

Mechanisms of Dangua Fang in multi-target and multi-method regulation of glycolipid metabolism based on phosphoproteomics

OBJECTIVE

To explore the mechanism of Dangua Fang (, DGR) in multi-target and multi-method regulation of glycolipid metabolism based on phosphoproteomics.

METHODS

Sprague-Dawley rats with normal glucose levels were randomly divided into three groups, including a conventional diet control group (Group A), high-fat-high-sugar diet model group (Group B), and DGR group (Group C, high-fat-high-sugar diet containing 20.5 g DGR). After 10 weeks of intervention, the fasting blood glucose (FBG), 2 h blood glucose [PBG; using the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT)], hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), plasma total cholesterol (TC), and triglycerides (TG) were tested, and the livers of rats were removed to calculate the liver index. Then, hepatic portal TG were tested using the Gross permanent optimization-participatiory action planning enzymatic method and phosphoproteomics was performed using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis followed by database search and bioinformatics analysis. Finally, cell experiments were used to verify the results of phosphoproteomics. Phosphorylated mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase kinase 4 (MAP4k4) and phosphorylated adducin 1 (ADD1) were detected using western blotting.

RESULTS

DGR effectively reduced PBG, TG, and the liver index (P < 0.05), and significantly decreased HbA1c, TC, and hepatic portal TG (P < 0.01), showed significant hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, red oil O staining, and Masson staining of liver tissue. The total spectrum was 805 334, matched spectrum was 260 471, accounting for accounting 32.3%, peptides were 19 995, modified peptides were 14 671, identified proteins were 4601, quantifiable proteins were 4417, identified sites were 15 749, and quantified sites were 14659. Based on the threshold of expression fold change ( > 1.2), DGR up-regulated the modification of 228 phosphorylation sites involving 204 corresponding function proteins, and down-regulated the modification of 358 phosphorylation sites involving 358 corresponding function proteins, which included correcting 75 phosphorylation sites involving 64 corresponding function proteins relating to glycolipid metabolism. Therefore, DGR improved biological tissue processes, including information storage and processing, cellular processes and signaling, and metabolism. The metabolic functions regulated by DGR mainly include energy production and conversion, carbohydrate transport and metabolism, lipid transport and metabolism, inorganic ion transport and metabolism, secondary metabolite biosynthesis, transport, and catabolism. In vitro phosphorylation validation based on cell experiments showed that the change trends in the phosphorylation level of MAP4k4 and ADD1 were consistent with that of previous phosphoproteomics studies.

CONCLUSION

DGR extensively corrects the modification of phosphorylation sites to improve corresponding glycolipid metabolism-related protein expression in rats with glycolipid metabolism disorders, thereby regulating glycolipid metabolism through a multi-target and multi-method process.

Short-duration cold exposure decreases fasting-induced glucose intolerance but has no effect on resting energy expenditure

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether brief cold exposure can reverse fasting-induced glucose intolerance and insulin resistance, and improve resting energy expenditure (REE). Twelve young non-obese women were randomly assigned to undergo the following conditions: 2 days of fasting with two 10-min whole-body cold-water immersions on separate days (FAST-COLD), 2 days of fasting without cold-water immersions (FAST), 2 days of usual diet with two 10-min whole-body cold-water immersions on separate days (COLD), or 2 days of usual diet without cold-water immersions (CON) in a randomised crossover fashion. Changes in REE and substrate utilisation, and glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity from the oral glucose tolerance test were examined. The results showed that FAST-COLD and FAST trials increased (P < 0.05) REE and decreased (P < 0.05) respiratory quotient, but these variables did not differ significantly between the FAST-COLD and FAST trials. The glucose and insulin area under the curves (AUCs) were higher (P < 0.05) in the FAST-COLD and FAST trials than in the CON and COLD trials, and these AUCs were lower (P < 0.05) in the FAST-COLD than in the FAST trial. Matsuda index was lower in the FAST trial than in the CON trial (P < 0.05), and tended to be greater after the FAST-COLD trial than after the FAST trial (P = 0.060). In conclusion, cold exposure had no effect on REE but decreased fasting-induced glucose intolerance which was accompanied by a maintained insulin sensitivity.

Molecular Insights of MAP4K4 Signaling in Inflammatory and Malignant Diseases

Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades are crucial in extracellular signal transduction to cellular responses. The classical three-tiered MAPK cascades include signaling through MAP kinase kinase kinase (MAP3K) that activates a MAP kinase kinase (MAP2K), which in turn induces MAPK activation and downstream cellular responses. The upstream activators of MAP3K are often small guanosine-5'-triphosphate (GTP)-binding proteins, but in some pathways, MAP3K can be activated by another kinase, which is known as a MAP kinase kinase kinase kinase (MAP4K). MAP4K4 is one of the widely studied MAP4K members, known to play a significant role in inflammatory, cardiovascular, and malignant diseases. The MAP4K4 signal transduction plays an essential role in cell proliferation, transformation, invasiveness, adhesiveness, inflammation, stress responses, and cell migration. Overexpression of MAP4K4 is frequently reported in many cancers, including glioblastoma, colon, prostate, and pancreatic cancers. Besides its mainstay pro-survival role in various malignancies, MAP4K4 has been implicated in cancer-associated cachexia. In the present review, we discuss the functional role of MAP4K4 in malignant/non-malignant diseases and cancer-associated cachexia and its possible use in targeted therapy.

Comparison of the contributions of impaired beta cell function and insulin resistance to the development of type 2 diabetes in a Japanese community: the Hisayama Study

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

Our aim was to compare the contributions of impaired beta cell function (IBF) and insulin resistance with the development of type 2 diabetes in a Japanese community.

METHODS

A total of 2094 residents aged 40-79 years without diabetes underwent a health examination including a 75 g OGTT in 2007. Participants were divided into four groups according to the presence or absence of IBF (insulinogenic index/HOMA-IR ≤28.5) and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR ≥1.61) and were followed up for 7 years (2007-2014). Cox's proportional hazards model was used to estimate HRs and 95% CIs for type 2 diabetes. The population attributable fractions (PAFs) due to IBF, insulin resistance, and their combination were calculated.

RESULTS

At baseline, the prevalence of isolated IBF, isolated insulin resistance, and both IBF and insulin resistance were 5.4%, 24.1% and 9.5%, respectively. During the follow-up period, 272 participants developed type 2 diabetes. The multivariable-adjusted HRs (95% CI) and PAFs (95% CI) for type 2 diabetes were 6.3 (4.3, 9.2) and 13.3% (8.7, 17.7) in the participants with isolated IBF, 1.9 (1.3, 2.7) and 10.5% (4.0, 16.6) in those with isolated insulin resistance, and 8.0 (5.7, 11.4) and 29.3% (23.0, 35.1) in those with both IBF and insulin resistance, respectively, compared with the participants without either.

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

The present study suggests that the combination of IBF and insulin resistance makes the main contribution to the development of type 2 diabetes in Japanese communities.

Genetic determinants of obesity heterogeneity in type II diabetes

Background

Although obesity is considered as the main cause of Type II diabetes (T2DM), non-obese individuals may still develop T2DM and obese individuals may not.

Method

The mRNA expression of PI3K/AKT axis from 100 non-obese and obese participants with insulin sensitivity and insulin resistance states were compared in this study toward the understanding of obesity heterogeneity molecular mechanism.

Result

In present study, there was no statistically significant difference in gene expression levels of IRS1 and PTEN between groups, whereas PI3K, AKT2 and GLUT4 genes were expressed at a lower level in obese diabetic group compared to other groups and were statistically significant. PDK1 gene was expressed at a higher level in non-obese diabetic group compared to obese diabetic and non-obese non-diabetics groups. No statistically significant difference was identified in gene expression pattern of PI3K/AKT pathway between obese non-diabetics and non-obese non-diabetics.

Conclusion

The components of PI3K/AKT pathway which is related to the fasting state, showed reduced expression in obese diabetic group due to the chronic over-nutrition which may induced insensitivity and reduced gene expression. The pathogenesis of insulin resistance in the absence of obesity in non-obese diabetic group could be due to disturbance in another pathway related to the non-fasting state like gluconeogenesis. Therefore, the molecular mechanism of insulin signalling in non-obese diabetic individuals is different from obese diabetics which more investigations are required to study insulin signalling pathways in greater depth, in order to assess nutritional factors, contribute to insulin resistance in obese diabetic and non-obese diabetic individuals.

MAP4K Family Kinases and DUSP Family Phosphatases in T-Cell Signaling and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

T cells play a critical role in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), which is a severe autoimmune disease. In the past 60 years, only one new therapeutic agent with limited efficacy has been approved for SLE treatment; therefore, the development of early diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for SLE is desirable. Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase kinases (MAP4Ks) and dual-specificity phosphatases (DUSPs) are regulators of MAP kinases. Several MAP4Ks and DUSPs are involved in T-cell signaling and autoimmune responses. HPK1 (MAP4K1), DUSP22 (JKAP), and DUSP14 are negative regulators of T-cell activation. Consistently, HPK1 and DUSP22 are downregulated in the T cells of human SLE patients. In contrast, MAP4K3 (GLK) is a positive regulator of T-cell signaling and T-cell-mediated immune responses. MAP4K3 overexpression-induced RORγt–AhR complex specifically controls interleukin 17A (IL-17A) production in T cells, leading to autoimmune responses. Consistently, MAP4K3 and the RORγt–AhR complex are overexpressed in the T cells of human SLE patients, as are DUSP4 and DUSP23. In addition, DUSPs are also involved in either human autoimmune diseases (DUSP2, DUSP7, DUSP10, and DUSP12) or T-cell activation (DUSP1, DUSP5, and DUSP14). In this review, we summarize the MAP4Ks and DUSPs that are potential biomarkers and/or therapeutic targets for SLE.

MAP4K3/GLK in autoimmune disease, cancer and aging

MAP4K3 (also named GLK) is a serine/threonine kinase, which belongs to the mammalian Ste20-like kinase family. At 22 years of age, GLK was initially cloned and identified as an upstream activator of the MAPK JNK under an environmental stress and proinflammatory cytokines. The data derived from GLK-overexpressing or shRNA-knockdown cell lines suggest that GLK may be involved in cell proliferation through mTOR signaling. GLK phosphorylates the transcription factor TFEB and retains TFEB in the cytoplasm, leading to inhibition of cell autophagy. After generating and characterizing GLK-deficient mice, the important in vivo roles of GLK in T-cell activation were revealed. In T cells, GLK directly interacts with and activates PKCθ through phosphorylating PKCθ at Ser-538 residue, leading to activation of IKK/NF-κB. Thus, GLK-deficient mice display impaired T-cell-mediated immune responses and decreased inflammatory phenotypes in autoimmune disease models. Consistently, the percentage of GLK-overexpressing T cells is increased in the peripheral blood from autoimmune disease patients; the GLK-overexpressing T cell population is correlated with disease severity of patients. The pathogenic mechanism of autoimmune disease by GLK overexpression was unraveled by characterizing T-cell-specific GLK transgenic mice and using biochemical analyses. GLK overexpression selectively promotes IL-17A transcription by inducing the AhR-RORγt complex in T cells. In addition, GLK overexpression in cancer tissues is correlated with cancer recurrence of human lung cancer and liver cancer; the predictive power of GLK overexpression for cancer recurrence is higher than that of pathologic stage. GLK directly phosphorylates and activates IQGAP1, resulting in induction of Cdc42-mediated cell migration and cancer metastasis. Furthermore, treatment of GLK inhibitor reduces disease severity of mouse autoimmune disease models and decreases IL-17A production of human autoimmune T cells. Due to the inhibitory function of HPK1/MAP4K1 in T-cell activation and the promoting effects of GLK on tumorigenesis, HPK1 and GLK dual inhibitors could be useful therapeutic drugs for cancer immunotherapy. In addition, GLK deficiency results in extension of lifespan in Caenorhabditis elegans and mice. Taken together, targeting MAP4K3 (GLK) may be useful for treating/preventing autoimmune disease, cancer metastasis/recurrence, and aging.

Effects of long-term exposure to CO and PM2.5 on microalbuminuria in type 2 diabetes

OBJECTIVE

No study has examined the effects of air pollutants on albuminuria in type 2 diabetes. Therefore, the present study investigated this association.

METHODS

This follow-up study enrolled 812 patients with type 2 diabetes between 2003 and 2012. The urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) was recorded annually. Exposure to the air pollutants CO, NO₂, O₃, SO₂, and PM_2.5 was interpolated from 72 air-quality monitoring stations to residences by using the kriging method. The association between air pollutants and ACR increase was assessed using mixed-effect model with random intercepts for 36 clinics.

RESULTS

The study objects (mean age: 55.4 years) were followed for 3 or more years (average period: 5.4 years). ACR increase was found to be positively associated with the male sex, baseline hemoglobin A1c, and exposure to CO and PM_2.5, and negatively associated with waist circumference through multiple linear regression. Annually urine albumin/creatinine ratio increase was estimated by the final model, Patients exposed to higher levels of CO (e.g., third quartile, 1025 ppb) and lower levels of CO (e.g., first quartile, 850 ppb) had an annual ACR increase of 3.73 and 3.54 mg/g, respectively. Patients exposed to higher levels of PM_2.5 (e.g., third quartile, 38.8 μg/M3) and lower levels of PM_2.5 (e.g., first quartile, 27.7 μg/M3) had an annual ACR increase of 3.96 and 3.17 mg/g, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Exposure to high CO and PM_2.5 levels increased albuminuria in type 2 diabetes.

The potential pathogenic role of IL-17/Th17 cells in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a serious medical problem affecting millions of peoples worldwide, and has a great socio-economic impacts. Cytokines possess a pivotal role in modulation of immune reactions and disease pathogenesis. T-helper type 17 (Th17) cells, an important proinflammatory CD4⁺ T cell subset secreting interleukin 17 (IL-17), has been embroiled in development of DM. There are recent evidences supporting a definitive role of Th17 cells in the etiology of type 1 diabetes (T1D). In addition, IL-17 has been shown to play a crucial role in inflammation, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes (T2D). Recently, small molecules which have been specified to block Th17 cells differentiation are considered as potential therapeutics for the disease. Anti-IL-17 neutralizing antibodies and/or antibodies targeting Th17 cells have been investigated to protect individuals at risk from disease development. In this review we aimed to shed light on the potential role of IL-17 and Th17 cells in both T1D and T2D pathogenesis and future therapeutic strategies.