Deficiency of the tumor promoter gene wip1 induces insulin resistance

Wip1 regulates the immunomodulatory effects of murine mesenchymal stem cells in type 1 diabetes mellitus via targeting IFN-α/BST2

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) show significant therapeutic effects in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) as regulating the inflammatory processes. However, little is known about the detailed process of MSCs immunosuppression in T1DM. In this study, we investigated the effects of wild-type p53-induce phosphatase 1 (Wip1) on regulating MSCs immunosuppressive capacities in T1DM mice. We found that Wip1 knockout (Wip1-/-) MSCs had lower therapeutic effects in T1DM mice, and displayed weaker immunosuppressive capability. In vivo distribution analysis results indicated thatWip1-/-MSCs could home to the damaged pancreas and increase the expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-17a (IL-17a), interferon-α(IFN-α), IFN-β, and IFN-γ, while decrease the expression of IL-4 and IL-10. Moreover, we confirmedWip1-/-MSCs exhibited weaker immunosuppressive capacity, as evidenced by enhanced expression of bone marrow stromal cell antigen 2(BST2) and IFN-α. In conclusion, these results revealed Wip1 affects MSCs immunomodulation by regulating the expression of IFN-α/BST2. Our study uncovered that Wip1 is required to regulate the therapeutic effects of MSCs on T1DM treatment, indicating a novel role of Wip1 in MSCs immunoregulation properties.

Metal-dependent Ser/Thr protein phosphatase PPM family: Evolution, structures, diseases and inhibitors

Protein phosphatases and kinases control multiple cellular events including proliferation, differentiation, and stress responses through regulating reversible protein phosphorylation, the most important post-translational modification. Members of metal-dependent protein phosphatase (PPM) family, also known as PP2C phosphatases, are Ser/Thr phosphatases that bind manganese/magnesium ions (Mn²⁺/Mg²⁺) in their active center and function as single subunit enzymes. In mammals, there are 20 isoforms of PPM phosphatases: PPM1A, PPM1B, PPM1D, PPM1E, PPM1F, PPM1G, PPM1H, PPM1J, PPM1K, PPM1L, PPM1M, PPM1N, ILKAP, PDP1, PDP2, PHLPP1, PHLPP2, PP2D1, PPTC7, and TAB1, whereas there are only 8 in yeast. Phylogenetic analysis of the DNA sequences of vertebrate PPM isoforms revealed that they can be divided into 12 different classes: PPM1A/PPM1B/PPM1N, PPM1D, PPM1E/PPM1F, PPM1G, PPM1H/PPM1J/PPM1M, PPM1K, PPM1L, ILKAP, PDP1/PDP2, PP2D1/PHLPP1/PHLPP2, TAB1, and PPTC7. PPM-family members have a conserved catalytic core region, which contains the metal-chelating residues. The different isoforms also have isoform specific regions within their catalytic core domain and terminal domains, and these regions may be involved in substrate recognition and/or functional regulation of the phosphatases. The twenty mammalian PPM phosphatases are involved in regulating diverse cellular functions, such as cell cycle control, cell differentiation, immune responses, and cell metabolism. Mutation, overexpression, or deletion of the PPM phosphatase gene results in abnormal cellular responses, which lead to various human diseases. This review focuses on the structures and biological functions of the PPM-phosphatase family and their associated diseases. The development of specific inhibitors against the PPM phosphatase family as a therapeutic strategy will also be discussed.

Inhibition of lipid droplet formation by Ser/Thr protein phosphatase PPM1D inhibitor, SL-176

Obesity is a worldwide public health problem, which is associated with various severe diseases including diabetes, hypertension, atherosclerosis, and cancer. Recent studies have revealed that combination treatment of several different compounds using low doses is effective to reduce side effects. Thus, there is a need to develop an efficient inhibitor for reducing lipid droplets with a divergent target/pathway. Ser/Thr protein phosphatase PPM1D is involved in cellular metabolic processes and is a promising target for anti-obesity treatment. We have previously developed a potent and specific PPM1D inhibitor, SL-176. In this study, we demonstrated that significant reduction of lipid droplet formation in adipocytes by the PPM1D specific inhibitor, SL-176. Using Oil-red O staining and fluorescent imaging of lipid droplet, we found that treatment of SL-176 significantly suppressed lipid droplet formation of 3T3-L1 cells both in amount and in size. SL-176 also repressed mRNA and protein expression of PPARγ and C/EBPα, adipogenic markers, at nontoxic conditions. Thus, SL-176 is a unique and potent inhibitor of lipid droplet formation that acts via PPM1D, a novel target toward inhibiting adipocyte differentiation.

Wild-type p53-induced Phosphatase 1 Deficiency Exacerbates Myocardial Infarction-induced Ischemic Injury

BACKGROUND

Myocardial infarction (MI) is a major disease burden. Wild-type p53-induced phosphatase 1 (Wip1) has been studied extensively in the context of cancer and the regulation of different types of stem cells, but the role of Wip1 in cardiac adaptation to MI is unknown. We investigated the significance of Wip1 in a mouse model of MI.

METHODS

The study began in June 2014 and was completed in July 2016. We compared Wip1-knockout (Wip1-KO) mice and wild-type (WT) mice to determine changes in cardiac function and survival in response to MI. The heart weight/body weight (HW/BW) ratio and cardiac function were measured before MI. Mouse MI was established by ligating the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery under 1.5% isoflurane anesthesia. After MI, survival of the mice was observed for 4 weeks. Cardiac function was examined by echocardiography. The HW/BW ratio was analyzed, and cardiac hypertrophy was measured by wheat germ agglutinin staining. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining was used to determine the infarct size. Gene expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) was assessed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), and the levels of signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (stat3) and phosphor-stat3 (p-stat3) were also analyzed by Western blotting. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, log-rank test, unpaired t-test, and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used for statistical analyses.

RESULTS

Wip1-KO mice had a marginally increased HW/BW ratio and slightly impaired cardiac function before LAD ligation. After MI, Wip1-deficient mice exhibited increased mortality (57.14% vs. 29.17%; n = 24 [WT], n = 35 [Wip1-KO], P< 0.05), increased cardiac hypertrophy (HW/BW ratio: 7 days: 7.25 ± 0.36 vs. 5.84 ± 0.18, n = 10, P< 0.01, and 4 weeks: 6.05 ± 0.17 vs. 5.87 ± 0.24, n = 10, P > 0.05; cross-sectional area: 7 days: 311.80 ± 8.29 vs. 268.90 ± 11.15, n = 6, P< 0.05, and 4 weeks: 308.80 ± 11.26 vs. 317.00 ± 13.55, n = 6, P > 0.05), and reduced cardiac function (ejection fraction: 7 days: 29.37 ± 1.38 vs. 34.72 ± 1.81, P< 0.05, and 4 weeks: 19.06 ± 2.07 vs. 26.37 ± 2.95, P< 0.05; fractional shortening: 7 days: 13.72 ± 0.71 vs. 16.50 ± 0.94, P< 0.05, and 4 weeks: 8.79 ± 1.00 vs. 12.48 ± 1.48, P< 0.05; n = 10 [WT], n = 15 [Wip1-KO]). H&E staining revealed a larger infarct size in Wip1-KO mice than in WT mice (34.79% ± 2.44% vs. 19.55% ± 1.48%, n = 6, P< 0.01). The expression of IL-6 and p-stat3 was downregulated in Wip1-KO mice (IL-6: 1.71 ± 0.27 vs. 4.46 ± 0.79, n = 6, P< 0.01; and p-stat3/stat3: 1.15 ± 0.15 vs. 1.97 ± 0.23, n = 6, P< 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that Wip1 could protect the heart from MI-induced ischemic injury.

WIP1 phosphatase is a critical regulator of adipogenesis through dephosphorylating PPARγ serine 112

WIP1, as a critical phosphatase, plays many important roles in various physiological and pathological processes through dephosphorylating different substrate proteins. However, the functions of WIP1 in adipogenesis and fat accumulation are not clear. Here, we report that WIP1-deficient mice show impaired body weight growth, dramatically decreased fat mass, and significantly reduced triglyceride and leptin levels in circulation. This dysregulation of adipose development caused by the deletion of WIP1 occurs as early as adipogenesis. In contrast, lentivirus-mediated WIP1 phosphatase overexpression significantly increases the adipogenesis of pre-adipocytes via an enzymatic activity-dependent mechanism. PPARγ is a master gene of adipogenesis, and the phosphorylation of PPARγ at serine 112 strongly inhibits adipogenesis; however, very little is known about the negative regulation of this phosphorylation. Here, we show that WIP1 phosphatase plays a pro-adipogenic role by interacting directly with PPARγ and dephosphorylating p-PPARγ S112 in vitro and in vivo.