Endothelial Prohibitin Mediates Bidirectional Long-Chain Fatty Acid Transport in White and Brown Adipose Tissues

The Influences of Oral Probiotics on the Immunometabolic Response During Pregnancy and Lactation: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

In recent years, due to the emergence of antimicrobial resistance, probiotics have been increasingly used during pregnancy and lactation with real maternal-fetal benefits. Probiotic intervention, especially multi-strain probiotics, due to their anti-inflammatory, metabolic, and immunomodulatory actions, can be performed prophylactically and therapeutically with promising results regarding maternal, fetal, and neonatal health. The administration of probiotics can modulate the maternal microbiome, regulate microflora imbalance in various conditions (overweight/obesity, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), preeclampsia, allergic diseases), and influence several reactions such as modulating the non-specific cellular immune system, metabolic processes, and inhibition of pathogens. This study aimed to analyze, based on available data, how the administration of probiotic supplements to women during pregnancy can modify immunometabolic responses to microbial dysbiosis to limit weight gain and the risk of obesity, to improve glucose homeostasis and reduce the risk of GDM, to prevent preeclampsia and its effects on maternal-fetal outcomes, and to reduce rates of atopic eczema and allergic diseases in infants.

METHODS

We performed a systematic search in MEDLINE/PubMed to identify studies that have investigated the effects of probiotic intervention on the immunometabolic response in pregnancy and lactation, especially in women with diabetes, overweight/obesity, preeclampsia, and allergic conditions.

RESULTS

Fifty-six RCT studies, totaling 15,044 women, matched the inclusion criteria, of which eight were for interventions on the immune response, twenty on allergic conditions, seven on obesity and excess weight gain in pregnancy, and twenty-one on GDM.

CONCLUSIONS

Due to the heterogeneous structure and the size of the samples, the methodologies, formulations, moment of initiation, and study durations, future research is needed to establish their effectiveness and safety in pregnancy and lactation regarding maternal-fetal health and outcomes in childhood and adult life.

Prohibitions in the meta-inflammatory response: a review

Prohibitins are the central regulatory element of cellular homeostasis, especially by modulating the response at different levels: Nucleus, mitochondria and membranes. Their localization and interaction with various proteins, homons, transcription and nuclear factors, and mtDNA indicate the globality and complexity of their pleiotropic properties, which remain to be investigated. A more detailed deciphering of cellular metabolism in relation to prohibitins under normal conditions and in various metabolic diseases will allow us to understand the precise role of prohibitins in the signaling cascades of PI3K/Akt, Raf/MAP/ERK, STAT3, p53, and others and to fathom their mutual influence. A valuable research perspective is to investigate the role of prohibitins in the molecular and cellular interactions between the two major players in the pathogenesis of obesity-adipocytes and macrophages - that form the basis of the meta-inflammatory response. Investigating the subtle intercellular communication and molecular cascades triggered in these cells will allow us to propose new therapeutic strategies to eliminate persistent inflammation, taking into account novel molecular genetic approaches to activate/inactivate prohibitins.

Adipocyte-endothelial cell interplay in adipose tissue physiology

Adipose tissue (AT) expansion through hyperplasia or hypertrophy requires vascular remodeling that involves angiogenesis. There is quite some evidence that obese white AT (WAT) displays altered vasculature. Some studies suggest that this is associated with hypoxia, which is thought to play a role in inducing inflammatory activation of the excessively expanding WAT. Increasing evidence, based on genetic manipulations or treatments with inhibitory or activator pharmaceuticals, demonstrates that AT angiogenesis is crucial for AT metabolic function, and thereby for whole body metabolism and metabolic health. Despite some contradiction between studies, disturbance of WAT angiogenesis in obesity could be an important factor driving WAT dysfunction and the comorbidities of obesity. Endothelial cells (ECs) contribute to healthy WAT metabolism via transport of fatty acids and other plasma components, secretory signaling molecules, and extracellular vesicles (EVs). This communication is crucial for adipocyte metabolism and underscores the key role that the AT endothelium plays in systemic energy homeostasis and healthy metabolism. Adipocytes communicate towards the neighboring endothelium through several mechanisms. The pro-inflammatory status of hypertrophic adipocytes in obesity is reflected in ECs activation, which promotes chronic inflammation. On the other hand, adiponectin secreted by the adipocytes is important for healthy endothelial function, and adipocytes also secrete other pro- or anti-angiogenic effector molecules and a wealth of EVs - however, their detailed roles in signaling towards the endothelium are yet poorly understood. To conclude, targeting AT angiogenesis and promoting the healthy communication between adipocytes and ECs represent potentially promising strategies to treat obesity and its comorbidities.

The evolving functions of the vasculature in regulating adipose tissue biology in health and obesity

Adipose tissue is an endocrine organ and a crucial regulator of energy storage and systemic metabolic homeostasis. Additionally, adipose tissue is a pivotal regulator of cardiovascular health and disease, mediated in part by the endocrine and paracrine secretion of several bioactive products, such as adipokines. Adipose vasculature has an instrumental role in the modulation of adipose tissue expansion, homeostasis and metabolism. The role of the adipose vasculature has been extensively explored in the context of obesity, which is recognized as a global health problem. Obesity-induced accumulation of fat, in combination with vascular rarefaction, promotes adipocyte dysfunction and induces oxidative stress, hypoxia and inflammation. It is now recognized that obesity-associated endothelial dysfunction often precedes the development of cardiovascular diseases. Investigations have revealed heterogeneity within the vascular niche and dynamic reciprocity between vascular and adipose cells, which can become dysregulated in obesity. Here we provide a comprehensive overview of the evolving functions of the vasculature in regulating adipose tissue biology in health and obesity.

The prohibitin complex regulates macrophage fatty acid composition, plasma membrane packing, and lipid raft-mediated inflammatory signaling

Prohibitins (PHB1 and PHB2) are ubiquitously expressed proteins which play critical roles in multiple biological processes, and together form the ring-like PHB complex found in phospholipid-rich cellular compartments including lipid rafts. Recent studies have implicated PHB1 as a mediator of fatty acid transport as well as a membrane scaffold mediating B lymphocyte and mast cell signal transduction. However, the specific role of PHBs in the macrophage have not been characterized, including their role in fatty acid uptake and lipid raft-mediated inflammatory signaling. We hypothesized that the PHB complex regulates macrophage inflammatory signaling through the formation of lipid rafts. To evaluate our hypothesis, RAW 264.7 macrophages were transduced with shRNA against PHB1, PHB2, or scrambled control (Scr), and then stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), which activate lipid raft-dependent receptor signaling (CD14/TLR4 and TNFR1, respectively). PHB1 knockdown was lethal, whereas PHB2 knockdown (PHB2kd), which also resulted in decreased PHB1 expression, led to attenuated nuclear factor-kappa-B (NF-κB) activation and subsequent cytokine and chemokine production. PHB2kd macrophages also had decreased cell surface TNFR1, CD14, TLR4, and lipid raft marker ganglioside GM1 at baseline and post-stimuli. Post-LPS, PHB2kd macrophages did not increase the concentration of cellular saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acids. This was accompanied by decreased lipid raft formation and modified plasma membrane molecular packing, further supporting the PHB complex's importance in lipid raft formation. Taken together, these data suggest a critical role for PHBs in regulating macrophage inflammatory signaling via maintenance of fatty acid composition and lipid raft structure. SUMMARY: Prohibitins are proteins found in phospholipid-rich cellular compartments, including lipid rafts, that play important roles in signaling, transcription, and multiple other cell functions. Macrophages are key cells in the innate immune response and the presence of membrane lipid rafts is integral to signal transduction, but the role of prohibitins in macrophage lipid rafts and associated signaling is unknown. To address this question, prohibitin knockdown macrophages were generated and responses to lipopolysaccharide and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, which act through lipid raft-dependent receptors, were analyzed. Prohibitin knockdown macrophages had significantly decreased cytokine and chemokine production, transcription factor activation, receptor expression, lipid raft assembly and membrane packing, and altered fatty acid remodeling. These data indicate a novel role for prohibitins in macrophage inflammatory signaling through regulation of fatty acid composition and lipid raft formation.

Maternal Supplementation of Probiotics, Prebiotics or Postbiotics to Prevent Offspring Metabolic Syndrome: The Gap between Preclinical Results and Clinical Translation

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is an extremely prevalent complex trait and it can originate in early life. This concept is now being termed the developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD). Increasing evidence supports that disturbance of gut microbiota influences various risk factors of MetS. The DOHaD theory provides an innovative strategy to prevent MetS through early intervention (i.e., reprogramming). In this review, we summarize the existing literature that supports how environmental cues induced MetS of developmental origins and the interplay between gut microbiota and other fundamental underlying mechanisms. We also present an overview of experimental animal models addressing implementation of gut microbiota-targeted reprogramming interventions to avert the programming of MetS. Even with growing evidence from animal studies supporting the uses of gut microbiota-targeted therapies start before birth to protect against MetS of developmental origins, their effects on pregnant women are still unknown and these results require further clinical translation.

Endothelial TrkA coordinates vascularization and innervation in thermogenic adipose tissue and can be targeted to control metabolism

OBJECTIVE

Brown adipogenesis and thermogenesis in brown and beige adipose tissue (AT) involve vascular remodeling and sympathetic neuronal guidance. Here, we investigated the molecular mechanism coordinating these processes.

METHODS

We used mouse models to identify the molecular target of a peptide CPATAERPC homing to the endothelium of brown and beige AT.

RESULTS

We demonstrate that CPATAERPC mimics nerve growth factor (NGF) and identify a low molecular weight isoform of NGF receptor, TrkA, as the CPATAERPC cell surface target. We show that the expression of truncated endothelial TrkA is selective for brown and subcutaneous AT. Analysis of mice with endothelium-specific TrkA knockout revealed the role of TrkA in neuro-vascular coordination supporting the thermogenic function of brown adipocytes. A hunter-killer peptide D-BAT, composed of CPATAERPC and a pro-apoptotic domain, induced cell death in the endothelium and adipocytes. This resulted in thermogenesis impairment, and predisposed mice to obesity and glucose intolerance. We also tested if this treatment can inhibit the tumor recruitment of lipids mobilized from adipocytes from adjacent AT. Indeed, in a mouse model of breast cancer D-BAT suppressed tumor-associated AT lipolysis, which resulted in reduced fatty acid utilization by cancer cells.

CONCLUSION

Our study demonstrates that TrkA signaling in the endothelium supports neuro-vascular coordination enabling beige adipogenesis.