Project description:The Wnt/beta-catenin signalling pathway appears to operate to maintain the undifferentiated state of preadipocytes by inhibiting adipogenic gene expression. To define the mechanisms regulating suppression of Wnt/beta-catenin signalling, we analysed the beta-catenin expression in response to activation of transcription factors that regulate adipogenesis. The results show an extensive down-regulation of nuclear beta-catenin that occurs during the first few days of differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and coincides with the induction of the adipogenic transcription factors, C/EBPbeta (CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein) and PPARgamma (peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor). To assess the role of each of these factors in this process, we conditionally overexpressed C/EBPbeta in Swiss mouse fibroblasts using the TET-off system. Abundant expression of C/EBPbeta alone had minimal effect on beta-catenin expression, whereas expression of C/EBPbeta, in the presence of dexamethasone, induced PPARgamma expression and caused a measurable decrease in beta-catenin. In addition, exposure of cells expressing both C/EBPbeta and PPARgamma to a potent PPARgamma ligand resulted in an even greater decrease in beta-catenin by mechanisms that involve the proteasome. Our studies also suggest a reciprocal relationship between PPARgamma activity and beta-catenin expression, since ectopic production of Wnt-1 in preadipocytes blocked the induction of PPARgamma gene expression. Moreover, by suppressing beta-catenin expression, ectopic expression of PPARgamma in Wnt-1-expressing preadipocytes rescued the block in adipogenesis after their exposure to the PPARgamma ligand, troglitazone.
Project description:Carbamazepine is a drug that is widely used in the treatment of epilepsy and bipolar disorder. The prevalence of obesity in patients treated with carbamazepine has been frequently reported. However, whether carbamazepine affects adipogenesis, one of the critical steps in the development of obesity, remains unclear. Here, we show that carbamazepine increased the expression levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein β (C/EBPβ), and fatty acid synthase (FASN) in 3T3-L1 cells. Notably, carbamazepine inhibited the expression levels of β-catenin, a negative regulator of adipogenesis, leading to enhanced adipogenesis. Conversely, β-catenin overexpression abolished the effect of carbamazepine on adipogenic gene expression. However, depletion of β-catenin further enhanced PPARγ expression. In addition, carbamazepine reduced β-catenin expression by lowering the levels of phospho-low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 6 (p-LRP6) and phospho-glycogen synthase kinase 3β (p-GSK3β) in Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Moreover, carbamazepine reduced Wnt mRNA expression and decreased the promoter activities of TCF, the target of β-catenin during adipogenesis. These results suggest that carbamazepine enhances adipogenesis by suppressing Wnt/β-catenin expression, indicating its potential effects on obesity-related metabolism.
Project description:Toosendanin (TSN), a triterpenoid extracted from Melia toosendan, has been reported to possess anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, and anti-arthritic activities. However, its anti-adipogenic effect remains unknown. Here, we found that TSN dose-dependently attenuated lipid accumulation in preadipocytes 3T3-L1 as evidenced by Oil Red O staining. TSN also significantly downregulated mRNA and protein levels of adipocytokines (adiponectin and leptin), CCAAT/enhancer binding proteins α (C/EBP-α), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPAR-γ), fatty acid synthase, and acetyl-CoA carboxylase in adipocytes. To understand the mechanism, we observed that TSN effectively activated Wnt/β-catenin pathway, in which TSN increased low density lipoprotein receptor related protein 6, disheveled 2, β-catenin, and cyclin D1 expression levels, while it inactivated glycogen synthase kinase 3β by enhancing its phosphorylation. Moreover, TSN reduced weight of gonadal white fat and serum triacylglycerol (TAG) content in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice. Interestingly, the in vivo studies also demonstrated that TSN promoted the expression of β-catenin, but accordingly repressed C/EBP-α and PPAR-γ expression in HFD-induced mice. Overall, TSN is capable of inhibiting the lipogenesis of adipocytes by activating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, suggesting potential application of TSN as a natural anti-obesity agent.
Project description:BackgroundThe cyclic adenosine-monophosphate (cAMP) pathway is generally recognized as one of the essential pathways for the adipose conversion of rodent preadipocytes in vitro. However, divergent effects of cAMP on adipocyte differentiation have also been reported. Since there is very little data on non-rodent preadipose cells, the aim of the present work was to analyze the effects of one classic activator (dbcAMP) of the cAMP pathway on the proliferation and differentiation of sheep preadipocytes grown.MethodWe retrospectively analyzed the regulation of dbcAMP on the proliferation and differentiation of sheep preadipocytes through observation on cell dynamic morphology, drawing on the growth curve, Oil Red O staining and induction of cell differentiation.Results1) During first 5 days of treatment, at lower levels of dbcAMP (1 nmol/L to 1 × 104 nmol/L), sheep cells were not increased, but at higher levels (1 × 105 nmol/l to 1 × 106 nmol/l), they were significantly increased (P < 0.05); 2) dbcAMP had the trendency to promote cell differentition, but it was not significant (P > 0.05); 3) treated for 4 days, dbcAMP at the levels of 1 nmol/L, 1 × 104 nmol/L and 1 × 106 nmol/L increased C20:0 abundance (P < 0.05), but other fatty acids had no significant changes; 4) treated for 4 days, expression of SCD mRNA had no significant change (P > 0.05), but expression of HSL mRNA increased at the level of 1 × 106 nmol/L dbcAMP (P < 0.05).ConclusionThis study demonstrated that the mechanisms by which of the cAMP pathway affects on preadipocytes between sheep and rodent animals was different.
Project description:BackgroundThe inflammatory microenvironment plays an essential role in bone healing after fracture. The signaling lymphocytic activation molecule family (SLAMF) members deeply participate in inflammatory response and make a vast difference.MethodsWe identified SLAMF8 in GEO datasets (GSE129165 and GSE176086) and co-expression analyses were performed to define the relationships between SLAMF8 and osteogenesis relative genes (RUNX2 and COL1A1). In vitro, we established SLAMF8 knockdown and overexpression mouse bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (mBMSCs) lines. qPCR, Western blot, ALP staining, ARS staining, Oil Red O staining and Immunofluorescence analyses were performed to investigate the effect of SLAMF8 in mBMSCs osteogenesis and adipogenesis. In vivo, mice femoral fracture model was performed to explore the function of SLAMF8.ResultsSLAMF8 knockdown significantly suppressed the expression of osteogenesis relative genes (RUNX2, SP7 and COL1A1), ALP activity and mineral deposition, but increased the expression of adipogenesis relative genes (PPARγ and C/EBPα). Additionally, SLAMF8 overexpression had the opposite effects. The role SLAMF8 played in mBMSCs osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation were through S100A6 and Wnt/β-Catenin signaling pathway. Moreover, SLAMF8 overexpression mBMSCs promoted the healing of femoral fracture.ConclusionsSLAMF8 promotes osteogenesis and inhibits adipogenesis of mBMSCs via S100A6 and Wnt/β-Catenin signaling pathway. SLAMF8 overexpression mBMSCs effectively accelerate the healing of femoral fracture in mice.
Project description:Precise control of Wnt signaling is necessary for immune system development. In this study, we detected severely impaired development of all lymphoid lineages in mice, resulting from an N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea-induced mutation in the limb region 1-like gene (Lmbr1l), which encodes a membrane-spanning protein with no previously described function in immunity. The interaction of LMBR1L with glycoprotein 78 (GP78) and ubiquitin-associated domain-containing protein 2 (UBAC2) attenuated Wnt signaling in lymphocytes by preventing the maturation of FZD6 and LRP6 through ubiquitination within the endoplasmic reticulum and by stabilizing "destruction complex" proteins. LMBR1L-deficient T cells exhibited hallmarks of Wnt/β-catenin activation and underwent apoptotic cell death in response to proliferative stimuli. LMBR1L has an essential function during lymphopoiesis and lymphoid activation, acting as a negative regulator of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.
Project description:Interleukin (IL)-33 is a key responder to intestinal injury and inflammation. In the colon, it is expressed by several cell populations, with the specific cellular source likely determining its role. The colonic epithelium expresses IL-33; however, the factors controlling its production and the specific epithelial lineage(s) expressing IL-33 are poorly understood. We recently reported that colonic epithelial IL-33 is induced by inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK3β), but the signaling pathway mediating this induction is unknown. Here we tested the role of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in regulating colonic epithelial IL-33 at homeostasis and in injury-induced colitis. Transcriptomic analysis shows that epithelial IL-33 localizes to stem and progenitor cells. Ligand activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling induced IL-33 in colonic organoid and cell cultures. Furthermore, small-molecule disruption of β-catenin interaction with cyclic AMP response element binding protein (CBP) prevented epithelial IL-33 induction. Antagonism of CBP/β-catenin signaling also prevented rapid epithelial IL-33 induction in dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-mediated colitis, and was associated with maintenance of crypt-expressed host defense peptides. Together, these findings show β-catenin-driven production of epithelial IL-33 is an early response to colonic injury that shapes the crypt base defense response and suggest an immunoregulatory role for the stem cell niche in tissue injury.
Project description:The Wnt/β-catenin signalling and autophagy pathways each play important roles during development, adult tissue homeostasis and tumorigenesis. Here we identify the Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway as a negative regulator of both basal and stress-induced autophagy. Manipulation of β-catenin expression levels in vitro and in vivo revealed that β-catenin suppresses autophagosome formation and directly represses p62/SQSTM1 (encoding the autophagy adaptor p62) via TCF4. Furthermore, we show that during nutrient deprivation β-catenin is selectively degraded via the formation of a β-catenin-LC3 complex, attenuating β-catenin/TCF-driven transcription and proliferation to favour adaptation during metabolic stress. Formation of the β-catenin-LC3 complex is mediated by a W/YXXI/L motif and LC3-interacting region (LIR) in β-catenin, which is required for interaction with LC3 and non-proteasomal degradation of β-catenin. Thus, Wnt/β-catenin represses autophagy and p62 expression, while β-catenin is itself targeted for autophagic clearance in autolysosomes upon autophagy induction. These findings reveal a regulatory feedback mechanism that place β-catenin at a key cellular integration point coordinating proliferation with autophagy, with implications for targeting these pathways for cancer therapy.
Project description:Levels of polyunsaturated phosphatidylcholine (PC) influence plasma membrane structure and function. Phosphatidylcholine (PC) is synthesized de novo in the Kennedy pathway and then undergoes extensive deacylation/reacylation remodeling via Lands' cycle (non-Kennedy pathway). The reacylation is catalyzed by lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase (LPCAT), which adds a polyunsaturated fatty acid at the sn-2 position. Four LPCAT isoforms have been described to date, among which we found LPCAT3 to be the major isoform in adipose tissue, but its exact role in adipogenesis is unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether LPCAT3 activity affects 3T3L1 cell adipogenic differentiation potential and its underline mechanism. Lentivirus-mediated LPCAT3 shRNA expression stably knocked down LPCAT3 in 3T3L1 preadipocytes and LPCAT3 deficiency dramatically reduced the levels of cellular polyunsaturated PCs. Importantly, we found that this deficiency activated the β-catenin dependent Wnt signaling pathway, which suppressed the expression of adipogenesis-related genes, thereby inhibiting 3T3L1 preadipocyte differentiation and lipid accumulation. Moreover, three different Wnt/β-catenin pathway inhibitors reversed the effect of LPCAP3 deficiency, suggesting that Wnt/β-catenin pathway activation is one of the causes for the observed phenotypes. To the best of our knowledge, we show here for the first time that PC remodeling is an important regulator of adipocyte differentiation.
Project description:Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) regulates adipocyte and osteoblast differentiation. However, the underlying mechanism should be investigated. This study revealed that SIRT1 acts as a crucial repressor of adipogenesis. RNA-interference-mediated SIRT1 knockdown or genetic ablation enhances adipogenic potential, whereas SIRT1 overexpression inhibits adipogenesis in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). SIRT1 also deacetylates the histones of sFRP1, sFRP2, and Dact1 promoters; inhibits the mRNA expression of sFRP1, sFRP2, and Dact1; activates Wnt signaling pathways; and suppresses adipogenesis. SIRT1 deacetylates β-catenin to promote its accumulation in the nucleus and thus induces the transcription of genes that block MSC adipogenesis. In mice, the partial absence of SIRT1 promotes the formation of white adipose tissues without affecting the development of the body of mice. Our study described the regulatory role of SIRT1 in Wnt signaling and proposed a regulatory mechanism of adipogenesis.