Lack of TRPV1 Channel Modulates Mouse Gene Expression and Liver Proteome with Glucose Metabolism Changes.

To investigate the role of the transient receptor potential channel vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) in hepatic glucose metabolism, we analyzed genes related to the clock system and glucose/lipid metabolism and performed glycogen measurements at ZT8 and ZT20 in the liver of C57Bl/6J (WT) and Trpv1 KO mice. To identify molecular clues associated with metabolic changes, we performed proteomics analysis at ZT8. Liver from Trpv1 KO mice exhibited reduced Per1 expression and increased Pparα, Pparγ, Glut2, G6pc1 (G6pase), Pck1 (Pepck), Akt, and Gsk3b expression at ZT8. Liver from Trpv1 KO mice also showed reduced glycogen storage at ZT8 but not at ZT20 and significant proteomics changes consistent with enhanced glycogenolysis, as well as increased gluconeogenesis and inflammatory features. The network propagation approach evidenced that the TRPV1 channel is an intrinsic component of the glucagon signaling pathway, and its loss seems to be associated with increased gluconeogenesis through PKA signaling. In this sense, the differentially identified kinases and phosphatases in WT and Trpv1 KO liver proteomes show that the PP2A phosphatase complex and PKA may be major players in glycogenolysis in Trpv1 KO mice.

TRPV1 participates in the activation of clock molecular machinery in the brown adipose tissue in response to light-dark cycle.

Transient receptor potential (TRPs) channels are involved in thermogenesis, and temperature and energy balance control. Mice lacking TrpV1 become more obese and develop insulin resistance when fed with high fat diet; however, a relationship between metabolic disorders, TRP channels, and clock genes is still unknown. Based on this, we hypothesized that TRPV1 channels would be involved in the synchronization of clock genes in the peripheral tissues. To address this question, we used wild type (WT) and TrpV1 knockout (KO) mice kept in constant darkness (DD) or in light-dark cycle (LD). In WT mouse brown adipose tissue (BAT), TrpV1 oscillated with higher expression at scotophase, Per1 and Per2 showed the same profile, and Bmal1 transcript only oscillated in DD. Interestingly, the oscillatory profile of these clock genes was abolished in TrpV1 KO mice. WT mouse Ucp1 was upregulated in LD as compared to DD, showing no temporal variation; mice lacking TrpV1 showed Ucp1 oscillation with a peak at the photophase. Remarkably, TrpV1 KO mice displayed less total activity than WT only when submitted to LD. We provide evidence that TRPV1 is an important modulator of BAT clock gene oscillations. Therefore, temperature and/or light-dependent regulation of TRPV1 activity might provide novel pharmacological approaches to treat metabolic disorders.

Regulation of melanopsins and Per1 by α -MSH and melatonin in photosensitive Xenopus laevis melanophores.

α-MSH and light exert a dispersing effect on pigment granules of Xenopus laevis melanophores; however, the intracellular signaling pathways are different. Melatonin, a hormone that functions as an internal signal of darkness for the organism, has opposite effects, aggregating the melanin granules. Because light functions as an important synchronizing signal for circadian rhythms, we further investigated the effects of both hormones on genes related to the circadian system, namely, Per1 (one of the clock genes) and the melanopsins, Opn4x and Opn4m (photopigments). Per1 showed temporal oscillations, regardless of the presence of melatonin or α-MSH, which slightly inhibited its expression. Melatonin effects on melanopsins depend on the time of application: if applied in the photophase it dramatically decreased Opn4x and Opn4m expressions, and abolished their temporal oscillations, opposite to α-MSH, which increased the melanopsins' expressions. Our results demonstrate that unlike what has been reported for other peripheral clocks and cultured cells, medium changes or hormones do not play a major role in synchronizing the Xenopus melanophore population. This difference is probably due to the fact that X. laevis melanophores possess functional photopigments (melanopsins) that enable these cells to primarily respond to light, which triggers melanin dispersion and modulates gene expression.