Enhanced in situ spatial proteomics by effective combination of MALDI imaging and LC-MS/MS.

Highly specialized cells are fundamental for proper functioning of complex organs. Variations in cell-type specific gene expression and protein composition have been linked to a variety of diseases. Investigation of the distinctive molecular makeup of these cells within tissues is therefore critical in biomedical research. Although several technologies have emerged as valuable tools to address this cellular heterogeneity, most workflows lack sufficient in situ resolution and are associated with high cost and extremely long analysis times. Here, we present a combination of experimental and computational approaches that allows a more comprehensive investigation of molecular heterogeneity within tissues than by either shotgun LC-MS/MS or MALDI imaging alone. We applied our pipeline on mouse brain, which contains a wide variety of cell types that not only perform unique functions but also exhibit varying sensitivities to insults. We explored the distinct neuronal populations within the hippocampus, a brain region crucial for learning and memory that is involved in various neurological disorders. As an example, we identified the groups of proteins distinguishing the neuronal populations of dentate gyrus (DG) and the cornu ammonis (CA) in the same brain section. Most of the annotated proteins matched the regional enrichment of their transcripts, thereby validating the method. As the method is highly reproducible, the identification of individual masses through the combination of MALDI-IMS and LC-MS/MS methods can be used for the much faster and more precise interpretation of MALDI-IMS measurements only. This greatly speeds up spatial proteomic analyses and allows the detection of local protein variations within the same population of cells. The method's general applicability has the potential to be used to investigate different biological conditions and tissues and a much higher throughput than other techniques making it a promising approach for clinical routine applications.

The Legacy of Parental Obesity: Mechanisms of Non-Genetic Transmission and Reversibility.

While a dramatic increase in obesity and related comorbidities is being witnessed, the underlying mechanisms of their spread remain unresolved. Epigenetic and other non-genetic mechanisms tend to be prominent candidates involved in the establishment and transmission of obesity and associated metabolic disorders to offspring. Here, we review recent findings addressing those candidates, in the context of maternal and paternal influences, and discuss the effectiveness of preventive measures.

Uncovering the molecular identity of cardiosphere-derived cells (CDCs) by single-cell RNA sequencing.

Cardiosphere-derived cells (CDCs) generated from human cardiac biopsies have been shown to have disease-modifying bioactivity in clinical trials. Paradoxically, CDCs' cellular origin in the heart remains elusive. We studied the molecular identity of CDCs using single-cell RNA sequencing (sc-RNAseq) in comparison to cardiac non-myocyte and non-hematopoietic cells (cardiac fibroblasts/CFs, smooth muscle cells/SMCs and endothelial cells/ECs). We identified CDCs as a distinct and mitochondria-rich cell type that shared biological similarities with non-myocyte cells but not with cardiac progenitor cells derived from human-induced pluripotent stem cells. CXCL6 emerged as a new specific marker for CDCs. By analysis of sc-RNAseq data from human right atrial biopsies in comparison with CDCs we uncovered transcriptomic similarities between CDCs and CFs. By direct comparison of infant and adult CDC sc-RNAseq data, infant CDCs revealed GO-terms associated with cardiac development. To analyze the beneficial effects of CDCs (pro-angiogenic, anti-fibrotic, anti-apoptotic), we performed functional in vitro assays with CDC-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs). CDC EVs augmented in vitro angiogenesis and did not stimulate scarring. They also reduced the expression of pro-apoptotic Bax in NRCMs. In conclusion, CDCs were disclosed as mitochondria-rich cells with unique properties but also with similarities to right atrial CFs. CDCs displayed highly proliferative, secretory and immunomodulatory properties, characteristics that can also be found in activated or inflammatory cell types. By special culture conditions, CDCs earn some bioactivities, including angiogenic potential, which might modify disease in certain disorders.

Disruption of paternal circadian rhythm affects metabolic health in male offspring via nongerm cell factors.

Circadian rhythm synchronizes each body function with the environment and regulates physiology. Disruption of normal circadian rhythm alters organismal physiology and increases disease risk. Recent epidemiological data and studies in model organisms have shown that maternal circadian disruption is important for offspring health and adult phenotypes. Less is known about the role of paternal circadian rhythm for offspring health. Here, we disrupted circadian rhythm in male mice by night-restricted feeding and showed that paternal circadian disruption at conception is important for offspring feeding behavior, metabolic health, and oscillatory transcription. Mechanistically, our data suggest that the effect of paternal circadian disruption is not transferred to the offspring via the germ cells but initiated by corticosterone-based parental communication at conception and programmed during in utero development through a state of fetal growth restriction. These findings indicate paternal circadian health at conception as a newly identified determinant of offspring phenotypes.

Orphan GPR116 mediates the insulin sensitizing effects of the hepatokine FNDC4 in adipose tissue.

The proper functional interaction between different tissues represents a key component in systemic metabolic control. Indeed, disruption of endocrine inter-tissue communication is a hallmark of severe metabolic dysfunction in obesity and diabetes. Here, we show that the FNDC4-GPR116, liver-white adipose tissue endocrine axis controls glucose homeostasis. We found that the liver primarily controlled the circulating levels of soluble FNDC4 (sFNDC4) and lowering of the hepatokine FNDC4 led to prediabetes in mice. Further, we identified the orphan adhesion GPCR GPR116 as a receptor of sFNDC4 in the white adipose tissue. Upon direct and high affinity binding of sFNDC4 to GPR116, sFNDC4 promoted insulin signaling and insulin-mediated glucose uptake in white adipocytes. Indeed, supplementation with FcsFNDC4 in prediabetic mice improved glucose tolerance and inflammatory markers in a white-adipocyte selective and GPR116-dependent manner. Of note, the sFNDC4-GPR116, liver-adipose tissue axis was dampened in (pre) diabetic human patients. Thus our findings will now allow for harnessing this endocrine circuit for alternative therapeutic strategies in obesity-related pre-diabetes.

Mouse mutant phenotyping at scale reveals novel genes controlling bone mineral density.

The genetic landscape of diseases associated with changes in bone mineral density (BMD), such as osteoporosis, is only partially understood. Here, we explored data from 3,823 mutant mouse strains for BMD, a measure that is frequently altered in a range of bone pathologies, including osteoporosis. A total of 200 genes were found to significantly affect BMD. This pool of BMD genes comprised 141 genes with previously unknown functions in bone biology and was complementary to pools derived from recent human studies. Nineteen of the 141 genes also caused skeletal abnormalities. Examination of the BMD genes in osteoclasts and osteoblasts underscored BMD pathways, including vesicle transport, in these cells and together with in silico bone turnover studies resulted in the prioritization of candidate genes for further investigation. Overall, the results add novel pathophysiological and molecular insight into bone health and disease.

PAX6 mutation alters circadian rhythm and ß cell function in mice without affecting glucose tolerance.

The transcription factor PAX6 is involved in the development of the eye and pancreatic islets, besides being associated with sleep-wake cycles. Here, we investigated a point mutation in the RED subdomain of PAX6, previously described in a human patient, to present a comprehensive study of a homozygous Pax6 mutation in the context of adult mammalian metabolism and circadian rhythm. Pax6Leca2 mice lack appropriate retinal structures for light perception and do not display normal daily rhythmic changes in energy metabolism. Despite ß cell dysfunction and decreased insulin secretion, mutant mice have normal glucose tolerance. This is associated with reduced hepatic glucose production possibly due to altered circadian variation in expression of clock and metabolic genes, thereby evading hyperglycemia. Hence, our findings show that while the RED subdomain is important for ß cell functional maturity, the Leca2 mutation impacts peripheral metabolism via loss of circadian rhythm, thus revealing pleiotropic effects of PAX6.

Increased estrogen to androgen ratio enhances immunoglobulin levels and impairs B cell function in male mice.

Sex steroids, such as estrogens and androgens, are important regulators of the humoral immune response. Studies in female mice have demonstrated that alteration of circulating estrogen concentration regulates antibody-mediated immunity. As males have normally little endogenous estrogen, we hypothesized that in males high estrogens and low androgens affect the immune system and enhance the allergic inflammatory response. Here, we studied transgenic male mice expressing human aromatase (AROM+). These animals have a high circulating estrogen to androgen ratio (E/A), causing female traits such as gynecomastia. We found that AROM+ male mice had significantly higher plasma immunoglobulin levels, particularly IgE. Flow cytometry analyses of splenocytes revealed changes in mature/immature B cell ratio together with a transcriptional upregulation of the Igh locus. Furthermore, higher proliferation rate and increased IgE synthesis after IgE class-switching was found. Subsequently, we utilized an ovalbumin airway challenge model to test the allergic response in AROM+ male mice. In line with above observations, an increase in IgE levels was measured, albeit no impact on immune cell infiltration into the lungs was detected. Together, our findings suggest that high circulating E/A in males significantly alters B cell function without any significant enhancement in allergic inflammation.

The aging mouse microbiome has obesogenic characteristics.

BACKGROUND: During aging, there is a physiological decline, an increase of morbidity and mortality, and a natural change in the gut microbiome. In this study, we investigated the influence of the gut microbiome on different metabolic parameters in adult and aged mice. METHODS: Fecal and blood samples from adult (n = 42, 100-300 days) and aging (n = 32, 550-750 days) mice were collected. Microbiome analysis was done using QIIME2. Mouse weight and body composition were measured using NMR, and insulin and leptin levels in the blood were measured with Mouse Adipokine Magnetic Bead Panel kit. Fecal microbiota transplantation experiments from adult and aged mice into young germ-free mice were carried out in order to examine the effect of the gut microbiome of adult and aging mice on weight, body composition, insulin, and leptin. RESULTS: We demonstrate that the microbiomes from adult and aged mice are distinguishable. We also report changes in metabolic parameters as we observed significantly higher weight and fat mass and low lean mass in aged compared to adult mice along with high insulin and leptin levels in the blood. The transplanted gut microbiome from aged mice transferred part of the phenotypes seen in aged mice. Fat body mass and insulin levels were higher in the mice who received feces from aged mice than mice receiving feces from adult mice. In addition, they consumed more food and had a higher respiratory quotient compared to mice receiving adult feces. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that aged mice have a gut microbiota with obesogenic characteristics. In addition, the gut bacterial population itself is sufficient to induce some of the manifestations of obesity.

iTAG-RNA Isolates Cell-Specific Transcriptional Responses to Environmental Stimuli and Identifies an RNA-Based Endocrine Axis.

Biofluids contain various circulating cell-free RNAs (ccfRNAs). The composition of these ccfRNAs varies among biofluids. They constitute tantalizing biomarker candidates for several pathologies and have been demonstrated to be mediators of cellular communication. Little is known about their function in physiological and developmental settings, and most works are limited to in vitro studies. Here, we develop iTAG-RNA, a method for the unbiased tagging of RNA transcripts in mice in vivo. We use iTAG-RNA to isolate hepatocytes and kidney proximal epithelial cell-specific transcriptional responses to a dietary challenge without interfering with the tissue architecture and to identify multiple hepatocyte-secreted ccfRNAs in plasma. We also identify specific transfer of liver-derived ccfRNAs to adipose tissue and skeletal muscle, where they likely constitute a buffering system to maintain lipid homeostasis under acute high-fat-diet feeding. Our findings directly demonstrate in vivo transfer of RNAs between tissues and highlight its implications for endocrine signaling and homeostasis.

Tick-tock hedgehog-mutual crosstalk with liver circadian clock promotes liver steatosis.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The mammalian circadian clock controls various aspects of liver metabolism and integrates nutritional signals. Recently, we described Hedgehog (Hh) signaling as a novel regulator of liver lipid metabolism. Herein, we investigated crosstalk between hepatic Hh signaling and circadian rhythm. METHODS: Diurnal rhythms of Hh signaling were investigated in liver and hepatocytes from mice with ablation of Smoothened (SAC-KO) and crossbreeds with PER2::LUC reporter mice. By using genome-wide screening, qPCR, immunostaining, ELISA and RNAi experiments in vitro we identified relevant transcriptional regulatory steps. Shotgun lipidomics and metabolic cages were used for analysis of metabolic alterations and behavior. RESULTS: Hh signaling showed diurnal oscillations in liver and hepatocytes in vitro. Correspondingly, the level of Indian Hh, oscillated in serum. Depletion of the clock gene Bmal1 in hepatocytes resulted in significant alterations in the expression of Hh genes. Conversely, SAC-KO mice showed altered expression of clock genes, confirmed by RNAi against Gli1 and Gli3. Genome-wide screening revealed that SAC-KO hepatocytes showed time-dependent alterations in various genes, particularly those associated with lipid metabolism. The clock/hedgehog module further plays a role in rhythmicity of steatosis, and in the response of the liver to a high-fat diet or to differently timed starvation. CONCLUSIONS: For the first time, Hh signaling in hepatocytes was found to be time-of-day dependent and to feed back on the circadian clock. Our findings suggest an integrative role of Hh signaling, mediated mainly by GLI factors, in maintaining homeostasis of hepatic lipid metabolism by balancing the circadian clock. LAY SUMMARY: The results of our investigation show for the first time that the Hh signaling in hepatocytes is time-of-day dependent, leading to differences not only in transcript levels but also in the amount of Hh ligands in peripheral blood. Conversely, Hh signaling is able to feed back to the circadian clock.

The Polycomb-Dependent Epigenome Controls ß Cell Dysfunction, Dedifferentiation, and Diabetes.

To date, it remains largely unclear to what extent chromatin machinery contributes to the susceptibility and progression of complex diseases. Here, we combine deep epigenome mapping with single-cell transcriptomics to mine for evidence of chromatin dysregulation in type 2 diabetes. We find two chromatin-state signatures that track ß cell dysfunction in mice and humans: ectopic activation of bivalent Polycomb-silenced domains and loss of expression at an epigenomically unique class of lineage-defining genes. ß cell-specific Polycomb (Eed/PRC2) loss of function in mice triggers diabetes-mimicking transcriptional signatures and highly penetrant, hyperglycemia-independent dedifferentiation, indicating that PRC2 dysregulation contributes to disease. The work provides novel resources for exploring ß cell transcriptional regulation and identifies PRC2 as necessary for long-term maintenance of ß cell identity. Importantly, the data suggest a two-hit (chromatin and hyperglycemia) model for loss of ß cell identity in diabetes.

MacroH2A1.1 regulates mitochondrial respiration by limiting nuclear NAD+ consumption.

Histone variants are structural components of eukaryotic chromatin that can replace replication-coupled histones in the nucleosome. The histone variant macroH2A1.1 contains a macrodomain capable of binding NAD+-derived metabolites. Here we report that macroH2A1.1 is rapidly induced during myogenic differentiation through a switch in alternative splicing, and that myotubes that lack macroH2A1.1 have a defect in mitochondrial respiratory capacity. We found that the metabolite-binding macrodomain was essential for sustained optimal mitochondrial function but dispensable for gene regulation. Through direct binding, macroH2A1.1 inhibits basal poly-ADP ribose polymerase 1 (PARP-1) activity and thus reduces nuclear NAD+ consumption. The resultant accumulation of the NAD+ precursor NMN allows for maintenance of mitochondrial NAD+ pools that are critical for respiration. Our data indicate that macroH2A1.1-containing chromatin regulates mitochondrial respiration by limiting nuclear NAD+ consumption and establishing a buffer of NAD+ precursors in differentiated cells.

Trim28 Haploinsufficiency Triggers Bi-stable Epigenetic Obesity.

More than one-half billion people are obese, and despite progress in genetic research, much of the heritability of obesity remains enigmatic. Here, we identify a Trim28-dependent network capable of triggering obesity in a non-Mendelian, "on/off" manner. Trim28(+/D9) mutant mice exhibit a bi-modal body-weight distribution, with isogenic animals randomly emerging as either normal or obese and few intermediates. We find that the obese-"on" state is characterized by reduced expression of an imprinted gene network including Nnat, Peg3, Cdkn1c, and Plagl1 and that independent targeting of these alleles recapitulates the stochastic bi-stable disease phenotype. Adipose tissue transcriptome analyses in children indicate that humans too cluster into distinct sub-populations, stratifying according to Trim28 expression, transcriptome organization, and obesity-associated imprinted gene dysregulation. These data provide evidence of discrete polyphenism in mouse and man and thus carry important implications for complex trait genetics, evolution, and medicine.

Determination and Analysis of Cellular Metabolic Changes by Noncanonical Hedgehog Signaling.

Hedgehog is a morphogen essential for body patterning and proper embryonic development from flies to humans. Thought quiescent in adults, its inappropriate reactivation is associated with many disparate genetic and sporadic types of human cancers. Recent findings have demonstrated a key, yet unexpected, role of the Hedgehog signaling pathway in metabolic control. Here, we describe a panel of methods to determine and analyze cellular and organismal metabolic changes downstream of the Hedgehog signaling pathway.

Canonical and non-canonical Hedgehog signalling and the control of metabolism.

Obesity and diabetes represent key healthcare challenges of our day, affecting upwards of one billion people worldwide. These individuals are at higher risk for cancer, stroke, blindness, heart and cardiovascular disease, and to date, have no effective long-term treatment options available. Recent and accumulating evidence has implicated the developmental morphogen Hedgehog and its downstream signalling in metabolic control. Generally thought to be quiescent in adults, Hedgehog is associated with several human cancers, and as such, has already emerged as a therapeutic target in oncology. Here, we attempt to give a comprehensive overview of the key signalling events associated with both canonical and non-canonical Hedgehog signalling, and highlight the increasingly complex regulatory modalities that appear to link Hedgehog and control metabolism. We highlight these key findings and discuss their impact for therapeutic development, cancer and metabolic disease.

Bridging epigenomics and complex disease: the basics.

The DNA sequence largely defines gene expression and phenotype. However, it is becoming increasingly clear that an additional chromatin-based regulatory network imparts both stability and plasticity to genome output, modifying phenotype independently of the genetic blueprint. Indeed, alterations in this "epigenetic" control layer underlie, at least in part, the reason for monozygotic twins being discordant for disease. Functionally, this regulatory layer comprises post-translational modifications of DNA and histones, as well as small and large noncoding RNAs. Together these regulate gene expression by changing chromatin organization and DNA accessibility. Successive technological advances over the past decade have enabled researchers to map the chromatin state with increasing accuracy and comprehensiveness, catapulting genetic research into a genome-wide era. Here, aiming particularly at the genomics/epigenomics newcomer, we review the epigenetic basis that has helped drive the technological shift and how this progress is shaping our understanding of complex disease.

Hedgehog partial agonism drives Warburg-like metabolism in muscle and brown fat.

Diabetes, obesity, and cancer affect upward of 15% of the world's population. Interestingly, all three diseases juxtapose dysregulated intracellular signaling with altered metabolic state. Exactly which genetic factors define stable metabolic set points in vivo remains poorly understood. Here, we show that hedgehog signaling rewires cellular metabolism. We identify a cilium-dependent Smo-Ca(2+)-Ampk axis that triggers rapid Warburg-like metabolic reprogramming within minutes of activation and is required for proper metabolic selectivity and flexibility. We show that Smo modulators can uncouple the Smo-Ampk axis from canonical signaling and identify cyclopamine as one of a new class of "selective partial agonists," capable of concomitant inhibition of canonical and activation of noncanonical hedgehog signaling. Intriguingly, activation of the Smo-Ampk axis in vivo drives robust insulin-independent glucose uptake in muscle and brown adipose tissue. These data identify multiple noncanonical endpoints that are pivotal for rational design of hedgehog modulators and provide a new therapeutic avenue for obesity and diabetes.