PTEN regulates adipose progenitor cell growth, differentiation, and replicative aging.

The tumor suppressor phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) negatively regulates the insulin signaling pathway. Germline PTEN pathogenic variants cause PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome (PHTS), associated with lipoma development in children. Adipose progenitor cells (APCs) lose their capacity to differentiate into adipocytes during continuous culture, whereas APCs from lipomas of patients with PHTS retain their adipogenic potential over a prolonged period. It remains unclear which mechanisms trigger this aberrant adipose tissue growth. To investigate the role of PTEN in adipose tissue development, we performed functional assays and RNA-Seq of control and PTEN knockdown APCs. Reduction of PTEN levels using siRNA or CRISPR led to enhanced proliferation and differentiation of APCs. Forkhead box protein O1 (FOXO1) transcriptional activity is known to be regulated by insulin signaling, and FOXO1 was downregulated at the mRNA level while its inactivation through phosphorylation increased. FOXO1 phosphorylation initiates the expression of the lipogenesis-activating transcription factor sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP1). SREBP1 levels were higher after PTEN knockdown and may account for the observed enhanced adipogenesis. To validate this, we overexpressed constitutively active FOXO1 in PTEN CRISPR cells and found reduced adipogenesis, accompanied by SREBP1 downregulation. We observed that PTEN CRISPR cells showed less senescence compared with controls and the senescence marker CDKN1A (p21) was downregulated in PTEN knockdown cells. Cellular senescence was the most significantly enriched pathway found in RNA-Seq of PTEN knockdown versus control cells. These results provide evidence that PTEN is involved in the regulation of APC proliferation, differentiation, and senescence, thereby contributing to aberrant adipose tissue growth in patients with PHTS.

Small integral membrane protein 10 like 1 downregulation enhances differentiation of adipose progenitor cells.

Small integral membrane protein 10 like 1 (SMIM10L1) was identified by RNA sequencing as the most significantly downregulated gene in Phosphatase and Tensin Homologue (PTEN) knockdown adipose progenitor cells (APCs). PTEN is a tumor suppressor that antagonizes the growth promoting Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT/mechanistic Target of Rapamycin (mTOR) cascade. Diseases caused by germline pathogenic variants in PTEN are summarized as PTEN Hamartoma Tumor Syndrome (PHTS). This overgrowth syndrome is associated with lipoma formation, especially in pediatric patients. The mechanisms underlying this adipose tissue dysfunction remain elusive. We observed that SMIM10L1 downregulation in APCs led to an enhanced adipocyte differentiation in two- and three-dimensional cell culture and increased expression of adipogenesis markers. Furthermore, SMIM10L1 knockdown cells showed a decreased expression of PTEN, pointing to a mutual crosstalk between PTEN and SMIM10L1. In line with these observations, SMIM10L1 knockdown cells showed increased activation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling and concomitantly increased expression of the adipogenic transcription factor SREBP1. We computationally predicted an α-helical structure and membrane association of SMIM10L1. These results support a specific role for SMIM10L1 in regulating adipogenesis, potentially by increasing PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling, which might be conducive to lipoma formation in pediatric patients with PHTS.

Phospholipid Scramblase 4 (PLSCR4) Regulates Adipocyte Differentiation via PIP3-Mediated AKT Activation.

Phospholipid scramblase 4 (PLSCR4) is a member of a conserved enzyme family with high relevance for the remodeling of phospholipid distribution in the plasma membrane and the regulation of cellular signaling. While PLSCR1 and -3 are involved in the regulation of adipose-tissue expansion, the role of PLSCR4 is so far unknown. PLSCR4 is significantly downregulated in an adipose-progenitor-cell model of deficiency for phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN). PTEN acts as a tumor suppressor and antagonist of the growth and survival signaling phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT cascade by dephosphorylating phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-trisphosphate (PIP3). Patients with PTEN germline deletion frequently develop lipomas. The underlying mechanism for this aberrant adipose-tissue growth is incompletely understood. PLSCR4 is most highly expressed in human adipose tissue, compared with other phospholipid scramblases, suggesting a specific role of PLSCR4 in adipose-tissue biology. In cell and mouse models of lipid accumulation, we found PLSCR4 to be downregulated. We observed increased adipogenesis in PLSCR4-knockdown adipose progenitor cells, while PLSCR4 overexpression attenuated lipid accumulation. PLSCR4 knockdown was associated with increased PIP3 levels and the activation of AKT. Our results indicated that PLSCR4 is a regulator of PI3K/AKT signaling and adipogenesis and may play a role in PTEN-associated adipose-tissue overgrowth and lipoma formation.

Pten knockout in mouse preosteoblasts leads to changes in bone turnover and strength.

Bone development and remodeling are controlled by the phosphoinositide-3-kinase (Pi3k) signaling pathway. We investigated the effects of downregulation of phosphatase and tensin homolog (Pten), a negative regulator of Pi3k signaling, in a mouse model of Pten deficiency in preosteoblasts. We aimed to identify mechanisms that are involved in the regulation of bone turnover and are linked to bone disorders. Femora, tibiae, and bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) isolated from mice with a conditional deletion of Pten (Pten cKO) in Osterix/Sp7-expressing osteoprogenitor cells were compared to Cre-negative controls. Bone phenotyping was performed by µCT measurements, bone histomorphometry, quantification of bone turnover markers CTX and procollagen type 1 N propeptide (P1NP), and three-point bending test. Proliferation of BMSCs was measured by counting nuclei and Ki-67-stained cells. In vitro, osteogenic differentiation capacity was determined by ALP staining, as well as by detecting gene expression of osteogenic markers. BMSCs from Pten cKO mice were functionally different from control BMSCs. Osteogenic markers were increased in BMSCs derived from Pten cKO mice, while Pten protein expression was lower and Akt phosphorylation was increased. We detected a higher trabecular bone volume and an altered cortical bone morphology in Pten cKO bones with a progressive decrease in bone and tissue mineral density. Pten cKO bones displayed fewer osteoclasts and more osteoblasts (P = .00095) per trabecular bone surface and a higher trabecular bone formation rate. Biomechanical analysis revealed a significantly higher bone strength (P = .00012 for males) and elasticity of Pten cKO femora. On the cellular level, both proliferation and osteogenic differentiation capacity of Pten cKO BMSCs were significantly increased compared to controls. Our findings suggest that Pten knockout in osteoprogenitor cells increases bone stability and elasticity by increasing trabecular bone mass and leads to increased proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs.