The non-nutritive sweetener sucralose increases ß-arrestin signaling at the constitutively active orphan G protein-coupled receptor GPR52.

Non-nutritive sweeteners are popular food additives owing to their low caloric density and powerful sweetness relative to natural sugars. Their lack of metabolism contributes to evidence proclaiming their safety, yet several studies contradict this, demonstrating that sweeteners activate sweet taste G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and elicit deleterious metabolic functions through unknown mechanisms. We hypothesize that activation of GPCRs, particularly orphan receptors due to their abundance in metabolically active tissues, contributes to the biological activity of sweeteners. We quantified the response of 64 orphans to the sweeteners saccharin and sucralose using a high-throughput ß-arrestin-2 recruitment assay (PRESTO-Tango). GPR52 was the sole receptor that significantly responded to a mixture of sucralose and saccharin. Subsequent experiments revealed sucralose as the activating sweetener. Activation of GPR52 was concentration-dependent, with an EC50 of 0.23 mmol/L and an Emax of 3.43 ± 0.24 fold change at 4 mmol/L. GPR52 constitutively activates CRE pathways; however, we show that sucralose-induced activation of GPR52 does not further activate this pathway. Identification of this novel sucralose-GPCR interaction supports the notion that sucralose elicits off-target signaling through the activation of GPR52, calling into question sucralose's assumed lack of bioactivity.

High-throughput Functional Genomics Identifies Regulators of Primary Human Beta Cell Proliferation.

The expansion of cells for regenerative therapy will require the genetic dissection of complex regulatory mechanisms governing the proliferation of non-transformed human cells. Here, we report the development of a high-throughput RNAi screening strategy specifically for use in primary cells and demonstrate that silencing the cell cycle-dependent kinase inhibitors CDKN2C/p18 or CDKN1A/p21 facilitates cell cycle entry of quiescent adult human pancreatic beta cells. This work identifies p18 and p21 as novel targets for promoting proliferation of human beta cells and demonstrates the promise of functional genetic screens for dissecting therapeutically relevant state changes in primary human cells.

Chemerin neutralization blocks hematopoietic stem cell osteoclastogenesis.

Bone is a dynamic tissue that is continuously remodeled through the action of formative osteoblasts and resorptive osteoclasts. Chemerin is a secreted protein that activates chemokine-like receptor 1 (CMKLR1), a G protein-coupled receptor expressed by various cell types including adipocytes, osteoblasts, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), and macrophages. Previously, we identified chemerin as a regulator of adipocyte and osteoblast differentiation of MSCs. Herein we examined the role of chemerin in Lin(-) Sca1(+) c-kit(+) CD34(+) hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) osteoclastogenesis. We found that HSCs expressed both chemerin and CMKLR1 mRNA and secreted chemerin protein into the extracellular media. Neutralization of chemerin with a blocking antibody beginning prior to inducing osteoclast differentiation resulted in a near complete loss of osteoclastogenesis as evidenced by reduced marker gene expression and matrix resorption. This effect was conserved in an independent model of RAW264.7 cell osteoclastogenesis. Reintroduction of chemerin by reversal of neutralization rescued osteoclast differentiation indicating that chemerin signaling is essential to permit HSC differentiation into osteoclasts but following blockade the cells maintained the potential to differentiate into osteoclasts. Mechanistically, neutralization of chemerin blunted the early receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand induction of nuclear factor of activated T-cells 2 (NFAT2), Fos, Itgb3, and Src associated with preosteoclast formation. Consistent with a central role for NFAT2, induction or activation of NFAT2 by forced expression or stimulation of intracellular calcium release rescued the impairment of HSC osteoclastogenesis caused by chemerin neutralization. Taken together, these data support a novel autocrine/paracrine role for chemerin in regulating osteoclast differentiation of HSCs through modulating intracellular calcium and NFAT2 expression/activation.

Chemerin connects fat to arterial contraction.

OBJECTIVE: Obesity and hypertension are comorbid in epidemic proportion, yet their biological connection is largely a mystery. The peptide chemerin is a candidate for connecting fat deposits around the blood vessel (perivascular adipose tissue) to arterial contraction. We presently tested the hypothesis that chemerin is expressed in perivascular adipose tissue and is vasoactive, supporting the existence of a chemerin axis in the vasculature. APPROACH AND RESULTS: Real-time polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemistry, and Western analyses supported the synthesis and expression of chemerin in perivascular adipose tissue, whereas the primary chemerin receptor ChemR23 was expressed both in the tunica media and endothelial layer. The ChemR23 agonist chemerin-9 caused receptor, concentration-dependent contraction in the isolated rat thoracic aorta, superior mesenteric artery, and mesenteric resistance artery, and contraction was significantly amplified (more than 100%) when nitric oxide synthase was inhibited and the endothelial cell mechanically removed or tone was placed on the arteries. The novel ChemR23 antagonist CCX832 inhibited phenylephrine-induced and prostaglandin F2α-induced contraction (+perivascular adipose tissue), suggesting that endogenous chemerin contributes to contraction. Arteries from animals with dysfunctional endothelium (obese or hypertensive) demonstrated a pronounced contraction to chemerin-9. Finally, mesenteric arteries from obese humans demonstrate amplified contraction to chemerin-9. CONCLUSIONS: These data support a new role for chemerin as an endogenous vasoconstrictor that operates through a receptor typically attributed to function only in immune cells.

Chemerin, a novel peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) target gene that promotes mesenchymal stem cell adipogenesis.

Chemerin is an adipocyte-secreted protein that regulates adipogenesis and the metabolic function of mature adipocytes via activation of chemokine-like receptor 1 (CMKLR1). Herein we report the interaction of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) and chemerin in the context of adipogenesis. Knockdown of chemerin or CMKLR1 expression or antibody neutralization of secreted chemerin protein arrested adipogenic clonal expansion of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) by inducing a loss of G(2)/M cyclins (cyclin A2/B2) but not the G(1)/S cyclin D2. Forced expression of PPARγ in BMSCs did not completely rescue this loss of clonal expansion and adipogenesis following chemerin or CMKLR1 knockdown. However, forced expression and/or activation of PPARγ in BMSCs as well as non-adipogenic cell types such as NIH-3T3 embryonic fibroblasts and MCA38 colon carcinoma cells significantly induced chemerin expression and secretion. Sequence analysis revealed a putative PPARγ response element (PPRE) sequence within the chemerin promoter. This PPRE was able to confer PPARγ responsiveness on a heterologous promoter, and mutation of this sequence abolished activation of the chemerin promoter by PPARγ. Chromatin immunoprecipitation confirmed the direct association of PPARγ with this PPRE. Treatment of mice with rosiglitazone elevated chemerin mRNA levels in adipose tissue and bone marrow coincident with an increase in circulating chemerin levels. Together, these findings support a fundamental role for chemerin/CMKLR1 signaling in clonal expansion during adipocyte differentiation as well as a role for PPARγ in regulating chemerin expression.

Multiparametric cytotoxicity assessment: the effect of gold nanoparticle ligand functionalization on SKOV3 ovarian carcinoma cell death.

Gold nanoparticles (AuNP) are promising anti-cancer agents because of their modifiable properties and high biocompatibility. This study used multiple parallel analyses to investigate the cytotoxic properties of 5 nm AuNP conjugated to four different ligands with distinct surface chemistry: polyethylene glycol (PEG), trimethylammonium bromide (TMAB), 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP), and carboxyl (COOH). We used a range of biochemical and high-content microscopy methods to evaluate the metabolic function, oxidative stress, cell health, cell viability, and cell morphology in SKOV3 ovarian cancer cells. Each AuNP displayed a distinct cytotoxicity profile. All AuNP species assessed exhibited signs of dose-dependent cytotoxicity when morphology, clonogenic survival, lysosomal uptake, or cell number were measured as the marker of toxicity. All particles except for AuNP-COOH increased SKOV3 apoptosis. In contrast, AuNP-TMAB was the only particle that did not alter the metabolic function or induce significant signs of oxidative stress. These results demonstrate that AuNP surface chemistry impacts the magnitude and mechanism of SKOV3 cell death. Together, these findings reinforce the important role for multiparametric cytotoxicity characterization when considering the utility of novel particles and surface chemistries.

Silencing the G-protein coupled receptor 3-salt inducible kinase 2 pathway promotes human ß cell proliferation.

Loss of pancreatic ß cells is the hallmark of type 1 diabetes, for which provision of insulin is the standard of care. While regenerative and stem cell therapies hold the promise of generating single-source or host-matched tissue to obviate immune-mediated complications, these will still require surgical intervention and immunosuppression. Here we report the development of a high-throughput RNAi screening approach to identify upstream pathways that regulate adult human ß cell quiescence and demonstrate in a screen of the GPCRome that silencing G-protein coupled receptor 3 (GPR3) leads to human pancreatic ß cell proliferation. Loss of GPR3 leads to activation of Salt Inducible Kinase 2 (SIK2), which is necessary and sufficient to drive cell cycle entry, increase ß cell mass, and enhance insulin secretion in mice. Taken together, our data show that targeting the GPR3-SIK2 pathway is a potential strategy to stimulate the regeneration of ß cells.

Positive allosteric modulation of the type 1 cannabinoid receptor reduces the signs and symptoms of Huntington's disease in the R6/2 mouse model.

Huntington's disease (HD) is an inherited progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by motor, cognitive, and behavioural changes. One of the earliest changes to occur in HD is a reduction in cannabinoid 1 receptor (CB1) levels in the striatum, which is strongly correlated with HD pathogenesis. CB1 positive allosteric modulators (PAM) enhance receptor affinity for, and efficacy of activation by, orthosteric ligands, including the endocannabinoids anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol. The goal of this study was to determine whether the recently characterized CB1 allosteric modulators GAT211 (racemic), GAT228 (R-enantiomer), and GAT229 (S-enantiomer), affected the signs and symptoms of HD. GAT211, GAT228, and GAT229 were evaluated in normal and HD cell models, and in a transgenic mouse model of HD (7-week-old male R6/2 mice, 10 mg/kg/d, 21 d, i.p.). GAT229 was a CB1 PAM that improved cell viability in HD cells and improved motor coordination, delayed symptom onset, and normalized gene expression in R6/2 HD mice. GAT228 was an allosteric agonist that did not enhance endocannabinoid signaling or change symptom progression in R6/2 mice. GAT211 displayed intermediate effects between its enantiomers. The compounds used here are not drugs, but probe compounds used to determine the potential utility of CB1 PAMs in HD. Changes in gene expression, and not protein, were quantified in R6/2 HD mice because HD pathogenesis is associated with dysregulation of mRNA levels. The data presented here provide the first proof of principle for the use of CB1 PAMs to treat the signs and symptoms of HD.

AMPK and Friends: Central Regulators of ß Cell Biology.

If left unchecked, prediabetic hyperglycemia can progress to diabetes and often life-threatening attendant secondary complications. Central to the process of glucose homeostasis are pancreatic ß cells, which sense elevations in plasma glucose and additional dietary components and respond by releasing the appropriate quantity of insulin, ensuring the arrest of hepatic glucose output and glucose uptake in peripheral tissues. Given that ß cell failure is associated with the transition from prediabetes to diabetes, improved ß cell function ('compensation') has a central role in preventing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Recent data have shown that both insulin secretion and ß cell mass dynamics are regulated by the liver kinase B1-AMP-activated kinase (LKB1-AMPK) pathway and related kinases of the AMPK family; thus, an improved understanding of the biological roles of AMPK in the ß cell is now of considerable interest.

Glycoprotein 2 is a specific cell surface marker of human pancreatic progenitors.

PDX1+/NKX6-1+ pancreatic progenitors (PPs) give rise to endocrine cells both in vitro and in vivo. This cell population can be successfully differentiated from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) and hold the potential to generate an unlimited supply of ß cells for diabetes treatment. However, the efficiency of PP generation in vitro is highly variable, negatively impacting reproducibility and validation of in vitro and in vivo studies, and consequently, translation to the clinic. Here, we report the use of a proteomics approach to phenotypically characterize hPSC-derived PPs and distinguish these cells from non-PP populations during differentiation. Our analysis identifies the pancreatic secretory granule membrane major glycoprotein 2 (GP2) as a PP-specific cell surface marker. Remarkably, GP2 is co-expressed with NKX6-1 and PTF1A in human developing pancreata, indicating that it marks the multipotent pancreatic progenitors in vivo. Finally, we show that isolated hPSC-derived GP2+ cells generate ß-like cells (C-PEPTIDE+/NKX6-1+) more efficiently compared to GP2- and unsorted populations, underlining the potential therapeutic applications of GP2.Pancreatic progenitors (PPs) can be derived from human pluripotent stem cells in vitro but efficiency of differentiation varies, making it hard to sort for insulin-producing cells. Here, the authors use a proteomic approach to identify the secretory granule membrane glycoprotein 2 as a marker for PDX1+/NKX6-1+ PPs.

CMKLR1 and GPR1 mediate chemerin signaling through the RhoA/ROCK pathway.

Chemerin is an adipose-derived hormone that regulates immunity and energy homesotasis. To date, all known chemerin functions have been attributed to activation of the G protein-coupled receptor chemokine-like receptor-1 (CMKLR1). Chemerin is also the only known ligand for a second receptor, G protein-coupled receptor-1 (GPR1), whose signaling and function remains unknown. This study investigated the in vitro signal transduction mechanisms of CMKLR1 and GPR1 using a panel of luciferase-reporters and pathway-specific inhibitors. Herein we report the novel finding that chemerin signals through a RhoA and rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK)-dependent pathway for activation of the transcriptional regulator serum-response factor (SRF). Despite similarities in RhoA/ROCK, Gαi/o, and MAPK signaling, we also demonstrate species-specific and receptor-dependent variations in GPR1 and CMKLR1 signaling and expression of the SRF target genes EGR1, FOS and VCL. Moreover, we demonstrate that signaling through p38, Gαi/o, RhoA, and ROCK is required for chemerin-mediated chemotaxis of L1.2 lymphocytes and AGS gastric adenocarcinoma cells. These results provide, to our knowledge, the first empirical evidence that GPR1 is a functional chemerin receptor and identify RhoA/SRF as a novel chemerin-signaling axis via both CMKLR1 and GPR1.

Local chemerin levels are positively associated with DSS-induced colitis but constitutive loss of CMKLR1 does not protect against development of colitis.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a family of disorders including ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease that are characterized by chronic and relapsing intestinal inflammation. Increased production of proinflammatory mediators, possibly combined with low expression of anti-inflammatory mediators, is thought to promote the development and progression of IBD. In the current study, we demonstrate that expression, secretion, and processing of chemerin, a potent chemoattractant for cells expressing chemokine-like receptor 1 (CMKLR1), increased in the cecum and colon along a gradient positively associated with the severity of inflammation in dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis. We also show that levels of circulating bioactive chemerin increased following DSS treatment. At both 6-8 and 14-16 weeks of age, CMKLR1 knockout mice developed signs of clinical illness more slowly than wild type and had changes in circulating cytokine levels, increased spleen weight, and increased local chemerin secretion following DSS treatment. However, knockout mice ultimately developed similar levels of clinical illness and local inflammation as wild type. Finally, contrary to previous reports, intraperitoneal injection of bioactive chemerin had no effect on the severity of DSS-induced colitis. This suggests that local chemerin levels have a greater impact than circulating levels in the pathogenesis of colitis. Considered altogether, bioactive chemerin represents a novel biomarker for IBD severity, although strategies to modulate endogenous chemerin signaling other than chronic CMKLR1 loss are necessary in order to exploit chemerin as a therapeutic target for the treatment of IBD.

NOS1AP Functionally Associates with YAP To Regulate Hippo Signaling.

Deregulation of cellular polarity proteins and their associated complexes leads to changes in cell migration and proliferation. The nitric oxide synthase 1 adaptor protein (NOS1AP) associates with the tumor suppressor protein Scribble to control cell migration and oncogenic transformation. However, how NOS1AP is linked to the cell signaling events that curb oncogenic progression has remained elusive. Here we identify several novel NOS1AP isoforms, NOS1APd, NOS1APe, and NOS1APf, with distinct cellular localizations. We show that isoforms with a membrane-interacting phosphotyrosine binding (PTB) domain can associate with Scribble and recognize acidic phospholipids. In a screen to identify novel binding proteins, we have discovered a complex consisting of NOS1AP and the transcriptional coactivator YAP linking NOS1AP to the Hippo signaling pathway. Silencing of NOS1AP reduces the phosphorylation of YAP and of the upstream kinase Lats1. Conversely, expression of NOS1AP promotes YAP and Lats1 phosphorylation, which correlates with reduced TEAD activity and restricted cell proliferation. Together, these data implicate a role for NOS1AP in the regulation of core Hippo signaling and are consistent with the idea that NOS1AP functions as a tumor suppressor.

Gpr1 is an active chemerin receptor influencing glucose homeostasis in obese mice.

Chemerin is an adipose-derived signaling protein (adipokine) that regulates adipocyte differentiation and function, immune function, metabolism, and glucose homeostasis through activation of chemokine-like receptor 1 (CMKLR1). A second chemerin receptor, G protein-coupled receptor 1 (GPR1) in mammals, binds chemerin with an affinity similar to CMKLR1; however, the function of GPR1 in mammals is essentially unknown. Herein, we report that expression of murine Gpr1 mRNA is high in brown adipose tissue and white adipose tissue (WAT) and skeletal muscle. In contrast to chemerin (Rarres2) and Cmklr1, Gpr1 expression predominates in the non-adipocyte stromal vascular fraction of WAT. Heterozygous and homozygous Gpr1-knockout mice fed on a high-fat diet developed more severe glucose intolerance than WT mice despite having no difference in body weight, adiposity, or energy expenditure. Moreover, mice lacking Gpr1 exhibited reduced glucose-stimulated insulin levels and elevated glucose levels in a pyruvate tolerance test. This study is the first, to our knowledge, to report the effects of Gpr1 deficiency on adiposity, energy balance, and glucose homeostasis in vivo. Moreover, these novel results demonstrate that GPR1 is an active chemerin receptor that contributes to the regulation of glucose homeostasis during obesity.

Disruption of the chemokine-like receptor-1 (CMKLR1) gene is associated with reduced adiposity and glucose intolerance.

Adipose tissue secretes a variety of bioactive signaling molecules, termed adipokines, which regulate numerous biological functions including appetite, energy balance, glucose homeostasis, and inflammation. Chemerin is a novel adipokine that regulates adipocyte differentiation and metabolism by binding to and activating the G protein-coupled receptor, chemokine like receptor-1 (CMKLR1). In the present study, we investigated the impact of CMKLR1 deficiency on adipose development, glucose homeostasis, and inflammation in vivo. Herein we report that regardless of diet (low or high fat), CMKLR1(-/-) mice had lower food consumption, total body mass, and percent body fat compared with wild-type controls. CMKLR1(-/-) mice also exhibited decreased hepatic and white adipose tissue TNFα and IL-6 mRNA levels coincident with decreased hepatic dendritic cell infiltration, decreased adipose CD3+ T cells, and increased adipose natural killer cells. CMKLR1(-/-) mice were glucose intolerant compared with wild-type mice, and this was associated with decreased glucose stimulated insulin secretion as well as decreased skeletal muscle and white adipose tissue glucose uptake. Collectively these data provide compelling evidence that CMKLR1 influences adipose tissue development, inflammation, and glucose homeostasis and may contribute to the metabolic derangement characteristic of obesity and obesity-related diseases.