EMC10 modulates hepatic ER stress and steatosis in an isoform-specific manner.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane protein complex subunit 10 (EMC10) has been implicated in obesity. Here we investigated the roles of the two isoforms of EMC10, including a secreted isoform (scEMC10) and an ER membrane-bound isoform (mEMC10), in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). METHODS: Manifold steatotic mouse models and HepG2 cells were employed to investigate the role of EMC10 in the regulation of hepatic PERK-eIF2α-ATF4 signaling and hepatosteatosis. The therapeutic effect of scEMC10-neutralizing antibody on mouse hepatosteatosis was explored. Associations of MASLD with serum scEMC10 and hepatic mEMC10 were determined in two cohorts of participants with MASLD. RESULTS: scEMC10 promoted, while mEMC10 suppressed, the activation of hepatic PERK-eIF2α-ATF4 signaling. Emc10 gene knockout exacerbated, while hepatic overexpression of mEMC10 ameliorated, hepatic ER stress and steatosis in mice challenged with either a methionine- and choline-deficient diet or tunicamycin, highlighting a direct, suppressive role of mEMC10 in MASLD via modulation of hepatic ER stress. Overexpression of scEMC10 promoted, whereas neutralization of circulating scEMC10 prevented, hepatosteatosis in mice with fatty liver, suggesting a role of scEMC10 in MASLD development. Clinically, serum scEMC10 was increased, while hepatic mEMC10 was decreased, in participants with MASLD. Correlative analysis indicated that serum scEMC10 positively, whereas hepatic mEMC10 negatively, correlated with liver fat content and serum ALT, AST, and GGT. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate a novel isoform-specific role for EMC10 in the pathogenesis of MASLD and identify the secreted isoform as a tractable therapeutic target for MASLD via antibody-based neutralization. IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS: We have shown the role of EMC10 in the regulation of energy homeostasis and obesity. In this study, we determine the distinct roles of the two isoforms of EMC10 in the regulation of hepatic endoplasmic reticulum stress and steatosis in mice, and report on the associations of the different EMC10 isoforms with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease in humans. Our findings delineate a novel regulatory axis for hepatosteatosis and identify EMC10 as a modulator of the PERK-eIF2α-ATF4 signaling cascade that may be of broad physiological significance. Moreover, our pre-clinical and clinical studies provide evidence of the therapeutic potential of targeting scEMC10 in MASLD.

Dual Polarization Strategy for Boosting Electron-Hole Separation toward Overall Water Splitting within Ferroelectric ß-AIBIIIO2 (BIII = P3+, As3+, Sb3+, and Bi3+ for Lone Pairs).

Ferroelectric materials, leveraging an inherent built-in electric field, are excellent in suppressing electron-hole recombination. However, the reliance solely on bulk polarization remains insufficient in enhancing carriers' separation and migration, limiting their practical application in photocatalytic overall water splitting (POWS). To address this, we incorporated cations with ns2 lone pairs (P3+, As3+, Sb3+, and Bi3+) into ferroelectric semiconductors, successfully constructing 44 ß-AIBIIIO2 photocatalysts with dual polarization. Through rigorous first-principles calculations and screenings for stability, band characteristics, and polarization, we identified four promising candidates: ß-LiSbO2, ß-NaSbO2, ß-LiBiO2, and ß-TlBiO2. Within these materials, lone pairs induce local polarization in the xy-plane. Additionally, out of the plane, there is robust bulk polarization along the z-direction. This synergistic effect of the combined local and bulk polarization significantly improves the separation efficiency of electron-hole pairs. Explicitly, the electron mobility of the four candidates ranges from 105 to 106 cm2 s-1 V-1, while the hole mobility also increases significantly compared to single-phase polarized materials, up to 106 cm2 s-1 V-1. Notably, ß-TlBiO2 is predicted to achieve a solar-to-hydrogen (STH) efficiency of 17.2%. This study not only offers insights for water-splitting catalyst screening but also pioneers a path for electron-hole separation through the dual polarization strategy.

Microscopic Insight into the Polarization-Dependent Oxygen Evolution Reaction on the Surface of Intrinsic Ferroelectric Semiconductor ß-CuGaO2.

Ferroelectric semiconductors hold great promise in the field of photocatalysis due to their spontaneous polarization that can suppress the recombination of photogenerated charges, but the mechanism of the effect of ferroelectric polarization and the intensity of polarization on surface catalytic reactions have never been approached. Here, we have comparatively investigated the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalytic process on surfaces in polarized and unpolarized orientations of the intrinsic ferroelectric semiconductor ß-CuGaO2 by first-principles calculations. Furthermore, semiquantitative effects of different polarization intensities on the OER on the surfaces are subsequently carried out. First, it is confirmed that the [011]-polarized surface with fully exposed Cu-O atoms is the easiest surface to form and the most attractive for water molecules, exhibiting the lowest OER free energy barrier of 1.71 eV. Second, the calculated results indicate that [011] surfaces with higher polarization intensity are capable of enhancing the photogenerated hole potential (U) due to the accumulation of microscopic polarization in the polar unit of the bulk phase within the [011] slab. The intrinsic mechanism behind the enhancement of the OER by ferroelectric polarization is attributed to the modulation effect of polarization intensity on the 3d orbit of Cu+. This work elucidates the effects of ferroelectric polarization orientations as well as polarization intensity for the water OER, and provides theoretical guidance for the intrinsic ferroelectric polarization to promote surface OER.

Karrikin Signaling Acts Parallel to and Additively with Strigolactone Signaling to Regulate Rice Mesocotyl Elongation in Darkness.

Seedling emergence in monocots depends mainly on mesocotyl elongation, requiring coordination between developmental signals and environmental stimuli. Strigolactones (SLs) and karrikins are butenolide compounds that regulate various developmental processes; both are able to negatively regulate rice (Oryza sativa) mesocotyl elongation in the dark. Here, we report that a karrikin signaling complex, DWARF14-LIKE (D14L)-DWARF3 (D3)-O. sativa SUPPRESSOR OF MAX2 1 (OsSMAX1) mediates the regulation of rice mesocotyl elongation in the dark. We demonstrate that D14L recognizes the karrikin signal and recruits the SCFD3 ubiquitin ligase for the ubiquitination and degradation of OsSMAX1, mirroring the SL-induced and D14- and D3-dependent ubiquitination and degradation of D53. Overexpression of OsSMAX1 promoted mesocotyl elongation in the dark, whereas knockout of OsSMAX1 suppressed the elongated-mesocotyl phenotypes of d14l and d3 OsSMAX1 localizes to the nucleus and interacts with TOPLESS-RELATED PROTEINs, regulating downstream gene expression. Moreover, we showed that the GR24 enantiomers GR245DS and GR24 ent-5DS specifically inhibit mesocotyl elongation and regulate downstream gene expression in a D14- and D14L-dependent manner, respectively. Our work revealed that karrikin and SL signaling play parallel and additive roles in modulating downstream gene expression and negatively regulating mesocotyl elongation in the dark.

Membrane-Bound EMC10 Is Required for Sperm Motility via Maintaining the Homeostasis of Cytoplasm Sodium in Sperm.

Endoplasmic reticulum membrane protein complex subunit 10 (EMC10) is an evolutionarily conserved and multifunctional factor across species. We previously reported that Emc10 knockout (KO) leads to mouse male infertility. Emc10-null spermatozoa exhibit multiple aspects of dysfunction, including reduced sperm motility. Two subunits of a Na/K-ATPase, ATP1A4 and ATP1B3, are nearly absent in Emc10 KO spermatozoa. Here, two isoforms of EMC10 were characterized in the mouse testis and epididymis: the membrane-bound (mEMC10) and secreted (scEMC10) isoforms. We present evidence that mEMC10, rather than scEMC10, is required for cytoplasm sodium homeostasis by positively regulating ATP1B3 expression in germ cells. Intra-testis mEMC10 overexpression rescued the sperm motility defect caused by Emc10 KO, while exogenous recombinant scEMC10 protein could not improve the motility of spermatozoa from either Emc10 KO mouse or asthenospermic subjects. Clinically, there is a positive association between ATP1B3 and EMC10 protein levels in human spermatozoa, whereas no correlation was proven between seminal plasma scEMC10 levels and sperm motility. These results highlight the important role of the membrane-bound EMC10 isoform in maintaining cytoplasm sodium homeostasis and sperm motility. Based on the present results, the mEMC10-Na, K/ATPase α4ß3 axis is proposed as a novel mechanism underlying the regulation of cytoplasmic sodium and sperm motility, and its components seem to have therapeutic potential for asthenospermia.

Serum Spexin Level Is Negatively Associated With Peripheral Neuropathy and Sensory Pain in Type 2 Diabetes.

Background: Spexin is a novel peptide hormone and has shown antinociceptive effects in experimental mice. This study is aimed at evaluating the association of serum spexin level with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) and related pain in a Chinese population. Methods: We enrolled 167 type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) including 56 patients without DPN (non-DPN), 67 painless DPN, and 44 painful DPN. Serum spexin was measured using ELISA. Logistic regression models were performed to analyze the independent effects of spexin on prevalence of DPN and painful DPN. In streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice, mechanical pain threshold was measured using electronic von Frey aesthesiometer. Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated and further stimulated with lipopolysaccharide without or with spexin. The gene expression was assayed by qPCR. Results: Compared with non-DPN, serum spexin level decreased in painless DPN and further decreased in painful DPN. The odds of DPN was associated with low spexin level in T2DM, which was similar by age, sex, BMI, and diabetes duration, but attenuated in smokers. The odds of having pain was associated with decreased spexin level in DPN, which was similar by age, sex, smoking status, and diabetes duration, but attenuated in normal weight. Furthermore, we observed that mechanical pain threshold increased in spexin-treated diabetic mice. We also found that lipopolysaccharide treatment increased the mRNA level of TNF-α, IL-6, and MCP-1 in human PBMCs, while spexin treatment prevented this increase. Conclusions: These results suggested that spexin might serve as a protective factor for diabetes against neuropathology and pain-related pathogenesis.

MAFLD in Patients with Cushing's Disease Is Negatively Associated with Low Free Thyroxine Levels Rather than with Cortisol or TSH Levels.

Purpose: This study aims to analyze the clinical characteristic of metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) in patients with active Cushing's disease (CD) and determine associations of thyroid hormones with MAFLD. Methods: Patients with active CD were included in this cross-sectional study. All subjects were assessed for hepatic steatosis by abdominal ultrasonography and thyroid functions. Demographic and clinical characteristic parameters were collected for correlation analysis and logistic analysis. Results: 290 individuals with active CD were included in Huashan hospital from January 2014 to February 2022. We found that the prevalence of CD with MAFLD was 33.79%. The MAFLD group had a lower level of FT4 and a higher level of FT3/FT4 but no difference in levels of cortisol, 24 h UFC, TSH, TT4, TT3, and FT3. Correlation analysis showed positive associations of TSH, TT4, TT3, FT3, and FT3/FT4 with BMI. In age-, BMI-, sex-, cortisol-, and 24 h UFC-adjusted analysis, FT4 was independently associated with MAFLD in patients with CD. This association remained similar even after adjusting for the presence of metabolic syndrome components. Conclusion: Lower FT4 levels were associated with higher risk of MAFLD in patients with CD. FT4 may be used as a helpful indicator to predict MAFLD and provide novel ideas for the treatment of MAFLD in patients with CD in the future.

Circulating spexin levels are influenced by the glycemic status and correlated with pancreatic ß-cell function in Chinese subjects.

AIMS: Spexin plays a role in regulating glucose metabolism. This study investigated the spexin levels in different glycemic status and its association with insulin secretion in humans. METHODS: A total of 462 subjects were recruited in this study, including 52 healthy subjects, 106 first-degree relatives (FDRs) of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), 115 impaired glucose regulation (IGR), 80 newly diagnosed T2DM, and 106 established T2DM. Serum spexin was measured using ELISA. The homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA2-IR) and ß-cell function (HOMA2-ß), and Stumvoll index estimating first- and second-phase insulin secretion were calculated. RESULTS: Spexin levels were higher in FDRs [235.53 pg/ml (185.28, 293.95)] and IGR [239.79 pg/ml (191.52, 301.69)], comparable in newly diagnosed T2DM [224.68 pg/ml (187.37, 279.74)], and lower in established T2DM [100.11 pg/ml (78.50, 137.34)], compared with healthy subjects [200.23 pg/ml (160.32, 275.65)]. Spexin levels were negatively correlated with fasting plasma glucose (FPG) (r = - 0.355, P < 0.001), hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) (r = - 0.379, P < 0.001), and HOMA2-IR (r = - 0.225, P < 0.001), and positively correlated with HOMA2-ß (r = 0.245, P < 0.001) after adjusting for age, sex, and BMI. Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that established T2DM and HOMA2-ß were independently associated with serum spexin levels. CONCLUSIONS: Serum spexin levels represented as a bell-shaped curve along the glycemic continuum and is closely related with insulin secretion in humans.

Serum scEMC10 Levels are Negatively Associated With Resting Metabolic Rate and age in Humans.

CONTEXT: We have recently shown that the secreted isoform of endoplasmic reticulum membrane complex subunit 10 (scEMC10) is upregulated in human obesity and that overexpression of scEMC10 promotes, whereas antibody neutralization of circulating scEMC10 prevents diet-induced obesity in mice. OBJECTIVE: To explore associations of serum scEMC10 with body mass index (BMI), resting metabolism rate (RMR), and age in humans. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. SETTING AND PATIENTS: A total of 833 participants from a Chinese physical examination cohort and 191 participants from the Leipzig Obesity Biobank cohort. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Serum scEMC10 concentrations are measured using chemiluminescent immunoassay. RMR is calculated based on measurements from indirect calorimetry with an open-circuit ventilated-hood system. RESULTS: In the Chinese physical examination cohort, a J-shaped nonlinear correlation between BMI and serum scEMC10 was identified in participants where underweight, overweight, and obese people all presented higher serum scEMC10 levels than normal weight people. Participants younger than age 30 years old exhibited significantly higher serum scEMC10 levels than those older than 50 years of age. In addition, participants aged 30 to 40 years also had significantly higher serum scEMC10 levels than those aged 50 to 60 years. In the Leipzig Obesity Biobank cohort, we observed a significantly negative correlation between serum scEMC10 and resting energy expenditure after adjusting for BMI. Participants in the highest quartile of serum scEMC10 levels had significantly lower RMR than those in the first quartile. RMR had an independently inverse association with serum scEMC10. CONCLUSIONS: Serum scEMC10 levels are negatively associated with age and RMR in humans.

Secreted EMC10 is upregulated in human obesity and its neutralizing antibody prevents diet-induced obesity in mice.

Secreted isoform of endoplasmic reticulum membrane complex subunit 10 (scEMC10) is a poorly characterized secreted protein of largely unknown physiological function. Here we demonstrate that scEMC10 is upregulated in people with obesity and is positively associated with insulin resistance. Consistent with a causal role for scEMC10 in obesity, Emc10-/- mice are resistant to diet-induced obesity due to an increase in energy expenditure, while scEMC10 overexpression decreases energy expenditure, thus promoting obesity in mouse. Furthermore, neutralization of circulating scEMC10 using a monoclonal antibody reduces body weight and enhances insulin sensitivity in obese mice. Mechanistically, we provide evidence that scEMC10 can be transported into cells where it binds to the catalytic subunit of PKA and inhibits its stimulatory action on CREB while ablation of EMC10 promotes thermogenesis in adipocytes via activation of the PKA signalling pathway and its downstream targets. Taken together, our data identify scEMC10 as a circulating inhibitor of thermogenesis and a potential therapeutic target for obesity and its cardiometabolic complications.

Serum growth differentiation factor 15 is closely associated with metabolic abnormalities in Chinese pregnant women.

AIMS: To explore the relationship between serum growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) and metabolic abnormalities in Chinese pregnant women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We recruited 200 patients with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and 211 matched normal control within 24-28 weeks of pregnancy. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine the serum GDF15 levels of all participants. Then we grouped participants according to the number of metabolic abnormalities (including blood glucose, blood lipids and blood pressure), divided them into a normal metabolic group, one metabolic abnormality group, two or more metabolic abnormalities group. Finally, multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the odds radio (OR) and 95% CIs expressing the association between GDF15 and metabolic abnormalities in pregnant women. RESULTS: Through bivariate correlation analysis, we found that serum GDF15 is linearly correlated with glucose metabolism indices, such as 1h-PG, 2h-PG, HbA1c (all P < 0.05). In addition, serum GDF15 and triglycerides were linearly correlated (P < 0.05). Grouping by the number of metabolic abnormalities, we found that as GDF15 levels increased, the risk of metabolic abnormalities also increased (OR > 1), and the risk of multiple metabolic abnormalities was higher. As the number of metabolic abnormalities increased, serum GDF15 levels also were elevated (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that serum GDF15 levels are closely associated with metabolic abnormalities in pregnant women and may be used as a predictor of metabolic abnormalities during pregnancy.

Serum 3-carboxy-4-methyl-5-propyl-2-furanpropanoic acid is associated with lipid profiles and might protect against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in Chinese individuals.

AIMS/INTRODUCTION: High plasma 3-carboxy-4-methyl-5-propyl-2-furanpropanoic acid (CMPF) levels are significantly associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus, which is usually accompanied by metabolic syndrome and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) with increased triglyceride levels. Thus, we hypothesized that elevated CMPF levels might be related to lipid metabolism and NAFLD risk. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Serum CMPF levels were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in a total of 466 individuals, including 116 controls with no NAFLD or type 2 diabetes mellitus, 53 individuals with NAFLD but no type 2 diabetes mellitus, 151 individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus but no NAFLD, and 146 individuals with both NAFLD and type 2 diabetes mellitus. The associations with age, blood pressure, lipid profiles, body mass index and liver injury marker levels were examined, and a meta-analysis of non-diabetic and diabetic groups was carried out to detect the combined effects. RESULTS: The CMPF concentration in NAFLD patients was significantly lower than individuals without NAFLD in both the non-diabetic group (P < 0.05) and diabetic group (P < 0.01), and correlated negatively with several parameters of liver function and the adiposity index. Meta-analysis showed that serum CMPF levels was associated with decreased risk of NAFLD after combining the results (odds ratio 0.677, 95% confidence interval 0.552-0.831, P < 0.001). Additionally, the CMPF concentration was independently negatively associated with triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in the meta-analysis. Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that body mass index, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride level, age, sex and fasting plasma glucose were independently associated with CMPF (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that serum CMPF levels are negatively related to lipid metabolism and could be used to predict NAFLD development.

Chemical Differentiation of Dendrobium officinale and Dendrobium devonianum by Using HPLC Fingerprints, HPLC-ESI-MS, and HPTLC Analyses.

The stems of Dendrobium officinale Kimura et Migo (Dendrobii Officinalis Caulis) have a high medicinal value as a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Because of the limited supply, D. officinale is a high priced TCM, and therefore adulterants are commonly found in the herbal market. The dried stems of a closely related Dendrobium species, Dendrobium devonianum Paxt., are commonly used as the substitute; however, there is no effective method to distinguish the two Dendrobium species. Here, a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was successfully developed and applied to differentiate D. officinale and D. devonianum by comparing the chromatograms according to the characteristic peaks. A HPLC coupled with electrospray ionization multistage mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS) method was further applied for structural elucidation of 15 flavonoids, 5 phenolic acids, and 1 lignan in D. officinale. Among these flavonoids, 4 flavonoid C-glycosides were firstly reported in D. officinale, and violanthin and isoviolanthin were identified to be specific for D. officinale compared with D. devonianum. Then, two representative components were used as chemical markers. A rapid and reliable high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) method was applied in distinguishing D. officinale from D. devonianum. The results of this work have demonstrated that these developed analytical methods can be used to discriminate D. officinale and D. devonianum effectively and conveniently.