Full activation of thermogenesis in brown adipocytes requires Basigin action.

Exploring mechanisms responsible for brown adipose tissue's (BAT) high metabolic activity is crucial to exploit its energy-dissipating ability for therapeutic purposes. Basigin (Bsg), a multifunctional highly glycosylated transmembrane protein, was recently proposed as one of the 98 critical markers allowing to distinguish 'white' and 'brown' adipocytes, yet its function in thermogenic brown adipocytes is unknown. Here, we report that Bsg is negatively associated with obesity in mice. By contrast, Bsg expression increased in the mature adipocyte fraction of BAT upon cold acclimation. Additionally, Bsg levels were highly induced during brown adipocyte maturation in vitro and were further increased upon ß-adrenergic stimulation in a HIF-1α-dependent manner. siRNA-mediated Bsg gene silencing in cultured brown adipocytes did not impact adipogenesis nor mitochondrial function. However, a significant decrease in mitochondrial respiration, lipolysis and Ucp1 transcription was observed in adipocytes lacking Bsg, when activated by norepinephrine. Furthermore, using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry-time-of-flight analysis to assess the composition of cellular metabolites, we demonstrate that brown adipocytes lacking Bsg have lower levels of intracellular lactate and acetoacetate. Bsg was additionally required to regulate intracellular AcAc and tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediate levels in NE-stimulated adipocytes. Our study highlights the critical role of Bsg in active brown adipocytes, possibly by controlling cellular metabolism.

Lipoxins reduce obesity-induced adipose tissue inflammation in 3D-cultured human adipocytes and explant cultures.

Adipose tissue inflammation drives obesity-related cardiometabolic diseases. Enhancing endogenous resolution mechanisms through administration of lipoxin A4, a specialized pro-resolving lipid mediator, was shown to reduce adipose inflammation and subsequently protects against obesity-induced systemic disease in mice. Here, we demonstrate that lipoxins reduce inflammation in 3D-cultured human adipocytes and adipose tissue explants from obese patients. Approximately 50% of patients responded particularly well to lipoxins by reducing inflammatory cytokines and promoting an anti-inflammatory M2 macrophage phenotype. Responding patients were characterized by elevated systemic levels of C-reactive protein, which causes inflammation in cultured human adipocytes. Responders appeared more prone to producing anti-inflammatory oxylipins and displayed elevated prostaglandin D2 levels, which has been interlinked with transcription of lipoxin-generating enzymes. Using explant cultures, this study provides the first proof-of-concept evidence supporting the therapeutic potential of lipoxins in reducing human adipose tissue inflammation. Our data further indicate that lipoxin treatment may require a tailored personalized-medicine approach.

Deletion of murine slc29a4 modifies vascular responses to adenosine and 5-hydroxytryptamine in a sexually dimorphic manner.

Equilibrative nucleoside transporter 4 (ENT4), encoded by SLC29A4, mediates the flux of both 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and adenosine across cell membranes. We hypothesized that loss of ENT4 function in mice would modify the effects of these established regulators of vascular function. Male and female wild-type (WT) and slc29a4-null (ENT4-KO) mice were compared with respect to their hemodynamics and mesenteric vascular function. Male ENT4-KO mice had a complete loss of myogenic tone in their mesenteric resistance arteries. This was accompanied by a decrease in blood flow in the superior mesenteric artery in the male ENT4-KO mice, and a reduced responsiveness to 5-HT. In contrast, endothelium-dependent relaxations of mesenteric arteries from female ENT4-KO mice were more sensitive to Ca2+ -activated K+ (KCa ) channel blockade than WT mice. Female ENT4-KO mice also demonstrated an enhanced vasodilatory response to adenosine in vivo that was not seen in males. Ketanserin (5-HT2A inhibitor) and GR55562 (5-HT1B/1D inhibitor) decreased 5-HT-induced tone, but only ketanserin inhibited the relaxant effect of 5-HT in mesenteric arteries. 5-HT-evoked increases in tone were elevated in arteries from ENT4-KO mice upon block of endothelial relaxant pathways, with arteries from female ENT4-KO mice showing the greatest increase. Adenosine A2b receptor expression was decreased, while other adenosine transporter subtypes, as well as adenosine deaminase and adenosine kinase were increased in mesenteric arteries from male, but not female, ENT4-KO mice. These findings indicate that deletion of slc29a4 leads to sex-specific changes in vascular function with significant consequences for regulation of blood flow and pressure by adenosine and 5-HT.

Bidirectional transport of 2-chloroadenosine by equilibrative nucleoside transporter 4 (hENT4): Evidence for allosteric kinetics at acidic pH.

Adenosine has been reported to be transported by equilibrative nucleoside transporter 4 (ENT4), encoded by the SLC29A4 gene, in an acidic pH-dependent manner. This makes hENT4 of interest as a therapeutic target in acidic pathologies where adenosine is protective (e.g. vascular ischaemia). We examined the pH-sensitivity of nucleoside influx and efflux by hENT4 using a recombinant transfection model that lacks the confounding influences of other nucleoside transporters (PK15-NTD). We established that [3H]2-chloroadenosine, which is resistant to metabolism by adenosine deaminase, is a substrate for hENT4. Transport of [3H]2-chloroadenosine at a pH of 6.0 in PK15-NTD cells stably transfected with SLC29A4 was biphasic, with a low capacity (Vmax ~ 30 pmol/mg/min) high-affinity component (Km ~ 50 µM) apparent at low substrate concentrations, which shifted to a high capacity (Vmax ~ 500 pmol/mg/min) low affinity system (Km > 600 µM) displaying positive cooperativity at concentrations above 200 µM. Only the low affinity component was observed at a neutral pH of 7.5 (Km ~ 2 mM). Efflux of [3H]2-chloroadenosine from these cells was also enhanced by more than 4-fold at an acidic pH. Enhanced influx and efflux of nucleosides by hENT4 under acidic conditions supports its potential as a therapeutic target in pathologies such as ischaemia-reperfusion injury.

Transient receptor potential canonical 5 channels plays an essential role in hepatic dyslipidemia associated with cholestasis.

Transient receptor potential canonical 5 (TRPC5), a calcium-permeable, non-selective cation channel is expressed in the periphery, but there is limited knowledge of its regulatory roles in vivo. Endogenous modulators of TRPC5 include a range of phospholipids that have an established role in liver disease, including lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC). Cholestasis is characterized by impairment of excretion of bile acids, leading to elevation of hepatic bile acids. We investigated the contribution of TRPC5 in a murine model of cholestasis. Wild-type (WT) and TRPC5 knock-out (KO) mice were fed a diet supplemented with 0.5% cholic acid (CA) for 21 days. CA-diet supplementation resulted in enlargement of the liver in WT mice, which was ameliorated in TRPC5 KO mice. Hepatic bile acid and lipid content was elevated in WT mice, with a reduction observed in TRPC5 KO mice. Consistently, liver enzymes were significantly increased in cholestatic WT mice and significantly blunted in TRPC5 KO mice. Localized dyslipidaemia, secondary to cholestasis, was investigated utilizing a selected lipid analysis. This revealed significant perturbations in the lipid profile following CA-diet feeding, with increased cholesterol, triglycerides and phospholipids, in WT, but not TRPC5 KO mice. Our results suggest that activation of TRPC5 contributes to the development of cholestasis and associated dyslipidemia. Modulation of TRPC5 activity may present as a novel therapeutic target for liver disease.