Epigenome-Wide Histone Acetylation Changes in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes and Atherosclerotic Disease.

There is emerging evidence of an association between epigenetic modifications, glycemic control and atherosclerosis risk. In this study, we mapped genome-wide epigenetic changes in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and advanced atherosclerotic disease. We performed chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq) using a histone 3 lysine 9 acetylation (H3K9ac) mark in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with atherosclerosis with T2D (n = 8) or without T2D (ND, n = 10). We mapped epigenome changes and identified 23,394 and 13,133 peaks in ND and T2D individuals, respectively. Out of all the peaks, 753 domains near the transcription start site (TSS) were unique to T2D. We found that T2D in atherosclerosis leads to an H3K9ac increase in 118, and loss in 63 genomic regions. Furthermore, we discovered an association between the genomic locations of significant H3K9ac changes with genetic variants identified in previous T2D GWAS. The transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) rs7903146, together with several human leukocyte antigen (HLA) variants, were among the domains with the most dramatic changes of H3K9ac enrichments. Pathway analysis revealed multiple activated pathways involved in immunity, including type 1 diabetes. Our results present novel evidence on the interaction between genetics and epigenetics, as well as epigenetic changes related to immunity in patients with T2D and advanced atherosclerotic disease.

Serology assessment of antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 in patients with COVID-19 by rapid IgM/IgG antibody test.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has created a global health- and economic crisis. Detection of antibodies to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) which causes COVID-19 by serological methods is important to diagnose a current or resolved infection. In this study, we applied a rapid COVID-19 IgM/IgG antibody test and performed serology assessment of antibody response to SARS-CoV-2. In PCR-confirmed COVID-19 patients (n = 45), the total antibody detection rate is 92% in hospitalized patients and 79% in non-hospitalized patients. The total IgM and IgG detection is 63% in patients with <2 weeks from disease onset; 85% in non-hospitalized patients with >2 weeks disease duration; and 91% in hospitalized patients with >2 weeks disease duration. We also compared different blood sample types and suggest a higher sensitivity by serum/plasma over whole blood. Test specificity was determined to be 97% on 69 sera/plasma samples collected between 2016-2018. Our study provides a comprehensive validation of the rapid COVID-19 IgM/IgG serology test, and mapped antibody detection patterns in association with disease progress and hospitalization. Our results support that the rapid COVID-19 IgM/IgG test may be applied to assess the COVID-19 status both at the individual and at a population level.

Peptide YY (1-36) peptides from phylogenetically ancient fish targeting mammalian neuropeptide Y1 receptors demonstrate potent effects on pancreatic ß-cell function, growth and survival.

AIM: To investigate the antidiabetic efficacy of enzymatically stable Peptide YY (PYY) peptides from phylogenetically ancient fish. MATERIALS AND METHODS: N-terminally stabilized, PYY (1-36) sequences from Amia calva (bowfin), Oncorhynchus mykiss (trout), Petromyzon marinus (sea lamprey) and Scaphirhynchus albus (sturgeon), were synthesized, and both biological actions and antidiabetic therapeutic efficacy were assessed. RESULTS: All fish PYY (1-36) peptides were resistant to dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) degradation and inhibited glucose- and alanine-induced (P < 0.05 to P < 0.001) insulin secretion. In addition, PYY (1-36) peptides imparted significant (P < 0.05 to P < 0.001) ß-cell proliferative and anti-apoptotic benefits. Proliferative effects were almost entirely absent in ß cells with CRISPR-Cas9-induced knockout of Npyr1. In contrast to human PYY (1-36), the piscine-derived peptides lacked appetite-suppressive actions. Twice-daily administration of sea lamprey PYY (1-36), the superior bioactive peptide, for 21 days significantly (P < 0.05 to P < 0.001) decreased fluid intake, non-fasting glucose and glucagon in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice. In addition, glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, pancreatic insulin and glucagon content were significantly improved. Metabolic benefits were linked to positive changes in pancreatic islet morphology as a result of augmented (P < 0.001) proliferation and decreased apoptosis of ß cells. Sturgeon PYY (1-36) exerted similar but less impressive effects in STZ mice. CONCLUSION: These observations reveal, for the first time, that PYY (1-36) peptide sequences from phylogenetically ancient fish replicate the pancreatic ß-cell benefits of human PYY (1-36) and have clear potential for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Interaction of Serum-Derived and Internalized C3 With DNA in Human B Cells-A Potential Involvement in Regulation of Gene Transcription.

Beside its classical role as a serum effector system of innate immunity, evidence is accumulating that complement has an intracellular repertoire of components that provides not only immune defense, but also functions to maintain cellular homeostasis. While complement proteins, mainly the central component C3, have been detected in B cells, their exact function and source remain largely unexplored. In this study, we investigated the expression and origin of intracellular C3 in human B cells together with its role in B cell homeostasis. Our data provide evidence that endogenous expression of C3 is very low in human B cells and, in accordance with the recent publication, the main origin of intracellular C3 is the serum. Interestingly, we found that both serum-derived and purified C3 are able to enter the nucleus of viable B cells, suggesting its potential involvement in regulation of gene transcription. ELISA, gel shift assay, confocal microscopy, and chromatin immunoprecipitation proved that C3 and C3a strongly bind to nuclear DNA, and among the interacting genes there are key factors of lymphocyte development and differentiation. The strong interaction of C3 with histone proteins and its potential ability to induce chromatin rearrangement suggest that C3/C3a might regulate DNA transcription via chromatin remodeling. Our data reveal a novel, hitherto undescribed role of C3 in immune cell homeostasis, which further extends the repertoire how complement links innate and adaptive immunity and regulates basic processes of the cells.

Preserving Insulin Secretion in Diabetes by Inhibiting VDAC1 Overexpression and Surface Translocation in ß Cells.

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) develops after years of prediabetes during which high glucose (glucotoxicity) impairs insulin secretion. We report that the ATP-conducting mitochondrial outer membrane voltage-dependent anion channel-1 (VDAC1) is upregulated in islets from T2D and non-diabetic organ donors under glucotoxic conditions. This is caused by a glucotoxicity-induced transcriptional program, triggered during years of prediabetes with suboptimal blood glucose control. Metformin counteracts VDAC1 induction. VDAC1 overexpression causes its mistargeting to the plasma membrane of the insulin-secreting ß cells with loss of the crucial metabolic coupling factor ATP. VDAC1 antibodies and inhibitors prevent ATP loss. Through direct inhibition of VDAC1 conductance, metformin, like specific VDAC1 inhibitors and antibodies, restores the impaired generation of ATP and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in T2D islets. Treatment of db/db mice with VDAC1 inhibitor prevents hyperglycemia, and maintains normal glucose tolerance and physiological regulation of insulin secretion. Thus, ß cell function is preserved by targeting the novel diabetes executer protein VDAC1.

Role of osteopontin and its regulation in pancreatic islet.

Osteopontin (OPN) is involved in various physiological processes and also implicated in multiple pathological states. It has been suggested that OPN may have a role in type 2 diabetes (T2D) by protecting pancreatic islets and interaction with incretins. However, the regulation and function of OPN in islets, especially in humans, remains largely unexplored. In this study, we performed our investigations on both diabetic mouse model SUR1-E1506K+/+ and islets from human donors. We demonstrated that OPN protein, secretion and gene expression was elevated in the diabetic SUR1-E1506K+/+ islets. We also showed that high glucose and incretins simultaneously stimulated islet OPN secretion. In islets from human cadaver donors, OPN gene expression was elevated in diabetic islets, and externally added OPN significantly increased glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) from diabetic but not normal glycemic donors. The increase in GSIS by OPN in diabetic human islets was Ca2+ dependent, which was abolished by Ca2+-channel inhibitor isradipine. Furthermore, we also confirmed that OPN promoted cell metabolic activity when challenged by high glucose. These observations provided evidence on the protective role of OPN in pancreatic islets under diabetic condition, and may point to novel therapeutic targets for islet protection in T2D.

Regulation of Nuclear Receptor Interacting Protein 1 (NRIP1) Gene Expression in Response to Weight Loss and Exercise in Humans.

OBJECTIVE: Nuclear receptor interacting protein 1 (NRIP1) is an important energy regulator, but few studies have addressed its role in humans. This study investigated adipose tissue and skeletal muscle NRIP1 gene expression and serum levels in response to weight loss and exercise in humans. METHODS: NRIP1 expression was measured by microarray and serum NRIP1 by ELISA and Western blotting. Skeletal muscle transcriptomes were analyzed from Gene Expression Omnibus databases. Network-based proximity analysis was performed on the proximity of NRIP1 interacting genes in the human interactome. RESULTS: In patients with obesity, adipose tissue NRIP1 mRNA expression increased during weight loss and weight maintenance and showed strong associations with metabolic markers and anthropometric parameters. Serum NRIP1 protein levels also increased after weight loss. In skeletal muscle, imposed rest increased NRIP1 expression by 80%, and strength training increased expression by ∼25% compared to baseline. Following rest, NRIP1 expression became sensitive to insulin stimulation. After re-training, NRIP1 expression decreased. Interactome analysis showed significant proximity of NRIP1 interacting partners to the obesity network/module. CONCLUSIONS: NRIP1 gene expression and serum levels are strongly associated with metabolic states such as obesity, weight loss, different types of exercise, and peripheral tissue insulin resistance, potentially as a mediator of sedentary effects.

Histone acetylation of glucose-induced thioredoxin-interacting protein gene expression in pancreatic islets.

Thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) has been shown to be associated with glucose-induced deterioration of pancreatic beta cell function in diabetes. However, whether epigenetic mechanisms contribute to the regulation of TXNIP gene expression by glucose is not clear. Here we studied how glucose exerts its effect on TXNIP gene expression via modulation of histone acetylation marks. To achieve this, we applied clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/Cas9 (CRISPR/Cas9) to knock out histone acetyltransferase (HAT) p300 in a rat pancreatic beta cell line INS1 832/13. We also treated the cells and human islets with chemical inhibitors of HAT p300 and histone deacetylase (HDAC). In human islets, diabetes and high glucose resulted in elevated TXNIP and EP300 expression, and glucose-induced TXNIP expression could be reversed by p300 inhibitor C646. In INS1 832/13 cells, Ep300 knock-out by CRISPR/Cas9 elevated glucose-induced insulin secretion and greatly reduced glucose-stimulated Txnip expression and cell apoptosis. This effect could be ascribed to decrease in histone marks H3K9ac and H4ac at the promoter and first coding region of the Txnip gene. Histone marks H3K9ac and H4ac in the Txnip gene in the wild-type cells was inhibited by HDAC inhibitor at high glucose, which most likely was due to enhanced acetylation levels of p300 after HDAC inhibition; and thereby reduced p300 binding to the Txnip gene promoter region. Such inhibition was absent in the Ep300 knock-out cells. Our study provides evidence that histone acetylation serves as a key regulator of glucose-induced increase in TXNIP gene expression and thereby glucotoxicity-induced apoptosis.

Epigenetic regulation of the thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) gene by hyperglycemia in kidney.

Diabetic kidney disease is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease. Genetic factors have been suggested to contribute to its susceptibility. However, results from genetic studies are disappointing possibly because the role of glucose in diabetic kidney disease predisposed by epigenetic mechanisms has not been taken into account. Since thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) has been shown to play an important role in the pathogenesis of diabetic kidney disease, we tested whether glucose could induce expression of TXNIP in the kidney by epigenetic mechanisms. In kidneys from diabetic Sur1-E1506K(+/+) mice, hyperglycemia-induced Txnip expression was associated with stimulation of activating histone marks H3K9ac, H3K4me3, and H3K4me1, as well as decrease in the repressive histone mark H3K27me3 at the promoter region of the gene. Glucose also coordinated changes in histone marks and TXNIP gene expression in mouse SV40 MES13 mesangial cells and the normal human mesangial cell line NHMC. The involvement of histone acetylation in glucose-stimulated TXNIP expression was confirmed by reversing or enhancing acetylation using the histone acetyltransferase p300 inhibitor C646 or the histone deacetylase inhibitor trichostatin A. Thus, glucose is a potent inducer of histone modifications, which could drive expression of proinflammatory genes and thereby predispose to diabetic kidney disease.

Epigenetic regulation of glucose-stimulated osteopontin (OPN) expression in diabetic kidney.

Diabetes nephropathy (DN) is the leading cause of end stage renal disease and it affects up to 40% of diabetic patients. In addition to hyperglycemia, genetic factors are thought to contribute to the development of DN, but few if any genetic factors have been convincingly linked to DN. Other possible mechanisms may involve epigenetic regulation of glucose-stimulated gene activity which was suggested to explain long-term effects of poor glycemic control on risk of diabetic complications, often referred to as metabolic memory. Osteopontin (OPN) is one of the genes upregulated in kidneys from diabetic mouse models as well as humans with DN, and suggested to play an important role in the pathogenesis of DN. In this study, we demonstrated that OPN gene expression is upregulated in the kidneys of a hyperglycemia diabetes mouse model SUR1-E1506K, and glucose-stimulated OPN gene expression is strongly associated with increases in activating histone marks H3K9ac, H3K4me1 and H3K4me3 and decrease in inactivating mark H3K27me3 in the promoter region of OPN gene. These findings were replicated in human mesangial cells treated with high glucose. Further proof for the involvement of histone acetylation and methylation in glucose-induced changes in OPN gene expression was obtained by manipulating histone modifications thereby OPN gene expression by histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor trichostatin A and histone methyltransferase (HMT) inhibitor MM-102. We conclude that glucose is a potent inducer of histone acetylation and methylation, which in turn leads to upregulation of OPN gene expression. Treatment targeting histone marks may therefore represent an alternative method to protect kidneys from deleterious effects of glucose.