Fatty Liver Disease, Women, and Aldosterone: Finding a Link in the Jackson Heart Study.

CONTEXT: Fatty liver disease is one of the most common forms of chronic liver disease. The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system has been implicated in the pathogenesis of fatty liver. OBJECTIVE: Determine the relationship between fatty liver and aldosterone in a large cohort study. DESIGN: Community-based, observational cohort study of African Americans. SETTING: The original Jackson Heart Study cohort enrolled African American participants from the Jackson, Mississippi, metropolitan area in Hinds, Madison, and Rankin Counties. PARTICIPANTS: Our study population consisted of 2507 Jackson Heart Study participants (1625 women and 882 men) who had liver attenuation measured per computed tomography scans, had aldosterone measurements, and were not taking angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, or mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists. INTERVENTION: There was no intervention. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Liver attenuation on computed tomography scans. RESULTS: Univariate regression analysis demonstrated a statistically significant correlation between aldosterone levels and liver attenuation. Each doubling of aldosterone was associated with 1.08 Hounsfield unit decrease (95% confidence interval, 1.47 to -0.69, P < 0.001). A multivariable model adjusted for body mass index, age, alcohol intake, and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance determined that the association was statistically significant only for women. CONCLUSION: Our data demonstrate a positive association between aldosterone levels and fatty liver in African American women.

Care of the Athlete With Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: A Clinical Review.

CONTEXT: Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) results from a highly specific immune-mediated destruction of pancreatic ß cells, resulting in chronic hyperglycemia. For many years, one of the mainstays of therapy for patients with T1DM has been exercise balanced with appropriate medications and medical nutrition. Compared to healthy peers, athletes with T1DM experience nearly all the same health-related benefits from exercise. Despite these benefits, effective management of the T1DM athlete is a constant challenge due to various concerns such as the increased risk of hypoglycemia. This review seeks to summarize the available literature and aid clinicians in clinical decision-making for this patient population. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: PubMed searches were conducted for "type 1 diabetes mellitus AND athlete" along with "type 1 diabetes mellitus AND exercise" from database inception through November 2015. All articles identified by this search were reviewed if the article text was available in English and related to management of athletes with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Subsequent reference searches of retrieved articles yielded additional literature included in this review. RESULTS: The majority of current literature available exists as recommendations, review articles, or proposed societal guidelines, with less prospective or higher-order treatment studies available. The available literature is presented objectively with an attempt to describe clinically relevant trends and findings in the management of athletes living with T1DM. CONCLUSIONS: Managing T1DM in the context of exercise or athletic competition is a challenging but important skill for athletes living with this disease. A proper understanding of the hormonal milieu during exercise, special nutritional needs, glycemic control, necessary insulin dosing adjustments, and prevention/management strategies for exercise-related complications can lead to successful care plans for these patients. Individualized management strategies should be created with close cooperation between the T1DM athlete and their healthcare team (including a physician and dietitian).

Top 10 Facts to Know About Inpatient Glycemic Control.

Uncontrolled hyperglycemia in hospitalized patients with or without a previous diagnosis of diabetes is associated with adverse outcomes and longer lengths of hospital stay. It is estimated that one-third of hospitalized patients will experience significant hyperglycemia, and the cost associated with hospitalization for patients with diabetes accounts for half of all health care expenditures for this disease. Optimizing glycemic control should be a priority for all health care providers in the inpatient setting. Appropriate management strategies should include identification of appropriate glycemic targets, prevention of hypoglycemia, initiation of appropriate basal-plus-bolus insulin regimens, and planning for the transition from inpatient to outpatient therapy before hospital discharge.

The effect of oncoprotein v-erbA on thyroid hormone-regulated genes in hepatocytes and their potential role in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Mutant forms of thyroid hormone receptor (TR) with dominant negative activity are frequently found in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Interestingly, the v-erbA oncogene, known to exert a dominant-negative effect on the expression of thyroid hormone (T3)-responsive genes, led to the development of HCC in a transgenic mouse model. Thus it is possible that the oncogenic activity of v-erbA in hepatocytes may be mediated by its dominant negative activity on T3-responsive genes. Microarray analysis was used to identify genes differentially expressed in murine hepatocytes in culture (AML12 cells) stably transfected with v-erbA and exposed to T3. The Affymetrix GeneChip Mouse Genome 430 2.0 array consisted of over 39,000 transcripts representing well-known genes. We have identified twenty T3-responsive genes that are negatively regulated by v-erbA at 3 h, and eighteen genes at 24 h, such as follistatin, activin ßC, thrombomodulin, Six1, Rasgrp3 and Ndrg2, as well as genes that are regulated by v-erbA only, such as angiopoietin 1 and Igfr2. We have identified T3 responsive genes that are dysregulated by v-erbA. These genes are known to be involved in carcinogenesis. Our studies may provide insight into the potential role of mutant forms of TR in the pathogenesis of HCC.

Diagnosis and management of hyperglycemic emergencies.

This article is aimed at providing a practical up-to-date review of the precipitating factors, diagnosis, management and secondary prevention of hyperglycemic emergencies (diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and hyperglycemic hyperosmolar state (HHS) to assist critical care physicians and hospitalists caring for these patients. Limitations of various guidelines include implementation in settings with an infrastructure different from that specified in the guidelines of a respective country, state, region or community. Appropriate individualized acute management of these conditions typically results in satisfactory clinical outcomes and may decrease the mortality rate from up to 20% in type 2 diabetics with hyperglycemic hyperosmolar state vs less than 2% in patients with DKA. DKA may be the first manifestation of type 1 diabetes and can also occur in type 2 diabetics depending on the state of insulin sufficiency/secretion. For type 1 diabetics, the transition period from adolescence to adulthood is particularly critical to prevent repetitive hospital admissions. Hyperglycemic emergencies are usually preventable but do depend on patient compliance and adherence as well as medical infrastructure. Patients of all ages should be both appropriately educated and assured continuous access to health care to prevent recurrences of these conditions.

RACK1 downregulates levels of the pro-apoptotic protein Fem1b in apoptosis-resistant colon cancer cells.

Evasion of apoptosis plays an important role in colon cancer progression. Following loss of the Apc tumor suppressor gene in mice, the gene encoding Fem1b is upregulated early in neoplastic intestinal epithelium. Fem1b is a pro-apoptotic protein that interacts with Fas, TNFR1 and Apaf-1, and increased expression of Fem1b induces apoptosis of cancer cells. Fem1b is a homolog of FEM-1, a protein in Caenorhabditis elegans that is negatively regulated by ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation. To study Fem1b regulation in colon cancer progression, we used apoptotis-sensitive SW480 cells, derived from a primary colon cancer, and their isogenic, apoptosis-resistant counterparts SW620 cells, derived from a subsequent metastatic lesion in the same patient. Treatment with proteasome inhibitor increased Fem1b protein levels in SW620 cells, but not in SW480 cells. In SW620 cells we found that endogenous Fem1b co-immunoprecipitates in complexes with RACK1, a protein known to mediate ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation of other pro-apoptotic proteins and to be upregulated in colon cancer. Full-length Fem1b, or the N-terminal region of Fem1b, associated with RACK1 when co-expressed in HEK293T cells, and RACK1 stimulated ubiquitination of Fem1b. RACK1 overexpression in SW620 cells led to downregulation of Fem1b protein levels. Conversely, downregulation of RACK1 led to upregulation of Fem1b protein levels, associated with induction of apoptosis, and this apoptosis was inhibited by blocking Fem1b protein upregulation. In conclusion, RACK1 downregulates levels of the pro-apoptotic protein Fem1b in metastatic, apoptosis-resistant colon cancer cells, which may promote apoptosis-resistance during progression of colon cancer.

Clustering of sebaceous gland carcinoma, papillary thyroid carcinoma and breast cancer in a woman as a new cancer susceptibility disorder: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Multiple distinct tumors arising in a single individual or within members of a family raise the suspicion of a genetic susceptibility disorder. CASE PRESENTATION: We present the case of a 52-year-old Caucasian woman diagnosed with sebaceous gland carcinoma of the eyelid, followed several years later with subsequent diagnoses of breast cancer and papillary carcinoma of the thyroid. Although the patient was also exposed to radiation from a pipe used in the oil field industry, the constellation of neoplasms in this patient suggests the manifestation of a known hereditary susceptibility cancer syndrome. However, testing for the most likely candidates such as Muir-Torre and Cowden syndrome proved negative. CONCLUSION: We propose that our patient's clustering of neoplasms either represents a novel cancer susceptibility disorder, of which sebaceous gland carcinoma is a characteristic feature, or is a variant of the Muir-Torre syndrome.

Modulation of expression of RA-regulated genes by the oncoprotein v-erbA.

Retinoic acid (RA) modulates the expression of genes involved in embryogenesis, development and differentiation processes in vertebrates. The v-erbA oncogene is known to exert a dominant-negative effect on the expression of RA-responsive genes. v-erbA belongs to a superfamily of transcription factors called nuclear receptors, which includes the retinoic acid receptors (RARs) responsible for mediating the effects of retinoic acid. While RA inhibits cell proliferation and promotes cell differentiation and apoptosis in a variety of tissues, v-erbA seems to play a role in oncogenesis, namely in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in a transgenic mouse model. In order to study the effect of v-erbA on RA-responsive genes, we used microarray analysis to identify genes differentially expressed in murine hepatocytes in culture (AML12 cells) stably transfected with v-erbA and exposed to RA for 3 h or 24 h. We have identified RA-responsive genes that are affected by v-erbA, as well as genes that are regulated by v-erbA alone. We have found that v-erbA can affect gene expression in the presence of RA and at the level of basal transcription. We have also identified a number of v-erbA-responsive genes that are known to be involved in carcinogenesis and which may play a role in the development of HCC.

Retinoic acid responsive genes in the murine hepatocyte cell line AML 12.

Retinoic acid (RA) exerts profound effects on multiple aspects of vertebrate development, homeostasis and cellular differentiation. Although the liver is a major target organ for RA, no data exist on global expression of RA-responsive genes in hepatocytes. Therefore, the aim of this study was to characterize RA-responsive genes in a simple system, by using a non-transformed hepatic cell line that is able to express sufficient amounts of endogenous retinoic acid receptors (RARs). For this purpose we used the murine non-transformed hepatocyte cell line AML12. We performed analyses using a cDNA microarray containing 39,000 murine genes. We identified 15 genes that were up-regulated > or =2 fold while 3 were down-regulated > or =2 fold after 3 h treatment with all-trans RA. Following 24 h all-trans RA treatment, 26 genes were up-regulated > or =2 fold, whereas 48 genes were down-regulated > or =2 fold. For some of the genes not previously known to be regulated by RA, we confirmed the regulation by RA using real time PCR. Our data in AML12 cells provide a simple and physiologically relevant system to study RA action, without the influence of neoplastic transformation or artificial RAR over-expression. Furthermore, our data describe novel RA responsive genes and provide insight into the role of RA in important processes such as cholesterol metabolism, bile acid secretion, and oncogenesis, among others, that can be tested in future experiments in vivo.

Thyroid hormone responsive genes in the murine hepatocyte cell line AML 12.

Thyroid hormone (T3) plays an important role in gene regulation in the liver. Previous studies have been done in complex systems such as animal models, or in transformed malignant hepatic cell lines in which thyroid hormone receptor (TR) was over-expressed by co-transfection. Therefore, the aim of this study was to characterize T3-responsive genes in a simple system, by using a non-transformed hepatic cell line that is able to express sufficient amounts of endogenous TRs. For this purpose we used the murine non-transformed hepatocyte cell line AML 12. We performed analyses using a cDNA microarray containing 15,000 murine genes. We found 12 genes to be up-regulated and 5 genes to be down-regulated in the presence of T3. For some of the genes not previously known to be regulated by T3, we confirmed the regulation by T3 using real-time PCR. Our data in AML 12 cells provide a simple and physiologically relevant system to study T3 action, without the influence of neoplastic transformation or artificial TR over-expression. Furthermore, our data describe novel T3 responsive genes and provide insight into the role of T3 in important processes such as cholesterol metabolism, bile acid secretion, oncogenesis, among others, that can be tested in future experiments in vivo.

The Fem1a gene is downregulated in Rhabdomyosarcoma.

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common soft tissue neoplasm of children, and those metastatic at presentation have a poor prognosis. RMS development is related to defective skeletal muscle differentiation, involving a variety of cell signaling and transcriptional control pathways, including aberrant hedgehog signaling. Here we evaluate Fem1a, a gene highly expressed in skeletal muscle, as a candidate for involvement in RMS. Fem1a is a homolog of fem-1, which controls cell fate decisions in the sex determination pathway of Caenorhabditis elegans, a pathway with homology to mammalian hedgehog signaling. We show that Fem1a expression is activated during myocyte differentiation of C2C12 myoblasts, and this expression is largely confined to the terminally differentiating pool, not to the satellite-cell-like quiescent reserve cell pool. We find that the human homolog, FEM1A, is downregulated in all of 8 different human RMS cell lines, including those derived from embryonal and alveolar RMS. Using mouse genetic models of RMS development, we further show that Fem1a is consistently downregulated in primary RMS from Ptch1+/- mice, from p53-/- mice, from p53+/-; Ptch1+/- mice, and from HGF/SF-Ink4a/Arf-/- mice. Therefore, Fem1a downregulation may be involved in, and/or a marker of, an early cell fate defect fundamental to RMS pathogenesis.

Abnormal glucose homeostasis and pancreatic islet function in mice with inactivation of the Fem1b gene.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a disorder of glucose homeostasis involving complex gene and environmental interactions that are incompletely understood. Mammalian homologs of nematode sex determination genes have recently been implicated in glucose homeostasis and type 2 diabetes mellitus. These are the Hedgehog receptor Patched and Calpain-10, which have homology to the nematode tra-2 and tra-3 sex determination genes, respectively. Here, we have developed Fem1b knockout (Fem1b-KO) mice, with targeted inactivation of Fem1b, a homolog of the nematode fem-1 sex determination gene. We show that the Fem1b-KO mice display abnormal glucose tolerance and that this is due predominantly to defective glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Arginine-stimulated insulin secretion is also affected. The Fem1b gene is expressed in pancreatic islets, within both beta cells and non-beta cells, and is highly expressed in INS-1E cells, a pancreatic beta-cell line. In conclusion, these data implicate Fem1b in pancreatic islet function and insulin secretion, strengthening evidence that a genetic pathway homologous to nematode sex determination may be involved in glucose homeostasis and suggesting novel genes and processes as potential candidates in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus.

FEM1A is a candidate gene for polycystic ovary syndrome.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder among women of reproductive age, and is characterized by infertility, hyperandrogenism and insulin resistance in skeletal muscle. There is evidence for a PCOS gene localized to chromosome 19p13.3. The FEMIA gene maps to chromosome 19p13.3 and is highly expressed in skeletal muscle. FEMIA is a homolog of fem-1, a sex-determination gene of Caenorhabditis elegans that controls masculinization. In a pilot study of Caucasian PCOS patients from our local clinic, we found that one of these five patients exhibited a heterozygous germline missense mutation in FEM1A, designated FEM1A*H500Y. This mutation alters an amino acid conserved from human to C. elegans, and was not found in any of 198 control chromosomes. This missense allele was not found in any of a separate group of 30 PCOS patients from a different regional/ethnic background. Immunostaining of mouse ovary demonstrated that the mouse homolog of FEM1A is expressed in androgen-producing secondary interstitial cells, with a marked increase in expression after puberty, consistent with a key feature of PCOS -- ovarian hyperandrogenism. In conclusion, FEM1A should be considered a candidate gene for PCOS, and more extensive analysis of FEM1A, both coding and regulatory sequences, is warranted in patients and families with PCOS.

V-erba homodimers mediate the potent dominant negative activity of v-erba on everted repeats.

The oncoprotein v-erbA is a mutated form of TRalpha1 that is unable to bind thyroid hormone (T3). V-erbA homodimerizes or heterodimerizes with retinoid X receptor (RXR) on core motifs arranged as direct, everted, or inverted repeats (DRs, ERs, or IRs). We created a series of v-erbA mutants in order to obtain a better understanding of the role of v-erbA homodimers versus v-erbA-RXR heterodimers in the dominant negative activity of v-erbA on ERs (the most potent v-erbA response elements). We found that one of these mutants, v-erbA mutant E325A, is able to homodimerize but unable to heterodimerize with RXR on ERs. Our data also suggest that v-erbA homodimers interact preferentially with the corepressor NCoR over SMRT and that the interaction with corepressors is stronger with v-erbA homodimers over v-erbA-RXR heterodimers. Furthermore, functional studies showed that v-erbA homodimers rather than v-erbA-RXR heterodimers mediate the dominant negative activity of v-erbA on ERs.

The myosin binding protein is a novel mineralocorticoid receptor binding partner.

The mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) plays a role in congestive heart failure; however, the molecular mechanism(s) remains undefined. We hypothesized that interaction of the MR with a cardiac protein modulates the transcriptional activation function of the MR within the heart. We used the yeast two-hybrid technique to screen a human heart library and found an aldosterone-dependent interaction between the hMR and the cardiac myosin binding protein (cMBP-c). The EC(50) of the hMR-MBP-c interaction was approximately 80nM, and the cMBP-c did not interact with the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). The GST pull-down technique was used to confirm an interaction between the MR and the cMBP-c as well as the lack of interaction with the GR. Spironolactone partially blocked this interaction, further suggesting MR specificity. We also determined the cMBP-c binding site lies within the C-terminus of the MR. We propose that interaction of the MR with cMBP-c may play a role in cardiac remodeling.

Sequences required for the transition from monomeric to homodimeric forms of thyroid hormone receptor alpha and v-erbA.

Thyroid hormone receptor alpha (TRalpha) and the oncoprotein v-erbA (a mutated form of TRalpha incapable of binding T3) bind as heterodimers with retinoid X receptor (RXR) to DNA sequences with different orientations of AGGTCA half sites. v-erbA can also form homodimers, whereas, TRalpha1 homodimerizes poorly. Therefore, in order to obtain a better understanding for the distinct homodimerization properties between TRalpha1 and v-erbA, we created chimeras between these two receptors and tested their abilities to homodimerize on direct and everted repeats (DRs, ERs). We found that the enhanced homodimerization properties of v-erbA compared to TRalpha1 map to isoleucine at position 339 in conjunction with serine at position 351 and alanine at position 358. Our data indicate that the methyl group in isoleucine at position 339 plays an important role in v-erbA homodimerization, particularly on ER 6. Functional studies with I339V+S351P+A358T, a v-erbA mutant unable to homodimerize but still able to heterodimerize with RXR on ERs and DRs, indicate that v-erbA-RXR heterodimers mediate the dominant negative activity of v-erbA on DRs. However, the repressor activity of this mutant is weaker than that of the wild type v-erbA on ERs, suggesting that v-erbA homodimers rather than v-erbA-RXR heterodimers mediate the potent dominant negative activity of v-erbA on ERs.