Localization of the Brainstem GABAergic Neurons Controlling Paradoxical (REM) Sleep

Paradoxical sleep (PS) is a state characterized by cortical activation, rapid eye movements and muscle atonia. Fifty years after its discovery, the neuronal network responsible for the genesis of PS has been only partially identified. We recently proposed that GABAergic neurons would have a pivotal role in that network. To localize these GABAergic neurons, we combined immunohistochemical detection of Fos with non-radioactive in situ hybridization of GAD67 mRNA (GABA synthesis enzyme) in control rats, rats deprived of PS for 72 h and rats allowed to recover after such deprivation. Here we show that GABAergic neurons gating PS (PS-off neurons) are principally located in the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray (vlPAG) and the dorsal part of the deep mesencephalic reticular nucleus immediately ventral to it (dDpMe). Furthermore, iontophoretic application of muscimol for 20 min in this area in head-restrained rats induced a strong and significant increase in PS quantities compared to saline. In addition, we found a large number of GABAergic PS-on neurons in the vlPAG/dDPMe region and the medullary reticular nuclei known to generate muscle atonia during PS. Finally, we showed that PS-on neurons triggering PS localized in the SLD are not GABAergic. Altogether, our results indicate that multiple populations of PS-on GABAergic neurons are distributed in the brainstem while only one population of PS-off GABAergic neurons localized in the vlPAG/dDpMe region exist. From these results, we propose a revised model for PS control in which GABAergic PS-on and PS-off neurons localized in the vlPAG/dDPMe region play leading roles.     

Effects of Ambient Temperature on Sleep and Cardiovascular Regulation in Mice: The Role of Hypocretin/Orexin Neurons

The central neural pathways underlying the physiological coordination between thermoregulation and the controls of the wake-sleep behavior and cardiovascular function remain insufficiently understood. Growing evidence supports the involvement of hypocretin (orexin) peptides in behavioral, cardiovascular, and thermoregulatory functions. We investigated whether the effects of ambient temperature on wake-sleep behavior and cardiovascular control depend on the hypothalamic neurons that release hypocretin peptides. Orexin-ataxin3 transgenic mice with genetic ablation of hypocretin neurons (n = 11) and wild-type controls (n = 12) were instrumented with electrodes for sleep scoring and a telemetric blood pressure transducer. Simultaneous sleep and blood pressure recordings were performed on freely-behaving mice at ambient temperatures ranging between mild cold (20°C) and the thermoneutral zone (30°C). In both mouse groups, the time spent awake and blood pressure were higher at 20°C than at 30°C. The cold-related increase in blood pressure was significantly smaller in rapid-eye-movement sleep (REMS) than either in non-rapid-eye-movement sleep (NREMS) or wakefulness. Blood pressure was higher in wakefulness than either in NREMS or REMS at both ambient temperatures. This effect was significantly blunted in orexin-ataxin3 mice irrespective of ambient temperature and particularly during REMS. These data demonstrate that hypocretin neurons are not a necessary part of the central pathways that coordinate thermoregulation with wake-sleep behavior and cardiovascular control. Data also support the hypothesis that hypocretin neurons modulate changes in blood pressure between wakefulness and the sleep states. These concepts may have clinical implications in patients with narcolepsy with cataplexy, who lack hypocretin neurons.     

几丁质酶结构域内含蛋白1(Chid1)基因剔除小鼠的建立

建立几丁质酶结构域内含蛋白1(chitinase domain containing 1,Chid1)基因剔除小鼠,观察小鼠表型和发育差异。设计了合适的基因剔除策略,成功构建了基因剔除打靶载体。以电穿孔方法将打靶载体导入ES细胞(embryonic stem cell),用G418和Ganciclovoir进行正负筛选,挑选抗药的阳性克隆,提取ES细胞基因组DNA,用长臂PCR鉴定出阳性ES细胞。将阳性ES细胞复苏培养后注入小鼠囊胚,获得嵌合体小鼠。嵌合体小鼠与C57BL/6J小鼠交配后获得Aguoti毛色的杂合子小鼠。在雌雄杂合子交配的后代中获得纯合子小鼠。从脑、脾脏、肝、肺的RNA水平鉴定来看,基因剔除小鼠的Chid1基因未表达,而杂合子、野生型小鼠有明显的该基因条带。经过初步的表型观察发现,Chid1基因剔除小鼠发育正常,未出现胚胎致死,交配繁殖能力无异常。几丁质酶结构域内含蛋白1(Chid1)基因剔除小鼠模型建立成功。Child1基因对于小鼠发育、生殖方面无明显作用。     

Runx2条件性敲除小鼠釉质缺陷的部分挽救

该研究旨在探讨外源性Runx2过表达对小鼠成釉细胞Runx2敲除导致的釉质缺陷的挽救作用。采用免疫组化验证Runx2在Runx2条件性敲除且人源性Runx2过表达小鼠成釉细胞中的表达。HE染色观察成熟期成釉细胞形态及釉质基质蛋白残余。用体视显微镜和扫描电镜观察小鼠牙齿表面形态和釉柱结构。结果显示,RUNX2蛋白在出生后10天龄Tg;cKO小鼠成熟早期成釉细胞中成功表达。15天龄Tg;cKO小鼠与cKO小鼠相比,成熟晚期成釉细胞形态及排列未见明显改善,但釉质基质蛋白残余量明显减少。3月龄Tg;cKO小鼠与cKO小鼠相比,釉质磨耗减轻,釉柱间孔隙减少,釉柱排列更规则。该研究结果表明,人源性Runx2过表达可部分挽救小鼠成釉细胞Runx2敲除导致的釉质缺陷。     

DDR2基因缺失对小鼠骨髓间充质干细胞生物学特性的影响

目的:骨髓间充质干细胞(Bone Mesenchymal Stem Cells,BMSCs)是骨再生工程中重要的种子细胞,它对骨组织缺损的修复有着良好的效果。但是BMSCs向成骨细胞分化并修复骨组织缺损是是由细胞外因子共同作用产生的结果。DDR2(Discoidin Domain Receptor 2)作为I型胶原的特异性受体在成骨细胞的分化中发挥重要的调节作用。而对于其在BMSCs向成骨细胞的分化过程中的所起到的作用还鲜有研究,对其作用机理尚不明确。因此我们希望通过分离、培养并鉴定比较DDR2基因缺失小鼠与野生型小鼠来源的骨髓间充质干细胞了解其生物学特性,为后续的实验奠定理论基础。方法:采用改良型的全骨髓贴壁细胞分离方法分离培养两种小鼠来源的骨髓间充质干细胞,采用流式细胞技术鉴定其表面标记物的表达,并利用诱导培养液诱导骨髓间充质干细胞向成骨细胞和成脂肪细胞分化。结果:分离培养的两种骨髓间充质干细胞形态一致,增殖能力和自我更新能力强,流式细胞术检测其表面标记物CD29,Sca-1均表达阳性,CD105,CD45表达为阴性,分离得到的两种细胞均有向成骨细胞和成脂肪细胞分化的能力,但可以明显观察到DDR2基因缺失小鼠的骨髓间充质干细胞的成骨分化能力减弱。结论:本实验通过对于DDR2基因缺失小鼠BMSCs分离、培养和鉴定,初步探索DDR2基因缺失在在成骨过程中的作用结果,为进一步研究提高BMSCs的成骨分化能力奠定理论基础。经实验证明,DDR2基因缺失小鼠来源的骨髓间充质干细胞虽然仍具备干细胞的生物学特性,但其向成骨细胞的分化能力明显减弱,说明DDR2基因缺失对其骨髓间充质干细胞的成骨分化等有着重要的影响。     

条件性基因敲除:骨髓细胞特异性敲除Ncol2基因小鼠的建立和基因型鉴定

Ncol2是新发现的参与免疫调节的重要因子,Ncol2基因骨髓细胞特异性敲除小鼠的建立,能够有针对性的研究Ncol2基因缺失后对免疫系统的影响。根据条件性基因敲除的原理,本文利用loxp转基因小鼠和在骨髓细胞特异性表达Cre重组酶的LysMcre小鼠,繁殖建立了骨髓细胞特异性敲除Ncol2基因的小鼠,并提供了用鼠尾做基因型鉴定的简便方法。     

Predicting neurodegenerative disease in idiopathic rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder: Conference proceedings,REM Sleep Behavior Symposium 2011

Rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is a parasomnia characterized by dream enactment behavior during rapid eye movement sleep, which is generally related to damage of pontomedullary structures. Idiopathic RBD is a well-established risk factor for neurodegenerative disease; at least 40-65% of patients with idiopathic RBD will develop a defined neurodegenerative phenotype over 10 years. This is almost always a “synucleinopathy” (Parkinson’s disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, or multiple system atrophy). Often, patients develop a syndrome with overlapping parkinsonism and cognitive impairment. The ability of RBD to predict disease has major implications for development of neuroprotective therapy, by providing a high-risk prodromal group for neuro-protective trials. In addition, it allows testing of other predictive markers of neurodegeneration. Recent prospective studies found that idiopathic RBD patients with abnormal olfaction at baseline had a 65% 5-year risk of developing neurodegenerative disease, compared with a 14% risk in those with normal olfaction. Those with abnormal color vision had a 74% risk of neurodegenerative disease compared with 26% in those with normal vision. Additionally, neuroimaging markers of the sub-stantia nigra including dopaminergic functional imaging and transcranial ultrasound have been able to predict imminent development of defined neurodegenerative disease in RBD, although sensitivity and lead time have not been established. Future studies will continue to expand the list of predictive markers of neurodegeneration and will better define specificity, sensitivity, and lead time of prodromal markers.

     

基因剔除小鼠研究的新进展

基因剔除小鼠是活体内研究基因及蛋白质功能的理想动物模型。传统的基因剔除技术存在表型分析复杂、周期长、操作繁杂等缺点,如何更科学、更方便地建立基因剔除小鼠模型成为目前使该技术更好地应用于医学研究的关键。本文从胚胎干细胞（ES细胞）的遗传背景、组织特异性基因表达基因剔除小鼠及基因剔除技术上的革新几方面介绍了目前基因剔除小鼠研究的一些最新进展。     

Attenuated Vasodilator Effectiveness of Protease-Activated Receptor 2 Agonist in Heterozygous par2 Knockout Mice

Studies of homozygous PAR2 gene knockout mice have described a mix of phenotypic effects in vitro and in vivo. However, there have been few studies of PAR2 heterozygous (wild-type/knockout; PAR2-HET) mice. The phenotypes of many hemi and heterozygous transgenic mice have been described as intermediates between those of wild-type and knockout animals. In our study we aimed to determine the effects of intermediary par2 gene zygosity on vascular tissue responses to PAR2 activation. Specifically, we compared the vasodilator effectiveness of the PAR2 activating peptide 2-furoyl-LIGRLO-amide in aortas of wild-type PAR2 homozygous (PAR2-WT) and PAR2-HET mice. In myographs under isometric tension conditions, isolated aortic rings were contracted by alpha 1-adrenoeceptor agonist (phenylephrine), and thromboxane receptor agonist (U46619) and then relaxation responses by the additions of 2-furoyl-LIGRLO-amide, acetylcholine, and nitroprusside were recorded. A Schild regression analysis of the inhibition by a PAR2 antagonist (GB-83) of PAR2 agonist-induced aortic ring relaxations was used to compare receptor expression in PAR2-WT to PAR2-HET. PAR2 mRNA in aortas was measured by quantitative real-time PCR. In aortas contracted by either phenylephrine or U46619, the maximum relaxations induced by 2-furoyl-LIGRLO-amide were less in PAR2-HET than in the gender-matched PAR2-WT. GB-83 was 3- to 4-fold more potent for inhibition of 2fly in PAR2-HET than in PAR2-WT. PAR2 mRNA content of aortas from PAR2-HET was not significantly different than in PAR2-WT. Acetylcholine- and nitroprusside-induced relaxations of aortas from PAR2-HET were not significantly different than in PAR2-WT and PAR2 knockout. An interesting secondary finding was that relaxations induced by agonists of PAR2 and muscarinic receptors were larger in females than in males. We conclude that the lower PAR2-mediated responses in PAR2-HET aortas are consistent with evidence of a lower quantity of functional receptor expression, despite the apparently normal PAR2 mRNA content in PAR2-HET aortas.     

Tuberal Hypothalamic Neurons Secreting the Satiety Molecule Nesfatin-1 Are Critically Involved in Paradoxical (REM) Sleep Homeostasis

The recently discovered Nesfatin-1 plays a role in appetite regulation as a satiety factor through hypothalamic leptin-independent mechanisms. Nesfatin-1 is co-expressed with Melanin-Concentrating Hormone (MCH) in neurons from the tuberal hypothalamic area (THA) which are recruited during sleep states, especially paradoxical sleep (PS). To help decipher the contribution of this contingent of THA neurons to sleep regulatory mechanisms, we thus investigated in rats whether the co-factor Nesfatin-1 is also endowed with sleep-modulating properties. Here, we found that the disruption of the brain Nesfatin-1 signaling achieved by icv administration of Nesfatin-1 antiserum or antisense against the nucleobindin2 (NUCB2) prohormone suppressed PS with little, if any alteration of slow wave sleep (SWS). Further, the infusion of Nesfatin-1 antiserum after a selective PS deprivation, designed for elevating PS needs, severely prevented the ensuing expected PS recovery. Strengthening these pharmacological data, we finally demonstrated by using c-Fos as an index of neuronal activation that the recruitment of Nesfatin-1-immunoreactive neurons within THA is positively correlated to PS but not to SWS amounts experienced by rats prior to sacrifice. In conclusion, this work supports a functional contribution of the Nesfatin-1 signaling, operated by THA neurons, to PS regulatory mechanisms. We propose that these neurons, likely releasing MCH as a synergistic factor, constitute an appropriate lever by which the hypothalamus may integrate endogenous signals to adapt the ultradian rhythm and maintenance of PS in a manner dictated by homeostatic needs. This could be done through the inhibition of downstream targets comprised primarily of the local hypothalamic wake-active orexin- and histamine-containing neurons.     

A Very Large Number of GABAergic Neurons Are Activated in the Tuberal Hypothalamus during Paradoxical (REM) Sleep Hypersomnia

We recently discovered, using Fos immunostaining, that the tuberal and mammillary hypothalamus contain a massive population of neurons specifically activated during paradoxical sleep (PS) hypersomnia. We further showed that some of the activated neurons of the tuberal hypothalamus express the melanin concentrating hormone (MCH) neuropeptide and that icv injection of MCH induces a strong increase in PS quantity. However, the chemical nature of the majority of the neurons activated during PS had not been characterized. To determine whether these neurons are GABAergic, we combined in situ hybridization of GAD₆₇ mRNA with immunohistochemical detection of Fos in control, PS deprived and PS hypersomniac rats. We found that 74% of the very large population of Fos-labeled neurons located in the tuberal hypothalamus after PS hypersomnia were GAD-positive. We further demonstrated combining MCH immunohistochemistry and GAD₆₇ in situ hybridization that 85% of the MCH neurons were also GAD-positive. Finally, based on the number of Fos-ir/GAD⁺, Fos-ir/MCH⁺, and GAD⁺/MCH⁺ double-labeled neurons counted from three sets of double-staining, we uncovered that around 80% of the large number of the Fos-ir/GAD⁺ neurons located in the tuberal hypothalamus after PS hypersomnia do not contain MCH. Based on these and previous results, we propose that the non-MCH Fos/GABAergic neuronal population could be involved in PS induction and maintenance while the Fos/MCH/GABAergic neurons could be involved in the homeostatic regulation of PS. Further investigations will be needed to corroborate this original hypothesis.     

Persistent Lung Inflammation and Fibrosis in Serum Amyloid P Component (Apcs-/-) Knockout Mice

Fibrosing diseases, such as pulmonary fibrosis, cardiac fibrosis, myelofibrosis, liver fibrosis, and renal fibrosis are chronic and debilitating conditions and are an increasing burden for the healthcare system. Fibrosis involves the accumulation and differentiation of many immune cells, including macrophages and fibroblast-like cells called fibrocytes. The plasma protein serum amyloid P component (SAP; also known as pentraxin-2, PTX2) inhibits fibrocyte differentiation in vitro, and injections of SAP inhibit fibrosis in vivo. SAP also promotes the formation of immuno-regulatory Mreg macrophages. To elucidate the endogenous function of SAP, we used bleomycin aspiration to induce pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis in mice lacking SAP. Compared to wildtype C57BL/6 mice, we find that in Apcs^-/- “SAP knock-out” mice, bleomycin induces a more persistent inflammatory response and increased fibrosis. In both C57BL/6 and Apcs^-/- mice, injections of exogenous SAP reduce the accumulation of inflammatory macrophages and prevent fibrosis. The types of inflammatory cells present in the lungs following bleomycin-aspiration appear similar between C57BL/6 and Apcs ^-/- mice, suggesting that the initial immune response is normal in the Apcs^-/- mice, and that a key endogenous function of SAP is to promote the resolution of inflammation and fibrosis.     

Knockout of Toll-Like Receptors 2 and 4 Prevents Renal Ischemia-Reperfusion-Induced Cardiac Hypertrophy in Mice

We investigated whether the pathways linked to Toll-like receptors 2 and 4 (TLRs) are involved in renal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R)-induced cardiac hypertrophy. Wild type (WT) C57BL/6J, TLR2^-/- and TLR4^-/- mice were subjected to left kidney ischemia for 60 min followed by reperfusion for 5, 8, 12 and 15 days. Proton density magnetic resonance showed alterations in the injured kidney from WT mice, together with signs of parenchymal edema and higher levels of vimentin mRNA, accompanied by: (i) small, but significant, increase in serum urea after 24 h, (ii) 100% increase in serum creatinine at 24 h. A serum peak of inflammatory cytokines occurred after 5 days of reperfusion. Heart weight/body weight and heart weight/tibia length ratios increased after 12 and 15 days of reperfusion, respectively. Cardiac hypertrophy markers, B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and α-actin, left ventricle mass, cardiac wall thickness and myocyte width increased after 15 days of reperfusion, together with longer QTc and action potential duration. Cardiac TLRs, MyD88, HSP60 and HSP70 mRNA levels also increased. After 15 days of reperfusion, absence of TLRs prevented cardiac hypertrophy, as reflected by similar values of left ventricular cardiac mass and heart weight/body weight ratio compared to the transgenic Sham. Renal tissular injury also ameliorated in both knockout mice, as revealed by the comparison of their vimentin mRNA levels with those found in the WT on the same day after I/R. The I/R TLR2^-/- group had TNF-α, IFN-γ and IL-1β levels similar to the non-I/R group, whereas the TLR4^-/- group conserved the p-NF-κB/NF- κB ratio contrasting with that found in TLR2^-/-. We conclude: (i) TLRs are involved in renal I/R-induced cardiac hypertrophy; (ii) absence of TLRs prevents I/R-induced cardiac hypertrophy, despite renal lesions seeming to evolve towards those of chronic disease; (iii) TLR2 and TLR4 selectively regulate the systemic inflammatory profile and NF- κB activation.     

Sleep: sequential reduction of paradoxical (REM) and elevation of slow-wave (NREM) sleep by a non-convulsive dose of insulin in rats

Administration of a single non-convulsive dose of insulin (1.0, I.U./kg., I.P.) which produced no observable gross behavioral changes in rats, reduced rapid eye movement (REM) sleep time 100% in the first 3 hrs. and 82% by the 4th hr., reaching control subject levels (saline-treated) by the 6th hr. In contrast, slow-wave sleep (NREM) time in insulin treated animals exceeded control subject levels by 49% by the end of the 2nd hr., returning to normal by the 5th hr. Although there was no difference between insulin and saline treated rats for the total 8 hr. post-injection recording period for total percentage of time awake, or slow-wave sleep time, a 44% reduction in REM sleep time was observed in insulin treated animals compared to that of a saline treated control. The significance of these findings are discussed in terms of known neurochemical changes i.e., an increase of both brain tryptophan and serotonin in rats, induced by a subconvulsive dose of exogenous insulin.     

Inhibition by a Capsaicin Antagonist (Capsazepine) of Capsaicin-induced Swimming Capacity Increase in Mice

We investigated the endurance swimming capacity of mice injected with CAP antagonist (capsazepine). The increase of endurance swimming capacity by the administration of CAP was significantly suppressed by the injection of capsazepine. At the same time, serum adrenaline secretion, which was induced by CAP, was depressed by capsazepine. These findings suggested that the increase in endurance swimming capacity by CAP was mediated by the CAP receptor.     

Spontaneous 8bp Deletion in Nbeal2 Recapitulates the Gray Platelet Syndrome in Mice

During the analysis of a whole genome ENU mutagenesis screen for thrombosis modifiers, a spontaneous 8 base pair (bp) deletion causing a frameshift in exon 27 of the Nbeal2 gene was identified. Though initially considered as a plausible thrombosis modifier, this Nbeal2 mutation failed to suppress the synthetic lethal thrombosis on which the original ENU screen was based. Mutations in NBEAL2 cause Gray Platelet Syndrome (GPS), an autosomal recessive bleeding disorder characterized by macrothrombocytopenia and gray-appearing platelets due to lack of platelet alpha granules. Mice homozygous for the Nbeal2 8 bp deletion (Nbeal2^gps/gps) exhibit a phenotype similar to human GPS, with significantly reduced platelet counts compared to littermate controls (p = 1.63 x 10⁻⁷). Nbeal2^gps/gps mice also have markedly reduced numbers of platelet alpha granules and an increased level of emperipolesis, consistent with previously characterized mice carrying targeted Nbeal2 null alleles. These findings confirm previous reports, provide an additional mouse model for GPS, and highlight the potentially confounding effect of background spontaneous mutation events in well-characterized mouse strains.     

Orexin-A (Hypocretin-1) and leptin enhance LTP in the dentate gyrus of rats in vivo

Orexin-A (Hypocretin-1) has been localized in the posterior and lateral hypothalamic perifornical region. Orexin containing axon terminals have been found in hypothalamic nuclei and many other parts of the brain; for example, the hippocampus. Two types of orexin receptors have been discovered. Orexin 1 type of receptors have been described and been shown to be widely distributed in the rat brain including the hippocampus. Subsequently Orexin-A was found to impair both water maze performance and hippocampal long term potentiation (LTP). Leptin is expressed in adipose tissue and released into the blood where it affects food intake and can also produce widespread physiological changes mediated via autonomic preganglionic neurons, pituitary gland, and cerebral cortex. Immunoreactivity for leptin receptors has been found in various hypothalamic nuclei including the lateral hypothalamic area as well as the hippocampus especially in the dentate gyrus and CA1. Leptin receptor deficient rats and mice also show impaired LTP in CA1 and poor performance in the water maze. The present study was conducted to determine the effects of 0.0, 30, 60, 90, and 100 nM, orexin-A, and leptin, 0.0, 1.0, 100 nM, 1, and 10 microM, in 1.0 microl of ACSF, applied directly into the dentate gyrus, on LTP in medial perforant path dentate granule cell synapses in urethane anesthetized rats. Orexin-A specifically enhanced LTP at the 90 nM dose; and it was possible to block the enhancement by pretreating the animals with SB-334867, a specific orexin 1 receptor antagonist. Leptin enhanced normal LTP at 1.0 microM but inhibited LTP at lower and higher doses. These results and previous data indicate that the same peptide could possibly have different modulatory post synaptic effects in different hippocampal synapses dependent upon different types of post synaptic receptors.     

Quantification and Proteomic Characterization of β-Hydroxybutyrylation Modification in the Hearts of AMPKα2 Knockout Mice

AMP-activated protein kinase alpha 2 (AMPKα2) regulates energy metabolism, protein synthesis, and glucolipid metabolism myocardial cells. Ketone bodies produced by fatty acid β-oxidation, especially β-hydroxybutyrate, are fatty energy–supplying substances for the heart, brain, and other organs during fasting and long-term exercise. They also regulate metabolic signaling for multiple cellular functions. Lysine β-hydroxybutyrylation (Kbhb) is a β-hydroxybutyrate–mediated protein posttranslational modification. Histone Kbhb has been identified in yeast, mouse, and human cells. However, whether AMPK regulates protein Kbhb is yet unclear. Hence, the present study explored the changes in proteomics and Kbhb modification omics in the hearts of AMPKα2 knockout mice using a comprehensive quantitative proteomic analysis. Based on mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis, the number of 1181 Kbhb modified sites in 455 proteins were quantified between AMPKα2 knockout mice and wildtype mice; 244 Kbhb sites in 142 proteins decreased or increased after AMPKα2 knockout (fold change >1.5 or <1/1.5, p < 0.05). The regulation of Kbhb sites in 26 key enzymes of fatty acid degradation and tricarboxylic acid cycle was noted in AMPKα2 knockout mouse cardiomyocytes. These findings, for the first time, identified proteomic features and Kbhb modification of cardiomyocytes after AMPKα2 knockout, suggesting that AMPKα2 regulates energy metabolism by modifying protein Kbhb.     

Conditional Knockout of Prolyl Hydroxylase Domain Protein 2 Attenuates High Fat-Diet-Induced Cardiac Dysfunction in Mice

Oxygen sensor prolyl hydroxylases (PHDs) play important roles in the regulation of HIF-α and cell metabolisms. This study was designed to investigate the direct role of PHD2 in high fat-diet (HFD)-induced cardiac dysfunction. In HFD fed mice, PHD2 expression was increased without significant changes in PHD1 and PHD3 levels in the heart. This was accompanied by a significant upregulation of myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MYD88) and NF-κB. To explore the role of PHD2 in HFD-induced cardiac dysfunction, PHD2 conditional knockout mice were fed a HFD for 16 weeks. Intriguingly, knockout of PHD2 significantly reduced MYD88 and NF-κb expression in HFD mouse hearts. Moreover, knockout of PHD2 inhibited TNFα and ICAM-1 expression, and reduced cell apoptosis and macrophage infiltration in HFD mice. This was accompanied by a significant improvement of cardiac function. Most importantly, conditional knockout of PHD2 at late stage in HFD mice significantly improved glucose tolerance and reversed cardiac dysfunction. Our studies demonstrate that PHD2 activity is a critical contributor to the HFD-induced cardiac dysfunction. Inhibition of PHD2 attenuates HFD-induced cardiac dysfunction by a mechanism involving suppression of MYD88/NF-κb pathway and inflammation.