Diet-induced epigenetic regulation in vivo of the intestinal fructose transporter Glut5 during development of rat small intestine

Metabolic complications arising from excessive fructose consumption are increasing dramatically even in young children, but little is known about ontogenetic mechanisms regulating Glut5 [glucose transporter 5; encoded by the Slc2a5 (solute carrier family 2 member 5) gene]. Glut5 expression is low postnatally and does not increase, unless luminal fructose and systemic glucocorticoids are present, until ≥ 14 days of age, suggesting substrate-inducible age- and hormone-sensitive regulation. In the present study, we perfused intestines of 10- and 20-day-old rats with either fructose or glucose then analysed the binding of Pol II (RNA polymerase II) and GR (glucocorticoid receptor), as well as acetylation of histones H3 and H4 by chromatin immunoprecipitation. Abundance of Glut5 mRNA increased only with fructose perfusion and age, a pattern that matched that of Pol II binding and histone H3 acetylation to the Glut5 promoter. Although many regions of the Glut5 promoter respond to developmental signals, fewer regions perceive dietary signals. Age- but not fructose-dependent expression of Sglt1 [sodium-dependent glucose co-transporter 1 encoded by the Slc5a1(solute carrier family 5 member 1) gene] also correlated with Pol II binding and histone H3 acetylation. In contrast, G6Pase (glucose-6-phosphatase; encoded by the G6pc gene) expression, which decreases with age and increases with fructose, is associated only with age-dependent changes in histone H4 acetylation. Induction of Glut5 during ontogenetic development appears to be specifically mediated by GR translocation to the nucleus and subsequent binding to the Glut5 promoter, whereas the glucocorticoid-independent regulation of Sglt1 by age was not associated with any GR binding to the Sglt1 promoter.     

Stage-specific expression of Smad2 and Smad3 during folliculogenesis

Paracrine and autocrine growth factors can affect many different aspects of ovarian follicle development. Many members of the transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) family of growth factors and their receptors are expressed in developing follicles. However, the presence and function of the family of the TGFbeta signaling molecules known as Smads have not been evaluated during follicle development. We have demonstrated that two Smad family members that function as mediators for both activin and TGFbeta are expressed in granulosa cells of preantral follicles but not in large antral follicles. Smad2 expression, but not Smad3 expression, returns in luteal cells. Both Smad2 and Smad3 are translocated to the nucleus of granulosa cells in response to treatment with either TGFbeta or activin. However, Smad2 is more responsive to activin stimulation, and Smad3 is more responsive to TGFbeta stimulation. Stage-specific expression and differing ligand sensitivity of signaling molecules may work together to allow different effects of TGFbeta family ligands using the same signaling pathways over the course of follicular development.     

Rapid mechanisms of glucocorticoid signaling in the Leydig cell

Stress-mediated elevations in circulating glucocorticoid levels lead to corresponding rapid declines in testosterone production by Leydig cells in the testis. In previous studies we have established that glucocorticoids act on Leydig cells directly, through the classic glucocorticoid receptor (GR), and that access to the GR is controlled prior to the GR by a metabolizing pathway mediated by the type 1 isoform of 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11betaHSD1). This enzyme is bidirectional (with both oxidase and reductase activities) and in the rat testis is exclusively localized in Leydig cells where it is abundantly expressed and may catalyze the oxidative inactivation of glucocorticoids. The predominant reductase direction of 11betaHSD1 activity in liver cells is determined by an enzyme, hexose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (H6PDH), on the luminal side of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER). Generation of the pyridine nucleotide cofactor NADPH by H6PDH stimulates the reductase direction of 11betaHSD1 resulting in increased levels of active glucocorticoids in liver cells. Unlike liver cells, steroidogenic enzymes including 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 3 (17betaHSD3) forms the coupling with 11betaHSD1. Thus the physiological concentrations of androstenedione serve as a substrate for 17betaHSD3 utilizing NADPH to generate NADP+, which drives 11betaHSD1 in Leydig cells primarily as an oxidase; thus eliminating the adverse effects of glucocorticoids on testosterone production. At the same time 11betaHSD1 generates NADPH which promotes testosterone biosynthesis by stimulating 17betaHSD3 in a cooperative cycle. This enzymatic coupling constitutes a rapid mechanism for modulating glucocorticoid control of testosterone biosynthesis. Under stress conditions, glucocorticoids also have rapid actions to suppress cAMP formation thus to lower testosterone production.     

Somatostatin increases glucocorticoid binding and signaling in macrophages by blocking the calpain-specific cleavage of Hsp 90

Somatostatin has direct anti-inflammatory actions and participates in the anti-inflammatory actions of glucocorticoids, but the mechanisms underlying this regulation remain poorly understood. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether somatostatin increases glucocorticoid responsiveness by up-regulating glucocorticoid receptor (GR) expression and signaling. Somatostatin promoted a time- and dose-dependent increase in [(3)H]dexamethasone binding to RAW 264.7 macrophages. Cell exposure to 10 nM somatostatin for 18 h promoted a 2-fold increase in the number of GR sites per cell without significant modification of the affinity. Analysis of GR heterocomplex components demonstrated that somatostatin increased the level of heat shock protein (Hsp) 90, whereas the level of GR remained almost unchanged. The increase in Hsp 90 was associated with a decrease in the cleavage of its carboxyl-terminal domain. Evidence for the involvement of calpain inhibition in this process was obtained by the demonstration that 1) somatostatin induced a dose-dependent decrease in calpain activity and 2) calpain inhibitors, calpain inhibitor I and calpeptin, both abolished the cleavage of Hsp 90 and induced a dose-dependent increase in [(3)H]dexamethasone binding. Increases in glucocorticoid binding after somatostatin treatment were associated with similar increases in the ability of GR to transactivate a minimal promoter containing two glucocorticoid response elements (GRE) and to interfere with the activation of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB). Thus, the present findings indicate that somatostatin increases glucocorticoid binding and signaling by limiting the calpain-specific cleavage of GR-associated Hsp 90. This mechanism may represent a novel target for intervention to increase glucocorticoid responsiveness.     

TGFbeta2 mediates rapid inhibition of calcium influx in identified cholinergic basal forebrain neurons.

Transforming growth factors betas (TGFbetas) are known to have important roles in neuronal survival and can be upregulated in disease. However, unlike many other trophic factors, nothing is known about the rapid neurotransmitter-like actions of TGFbeta in the CNS. We explored this by examining the effects of TGFbeta on calcium influx of large enzymatically dissociated basal forebrain neurons. We show that brief application of TGFbeta2, but not TGFbeta1, to fura-2AM-loaded neurons reversibly and acutely (within seconds) inhibited K(+)-evoked calcium influx. Moreover, using single-cell RT-PCR, we confirmed that the large TGFbeta2-responsive neurons presented a cholinergic phenotype. Investigation of the signaling mechanism underlying TGFbeta2 actions using whole-cell recordings of calcium currents revealed that TGFbeta2-mediated responses were insensitive to the nonhydrolyzable GTP analogue GTPgammaS. However, TGFbeta2-mediated calcium current reductions were prevented by intracellular perfusion of a Smad2/3 peptide antagonist. Together, these results suggest that TGFbeta2 can acutely regulate the excitability of basal forebrain cholinergic neurons through an atypical signaling mechanism.