Inhibition of the anti-adipogenic Hedgehog signaling pathway by cyclopamine does not trigger adipocyte differentiation

Dysregulation of Hedgehog signaling can lead to several pathologies such as congenital defects and cancer. Here, we show that Hedgehog signaling is active in undifferentiated 3T3-L1 cells and decreases during adipocyte differentiation. Interestingly, this is paralleled by a decrease in Indian Hedgehog expression. We then tested if this down-regulation was sufficient to induce adipocyte differentiation. To this end, we demonstrate that the well-characterized Hedgehog inhibitor cyclopamine induced a decrease in Hedgehog signaling, similar to the one observed during adipocyte differentiation. However, cyclopamine did not induce nor potentiate adipocyte differentiation, as monitored by triglyceride staining and by the expression of several adipocyte markers: aP2, adipsin, C/EBPalpha, and Pref-1. Moreover, cyclopamine cannot substitute for other components of the differentiation medium: insulin, dexamethasone or IBMX. These results indicate that although Hedgehog signaling decreases during adipocyte differentiation, this down-regulation is not sufficient to trigger adipocyte differentiation. This suggests that Hedgehog signaling is an inadequate pharmacological target for patient suffering from syndromes associated with a decrease in fat mass, such as the ones observed in lipodystrophies.     

Hedgehog signaling: mechanisms and evolution

The Hedgehog (Hh) family of secreted proteins plays essential roles in the development of a wide variety of animal species and underlies multiple human birth defects and cancers.To.ensure the proper ra...     

Hedgehog信号通路与脂肪形成

Hedgehog(Hh)信号通路是从果蝇到人类都非常保守的信号通路,在脊椎动物和非脊椎动物胚胎期多种组织器官的发育中发挥着重要作用。Hh信号通路的异常会导致疾病(先天性缺陷和癌症)的发生。近年的研究发现,Hh信号通路在脂肪生长发育中发挥重要作用,激活Hh信号通路能特异性地抑制白色脂肪组织细胞的分化,而对棕色脂肪组织细胞分化没有作用。该文综述了Hh信号通路在脂肪细胞分化中的作用及其分子机制,并对今后的研究和应用作了展望。     

Identification of Gli1-interacting proteins during simvastatin-stimulated osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells

Simvastatin has been shown to promote osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). Our study aimed to illuminate the underlying mechanism, with a specific focus on the role of Hedgehog signaling in this process. BMSCs cultured with or without 10⁻⁷ mol/L simvastatin were subjected to evaluation of osteogenic differentiation capacity. Osteogenic markers such as type 1 collagen (COL1) and osteocalcin (OCN), as well as key molecules of Hedgehog signaling molecules, were examined by Western blot and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Co-immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry assays were applied to screen for Gli1-interacting proteins. Cyclopamine (Cpn) was used as a Hedgehog signaling inhibitor. Our results indicated that simvastatin increased alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity; mineralization of extracellular matrix; mRNA expression of ALP, COL1, and OCN; and expression and nuclear translocation of Gli1. Contrasting effects were observed in Cpn-exposed groups, but were partially rescued by the simvastatin treatment. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses indicated that Gli1-interacting proteins were primarily associated with mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) (P = 7.04E⁻⁰⁴), hippo, insulin, and glucagon signaling. Further, hub genes identified by protein-protein interaction network analysis included Gli1-interacting proteins such as Ppp2r1a, Rac1, Etf1, and XPO1/CRM1. In summary, the current study showed that the mechanism by which simvastatin stimulates osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs involves activation of Hedgehog signaling, as indicated by interactions with Gli1 and, most notably, the MAPK signaling pathway.     

Hedgehog信号通路与肿瘤

Hedgehog信号通路在胚胎发育中细胞的生长分化、组织器官形成以及成体干细胞的维持和自稳态的保持等方面具有重要作用。同时,Hedgehog信号通路与Wnt信号通路、Notch信号通路等相互作用、密切联系,在肿瘤的发生、发展过程中也起到关键作用。论文综述了Hedgehog信号通路的作用机理,与其他信号通路、蛋白质因子的相互联系,以及在肿瘤研究中所关注的靶位点和小分子化合物抑制剂,对于癌症的预防和治疗具有一定的参考价值。     

Hedgehog信号通路与动物骨骼肌发育调控

Hedgehog信号通路在动物胚胎期及出生后骨骼肌的生长发育过程中发挥着重要作用。本文综述了Hedgehog信号通路对骨骼肌细胞增殖分化及肌纤维特性的调控作用及其在骨骼肌发育过程中与其它信号通路交互作用最新研究进展,为畜禽肉品质改良和肌肉相关疾病治疗提供理论基础。     

Overexpressed miR-196a accelerates osteogenic differentiation in osteoporotic mice via GNAS-dependent Hedgehog signaling pathway

Osteoporosis (OP), a common metabolic bone disease, is accompanied by reduced bone mass, bone mineral density (BMD), as well as microstructure destruction of bone. Previously, microRNA-196a-2 (miR-196a-2) and miR-196a-3p were reported for its involvement in BMD. Herein, this study set out to identify the functional relevance of miR-196a in osteogenic differentiation in osteoporotic mice and explore the associated mechanism by establishing an OP mouse model. Guanine nucleotide binding protein, alpha stimulating (GNAS) was verified as a target gene of miR-196a, which was decreased in OP mice. Furthermore, the bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) were then extracted from OP mice and treated with miR-196 mimic/inhibitor or small interfering RNA against GNAS to investigate miR-196a interaction with GNAS and the Hedgehog signaling pathway. BMSCs in OP mice transfected with miR-196a mimic or si-GNAS displayed the elevated expression of Smo, ALP, Runx2, and OPN, as well as bone gla protein and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase, elevated ALP vitality and bone formation ability as well as reduced expression of GNAS and PTCH. Taken conjointly, overexpression of miR-196a repressed GNAS expression by activating the Hedgehog signaling pathway, thus promoting osteogenic differentiation in mice with OP.     

Gli1与β-catenin相互作用促进二者在结肠癌细胞中的协同核输入

Wnt信号通路和Hedgehog（Hh）信号通路在胚胎和干细胞的发育中发挥重要作用.此外,这两条信号途径在结肠癌复发和浸润的过程也至关重要.然而,Wnt信号通路、Hedgehog信号通路二者之间具体的交互作用机制目前仍不清楚.本文发现,这两条途径的关键分子Gli1和β-联蛋白之间存在蛋白质相互作用.Gli1与β-联蛋白之间的分子相互作用有助于二者的核输入.同时发现,在肠癌细胞系中,Gli1与β-联蛋白协同上调表达. LiCl激活细胞Wnt信号通路使Gli1表达水平增加, RNA干扰抑制Wnt信号通路,Gli1的表达水平下降.同时,Gli1的过表达也提高了细胞内β-联蛋白的表达水平,并且用Hedgehog信号通路抑制剂GANT61处理细胞,降低Gli1的表达后细胞内β 联蛋白的表达相应下降.本研究揭示了Gli1 和 β-联蛋白的相互作用及二者协助核输入在Wnt、Hedgehog信号通路交互调节中发挥重要作用,Wnt、Hedgehog信号通路交互作用为大肠癌发生发展研究提供了细胞水平交互调控机制.     

Gene expression patterns of bovine perimuscular preadipocytes during adipogenesis

Bovine perimuscular fat (PMF) preadipocytes were induced to undergo adipogenesis in vitro in our recent study to define the expression patterns of genes involved in the differentiation process. Based on the understanding of the interaction among adipogenic genes, a broad overview of gene expression profile in the differentiating PMF preadipocytes was evaluated using bovine specific DNA microarray from day 2 to 8 post-differentiation induction. A total of 100 significantly differentially expressed genes were detected between differentiated and control cells including those involved in several biochemical pathways and cellular/molecular signaling. In addition, quantitative real-time PCR validated that typical adipogenic genes were up-regulated at early differentiation in the preadipocytes. These results suggest that the PMF preadipocyte system is available as a novel in vitro model for molecular adipogenesis studies in the bovine and that a series of genes are switched on/off during early events associated with adipogenesis.     

Hedgehog信号通路靶基因与肿瘤的关系之研究进展

Hedgehog（HH）蛋白属于分泌蛋白家族,广泛表达于哺乳动物,非哺乳动物等多个物种,参与调控多种肿瘤形成,器官成熟、血管生成,干细胞分化,免疫细胞以及胚胎发育。文章主要就近几年来国内外对hedgehog信号通道下游靶基因在肿瘤干细胞,肿瘤细胞的转移,增殖,凋亡及胚胎发育等方面的研究进展进行综述,重点阐述hedgehog信号通路下游靶基因与肿瘤及发育的关系,以期能为与hedgehog信号通道参与调控的相关疾病提供一些靶向性临床诊疗的新思路。     

Inhibition of inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase reduces adipogenesis and diet-induced obesity

We previously described a putative role for inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH), a rate-limiting enzyme in de novo guanine nucleotide biosynthesis, in lipid accumulation. Here we present data which demonstrate that IMPDH activity is required for differentiation of preadipocytes into mature, lipid-laden adipocytes and maintenance of adipose tissue mass. In 3T3-L1 preadipocytes inhibition of IMPDH with mycophenolic acid (MPA) reduced intracellular GTP levels by 60% (p < 0.05) and blocked adipogenesis (p < 0.05). Co-treatment with guanosine, a substrate in the salvage pathway of nucleotide biosynthesis, restored GTP levels and adipogenesis demonstrating the specificity of these effects. Treatment of diet-induced obese mice with mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), the prodrug of MPA, for 28 days did not affect food intake or lean body mass but reduced body fat content (by 36%, p = 0.002) and adipocyte size (p = 0.03) and number. These data suggest that inhibition of IMPDH may represent a novel strategy to reduce adipose tissue mass.     

Increased fat mass and insulin resistance in mice lacking pancreatic lipase-related protein 1

Pancreatic triglyceride lipase (PTL) and its cofactor, colipase, are required for efficient dietary triglyceride digestion. In addition to PTL, pancreatic acinar cells synthesize two pancreatic lipase-related proteins (PLRP1 and PLRP2), which have a high degree of sequence and structural homology with PTL. The lipase activity of PLRP2 has been confirmed, whereas no known triglyceride lipase activity has been detected with PLRP1 up to now. To explore the biological functions of PLRP1 in vivo, we generated Plrp1 knockout (KO) mice in our laboratory. Here we show that the Plrp1 KO mice displayed mature-onset obesity with increased fat mass, impaired glucose clearance and the resultant insulin resistance. When fed on high-fat (HF) diet, the Plrp1 KO mice exhibited an increased weight gain, fat mass and severe insulin resistance compared with wild-type mice. Pancreatic juice extracted from Plrp1 KO mice had greater ability to hydrolyze triglyceride than that from the wild-type littermates. We propose that PLRP1 may function as a metabolic inhibitor in vivo of PLT-colipase-mediated dietary triglyceride digestion and provides potential anti-obesity targets for developing new drugs.