13 research outputs found
RSPO3 impacts body fat distribution and regulates adipose cell biology in vitro
Fat distribution is an independent cardiometabolic risk factor. However, its molecular and cellular underpinnings remain obscure. Here we demonstrate that two independent GWAS signals at RSPO3, which are associated with increased body mass index-adjusted waist-to-hip ratio, act to specifically increase RSPO3 expression in subcutaneous adipocytes. These variants are also associated with reduced lower-body fat, enlarged gluteal adipocytes and insulin resistance. Based on human cellular studies RSPO3 may limit gluteofemoral adipose tissue (AT) expansion by suppressing adipogenesis and increasing gluteal adipocyte susceptibility to apoptosis. RSPO3 may also promote upper-body fat distribution by stimulating abdominal adipose progenitor (AP) proliferation. The distinct biological responses elicited by RSPO3 in abdominal versus gluteal APs in vitro are associated with differential changes in WNT signalling. Zebrafish carrying a nonsense rspo3 mutation display altered fat distribution. Our study identifies RSPO3 as an important determinant of peripheral AT storage capacity
The polarization of mm methanol masers
We present a survey of the polarization properties of mm-wavelength methanol
masers, comprising both classes, and transitions from 84.5 to 157.0 GHz. Linear
polarization is found in more than half of the observed objects, and circular
polarization is tentatively detected in two sources. Class I and Class II
CH_3OH masers show similar polarization properties.The largest linear
polarization is found in the 133 GHz Class I maser towards L379 (39.5 %), and
in the 157 GHz Class II maser towards G9.62+0.19 (36.7 %). The spectral
profiles of the polarization angle of Class I masers are mostly flat, except
for two sources showing a linear slope. Since the mm-line methanol masers are
expected to be weakly (or not) saturated, we suggest that the stronger
fractional polarizations found by us are enhanced by anisotropic pumping and
radiative losses. In NGC 7538, we find, for both maser classes, a good
agreement between our polarization angles, and those measured for the
submillimeter dust continuum. This can be taken as evidence for magnetic
alignment of dust grains. It is also possible that an unsaturated maser with
equally populated magnetic substates simply amplifies polarized continuum seed
radiation. For Class II masers, the polarization properties of the various
velocity components towards a given source with detectable polarization are
quite homogeneous. A possible explanation is discussed. Since methanol is
non-paramagnetic, the circular polarization of the unsaturated maser emission
can only be due to variations of the angle between the magnetic field and the
line of sight along the maser propagation path.Comment: Astronomy & Astrophysics, in press, received 27 February 2004,
accepted 27 July 200
Unusual development of light-reflecting pigment cells in intact and regenerating tail in the periodic albino mutant of Xenopus laevis
Unusual light-reflecting pigment cells, âwhite pigment cellsâ, specifically appear in the periodic albino mutant (ap/ap) of Xenopus laevis and localize in the same place where melanophores normally differentiate in the wild-type. The mechanism responsible for the development of unusual pigment cells is unclear. In this study, white pigment cells in the periodic albino were compared with melanophores in the wild-type, using a cell culture system and a tail-regenerating system. Observations of both intact and cultured cells demonstrate that white pigment cells are unique in (1) showing characteristics of melanophore precursors at various stages of development, (2) accumulating reflecting platelets characteristic of iridophores, and (3) exhibiting pigment dispersion in response to α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH) in the same way that melanophores do. When a tadpole tail is amputated, a functionally competent new tail is regenerated. White pigment cells appear in the mutant regenerating tail, whereas melanophores differentiate in the wild-type regenerating tail. White pigment cells in the mutant regenerating tail are essentially similar to melanophores in the wild-type regenerating tail with respect to their localization, number, and response to α-MSH. In addition to white pigment cells, iridophores which are never present in the intact tadpole tail appear specifically in the somites near the amputation level in the mutant regenerating tail. Iridophores are distinct from white pigment cells in size, shape, blue light-induced fluorescence, and response to α-MSH. These findings strongly suggest that white pigment cells in the mutant arise from melanophore precursors and accumulate reflecting platelets characteristic of iridophores