Myocardin regulates exon usage in smooth muscle cells through induction of splicing regulatory factors

Differentiation of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) depends on serum response factor (SRF) and its co-activator myocardin (MYOCD). The role of MYOCD for the SMC program of gene transcription is well established. In contrast, the role of MYOCD in control of SMC-specific alternative exon usage, including exon splicing, has not been explored. In the current work we identified four splicing factors (MBNL1, RBPMS, RBPMS2, and RBFOX2) that correlate with MYOCD across human SMC tissues. Forced expression of MYOCD family members in human coronary artery SMCs in vitro upregulated expression of these splicing factors. For global profiling of transcript diversity, we performed RNA-sequencing after MYOCD transduction. We analyzed alternative transcripts with three different methods. Exon-based analysis identified 1637 features with differential exon usage. For example, usage of 3 ' exons in MYLK that encode telokin increased relative to 5 ' exons, as did the 17 kDa telokin to 130 kDa MYLK protein ratio. Dedicated event-based analysis identified 239 MYOCD-driven splicing events. Events involving MBNL1, MCAM, and ACTN1 were among the most prominent, and this was confirmed using variant-specific PCR analyses. In support of a role for RBPMS and RBFOX2 in MYOCD-driven splicing we found enrichment of their binding motifs around differentially spliced exons. Moreover, knockdown of either RBPMS or RBFOX2 antagonized splicing events stimulated by MYOCD, including those involving ACTN1, VCL, and MBNL1. Supporting an in vivo role of MYOCD-SRF-driven splicing, we demonstrate altered Rbpms expression and splicing in inducible and SMC-specific Srf knockout mice. We conclude that MYOCD-SRF, in part via RBPMS and RBFOX2, induce a program of differential exon usage and alternative splicing as part of the broader program of SMC differentiation.Peer reviewe

EHD2 regulates plasma membrane integrity and downstream insulin receptor signalling events

Adipocyte dysfunction is a crucial driver of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. We identified EH domain-containing protein 2 (EHD2) as one of the most highly upregulated genes at the early stage of adipose tissue expansion. EHD2 is a dynamin-related ATPase influencing several cellular processes, including membrane recycling, caveolae dynamics and lipid metabolism. Here, we investigated the role of EHD2 in adipocyte insulin signalling and glucose transport. Using C57BL6/N EHD2 knockout mice under short-term high-fat diet conditions and 3T3-L1 adipocytes we demonstrate that EHD2 deficiency is associated with deterioration of insulin signal transduction and impaired insulin-stimulated GLUT4 translocation. Furthermore, we show that lack of EHD2 is linked with altered plasma membrane lipid and protein composition, reduced insulin receptor expression, and diminished insulin-dependent SNARE protein complex formation. In conclusion, these data highlight the importance of EHD2 for the integrity of the plasma membrane milieu, insulin receptor stability, and downstream insulin receptor signalling events, involved in glucose uptake and ultimately underscore its role in insulin resistance and obesity

N-1-methylnicotinamide is a signalling molecule produced in skeletal muscle coordinating energy metabolism

Obesity is a major health problem, and although caloric restriction and exercise are successful strategies to lose adipose tissue in obese individuals, a simultaneous decrease in skeletal muscle mass, negatively effects metabolism and muscle function. To deeper understand molecular events occurring in muscle during weight-loss, we measured the expressional change in human skeletal muscle following a combination of severe caloric restriction and exercise over 4 days in 15 Swedish men. Key metabolic genes were regulated after the intervention, indicating a shift from carbohydrate to fat metabolism. Nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT) was the most consistently upregulated gene following the energy-deficit exercise. Circulating levels of N-1-methylnicotinamide (MNA), the product of NNMT activity, were doubled after the intervention. The fasting-fed state was an important determinant of plasma MNA levels, peaking at similar to 18 h of fasting and being lowest similar to 3 h after a meal. In culture, MNA was secreted by isolated human myotubes and stimulated lipolysis directly, with no effect on glucagon or insulin secretion. We propose that MNA is a novel myokine that enhances the utilization of energy stores in response to low muscle energy availability. Future research should focus on applying MNA as a biomarker to identify individuals with metabolic disturbances at an early stage.Peer reviewe

A molecular approach to insulin signalling and caveolae in primary adipocytes

The prevalence of type II diabetes is increasing at an alarming rate due to the western world lifestyle. Type II diabetes is characterized by an insulin resistance distinguished by impaired glucose uptake in adipose and muscle tissues. The molecular mechanisms behind the insulin recistance and also the knowledge considering normal insulin signalling in fat cells, especially in humans, are still unclear. Insulin receptor substrate (IRS) is known to be important for medating the insulin-induced signal from the insulin receptor into the cell. We developed and optimized a method for transfection of primary human adipocytes by electroporation. By recombinant expression of proteins, we found a proper IRS to be crucial for both mitogenic and metabolic signalling in human adipocytes. In human, but not rat, primary adipocytes we found IRS1 to be located at the plasma membrane in non-insulin stimulated cells. Insulin stimulation resulted in a two-fold increase of the amount of IRS1 at the plasma membrane in human cells, compared with a 12-fold increase in rat cells. By recombinant expression of IRS1 we found the species difference between human and rat IRS1 to depend on the IRS proteins and not on properties of the host cell. The adipocytes function as an energy store, critical for maintaining the energy balance, and obesity strongly correlates with insulin resistance. The insulin sensitivity of the adipocytes with regard to the size of the cells was examined by separating small and large cells from the same subject. We found no increase of the GLUT4 translocation to the plasma membrane following insulin stimulation in the large cells, whereas there was a two-fold increase in the small cells. This finding supports the idea of a causal relationship between the enlarged fat cells and reduced insulin sensitivity found in obese subjects. The insulin receptor is located and functional in a specific membrane structure, the caveola. The morphology of the caveola and the localization of the caveolar marker proteins caveolin-1 and -2 were examined. Caveolae were shown to be connected to the exterior by a narrow neck. Caveolin was found to be located at the neck region of caveolae, which imply importance of caveolin for maintaining and sequestering caveolae to the plasma membrane. In conclusion, the transfection technique proved to be highly useful for molecular biological studies of insulin signal transduction and morphology in primary adipocytes

caveolae in primary adipocytes

A molecular approach to insulin signalling an

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APOLIPOPROTEIN A-I DERIVED PEPTIDES FOR TREATMENT OF HYPERGLYCAEMIA

The present invention relates to peptides derived fromapolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) and their use for treatment or prevention ofdiseases and disorders associated with hyper-glycaemia