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Mitochondria and peroxisomes execute some analogous. nonredundant functions including fatty acid oxidation and detoxification of reactive oxygen species, and, in response to select metabolic cues, undergo rapid remodeling and division. Although these organelles share some components of their division machinery, it is not known whether a common regulator coordinates their remodeling and biogenesis. Here we show that in response to thermogenic stimuli. peroxisomes in brown fat tissue (BAT) undergo selective remodeling and expand in number and demonstrate that ectopic expression of the transcriptional coactivator PGC-1α recapitulates these effects on the peroxisomal compartment, both in vitro and in vivo. Conversely, β-adrenergic stimulation of PGC-1α-/- cells results in blunted induction of peroxisomal gene expression. Surprisingly. PPARα was not required for the induction of critical biogenesis factors, suggesting that PGC-lα orchestrates peroxisomal remodeling through a PPARα-independent mechanism. Our data suggest that PGC-lα is critical to peroxisomal physiology, establishing a role for this factor as a fundamental orchestrator of cellular adaptation to energy demands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ECG appearance in Brugada syndrome is caused by failure of the dome of the action potential to develop. Increased activity of the I(to) current in epicardial cells generates a transmural gradient with repolarization dispersion between the epicardium and the endocardium in the right ventricular wall, thus favoring the development of VF by a phase 2 reentry mechanism. The efficacy of cilostazol for the management of these arrhythmias has been reported. This drug is a phosphodiesterase inhibitor with positive chronotropic properties, thus blocking outward potassium currents I(to) in the myocardial tissue. We present a patient with Brugada syndrome with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), who suffered multiple ICD discharges due to VF during therapy with this drug. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Worldwide epidemics of metabolic diseases, including liver steatosis, are associated with an increased frequency of malignancies, showing the highest positive correlation for liver cancer. The heterogeneity of liver cancer represents a clinical challenge. In liver, the transcription factor PPARγ promotes metabolic adaptations of lipogenesis and aerobic glycolysis under the control of Akt2 activity, but the role of PPARγ in liver tumorigenesis is unknown. Here we have combined preclinical mouse models of liver cancer and genetic studies of a human liver biopsy atlas with the aim of identifying putative therapeutic targets in the context of liver steatosis and cancer. We have revealed a protumoral interaction of Akt2 signaling with hepatocyte nuclear factor 1α (HNF1α) and PPARγ, transcription factors that are master regulators of hepatocyte and adipocyte differentiation, respectively. Akt2 phosphorylates and inhibits HNF1α, thus relieving the suppression of hepatic PPARγ expression and promoting tumorigenesis. Finally, we observed that pharmacological inhibition of PPARγ is therapeutically effective in a preclinical murine model of steatosis-associated liver cancer. Taken together, our studies in humans and mice reveal that Akt2 controls hepatic tumorigenesis through crosstalk between HNF1α and PPARγ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy type 2 (ARVD2, OMIM 600996) and stress-induced polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (VTSIP, OMIM 604772) are two cardiac diseases causing juvenile sudden death, both associated with mutations in the RyR2 calcium channel. By using a quantitative yeast two-hybrid system, we show that VTSIP- and ARVD2-associated point mutations influence positively and negatively, respectively, the binding of RyR2 to its gating protein FKBP12.6. These findings suggest that ARVD2 mutations increase RyR2-mediated calcium release to cytoplasm, while VTSIP mutations do not affect significantly cytosolic calcium levels, thereby explaining the clinical differences between the two diseases. The present two-hybrid system appears to be an efficient molecular tool to assay the binding of FKBP12s proteins to both cardiac RyR2 and skeletal muscle RyR1 isoforms, circumventing the full-length expression of this class of giant channels. We also provide evidence of the suitability of this system to test new drugs that target RyRs–FKBP12s interactions and do not affect yeast growth. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

: ObjectivesWe sought to establish the role of genetic screening for ryanodine receptor type 2 (RyR2) gene mutations in families with effort-induced polymorphic ventricular arrhythmia (PVA), syncope and juvenile sudden death.: BackgroundThe RyR2 mutations have been associated with PVA, syncope and sudden death in response to physical or emotional stress.: MethodsWe studied 81 subjects (39 males and 42 females; mean age 31 ± 20 years) belonging to eight families with pathogenic RyR2 mutations. All subjects underwent screening for RyR2 mutations, electrocardiography (ECG), 24-h Holter monitoring, signal-averaged electrocardiography (SAECG), two-dimensional echocardiography and exercise stress testing. Electrophysiologic (EP) study was performed in nine patients.: ResultsSix different RyR2 mutations were found in eight families. Forty-three family members carried the gene mutation. Of these, 28 (65%) showed effort-induced arrhythmic symptoms or signs and one died suddenly during follow-up. Family history revealed 19 juvenile cases of sudden death during effort or emotion. In two families sharing the same mutation, no subject presented with PVA during the stress test; thus, sudden death and syncope were the only clinical manifestations. The 12-lead ECG was normal in all but two subjects, whereas five patients showed positive late potentials on the SAECG. In 17 (39.5%) of 43 subjects, the two-dimensional echocardiogram revealed localized kinetic abnormalities and mild structural alterations of the right ventricle. The EP study was not able to induce PVA.: ConclusionsThe absence of symptoms and PVA on the stress test in more than one-third of carriers of RyR2 mutations, as well as the lack of PVA inducibility by the EP study, underlies the importance of genetic screening for the early diagnosis of asymptomatic carriers and prevention of sudden death. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]