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BACKGROUND AND AIMS Acute kidney injury (AKI) accounts for 13.3 million cases per year worldwide and further responsible for 1.7 million deaths per year [1]. Increasing incidence of AKI, progression toward CKD or end-stage renal disease (ESRD), affect on long term health, high mortality, morbidity and high costs are all accountable for the need to analyze AKI at a closer level [2]. Rhabdomyolysis (RM) accounting for 10% of AKI cases is due to damage of the skeletal muscle causing a release of muscle cell contents like myoglobin and toxins into the bloodstream leading to AKI, renal failure and possibly death. RM-induced AKI (RIAKI) occurs due to a variety of causes like fall risk, exposure to drugs, infections, muscle hypoxia, infections, body-temperature changes and metabolic and electrolyte disorders [3]. The immune system has been reported to play a role in the pathogenesis of AKI through inflammatory pathways. Macrophages are known to be involved in AKI to CKD transition [4]. Macrophages play an important role in the pathogenesis of RIAKI. While macrophage subtypes (inflammatory type) have been reported to drive RIAKI lesions and prognosis [5], the role of the other immune cells needs to be explored. The aim of this study was to analyze the recruitment of the whole immune system during RIAKI through single-cell RNA sequencing. METHOD Two month old C57BL/6J male mice were used for this study. Mice were administered saline (control) or glycerol i.m (7.5 mL/kg 50% glycerol diluted in saline) for induction of RM. Mouse tail vein blood was collected at 6, 24 and 48 h and serum was obtained after centrifugation (5 min at 2000 rpm). Biochemical analysis tests were used to evaluate RM intensity (creatinine phosphokinase, CPK) and renal function (blood urea nitrogen, BUN) using a Pentra 400 analyzer. To analyze the immune cell recruitment in kidney, kidneys from control and glycerol treated mice were decapsulated, minced and incubated with collagenase and DNase. The dissociated cells were then incubated in red cell lysis buffer and passed through a 40 µm filter. The dissociated cells were further incubated with CD45 antibodies and a viability marker. Kidney CD45 live cells were sorted using BD Influx cell sorter. Preparation of single cell libraries was done and single-cell RNA sequencing was performed according to 10× Genomics protocol. RESULTS Eight clusters (macrophages, monocytes, endothelial cells, neutrophils, natural killer T cells, B cells, T cells and dendritic cells) were revealed after single-cell RNA sequencing of CD45+ renal cells. Recruitment of macrophages, monocytes and neutrophils were revealed to be modified by RIAKI. As expected, NF-kB signaling pathway was the major pathway upregulated in multiple clusters. Pathway analysis in T cell cluster showcased T cell selection and differentiation and T cell receptor signaling pathway. AA467197 (a long non-coding RNA which has been reported in renal ischemia–reperfusion) was upregulated through differential expression analysis in multiple clusters. Macrophage subclustering revealed a high macrophage diversity in the seven macrophage subclusters that shared markers for macrophage subtypes (M1, M2) and pro-inflammatory markers. KLf9 was upregulated in cluster 7, which has been reported to be a stress-responsive gene associated having pro-inflammatory effect. NF-kB and IL-2 STAT5 signaling pathways were the major pathways upregulated in multiple clusters. Drug repositioning studies with connectivity map showcased SRC inhibitions as potent pharmacological intervention strategy. CONCLUSION This study revealed the immune landscaping and pathways associated in RIAKI. Single-cell approach illustrated macrophages diversity in pathological context and suggested candidates for further therapeutic approaches.

Background: The absence of efficient inhibitors for diabetic kidney disease (DKD) progression reflects the gaps in our understanding of DKD molecular pathogenesis. Methods: A comprehensive proteomic analysis was performed on the glomeruli and kidney cortex of diabetic mice with the subsequent validation of findings in human biopsies and omics datasets, aiming to better understand the underlying molecular biology of early DKD development and progression. Results: LC–MS/MS was employed to analyze the kidney proteome of 2 DKD models: Ins2Akita (early and late DKD) and db/db mice (late DKD). The abundance of detected proteins was defined. Pathway analysis of differentially expressed proteins in the early and late DKD versus the respective controls predicted dysregulation in DKD hallmarks (peroxisomal lipid metabolism and β-oxidation), supporting the functional relevance of the findings. Comparing the observed protein changes in early and late DKD, the consistent upregulation of 21 and downregulation of 18 proteins was detected. Among these were downregulated peroxisomal and upregulated mitochondrial proteins. Tissue sections from 16 DKD patients were analyzed by IHC confirming our results. Conclusion: Our study shows an extensive differential expression of peroxisomal proteins in the early stages of DKD that persists regardless of the disease severity, providing new perspectives and potential markers of diabetic kidney dysfunction.

The absence of efficient inhibitors for diabetic kidney disease (DKD) progression reflects the gaps in our understanding of DKD molecular pathogenesis.A comprehensive proteomic analysis was performed on the glomeruli and kidney cortex of diabetic mice with the subsequent validation of findings in human biopsies and omics datasets, aiming to better understand the underlying molecular biology of early DKD development and progression.LC-MS/MS was employed to analyze the kidney proteome of 2 DKD models: Ins2Akita (early and late DKD) and db/db mice (late DKD). The abundance of detected proteins was defined. Pathway analysis of differentially expressed proteins in the early and late DKD versus the respective controls predicted dysregulation in DKD hallmarks (peroxisomal lipid metabolism and β-oxidation), supporting the functional relevance of the findings. Comparing the observed protein changes in early and late DKD, the consistent upregulation of 21 and downregulation of 18 proteins was detected. Among these were downregulated peroxisomal and upregulated mitochondrial proteins. Tissue sections from 16 DKD patients were analyzed by IHC confirming our results.Our study shows an extensive differential expression of peroxisomal proteins in the early stages of DKD that persists regardless of the disease severity, providing new perspectives and potential markers of diabetic kidney dysfunction.

BackgroundThe absence of efficient inhibitors for DKD progression reflects the gaps in our understanding of DKD molecular pathogenesis. A comprehensive proteomic analysis was performed on glomeruli and kidney cortex of diabetic mice with subsequent validation of findings in human biopsies and - omics datasets aiming to better understand the underlying molecular biology of early DKD development and progression.MethodsLC–MS/MS was employed to analyze the kidney proteome of DKD mouse models: Glomeruli of Ins2Akita mice 2 month and 4 month old, and cortex of db/db mice 6 month old. Following label-free quantification, the abundance of detected proteins were correlated with existing kidney datasets and functionally annotated. Tissue sections from 16 DKD patients were analyzed by IHC.ResultsPathway analysis of differentially expressed proteins in the early and late DKD versus controls predicted dysregulation in DKD hallmarks (such as peroxisomal lipid metabolism, β-oxidation and TCA cycle) supporting the functional relevance of the findings. Comparing the observed protein changes in early and late DKD, consistent upregulation of 21 and downregulation of 18 proteins was detected. Among these were downregulated peroxisomal proteins such as NUDT19, ACOX1, and AMACR and upregulated mitochondrial proteins related to aminoacid metabolism including GLS, GLDC, and GCAT. Several of these changes were also observed in the kidney cortex proteome of db/db mice. IHC of human kidney further confirmed the differential expression of NUDT19, AGPS, AMACR and CAT proteins in DKD.ConclusionsOur study shows an extensive differential expression of peroxisomal proteins in the early stages of DKD that persists regardless of the disease severity. These proteins therefore represent potential markers of early DKD pathogenesis. Collectively, essential pathways associated with peroxisomes such as lipid β-oxidation, plasmalogen synthesis, aminoacid metabolism and response to oxidative stress are downregulated in early DKD, providing new perspectives and potential markers of diabetic kidney dysfunction.

International audience; Energetic metabolism controls key steps of kidney development, homeostasis, and epithelial repair following acute kidney injury (AKI). Hepatocyte nuclear factor-1β (HNF-1β) is a master transcription factor that controls mitochondrial function in proximal tubule (PT) cells. Patients with HNF1B pathogenic variant display a wide range of kidney developmental abnormalities and progressive kidney fibrosis. Characterizing the metabolic changes in PT cells with HNF-1β deficiency may help to identify new targetable molecular hubs involved in HNF1B-related kidney phenotypes and AKI. Here, we combined 1 H-NMR-based metabolomic analysis in a murine PT cell line with CrispR/Cas9-induced Hnf1b invalidation (Hnf1b-/- ), clustering analysis, targeted metabolic assays, and datamining of published RNA-seq and ChIP-seq dataset to identify the role of HNF-1β in metabolism. Hnf1b-/- cells grown in normoxic conditions display intracellular ATP depletion, increased cytosolic lactate concentration, increased lipid droplet content, failure to use pyruvate for energetic purposes, increased levels of tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle intermediates and oxidized glutathione, and a reduction of TCA cycle byproducts, all features consistent with mitochondrial dysfunction and an irreversible switch toward glycolysis. Unsupervised clustering analysis showed that Hnf1b-/- cells mimic a hypoxic signature and that they cannot furthermore increase glycolysis-dependent energetic supply during hypoxic challenge. Metabolome analysis also showed alteration of phospholipid biosynthesis in Hnf1b-/- cells leading to the identification of Chka, the gene coding for choline kinase α, as a new putative target of HNF-1β. HNF-1β shapes the energetic metabolism of PT cells and HNF1B deficiency in patients could lead to a hypoxia-like metabolic state precluding further adaptation to ATP depletion following AKI.

International audience; The number of older obese adults is increasing worldwide. Whether obese adults show similar health benefits in response to lifestyle interventions at different ages is unknown. The study enrolled 25 obese men (body mass index: 31-39 kg/m2) in two arms according to age (30-40 and 60-70 yr old). Participants underwent an 8-wk intervention with moderate calorie restriction (∼20% below individual energy requirements) and supervised endurance training resulting in ∼5% weight loss. Body composition was measured using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Insulin sensitivity was assessed during a hypersinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp. Cardiometabolic profile was derived from blood parameters. Subcutaneous fat and vastus lateralis muscle biopsies were used for ex vivo analyses. Two-way repeated-measure ANOVA and linear mixed models were used to evaluate the response to lifestyle intervention and comparison between the two groups. Fat mass was decreased and bone mass was preserved in the two groups after intervention. Muscle mass decreased significantly in older obese men. Cardiovascular risk (Framingham risk score, plasma triglyceride, and cholesterol) and insulin sensitivity were greatly improved to a similar extent in the two age groups after intervention. Changes in adipose tissue and skeletal muscle transcriptomes were marginal. Analysis of the differential response to the lifestyle intervention showed tenuous differences between age groups. These data suggest that lifestyle intervention combining calorie restriction and exercise shows similar beneficial effects on cardiometabolic risk and insulin sensitivity in younger and older obese men. However, attention must be paid to potential loss of muscle mass in response to weight loss in older obese men.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Rise in obesity and aging worldwide are major trends of critical importance in public health. This study addresses a current challenge in obesity management. Do older obese adults respond differently to a lifestyle intervention composed of moderate calorie restriction and supervised physical activity than younger ones? The main conclusion of the study is that older and younger obese men similarly benefit from the intervention in terms of cardiometabolic risk.

International audience; Congenital anomalies of the kidney and the urinary tract (CAKUT) are the first cause of chronic kidney disease in childhood. Several genetic and environmental origins are associated with CAKUT, but most pathogenic pathways remain elusive. Considering the amniotic fluid (AF) composition as a proxy for fetal kidney development, we analyzed the AF proteome from non-severe CAKUT (n = 19), severe CAKUT (n = 14), and healthy control (n = 22) fetuses using LC-MS/MS. We identified 471 significant proteins that discriminated the three AF groups with 81% precision. Among them, eight proteins independent of gestational age (CSPG4, LMAN2, ENDOD1, ANGPTL2, PRSS8, NGFR, ROBO4, PLS3) were associated with both the presence and the severity of CAKUT. Among those, five were part of a protein-protein interaction network involving proteins previously identified as being potentially associated with CAKUT. The actin-bundling protein PLS3 (plastin 3) was the only protein displaying a gradually increased AF abundance from control, via non-severe, to severe CAKUT. Immunohistochemistry experiments showed that PLS3 was expressed in the human fetal as well as in both the fetal and the postnatal mouse kidney. In zebrafish embryos, depletion of PLS3 led to a general disruption of embryonic growth including reduced pronephros development. In postnatal Pls3-knockout mice, kidneys were macroscopically normal, but the glomerular ultrastructure showed thickening of the basement membrane and fusion of podocyte foot processes. These structural changes were associated with albuminuria and decreased expression of podocyte markers including Wilms' tumor-1 protein, nephrin, and podocalyxin. In conclusion, we provide the first map of the CAKUT AF proteome that will serve as a reference for future studies. Among the proteins strongly associated with CAKUT, PLS3 did surprisingly not specifically affect nephrogenesis but was found as a new contributor in the maintenance of normal kidney function, at least in part through the control of glomerular integrity. © 2021 The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

International audience; Abstract While blocking the renin angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS) has been the main therapeutic strategy to control diabetic kidney disease (DKD) for many years, 25–30% of diabetic patients still develop the disease. In the present work we adopted a systems biology strategy to analyze glomerular protein signatures to identify drugs with potential therapeutic properties in DKD acting through a RAAS-independent mechanism. Glomeruli were isolated from wild type and type 1 diabetic (Ins2Akita) mice treated or not with the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEi) ramipril. Ramipril efficiently reduced the urinary albumin/creatine ratio (ACR) of Ins2Akita mice without modifying DKD-associated renal-injuries. Large scale quantitative proteomics was used to identify the DKD-associated glomerular proteins (DKD-GPs) that were ramipril-insensitive (RI-DKD-GPs). The raw data are publicly available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD018728. We then applied an in silico drug repurposing approach using a pattern-matching algorithm (Connectivity Mapping) to compare the RI-DKD-GPs’s signature with a collection of thousands of transcriptional signatures of bioactive compounds. The sesquiterpene lactone parthenolide was identified as one of the top compounds predicted to reverse the RI-DKD-GPs’s signature. Oral treatment of 2 months old Ins2Akita mice with dimethylaminoparthenolide (DMAPT, a water-soluble analogue of parthenolide) for two months at 10 mg/kg/d by gavage significantly reduced urinary ACR. However, in contrast to ramipril, DMAPT also significantly reduced glomerulosclerosis and tubulointerstitial fibrosis. Using a system biology approach, we identified DMAPT, as a compound with a potential add-on value to standard-of-care ACEi-treatment in DKD.

Congenital Anomalies of the Kidney and of the Urinary Tract (CAKUT) cover a broad range of disorders including abnormal kidney development caused by defective nephrogenesis. Here we explored the possible involvement of the low affinity p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) in CAKUT and nephrogenesis. In mouse, p75NTR was highly expressed in fetal kidney, located within cortical early nephrogenic bodies, and decreased rapidly after birth. In human control fetal kidney, p75NTR was also located within the early nephrogenic bodies as well as in the mature glomeruli, presumably in the mesangium. In CAKUT fetal kidneys, the kidney cortical structure and the localization of p75NTR were often disorganized, and quantification of p75NTR in amniotic fluid revealed a significant reduction in CAKUT compared to control. Finally, invalidation of p75NTR in zebrafish embryo with an antisense morpholino significantly altered pronephros development. Our results indicate that renal p75NTR is altered in CAKUT fetuses, and could participate to early nephrogenesis.

Introduction Le metabolisme energetique joue un role essentiel dans le developpement renal, la reparation tubulaire apres agression et la progression de la fibrose tubulo-interstitielle. HNF-1β est un facteur de transcription epithelial controlant la fonction mitochondriale via la regulation de PGC-1a dans les cellules tubulaires proximales. Ses variants pathogenes sont a l’origine d’anomalies developpementales renales variees et d’une fibrose renale progressive, pouvant etre expliques par des anomalies metaboliques secondaires a une dysfonction mitochondriale. Certains phenotypes renaux (progresseurs rapides) pourraient etre lies a une reponse inadaptee a une agression moderee. Description/Methodes Nous avons etudie l’effet d’une invalidation du gene Hnf1b (CrispR-Cas9) dans une lignee murine tubulaire proximale sur le metabolisme cellulaire par approche non ciblee (H1-Spectro-RMN) et des approches ciblees (dosage ATP et lactates, Red Oil) en conditions basales et d’hypoxie (1 %, 24 heures). Une re-analyse des donnees de RNASeq et ChiPSeq publiees a ete realisee et des confirmations en qPCR obtenues. Resultats En condition basale, les cellules Hnf1b-/- presentent une reduction de leur contenu intracellulaire en ATP secondaire a une utilisation reduite du pyruvate, une accumulation intracellulaire de lactate, d’intermediaires du cycle de Krebs et de gouttelettes lipidiques. Ces anomalies signent une dysfonction du metabolisme energetique mitochondrial avec reorientation vers la glycolyse. L’exposition a l’hypoxie des cellules sauvages reproduit partiellement les changements secondaires a l’invalidation d’Hnf1b tandis que les cellules Hnf1b-/- sont incapables d’accroitre plus leurs capacites glycolytiques en reponse a ce stress hypoxique. Il existe egalement des anomalies des intermediaires de biosynthese des phospholipides pouvant etre reliees a une reduction d’expression de la choline kinase α qui serait directement regulee par HNF1B. Conclusion HNF-1β controle le metabolisme energetique au sein des cellules tubulaires proximales et son invalidation conduit a une reorientation metabolique basale empechant une adaptation supplementaire en cas d’agression, confirmant notre hypothese clinique de depart.

International audience; Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a major cause of chronic kidney disease that frequently leads to end stage renal failure. Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) and lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) are lysophospholipid mediators shown to accumulate in kidney and to promote renal inflammation and tubulo-interstitial fibrosis in diabetic rodent models. Here we assessed whether LPA and LPC were associated to the development of nephropathy in diabetic human patients. Several molecular species of LPA and LPC were quantified by LC/MS-MS in urine and plasma from type 2 diabetic patients with (cases; n=41) or without (controls, n=41) nephropathy symptoms (micro/macro-albuminuria and eGFR

Hyperlipidemia is a risk factor for initiation and progression of diabetic nephropathy but the metabolic pathways altered in the diabetic kidney in a context of hyperlipidemia remain incompletely described. Assuming that changes in urine composition reflect the alteration of renal metabolism and function, we analyzed the urine metabolite composition of diabetic (streptozotocin-treatment) and control (non diabetic) ApoE-/- mice fed a high cholesterol diet using targeted quantitative metabolomics. Urine metabolome was also compared to the plasma metabolome of the same animals. As previously shown, urine albuminuria/urine creatinine ratio (uACR) and glomerular area and plasma lipids (cholesterol, triglycerides) were more elevated in diabetic mice compared to control. After adjustment to urine creatinine, the abundance of 52 urine metabolites was significantly different in diabetic mice compared to control. Among them was a unique metabolite, C14:2-OH (3-hydroxytetradecadienoylcarnitine) that, in diabetic mice, was positively and significantly correlated with uACR, glomerular hypertrophy, blood glucose and plasma lipids. That metabolite was not detected in plasma. C14:2-OH is a long-chain acylcarnitine reminiscent of altered fatty acid beta oxidation. Other acylcarnitines, particularly the short chains C3-OH, C3-DC, C4:1, C5-DC, C5-M-DC, C5-OH that are reminiscent of altered oxidation of branched and aromatic amino acids were also exclusively detected in urine but were only correlated with plasma lipids. Finally, the renal gene expression of several enzymes involved in fatty acid and/or amino acid oxidation was significantly reduced in diabetic mice compared to control. This included the bifunctional enoyl-CoA hydratase/3-hydroxyacyl-CoA (Ehhadh) that might play a central role in C14:2-OH production. This study indicate that the development of diabetes in a context of hyperlipidemia is associated with a reduced capacity of kidney to oxidize fatty acids and amino acids with the consequence of an elevation of urinary acetylcarnitines including C14:2-OH that specifically reflects diabetic nephropathy.

Background The increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) indicates a demand for novel therapeutic approaches. Proteome analysis of vascular tissues from animal models and humans with CVD could lead to the identification of novel druggable targets. Methods LC-MS/MS analysis of thoracic aortas from three mouse models of non-diabetic and diabetic (streptozotocin (STZ)-induced) atherosclerosis followed by bioinformatics/pathway analysis was performed. Selected findings were confirmed by proteomics analysis of human vessels from patients with CVD as well as in vitro studies (migration, proliferation, angiogenesis assays) using endothelial (HUVEC) cells. Findings Comparative tissue proteomics of low density lipoprotein receptor deficient (Ldlr−/−) and diabetic Ldlr−/− (Ldlr−/−STZ) with wild type (WT) animals led to the identification of 284 differentially expressed proteins in both models. Among them, 177 proteins were also differentially expressed in diabetic apolipoprotein E deficient (ApoE−/−STZ) mice, suggesting expression changes associated with atherosclerosis independent of the model used. These proteins recapitulated the hallmarks of atherosclerosis. Comparison of these findings with differentially expressed proteins in human vessels with CVD enabled shortlisting of six commonly dysregulated proteins. Among them, lysine-specific demethylase 5D (KDM5D) exhibited pronounced overexpression accompanied by a reduction in the protein levels of its substrate, the trimethylated lysine 4 of histone H3 (H3K4me3), in patients with CVD. Functional interference studies applying a KDM5 inhibitor on HUVEC reduced cell proliferation, migration and tube-forming ability in vitro. Interpretation This high-throughput proteomics strategy identified KDM5 histone demethylases being potentially involved in CVD, possibly by affecting H3K4 methylation. Fund [SysVasc, HEALTH-2013 603288], [ERA-CVD PROACT: ANR-17-ECVD-0006, 01KL1805], [FRM, DEQ20170336759].

International audience; Background: Various alterations in lipid metabolism have been observed in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).Objectives: To determine the levels of lipid species in plasma from CKD and hemodialysis (HD) patients and test their association with CKD severity and patient outcome.Methods: Seventy-seven patients with CKD stage 2 to HD were grouped into classes of CKD severity at baseline and followed-up for 3.5 years for the occurrence of transition to HD or death (combined outcome). Plasma levels of phosphatidylcholines (PCs), lysophosphatidylcholines (LPCs), sphingomyelins (SMs), and fatty acids were analyzed by flow-injection analysis coupled to tandem mass spectrometry or gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Kruskal Wallis rank tests and Cox regressions were used to analyze the association of lipids with CKD severity and the risk of combined outcome, respectively.Results: The plasma level of PCs, LPCs, and SMs was decreased in HD patients compared with nondialyzed CKD patients (all P < .05), whereas esterified and/or nonesterified fatty acids level did not change. Thirty-four lipids displayed significantly lower abundance in plasma of HD patients, whereas elaidic acid (C18:1ω9t) level was increased (P < .001). The total amount of LPCs and individual LPCs were associated with better outcome (P < .05). In particular, LPC 18:2 and LPC 20:3 were statistically associated with outcome in adjusted models (P < .05).Discussion: In HD patients, a reduction in plasma lipids is observed. Some of the alterations, namely reduced LPCs, were associated with the risk of adverse outcome. These changes could be related to metabolic dysfunctions.

International audience; Although cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of morbimortality worldwide, promising new drug candidates are lacking. We compared the arterial high-resolution proteome of patients with advanced versus early-stage CVD to predict, from a library of small bioactive molecules, drug candidates able to reverse this disease signature. Of the approximately 4000 identified proteins, 100 proteins were upregulated and 52 were downregulated in advanced-stage CVD. Arachidonyl trifluoromethyl ketone (AACOCF3), a cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) inhibitor was predicted as the top drug able to reverse the advanced-stage CVD signature. Vascular cPLA2 expression was increased in patients with advanced-stage CVD. Treatment with AACOCF3 significantly reduced vascular calcification in a cholecalciferol-overload mouse model and inhibited osteoinductive signaling in vivo and in vitro in human aortic smooth muscle cells. In conclusion, using a systems biology approach, we have identified a potentially new compound that prevented typical vascular calcification in CVD in vivo. Apart from the clear effect of this approach in CVD, such strategy should also be able to generate novel drug candidates in other complex diseases.

Increased incidence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) with consecutive progression to end-stage renal disease represents a significant burden to healthcare systems. Renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis (TIF) is a classical hallmark of CKD and is well correlated with the loss of renal function. The bioactive lysophospholipid lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), acting through specific G-protein-coupled receptors, was previously shown to be involved in TIF development in a mouse model of unilateral ureteral obstruction. Here, we study the role of LPA in a mouse subjected to subtotal nephrectomy (SNx), a more chronic and progressive model of CKD. Five months after surgical nephron reduction, SNx mice showed massive albuminuria, extensive TIF, and glomerular hypertrophy when compared to sham-operated animals. Urinary and plasma levels of LPA were analyzed using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. LPA was significantly increased in SNx urine, not in plasma, and was significantly correlated with albuminuria and TIF. Moreover, SNx mice showed significant downregulation in the renal expression of lipid phosphate phosphohydrolases (LPP1, 2, and 3) that might be involved in reduced LPA bioavailability through dephosphorylation. We concluded that SNx increases urinary LPA through a mechanism that could involve co-excretion of plasma LPA with albumin associated with a reduction of its catabolism in the kidney. Because of the previously demonstrated profibrotic activity of LPA, the association of urinary LPA with TIF suggests the potential involvement of LPA in the development of advanced CKD in the SNx mouse model. Targeting LPA metabolism might represent an interesting approach in CKD treatment.

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a bioactive phospholipid that activates cell proliferation, differentiation and migration via the activation of its membrane-bound receptors (LPAR 1 to 6) expressed in various tissues and organs. Adipose tissue produces LPA, which, in turn, increases preadipocyte proliferation, mainly through the stimulation of LPA1R. However, while LPA plasma levels increase with obesity, only few studies have investigated the acute autocrine properties of LPA on mature adipocytes. We therefore assessed the lipolytic and antilipolytic effects of LPA on human adipocytes. Here, we show that, in human subcutaneous adipocytes, LPA (0.1–10 µM) did not mimic insulin effects in human adipocytes, i.e. lipolysis inhibition and glucose uptake activation. By contrast, supramicromolar doses of the phospholipid slightly activated lipolysis, and the effect of 100 µM LPA was additive to the β-adrenergic stimulation of lipolysis by isoprenaline. Moreover, LPA did not alter the activity of primary amine oxidase, an enzyme highly expressed in human adipose cells. Our observations indicate that, although rapid and direct, LPA impact on triglyceride storage in mature adipocytes is less pronounced than its ability to stimulate proliferation in preadipocytes.

Introduction L’analyse omique de l’urine est consideree comme une biopsie liquide du rein qui a revolutionne la comprehension des maladies renales. Les malformations congenitales du rein et du tractus urinaire (CAKUT) sont des maladies genetiquement complexes dont la physiopathologie est encore meconnue. Dans la mesure ou la production de liquide amniotique (LA) est principalement due a l’excretion de l’urine fœtale, l’exploration de son contenu devrait faciliter la comprehension des mecanismes lies au CAKUT. Description L’objectif de cette etude est donc d’identifier dans le LA de nouveaux acteurs associes au developpement renal pathologique des CAKUT. Methodes En comparant par LC-MS/MS le proteome du LA de 22 fœtus sains, 19 fœtus atteints d’une forme peu severe de CAKUT et 14 fœtus porteurs d’une forme severe, nous avons identifie la Plastine-3 (PLS3) dont l’abondance augmente graduellement des fœtus controles aux fœtus avec un CAKUT severe. Resultats La presence renale de PLS3 a ete validee par immunohistochimie chez les fœtus sains/CAKUT et dans le modele murin. L’invalidation de PLS3 chez la souris entraine une augmentation de l’aire glomerulaire, au prorata de la surface corticale, et un epaississement des pedicelles et de la membrane basale glomerulaire. Ces anomalies sont associees a la diminution de l’expression des proteines podocytaires nephrine et podocalyxine, et conduisent a une augmentation significative de l’albuminurie. L’invalidation de PLS3 chez le poisson-zebre entraine egalement a 48 h post-fecondation, une alteration de fusion glomerulaire et une augmentation tubulaire proximale ressemblant a un retard de developpement. Conclusion Ainsi, ce travail demontre pour la premiere fois le role de PLS3 dans le developpement renal pathologique des fœtus CAKUT. Des etudes complementaires d’invalidation in vitro de PLS3 au sein de lignees podocytaires (AB8-13) et tubulaire (HK-2) permettront de preciser les mecanismes moleculaires en aval de PLS3.

Preclinical experiments on animal models are essential to understand the mechanisms of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Metabolomics allows access to the metabolic perturbations associated with CVD in heart and vessels. Here we assessed which potential animal CVD model most closely mimics the serum metabolite signature of increased carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) in humans, a clinical parameter widely accepted as a surrogate of CVD.A targeted mass spectrometry assay was used to quantify and compare a series of blood metabolites between 1362 individuals (KORA F4 cohort) and 5 animal CVD models: ApoEIn human, increased cIMT [quartile Q4 vs. Q1] was associated with 26 metabolites (9 acylcarnitines, 2 lysophosphatidylcholines, 9 phosphatidylcholines and 6 sphingomyelins). Acylcarnitines correlated preferentially with serum glucose and creatinine. Phospholipids correlated preferentially with cholesterol (total and LDL). The human signature correlated positively and significantly with LdlrThe human cIMT signature was partially mimicked by Ldlr

International audience; Background and aims: Preclinical experiments on animal models are essential to understand the mechanisms of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Metabolomics allows access to the metabolic perturbations associated with CVD in heart and vessels. Here we assessed which potential animal CVD model most closely mimics the serum metabolite signature of increased carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) in humans, a clinical parameter widely accepted as a surrogate of CVD. Methods: A targeted mass spectrometry assay was used to quantify and compare a series of blood me-tabolites between 1362 individuals (KORA F4 cohort) and 5 animal CVD models: ApoE À/À , Ldlr À/À , and klotho-hypomorphic mice (kl/kl) and SHRSP rats with or without salt feeding. The metabolite signatures were obtained using linear regressions adjusted for various co-variates. Results: In human, increased cIMT [quartile Q4 vs. Q1] was associated with 26 metabolites (9 acylcar-nitines, 2 lysophosphatidylcholines, 9 phosphatidylcholines and 6 sphingomyelins). Acylcarnitines correlated preferentially with serum glucose and creatinine. Phospholipids correlated preferentially with cholesterol (total and LDL). The human signature correlated positively and significantly with Ldlr À/À and ApoE À/À mice, while correlation with kl/kl mice and SHRP rats was either negative and non-significant. Human and Ldlr À/À mice shared 11 significant metabolites displaying the same direction of regulation: 5 phosphatidylcholines, 1 lysophosphatidylcholines, 5 sphingomyelins; ApoE À/À mice shared 10. Conclusions: The human cIMT signature was partially mimicked by Ldlr À/À and ApoE À/À mice. These animal models might help better understand the biochemical and molecular mechanisms involved in the vessel metabolic perturbations associated with, and contributing to metabolic disorders in CVD.

Septic shock is the most common cause of acute kidney injury (AKI), but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear and no targeted therapies exist. Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a bioactive lipid which in vivo administration was reported to mitigate inflammation and injuries caused by bacterial endotoxemia in the liver and lung. The objective of the present study was to determine whether LPA can protect against sepsis-associated AKI. C57BL/6 mice were treated with LPA 18:1 (5 mg/kg, i.p.) 1 h before being injected with the endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and AKI was evaluated after 24 h. LPA significantly decreased the elevation of plasma urea and creatinine caused by LPS. In the kidney, LPA pretreatment significantly reduced the upregulation of inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNFα, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1)), and completely prevented downregulation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha and upregulation of heme oxygenase-1 caused by LPS. LPA also prevented LPS-mediated alterations of the renal mitochondrial ultrastructure. In vitro pretreatment with LPA 18:1 significantly attenuated LPS-induced upregulation of the inflammatory cytokines (TNFα and MCP-1) in RAW264 macrophages. Moreover, in vivo LPS treatment lowered urinary LPA concentration and reduced LPA anabolic enzymes (autotaxin and acylglycerol kinase), and increased the LPA catalytic enzyme (lipid phosphate phosphatase 2) expression in the kidney cortex. In conclusion, exogenous LPA exerted a protective action against renal inflammation and injuries caused by bacterial endotoxemia. Moreover, LPS reduces the renal production of LPA suggesting that sepsis-associated AKI could be mediated, at least in part, by alleviation of the protective action of endogenous LPA.

Inflammation is essential in defense against infection or injury. It is tightly regulated, as over-response can be detrimental, especially in immune-privileged organs such as the central nervous system (CNS). Microglia constitutes the major source of inflammatory factors, but are also involved in the regulation of the inflammation and in the reparation. Autotaxin (ATX), a phospholipase D, converts lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) into lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) and is upregulated in several CNS injuries. LPA, a pleiotropic immunomodulatory factor, can induce multiple cellular processes including morphological changes, proliferation, death, and survival. We investigated ATX effects on microglia inflammatory response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), mimicking gram-negative infection. Murine BV-2 microglia and stable transfected, overexpressing ATX-BV-2 (A +) microglia were treated with LPS. Tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-10 mRNA and proteins levels were examined by qRT-PCR and ELISA, respectively. Secreted LPA was quantified by a radioenzymatic assay and microglial activation markers (CD11b, CD14, B7.1, and B7.2) were determined by flow cytometry. ATX expression and LPA production were significantly enhanced in LPS treated BV-2 cells. LPS induction of mRNA and protein level for TNFα and IL-6 were inhibited in A+ cells, while IL-10 was increased. CD11b, CD14, and B7.1, and B7.2 expressions were reduced in A+ cells. Our results strongly suggest deactivation of microglia and an IL-10 inhibitory of ATX with LPS induced microglia activation. J. Cell. Biochem. 115: 2123–2132, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Autotaxin (ATX) is a secreted lysophospholipase D involved in synthesis of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), a phospholipid growth factor acting via specific receptors (LPA1R to LPA6R) and involved in several pathologies including obesity. ATX is secreted by adipocytes and contributes to circulating LPA. ATX expression is up-regulated in obese patients and mice in relationship with insulin resistance and impaired glucose tolerance. LPA1R is the most abundant subtype in adipose tissue. Its expression is higher in non-adipocyte cells than in adipocytes and is not altered in obesity. ATX increases and LPA1R decreases while preadipocytes differentiate into adipocytes (adipogenesis). LPA inhibits adipogenesis through down-regulation of the pro-adipogenic transcription factor PPARγ2. Adipocyte-specific knockout (FATX-KO) mice or mice treated with the LPAR antagonist Ki16425 gain more weight and accumulate more adipose tissue than wild type or control mice fed a high fat diet (HFD). These observations suggest that LPA (via LPA1R) exerts a tonic inhibitory effect on adipose tissue expansion that could, at least in part, result from the anti-adipogenic activity of LPA. A possible negative impact of LPA on insulin-sensitivity might also be considered. Despite being more sensitive to nutritional obesity, FATX-KO and Ki16425-treated mice fed a HFD show improved glucose tolerance when compared to wild type mice. Moreover, exogenously injected LPA acutely impairs glucose tolerance and insulin secretion. These observations show that LPA exerts a tonic deleterious impact on glucose homeostasis. In conclusion, ATX and LPA1R represent potential interesting pharmacological targets for the treatment of obesity-associated metabolic diseases.

International audience; Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a pro-fibrotic mediator acting via specific receptors (LPARs) and is synthesized by autotaxin, that increases with obesity. We tested whether LPA could play a role in adipose tissue (AT)-fibrosis associated with obesity. Fibrosis [type I, III, and IV collagens (COL), fibronectin (FN), TGFβ, CTGF and αSMA] and inflammation (MCP1 and F4/80) markers were quantified: (i) in vivo in inguinal (IAT) and perigonadic (PGAT) AT from obese-diabetic db/db mice treated with the LPAR antagonist Ki16425 (5mg/kg/day ip for 7 weeks); and (ii) in vitro in human AT explants in primary culture for 72h in the presence of oleoyl-LPA (10μM) and/or Ki16425 (10μM) and/or the HIF-1α inhibitor YC-1 (100μM). Treatment of db/db mice with Ki16425 reduced Col I and IV mRNAs in IAT and PGAT while Col III mRNAs were only reduced in IAT. This was associated with reduction of COL protein staining in both IAT and PGAT. AT explants showed a spontaneous and time-dependent increase in ATX expression and production of LPA in the culture medium, along with increased levels of Col I and III, TGFβ and αSMA mRNAs and of COL protein staining. In vitro fibrosis was blocked by Ki16425 and was further amplified by oleoyl-LPA. LPA-dependent in vitro fibrosis was blocked by co-treatment with YC1. Our results show that endogenous and exogenous LPA exert a pro-fibrotic activity in AT in vivo and in vitro. This activity could be mediated by an LPA1R-dependent pathway and could involve HIF-1α.

L’acide lysophosphatidique (LPA) est un mediateur lipidique agissant via des recepteurs specifiques (LPAR) et est synthetise par l’autotaxine (ATX), une lysophospholipase D secretee. L’expression de l’ATX augmente chez l’obese intolerant au glucose. Le LPA inhibe l’adipogenese et reduit la tolerance au glucose par inhibition de la secretion d’insuline. Chez des souris obeses suite a un regime hyperlipidique, l’invalidation de l’ATX dans les adipocytes (FATXKO) ou le traitement par un antagoniste des LPAR amplifient l’expansion de la masse grasse tout en ameliorant la tolerance au glucose et a l’insuline. L’ATX et les LPARs representent des cibles pharmacologiques d’interet dans le traitement des atteintes metaboliques associees a l’obesite.

The objective of the present study was to characterize the nature of the autocrine/paracrine signal within human adipose tissue that may alter glucose metabolism and the inflammatory status in adipocytes. We prepared a conditioned medium from abdominal dermolipectomies in the absence (CM) or the presence (CMBSA) of bovine serum albumin (BSA), and we tested the influence of CM and CMBSA on glucose transport, maximal insulin response, and the expression of inflammation marker genes in differentiated human SGBS adipocytes. We found that CMBSA increased basal and reduced insulin-stimulated glucose incorporation along with a reduced mRNA level of the glucose transport GLUT4, and an increased expression of GLUT1. These effects were associated with a potent upregulation in the mRNA level of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-6 and MCP-1. These regulations were strongly attenuated in the absence of BSA during the preparation of CM, or after BSA depletion of CM, and were attributed to water-soluble molecules rather than lipids. Finally, fractionation of CMBSA by isoelectric focusing showed that part of its bioactivity could be reproduced with proteins with pHi ranging from 6.6 to 7.6. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that the production by human adipose tissue of autocrine/paracrine neutral proteins is able to increase the inflammatory status of the adipocytes and to deteriorate their glucose metabolism and maximal insulin response, and their release is greatly amplified by the presence of albumin.

International audience; Plasticity-related gene-1 (PRG-1) protects neuronal cells from lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) effects. In vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), LPA was shown to induce phenotypic modulation in vitro and vascular remodeling in vivo. Thus we explored the role of PRG-1 in modulating VSMC response to LPA. PCR, Western blot, and immunofluorescence experiments showed that PRG-1 is expressed in rat and human vascular media. PRG-1 expression was strongly inhibited in proliferating compared with quiescent VSMCs both in vitro and in vivo (medial vs. neointimal VSMCs), suggesting that PRG-1 expression is dependent on the cell phenotype. In vitro, adenovirus-mediated overexpression of PRG-1 specifically inhibited LPA-induced rat VSMC proliferation and migration but not platelet-derived growth factor-induced proliferation. This effect was abolished by mutation of a conserved histidine in the lipid phosphate phosphatase family that is essential for interaction with lipid phosphates. In vivo, balloon-induced neointimal formation in rat carotid was significantly decreased in vessels infected with PRG-1 adenovirus compared with β-galactosidase adenovirus (−71%; P < 0.05). PRG-1 overexpression abolished the activation of the p42/p44 signaling pathway in LPA-stimulated rat VSMCs in culture and in balloon-injured rat carotids. Taken together, these findings provide the first evidence of a protective role of PRG-1 in the vascular media under pathophysiological conditions.

Berardinelli-Seip congenital lipodystrophy (BSCL) is a rare recessive disease characterized by near absence of adipose tissue and severe insulin resistance. In most cases, BSCL is due to loss-of-function mutations in the genes encoding either seipin of unknown function or 1-acyl-glycerol-3-phosphate O-acyltransferase 2 (AGPAT2) which catalyses the formation of phosphatidic acid from lysophosphatidic acid. We studied the lipid profile of lymphoblastoid cell-lines from 20 BSCL patients with null mutations in the genes encoding either seipin (n=12) or AGPAT2 (n=8) in comparison to nine control cell-lines. In seipin deficient cells, we observed alterations in the pattern of lipid droplets which were decreased in size and increased in number as compared to control cells. We also observed alterations in the triglycerides content as well as in the fatty acid composition from triglycerides and phosphatidylethanolamine, with an increased proportion of saturated fatty acids at the expense of the corresponding monounsaturated fatty acids, reflecting a defect in Delta9-desaturase activity. In AGPAT2 deficient cells, no specific alterations in lipid droplet pattern nor in fatty acid composition was observed but the cellular level of lysophosphatidic acid was increased as compared to that of control and seipin deficient cells. These results indicate that seipin like AGPAT2 is involved in lipid metabolism but exerts a different function. Seipin intervenes at a proximal step in triglycerides and phospholipids biosynthesis being involved in the pathway that links fatty acid Delta9 desaturation to lipid droplet formation. These findings provide new insights into how seipin deficiency causes severe lipodystrophy.

International audience; FTY720 is an immunomodulator that is phosphorylated in vivo and inhibits lymphocyte mobilization by targeting sphingosine 1-phospate receptors. At doses higher than required for immunomodulation, FTY720 inhibits tumor progression through an unknown mechanism. Here we show that FTY720-phosphate is a competitive inhibitor (Ki approximately 0.2microM) of autotaxin (ATX or NPP2), a nucleotide phosphodiesterase/pyrophosphatase (NPP) that enhances metastasis and angiogenesis and acts as a lysophospholipase D to produce the lipid mediator lysophosphatidic acid (LPA). FTY720-phosphate did no affect the activity of NPP1, the closest relative of ATX. After oral administration in mice, FTY720 (3mg/kg) significantly reduced plasma LPA levels. These results suggest that FTY720 may exert its anticancer effects, at least in part, by targeting the ATX-LPA axis.

Autotaxin is a type II ectonucleotide pyrophosphate phosphodiesterase enzyme. It has been recently discovered that it also has a lysophospholipase D activity. This enzyme probably provides most of the extracellular lysophosphatidic acid from lysophosphatidylcholine. The cloning and tissue distribution of the three isoforms (imaginatively called alpha, beta, and gamma) from human and mouse are reported in this study, as well as their tissue distribution by PCR in the human and mouse. The fate of the alpha isoform from human was also studied after purification and using mass spectrometry. Indeed, this particular isoform expresses the intron 12 in which a cleavage site is present, leading to a rapid catabolism of the isoform. For the human isoform gamma and the total autotaxin mRNA expression, quantitative PCR is presented in 21 tissues. The isoforms were expressed in two different hosts, insect cells and Chinese hamster ovary cells, and were highly purified. The characteristics of the six purified isoforms (pH and temperature dependence, K(m) and V(max) values, and their dependence on metal ions) are presented in this study. Their sensitivity to a small molecule inhibitor, hypericin, is also shown. Finally, the specificity of the isoforms toward a large family of lysophosphatidylcholines is reported. This study is the first complete description of the reported autotaxin isoforms.

Tubular epithelial cells in the kidney are continuously exposed to urinary fluid shear stress (FSS) generated by urine movement and recent in vitro studies suggest that changes of FSS could contribute to kidney injury. However it is unclear whether FSS alters the epithelial characteristics of the renal tubule. Here, we evaluated in vitro and in vivo the influence of FSS on epithelial characteristics of renal proximal tubular cells taking the organization of junctional complexes and the presence of the primary cilium as markers of epithelial phenotype. Human tubular cells (HK-2) were subjected to FSS (0.5 Pa) for 48 h. Control cells were maintained under static conditions. Markers of tight junctions (Claudin-2, ZO-1), Par polarity complex (Pard6), adherens junctions (E-Cadherin, β-Catenin) and the primary cilium (α-acetylated Tubulin) were analysed by quantitative PCR, Western blot or immunocytochemistry. In response to FSS, Claudin-2 disappeared and ZO-1 displayed punctuated and discontinuous staining in the plasma membrane. Expression of Pard6 was also decreased. Moreover, E-Cadherin abundance was decreased, while its major repressors Snail1 and Snail2 were overexpressed, and β-Catenin staining was disrupted along the cell periphery. Finally, FSS subjected-cells exhibited disappeared primary cilium. Results were confirmed in vivo in a uninephrectomy (8 months) mouse model where increased FSS induced by adaptive hyperfiltration in remnant kidney was accompanied by both decreased epithelial gene expression including ZO-1, E-cadherin and β-Catenin and disappearance of tubular cilia. In conclusion, these results show that proximal tubular cells lose an important number of their epithelial characteristics after long term exposure to FSS both in vitro and in vivo. Thus, the changes in urinary FSS associated with nephropathies should be considered as potential insults for tubular cells leading to disorganization of the tubular epithelium.

Semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO) is known to increase during in vitro adipogenesis and to be one of the most highly expressed membrane proteins of white adipocytes. Although less well documented, mitochondrial monoamine oxidases (MAOs) are also present in adipocytes and share with SSAO the capacity to generate hydrogen peroxide. This work therefore aimed to compare several biologic effects of MAO and SSAO substrates in 3T3-F442A adipocytes. In differentiated cells, tyramine oxidation was predominantly MAO dependent, whereas benzylamine oxidation was SSAO dependent. Both amines partially mimicked insulin actions, including stimulation of Akt phosphorylation and glucose uptake. In addition, tyramine and benzylamine impaired tumor necrosis factor alpha-dependent nitric oxide formation in a pargyline- and semicarbazide-sensitive manner, respectively. Various biogenic amines were tested in competition for tyramine or benzylamine oxidation and classified as MAO-preferring (methoxytyramine, tryptamine) or SSAO-preferring substrates (methylamine, octopamine). Short-term incubation with 1 mmol/L of all amines except histamine stimulated glucose uptake up to 20% to 50% of maximal insulin activation. One-week treatment with either MAO or SSAO substrates alone allowed postconfluent cells to differentiate into adipocytes, reproducing 60% of insulin-promoted lipid accumulation. All amines also exerted a slight improvement in the adipogenic action of insulin. Therefore, like SSAO, substrate activation of MAO can interact with adipocyte metabolism by mimicking diverse effects of insulin in addition to preventing tumor necrosis factor alpha-dependent responses.

In obesity, adipocyte hypertrophy is often associated with recrutement of new fat cells (adipogenesis) under the control of circulating and local regulatory factors. Among the different lipids released in the extracellular compartment of adipocytes, our group found the presence of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA). LPA is a bioactive phospholipid able to regulate several cell responses via the activation of specific G-protein coupled membrane receptors. Our group found that LPA increases preadipocyte proliferation and inhibits adipogenesis via the activation of LPA1 receptor subtype. Extracellular LPA-synthesis is catalyzed by a lysophospholipase D secreted by adipocytes: autotaxin (ATX). Adipocyte ATX expression strongly increases with adipogenesis as well as in individuals exhibiting type 2 diabetes associated with massive obesity. A possible contribution of ATX and LPA as paracrine regulators of adipogenesis and obesity associated diabetes is proposed.

Adipose tissue produces and secretes multiple adipokines. Most studies on adipokine production/expression have been performed on whole adipose tissue. In addition, data concerning an overall of adipokine expression are scarce and can be heterogeneous depending on the obesity model studied. Our first aim was to compare the expression of adipokines involved in the interplay between obesity and insulin resistance in isolated adipocytes from different mouse models of obesity displaying different levels of weight gain and insulin sensitivity. The second aim was to determine perigonadal/subcutaneous ratio of each adipokine. Only resistin expression was decreased in obese mice without modifications in glucose and insulin blood levels. In addition to decreased levels of resistin, obesity models associated with hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia presented an increased expression of leptin and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha). Obese and diabetic mice were the only animals to exhibit high expression of plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 and interleukin-6. All adipokines except TNFalpha were more heavily expressed in perigonadal than in subcutaneous adipocytes. Interestingly, fat-enriched diet and overweight on their own did not modify the distribution of adipokines between the two fat depots. However, severe obesity modified the distribution of proinflammatory adipokines. In conclusion, the level and number of adipokines with altered expression increased with obesity and hyperinsulinemia in mice. The physiopathological impact of depot-specific differences of adipokine expression in adipocytes remains to be clarified.

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is present in abundance in serum resulting from platelet activation and is also found in other biological fluids. LPA controls numerous cellular responses and plays a role in specific functions such as wound healing, especially in the skin. Nevertheless, its presence in the skin has never been investigated. Since re-epithelialization occurs after blister rupture, we tested the presence of endogenous LPA in blister fluid and investigated a possible mechanism for its biosynthesis and biological functions. Using a radioenzymatic assay, LPA was detected in 33 blister fluids originating from 24 bullous dermatoses, and at higher concentrations than in plasma. In parallel, blister fluids contained a lysophospholipase D (LPLD) activity but no detectable phospholipase A2 activity. The expressions of the LPLD autotaxin (ATX) and of LPA1-receptor (LPA1-R) were greatly increased in blister skin when compared with normal skin. Finally, LPA was found to have a positive effect on the migration of cultured keratinocytes. These results show that LPA is present in blister fluid synthesized by the LPLD ATX. Due to its ability to enhance keratinocyte migration, LPA in blister fluid could, via the LPA1-R, play an important role in re-epithelialization occurring after blister rupture.

Repeated administration of benzylamine plus vanadate have been reported to exhibit anti-hyperglycemic effects in different models of diabetic rats. Likewise oral treatment withMoringa oleifera extracts which contain the alkaloid moringine, identical to benzylamine, has also been shown to prevent hyperglycemia in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. With these observations we tested whether prolonged oral administration of benzylamine could interact with glucose and/or lipid metabolism. Seven week old male Wistar rats were treated for seven weeks with benzylamine 2.9 g/l in drinking water and were submitted to glucose tolerance tests. A slight decrease in water consumption was observed in benzylamine-treated animals while there was no change in body and adipose tissue weights at the end of treatment. Blood glucose and plasma insulin, triacylglycerol or cholesterol levels were not modified. However, benzylamine treatment resulted in a decrease in plasma free fatty acids in both fed and fasted conditions. Benzylamine treatment improved glucose tolerance as shown by the reduction of hyperglycemic response to intra-peritoneal glucose load. Oral benzylamine treatment did not alter the response of adipocytes to insulin nor to insulin-like actions of benzylamine plus vanadate, viain vitro activation of glucose transport or inhibition of lipolysis. This work demonstrates for the first time that oral administration of benzylamine alone influences glucose and lipid metabolism. However, these results obtained in normoglycemic rats require to be confirmed in diabetic models.

The results presented herein demonstrate that apelin is expressed and secreted by both human and mouse adipocytes. Apelin mRNA levels in isolated adipocytes are close to other cell types present in white adipose tissue or other organs known to express apelin such as kidney, heart, and to a lesser extent brown adipose tissue. Apelin expression is increased during adipocyte differentiation stage. A comparison of four different models of obesity in mice showed a large increase in both apelin expression in fat cells and apelin plasma levels in all the hyperinsulinemia-associated obesities and clearly demonstrated that obesity or high-fat feeding are not the main determinants of the rise of apelin expression. The lack of insulin in streptozotocin-treated mice is associated with a decreased expression of apelin in adipocytes. Furthermore, apelin expression in fat cells is strongly inhibited by fasting and recovered after refeeding, in a similar way to insulin. A direct regulation of apelin expression by insulin is observed in both human and mouse adipocytes and clearly associated with the stimulation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, protein kinase C, and MAPK. These data provide evidence that insulin exerts a direct control on apelin gene expression in adipocytes. In obese patients, both plasma apelin and insulin levels were significantly higher, suggesting that the regulation of apelin by insulin could influence blood concentrations of apelin. The present work identifies apelin as a novel adipocyte endocrine secretion and focuses on its potential link with obesity-associated variations of insulin sensitivity status.

The role of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) in cancer is poorly understood. Here we provide evidence for a role of LPA in the progression of breast cancer bone metastases. LPA receptors LPA(1), LPA(2), and LPA(3) were expressed in human primary breast tumors and a series of human breast cancer cell lines. The inducible overexpression of LPA(1) in MDA-BO2 breast cancer cells specifically sensitized these cells to the mitogenic action of LPA in vitro. In vivo, LPA(1) overexpression in MDA-BO2 cells enhanced the growth of subcutaneous tumor xenografts and promoted bone metastasis formation in mice by increasing both skeletal tumor growth and bone destruction. This suggested that endogenous LPA was produced in the tumor microenvironment. However, MDA-BO2 cells or transfectants did not produce LPA. Instead, they induced the release of LPA from activated platelets which, in turn, promoted tumor cell proliferation and the LPA(1)-dependent secretion of IL-6 and IL-8, 2 potent bone resorption stimulators. Moreover, platelet-derived LPA deprivation in mice, achieved by treatment with the platelet antagonist Integrilin, inhibited the progression of bone metastases caused by parental and LPA(1)-overexpressing MDA-BO2 cells and reduced the progression of osteolytic lesions in mice bearing CHO-beta3wt ovarian cancer cells. Overall, our data suggest that, at the bone metastatic site, tumor cells stimulate the production of LPA from activated platelets, which enhances both tumor growth and cytokine-mediated bone destruction.

Our group has recently demonstrated (Gesta, S., Simon, M., Rey, A., Sibrac, D., Girard, A., Lafontan, M., Valet, P., and Saulnier-Blache, J. S. (2002) J. Lipid Res. 43, 904-910) the presence, in adipocyte conditioned-medium, of a soluble lysophospholipase d-activity (LPLDact) involved in synthesis of the bioactive phospholipid lysophosphatidic acid (LPA). In the present report, LPLDact was purified from 3T3F442A adipocyte-conditioned medium and identified as the type II ecto-nucleotide pyrophosphatase phosphodiesterase, autotaxin (ATX). A unique ATX cDNA was cloned from 3T3F442A adipocytes, and its recombinant expression in COS-7 cells led to extracellular release of LPLDact. ATX mRNA expression was highly up-regulated during adipocyte differentiation of 3T3F442A-preadipocytes. This up-regulation was paralleled by the ability of newly differentiated adipocytes to release LPLDact and LPA. Differentiation-dependent up-regulation of ATX expression was also observed in a primary culture of mouse preadipocytes. Treatment of 3T3F442A-preadipocytes with concentrated conditioned medium from ATX-expressing COS-7 cells led to an increase in cell number as compared with concentrated conditioned medium from ATX non-expressing COS-7 cells. The specific effect of ATX on preadipocyte proliferation was completely suppressed by co-treatment with a LPA-hydrolyzing phospholipase, phospholipase B. Finally, ATX expression was found in mature adipocytes isolated from mouse adipose tissue and was substantially increased in genetically obese-diabetic db/db mice when compared with their lean siblings. In conclusion, the present work shows that ATX is responsible for the LPLDact released by adipocytes and exerts a paracrine control on preadipocyte growth via an LPA-dependent mechanism. Up-regulations of ATX expression with adipocyte differentiation and genetic obesity suggest a possible involvement of this released protein in the development of adipose tissue and obesity-associated pathologies.

Growth factor lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) regulates cell proliferation and differentiation and increases motility and survival in several cell types, mostly via G-protein-coupled receptors encoded by endothelial differentiation genes (EDG). We show herein that hepatic oval (stem) cell proliferation, induced by 3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydrocollidine (DDC) in a mouse model of chronic liver injury, was associated with the expression of LPA1, LPA2, and LPA3 receptor subtypes; only LPA1 receptor protein was detectable in normal liver by western blot. In the injured liver, enhanced LPA1 receptor was identified predominantly in oval cells along the portal tract, proliferating ductular epithelial cells, and small cells, which were located in the nearby parenchyma and formed clusters. Interestingly, the LPA1 receptor was co-expressed in DDC-treated livers with the stem cell antigen SCA-1, suggesting that this receptor may be associated with bone marrow-derived progenitors. All three receptors for LPA were detected mostly in small cells in the vicinity of the portal tract, and co-localized with the A6 antigen, a marker of ductular oval cells. In addition, hepatic levels of endogenous LPA were significantly higher in DDC-fed mice compared to normal animals. We propose that the expression of diverse LPA receptors may be a necessary part of the mechanism responsible for activation of oval cells during liver injury. As a result, LPA and its analogs may represent critical endogenous mediators, which regulate survival, increase motility, and modulate proliferation and differentiation of hepatocyte progenitors in regenerating liver.