Objective Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is becoming a leading cause of advanced chronic liver disease. The progression of NAFLD, including nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), has a strong genetic component, and the most robust contributor is the patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing 3 ( PNPLA3 ) rs738409 encoding the 148M protein sequence variant. We hypothesized that suppressing the expression of the PNPLA3 148M mutant protein would exert a beneficial effect on the entire spectrum of NAFLD. Methods We examined the effects of liver-targeted GalNAc 3 -conjugated antisense oligonucleotide (ASO)-mediated silencing of Pnpla3 in a knock-in mouse model in which we introduced the human PNPLA3 I148M mutation. Results ASO-mediated silencing of Pnpla3 reduced liver steatosis ( p = 0.038) in homozygous Pnpla3 148M/M knock-in mutant mice but not in wild-type littermates fed a steatogenic high-sucrose diet. In mice fed a NASH-inducing diet, ASO-mediated silencing of Pnpla3 reduced liver steatosis score and NAFLD activity score independent of the Pnpla3 genotype, while reductions in liver inflammation score ( p = 0.018) and fibrosis stage ( p = 0.031) were observed only in the Pnpla3 knock-in 148M/M mutant mice. These responses were accompanied by reduced liver levels of Mcp1 ( p = 0.026) and Timp2 ( p = 0.007) specifically in the mutant knock-in mice. This may reduce levels of chemokine attracting inflammatory cells and increase the collagenolytic activity during tissue regeneration. Conclusion This study provides the first evidence that a Pnpla3 ASO therapy can improve all features of NAFLD, including liver fibrosis, and suppress the expression of a strong innate genetic risk factor, Pnpla3 148M, which may open up a precision medicine approach in NASH.
Receptor-dependent productive uptake of GLP1-conjugated antisense oligonucleotides occurs selectively in pancreatic β-cells.
ObjectiveDedifferentiation could explain reduced functional pancreatic β-cell mass in type 2 diabetes (T2D).MethodsHere we model human β-cell dedifferentiation using growth factor stimulation in the human β-cell line, EndoC-βH1, and human pancreatic islets.ResultsFibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) treatment reduced expression of β-cell markers, (INS, MAFB, SLC2A2, SLC30A8, and GCK) and activated ectopic expression of MYC, HES1, SOX9, and NEUROG3. FGF2-induced dedifferentiation was time- and dose-dependent and reversible upon wash-out. Furthermore, FGF2 treatment induced expression of TNFRSF11B, a decoy receptor for RANKL and protected β-cells against RANKL signaling. Finally, analyses of transcriptomic data revealed increased FGF2 expression in ductal, endothelial, and stellate cells in pancreas from T2D patients, whereas FGFR1, SOX,9 and HES1 expression increased in islets from T2D patients.ConclusionsWe thus developed an FGF2-induced model of human β-cell dedifferentiation, identified new markers of dedifferentiation, and found evidence for increased pancreatic FGF2, FGFR1, and β-cell dedifferentiation in T2D.
We compared the neurokinin 1 receptor (NK 1 R) antagonists aprepitant, CP-99994 [(2S,3S)-3-(2-methoxybenzylamino)-2-phenylpiperidine], and ZD6021 [3-cyano-N-((2S)-2-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-4-[4-[2-(methyl-(S)-sulfinyl)phenyl]piperidino]butyl)-N-methyl]napthamide]] with respect to receptor interactions and duration of efficacy in vivo. In Ca 2ϩ mobilization assays (fluorometric imaging plate reader), antagonists were applied to human U373MG cells simultaneously with or 2.5 min before substance P (SP). In reversibility studies, antagonists were present for 30 min before washing, and responses to SP were repeatedly measured afterward. The compounds were administered i.p. to gerbils, and the gerbil foot tap (GFT) response was monitored at various time points. The NK 1 R receptor occupancy for aprepitant was determined in striatal regions. Levels of compound in brain and plasma were measured. Antagonists were equipotent at human NK 1 R and acted competitively with SP. After preincubation, aprepitant and ZD6021 attenuated the maximal responses, whereas CP-99994 only shifted the SP concentration-response curve to the right. The inhibitory effect of CP-99994 was over within 30 min, whereas for ZD6021, 50% inhibition still persisted after 60 min. Aprepitant produced maximal inhibition lasting at least 60 min. CP-99994 (3 mol/kg) inhibited GFT by 100% 15 min after administration, but the effect declined rapidly together with brain levels thereafter. The efficacy of ZD6021 (10 mol/kg) lasted 4 h and correlated well with brain levels. Aprepitant (3 mol/kg) inhibited GFT and occupied striatal NK 1 R by 100% for Ͼ48 h despite that brain levels of compound were below the limit of detection after 24 h. Slow functional reversibility is associated with long-lasting in vivo efficacy of NK 1 R antagonists, whereas the efficacy of compounds with rapid reversibility is reflected by their pharmacokinetics.The neurokinins substance P (SP), neurokinin (NK) A (NKA), and NKB belong to the tachykinin peptide family (Severini et al., 2002). The tachykinin receptors are divided into three subtypes: NK 1 R, NK 2 R, and NK 3 R. The rank order of potency of the endogenous tachykinins are: for NK 1 R, SP Ն NKA Ͼ NKB; for NK 2 R, NKA Ͼ NKB Ͼ SP; and for NK 3 R, NKB Ͼ NKA Ͼ SP (for review, see Pennefather et al., 2004). Hemokinin-1 and endokinins A and B are relatively new mammalian members of the tachykinin family but appear to have similar receptor pharmacology as SP (Page, 2006). On the other hand, endokinins C and D have negligible affinity for known NK receptors (Page, 2006).Preclinical research has implicated especially the NK 1 R as being involved in several pathological disorders, including emesis, asthma, psychiatric disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, pain, migraine, inflammation, and urinary bladder disorders. This has led to the subsequent development of selective and potent NK 1 R antagonists (for recent review, see Quartara and Altamura, 2006). However, so far, only aprepitant has reached the market for treatment of chemothe...
Glucagon is one of the main regulators of blood glucose levels and dysfunctional stimulus secretion coupling in pancreatic A-cells is believed to be an important factor during development of diabetes. However, regulation of glucagon secretion is poorly understood. Recently it has been shown that Na+/glucose co-transporter (SGLT) inhibitors used for the treatment of diabetes increase glucagon levels in man. Here, we show experimentally that the SGLT2 inhibitor dapagliflozin increases glucagon secretion at high glucose levels both in human and mouse islets, but has little effect at low glucose concentrations. Because glucagon secretion is regulated by electrical activity we developed a mathematical model of A-cell electrical activity based on published data from human A-cells. With operating SGLT2, simulated glucose application leads to cell depolarization and inactivation of the voltage-gated ion channels carrying the action potential, and hence to reduce action potential height. According to our model, inhibition of SGLT2 reduces glucose-induced depolarization via electrical mechanisms. We suggest that blocking SGLTs partly relieves glucose suppression of glucagon secretion by allowing full-scale action potentials to develop. Based on our simulations we propose that SGLT2 is a glucose sensor and actively contributes to regulation of glucagon levels in humans which has clinical implications.
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