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Type 2 diabetic cardiomyopathy features Ca 2+ signaling abnormalities, notably an altered mitochondrial Ca 2+ handling. We here aimed to study if it might be due to a dysregulation of either the whole Ca 2+ homeostasis, the reticulum-mitochondrial Ca 2+ coupling, and/or the mitochondrial Ca 2+ entry through the uniporter. Following a 16-week high-fat high-sucrose diet (HFHSD), mice developed cardiac insulin resistance, fibrosis, hypertrophy, lipid accumulation, and diastolic dysfunction when compared to standard diet. Ultrastructural and proteomic analyses of cardiac reticulum-mitochondria interface revealed tighter interactions not compatible with Ca 2+ transport in HFHSD cardiomyocytes. Intramyocardial adenoviral injections of Ca 2+ sensors were performed to measure Ca 2+ fluxes in freshly isolated adult cardiomyocytes and to analyze the direct effects of in vivo type 2 diabetes on cardiomyocyte function. HFHSD resulted in a decreased IP3R-VDAC interaction and a reduced IP3-stimulated Ca 2+ transfer to mitochondria, with no changes in reticular Ca 2+ level, cytosolic Ca 2+ transients, and mitochondrial Ca 2+ uniporter function. Disruption of organelle Ca 2+ exchange was associated with decreased mitochondrial bioenergetics and reduced cell contraction, which was rescued by an adenovirus-mediated expression of a reticulum-mitochondria linker. An 8-week diet reversal was able to restore cardiac insulin signaling, Ca 2+ transfer, and cardiac function in HFHSD mice. Therefore, our study demonstrates that the reticulum-mitochondria Ca 2+ miscoupling may play an early and reversible role in the development of diabetic cardiomyopathy by disrupting primarily the mitochondrial bioenergetics. A diet reversal, by counteracting the MAM-induced mitochondrial Ca 2+ dysfunction, might contribute to restore normal cardiac function and prevent the exacerbation of diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Following a prolonged exposure to hypoxia-reoxygenation, a partial disruption of the ER-mitochondria tethering by mitofusin 2 (MFN2) knock-down decreases the Ca 2+ transfer between the two organelles limits mitochondrial Ca 2+ overload and prevents the Ca 2+ -dependent opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore, i.e., limits cardiomyocyte cell death. The impact of the metabolic changes resulting from the alteration of this Ca 2+ crosstalk on the tolerance to hypoxia-reoxygenation injury remains partial and fragmented between different field of expertise. >In this study, we report that MFN2 loss of function results in a metabolic switch driven by major modifications in energy production by mitochondria. During hypoxia, mitochondria maintain their ATP concentration and, concomitantly, the inner membrane potential by importing cytosolic ATP into mitochondria through an overexpressed ANT2 protein and by decreasing the expression and activity of the ATP hydrolase via IF1. This adaptation further blunts the detrimental hyperpolarisation of the inner mitochondrial membrane (IMM) upon re-oxygenation. These metabolic changes play an important role to attenuate cell death during a prolonged hypoxia-reoxygenation challenge.

Aims/hypothesis: Disrupted intracellular Ca 2+ handling is known to play a role in diabetic cardiomyopathy but it has also been postulated to contribute to obesity- and type 2 diabetes-associated skeletal muscle dysfunction. Still, there is so far very limited functional insight into whether, and if so to what extent, muscular Ca 2+ homeostasis is affected in this situation, so as to potentially determine or contribute to muscle weakness. In differentiated muscle, force production is under the control of the excitation-contraction coupling process: upon plasma membrane electrical activity, the Ca V 1.1 voltage sensor/Ca 2+ channel in the plasma membrane triggers opening of the ryanodine receptor Ca 2+ release channel in the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) membrane. Opening of the ryanodine receptor triggers the rise in cytosolic Ca 2+ , which activates contraction while Ca 2+ uptake by the SR ATPase Ca 2+ -pump promotes relaxation. These are the core mechanisms underlying the tight control of muscle force by neuronal electrical activity. This study aimed at characterising their inherent physiological function in a diet-induced mouse model of obesity and type 2 diabetes., Methods: Intact muscle fibres were isolated from mice fed either with a standard chow diet or with a high-fat, high-sucrose diet generating obesity, insulin resistance and glucose intolerance. Properties of muscle fibres were investigated with a combination of whole-cell voltage-clamp electrophysiology and confocal fluorescence imaging. The integrity and density of the plasma membrane network (transverse tubules) that carries the membrane excitation throughout the muscle fibres was assessed with the dye Di-8-ANEPPS. Ca V 1.1 Ca 2+ channel activity was studied by measuring the changes in current across the plasma membrane elicited by voltage-clamp depolarising pulses of increasing amplitude. SR Ca 2+ release through ryanodine receptors was simultaneously detected with the Ca 2+ -sensitive dye Rhod-2 in the cytosol. Ca V 1.1 voltage-sensing activity was separately characterised from the properties of intra-plasma-membrane charge movement produced by short voltage-clamp depolarising pulses. Spontaneous Ca 2+ release at rest was assessed with the Ca 2+ -sensitive dye Fluo-4. The rate of SR Ca 2+ uptake was assessed from the time course of cytosolic Ca 2+ recovery after the end of voltage excitation using the Ca 2+ -sensitive dye Fluo-4FF. The response to a fatigue-stimulation protocol was determined from the time course of decline of the peak Fluo-4FF Ca 2+ transients elicited by 30 trains of 5-ms-long depolarising pulses delivered at 100 Hz., Results: The transverse tubule network architecture and density were well preserved in the fibres from the obese mice. The Ca V 1.1 Ca 2+ current and voltage-sensing properties were also largely unaffected with mean values for maximum conductance and maximum amount of charge of 234 ± 12 S/F and 30.7 ± 1.6 nC/μF compared with 196 ± 13 S/F and 32.9 ± 2.0 nC/μF in fibres from mice fed with the standard diet, respectively. Voltage-activated SR Ca 2+ release through ryanodine receptors also exhibited very similar properties in the two groups with mean values for maximum rate of Ca 2+ release of 76.0 ± 6.5 and 78.1 ± 4.4 μmol l -1  ms -1 , in fibres from control and obese mice, respectively. The response to a fatigue protocol was also largely unaffected in fibres from the obese mice, and so were the rate of cytosolic Ca 2+ removal and the spontaneous Ca 2+ release activity at rest., Conclusions/interpretation: The functional properties of the main mechanisms involved in the control of muscle Ca 2+ homeostasis are well preserved in muscle fibres from obese mice, at the level of both the plasma membrane and of the SR. We conclude that intracellular Ca 2+ handling and excitation-contraction coupling in skeletal muscle fibres are not primary targets of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Graphical abstract.

We have determined whether orange juice-derived nanovesicles (ONVs) could be used for the treatment of obesity-associated intestinal complications. ONVs were characterized by lipidomic, metabolomic, electron microscopy. In vitro , intestinal barriers (IBs = Caco-2+HT-29-MTX) were treated with ONVs and co-cultured with adipocytes to monitor IB fat release. In vivo , obesity was induced with a high-fat, high-sucrose diet (HFHSD mice) for 12 weeks. Then, half of HFHSD mice were gavaged with ONVs. One-month ONV treatment did not modify HFHSD-induced insulin resistance but reversed diet-induced gut modifications. In the jejunum, ONVs increased villi size, reduced triglyceride content, and modulated mRNA levels of genes involved in immune response (tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α and interleukin [IL]-1β), barrier permeability (CLDN1, OCLN, ZO1), fat absorption, and chylomicron release. ONVs targeted microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP) and angiopoietin-like protein-4 (ANGPTL4), two therapeutic targets to reduce plasma lipids and inflammation in gastrointestinal diseases. Interestingly, ONV treatment did not aggravate liver steatosis, as MTP mRNA was increased in the liver. Therefore, ONVs protected both intestine and the liver from fat overload associated with the HFHSD. As ONVs concentrated amino acids and bioactive lipids versus orange juice, which are deficient in obese patients, the use of ONVs as a dietary supplement could bring physiological relevant compounds in the jejunum to accelerate the restoration of intestinal functions during weight loss in obese patients., (© 2020 The Authors.)

Exercise is important to maintain skeletal muscle mass through stimulation of protein synthesis, which is a major ATP-consuming process for cells. However, muscle cells have to face high energy demand during contraction. The present study aimed to investigate protein synthesis regulation during aerobic exercise in mouse hindlimb muscles. Male C57Bl/6J mice ran at 12 m/min for 45 min or at 12 m/min for the first 25 min followed by a progressive increase in velocity up to 20 m/min for the last 20 min. Animals were injected intraperitoneally with 40 nmol/g of body weight of puromycin and euthanized by cervical dislocation immediately after exercise cessation. Analysis of gastrocnemius, plantaris, quadriceps, soleus, and tibialis anterior muscles revealed a decrease in protein translation assessed by puromycin incorporation, without significant differences among muscles or running intensities. The reduction of protein synthesis was associated with a marked inhibition of mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1)-dependent phosphorylation of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E-binding protein 1, a mechanism consistent with reduced translation initiation. A slight activation of AMP-activated protein kinase consecutive to the running session was measured but did not correlate with mTORC1 inhibition. More importantly, exercise resulted in a strong upregulation of regulated in development and DNA damage 1 (REDD1) protein and gene expressions, whereas transcriptional regulation of other recognized exercise-induced genes ( IL-6 , kruppel-like factor 15, and regulator of calcineurin 1 ) did not change. Consistently with the recently discovered role of REDD1 on mitochondria-associated membranes, we observed a decrease in mitochondria-endoplasmic reticulum interaction following exercise. Collectively, these data raise questions concerning the role of mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum membrane disruption in the regulation of muscle proteostasis during exercise and, more generally, in cell adaptation to metabolic stress. NEW & NOTEWORTHY How muscles regulate protein synthesis to cope with the energy demand during contraction is poorly documented. Moreover, it is unknown whether protein translation is differentially affected among mouse hindlimb muscles under different physiological exercise modalities. We showed here that 45 min of running decreases puromycin incorporation similarly in 5 different mouse muscles. This decrease was associated with a strong increase in regulated in development and DNA damage 1 protein expression and a significant disruption of the mitochondria and sarcoplasmic reticulum interaction.

Under physiological conditions, nitric oxide (NO) produced by the endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) upregulates hepatic insulin sensitivity. Recently, contact sites between the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria named mitochondria-associated membranes (MAMs) emerged as a crucial hub for insulin signaling in the liver. As mitochondria are targets of NO, we explored whether NO regulates hepatic insulin sensitivity by targeting MAMs. In Huh7 cells, primary rat hepatocytes and mouse livers, enhancing NO concentration increased MAMs, whereas inhibiting eNOS decreased them. In vitro, those effects were prevented by inhibiting protein kinase G (PKG) and mimicked by activating soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) and PKG. In agreement with the regulation of MAMs, increasing NO concentration improved insulin signaling, both in vitro and in vivo, while eNOS inhibition disrupted this response. Finally, inhibition of insulin signaling by wortmannin did not affect the impact of NO on MAMs, while experimental MAM disruption, using either targeted silencing of cyclophilin D or the overexpression of the organelle spacer fetal and adult testis-expressed 1 (FATE-1), significantly blunted the effects of NO on both MAMs and insulin response. Therefore, under physiological conditions, NO participates to the regulation of MAM integrity through the sGC/PKG pathway and concomitantly improves hepatic insulin sensitivity. Altogether, our data suggest that the induction of MAMs participate in the impact of NO on hepatocyte insulin response.

Glucotoxicity-induced β-cell dysfunction in type 2 diabetes is associated with alterations of mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Both organelles interact at contact sites, defined as mitochondria-associated membranes (MAMs), which were recently implicated in the regulation of glucose homeostasis. The role of MAMs in β-cells is still largely unknown, and their implication in glucotoxicity-associated β-cell dysfunction remains to be defined. Here, we report that acute glucose treatment stimulated ER-mitochondria interactions and calcium (Ca 2+ ) exchange in INS-1E cells, whereas disruption of MAMs altered glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS). Conversely, chronic incubations with high glucose of either INS-1E cells or human pancreatic islets altered GSIS and concomitantly reduced ER Ca 2+ store, increased basal mitochondrial Ca 2+ , and reduced ATP-stimulated ER-mitochondria Ca 2+ exchanges, despite an increase of organelle interactions. Furthermore, glucotoxicity-induced perturbations of Ca 2+ signaling are associated with ER stress, altered mitochondrial respiration, and mitochondria fragmentation, and these organelle stresses may participate in increased organelle tethering as a protective mechanism. Last, sustained induction of ER-mitochondria interactions using a linker reduced organelle Ca 2+ exchange, induced mitochondrial fission, and altered GSIS. Therefore, dynamic organelle coupling participates in GSIS in β-cells, and over time, disruption of organelle Ca 2+ exchange might be a novel mechanism contributing to glucotoxicity-induced β-cell dysfunction., (© 2019 by the American Diabetes Association.)

Inflammation and oxidative stress are thought to be involved in, or associated with, the development of obesity, dyslipidemia, hepatic steatosis, and insulin resistance. This work was designed to determine the evolution of inflammation and oxidative stress during onset and progression of hepatic steatosis and glucose intolerance. Seventy-five male Wistar rats were divided to control and high-fat high-fructose (HFHFr) groups. A subgroup of each group was sacrificed at 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 weeks. HFHFr-fed rats exhibited overweight, glucose intolerance, and hepatic steatosis with increased contents of hepatic diacylglycerols and ceramides. The HFHFr diet increased hepatic interleukin 6 (IL-6) protein and adipose tissue CCL5 gene expression and hepatic nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase activity but not mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. The HFHFr diet decreased plasma and liver levels of isoprostanoid metabolites as well as plasma thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance (TBARS) levels. Hepatic glutathione content was decreased with a moderate decrease in superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) with the HFHFr diet. Overall, HFHFr diet led to hepatic lipid accumulation and glucose intolerance, which were accompanied by only moderate inflammation and oxidative stress. Most of these changes occurred at the same time and as early as 8 or 12 weeks of diet treatment. This implies that oxidative stress may be the result, not the cause, of these metabolic alterations, and suggests that marked hepatic oxidative stress should probably occur at the end of the steatotic stage to result in frank insulin resistance and steatohepatitis. These findings need to be further evaluated in other animal species as well as in human studies., (© 2019 AOCS.)

Communication between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria plays a pivotal role in Ca 2+ signaling, energy metabolism, and cell survival. Dysfunction in this cross-talk leads to metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases. Wolfram syndrome is a fatal neurodegenerative disease caused by mutations in the ER-resident protein WFS1. Here, we showed that WFS1 formed a complex with neuronal calcium sensor 1 (NCS1) and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (IP 3 R) to promote Ca 2+ transfer between the ER and mitochondria. In addition, we found that NCS1 abundance was reduced in WFS1-null patient fibroblasts, which showed reduced ER-mitochondria interactions and Ca 2+ exchange. Moreover, in WFS1-deficient cells, NCS1 overexpression not only restored ER-mitochondria interactions and Ca 2+ transfer but also rescued mitochondrial dysfunction. Our results describe a key role of NCS1 in ER-mitochondria cross-talk, uncover a pathogenic mechanism for Wolfram syndrome, and potentially reveal insights into the pathogenesis of other neurodegenerative diseases., (Copyright © 2018 The Authors, some rights reserved; exclusive licensee American Association for the Advancement of Science. No claim to original U.S. Government Works.)

Background: Skeletal muscle atrophy is a common feature of numerous chronic pathologies and is correlated with patient mortality. The REDD1 protein is currently recognized as a negative regulator of muscle mass through inhibition of the Akt/mTORC1 signaling pathway. REDD1 expression is notably induced following glucocorticoid secretion, which is a component of energy stress responses., Results: Unexpectedly, we show here that REDD1 instead limits muscle loss during energetic stresses such as hypoxia and fasting by reducing glycogen depletion and AMPK activation. Indeed, we demonstrate that REDD1 is required to decrease O 2 and ATP consumption in skeletal muscle via reduction of the extent of mitochondrial-associated endoplasmic reticulum membranes (MAMs), a central hub connecting energy production by mitochondria and anabolic processes. In fact, REDD1 inhibits ATP-demanding processes such as glycogen storage and protein synthesis through disruption of the Akt/Hexokinase II and PRAS40/mTORC1 signaling pathways in MAMs. Our results uncover a new REDD1-dependent mechanism coupling mitochondrial respiration and anabolic processes during hypoxia, fasting, and exercise., Conclusions: Therefore, REDD1 is a crucial negative regulator of energy expenditure that is necessary for muscle adaptation during energetic stresses. This present study could shed new light on the role of REDD1 in several pathologies associated with energetic metabolism alteration, such as cancer, diabetes, and Parkinson's disease.

Living organisms have the capacity to sense both nutrients and immune signals in order to adapt their metabolism to the needs, and both metabolic inflexibility and exacerbated immune responses are associated with metabolic diseases. Over the past decade, mitochondria emerged as key nutrient and immune sensors regulating numerous signalling pathways, and mitochondria dysfunction has been extensively implicated in metabolic diseases. Interestingly, mitochondria interact physically and functionally with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER, in contact sites named mitochondria-associated membranes (MAMs), in order to exchange metabolites and calcium and regulate cellular homeostasis. Emerging evidences suggest that MAMs provide a platform for hormone and nutrient signalling pathways and for innate immune responses, then regulating mitochondrial bioenergetics and apoptosis. Here, I thus propose the concept that MAMs could be attractive nutrient and immune sensors that regulate mitochondria physiology in order to adapt metabolism and cell fate, and that organelle miscommunication could be involved in the metabolic inflexibility and the pro-inflammatory status associated with metabolic diseases., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Alterations in the strength and interface area of contact sites between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria contribute to calcium (Ca 2+ ) dysregulation and neuronal cell death, and have been implicated in the pathology of several neurodegenerative diseases. Weakening this physical linkage may reduce Ca 2+ uptake into mitochondria, while fortifying these organelle contact sites may promote mitochondrial Ca 2+ overload and cell death. Small conductance Ca 2+ -activated K + (SK) channels regulate mitochondrial respiration, and their activation attenuates mitochondrial damage in paradigms of oxidative stress. In the present study, we enhanced ER-mitochondrial coupling and investigated the impact of SK channels on survival of neuronal HT22 cells in conditions of oxidative stress. Using genetically encoded linkers, we show that mitochondrial respiration and the vulnerability of neuronal cells to oxidative stress was inversely linked to the strength of ER-mitochondrial contact points and the increase in mitochondrial Ca 2+ uptake. Pharmacological activation of SK channels provided protection against glutamate-induced cell death and also in conditions of increased ER-mitochondrial coupling. Together, this study revealed that SK channel activation provided persistent neuroprotection in the paradigm of glutamate-induced oxytosis even in conditions where an increase in ER-mitochondrial coupling potentiated mitochondrial Ca 2+ influx and impaired mitochondrial bioenergetics.

Modifications of the interactions between endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria, defined as mitochondria-associated membranes (MAMs), were recently shown to be involved in the control of hepatic insulin action and glucose homeostasis, but with conflicting results. Whereas skeletal muscle is the primary site of insulin-mediated glucose uptake and the main target for alterations in insulin-resistant states, the relevance of MAM integrity in muscle insulin resistance is unknown. Deciphering the importance of MAMs on muscle insulin signaling could help to clarify this controversy. Here, we show in skeletal muscle of different mice models of obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D) a marked disruption of ER-mitochondria interactions as an early event preceding mitochondrial dysfunction and insulin resistance. Furthermore, in human myotubes, palmitate-induced insulin resistance is associated with a reduction of structural and functional ER-mitochondria interactions. Importantly, experimental increase of ER-mitochondria contacts in human myotubes prevents palmitate-induced alterations of insulin signaling and action, whereas disruption of MAM integrity alters the action of the hormone. Lastly, we found an association between altered insulin signaling and ER-mitochondria interactions in human myotubes from obese subjects with or without T2D compared with healthy lean subjects. Collectively, our data reveal a new role of MAM integrity in insulin action of skeletal muscle and highlight MAM disruption as an essential subcellular alteration associated with muscle insulin resistance in mice and humans. Therefore, reduced ER-mitochondria coupling could be a common alteration of several insulin-sensitive tissues playing a key role in altered glucose homeostasis in the context of obesity and T2D., (© 2018 by the American Diabetes Association.)

The contact sites that the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) forms with mitochondria, called mitochondria-associated membranes (MAMs), are a hot topic in biological research, and both their molecular determinants and their numerous roles in several signaling pathways are is continuously evolving. MAMs allow the exchange between both organelles of lipids, calcium (Ca 2+ ), and likely reactive oxygen species, allowing adaptations of both cellular bioenergetics and cell fate depending of cellular needs or stresses. Therefore, it is not surprising that MAMs affect cellular metabolism. Nevertheless, recent arguments suggest that MAMs could also act as key hub of hormonal and/or nutrient signaling in several insulin-sensitive tissues, pointing a specific role of MAMs in the control of glucose homeostasis. Here, I provide a brief review and update on current key signaling roles of the MAMs in the control of glucose homeostasis in both health and metabolic diseases. Particularly, the relevance of ER-mitochondria miscommunication in the disruption of glucose homeostasis is analyzed in details in the liver, skeletal muscle, adipose tissue, and beta cells of the pancreas.

Aims: Exaggerated hepatic glucose production is one of the hallmarks of type 2 diabetes. Sulforaphane (SFN) has been suggested as a new potential anti-diabetic compound. However, the effects of SFN in hepatocytes are yet unclear. Accumulating evidence points to the close structural contacts between the ER and mitochondria, known as mitochondria-associated ER membranes (MAMs), as important hubs for hepatic metabolism. We wanted to investigate whether SFN could affect hepatic glucose production and MAMs., Materials and Methods: We used proximity ligation assays, analysis of ER stress markers and glucose production assays in hepatoma cell lines, primary mouse hepatocytes and diabetic animal models., Results: SFN counteracted the increase of glucose production in palmitate-treated mouse hepatocytes. SFN also counteracted palmitate-induced MAM disruptions. Moreover, SFN decreased the ER stress markers CHOP and Grp78. In ob/ob mice, SFN improved glucose tolerance and reduced exaggerated glucose production. In livers of these mice, SFN increased MAM protein content, restored impaired VDAC1-IP3R1 interactions and reduced ER stress markers. In mice on HFHSD, SFN improved glucose tolerance, MAM protein content and ER-mitochondria interactions to a similar extent to that of metformin., Conclusions: The present findings show that MAMs are severely reduced in animal models of glucose intolerance, which reinforces the role of MAMs as a hub for insulin signaling in the liver. We also show that SFN restores MAMs and improves glucose tolerance by a similar magnitude to that of metformin. These data highlight SFN as a new potential anti-diabetic compound., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Whereas reactive oxygen species (ROS) can have opposite impacts on insulin signaling, they have mainly been associated with mitochondrial dysfunction in skeletal muscle. We analyzed the relationship between these three features in skeletal muscle of senescence accelerated mice (SAM) prone (P8), which are characterized by enhanced oxidative stress compared to SAM resistant (R1). Oxidative stress, ROS production, antioxidant system, mitochondrial content and functioning, as well as in vitro and in vivo insulin signaling were investigated in gastrocnemius and quadriceps muscles. In SAMP8 compared to SAMR1, muscle content in carbonylated proteins was two-fold (p < 0.01) and ROS production by xanthine oxidase 70% (p < 0.05) higher. Furthermore, insulin-induced Akt phosphorylation measured in vivo and ex vivo as well as muscle glucose uptake measured ex vivo were significantly higher (p < 0.05). Mitochondrial respiration evidenced uncoupling and higher respiration rates with substrates of complexes II and IV, in agreement with higher maximal activity of complexes II and IV (+ 18% and 62%, respectively, p < 0.05). By contrast, maximal activity of complex I was 22% lower (p < 0.05). All strain differences were corrected after 6 months of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) treatment, thus supporting the involvement of high ROS production in these differences. In conclusion in muscle of SAMP8 compared to SAMR1, high ROS production is associated to higher insulin sensitivity and glucose uptake but to lower mitochondrial complex I activity. These conflicting adaptations, with regards to the resulting imbalance between NADH production and use, were associated with intrinsic adjustments in the mitochondrial respiration chain (mitochondrial uncoupling, enhanced complexes II and IV activity). We propose that these bioenergetics adaptations may help at preserving muscle metabolic flexibility of SAMP8., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The crosstalk between different organelles allows for the exchange of proteins, lipids and ions. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria are physically linked and signal through the mitochondria-associated membrane (MAM) to regulate the transfer of Ca 2+ from ER stores into the mitochondrial matrix, thereby affecting mitochondrial function and intracellular Ca 2+ homeostasis. The chaperone glucose-regulated protein 75 (GRP75) is a key protein expressed at the MAM interface which regulates ER-mitochondrial Ca 2+ transfer. Previous studies revealed that modulation of GRP75 expression largely affected mitochondrial integrity and vulnerability to cell death. In the present study, we show that genetic ablation of GRP75, by weakening ER-mitochondrial junctions, provided protection against mitochondrial dysfunction and cell death in a model of glutamate-induced oxidative stress. Interestingly, GRP75 silencing attenuated both cytosolic and mitochondrial Ca 2+ overload in conditions of oxidative stress, blocked the formation of reactive oxygen species and preserved mitochondrial respiration. These data revealed a major role for GRP75 in regulating mitochondrial function, Ca 2+ and redox homeostasis. In line, GRP75 overexpression enhanced oxidative cell death induced by glutamate. Overall, our findings suggest weakening ER-mitochondrial connectivity by GRP75 inhibition as a novel protective approach in paradigms of oxidative stress in neuronal cells., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Hyperglycemia is a common feature of septic patients and has been associated with poor outcome and high mortality. In contrast, insulin has been shown to decrease mortality and to prevent the incidence of multiorgan failure but is often associated with deleterious hypoglycemia. Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) is a negative regulator of both insulin signaling and NO production, and has been shown to be an aggravating factor in septic shock. To evaluate the potential therapeutic effect of PTP1B blockade on glucose metabolism and insulin resistance in an experimental model of sepsis, we assessed the effect of PTP1B gene deletion in a cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) model of sepsis. PTP1B gene deletion significantly limited CLP-induced insulin resistance, improved AMP-activated protein kinase signaling pathway and Glucose Transporter 4 translocation, and decreased inflammation. These effects were associated with a reduction of sepsis-induced endothelial dysfunction/impaired NO production and especially of insulin-mediated dilatation. This modulation of insulin resistance may contribute to the beneficial effect of PTP1B blockade in septic shock, especially in terms of inflammation and cardiac metabolism.

The endocrine-derived hormone fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 19 has recently emerged as a potential target for treating metabolic disease. Given that skeletal muscle is a key metabolic organ, we explored the role of FGF19 in that tissue. Here we report a novel function of FGF19 in regulating skeletal muscle mass through enlargement of muscle fiber size, and in protecting muscle from atrophy. Treatment with FGF19 causes skeletal muscle hypertrophy in mice, while physiological and pharmacological doses of FGF19 substantially increase the size of human myotubes in vitro. These effects were not elicited by FGF21, a closely related endocrine FGF member. Both in vitro and in vivo, FGF19 stimulates the phosphorylation of the extracellular-signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and the ribosomal protein S6 kinase (S6K1), an mTOR-dependent master regulator of muscle cell growth. Moreover, mice with a skeletal-muscle-specific genetic deficiency of β-Klotho (KLB), an obligate co-receptor for FGF15/19 (refs. 2,3), were unresponsive to the hypertrophic effect of FGF19. Finally, in mice, FGF19 ameliorates skeletal muscle atrophy induced by glucocorticoid treatment or obesity, as well as sarcopenia. Taken together, these findings provide evidence that the enterokine FGF19 is a novel factor in the regulation of skeletal muscle mass, and that it has therapeutic potential for the treatment of muscle wasting.

Type 2 diabetes develops when beta cells are not able to fulfill insulin needs. The role of the endoplasmic reticulum-mitochondria junction in coordinating the functions of these two organelles throughout the natural history of type 2 diabetes is determinant and may explain the alterations of insulin biosynthesis. Our goal was to study endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondrial interactions in human beta cells from organ donors with type 2 diabetes. Pancreas samples were obtained via the network for pancreatic organ donors with diabetes (nPOD) based on disease status with 12 subjects with type 2 diabetes and 9 non-diabetic controls. We examined pancreatic specimens by immunofluorescence, in situ hybridization and in situ proximity ligation assay and compared the results to an in vitro model of beta-cell dysfunction. Expression of proteins that enable tethering and exchanges between endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria and quantification of interconnection through mitochondria associated membranes (MAM) was investigated. In beta cells from type 2 diabetic cases as compared to controls, there was a significant increase in reticular expression of inositol triphosphate receptor-2 (IP3R2) both at the protein and mRNA levels, no difference in mitochondrial transit peptide receptor TOM20 and mitofusin-2 expressions, and a decrease in the expression of voltage-dependent anion channel-1 (VDAC-1). The number of IP3R2-VDAC-1 complexes identified by in situ proximity ligation assay was significantly lower in diabetic islets and in beta cells of diabetics as compared to controls. Treatment of Min6-B1 cells with palmitate altered glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, increased ER stress and significantly reduced ER-mitochondrial interactions. We can conclude that specific changes in reticular and mitochondrial beta cell proteins characterize human type 2 diabetes with reduction in organelle interactions. This finding opens new targets of intervention.

The liver plays a central role in glucose homeostasis, and both metabolic inflexibility and insulin resistance predispose to the development of hepatic metabolic diseases. Mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum (ER), which play a key role in the control of hepatic metabolism, also interact at contact points defined as mitochondria-associated membranes (MAM), in order to exchange metabolites and calcium (Ca 2+ ) and regulate cellular homeostasis and signaling. Here, we overview the role of the liver in the control of glucose homeostasis, mainly focusing on the independent involvement of mitochondria, ER and Ca 2+ signaling in both healthy and pathological contexts. Then we focus on recent data highlighting MAM as important hubs for hormone and nutrient signaling in the liver, thus adapting mitochondria physiology and cellular metabolism to energy availability. Lastly, we discuss how chronic ER-mitochondria miscommunication could participate to hepatic metabolic diseases, pointing MAM interface as a potential therapeutic target for metabolic disorders. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: ECS Meeting edited by Claus Heizmann, Joachim Krebs and Jacques Haiech., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Beyond the maintenance of cellular homeostasis and the determination of cell fate, ER-mitochondria contact sites, defined as mitochondria-associated membranes (MAM), start to emerge as an important signaling hub that integrates nutrient and hormonal stimuli and adapts cellular metabolism. Here, we summarize the established structural and functional features of MAM and mainly focus on the latest breakthroughs highlighting a crucial role of organelle crosstalk in the control of metabolic homeostasis. Lastly, we discuss recent studies that have revealed the importance of MAM in not only metabolic diseases but also in other pathologies with disrupted metabolism, shedding light on potential common molecular mechanisms and leading hopefully to novel treatment strategies., (© 2017 Society for Endocrinology.)

Metabolic diseases are associated with nutrient excess and metabolic inflexibility. Mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum are important organelles and nutrient sensors, and their dysfunction has been extensively and independently implicated in metabolic diseases. Both organelles interact at sites known as mitochondria-associated membranes (MAMs), in order to exchange metabolites and calcium. Recent evidence indicates that MAM could be a hub of hepatic insulin signaling and nutrient sensing. In this review, we discuss the roles organelle function and communication play in the cell's adaptation to nutrient availability, in both physiology and metabolic diseases. We highlight how dynamic regulation of MAM affects mitochondria physiology and adaptation of cellular metabolism to nutrient availability, and how chronic MAM disruption participates in the metabolic inflexibility associated with metabolic disorders., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Although mitochondrial dysfunction, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and disrupted lipid and calcium (Ca 2+ ) homeostasis are classically associated with both insulin resistance and β-cell dysfunction in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), the interplay between these metabolic stresses is less known. Both organelles interact through contact points known as mitochondria-associated membranes (MAM), in order to exchange both lipids and Ca 2+ and regulate cellular homeostasis. Recent evidences suggest that MAM could be an important hub for hormonal and nutrient signaling in the liver and that ER-mitochondria miscommunication could participate to hepatic insulin resistance, highlighting the importance of MAM in the control of glucose homeostasis. Here, we specifically discuss the role of MAM in hormonal and nutrient-regulated signaling pathways supporting a role in the control of glucose homeostasis and analyze the evidences pointing a role of ER-mitochondria miscommunication in T2DM. Collectively, these data suggest that targeting MAM structure and function might be a novel strategy for the treatment of T2DM.

Structural interactions between the endoplasmic reticular (ER) and mitochondrial membranes, in domains known as mitochondria-associated membranes (MAM), are crucial hubs for cellular signaling and cell fate. Particularly, these inter-organelle contact sites allow the transfer of calcium from the ER to mitochondria through the voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC)/glucose-regulated protein 75 (GRP75)/inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptor (IP3R) calcium channeling complex. While this subcellular compartment is under intense investigation in both physiological and pathological conditions, no simple and sensitive method exists to quantify the endogenous amount of ER-mitochondria contact in cells. Similarly, MAMs are highly dynamic structures, and there is no suitable approach to follow modifications of ER-mitochondria interactions without protein overexpression. Here, we report an optimized protocol based on the use of an in situ proximity ligation assay to visualize and quantify endogenous ER-mitochondria interactions in fixed cells by using the close proximity between proteins of the outer mitochondrial membrane (VDAC1) and of the ER membrane (IP3R1) at the MAM interface. Similar in situ proximity ligation experiments can also be performed with the GRP75/IP3R1 and cyclophilin D/IP3R1 pairs of antibodies. This assay provides several advantages over other imaging procedures, as it is highly specific, sensitive, and suitable to multiple-condition testing. Therefore, the use of this in situ proximity ligation assay should be helpful to better understand the physiological regulations of ER-mitochondria interactions, as well as their role in pathological contexts.

Key Points: Vascular brain lesions and atherosclerosis are two similar conditions that are characterized by increased inflammation and oxidative stress. Non-invasive imaging in a murine model of atherosclerosis showed vascular brain damage and peripheral inflammation. In this study, exercise training reduced magnetic resonance imaging-detected abnormalities, insulin resistance and markers of oxidative stress and inflammation in old ApoE -/- mice. Our results demonstrate the protective effect of exercise on neurovascular damage in the ageing brain of ApoE -/- mice., Abstract: Vascular brain lesions, present in advanced atherosclerosis, share pathological hallmarks with peripheral vascular lesions, such as increased inflammation and oxidative stress. Physical activity reduces these peripheral risk factors, but its cerebrovascular effect is less documented, especially by non-invasive imaging. Through a combination of in vivo and post-mortem techniques, we aimed to characterize vascular brain damage in old ApoE -/- mice fed a high-cholesterol (HC) diet with dietary controlled intake. We then sought to determine the beneficial effects of exercise training on oxidative stress and inflammation in the brain as a treatment option in an ageing atherosclerosis mouse model. Using in vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and biological markers of oxidative stress and inflammation, we evaluated the occurrence of vascular abnormalities in the brain of HC-diet fed ApoE -/- mice >70 weeks old, its association with local and systemic oxidative stress and inflammation, and whether both can be modulated by exercise. Exercise training significantly reduced both MRI-detected abnormalities (present in 71% of untrained vs. 14% of trained mice) and oxidative stress (lipid peroxidation, 9.1 ± 1.4 vs. 5.2 ± 0.9 μmol mg -1 ; P < 0.01) and inflammation (interleukin-1β, 226.8 ± 27.1 vs. 182.5 ± 21.5 pg mg -1 ; P < 0.05) in the brain, and the mortality rate. Exercise also decreased peripheral insulin resistance, oxidative stress and inflammation, but significant associations were seen only within brain markers. Highly localized vascular brain damage is a frequent finding in this ageing atherosclerosis model, and exercise is able to reduce this outcome and improve lifespan. In vivo MRI evaluated both the neurovascular damage and the protective effect of exercise., (© 2016 The Authors. The Journal of Physiology © 2016 The Physiological Society.)

Bone metastases are one of the main complications of prostate cancer and they are incurable. We investigated whether and how estrogen receptor-related receptor alpha (ERRα) is involved in bone tumor progression associated with advanced prostate cancer. By meta-analysis, we first found that ERRα expression is correlated with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), the hallmark of progressive disease. We then analyzed tumor cell progression and the associated signaling pathways in gain-of-function/loss-of-function CRPC models in vivo and in vitro. Increased levels of ERRα in tumor cells led to rapid tumor progression, with both bone destruction and formation, and direct impacts on osteoclasts and osteoblasts. VEGF-A, WNT5A and TGFβ1 were upregulated by ERRα in tumor cells and all of these factors also significantly and positively correlated withERRα expression in CRPC patient specimens. Finally, high levels of ERRα in tumor cells stimulated the pro-metastatic factor periostin expression in the stroma, suggesting that ERRα regulates the tumor stromal cell microenvironment to enhance tumor progression. Taken together, our data demonstrate that ERRα is a regulator of CRPC cell progression in bone. Therefore, inhibiting ERRα may constitute a new therapeutic strategy for prostate cancer skeletal-related events.

Aim: Advanced atherosclerosis increases inflammation and stroke risk in the cerebral vasculature. Exercise is known to improve cardio-metabolic profiles when associated with a caloric restriction, but it remains debated whether it is still beneficial without the dietary control. The aim of this study was to determine both the peripheral and central effects of exercise training combined with a cholesterol-rich diet given ad libitum in old ApoE -/- mice. Methods : Forty-five-weeks old obese ApoE -/- mice fed with a high cholesterol diet ad libitum were divided into Exercise-trained (EX; running wheel free access) and Sedentary (SED) groups. Insulin tolerance and brain imaging were performed before and after the twelve-weeks training. Tissue insulin resistance, oxidative stress, and inflammation markers in plasma, aorta, and brain were then assessed. Results : In EX ApoE -/- mice, no beneficial effect of exercise was observed on weight, abdominal fat, metabolic parameters, oxidative stress, or inflammation compared to SED. Despite the regular exercise training in ApoE -/- EX mice (mean of 12.5 km/week during 12 weeks), brain inflammation imaging score was significantly associated with increased blood brain barrier (BBB) leakage evaluated by imaging follow-up ( r 2 = 0.87; p = 0.049) with a faster evolution compared to SED ApoE -/- mice. Conclusion : We conclude that in a context of high cardio-metabolic risk, exercise does not provide any protective effect in old ApoE -/- animals under high cholesterol diet given ad libitum . Peripheral (insulin sensitivity and oxidative/inflammatory status) but also central features (BBB preservation and protection against inflammation) did not show any benefits of exercise. Indeed, there was a fast induction of irreversible brain damage that was more pronounced in exercise-trained ApoE -/- mice.

Aims/hypothesis: The crosstalk between skeletal muscle (SkM) and beta cells plays a role in diabetes aetiology. In this study, we have investigated whether SkM-released exosome-like vesicles (ELVs) can be taken up by pancreatic beta cells and can deliver functional cargoes., Methods: Mice were fed for 16 weeks with standard chow diet (SCD) or with standard diet enriched with 20% palmitate (HPD) and ELVs were purified from quadriceps muscle. Fluorescent ELVs from HPD or SCD quadriceps were injected i.v. or intramuscularly (i.m.) into mice to determine their biodistributions. Micro (mi)RNA quantification in ELVs was determined using quantitative real-time RT-PCR (qRT-PCR)-based TaqMan low-density arrays. Microarray analyses were performed to determine whether standard diet ELVs (SD-ELVs) and high palmitate diet ELVs (HPD-ELVs) induced specific transcriptional signatures in MIN6B1 cells., Results: In vivo, muscle ELVs were taken up by pancreas, 24 h post-injection. In vitro, both SD-ELVs and HPD-ELVs transferred proteins and miRNAs to MIN6B1 cells and modulated gene expressions whereas only HPD-ELVs induced proliferation of MIN6B1 cells and isolated islets. Bioinformatic analyses suggested that transferred HPD-ELV miRNAs may participate in these effects. To validate this, we demonstrated that miR-16, which is overexpressed in HPD-ELVs, was transferred to MIN6B1 cells and regulated Ptch1, involved in pancreas development. In vivo, islets from HPD mice showed increased size and altered expression of genes involved in development, including Ptch1, suggesting that the effect of palm oil on islet size in vivo was reproduced in vitro by treating beta cells with HPD-ELVs., Conclusions/interpretation: Our data suggest that muscle ELVs might have an endocrine effect and could participate in adaptations in beta cell mass during insulin resistance.

The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome components including abdominal obesity, dyslipidaemia and insulin resistance is increasing in both developed and developing countries. It is generally accepted that the development of these features is preceded by, or accompanied with, impaired mitochondrial function. The present study was designed to analyse the effects of a mitochondrial-targeted lipophilic ubiquinone (MitoQ) on muscle lipid profile modulation and mitochondrial function in obesogenic diet-fed rats. For this purpose, twenty-four young male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups and fed one of the following diets: (1) control, (2) high fat (HF) and (3) HF+MitoQ. After 8 weeks, mitochondrial function markers and lipid metabolism/profile modifications in skeletal muscle were measured. The HF diet was effective at inducing the major features of the metabolic syndrome--namely, obesity, hepatic enlargement and glucose intolerance. MitoQ intake prevented the increase in rat body weight, attenuated the increase in adipose tissue and liver weights and partially reversed glucose intolerance. At the muscle level, the HF diet induced moderate TAG accumulation associated with important modifications in the muscle phospholipid classes and in the fatty acid composition of total muscle lipid. These lipid modifications were accompanied with decrease in mitochondrial respiration. MitoQ intake corrected the lipid alterations and restored mitochondrial respiration. These results indicate that MitoQ protected obesogenic diet-fed rats from some features of the metabolic syndrome through its effects on muscle lipid metabolism and mitochondrial activity. These findings suggest that MitoQ is a promising candidate for future human trials in the metabolic syndrome prevention.

Mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum membranes (MAM) play a key role in mitochondrial dynamics and function and in hepatic insulin action. Whereas mitochondria are important regulators of energy metabolism, the nutritional regulation of MAM in the liver and its role in the adaptation of mitochondria physiology to nutrient availability are unknown. In this study, we found that the fasted to postprandial transition reduced the number of endoplasmic reticulum-mitochondria contact points in mouse liver. Screening of potential hormonal/metabolic signals revealed glucose as the main nutritional regulator of hepatic MAM integrity both in vitro and in vivo Glucose reduced organelle interactions through the pentose phosphate-protein phosphatase 2A (PP-PP2A) pathway, induced mitochondria fission, and impaired respiration. Blocking MAM reduction counteracted glucose-induced mitochondrial alterations. Furthermore, disruption of MAM integrity mimicked effects of glucose on mitochondria dynamics and function. This glucose-sensing system is deficient in the liver of insulin-resistant ob/ob and cyclophilin D-KO mice, both characterized by chronic disruption of MAM integrity, mitochondrial fission, and altered mitochondrial respiration. These data indicate that MAM contribute to the hepatic glucose-sensing system, allowing regulation of mitochondria dynamics and function during nutritional transition. Chronic disruption of MAM may participate in hepatic mitochondrial dysfunction associated with insulin resistance., (© The Author (2016). Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Journal of Molecular Cell Biology, IBCB, SIBS, CAS. All rights reserved.)

Aims/hypothesis: Mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum membranes (MAMs) are regions of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) tethered to mitochondria and controlling calcium (Ca(2+)) transfer between both organelles through the complex formed between the voltage-dependent anion channel, glucose-regulated protein 75 and inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptor (IP3R). We recently identified cyclophilin D (CYPD) as a new partner of this complex and demonstrated a new role for MAMs in the control of insulin's action in the liver. Here, we report on the mechanisms by which disruption of MAM integrity induces hepatic insulin resistance in CypD (also known as Ppif)-knockout (KO) mice., Methods: We used either in vitro pharmacological and genetic inhibition of CYPD in HuH7 cells or in vivo loss of CYPD in mice to investigate ER-mitochondria interactions, inter-organelle Ca(2+) exchange, organelle homeostasis and insulin action., Results: Pharmacological and genetic inhibition of CYPD concomitantly reduced ER-mitochondria interactions, inhibited inter-organelle Ca(2+) exchange, induced ER stress and altered insulin signalling in HuH7 cells. In addition, histamine-stimulated Ca(2+) transfer from ER to mitochondria was blunted in isolated hepatocytes of CypD-KO mice and this was associated with an increase in ER calcium store. Interestingly, disruption of inter-organelle Ca(2+) transfer was associated with ER stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, lipid accumulation, activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and protein kinase C (PKC)ε and insulin resistance in liver of CypD-KO mice. Finally, CYPD-related alterations of insulin signalling were mediated by activation of PKCε rather than JNK in HuH7 cells., Conclusions/interpretation: Disruption of IP3R-mediated Ca(2+) signalling in the liver of CypD-KO mice leads to hepatic insulin resistance through disruption of organelle interaction and function, increase in lipid accumulation and activation of PKCε. Modulation of ER-mitochondria Ca(2+) exchange may thus provide an exciting new avenue for treating hepatic insulin resistance.

In most animal species, juvenile growth is marked by an exponential gain in body weight and size. Here we show that the microbiota of infant mice sustains both weight gain and longitudinal growth when mice are fed a standard laboratory mouse diet or a nutritionally depleted diet. We found that the intestinal microbiota interacts with the somatotropic hormone axis to drive systemic growth. Using monocolonized mouse models, we showed that selected lactobacilli promoted juvenile growth in a strain-dependent manner that recapitulated the microbiota's effect on growth and the somatotropic axis. These findings show that the host's microbiota supports juvenile growth. Moreover, we discovered that lactobacilli strains buffered the adverse effects of chronic undernutrition on the postnatal growth of germ-free mice., (Copyright © 2016, American Association for the Advancement of Science.)

Recently, we have reported that adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ASC) harvested from obese donors induce a pro-inflammatory environment when co-cultured with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MNC), with a polarization of T cells toward the Th17 cell lineage, increased secretion of IL-1β and IL-6 pro-inflammatory cytokines, and down-regulation of Th1 cytokines, such as IFNγ and TNFα. However, whether differentiated adipocytes, like the aforementioned ASC, are pro-inflammatory in obese subject AT remained to be investigated. Herein, we isolated ASC from AT of obese donors and differentiated them into adipocytes, for either 8 or 14 d. We analyzed their capacity to activate blood MNC after stimulation with phytohemagglutinin A (PHA), or not, in co-culture assays. Our results showed that co-cultures of MNC with adipocytes, like with ASC, increased IL-17A, IL-1β, and IL-6 pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion. Moreover, like ASC, adipocytes down-regulated TNFα secretion by Th1 cells. As adipocytes differentiated from ASC of lean donors also promoted IL-17A secretion by MNC, an experimental model of high-fat versus chow diet mice was used and supported that adipocytes from obese, but not lean AT, are able to mediate IL-17A secretion by PHA-activated MNCs. In conclusion, our results suggest that, as ASC, adipocytes in obese AT might contribute to the establishment of a low-grade chronic inflammation state.

Mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) regulate numerous cellular processes, and are critical contributors to cellular and whole-body homoeostasis. More important, mitochondrial dysfunction and ER stress are both closely associated with hepatic and skeletal muscle insulin resistance, thereby playing crucial roles in altered glucose homoeostasis in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The accumulated evidence also suggests a potential interrelationship between alterations in both types of organelles, as mitochondrial dysfunction could participate in activation of the unfolded protein response, whereas ER stress could influence mitochondrial function. The fact that mitochondria and the ER are physically and functionally interconnected via mitochondria-associated membranes (MAMs) supports their interrelated roles in the pathophysiology of T2DM. However, the mechanisms that coordinate the interplay between mitochondrial dysfunction and ER stress, and its relevance to the control of glucose homoeostasis, are still unknown. This review evaluates the involvement of mitochondria and ER independently in the development of peripheral insulin resistance, as well as their potential roles in the disruption of organelle crosstalk at MAM interfaces in the alteration of insulin signalling., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Obesity, through low-grade inflammation, can drive insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. While infiltration of adipose tissue (AT) with mononuclear cells (MNCs) is well established in obesity, the functional consequences of these interactions are less understood. Herein, we cocultured human adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) from obese individuals with MNCs and analyzed their reciprocal behavior. Presence of ASCs 1) enhanced interleukin (IL)-17A secretion by Th17 cells, 2) inhibited γ-interferon and tumor necrosis factor α secretion by Th1 cells, and 3) increased monocyte-mediated IL-1β secretion. IL-17A secretion also occurred in stromal vascular fractions issued from obese but not lean individuals. Th17 polarization mostly depended on physical contacts between ASCs and MNCs-with a contribution of intracellular adhesion molecule-1-and occurred through activation of the inflammasome and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase pathways. ASCs favored STAT3 over STAT5 transcription factor binding on STAT binding sites within the IL-17A/F gene locus. Finally, conditioned media from activated ASC-MNC cocultures inhibited adipocyte differentiation mRNA markers and impaired insulin-mediated Akt phosphorylation and lipolysis inhibition. In conclusion, we report that obese- but not lean-derived ASCs induce Th17 promotion and monocyte activation. This proinflammatory environment, in turn, inhibits adipogenesis and adipocyte insulin response. The demonstration of an ASC-Th17-monocyte cell axis reveals a novel proinflammatory process taking place in AT during obesity and defines novel putative therapeutic targets., (© 2015 by the American Diabetes Association. Readers may use this article as long as the work is properly cited, the use is educational and not for profit, and the work is not altered.)

Imeglimin is the first in a new class of oral glucose-lowering agents currently in phase 2b development. Although imeglimin improves insulin sensitivity in humans, the molecular mechanisms are unknown. This study used a model of 16-week high-fat, high-sucrose diet (HFHSD) mice to characterize its antidiabetic effects. Six-week imeglimin treatment significantly decreased glycemia, restored normal glucose tolerance, and improved insulin sensitivity without modifying organs, body weights, and food intake. This was associated with an increase in insulin-stimulated protein kinase B phosphorylation in the liver and muscle. In liver mitochondria, imeglimin redirects substrate flows in favor of complex II, as illustrated by increased respiration with succinate and by the restoration of respiration with glutamate/malate back to control levels. In addition, imeglimin inhibits complex I and restores complex III activities, suggesting an increase in fatty acid oxidation, which is supported by an increase in hepatic 3-hydroxyacetyl-CoA dehydrogenase activity and acylcarnitine profile and the reduction of liver steatosis. Imeglimin also reduces reactive oxygen species production and increases mitochondrial DNA. Finally, imeglimin effects on mitochondrial phospholipid composition could participate in the benefit of imeglimin on mitochondrial function. In conclusion, imeglimin normalizes glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity by preserving mitochondrial function from oxidative stress and favoring lipid oxidation in liver of HFHSD mice., (© 2015 by the American Diabetes Association. Readers may use this article as long as the work is properly cited, the use is educational and not for profit, and the work is not altered.)

A growing body of evidence suggests that exposure to traffic-related air pollution is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes. Ozone, a major photochemical pollutant in urban areas, is negatively associated with fasting glucose and insulin levels, but most aspects of this association remain to be elucidated. Using an environmentally realistic concentration (0.8 parts per million), we demonstrated that exposure of rats to ozone induced whole-body insulin resistance and oxidative stress, with associated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activation, and disruption of insulin signaling in skeletal muscle. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluids from ozone-treated rats reproduced this effect in C2C12 myotubes, suggesting that toxic lung mediators were responsible for the phenotype. Pretreatment with the chemical chaperone 4-phenylbutyric acid, the JNK inhibitor SP600125, or the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine alleviated insulin resistance, demonstrating that ozone sequentially triggered oxidative stress, ER stress, and JNK activation to impair insulin signaling in muscle. This study is the first to report that ozone plays a causative role in the development of insulin resistance, suggesting that it could boost the development of diabetes. We therefore provide a potential mechanism linking pollutant exposure and the increased incidence of metabolic diseases., (© 2015 by the American Diabetes Association. Readers may use this article as long as the work is properly cited, the use is educational and not for profit, and the work is not altered.)

Inflammation is now recognized as a major factor contributing to type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, while the mechanisms and consequences associated with white adipose tissue inflammation are well described, very little is known concerning the situation in skeletal muscle. The aim of this study was to investigate, in vitro and in vivo, how skeletal muscle inflammation develops and how in turn it modulates local and systemic insulin sensitivity in different mice models of T2D and in humans, focusing on the role of the chemokine MCP1. Here, we found that skeletal muscle inflammation and macrophage markers are increased and associated with insulin resistance in mice models and humans. In addition, we demonstrated that intra-muscular TNFα expression is exclusively restricted to the population of intramuscular leukocytes and that the chemokine MCP1 was associated with skeletal muscle inflammatory markers in these models. Furthermore, we demonstrated that exposure of C2C12 myotubes to palmitate elevated the production of the chemokine MCP1 and that the muscle-specific overexpression of MCP1 in transgenic mice induced the local recruitment of macrophages and altered local insulin sensitivity. Overall our study demonstrates that skeletal muscle inflammation is clearly increased in the context of T2D in each one of the models we investigated, which is likely consecutive to the lipotoxic environment generated by peripheral insulin resistance, further increasing MCP1 expression in muscle. Consequently, our results suggest that MCP1-mediated skeletal muscle macrophages recruitment plays a role in the etiology of T2D.

Aims/hypothesis: Exosomes released from cells can transfer both functional proteins and RNAs between cells. In this study we tested the hypothesis that muscle cells might transmit specific signals during lipid-induced insulin resistance through the exosomal route., Methods: Exosomes were collected from quadriceps muscles of C57Bl/6 mice fed for 16 weeks with either a standard chow diet (SD) or an SD enriched with 20% palm oil (HP) and from C2C12 cells exposed to 0.5 mmol/l palmitate (EXO-Post Palm), oleate (EXO-Post Oleate) or BSA (EXO-Post BSA)., Results: HP-fed mice were obese and insulin resistant and had altered insulin-induced Akt phosphorylation in skeletal muscle (SkM). They also had reduced expression of Myod1 and Myog and increased levels of Ccnd1 mRNA, indicating that palm oil had a deep impact on SkM homeostasis in addition to insulin resistance. HP-fed mouse SkM secreted more exosomes than SD-fed mouse SkM. This was reproduced in-vitro using C2C12 cells pre-treated with palmitate, the most abundant saturated fatty acid of palm oil. Exosomes from HP-fed mice, EXO-Post Palm and EXO-Post Oleate induced myoblast proliferation and modified the expressions of genes involved in the cell cycle and muscle differentiation but did not alter insulin-induced Akt phosphorylation. Lipidomic analyses showed that exosomes from palmitate-treated cells were enriched in palmitate, indicating that exosomes likely transfer the deleterious effect of palm oil between muscle cells by transferring lipids. Muscle exosomes were incorporated into various tissues in vivo, including the pancreas and liver, suggesting that SkM could transfer specific signals through the exosomal route to key metabolic tissues., Conclusions/interpretation: Exosomes act as 'paracrine-like' signals and modify muscle homeostasis during high-fat diets.

The prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) components including obesity, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance (IR), and hepatic steatosis is rapidly increasing in wealthy societies. It is accepted that inflammation/oxidative stress are involved in the initiation/evolution of the MetS features. The present work was designed to evaluate the effects of three major cellular ROS production systems on obesity, glucose tolerance, and hepatic steatosis development and on oxidative stress onset. To do so, 40 young male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 5 groups: 1-control group, 2-high fat (HF) group (60% energy from fat), 3-HF+ MitoQ (mitochondrial ROS scavenger), 4-HF+ Apocynin (NADPH oxidase inhibitor), 5-HF+ Allopurinol (xanthine oxidase inhibitor). After 8 weeks of these treatments, surrogate MetS, mitochondrial function, and oxidative stress markers were measured in blood and liver. As expected, rats that were fed the HF diet exhibited increased body weight, glucose intolerance, overt hepatic steatosis, and increased hepatic oxidative stress. The impacts of the studied ROS inhibitors on these aspects of the MetS were markedly different. MitoQ showed the most clinically relevant effects, attenuating body weight gain and glucose intolerance provoked by the HF diet. Both Apocynin and Allopurinol showed limited effects suggesting secondary roles of xanthine oxidase (XO) or NADPH oxidase-dependent ROS production in the onset of oxidative stress-dependent obesity, glucose intolerance, and hepatic steatosis process. Thus, MitoQ revealed the central role of mitochondrial oxidative stress in the development of MetS and suggested that mitochondria-targeted antioxidants may be worth considering as potentially helpful therapies for MetS features.

Mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membranes (MAMs) are functional domains between both organelles involved in Ca(2+) exchange, through the voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC)-1/glucose-regulated protein 75 (Grp75)/inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptor (IP3R)-1 complex, and regulating energy metabolism. Whereas mitochondrial dysfunction, ER stress, and altered Ca(2+) homeostasis are associated with altered insulin signaling, the implication of MAM dysfunctions in insulin resistance is unknown. Here we validated an approach based on in situ proximity ligation assay to detect and quantify VDAC1/IP3R1 and Grp75/IP3R1 interactions at the MAM interface. We demonstrated that MAM integrity is required for insulin signaling and that induction of MAM prevented palmitate-induced alterations of insulin signaling in HuH7 cells. Disruption of MAM integrity by genetic or pharmacological inhibition of the mitochondrial MAM protein, cyclophilin D (CypD), altered insulin signaling in mouse and human primary hepatocytes and treatment of CypD knockout mice with metformin improved both insulin sensitivity and MAM integrity. Furthermore, ER-mitochondria interactions are altered in liver of both ob/ob and diet-induced insulin-resistant mice and improved by rosiglitazone treatment in the latter. Finally, increasing organelle contacts by overexpressing CypD enhanced insulin action in primary hepatocytes of diabetic mice. Collectively, our data reveal a new role of MAM integrity in hepatic insulin action and resistance, providing a novel target for the modulation of insulin action., (© 2014 by the American Diabetes Association. Readers may use this article as long as the work is properly cited, the use is educational and not for profit, and the work is not altered.)

Context/objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the regulation of the fuel partitioning and energy metabolism in skeletal muscle during lipid overfeeding in healthy men. Design/Participants/Intervention: Thirty-nine healthy volunteers were overfed for 56 days with a high-fat diet (3180 kJ/d). Energy metabolism (indirect calorimetry) was characterized in the fasting state and during a test meal before and at the end of the diet. Skeletal muscle biopsies were taken at day 0 and day 56., Main Outcome Measures: Change in gene expression, mitochondrial respiration, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD(+)) content, and acetylation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) in skeletal muscle was measured., Results: Overfeeding increased body weight (+2.6 kg) and fat mass concomitantly with a shift in the use of substrates as energy fuel toward preferential oxidation of carbohydrates instead of lipids. Changes in lipid metabolic gene expression supported this observation, with a reduction in pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 expression that could be the consequences of decreased NAD(+) concentration and reduced deacetylase activity of the sirtuins, as supported by hyperacetylation of PGC-1α after overfeeding. Interestingly, this reduction of the sirtuin PGC-1α pathway was associated with increased mitochondrial gene expression and higher respiration rate under these conditions., Conclusion: Adaptation to lipid overfeeding and regulation of fuel partitioning in human muscle appear to rely on a dissociation between the regulatory functions of the sirtuin-PGC-1α pathway on fatty acid oxidation and on mitochondrial regulation. This may facilitate lipid storage during a period of positive energy balance while maintaining mitochondrial functions and oxidative capacities.

Our aim was to characterize the effects and the underlying mechanisms of the lipid-regulating agent Niaspan(®) on both insulin action and triglyceride decrease in 20 nondiabetic, dyslipidemic men with metabolic syndrome receiving Niaspan(®) (2 g/day) or placebo for 8 weeks in a randomized, cross-over study. The effects on plasma lipid profile were characterized at the beginning and the end of each treatment period; insulin sensitivity was assessed using the 2-step euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp and VLDL-triglyceride turnover by measuring plasma glycerol enrichment, both at the end of each treatment period. The mechanism of action of nicotinic acid was studied in HuH7 and mouse primary hepatocytes. Lipid profile was improved after Niaspan(®) treatment with a significant-28% decrease in triglyceride levels, a+17% increase in HDL-C concentration and unchanged levels of fasting nonesterified fatty acid. VLDL-tri-glyceride production rate was markedly reduced after Niaspan(®) (-68%). However, the treatment induced hepatic insulin resistance, as assessed by reduced inhibition of endogenous glucose production by insulin (0.7±0.4 vs. 1.0±0.5 mg/kg · min, p<0.05) and decrease in fasting hepatic insulin sensitivity index (4.8±1.8 vs. 3.2±1.6, p<0.05) in the Niaspan(®) condition. Nicotinic acid also reduced insulin action in HuH7 and primary hepatocytes, independently of the activation of hepatic PKCε. This effect was associated with an increase in diacylglycerol and a decrease in tri-glyceride contents that occurred in the absence of modification of DGAT2 expression and activity. Eight weeks of Niaspan(®) treatment in dyslipidemic patients with metabolic syndrome induce hepatic insulin resistance. The mechanism could involve an accumulation of diacylglycerol and an alteration of insulin signaling in hepatocytes., (© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

Obstructive sleep apnoea is a highly prevalent disease characterised by repetitive upper airway collapse during sleep leading to intermittent hypoxia. Cardiometabolic complications of sleep apnoea have been mostly attributed to intermittent hypoxia. These consequences could be mediated through intermittent hypoxia-related alterations of the visceral white fat, as it is recognised for playing an important role in inflammation, atherogenesis and insulin resistance. Epididymal adipose tissue alterations were investigated in 20-week-old nonobese male apolipoprotein E-deficient mice exposed to intermittent hypoxia (inspiratory oxygen fraction 5-21%, 60-s cycle, 8 h · day(-1)) or air for 6 weeks. These adipose tissue alterations, as well as metabolic alterations and aortic atherosclerosis, were then assessed in lipectomised or sham-operated mice exposed to intermittent hypoxia or air for 6 weeks. Intermittent hypoxia induced morphological (shrunken adipocytes), functional (increased uncoupling protein-1 expression) and inflammatory (increased macrophage recruitment and secretion of interleukin-6 and tumour necrosis factor-α) remodelling of epididymal adipose tissue. Hypoxic mice presented more severe dyslipidaemia and atherosclerosis lesions and developed insulin resistance. Epididymal lipectomy attenuated both intermittent hypoxia-induced dyslipidaemia and atherogenesis, but did not improve insulin sensitivity. Our results confirmed that the dyslipidaemic and proatherogenic effects of intermittent hypoxia are partly mediated through morphological, functional and inflammatory remodelling of visceral white fat, regardless of obesity.

Background: The fat mass and obesity associated (FTO) gene is related to obesity and type 2 diabetes, but its function is still largely unknown. A link between leptin receptor-signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (LepR-STAT3) signalling pathway and FTO was recently suggested in the hypothalamus. Because of the presence of FTO in liver and the role of LepR-STAT3 in the control of hepatic metabolism, we investigated both in vitro and in vivo the potential interrelationship between FTO and LepR-STAT3 signalling pathway in liver and the impact of FTO overexpression on leptin action and glucose homeostasis in liver of mice., Results: We found that FTO protein expression is regulated by both leptin and IL-6, concomitantly to an induction of STAT3 tyrosine phosphorylation, in leptin receptor (LepRb) expressing HuH7 cells. In addition, FTO overexpression in vitro altered both leptin-induced Y705 and S727 STAT3 phosphorylation, leading to dysregulation of glucose-6-phosphatase (G6P) expression and mitochondrial density, respectively. In vivo, liver specific FTO overexpression in mice induced a reducetion of Y705 phosphorylation of STAT3 in nuclear fraction, associated with reduced SOCS3 and LepR mRNA levels and with an increased G6P expression. Interestingly, FTO overexpression also induced S727 STAT3 phosphorylation in liver mitochondria, resulting in an increase of mitochondria function and density. Altogether, these data indicate that FTO promotes mitochondrial recruitment of STAT3 to the detriment of its nuclear localization, affecting in turn oxidative metabolism and the expression of leptin-targeted genes. Interestingly, these effects were associated in mice with alterations of leptin action and hyperleptinemia, as well as hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia and glucose intolerance., Conclusions: Altogether, these data point a novel regulatory loop between FTO and leptin-STAT3 signalling pathways in liver cells, and highlight a new role of FTO in the regulation of hepatic leptin action and glucose metabolism.

Objective: This study sought to identify the profile of circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) in type 2 diabetes (T2D) and its response to changes in insulin sensitivity., Research Design and Methods: The circulating miRNA profile was assessed in a pilot study of 12 men: 6 with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) and 6 T2D patients. The association of 10 circulating miRNAs with T2D was cross-sectionally validated in an extended sample of 45 NGT vs. 48 T2D subjects (65 nonobese and 28 obese men) and longitudinally in 35 T2D patients who were recruited in a randomized, double-blinded, and placebo-controlled 3-month trial of metformin treatment. Circulating miRNAs were also measured in seven healthy volunteers before and after a 6-h hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp and insulin plus intralipid/heparin infusion., Results: Cross-sectional studies disclosed a marked increase of miR-140-5p, miR-142-3p, and miR-222 and decreased miR-423-5p, miR-125b, miR-192, miR-195, miR-130b, miR-532-5p, and miR-126 in T2D patients. Multiple linear regression analyses revealed that miR-140-5p and miR-423-5p contributed independently to explain 49.5% (P < 0.0001) of fasting glucose variance after controlling for confounders. A discriminant function of four miRNAs (miR-140-5p, miR-423-5p, miR-195, and miR-126) was specific for T2D with an accuracy of 89.2% (P < 0.0001). Metformin (but not placebo) led to significant changes in circulating miR-192 (49.5%; P = 0.022), miR-140-5p (-15.8%; P = 0.004), and miR-222 (-47.2%; P = 0.03), in parallel to decreased fasting glucose and HbA1c. Furthermore, while insulin infusion during clamp decreased miR-222 (-62%; P = 0.002), the intralipid/heparin mixture increased circulating miR-222 (163%; P = 0.015) and miR-140-5p (67.5%; P = 0.05)., Conclusions: This study depicts the close association between variations in circulating miRNAs and T2D and their potential relevance in insulin sensitivity.

As shown in a large clinical prospective trial, inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) can delay the onset of type 2 diabetes in high-risk individuals. We evaluated the beneficial effects of RAS inhibition on β-cell function under glucotoxic conditions. Human islets from 13 donors were cultured in 5.5 mM (controls) or 16.7 mM glucose [high glucose (HG)] for 4 d with or without losartan (5 μM), a selective AT1R blocker, and/or U73122 (2 μM), a selective PLC inhibitor, during the last 2 d. HG induced RAS activation with overexpression of AT1R (P<0.05) and angiotensinogen (P<0.001) mRNAs. HG increased endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress markers (P<0.001) such as GRP78, sXBP1, and ATF4 mRNAs and Grp78 protein levels (P<0.01). HG also decreased reticular calcium concentration (P<0.0001) and modified protein expressions of ER calcium pumps with reduction of SERCA2b (P<0.01) and increase of IP3R2 (P<0.05). Losartan prevented these deleterious effects and was associated with improved insulin secretion despite HG exposure. AT1R activation triggers the PLC-IP3-calcium pathway. Losartan prevented the increase of PLC β1 and γ1 protein levels induced by HG (P<0.05). U73122 reproduced all the protective effects of losartan. AT1R blockade protects human islets from the deleterious effects of glucose through inhibition of the PLC-IP3-calcium pathway.

Animal studies using a high-fat diet (HFD) have studied the effects of lipid overconsumption by comparing a defined HFD either with a natural-ingredient chow diet or with a defined low-fat diet (LFD), despite the dramatic differences between these control diets. We hypothesized that these differences in the control diet could modify the conclusions regarding the effects that an increase of fat in the diet has on several metabolic parameters. For 11 weeks, C57bl6/J mice were fed a low-fat chow diet (8% energy from fat), a typical semisynthetic LFD (12%), or a semisynthetic HFD (sy-HF) (40%). Conclusions about the effect of sy-HF on body weight gain, subcutaneous adipose tissue, insulin sensitivity, and adipose tissue inflammation were modified according to the control LFD. Conversely, conclusions about epididymal and retroperitoneal adipose tissue; fat intake effects on liver and muscular lipids, cholesterol, free fatty acids, and markers of low-grade inflammation; and of adipose tissue macrophage infiltration were the same regardless of the use of low-fat chow diet or semisynthetic LFD. For some physiological outcomes, conflicting conclusions were even reached about the effects of increased fat intake according to the chosen low-fat control. Some deleterious effects of sy-HF may not be explained by lipid overconsumption but rather by the overall quality of ingredients in a semisynthetic diet. According to the control LFD chosen, conclusions on the lipid-related effects of HFDs must be formulated with great care because some end points are profoundly affected by the ingredient composition of the diet rather than by fat content., (© 2013.)