Superoxide activates mitochondrial uncoupling proteins.

Uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) diverts energy from ATP synthesis to thermogenesis in the mitochondria of brown adipose tissue by catalysing a regulated leak of protons across the inner membrane. The functions of its homologues, UCP2 and UCP3, in other tissues are debated. UCP2 and UCP3 are present at much lower abundance than UCP1, and the uncoupling with which they are associated is not significantly thermogenic. Mild uncoupling would, however, decrease the mitochondrial production of reactive oxygen species, which are important mediators of oxidative damage. Here we show that superoxide increases mitochondrial proton conductance through effects on UCP1, UCP2 and UCP3. Superoxide-induced uncoupling requires fatty acids and is inhibited by purine nucleotides. It correlates with the tissue expression of UCPs, appears in mitochondria from yeast expressing UCP1, and is absent in skeletal muscle mitochondria from UCP3 knockout mice. Our findings indicate that the interaction of superoxide with UCPs may be a mechanism for decreasing the concentrations of reactive oxygen species inside mitochondria.     

Oxidant stress evoked by pacemaking in dopaminergic neurons is attenuated by DJ-1

Parkinson's disease is a pervasive, ageing-related neurodegenerative disease the cardinal motor symptoms of which reflect the loss of a small group of neurons, the dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc). Mitochondrial oxidant stress is widely viewed as being responsible for this loss, but why these particular neurons should be stressed is a mystery. Here we show, using transgenic mice that expressed a redox-sensitive variant of green fluorescent protein targeted to the mitochondrial matrix, that the engagement of plasma membrane L-type calcium channels during normal autonomous pacemaking created an oxidant stress that was specific to vulnerable SNc dopaminergic neurons. The oxidant stress engaged defences that induced transient, mild mitochondrial depolarization or uncoupling. The mild uncoupling was not affected by deletion of cyclophilin D, which is a component of the permeability transition pore, but was attenuated by genipin and purine nucleotides, which are antagonists of cloned uncoupling proteins. Knocking out DJ-1 (also known as PARK7 in humans and Park7 in mice), which is a gene associated with an early-onset form of Parkinson's disease, downregulated the expression of two uncoupling proteins (UCP4 (SLC25A27) and UCP5 (SLC25A14)), compromised calcium-induced uncoupling and increased oxidation of matrix proteins specifically in SNc dopaminergic neurons. Because drugs approved for human use can antagonize calcium entry through L-type channels, these results point to a novel neuroprotective strategy for both idiopathic and familial forms of Parkinson's disease.     

岩藻黄素降脂活性及其作用机制研究进展

岩藻黄素（Fucoxanthin）是海洋褐藻中主要的叶黄素类类胡萝卜素，也是褐藻中主要的降脂活性成分之一。岩藻黄素具有抗肿瘤、抗炎症、抗肥胖等多种生物活性，在代谢调节方面，岩藻黄素能促进脂肪分解和脂肪酸氧化，上调白色脂肪组织中线粒体解偶联蛋白1（UCP1）的表达，具有显著的抗肥胖功效，但其具体作用机制还需要进一步研究。本文综述近年来岩藻黄素在促进前体脂肪细胞分化、诱导白色脂肪细胞棕色化、调节胆固醇代谢等方面作用机制的研究成果，为进一步研究岩藻黄素的降脂作用机制提供理论参考。     

Glucose sensing by POMC neurons regulates glucose homeostasis and is impaired in obesity

A subset of neurons in the brain, known as 'glucose-excited' neurons, depolarize and increase their firing rate in response to increases in extracellular glucose. Similar to insulin secretion by pancreatic beta-cells, glucose excitation of neurons is driven by ATP-mediated closure of ATP-sensitive potassium (K(ATP)) channels. Although beta-cell-like glucose sensing in neurons is well established, its physiological relevance and contribution to disease states such as type 2 diabetes remain unknown. To address these issues, we disrupted glucose sensing in glucose-excited pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons via transgenic expression of a mutant Kir6.2 subunit (encoded by the Kcnj11 gene) that prevents ATP-mediated closure of K(ATP) channels. Here we show that this genetic manipulation impaired the whole-body response to a systemic glucose load, demonstrating a role for glucose sensing by POMC neurons in the overall physiological control of blood glucose. We also found that glucose sensing by POMC neurons became defective in obese mice on a high-fat diet, suggesting that loss of glucose sensing by neurons has a role in the development of type 2 diabetes. The mechanism for obesity-induced loss of glucose sensing in POMC neurons involves uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2), a mitochondrial protein that impairs glucose-stimulated ATP production. UCP2 negatively regulates glucose sensing in POMC neurons. We found that genetic deletion of Ucp2 prevents obesity-induced loss of glucose sensing, and that acute pharmacological inhibition of UCP2 reverses loss of glucose sensing. We conclude that obesity-induced, UCP2-mediated loss of glucose sensing in glucose-excited neurons might have a pathogenic role in the development of type 2 diabetes.     

Gut flora metabolism of phosphatidylcholine promotes cardiovascular disease

Metabolomics studies hold promise for the discovery of pathways linked to disease processes. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) represents the leading cause of death and morbidity worldwide. Here we used a metabolomics approach to generate unbiased small-molecule metabolic profiles in plasma that predict risk for CVD. Three metabolites of the dietary lipid phosphatidylcholine--choline, trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) and betaine--were identified and then shown to predict risk for CVD in an independent large clinical cohort. Dietary supplementation of mice with choline, TMAO or betaine promoted upregulation of multiple macrophage scavenger receptors linked to atherosclerosis, and supplementation with choline or TMAO promoted atherosclerosis. Studies using germ-free mice confirmed a critical role for dietary choline and gut flora in TMAO production, augmented macrophage cholesterol accumulation and foam cell formation. Suppression of intestinal microflora in atherosclerosis-prone mice inhibited dietary-choline-enhanced atherosclerosis. Genetic variations controlling expression of flavin monooxygenases, an enzymatic source of TMAO, segregated with atherosclerosis in hyperlipidaemic mice. Discovery of a relationship between gut-flora-dependent metabolism of dietary phosphatidylcholine and CVD pathogenesis provides opportunities for the development of new diagnostic tests and therapeutic approaches for atherosclerotic heart disease.     

Coenzyme Q is an obligatory cofactor for uncoupling protein function

Uncoupling proteins (UCPs) are thought to be intricately controlled uncouplers that are responsible for the futile dissipation of mitochondrial chemiosmotic gradients, producing heat rather than ATP. They occur in many animal and plant cells and form a subfamily of the mitochondrial carrier family. Physiological uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation must be strongly regulated to avoid deterioration of the energy supply and cell death, which is caused by toxic uncouplers. However, an H+ transporting uncoupling function is well established only for UCP1 from brown adipose tissue, and the regulation of UCP1 by fatty acids, nucleotides and pH remains controversial. The failure of UCP1 expressed in Escherichia coli inclusion bodies to carry out fatty-acid-dependent H+ transport activity inclusion bodies made us seek a native UCP cofactor. Here we report the identification of coenzyme Q (ubiquinone) as such a cofactor. On addition of CoQ10 to reconstituted UCP1 from inclusion bodies, fatty-acid-dependent H+ transport reached the same rate as with native UCP1. The H+ transport was highly sensitive to purine nucleotides, and activated only by oxidized but not reduced CoQ. H+ transport of native UCP1 correlated with the endogenous CoQ content.     

UCP2 mediates ghrelin's action on NPY/AgRP neurons by lowering free radicals

The gut-derived hormone ghrelin exerts its effect on the brain by regulating neuronal activity. Ghrelin-induced feeding behaviour is controlled by arcuate nucleus neurons that co-express neuropeptide Y and agouti-related protein (NPY/AgRP neurons). However, the intracellular mechanisms triggered by ghrelin to alter NPY/AgRP neuronal activity are poorly understood. Here we show that ghrelin initiates robust changes in hypothalamic mitochondrial respiration in mice that are dependent on uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2). Activation of this mitochondrial mechanism is critical for ghrelin-induced mitochondrial proliferation and electric activation of NPY/AgRP neurons, for ghrelin-triggered synaptic plasticity of pro-opiomelanocortin-expressing neurons, and for ghrelin-induced food intake. The UCP2-dependent action of ghrelin on NPY/AgRP neurons is driven by a hypothalamic fatty acid oxidation pathway involving AMPK, CPT1 and free radicals that are scavenged by UCP2. These results reveal a signalling modality connecting mitochondria-mediated effects of G-protein-coupled receptors on neuronal function and associated behaviour.     

茶多酚EGCG对小鼠棕色脂肪代谢的影响

 随着对棕色脂肪组织（BAT）在成人体内具有生物学功能的肯定,棕色脂肪已经成为当今医学研究的热点。采用动物实验、病理组织学方法及免疫组化,观察了表没食子儿茶素没食子酸酯（EGCG）对棕色脂肪代谢的影响。结果表明,在体重和鼠龄相近时,不同种属小鼠肩甲间棕色脂肪组织HE 染色后的形态不同,C57BL/6 脂肪细胞中的空泡大,胞浆含量少,BALB/c 小鼠脂肪细胞中的空泡小,胞浆含量多,昆明小鼠居中。给昆明小鼠口服不同剂量EGCG 后,150 mg/kg EGCG 能降低小鼠体重的增长,降低附睾周围白色脂肪组织的重量,但没有统计学意义。同时,EGCG 能降低棕色脂肪细胞内脂肪含量,增加胞浆含量,具有统计学意义（P<0.001）。免疫组化结果表明,EGCG 能增加棕色脂肪细胞内脱偶联蛋白1（UCP1）的表达,增加能量代谢。因此,不同种属小鼠的BAT 具有不同的组织形态学特点,这为研究BAT 小鼠的选择提供了依据;EGCG 能够调节小鼠棕色脂肪的代谢功能,这为进一步研究作用机制打下了基础,同时为茶叶在脂肪代谢方面的调节提供了一种新的思路和依据。     

MicroRNA及其靶基因在糖尿病肾病小鼠肾脏的表达

 验证与糖尿病肾病小鼠肾脏相关的microRNAs的表达并运用实时荧光定量PCR分析靶基因与糖尿病肾病的关系。以db/db小鼠为模型组（DN组）,db/m小鼠为正常组（NC组）,定期测量小鼠的体重、血糖、甘油三酯、总胆固醇及24 h尿蛋白排泄率。留取DN小鼠与NC小鼠肾脏组织,检测肾脏组织形态学染色及实时荧光定量PCR（qRT-PCR）。qRT-PCR验证差异表达的microRNAs及其靶基因的mRNA表达水平。血糖、24 h尿蛋白排泄率结果表明糖尿病肾病动物模型构建成功。与NC小鼠相比,DN小鼠肾脏miR-196a、miR-21、miR-200b表达明显升高,且差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。miR-196a、miR-200b、miR-21的表达水平与血糖、甘油三酯、总胆固醇、24 h尿蛋白排泄率存在正相关关系（P<0.05）。利用miRNAs数据库预测miR-196a的靶基因有ANX1、HOXB7、PTEN、FOXO1、HOXB8、HOXA5等。与NC组比较,DN组ANX1、FOXO1的mRNA表达水平降低,且差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。同时ANX1、FOXO1与24 h尿蛋白排泄率存在正相关（P<0.05）。MiR-196a可能通过调节ANX1、FOXO1的表达水平来参与糖尿病肾病的发生发展。     

Mizolastine（MIZ）对趾叶炎小鼠趾部组织VEGF表达的影响

用组织化学和免疫组化的染色方法对趾叶炎发生过程中正常组、造模组和低、中、高剂量治疗组小鼠趾部组织血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）表达水平、血管数量和肥大细胞及其脱颗粒的动态变化进行了研究.结果表明,造模组小鼠在免疫后14d,VEGF表达均达到一个峰值,而后表达开始减弱,21d后表达开始增强,均极显著高于同一时相的正常组（P〈0.01）.低、中、高剂量治疗组的VEGF表达均极显著低于同一时相造模组,其中,低剂量治疗组同一时相均极显著高于正常组（P〈0.01）,中剂量治疗组除免疫后前3个时相显著外（P〈0.05）,免疫后35d与正常组不显著（P〉0.05）,高剂量治疗组除免疫后14d显著外（P〈0.05）,其余各时相均与正常组不显著（P〉0.05）,治疗各组小鼠的VEGF表达水平随药物浓度的增大和免疫时间的延长而逐渐减弱;真皮内出现了许多增生的小动脉,管壁增厚,管腔内有血栓形成,且血管形成与肥大细胞及其脱颗粒的变化均与VEGF的表达趋势相吻合.Mizo-lastine（MIZ）可以显著抑制肥大细胞脱颗粒、VEGF的表达和血管形成.     

高脂饮食对法尼醇受体(FXR)敲除小鼠糖脂代谢及肝脏脂肪变性的影响研究

目的探讨高脂饮食对法尼醇受体（farnesoid X receptor,FXR）敲除小鼠糖脂代谢及肝脏脂肪变性的影响。方法正常饮食（normal diet,ND）组:C57BL/6（wild type,WT）小鼠（n=6）和FXR -/- 小鼠（n=6）给予辐照灭菌维持饲料喂养12周。高脂饮食（high fat diet,HFD）组:C57BL/6小鼠（n=6）和FXR -/- 小鼠（n=6）给予45%高脂饲料喂养12周。小鼠处死后全自动生化分析仪检测血清总胆固醇（total cholesterol,TC）、甘油三酯（triglyceride,TG）、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（low density lipoprotein cholesterol,LDL-C）、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇（High density lipoprotein cholesterol,HDL-C）、谷丙转氨酶（alanine aminotransferase,ALT）、谷草转氨酶（aspartate aminotransferase,AST）和总胆汁酸（total bile acid,TBA）指标; RT-PCR检测肝脏炎症因子TNF-α、TLR4和FXR下游基因小分子异源二聚体（small heterodimer partner,SHP）、胆固醇7α-羟化酶（cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase,CYP7A1）的相对表达量; HE染色观察肝脏脂肪变性情况。结果高脂饮食喂养条件下,C57BL/6小鼠和FXR -/- 小鼠体质量变化无差异,但相比C57BL/6小鼠,FXR -/- 小鼠表现出更为严重糖耐量受损（P <0. 01）、脂质代谢紊乱（P <0. 01）、血清胆汁酸增高（P <0. 01）、肝脏炎症（P <0. 01）和肝脏脂肪变性。结论 FXR的缺失引起小鼠糖脂代谢紊乱、胆汁酸代谢异常、肝脏脂肪变性,但这种改变需要高脂饮食的诱导。     

血府逐瘀汤对动脉粥样硬化大鼠血脂及血管活性物质的影响

通过观察血府逐瘀汤对动脉粥样硬化(atherosclerosis,AS)大鼠血脂及血管内皮活性因子的影响,探讨血府逐瘀汤抗动脉粥样硬化的机制.将40只SD大鼠随机分为对照组、模型组、治疗组(血脂康组、血府逐瘀汤高剂量组、血府逐瘀汤低剂量组).对照组给予正常饮食;模型组给予高脂饮食;治疗组在高脂饮食基础上分别给予血脂康,...     

Deficiency in catechol-O-methyltransferase and 2-methoxyoestradiol is associated with pre-eclampsia

Despite intense investigation, mechanisms that facilitate the emergence of the pre-eclampsia phenotype in women are still unknown. Placental hypoxia, hypertension, proteinuria and oedema are the principal clinical features of this disease. It is speculated that hypoxia-driven disruption of the angiogenic balance involving vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)/placenta-derived growth factor (PLGF) and soluble Fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFLT-1, the soluble form of VEGF receptor 1) might contribute to some of the maternal symptoms of pre-eclampsia. However, pre-eclampsia does not develop in all women with high sFLT-1 or low PLGF levels, and it also occurs in some women with low sFLT-1 and high PLGF levels. Moreover, recent experiments strongly suggest that several soluble factors affecting the vasculature are probably elevated because of placental hypoxia in the pre-eclamptic women, indicating that upstream molecular defect(s) may contribute to pre-eclampsia. Here we show that pregnant mice deficient in catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) show a pre-eclampsia-like phenotype resulting from an absence of 2-methoxyoestradiol (2-ME), a natural metabolite of oestradiol that is elevated during the third trimester of normal human pregnancy. 2-ME ameliorates all pre-eclampsia-like features without toxicity in the Comt(-/-) pregnant mice and suppresses placental hypoxia, hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha expression and sFLT-1 elevation. The levels of COMT and 2-ME are significantly lower in women with severe pre-eclampsia. Our studies identify a genetic mouse model for pre-eclampsia and suggest that 2-ME may have utility as a plasma and urine diagnostic marker for this disease, and may also serve as a therapeutic supplement to prevent or treat this disorder.     

Citric acid cycle intermediates as ligands for orphan G-protein-coupled receptors

The citric acid cycle is central to the regulation of energy homeostasis and cell metabolism. Mutations in enzymes that catalyse steps in the citric acid cycle result in human diseases with various clinical presentations. The intermediates of the citric acid cycle are present at micromolar concentration in blood and are regulated by respiration, metabolism and renal reabsorption/extrusion. Here we show that GPR91 (ref. 3), a previously orphan G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), functions as a receptor for the citric acid cycle intermediate succinate. We also report that GPR99 (ref. 4), a close relative of GPR91, responds to alpha-ketoglutarate, another intermediate in the citric acid cycle. Thus by acting as ligands for GPCRs, succinate and alpha-ketoglutarate are found to have unexpected signalling functions beyond their traditional roles. Furthermore, we show that succinate increases blood pressure in animals. The succinate-induced hypertensive effect involves the renin-angiotensin system and is abolished in GPR91-deficient mice. Our results indicate a possible role for GPR91 in renovascular hypertension, a disease closely linked to atherosclerosis, diabetes and renal failure.