Dichotomous role of pancreatic HUWE1/MULE/ARF-BP1 in modulating beta cell apoptosis in mice under physiological and genotoxic conditions

Aims/hypothesis

Diabetes mellitus represents a significant burden on the health of the global population. Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes share a common feature of a reduction in functional beta cell mass. A newly discovered ubiquitination molecule HECT, UBA and WWE domain containing 1, E3 ubiquitin protein ligase (HUWE1 [also known as MULE or ARF-BP1]) is a critical regulator of p53-dependent apoptosis. However, its role in islet homeostasis is not entirely clear.

Methods

We generated mice with pancreas-specific deletion of Huwe1 using a Cre-loxP recombination system driven by the Pdx1 promoter (Pdx1cre ⁺ Huwe1 ^fl/fl) to assess the in vivo role of HUWE1 in the pancreas.

Results

Targeted deletion of Huwe1 in the pancreas preferentially activated p53-mediated beta cell apoptosis, leading to reduced beta cell mass and diminished insulin exocytosis. These defects were aggravated by ageing, with progressive further decline in insulin secretion and glucose homeostasis in older mice. Intriguingly, Huwe1 deletion provided protection against genotoxicity, such that Pdx1cre ⁺ Huwe1 ^fl/fl mice were resistant to multiple-low-dose-streptozotocin-induced beta cell apoptosis and diabetes.

Conclusion/interpretation

HUWE1 expression in the pancreas is essential in determining beta cell mass. Furthermore, HUWE1 demonstrated divergent roles in regulating beta cell apoptosis depending on physiological or genotoxic conditions.     

塑料薄膜氧气透过量测定能力验证研究

目的：组织实施塑料薄膜氧气透过量测定能力验证项目,评价检验机构对氧气透过量的检测能力。方法：制备单一水平样品,采用单因素方差分析对样品均匀性进行检验。对能力验证结果进行统计分析,以z比分数评价实验室检测能力。结果：样品均匀性符合要求,满足能力验证计划要求。38家实验室参加塑料薄膜氧气透过量能力验证项目,满意数为34家,满意率为89.5%。结论：多数实验室检测结果满意,部分实验室检测能力有待提高。     

Polymorphism analysis of Glutathione S-transferase A1 in patients with hematological diseases and its effect on GST enzyme activity

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are important drug-metabolizing enzymes that catalyze the binding of glutathione (GSH) to electrophilic substances. GST has genetic polymorphism, and the enzyme activity of GST affects the metabolism of certain drugs in vivo. In the present day, we investigated the GST enzyme activity and GSTA1 gene polymorphism in 170 patients with hematological diseases and explored their relationship. The GSTA1 gene polymorphism of the patient was analyzed by PCR- restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique, and the base sequences of the four mutation sites (-631, -567, -69, and -52) in the promoter region were determined by DNA-Sequencer. The patient's GST enzyme activity was calculated by measuring the rate at which it catalyzed the reaction between 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB) and GSH. The average GST enzyme activities of males and females were 5.20±0.13 and 5.17±0.12 nmol/min/mL, respectively, and the difference was not significant (P = 0.91). The frequencies of genotypes GSTA1*A*A (wild genotype), GSTA1*A*B (heterozygous genotype), and GSTA1*B*B (homozygous mutant genotype) were 75.3%, 22.9%, and 1.8%, respectively. Alleles GSTA1*A and *B were distributed at 86.8% and 13.2%, respectively. The genotype frequency distribution between males and females was no significant difference by Pearson’s chi-square test (P = 0.743). The average GST activity of the heterozygous mutant genotype (4.83±0.76 nmol/min/mL) was lower than the wild genotype (5.34±1.26 nmol/min/mL, P = 0.018), and higher than that of the homozygous mutant genotype (3.32±0.07 nmol/min/mL, P = 0.022). These findings might help us improve the individualized treatment of patients with hematological diseases in the future and promote the development of precision medicine for blood diseases.     

LRP1-Dependent Endocytic Mechanism Governs the Signaling Output of the Bmp System in Endothelial Cells and in Angiogenesis

Rationale: Among the extracellular modulators of Bmp (bone morphogenetic protein) signaling, Bmper (Bmp endothelial cell precursor-derived regulator) both enhances and inhibits Bmp signaling. Recently we found that Bmper modulates Bmp4 activity via a concentration-dependent, endocytic trap-and-sink mechanism. Objective: To investigate the molecular mechanisms required for endocytosis of the Bmper/Bmp4 and signaling complex and determine the mechanism of Bmper's differential effects on Bmp4 signaling. Methods and Results: Using an array of biochemical and cell biology techniques, we report that LRP1 (LDL receptor-related protein 1), a member of the LDL receptor family, acts as an endocytic receptor for Bmper and a coreceptor of Bmp4 to mediate the endocytosis of the Bmper/Bmp4 signaling complex. Furthermore, we demonstrate that LRP1-dependent Bmper/Bmp4 endocytosis is essential for Bmp4 signaling, as evidenced by the phenotype of lrp1-deficient zebrafish, which have abnormal cardiovascular development and decreased Smad1/5/8 activity in key vasculogenic structures. Conclusions: Together, these data reveal a novel role for LRP1 in the regulation of Bmp4 signaling by regulating receptor complex endocytosis. In addition, these data introduce LRP1 as a critical regulator of vascular development. These observations demonstrate Bmper's ability to fine-tune Bmp4 signaling at the single-cell level, unlike the spatial regulatory mechanisms applied by other Bmp modulators.     

A giant cardiac lipoma associated with ventricular inversion and ventricular aneurysm: ultrasonography and CT imaging findings

Cardiac lipomas are rare, mostly asymptomatic, and usually found incidentally during noncardiac examinations; however, they also can be symptomatic, depending on their size and location. Here, we report a case of surgically proved pericardial lipoma that was big and for which cardiac structures were substantially altered. The combination of CT imaging and ultrasonography enabled a precise diagnosis in terms of localization, tissue characterization, and complications of the tumor. The origin of the tumor, however, remains undetermined despite a series of postoperative CT scan and ultrasound examinations.