Excess endocrine growth hormone in acromegaly promotes the aggressiveness and metastasis of triple-negative breast cancer.

Pituitary adenoma-induced excess endocrine growth hormone (GH) secretion can lead to breast cancer development and metastasis. Herein, we used an acromegaly mouse model to investigate the role of excess endocrine GH on triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) growth and metastasis. Additionally, we aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanism of transcription factor 20 (TCF20)/nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) signaling-mediated aggressiveness and metastasis of TNBC. Excess endocrine GH induced TCF20 activates the transcription of NRF2 and NRF2-target genes to facilitate TNBC metastasis. Inhibition of GH receptor (GHR) and TCF20 activity using the GHR antagonist or small-interfering RNA-induced gene knockdown resulted in reduced tumor volume and metastasis, suggesting that excess endocrine GH stimulates TCF20/NRF2 pathways in TNBC and promotes metastasis to the lung. GHR inhibitors present an effective therapeutic strategy to prevent TNBC cell growth and metastasis. Our findings revealed functional and mechanistic roles of the GH-TCF20-NRF2 signaling axis in TBNC progression.

Olfactory marker protein regulates adipogenesis via the cAMP-IκBα pathway.

Olfactory marker protein (OMP) regulates olfactory transduction and is also expressed in adipose tissue. Since it serves as a regulatory buffer for cyclic AMP (cAMP) levels, we hypothesized that it plays a role in modulating adipocyte differentiation. To determine the role of OMP in adipogenesis, we examined the differences in body weight, adipose tissue mass, and adipogenic or thermogenic gene expression between high-fat diet-fed control and Omp-knockout (KO) mice. cAMP production, adipogenic gene expression, and cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) phosphorylation were measured during the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). RNA sequencing was performed to determine the gene expression patterns responsible for the reduction in adipogenesis when Omp was deleted. Body weight, adipose tissue mass, and adipocyte size decreased in Omp-KO mice. Furthermore, cAMP production and CREB phosphorylation reduced during adipogenesis induced in Omp-/- MEFs, and the Nuclear factor kappa B was activated due to significantly reduced expression of its inhibitor. Collectively, our results suggest that loss of OMP function inhibits adipogenesis by affecting adipocyte differentiation.

Olfactory marker protein regulation of glucagon secretion in hyperglycemia.

The olfactory marker protein (OMP), which is also expressed in nonolfactory tissues, plays a role in regulating the kinetics and termination of olfactory transduction. Thus, we hypothesized that OMP may play a similar role in modulating the secretion of hormones involved in Ca2+ and cAMP signaling, such as glucagon. In the present study, we confirmed nonolfactory α-cell-specific OMP expression in human and mouse pancreatic islets as well as in the murine α-cell line αTC1.9. Glucagon and OMP expression increased under hyperglycemic conditions. Omp knockdown in hyperglycemic αTC1.9 cells using small-interfering RNA (siRNA) reduced the responses to glucagon release and the related signaling pathways compared with the si-negative control. The OMPlox/lox;GCGcre/w mice expressed basal glucagon levels similar to those in the wild-type OMPlox/lox mice but showed resistance against streptozotocin-induced hyperglycemia. The ectopic olfactory signaling events in pancreatic α-cells suggest that olfactory receptor pathways could be therapeutic targets for reducing excessive glucagon levels.

Altered Glucose Metabolism and Glucose Transporters in Systemic Organs After Bariatric Surgery.

The Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is highly effective in the remission of obesity and associated diabetes. The mechanisms underlying obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus remission after RYGB remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the changes in continuous dynamic FDG uptake patterns after RYGB and examine the correlation between glucose metabolism and its transporters in variable endocrine organs using 18F-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography images. Increased glucose metabolism in specific organs, such as the small intestine and various fat tissues, is closely associated with improved glycemic control after RYGB. In Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty rats fed with high-fat diets, RYGB operation increases intestine glucose transporter expression and various fat tissues' glucose transporters, which are not affected by insulin. The fasting glucose decrement was significantly associated with RYGB, sustained weight loss, post-RYGB oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) area under the curve (AUC), glucose transporter, or glycolytic enzymes in the small bowel and various fat tissues. High intestinal glucose metabolism and white adipose tissue-dependent glucose metabolism correlated with metabolic benefit after RYGB. These findings suggest that the newly developed glucose biodistribution accompanied by increased glucose transporters is a mechanism associated with the systemic effect of RYGB.

Downregulation of miR-216a-5p and miR-652-3p is associated with growth and invasion by targeting JAK2 and PRRX1 in GH-producing pituitary tumours.

Expression of aberrant microRNA (miRNA) is associated with tumour formation, migration, and invasion. However, there is limited information about the epigenetics of pituitary tumorigenesis. This study investigated the role of miRNA expression during the tumorigenesis of growth hormone (GH)-secreting pituitary tumours. miRNA profiling and real-time PCR were used to analyse the mRNA expression profile in sequential pituitary tissues of a unique animal model with a GH-producing pituitary tumour. Selected miRNAs were further validated in GH-producing cell lines and human pituitary tumour samples. The expression of significantly altered miRNAs and their predicted targets, as detected by microarray, was evaluated by real-time PCR, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry using samples from mouse models and human pituitary tumours. The effect of miRNAs on tumour proliferation and invasion was examined in GH3 cells using the MTS and Matrigel invasion assays. Among the 14 miRNAs whose expression was significantly changed, miR-216a-5p (fold change = -5.638, P -value = 0.014) and miR-652-3p (fold change = -3.482, P -value = 0.010) were constantly and significantly downregulated. Transfection with mimics of miR-216a-5p and miR-652-3p inhibited GH3 proliferation and invasion, whereas inhibitors promoted them. The direct target genes of miR-216a-5p and miR-652-3p were Jak2 and Prrx1, respectively, which were downregulated in GH3 cells transfected with mimics and in serial pituitary gland tissues, including hyperplasic tissues and tumours of acromegalic animal models and pituitary tumour tissues of acromegalic patients. Downregulated miR-216a-5p and miR-652-3p expression may contribute to tumour progression by targeting JAK2 and PRRX1 on GH-producing pituitary tumours.

Serum glucose excretion after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: a potential target for diabetes treatment.

OBJECTIVE: The mechanisms underlying type 2 diabetes resolution after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) are unclear. We suspected that glucose excretion may occur in the small bowel based on observations in humans. The aim of this study was to evaluate the mechanisms underlying serum glucose excretion in the small intestine and its contribution to glucose homeostasis after bariatric surgery. DESIGN: 2-Deoxy-2-[18F]-fluoro-D-glucose (FDG) was measured in RYGB-operated or sham-operated obese diabetic rats. Altered glucose metabolism was targeted and RNA sequencing was performed in areas of high or low FDG uptake in the ileum or common limb. Intestinal glucose metabolism and excretion were confirmed using 14C-glucose and FDG. Increased glucose metabolism was evaluated in IEC-18 cells and mouse intestinal organoids. Obese or ob/ob mice were treated with amphiregulin (AREG) to correlate intestinal glycolysis changes with changes in serum glucose homeostasis. RESULTS: The AREG/EGFR/mTOR/AKT/GLUT1 signal transduction pathway was activated in areas of increased glycolysis and intestinal glucose excretion in RYGB-operated rats. Intraluminal GLUT1 inhibitor administration offset improved glucose homeostasis in RYGB-operated rats. AREG-induced signal transduction pathway was confirmed using IEC-18 cells and mouse organoids, resulting in a greater capacity for glucose uptake via GLUT1 overexpression and sequestration in apical and basolateral membranes. Systemic and local AREG administration increased GLUT1 expression and small intestinal membrane translocation and prevented hyperglycaemic exacerbation. CONCLUSION: Bariatric surgery or AREG administration induces apical and basolateral membrane GLUT1 expression in the small intestinal enterocytes, resulting in increased serum glucose excretion in the gut lumen. Our findings suggest a novel, potentially targetable glucose homeostatic mechanism in the small intestine.

Therapeutic Effect of a Novel Chimeric Molecule Targeting Both Somatostatin and Dopamine Receptors on Growth Hormone-Secreting Pituitary Adenomas.

BACKGROUND: Acromegaly is a rare disease primarily caused by growth hormone (GH)-secreting pituitary adenomas, and its treatment is costly. Moreover, some patients are unresponsive to treatment. Hence, there are increasing efforts to develop new drugs with improved effectiveness for this disease. BIM23B065 is a novel chimeric molecule that acts on both somatostatin and dopamine receptors. This study aimed to investigate the effects of BIM23B065 compared with those of a somatostatin receptor analog and a dopamine agonist. METHODS: The effects of BIM23B065 on the proliferation, GH and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) levels, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 and cyclic AMP response element binding (CREB) phosphorylation of GH3 cells were investigated with MTS assay, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and Western blotting, respectively. The dosage and treatment duration of BIM23B065 were tested in animal models of GH-secreting pituitary adenoma. The effect of BIM23B065 (3 mg/kg/day) on changes in IGF-1 levels before and after treatment was further investigated. RESULTS: In vitro, BIM23B065 treatment decreased GH release in the culture media and downregulated ERK 1/2 and CREB phosphorylation to 22% and 26%, respectively. In vivo, IGF-1 expression decreased to 50 % after 4 weeks of treatment with BIM23B065 using an osmotic pump implant. Moreover, magnetic resonance imaging results showed that the tumor size decreased significantly following treatment with BIM23B065 for 4 weeks. CONCLUSION: The novel chimeric molecule was effective in decreasing IGF-1 and GH levels and may serve as an effective therapeutic agent for acromegaly.