👤 Jeffrey R Gardner

The induction of nausea and emesis represents a significant barriers to optimizing weight loss medications for the treatment of obesity. Identifying mechanisms that improve tolerability and/or enhance efficacy without induction of emetic neurocircuitry could provide substantial therapeutic benefits. Candidate peptide YY (PYY)-based approaches for obesity treatment are no exception, as PYY-based therapeutics are uniformly associated with nausea and emesis. Recently, interest in glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide receptor (GIPR)-based therapeutics has resurfaced, with some paradoxical findings from several preclinical studies showing that both GIPR agonism and antagonism, when combined with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists, result in greater body weight loss and superior glycemic control compared to GLP-1R agonism alone. Here, we investigated the effects of pharmacological modulation of the GIPR system on the actions of PYY. We found that systemic GIPR agonism attenuated PYY-induced malaise while preserving its anorectic and body weight-lowering effects in rats. Interestingly, GIPR antagonism enhanced PYY-induced hypophagia and body weight loss without compromising its malaise tolerability profile. Furthermore, inhibition of GIPR signaling significantly reduced PYY-induced c-Fos expression in the area postrema (AP) of the hindbrain. Since both NPY2R and GIPR are expressed in the same AP neurons, this suggests a potential neuronal pathway by which GIPR modulates the effects of PYY. Overall, our findings underscore the multifaceted actions of the GIPR system and highlight the therapeutic potential of both GIPR agonism and antagonism in enhancing and improving the effects of PYY-based obesity treatments. Show less

High-density and low-density lipoproteins (HDL and LDL) are established analytical targets for diagnosis and risk stratification of numerous chronic diseases. This study investigates potential sources of bias in lipoprotein particle counting (HDL-P and LDL-P), focusing on the most atheroprotective small-HDL and most pro-atherogenic small-LDL. Plasma samples were fractionated using asymmetric-flow field-flow fractionation (AF4), coupled with hydrodynamic size measurement and comprehensive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis of each fraction. Concentration-size profiles were deconvoluted into 10 HDL and 8 LDL Gaussian subspecies. Molecular volume ratios were used to evaluate proposed particle models, providing evidence for the presence of s-HDL disk and s-LDL dimers, as sources of bias in calculated HDL-P and LDL-P when spherical particle geometry is assumed. Matching apoA1/HDL-P and apoB/LDL-P to consensus values enabled correction of mass diameters (k*d Show less

Patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and Glasgow Coma Scale scores of 13-15 (historically called mild TBI [mTBI]) commonly experience changes in cognitive functioning, including processing speed, memory, and executive functioning. In a prospective sample ( Show less

Clinical case-based studies have identified rare pathogenic variants in several genes as causes of severe early-onset obesity, but their penetrance and interaction with polygenic susceptibility in the general population remain unclear. We analyzed the United Kingdom Biobank (UKBB) whole-exome sequence data to assess the effects of heterozygous variants in 9 previously reported genes on adult body mass index (BMI) and recalled childhood adiposity. Among 419 581 UKBB participants, we identified heterozygous carriers of coding variants that were (1) experimentally characterized as loss of function (LoF), or (2) bioinformatically predicted as rare (minor allele frequency <0.1%) LoF. We assessed variant-level and gene-level population penetrance of obesity and associations with adult BMI and recalled childhood adiposity, and tested the statistical interaction between rare variant carriage and a BMI polygenic score. Considering experimentally characterized LoF variants (excluding MC4R), we identified 22 heterozygous and 2 homozygous variants in 3 autosomal recessive genes (POMC, PCSK1, LEPR), and 3 autosomal dominant genes (SH2B1, SIM1, KSR2) with at least 10 carriers in the UKBB. Obesity penetrance among carriers ranged from 8% to 29% (median 23%), and none was significantly different from noncarriers (24%, all P > .05). For bioinformatically predicted rare LoF variants, gene-based burden tests showed that carriage of heterozygous variants in MC4R, PCSK1, and POMC was associated with higher adult BMI (effect sizes ranged from 0.5 to 2.5 kg/m2, all P < .003), with no significant interaction effects with common variant polygenic risk of BMI. This study provides the population-specific report of variant penetrance of known obesity genes and confirmed the heterozygous rare variant effects in MC4R, POMC, and PCSK1. We also underscore the utility of population-based studies in supporting variant classifications. Show less

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common bone tumor in both dogs and humans. It predominantly occurs in the appendicular skeleton, with about 25% of cases occurring within the axial skeleton. Progression of local disease is often the life-limiting factor for patients with axial OS, in contrast to appendicular OS, where local disease is addressed surgically, and metastatic disease remains the primary obstacle. While OS is a rare human cancer, limiting the availability of samples, its higher incidence in dogs provides a valuable comparative model for study. Both canines and humans share commonalities in clinical presentation, but dogs have an accelerated progression. Similarly, complex structural genetic changes define appendicular OS in both dogs and people, but it is unclear whether the genomic landscape of axial OS exhibits different alterations that may separate it from appendicular OS. We performed pilot whole genome sequencing of canine primary oral (maxillary or mandibular) OS tumors (n = 8) and matched normal tissue. We found that the genetics of canine oral OS largely parallel the genetics of canine appendicular OS, including an overall low number of recurrent point mutations affecting the same gene (TP53 and SETD2, 3/8 samples). Structural variants dominated the landscape of mutational changes, with recurrent variants in DMD (4/8) and DLG2 (3/8) found at a similar incidence to appendicular OS. This pilot suggests genomic similarities between oral and appendicular OS. Show less

Obesity is a major risk factor for many common diseases and has a substantial heritable component. To identify new genetic determinants, we performed exome-sequence analyses for adult body mass index (BMI) in up to 587,027 individuals. We identified rare loss-of-function variants in two genes (BSN and APBA1) with effects substantially larger than those of well-established obesity genes such as MC4R. In contrast to most other obesity-related genes, rare variants in BSN and APBA1 were not associated with normal variation in childhood adiposity. Furthermore, BSN protein-truncating variants (PTVs) magnified the influence of common genetic variants associated with BMI, with a common variant polygenic score exhibiting an effect twice as large in BSN PTV carriers than in noncarriers. Finally, we explored the plasma proteomic signatures of BSN PTV carriers as well as the functional consequences of BSN deletion in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived hypothalamic neurons. Collectively, our findings implicate degenerative processes in synaptic function in the etiology of adult-onset obesity. Show less

Peroxisomes are membrane-bound organelles harboring metabolic enzymes. In humans, peroxisomes are required for normal development, yet the genes regulating peroxisome function remain unclear. We performed a genome-wide CRISPRi screen to identify novel factors involved in peroxisomal homeostasis. We found that inhibition of RNF146, an E3 ligase activated by poly(ADP-ribose), reduced the import of proteins into peroxisomes. RNF146-mediated loss of peroxisome import depended on the stabilization and activity of the poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases TNKS and TNKS2, which bind the peroxisomal membrane protein PEX14. We propose that RNF146 and TNKS/2 regulate peroxisome import efficiency by PARsylation of proteins at the peroxisome membrane. Interestingly, we found that the loss of peroxisomes increased TNKS/2 and RNF146-dependent degradation of non-peroxisomal substrates, including the β-catenin destruction complex component AXIN1, which was sufficient to alter the amplitude of β-catenin transcription. Together, these observations not only suggest previously undescribed roles for RNF146 in peroxisomal regulation but also a novel role in bridging peroxisome function with Wnt/β-catenin signaling during development. Show less

Peroxisomes are membrane-bound organelles harboring metabolic enzymes. In humans, peroxisomes are required for normal development, yet the genes regulating peroxisome function remain unclear. We performed a genome-wide CRISPRi screen to identify novel factors involved in peroxisomal homeostasis. We found that inhibition of RNF146, an E3 ligase activated by poly(ADP-ribose), reduced the import of proteins into peroxisomes. RNF146-mediated loss of peroxisome import depended on the stabilization and activity of the poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase tankyrase, which binds the peroxisomal membrane protein PEX14. We propose that RNF146 and tankyrase regulate peroxisome import efficiency by PARsylation of proteins at the peroxisome membrane. Interestingly, we found that the loss of peroxisomes increased tankyrase and RNF146-dependent degradation of non-peroxisomal substrates, including the beta-catenin destruction complex component AXIN1, which was sufficient to alter the amplitude of beta-catenin transcription. Together, these observations not only suggest previously undescribed roles for RNF146 in peroxisomal regulation, but also a novel role in bridging peroxisome function with Wnt/beta-catenin signaling during development. Show less

DNA methylation is an essential molecular assay for central nervous system (CNS) tumor diagnostics. While some fusions define specific brain tumors, others occur across many different diagnoses. We performed a retrospective analysis of 219 primary CNS tumors with whole genome DNA methylation and RNA next-generation sequencing. DNA methylation profiling results were compared with RNAseq detected gene fusions. We detected 105 rare fusions involving 31 driver genes, including 23 fusions previously not implicated in brain tumors. In addition, we identified 6 multi-fusion tumors. Rare fusions and multi-fusion events can impact the diagnostic accuracy of DNA methylation by decreasing confidence in the result, such as BRAF, RAF, or FGFR1 fusions, or result in a complete mismatch, such as NTRK, EWSR1, FGFR, and ALK fusions. DNA methylation signatures need to be interpreted in the context of pathology and discordant results warrant testing for novel and rare gene fusions. Show less

Identifying genetic determinants of reproductive success may highlight mechanisms underlying fertility and identify alleles under present-day selection. Using data in 785,604 individuals of European ancestry, we identified 43 genomic loci associated with either number of children ever born (NEB) or childlessness. These loci span diverse aspects of reproductive biology, including puberty timing, age at first birth, sex hormone regulation, endometriosis and age at menopause. Missense variants in ARHGAP27 were associated with higher NEB but shorter reproductive lifespan, suggesting a trade-off at this locus between reproductive ageing and intensity. Other genes implicated by coding variants include PIK3IP1, ZFP82 and LRP4, and our results suggest a new role for the melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) in reproductive biology. As NEB is one component of evolutionary fitness, our identified associations indicate loci under present-day natural selection. Integration with data from historical selection scans highlighted an allele in the FADS1/2 gene locus that has been under selection for thousands of years and remains so today. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that a broad range of biological mechanisms contribute to reproductive success. Show less

The characterization of immortalized canine osteosarcoma (OS) cell lines used for research has historically been based on phenotypic features such as cellular morphology and expression of bone specific markers. With the increasing use of these cell lines to investigate novel therapeutic approaches prior to in vivo translation, a much more detailed understanding regarding the genomic landscape of these lines is required to ensure accurate interpretation of findings. Here we report the first whole genome characterization of eight canine OS cell lines, including single nucleotide variants, copy number variants and other structural variants. Many alterations previously characterized in primary canine OS tissue were observed in these cell lines, including TP53 mutations, MYC copy number gains, loss of CDKN2A, PTEN, DLG2, MAGI2, and RB1 and structural variants involving SETD2, DLG2 and DMD. These data provide a new framework for understanding how best to incorporate in vitro findings generated using these cell lines into the design of future clinical studies involving dogs with spontaneous OS. Show less

Interleukin 27 (IL-27) is a heterodimeric cytokine that elicits potent immunosuppressive responses. Comprised of EBI3 and p28 subunits, IL-27 binds GP130 and IL-27Rα receptor chains to activate the JAK/STAT signaling cascade. However, how these receptors recognize IL-27 and form a complex capable of phosphorylating JAK proteins remains unclear. Here, we used cryo electron microscopy (cryoEM) and AlphaFold modeling to solve the structure of the IL-27 receptor recognition complex. Our data show how IL-27 serves as a bridge connecting IL-27Rα (domains 1-2) with GP130 (domains 1-3) to initiate signaling. While both receptors contact the p28 component of the heterodimeric cytokine, EBI3 stabilizes the complex by binding a positively charged surface of IL-27Rα and Domain 1 of GP130. We find that assembly of the IL-27 receptor recognition complex is distinct from both IL-12 and IL-6 cytokine families and provides a mechanistic blueprint for tuning IL-27 pleiotropic actions. Show less

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a heritable metabolic disorder. While population studies have identified hundreds of common genetic variants associated with T2D, the role of rare (frequency < 0.1%) protein-coding variation is less clear. We performed exome sequence analysis in 418,436 (n = 32,374 T2D cases) individuals in the UK Biobank. We identified previously reported genes ( Show less

Is the blastocyst's idiosyncratic metabolic production of lactate, and creation of a specialized microenvironment at the implatation site, an important mediator of maternal-fetal signalling to promote endometrial receptivity and implantation? Hormonally primed ECC-1 and Ishikawa cells were used to assess functional changes to the endometrial epithelium after exposure to lactic acid (LA), LA with neutralized pH (nLA) or acidic pH (pH Treatment of ECC-1 cells with 2.5 mM (P = 0.0037), 5 mM (P = 0.0044), 7.5 mM and 10 mM (P = 0.003) (P = 0.0021) LA significantly decreased the rate of cellular proliferation while TER was decreased with exposure to 2.5 mM LA (P = 0.024), 5 mM LA (P = 0.021) and 7.5 mM LA (P = 0.033). Exposure to nLA or pH The identification of LA as an important mediator in the maternal-fetal dialogue underpinning implantation is supported. Further examination of the role of LA within the infertile or compromised endometrium could improve natural and assisted pregnancy success and needs further investigation. Show less

Genomic analyses of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) identified somatic mutations and associations of clonal diversity with adverse outcomes. Clonal evolution likely has therapeutic implications but its dynamic is less well studied. We studied clonal composition and prognostic value of seven recurrently mutated driver genes using targeted next-generation sequencing in 643 CLL patients and found higher frequencies of mutations in TP53 (35 vs. 12%, p < 0.001) and SF3B1 (20 vs. 11%, p < 0.05) and increased number of (sub)clonal (p < 0.0001) mutations in treated patients. We next performed an in-depth evaluation of clonal evolution on untreated CLL patients (50 "progressors" and 17 matched "non-progressors") using a 404 gene-sequencing panel and identified novel mutated genes such as AXIN1, SDHA, SUZ12, and FOXO3. Progressors carried more mutations at initial presentation (2.5 vs. 1, p < 0.0001). Mutations in specific genes were associated with increased (SF3B1, ATM, and FBXW7) or decreased progression risk (AXIN1 and MYD88). Mutations affecting specific signaling pathways, such as Notch and MAP kinase pathway were enriched in progressive relative to non-progressive patients. These data extend earlier findings that specific genomic alterations and diversity of subclones are associated with disease progression and persistence of disease in CLL and identify novel recurrently mutated genes and associated outcomes. Show less

To evaluate whether the anti-LINGO-1 antibody has immunomodulatory effects. Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (hPBMCs), rat splenocytes, and rat CD4 LINGO-1 is not expressed in hPBMCs, rat splenocytes, or rat CD4 These data support the hypothesis that LINGO-1 blockade does not affect immune function. This study provides Class II evidence that in patients with MS, opicinumab does not have immunomodulatory effects detected by changes in immune gene transcript expression. Show less

Atypical antipsychotics have become a common therapeutic option in both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. However, these medications come with a high risk of metabolic side effects, particularly dyslipidemia and insulin resistance. Therefore, identification of patients who are at increased risk for metabolic side effects is of great importance. The genetics of fatty acid metabolism is one area of research that may help identify such patients. Therefore, in this present study, we aimed to determine the effect of one commonly studied genetic polymorphism from both fatty acid desaturase 1 (FADS1) and FADS2 gene on a surrogate measure of insulin resistance and lipid levels in a metabolically high-risk population of patients largely exposed to atypical antipsychotics. This study used a cross-sectional design, fasting blood draws, and genetic analysis to investigate associations between polymorphisms, haplotypes, and metabolic measures. A total of 320 subjects with schizophrenia (n = 226) or bipolar disorder (n = 94) were included in this study. The mean age of the population was 42.5 years and 45% were male. A significant association between FADS1 and FADS2 haplotypes was found with insulin resistance while controlling for confounders. Further investigation is required to replicate this finding. Show less

Carbohydrate response element-binding protein (ChREBP) is a glucose-responsive transcription factor that plays a critical role in the glucose-mediated induction of gene products involved in hepatic glycolysis and lipogenesis. Glucose affects the activity of ChREBP largely through post-translational mechanisms involving phosphorylation-dependent cellular localization. In this work we show that the N-terminal region of ChREBP (residues 1-251) regulates its subcellular localization via an interaction with 14-3-3. 14-3-3 binds an alpha-helix in this region (residues 125-135) to retain ChREBP in the cytosol, and binding of 14-3-3 is facilitated by phosphorylation of nearby Ser-140 and Ser-196. Phosphorylation of ChREBP at these sites was essential for its interaction with CRM1 for export to the cytosol, whereas nuclear import of ChREBP requires dephosphorylated ChREBP to interact with importin alpha. Notably, 14-3-3 appears to compete with importin alpha for ChREBP binding. 14-3-3beta bound to a synthetic peptide spanning residues 125-144 and bearing a phosphate at Ser-140 with a dissociation constant of 1.1 microm, as determined by isothermal calorimetry. The interaction caused a shift in the fluorescence maximum of the tryptophan residues of the peptide. The corresponding unphosphorylated peptide failed to bind 14-3-3beta. These results suggest that interactions with importin alpha and 14-3-3 regulate movement of ChREBP into and out of the nucleus, respectively, and that these interactions are regulated by the ChREBP phosphorylation status. Show less

Combinatorial actions of transcription factors in multiprotein complexes dictate gene expression profiles in cardiac development and disease. The Hairy-related transcription factor (HRT) family of basic helix-loop-helix proteins is composed of transcriptional repressors highly expressed in the cardiovascular system. However, it has remained unclear whether HRT proteins modulate gene expression driven by cardiac transcriptional activators. Here, we have shown that HRT proteins inhibit cardiac gene transcription by interfering with GATA transcription factors that are implicated in cardiac development and hypertrophy. HRT proteins inhibited GATA-dependent transcriptional activation of cardiac gene promoters such as the atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) promoter. Adenovirus-mediated expression of Hrt2 suppressed mRNA expression of ANF and other cardiac-specific genes in cultured cardiomyocytes. Among various signaling molecules implicated in cardiomyocyte growth, constitutively active Akt1/protein kinase B alpha relieved Hrt2-mediated inhibition of GATA-dependent transcription. HRT proteins physically interacted with GATA proteins, and the basic domain of HRT was critical for physical association as well as transcriptional inhibition. These results suggest that HRT proteins may regulate specific sets of cardiac genes by modulating the function of GATA proteins and other cardiac transcriptional activators in a signal-dependent manner. Show less