François Casas

Overexpression of the Mitochondrial T3 Receptor Induces Skeletal Muscle Atrophy during Aging

In previous studies, we characterized a new hormonal pathway involving a mitochondrial T3 receptor (p43) acting as a mitochondrial transcription factor. In in vitro and in vivo studies, we have shown that p43 increases mitochondrial transcription and mitochondrial biogenesis. In addition, p43 overexpression in skeletal muscle stimulates mitochondrial respiration and induces a shift in metabolic and contractile features of muscle fibers which became more oxidative. Here we have studied the influence of p43 overexpression in skeletal muscle of mice during aging. We report that p43 overexpression initially increased mitochondrial mass. However, after the early rise in mitochondrial DNA occurring at 2 months of age in transgenic mice, we observed a progressive decrease of mitochondrial DNA content which became 2-fold lower at 23 months of age relatively to control animals. Moreover, p43 overexpression induced an oxidative stress characterized by a strong increase of lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation in quadriceps muscle, although antioxidant enzyme activities (catalase and superoxide dismutase) were stimulated. In addition, muscle atrophy became detectable at 6 months of age, probably through a stimulation of the ubiquitin proteasome pathway via two muscle-specific ubiquitin ligases E3, Atrogin-1/MAFbx and MuRF1. Taken together, these results demonstrate that a prolonged stimulation of mitochondrial activity induces muscle atrophy. In addition, these data underline the importance of a tight control of p43 expression and suggest that a deregulation of the direct T3 mitochondrial pathway could be one of the parameters involved in the occurrence of sarcopenia.

Overexpression of the mitochondrial T3 receptor p43 induces a shift in skeletal muscle fiber types.

In previous studies, we have characterized a new hormonal pathway involving a mitochondrial T3 receptor (p43) acting as a mitochondrial transcription factor and consequently stimulating mitochondrial activity and mitochondrial biogenesis. We have established the involvement of this T3 pathway in the regulation of in vitro myoblast differentiation.We have generated mice overexpressing p43 under control of the human α-skeletal actin promoter. In agreement with the previous characterization of this promoter, northern-blot and western-blot experiments confirmed that after birth p43 was specifically overexpressed in skeletal muscle. As expected from in vitro studies, in 2-month old mice, p43 overexpression increased mitochondrial genes expression and mitochondrial biogenesis as attested by the increase of mitochondrial mass and mt-DNA copy number. In addition, transgenic mice had a body temperature 0.8°C higher than control ones and displayed lower plasma triiodothyronine levels. Skeletal muscles of transgenic mice were redder than wild-type animals suggesting an increased oxidative metabolism. In line with this observation, in gastrocnemius, we recorded a strong increase in cytochrome oxidase activity and in mitochondrial respiration. Moreover, we observed that p43 drives the formation of oxidative fibers: in soleus muscle, where MyHC IIa fibers were partly replaced by type I fibers; in gastrocnemius muscle, we found an increase in MyHC IIa and IIx expression associated with a reduction in the number of glycolytic fibers type IIb. In addition, we found that PGC-1α and PPARδ, two major regulators of muscle phenotype were up regulated in p43 transgenic mice suggesting that these proteins could be downstream targets of mitochondrial activity. These data indicate that the direct mitochondrial T3 pathway is deeply involved in the acquisition of contractile and metabolic features of muscle fibers in particular by regulating PGC-1α and PPARδ.

Depletion of the p43 mitochondrial T3 receptor in mice affects skeletal muscle development and activity

In vertebrates, skeletal muscle myofibers display different contractile and metabolic properties associated with different mitochondrial content and activity. We have previously identified a mitochondrial triiodothyronine receptor (p43) regulating mitochondrial transcription and mitochondrial biogenesis. When overexpressed in skeletal muscle, it increases mitochondrial DNA content, stimulates mitochondrial respiration, and induces a shift in the metabolic and contractile features of muscle fibers toward a slower and more oxidative phenotype. Here we show that a p43 depletion in mice decreases mitochondrial DNA replication and respiratory chain activity in skeletal muscle in association with the induction of a more glycolytic muscle phenotype and a decrease of capillary density. In addition, p43‐/‐ mice displayed a significant increase in muscle mass relative to control animals and had an improved ability to use lipids. Our findings establish that the p43 mitochondrial receptor strongly affects muscle mass and the metabolic and contractile features of myofibers and provides evidence that this receptor mediates, in part, the influence of thyroid hormone in skeletal muscle.—Pessemesse, L., Schlernitzauer, A., Sar, C., Levin, J., Grandemange, S., Seyer, P., Favier, F. B., Kaminski, S., Cabello, G., Wrutniak‐Cabello, C., Casas, F. Depletion of the p43 mitochondrial T3 receptor in mice affects skeletal muscle development and activity. FASEB J. 26, 748–756 (2012). www.fasebj.org

Chicoric Acid Is an Antioxidant Molecule That Stimulates AMP Kinase Pathway in L6 Myotubes and Extends Lifespan in Caenorhabditis elegans

Chicoric acid (CA) is a caffeoyl derivative previously described as having potential anti-diabetic properties. As similarities in cellular mechanism similarities between diabetes and aging have been shown, we explored on L6 myotubes the effect of CA on the modulation of intracellular pathways involved in diabetes and aging. We also determined its influence on lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans worm (C. elegans). In L6 myotubes, CA was a potent reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenger, reducing ROS accumulation under basal as well as oxidative stress conditions. CA also stimulated the AMP-activated kinase (AMPK) pathway and displayed various features associated with AMPK activation: CA (a) enhanced oxidative enzymatic defences through increase in glutathion peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, (b) favoured mitochondria protection against oxidative damage through up-regulation of MnSOD protein expression, (c) increased mitochondrial biogenesis as suggested by increases in complex II and citrate synthase activities, along with up-regulation of PGC-1α mRNA expression and (d) inhibited the insulin/Akt/mTOR pathway. As AMPK stimulators (e.g. the anti-diabetic agent meformin or polyphenols such as epigallocatechingallate or quercetin) were shown to extend lifespan in C. elegans, we also determined the effect of CA on the same model. A concentration-dependant lifespan extension was observed with CA (5–100 μM). These data indicate that CA is a potent antioxidant compound activating the AMPK pathway in L6 myotubes. Similarly to other AMPK stimulators, CA is able to extend C. elegans lifespan, an effect measurable even at the micromolar range. Future studies will explore CA molecular targets and give new insights about its possible effects on metabolic and aging-related diseases.

Depletion of the p43 Mitochondrial T3 Receptor Increases Sertoli Cell Proliferation in Mice

Among T3 receptors, TRα1 is ubiquitous and its deletion or a specific expression of a dominant-negative TRα1 isoform in Sertoli cell leads to an increase in testis weight and sperm production. The identification of a 43-kDa truncated form of the nuclear receptor TRα1 (p43) in the mitochondrial matrix led us to test the hypothesis that this mitochondrial transcription factor could regulate Sertoli cell proliferation. Here we report that p43 depletion in mice increases testis weight and sperm reserve. In addition, we found that p43 deletion increases Sertoli cell proliferation in postnatal testis at 3 days of development. Electron microscopy studies evidence an alteration of mitochondrial morphology observed specifically in Sertoli cells of p43−/− mice. Moreover, gene expression studies indicate that the lack of p43 in testis induced an alteration of the mitochondrial-nuclear cross-talk. In particular, the up-regulation of Cdk4 and c-myc pathway in p43−/− probably explain the extended proliferation recorded in Sertoli cells of these mice. Our finding suggests that T3 limits post-natal Sertoli cell proliferation mainly through its mitochondrial T3 receptor p43.

Protein sequences involved in the mitochondrial import of the 3,5,3'-L-triiodothyronine receptor p43.

The major effect of T3 on mitochondrial activity has been partly explained by the discovery of p43, a T3‐dependent transcription factor of the mitochondrial genome. P43 is imported into mitochondria in an atypical manner which is not yet fully understood. Our aim was to characterize the p43 sequences inducing its mitochondrial import, using in organello import experiments with wild‐type or mutated proteins and validation in CV1 cells. We find that several sequences define the mitochondrial addressing. Two alpha helices in the C‐terminal part of p43 are actual mitochondrial import sequences as fusion to a cytosolic protein induces its mitochondrial translocation. Helix 5 drives the atypical mitochondrial import process, whereas helices 10/11 induce a classical import process. However, despite its inability to drive a mitochondrial import, the N‐terminal region of p43 also plays a permissive role as in the presence of the C‐terminal import sequences different N‐terminal regions determine whether the protein is imported or not. These results can be extrapolated to other mitochondrial proteins related to the nuclear receptor superfamily, devoid of classical mitochondrial import sequences. J. Cell. Physiol. 227: 3768–3777, 2012.

Transcription Factors and Muscle Differentiation

Through their ability to repress irreversible cell cycle arrest, some transcription factors such as cellular oncogenes are considered as potent repressors of myoblast differentiation. Interestingly, their expression and/or activity are regulated by ligand-dependent transcription factors. Indeed, functional interactions between these proteins are deeply involved in the shift from proliferation to differentiation. Whereas c-Myc efficiently represses myoblast withdrawal from the cell cycle and terminal differentiation, c-Jun exerts a dual myogenic influence. In proliferating cells, it inhibits cell cycle arrest through sequestration of MyoD in a TR/c-Jun/MyoD complex; in parallel, high levels of Jun/Fos AP-1 complexes inhibit MyoD and myogenin expression. At the onset of myoblast differentiation, RXR dissociates the TR/c-Jun/MyoD complex, thus restoring a full MyoD transcriptional activity; in addition, it allows the liganded T3 nuclear receptor to inhibit TPA-inducible AP-1 activity, an event favouring c-Jun/ATF2 formation, a complex stimulating myogenin expression. In addition, inhibition of TPA-inducible AP-1 activity induces the expression of BTG1, a potent coactivator of myogenic factors transcriptional activity. In parallel, RXR expression, through the synthesis of its truncated form addressed into mitochondria, could potentiate the activity of p43, a mitochondrial T3-dependent transcription factor. This results in a stimulation of mitochondrial activity inducing a strong downregulation of c-Myc expression leading to cell cycle arrest and terminal differentiation. Overall, targeting of cellular oncogenes by ligand-dependent transcription factors regulates myoblast withdrawal from the cell cycle. In addition, it appears that RXR has to be considered as a master gene able to reverse the myogenic influence of c-Jun and TR, also involved in a downregulation of c-Myc expression.

Temperature homeostasis in mice lacking the p43 mitochondrial T3 receptor

Thyroid hormones and Thra gene play a key role in energy expenditure regulation, temperature homeostasis, and mitochondrial function. To decipher the function of the mitochondrial TRα receptor in these phenomena, we used mice lacking specifically the p43 mitochondrial T3 receptor. We found that these animals were hypermetabolic, hyperphagic, and displayed a down setting of the core body temperature. However, p43−/− animals do not present cold intolerance or defect of facultative thermogenesis. In addition, the mitochondrial function of BAT is slightly affected in the absence of p43. Our study, therefore, suggests a complementarity of action between the mitochondrial receptor and other proteins encoded by the Thra gene in the control of basal metabolism, facultative thermogenesis, and determination of the set point of temperature regulation.

Skeletal muscle overexpression of short isoform Sirt3 altered mitochondrial cardiolipin content and fatty acid composition

Cardiolipin (CL) is a phospholipid at the heart of mitochondrial metabolism, which plays a key role in mitochondrial function and bioenergetics. Among mitochondrial activity regulators, SIRT3 plays a crucial role in controlling the acetylation status of many enzymes participating in the energy metabolism in particular concerning lipid metabolism and fatty acid oxidation. Data suggest that possible connection may exist between SIRT3 and CL status that has not been evaluated in skeletal muscle. In the present study, we have characterized skeletal muscle lipids as well as mitochondrial lipids composition in mice overexpressing long (SIRT3-M1) and short (SIRT3-M3) isoforms of SIRT3. Particular attention has been paid for CL. We reported no alteration in muscle lipids content and fatty acids composition between the two mice SIRT3 strains and the control mice. However, mitochondrial CL content was significantly decreased in SIRT3-M3 mice and associated to an upregulation of tafazzin gene expression. In addition, mitochondrial phospholipids and fatty acids composition was altered with an increase in the PC/PE ratio and arachidonic acid content and a reduction in the MUFA/SFA ratio. These modifications in mitochondrial membrane composition are associated with a reduction in the enzymatic activities of mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes I and IV. In spite of these mitochondrial enzymatic alterations, skeletal muscle mitochondrial respiration remained similar in SIRT3-M3 and control mice. Surprisingly, none of those metabolic alterations were detected in mitochondria from SIRT3-M1 mice. In conclusion, our data indicate a specific action of the shorter SIRT3 isoform on lipid mitochondrial membrane biosynthesis and functioning.

Skeletal muscle expression of p43, a truncated thyroid hormone receptor α, affects lipid composition and metabolism

Thyroid hormone is a major regulator of metabolism and mitochondrial function. Thyroid hormone also affects reactions in almost all pathways of lipids metabolism and as such is considered as the main hormonal regulator of lipid biogenesis. The aim of this study was to explore the possible involvement of p43, a 43 Kda truncated form of the nuclear thyroid hormone receptor TRα1 which stimulates mitochondrial activity. Therefore, using mouse models overexpressing p43 in skeletal muscle (p43-Tg) or lacking p43 (p43−/−), we have investigated the lipid composition in quadriceps muscle and in mitochondria. Here, we reported in the quadriceps muscle of p43−/− mice, a fall in triglycerides, an inhibition of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) synthesis, an increase in elongase index and an decrease in desaturase index. However, in mitochondria from p43−/− mice, fatty acid profile was barely modified. In the quadriceps muscle of p43-Tg mice, MUFA content was decreased whereas the unsaturation index was increased. In addition, in quadriceps mitochondria of p43-Tg mice, we found an increase of linoleic acid level and unsaturation index. Last, we showed that cardiolipin content, a key phospholipid for mitochondrial function, remained unchanged both in quadriceps muscle and in its mitochondria whatever the mice genotype. In conclusion, this study shows that muscle lipid content and fatty acid profile are strongly affected in skeletal muscle by p43 levels. We also demonstrate that regulation of cardiolipin biosynthesis by the thyroid hormone does not imply p43.