Hongju Liu

Changes of Cytokines during a Spaceflight Analog - a 45-Day Head-Down Bed Rest

Spaceflight is associated with deregulation in the immune system. Head-down bed rest (HDBR) at -6° is believed to be the most practical model for examining multi-system responses to microgravity in humans during spaceflight. In the present study, a 45-day HDBR was performed to investigate the alterations in human immune cell distributions and their functions in response to various stimuli. The effect of countermeasure, Rhodiola rosea (RR) treatment, was also examined. A significant decrease of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and interleukin-17 (IL-17) productions by activated T cells, increase of IL-1β and IL-18 by activated B and myeloid cells were observed during HDBR. The upregulation of serum cortisol was correlated with the changes of IL-1 family cytokines. In addition, a significant increase of memory T and B cell and regulatory T cells (Treg) were also detected. The uptake of RR further decreased IFN-γ level and slowed down the upregulation of IL-1 family cytokines. These data suggest that for prolonged HDBR and spaceflight, the decreased protective T cell immunity and enhanced proinflammatory cytokines should be closely monitored. The treatment with RR may play an important role in suppressing proinflammatory cytokines but not in boosting protective T cell immunity.

Simulated microgravity disrupts intestinal homeostasis and increases colitis susceptibility

The immune systems can be altered by spaceflight in many aspects, but microgravity‐related mucosal immune changes and its clinical significance have not been well studied. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether simulated microgravity influences the intestinal homeostasis and increases the susceptibility to colon inflammation. The hindlimb unloading (HU) mouse model was used to simulate the microgravity condition. Three percent dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) was given to mice to induce colitis. Compared to ground control (Ctrl) mice, the HU ones revealed an impaired intestinal homeostasis and increased susceptibility to DSS‐induced colitis. This includes an early‐onset, 4‐fold expansion of segmented filamentous bacteria (SFB), more than 2‐fold decrease in regulatory T (Treg) cell numbers and IL‐10 production, ~2‐fold increase in colonic IL‐1β expression, 2‐fold increase in circulating neutrophils, and colonic neutrophil infiltration. The application of antibiotics ameliorated the Treg and IL‐10 reductions but did not significantly dampen neutrophilia and elevated expression of colonic IL‐1β. These results indicate that the intestinal microflora and innate immune system both respond to simulated microgravity and together, contribute to the proinflammatory shift in the gut microenvironment. The data also emphasize the necessity for evaluating the susceptibility to inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) in distant space travels.—Li, P., Shi, J., Zhang, P., Wang, K., Li, J., Liu, H., Zhou, Y., Xu, X., Hao, J., Sun, X., Pang, X., Li, Y., Wu, H., Chen, X., Ge, Q. Simulated microgravity disrupts intestinal homeostasis and increases colitis susceptibility. FASEB J. 29, 3263‐3273 (2015). www.fasebj.org

Dystrophin Involved in the Susceptibility of Slow Muscles to Hindlimb Unloading via Concomitant Activation of TGF-β1/Smad3 Signaling and Ubiquitin–Proteasome Degradation in Mice

While it is well known that the slow-twitch muscles are vulnerable to microgravity conditions, the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying this phenomenon remain unknown. Dystrophin, which constitutes an important link between the cytoskeleton and the extracellular matrix, is hypothesized to be involved in force generation and mechanical stabilization of the skeletal muscle. Here we have shown that after a 14-day hindlimb unloading (HU) of the C57BL/10 mice, the expression of dystrophin was significantly down-regulated in the fast-twitch myofibers, while in the slow-twitch myofibers, it was up-regulated. In order to investigate the role of dystrophin in HU-induced susceptibility to muscle atrophy, we compared the degradation signaling mechanisms of slow-twitch soleus muscle in dystrophin-deficient (mdx) and the wild-type (WT) mice. We found that mdx mice manifest less reduction of muscle mass and myofiber cross-sectional area than the control animals. Also, the expression of two ubiquitin ligases (MuRF1, Atrogin-1), which plays a crucial role in the ubiquitin–proteasome-mediated muscular degradation, was significantly down-regulated in soleus muscle of the hindlimb-unloaded mdx mice. In comparison, in the soleus muscle of unloaded WT mice, these ligases were significantly up-regulated. Whereas the hindlimb unloading reduced the expression of transforming growth factor β (TGF-β1)/Smad3 in mdx mice, in WT mice, the expression of this growth factor was augmented in response to unloading. Correspondingly, as a result of HU of the mdx mice, the expression of four subtypes of the myosin heavy chain and troponin I was reduced or it exhibited a delayed slow-to-fast transition. In summary, our results suggest that dystrophin exerts an intermediary and positive role in the disuse atrophy of the slow-twitch muscles. This effect is mediated through the activation of TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling and downstream ubiquitin–proteasome pathway.

PGC-1α over-expression suppresses the skeletal muscle atrophy and myofiber-type composition during hindlimb unloading

Disuse leads to severe muscle atrophy and a slow-to-fast myofiber-type transition. PGC-1α (Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1α) is documented to play an important role in muscle atrophy and slow-twitch myofiber determination. Transcription of atrophy-related Atrogin-1 by FoxO3 can be reduced by PGC-1α. While Smad3 augments FoxO3-induced Atrogin-1 and MuRF1 promoter activity. So PGC-1α, as a transcription co-activator, may regulate hindlimb unloading (HU)-induced myofiber-type transition and muscle atrophy through Smad3. Our results showed that transgenic PGC-1α mice resisted HU-induced muscle loss, atrophy-related genes expression, and slow-to-fast myofiber-type transition. Furthermore, over-expression of PGC-1α resisted the increase in pSmad3 during muscle atrophy in vivo and in vitro. And, PGC-1α over-expression inhibited the expression of atrogenes via suppressing the phosphorylation of Smad3 in vitro. Thus, PGC-1α is effective in regulating myofiber-type transition during HU, and it alleviates skeletal muscle atrophy partially through suppressing the activation of Smad3. Graphical abstract PGC-1α overexpression alleviates HU-induced myofiber-type transition and may attenuate muscle atrophy partially via suppressing pSmad3.

Proteomic analysis of mouse soleus muscles affected by hindlimb unloading and reloading

Introduction: Disuse muscle atrophy, induced by prolonged space flight, bed rest, or denervation, is a common process with obvious changes in slow‐twitch soleus muscles. Methods: Proteomic analysis was performed on mouse soleus subjected to hindlimb unloading (HU) and hindlimb reloading (HR) to identify new dysregulated proteins. Results: Following HU, the mass and cross‐sectional area of muscle fibers decreased, but they recovered after HR. Proteomic analyses revealed 9 down‐regulated and 7 up‐regulated proteins in HU, and 2 down‐regulated and 5 up‐regulated proteins in HR. The dysregulated proteins were mainly involved in energy metabolism, protein degradation, and cytoskeleton stability. Among the dysregulated proteins were fatty acid binding protein 3, α‐B crystalline, and transthyretin. Conclusions: These results indicate that muscle atrophy induced by unloading is related to activation of proteolysis, metabolic alterations toward glycolysis, destruction of myofibrillar integrity, and dysregulation of heat shock proteins (HSPs). The dysregulated proteins may play a role in muscle atrophy and the recovery process. Muscle Nerve 52: 803–811, 2015

Serum miRNAs miR-23a, 206, and 499 as Potential Biomarkers for Skeletal Muscle Atrophy

Muscle biopsy has long been expected to be replaced by noninvasive biomarkers with diagnostic value and prognostic applications for muscle atrophy. Growing evidence suggests that circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) could act as biomarkers for numerous pathophysiological statuses. In the present study, our results showed that the serum levels of six muscle-specific miRNAs (miR-1/23a/133/206/208b/499) were all elevated in unloading induced mice. The medium levels of these six muscle-specific miRNAs were all elevated in starvation induced atrophic C2C12 myotubes. Moreover, the serum levels of miR-23a/206/499 were induced in participants after 45 days of head-down bed rest (HDBR). The levels of miR-23a/206/499 were positively correlated with the ratio of soleus volume loss in HDBR participants, indicating that they might represent the process of muscle loss. In conclusion, our results demonstrated that circulating miRNAs could serve as useful biochemical and molecular indicators for muscle atrophy diagnosis and disease progression.

Salidroside Inhibits Myogenesis by Modulating p-Smad3-Induced Myf5 Transcription

Aim: Salidroside is an active compound extracted from Rhodiola rosea which is used to alleviate fatigue and enhance endurance in high altitude regions. Some studies have demonstrated that salidroside can affect precursor cell differentiation in hematopoietic stem cells, erythrocytes, and osteoblasts. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of salidroside on myoblast differentiation and to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms of this effect. Methods: C2C12 myoblast cells were treated with different concentrations of salidroside in differentiation media. Real-time PCR, Western blotting, and immunofluorescence assay were employed to evaluate the effects of salidroside on C2C12 differentiation. RNA interference was used to reveal the important role of Myf5 in myogenesis inhibited by salidroside. Chromatin Immunoprecipitation and dual-luciferase reporter assay were utilized to explore the underlying mechanisms of salidroside-induced upregulation of Myf5. Results: We found that salidroside inhibits myogenesis by downregulating MyoD and myogenin, preserves undifferentiated reserve cell pools by upregulating Myf5. Knocking down Myf5 expression significantly rescued the myogenesis inhibited by salidroside. The effect of salidroside on myogenesis was associated with increased phosphorylated Smad3 (p-Smad3). Both SIS3 (Specific inhibitor of p-Smad3) and dominant negative Smad3 plasmid (DN-Smad3) attenuated the inhibitory effect of salidroside on C2C12 differentiation. Moreover, the induction of Myf5 transcription by salidroside was dependent on a Smad-binding site in the promoter region of Myf5 gene. Conclusion and Implications: Our findings identify a novel role and mechanism for salidroside in regulating myogenesis through p-Smad3-induced Myf5 transcription, which may have implications for its further application in combating degenerative muscular diseases caused by depletion of muscle stem cells, such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy or sarcopenia.

Retraction: Deficits of learning and memory in Hemojuvelin knockout mice

This article has been retracted at the request of the authors.

Deficits of learning and memory in Hemojuvelin knockout mice

Iron is involved in various physiological processes of the human body to maintain normal functions. Abnormal iron accumulation in brain has been reported as a pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative disorders and cognitive impairments. Hemojuvelin (HVJ) is a membrane-bound and soluble protein in mammals that is responsible for the iron overload condition known as juvenile hemochromatosis. Although iron accumulation in brain has been related to neurodegenerative diseases, it remains unknown the effect of mutation of HVJ gene on cognitive performance. In our studies, HJV(−/−) mice showed deficits in novel object recognition and Morris water maze tests. Furthermore, the expression ration of apoptotic marker Bax and anti-apoptotic marker Bcl-2 in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex showed higher levels in HJV(−/−) mice. Our results suggested that deletion of HJV gene could increase apoptosis in brain which might contribute to learning and memory deficits in mutant mice. These results indicated that HJV(−/−) mice would be a useful model to study cognitive impairment induced by iron overload in brain.