Pierre-Damien Denechaud

The lipogenic transcription factor ChREBP dissociates hepatic steatosis from insulin resistance in mice and humans

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with all features of the metabolic syndrome. Although deposition of excess triglycerides within liver cells, a hallmark of NAFLD, is associated with a loss of insulin sensitivity, it is not clear which cellular abnormality arises first. We have explored this in mice overexpressing carbohydrate responsive element-binding protein (ChREBP). On a standard diet, mice overexpressing ChREBP remained insulin sensitive, despite increased expression of genes involved in lipogenesis/fatty acid esterification and resultant hepatic steatosis (simple fatty liver). Lipidomic analysis revealed that the steatosis was associated with increased accumulation of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs). In primary cultures of mouse hepatocytes, ChREBP overexpression induced expression of stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (Scd1), the enzyme responsible for the conversion of saturated fatty acids (SFAs) into MUFAs. SFA impairment of insulin-responsive Akt phosphorylation was therefore rescued by the elevation of Scd1 levels upon ChREBP overexpression, whereas pharmacological or shRNA-mediated reduction of Scd1 activity decreased the beneficial effect of ChREBP on Akt phosphorylation. Importantly, ChREBP-overexpressing mice fed a high-fat diet showed normal insulin levels and improved insulin signaling and glucose tolerance compared with controls, despite having greater hepatic steatosis. Finally, ChREBP expression in liver biopsies from patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis was increased when steatosis was greater than 50% and decreased in the presence of severe insulin resistance. Together, these results demonstrate that increased ChREBP can dissociate hepatic steatosis from insulin resistance, with beneficial effects on both glucose and lipid metabolism.

ChREBP, but not LXRs, is required for the induction of glucose-regulated genes in mouse liver

The transcription factor carbohydrate-responsive element-binding protein (ChREBP) has emerged as a central regulator of lipid synthesis in liver because it is required for glucose-induced expression of the glycolytic enzyme liver-pyruvate kinase (L-PK) and acts in synergy with SREBP to induce lipogenic genes such as acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) and fatty acid synthase (FAS). Liver X receptors (LXRs) are also important regulators of the lipogenic pathway, and the recent finding that ChREBP is a direct target of LXRs and that glucose itself can bind and activate LXRs prompted us to study the role of LXRs in the induction of glucose-regulated genes in liver. Using an LXR agonist in wild-type mice, we found that LXR stimulation did not promote ChREBP phosphorylation or nuclear localization in the absence of an increased intrahepatic glucose flux. Furthermore, the induction of ChREBP, L-PK, and ACC by glucose or high-carbohydrate diet was similar in LXRalpha/beta knockout compared with wild-type mice, suggesting that the activation of these genes by glucose occurs by an LXR-independent mechanism. We used fluorescence resonance energy transfer analysis to demonstrate that glucose failed to promote the interaction of LXRalpha/beta with specific cofactors. Finally, siRNA silencing of ChREBP in LXRalpha/beta knockout hepatocytes abrogated glucose-induced expression of L-PK and ACC, further demonstrating the central role of ChREBP in glucose signaling. Taken together, our results demonstrate that glucose is required for ChREBP functional activity and that LXRs are not necessary for the induction of glucose-regulated genes in liver.

Role of ChREBP in hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance

Non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease is tightly associated with insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and obesity, but the molecular links between hepatic fat accumulation and insulin resistance are not fully identified. Excessive accumulation of triglycerides (TG) is one the main characteristics of non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease and fatty acids utilized for the synthesis of TG in liver are available from the plasma non‐esterified fatty acid pool but also from fatty acids newly synthesized through hepatic de novo lipogenesis. Recently, the transcription factor ChREBP (carbohydrate responsive element binding protein) has emerged as a central determinant of lipid synthesis in liver through its transcriptional control of key genes of the lipogenic pathway, including fatty acid synthase and acetyl CoA carboxylase. In this mini‐review, we will focus on the importance of ChREBP in the physiopathology of hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance by discussing the physiological and metabolic consequences of ChREBP knockdown in liver of ob/ob mice.

E2F1 mediates sustained lipogenesis and contributes to hepatic steatosis

E2F transcription factors are known regulators of the cell cycle, proliferation, apoptosis, and differentiation. Here, we reveal that E2F1 plays an essential role in liver physiopathology through the regulation of glycolysis and lipogenesis. We demonstrate that E2F1 deficiency leads to a decrease in glycolysis and de novo synthesis of fatty acids in hepatocytes. We further demonstrate that E2F1 directly binds to the promoters of key lipogenic genes, including Fasn, but does not bind directly to genes encoding glycolysis pathway components, suggesting an indirect effect. In murine models, E2F1 expression and activity increased in response to feeding and upon insulin stimulation through canonical activation of the CDK4/pRB pathway. Moreover, E2F1 expression was increased in liver biopsies from obese, glucose-intolerant humans compared with biopsies from lean subjects. Finally, E2f1 deletion completely abrogated hepatic steatosis in different murine models of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). In conclusion, our data demonstrate that E2F1 regulates lipid synthesis and glycolysis and thus contributes to the development of liver pathology.

CDK4 is an essential insulin effector in adipocytes

Insulin resistance is a fundamental pathogenic factor that characterizes various metabolic disorders, including obesity and type 2 diabetes. Adipose tissue contributes to the development of obesity-related insulin resistance through increased release of fatty acids, altered adipokine secretion, and/or macrophage infiltration and cytokine release. Here, we aimed to analyze the participation of the cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4) in adipose tissue biology. We determined that white adipose tissue (WAT) from CDK4-deficient mice exhibits impaired lipogenesis and increased lipolysis. Conversely, lipolysis was decreased and lipogenesis was increased in mice expressing a mutant hyperactive form of CDK4 (CDK4(R24C)). A global kinome analysis of CDK4-deficient mice following insulin stimulation revealed that insulin signaling is impaired in these animals. We determined that insulin activates the CCND3-CDK4 complex, which in turn phosphorylates insulin receptor substrate 2 (IRS2) at serine 388, thereby creating a positive feedback loop that maintains adipocyte insulin signaling. Furthermore, we found that CCND3 expression and IRS2 serine 388 phosphorylation are increased in human obese subjects. Together, our results demonstrate that CDK4 is a major regulator of insulin signaling in WAT.

Carbohydrate responsive element binding protein and lipid homeostasis.

Purpose of review The liver is responsible for the conversion of excess dietary carbohydrates into fatty acids, through de-novo lipogenesis. A clear understanding of the control of lipogenesis is crucial since excess fatty acids leads to hepatic steatosis and associated metabolic diseases. The transcription factor sterol regulatory element binding protein 1c and the nuclear receptor liver X receptor are implicated in the insulin-mediated induction of lipogenic genes. Recently, the transcription factor carbohydrate responsive element binding protein has emerged as the hepatic glucose sensor required for the induction of lipogenic genes in response to glucose. Recent findings We have recently demonstrated that the liver-specific inhibition of carbohydrate responsive element binding protein decreases the rate of lipogenesis and improves hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance in obese ob/ob mice. These results suggest that carbohydrate responsive element binding protein is a potential therapeutic target, and an accurate knowledge of the mechanisms involved in regulating its expression or activation is needed for the development of pharmacological approaches for the treatment of metabolic diseases. Recent studies report that carbohydrate responsive element binding protein is regulated at the transcriptional level by glucose and by liver X receptor but that posttranslational modifications are needed for carbohydrate responsive element binding protein to become active. Summary Here we review some of the studies that provided a better understanding of the role and regulation of the newly identified transcription factor carbohydrate responsive element binding protein in lipid homeostasis.

KAT2B Is Required for Pancreatic Beta Cell Adaptation to Metabolic Stress by Controlling the Unfolded Protein Response

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) unfolded protein response (UPR(er)) pathway plays an important role in helping pancreatic β cells to adapt their cellular responses to environmental cues and metabolic stress. Although altered UPR(er) gene expression appears in rodent and human type 2 diabetic (T2D) islets, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unknown. We show here that germline and β cell-specific disruption of the lysine acetyltransferase 2B (Kat2b) gene in mice leads to impaired insulin secretion and glucose intolerance. Genome-wide analysis of Kat2b-regulated genes and functional assays reveal a critical role for Kat2b in maintaining UPR(er) gene expression and subsequent β cell function. Importantly, Kat2b expression is decreased in mouse and human diabetic β cells and correlates with UPR(er) gene expression in normal human islets. In conclusion, Kat2b is a crucial transcriptional regulator for adaptive β cell function during metabolic stress by controlling UPR(er) and represents a promising target for T2D prevention and treatment.

E2F1 inhibits circulating cholesterol clearance by regulating Pcsk9 expression in the liver

Cholesterol accumulation in the liver is an early event in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Here, we demonstrate that E2F1 plays a crucial role in maintaining cellular cholesterol homeostasis by regulating cholesterol uptake via proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin 9 (PCSK9), an enzyme that promotes low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) degradation upon activation. E2f1-/- mice display reduced total plasma cholesterol levels and increased cholesterol content in the liver. In this study, we show that E2f1 deletion in cellular and mouse models leads to a marked decrease in Pcsk9 expression and an increase in LDLR expression. In addition to the upregulation of LDLR, we report that E2f1-/- hepatocytes exhibit increased LDL uptake. ChIP-Seq and PCSK9 promoter reporter experiments confirmed that E2F1 binds to and transactivates the PCSK9 promoter. Interestingly, E2f1-/- mice fed a high-cholesterol diet (HCD) display a fatty liver phenotype and liver fibrosis, which is reversed by reexpression of PCSK9 in the liver. Collectively, these data indicate that E2F1 regulates cholesterol uptake and that the loss of E2F1 leads to abnormal cholesterol accumulation in the liver and the development of fibrosis in response to an HCD.

CDK4 Phosphorylates AMPKα2 to Inhibit Its Activity and Repress Fatty Acid Oxidation

The roles of CDK4 in the cell cycle have been extensively studied, but less is known about the mechanisms underlying the metabolic regulation by CDK4. Here, we report that CDK4 promotes anaerobic glycolysis and represses fatty acid oxidation in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) by targeting the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). We also show that fatty acid oxidation (FAO) is specifically induced by AMPK complexes containing the α2 subunit. Moreover, we report that CDK4 represses FAO through direct phosphorylation and inhibition of AMPKα2. The expression of non-phosphorylatable AMPKα2 mutants, or the use of a CDK4 inhibitor, increased FAO rates in MEFs and myotubes. In addition, Cdk4-/- mice have increased oxidative metabolism and exercise capacity. Inhibition of CDK4 mimicked these alterations in normal mice, but not when skeletal muscle was AMPK deficient. This novel mechanism explains how CDK4 promotes anabolism by blocking catabolic processes (FAO) that are activated by AMPK.

Growth factor receptor binding protein 14 inhibition triggers insulin-induced mouse hepatocyte proliferation and is associated with hepatocellular carcinoma

Metabolic diseases such as obesity and type 2 diabetes are recognized as independent risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Hyperinsulinemia, a hallmark of these pathologies, is suspected to be involved in HCC development. The molecular adapter growth factor receptor binding protein 14 (Grb14) is an inhibitor of insulin receptor catalytic activity, highly expressed in the liver. To study its involvement in hepatocyte proliferation, we specifically inhibited its liver expression using a short hairpin RNA strategy in mice. Enhanced insulin signaling upon Grb14 inhibition was accompanied by a transient induction of S‐phase entrance by quiescent hepatocytes, indicating that Grb14 is a potent repressor of cell division. The proliferation of Grb14‐deficient hepatocytes was cell‐autonomous as it was also observed in primary cell cultures. Combined Grb14 down‐regulation and insulin signaling blockade using pharmacological approaches as well as genetic mouse models demonstrated that Grb14 inhibition–mediated hepatocyte division involved insulin receptor activation and was mediated by the mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1–S6K pathway and the transcription factor E2F1. In order to determine a potential dysregulation in GRB14 gene expression in human pathophysiology, a collection of 85 human HCCs was investigated. This revealed a highly significant and frequent decrease in GRB14 expression in hepatic tumors when compared to adjacent nontumoral parenchyma, with 60% of the tumors exhibiting a reduced Grb14 mRNA level. Conclusion: Our study establishes Grb14 as a physiological repressor of insulin mitogenic action in the liver and further supports that dysregulation of insulin signaling is associated with HCC. (Hepatology 2017;65:1352‐1368).