Proteomic Profiling of Plasma- and Gut-Derived Extracellular Vesicles in Obesity.

Obesity entails metabolic alterations across multiple organs, highlighting the role of inter-organ communication in its pathogenesis. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are communication agents in physiological and pathological conditions, and although they have been associated with obesity comorbidities, their protein cargo in this context remains largely unknown. To decipher the messages encapsulated in EVs, we isolated plasma-derived EVs from a diet-induced obese murine model.

Messages from the Small Intestine Carried by Extracellular Vesicles in Prediabetes: A Proteomic Portrait.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) mediate communication in physiological and pathological conditions. In the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes, inter-organ communication plays an important role in its progress and metabolic surgery leads to its remission. Moreover, gut dysbiosis is emerging as a diabetogenic factor.

MPV17 Mutations Are Associated With a Quiescent Energetic Metabolic Profile.

Mutations in the MPV17 gene are associated with hepatocerebral form of mitochondrial depletion syndrome. The mechanisms through which MPV17 mutations cause respiratory chain dysfunction and mtDNA depletion is still unclear. The MPV17 gene encodes an inner membrane mitochondrial protein that was recently described to function as a non-selective channel.

Loss of postprandial insulin clearance control by Insulin-degrading enzyme drives dysmetabolism traits.

Systemic insulin availability is determined by a balance between beta-cell secretion capacity and insulin clearance (IC). Insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE) is involved in the intracellular mechanisms underlying IC. The liver is a major player in IC control yet the role of hepatic IDE in glucose and lipid homeostasis remains unexplored.

Correction: The mechanism of sirtuin 2-mediated exacerbation of alpha-synuclein toxicity in models of Parkinson disease.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.

The mechanism of sirtuin 2-mediated exacerbation of alpha-synuclein toxicity in models of Parkinson disease.

Sirtuin genes have been associated with aging and are known to affect multiple cellular pathways. Sirtuin 2 was previously shown to modulate proteotoxicity associated with age-associated neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer and Parkinson disease (PD). However, the precise molecular mechanisms involved remain unclear.

National survey of the Portuguese elderly nutritional status: study protocol.

Background: Worldwide we are facing a serious demographic challenge due to the dramatic growth of the population over 60 years. It is expected that the proportion of this population will nearly double from 12 to 22 %, between 2015 and 2050. This demographic shift comes with major health and socio-economic concerns.

The NAD-dependent deacetylase sirtuin 2 is a suppressor of microglial activation and brain inflammation.

Deleterious sustained inflammation mediated by activated microglia is common to most of neurologic disorders. Here, we identified sirtuin 2 (SIRT2), an abundant deacetylase in the brain, as a major inhibitor of microglia-mediated inflammation and neurotoxicity. SIRT2-deficient mice (SIRT2(-/-)) showed morphological changes in microglia and an increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines upon intracortical injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

SIRT2 as a Therapeutic Target for Age-Related Disorders.

Sirtuin proteins are conserved regulators of aging that have recently emerged as important modifiers of several diseases which commonly occur later in life such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative diseases. In mammals, there are seven sirtuins (SIRT1-7), which display diversity in subcellular localization and function. SIRT1 has received much of attention due to its possible impact on longevity, while important biological and therapeutic roles of other sirtuins have been underestimated and just recently recognized.

Tau enhances α-synuclein aggregation and toxicity in cellular models of synucleinopathy.

Background: The simultaneous accumulation of different misfolded proteins in the central nervous system is a common feature in many neurodegenerative diseases. In most cases, co-occurrence of abnormal deposited proteins is observed in different brain regions and cell populations, but, in some instances, the proteins can be found in the same cellular aggregates. Co-occurrence of tau and α-synuclein (α-syn) aggregates has been described in neurodegenerative disorders with primary deposition of α-syn, such as Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies.

Impaired proteostasis contributes to renal tubular dysgenesis.

Protein conformational disorders are associated with the appearance, persistence, accumulation, and misprocessing of aberrant proteins in the cell. The etiology of renal tubular dysgenesis (RTD) is linked to mutations in the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE). Here, we report the identification of a novel ACE mutation (Q1069R) in an RTD patient.

Synphilin-1 enhances α-synuclein aggregation in yeast and contributes to cellular stress and cell death in a Sir2-dependent manner.

Background: Parkinson's disease is characterized by the presence of cytoplasmic inclusions, known as Lewy bodies, containing both aggregated α-synuclein and its interaction partner, synphilin-1. While synphilin-1 is known to accelerate inclusion formation by α-synuclein in mammalian cells, its effect on cytotoxicity remains elusive.

Methodology/principal Findings: We expressed wild-type synphilin-1 or its R621C mutant either alone or in combination with α-synuclein in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and monitored the intracellular localization and inclusion formation of the proteins as well as the repercussions on growth, oxidative stress and cell death.

Sirtuins: common targets in aging and in neurodegeneration.

Aging has been a subject of interest since primordial times. More recently, it became clear that aging is the major known risk factor for several neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease. A major focus in the field of aging is to examine whether the genetic regulators of lifespan also regulate the trigger and/or progression of age-related disorders.

Klotho RNAi induces premature senescence of human cells via a p53/p21 dependent pathway.

Klotho has recently emerged as a regulator of aging. To investigate the role of Klotho in the regulation of cellular senescence, we generated stable MRC-5 human primary fibroblast cells knockdown for Klotho expression by RNAi. Downregulation of Klotho dramatically induces premature senescence with a concomitant upregulation of p21.

Sirt1 promotes fat mobilization in white adipocytes by repressing PPAR-gamma.

Calorie restriction extends lifespan in organisms ranging from yeast to mammals. In yeast, the SIR2 gene mediates the life-extending effects of calorie restriction. Here we show that the mammalian SIR2 orthologue, Sirt1 (sirtuin 1), activates a critical component of calorie restriction in mammals; that is, fat mobilization in white adipocytes.

Superoxide dismutase 1 knock-down induces senescence in human fibroblasts.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as superoxide radicals are responsible for the pathogenesis of various human diseases. ROS are generated during normal metabolic process in all of the oxygen-utilizing organisms. The copper-zinc-containing SOD (SOD1) acts as a major defense against ROS by detoxifying the superoxide anion.