Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2018 May:31:226-242.
doi: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2018.04.024. Epub 2018 May 4.

Interventions Targeting Glucocorticoid-Krüppel-like Factor 15-Branched-Chain Amino Acid Signaling Improve Disease Phenotypes in Spinal Muscular Atrophy Mice

Affiliations

Interventions Targeting Glucocorticoid-Krüppel-like Factor 15-Branched-Chain Amino Acid Signaling Improve Disease Phenotypes in Spinal Muscular Atrophy Mice

Lisa M Walter et al. EBioMedicine. 2018 May.

Abstract

The circadian glucocorticoid-Krüppel-like factor 15-branched-chain amino acid (GC-KLF15-BCAA) signaling pathway is a key regulatory axis in muscle, whose imbalance has wide-reaching effects on metabolic homeostasis. Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a neuromuscular disorder also characterized by intrinsic muscle pathologies, metabolic abnormalities and disrupted sleep patterns, which can influence or be influenced by circadian regulatory networks that control behavioral and metabolic rhythms. We therefore set out to investigate the contribution of the GC-KLF15-BCAA pathway in SMA pathophysiology of Taiwanese Smn-/-;SMN2 and Smn2B/- mouse models. We thus uncover substantial dysregulation of GC-KLF15-BCAA diurnal rhythmicity in serum, skeletal muscle and metabolic tissues of SMA mice. Importantly, modulating the components of the GC-KLF15-BCAA pathway via pharmacological (prednisolone), genetic (muscle-specific Klf15 overexpression) and dietary (BCAA supplementation) interventions significantly improves disease phenotypes in SMA mice. Our study highlights the GC-KLF15-BCAA pathway as a contributor to SMA pathogenesis and provides several treatment avenues to alleviate peripheral manifestations of the disease. The therapeutic potential of targeting metabolic perturbations by diet and commercially available drugs could have a broader implementation across other neuromuscular and metabolic disorders characterized by altered GC-KLF15-BCAA signaling.

Keywords: Branched-chain amino acids; Glucocorticoids; KLF15; Metabolism; Spinal muscular atrophy; Therapy.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Dysregulation of the GC-KLF15-BCAA pathway in severe SMA mice and human SMA patients. a. qPCR analysis of GRα mRNA in four different skeletal muscles (triceps brachii (triceps), gastrocnemius (gastro), tibialis anterior (TA) and quadriceps femoris (quad)) of post-natal day (P) 2 Smn−/−;SMN2 mice compared to WT animals. Data represent mean ± SD; n = 3–4 animals per group; two-tailed t-test; triceps: p = 0.0113; gastro: p = 0.0487; TA: p = 0.0176; quad: p = 0.0042. b. qPCR analysis of GRβ mRNA in four different skeletal muscles of P7 Smn−/−;SMN2 mice compared to WT animals. Data represent mean ± SD; n = 3–4 animals per group; two-tailed t-test; triceps: p = 0.0075; gastro: p = 0.004; TA: p = 0.0352; quad: p = 0.0008. c. qPCR analysis of Klf15 mRNA in four different skeletal muscles of Smn−/−;SMN2 mice compared to WT animals at P0, P2, P5, P7 and P10. Data represent mean ± SD; n = 3–4 animals per group; two-way ANOVA; ***p < 0.001, ****p < 0.0001. d. BCAA metabolism effector genes (mRNA) dysregulated in triceps of P2 and P7 Smn−/−;SMN2 animals compared to WT mice. Data represent fold up- or downregulation with p > 0.05. e. qPCR analysis of Klf15 mRNA in heart and liver of P2 and P7 Smn−/−;SMN2 mice compared to WT animals. Data represent mean ± SD, n = 3–4 animals per group, two-way ANOVA; **p < 0.01, ****p < 0.0001. f. Quantification of total S6 K1/total protein in triceps of P7 Smn−/−;SMN2 mice compared to healthy littermates. Total protein was visualized with Fast Green (FG) stain. Images are representative immunoblots. Data represent mean ± SD, n = 5–7 animals per group, two-tailed t-test; p = 0.0325. g. Quantification of phosphorylated (p)-S6 and total S6/total protein in triceps of P7 Smn−/−;SMN2 mice compared to healthy littermates. Total protein was visualized with Fast Green (FG) stain. Images are representative immunoblots. Data represent mean ± SD, n = 5–7 animals per group, two-tailed t-test; p-S6: p = 0.0024; total S6: p = 0.0024. h. Quantification of KLF15 protein/total protein in human gastrocnemius muscle samples from non-SMA control individuals and SMA Type I-III patients.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Circadian rhythmicity of the GC-KLF15-BCAA axis is dysregulated in severe SMA mice. a. Corticosterone levels in serum of post-natal day (P) 2 and P7 Smn−/−;SMN2 mice compared to healthy control littermates at the Zeitgeber time (ZT) 5 and ZT17. Data represent mean ± SD; n = 3–4 animals per group, two-way ANOVA; *p < 0.05 b. qPCR analysis of diurnal expression of GRα mRNA in the tibialis anterior (TA) of P2 and P7 Smn−/−;SMN2 mice compared to healthy controls. c. qPCR analysis of diurnal expression of GRβ mRNA in the TA of P2 and P7 Smn−/−;SMN2 mice compared to healthy controls. d. qPCR analysis of diurnal expression of Klf15 mRNA in the TA of P2 and P7 Smn−/−;SMN2 mice compared to healthy controls. b-d: Data represent mean ± SD; n = 3–5 animals per group, two-way ANOVA; *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ****p < 0.0001; # indicates cycling ZT1 data is duplicated. e. Levels of the BCAAs valine, leucine and isoleucine in triceps of P2 and P7 Smn−/−;SMN2 and healthy controls. f. Levels of the BCAAs in serum of P2 and P7 Smn−/−;SMN2 and healthy control animals. e–f: each data point represents the pooling of 5–15 animals.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Schematic summarizing the activity of the glucocorticoid (GC)- glucocorticoid receptor (GR, α and β)-Klf15-BCAT2-branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) signaling cascade in normal muscle (a), pre-symptomatic muscle from Smn−/−;SMN2 SMA mice (b) and symptomatic muscle from Smn−/−;SMN2 SMA mice (c).
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Prednisolone treatment improves disease phenotypes in severe SMA mice. qPCR analysis of (a)Nr3c1, (b) GRα and GRβ (c) Klf15 and (d) Bcat2 mRNAs in tibialis anterior (TA) muscle of post-natal day (P) 2 and P7 untreated and prednisolone-treated Smn−/−;SMN2 mice and control littermates. a-d: Data represent mean ± SD; n = 3–4 animals per group; two-way ANOVA; *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ****p < 0.0001; ns = not significant. e. Weight curves of prednisolone-treated Smn−/−;SMN2 mice vs. untreated animals. Data represent mean ± SD; n = 10–16 animals per group; *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01. f. Lifespan of prednisolone-treated Smn−/−;SMN2 mice vs. untreated animals. Data represent Kaplan-Meier curves; n = 10–16 animals per group; Log-rank (Mantel-Cox) test; p = 0.0009. g. Weight curves of prednisolone-treated healthy controls vs. untreated animals. Data represent mean ± SD; n = 9–18 animals per group; ****p < 0.0001.
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Dysregulation of the GC-KLF15-BCAA pathway in intermediate SMA mice and prednisolone-induced phenotypic improvements. a. qPCR analysis of Klf15 mRNA in tibialis anterior (TA) of Smn2B/− mice compared to WT animals at different ages (post-natal day (P) 0, P2, P4, P11 and P19). Data represent mean ± SD; n = 4 animals per group; two-way ANOVA; *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001; ns = not significant. b. BCAA metabolism effector genes (mRNA) dysregulated in TAs of pre- and symptomatic Smn2B/− mice compared to WT animals. Data represent fold up- or downregulation with p > 0.05. c. Venn diagram demonstrating the number of upregulated BCAA metabolism effectors in TAs of symptomatic Smn−/−;SMN2 and Smn2B/− mice. d. Weight curves of prednisolone-treated Smn2B/− mice vs. saline-treated animals. Data represent mean ± SD; n = 10–12 animals per group; two-way ANOVA; *p < 0.05; ns = not significant. e. Lifespan of prednisolone-treated Smn2B/− mice vs. saline-treated animals. Data represent Kaplan-Meier curves; n = 10–12 animals per group; Log-rank (Mantel-Cox) test; p < 0.0001. f. Weight curves of Smn2B/+ mice treated with prednisolone or saline. Data represent mean ± SD; n = 7–10 animals per group; two-way ANOVA; ns = not significant.
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Prednisolone treatment improves neuromuscular phenotypes in severe SMA mice. Smn−/−;SMN2 mice and healthy littermates were treated with 5 mg/kg prednisolone every second day beginning from P0. qPCR analysis of (a) MuRF-1, (b) atrogin1, (c) MyoD, (d) myogenin and (e) parvalbumin mRNAs in triceps of P7 Smn−/−;SMN2 mice and healthy littermates treated with prednisolone compared to untreated animals. a-e: Data represent mean ± SD; n = 3–4 animals per group; two-way ANOVA; *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001, ****p < .0001; ns = not significant. f. Motor endplate area in TAs of untreated and prednisolone-treated P7 Smn−/−;SMN2 mice and healthy littermates. Data represent scatter plot ± SD; n = 424–711 endplates from 4 animals per group; one-way ANOVA; ****p < 0.0001; ns = not significant. g. Quantitative analysis of motor endplate morphology (plaque-like or perforated) in TAs of untreated and prednisolone treated P7 Smn−/−;SMN2 mice and healthy littermates. Representative image of endplates where arrow indicates perforated and arrowhead indicates plaque-like. h. Quantitative analysis of the innervation status of motor endplates in TAs of untreated and prednisolone-treated P7 Smn−/−;SMN2 mice and healthy control littermates. Representative image of NMJs from untreated and prednisolone-treated Smn−/−;SMN2 mice where arrowhead indicates incomplete innervation. g-h. Data represent mean ± SD; n = 4 animals per group; two-way ANOVA; **p < 0,01; ns = not significant.
Fig. 7
Fig. 7
Synergistic effects of Klf15 overexpression and prednisolone on disease phenotypes of severe SMA mice. a. qPCR analysis of Klf15 mRNA in skeletal muscle (quadriceps) from post-natal day (P) 2 and 7 Smn−/−;SMN2, Smn+/−;SMN2, Smn−/−;SMN2;KLF15 MTg and Smn+/−;SMN2;KLF15 MTg mice. Data represent mean ± SD; n = 3–8 animals per group; two-way ANOVA; **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001, ****p < 0.0001. qPCR analysis of (b) Nr3c1, (c) GRα, (d) GRβ, (e) Bcat2, (f) atrogin-1, (g) MuRF-1, (h) Myod, (i) myogenin and (j) parvalbumin mRNAs in quadriceps of P7 Smn−/−;SMN2, Smn+/−;SMN2, Smn−/−;SMN2;KLF15 MTg and Smn+/−;SMN2;KLF15 MTg mice. b-j: Data represent mean ± SD; n = 6–8 animals per group; one-way ANOVA; *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001, ****p < 0.0001, ns = not significant. k. Lifespan of untreated and prednisolone-treated Smn−/−;SMN2 and Smn−/−;SMN2;KLF15 MTg mice. Data represent Kaplan-Meier curves; n = 11–36 animals per group; Log-rank test; *p < 0.05, ***p < 0.001. l. Weight curves of untreated and prednisolone-treated Smn−/−;SMN2 and Smn−/−;SMN2;KLF15 MTg mice. Data represent mean ± SD; n = 7–10 animals per group; two-way ANOVA; *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001, ****p < 0.0001. m. Weight curves of untreated and prednisolone-treated Smn+/−;SMN2 and Smn+/−;SMN2;KLF15 MTg mice. Data represent mean ± SD; n = 7–10 animals per group; two-way ANOVA; *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001, ****p < 0.0001.
Fig. 8
Fig. 8
BCAA supplementation improves disease phenotypes of severe SMA mice. Smn−/−;SMN2 mice and healthy controls were treated with BCAAs (1.5 mg/kg) starting at P5. a. Weight curves of BCAA-treated Smn−/−;SMN2 mice vs. untreated animals. Data represent mean ± SD; n = 12–16 animals per group; two-way ANOVA; *p < 0.05, ***p < 0.001, ****p < 0.0001. b. Lifespan of BCAA-treated Smn−/−;SMN2 mice vs. untreated animals. Data represent Kaplan-Meier curves; n = 10–16 animals per group; Log-rank (Mantel-Cox) test; p = 0.0159. c. Weight curves of BCAA-treated healthy controls vs. untreated animals. Data represent mean ± SD; n = 14–18 animals per group; two-way ANOVA; *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01. qPCR analysis of (d) Nr3c1, (e) GRα, (f) GRβ, (g) Klf15, (h) Bcat2, (i) MuRF-1, (j) atrogin-1, (k) MyoD, (l) myogenin and (m) parvalbumin mRNAs expression in triceps of BCAA-treated P7 Smn−/−;SMN2 mice and healthy controls compared to untreated animals. d-m: Data represent mean ± SD; n = 3–4 animals per group; two-way ANOVA; **p < 0.01; ns = not significant. n. Motor endplate area in TAs of BCAA-treated P7 Smn−/−;SMN2 mice and healthy littermates compared to untreated animals. Data represent scatter plot ± SD; n = 198–324 endplates from 4 animals per group; one-way ANOVA; **p < 0.01, ****p < 0.0001; ns = not significant. o. Motor endplate morphology (plaque-like or perforated) in TAs of BCAA-treated P7 Smn−/−;SMN2 mice and healthy controls compared to untreated animals. Representative images of endplates from untreated and BCAA-treated Smn−/−;SMN2 mice and healthy littermates. p. Innervation status of motor endplates in TAs of BCAA-treated P7 Smn−/−;SMN2 mice and healthy controls compared to untreated animals. Representative images of NMJs from untreated and BCAA-treated Smn−/−;SMN2 mice. o-p. Data represent mean ± SD; n = 4 animals per group; two-way ANOVA; *p < 0.05, ***p < 0.001; ns = not significant.
Fig. 9
Fig. 9
Schematic summarizing the aberrant effectors of the glucocorticoid (GC)-Klf15-branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) signaling cascade targeted by a pre-symptomatic administration of prednisolone (a) and symptomatic BCCA supplementation (b) and the observed effects on molecular, histological and behavioral disease phenotypes.

Similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. Desvergne B., Michalik L., Wahli W. Transcriptional regulation of metabolism. Physiol. Rev. 2006;86 - PubMed
    1. Gray, S., Feinberg, M.W., Hull, S., Kuo, C.T., Watanabe, M., Sen, S., DePina, A., Haspel, R., Jain, M.K., 2002. The Krü ppel-like Factor KLF15 Regulates the Insulin-sensitive Glucose Transporter GLUT4*. https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M201304200 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Haldar S.M., Jeyaraj D., Anand P., Zhu H., Lu Y., Prosdocimo D.A. Kruppel-like factor 15 regulates skeletal muscle lipid flux and exercise adaptation. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 2012;109:6739–6744. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Gray S., Wang B., Orihuela Y., Hong E.-G., Fisch S., Haldar S. Regulation of gluconeogenesis by Krüppel-like factor 15. Cell Metab. 2007;5:305–312. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Jeyaraj D., Scheer F.A.J.L., Ripperger J.A., Haldar S.M., Lu Y., Prosdocimo D.A. Klf15 orchestrates circadian nitrogen homeostasis. Cell Metab. 2012;15:311–323. - PMC - PubMed

MeSH terms

-