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The detrimental effects of sleep loss on glucose tolerance are now well established, and insufficient sleep is a risk factor for the development of type 2 diabetes (T2D). In fact, sleep loss is comparable with other more traditional risk factors that are associated with the development of T2D, such as physical inactivity.

Nicholas J. Saner, Matthew J-C. Lee, Jujiao Kuang, Nathan W. Pitchford, ... Jonathan D. Bartlett

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The absence of hepatic glucose-6 phosphatase/ChREBP couple is incompatible with survival in mice

Fabienne Rajas, Renaud Dentin, Alexane Cannella Miliano, Marine Silva, ... Gilles Mithieux

Objective

Glucose production in the blood requires the expression of glucose-6 phosphatase (G6Pase), a key enzyme that allows glucose-6 phosphate (G6P) hydrolysis into free glucose and inorganic phosphate. We previously reported that the hepatic suppression of G6Pase leads to G6P accumulation and to metabolic reprogramming in hepatocytes from liver G6Pase-deficient mice (L.G6pc−/−). Interestingly, the activity of the transcription factor carbohydrate response element-binding protein (ChREBP), central for de novo lipid synthesis, is markedly activated in L.G6pc−/−mice, which consequently rapidly develop NAFLD-like pathology. In the current work, we assessed whether a selective deletion of ChREBP could prevent hepatic lipid accumulation and NAFLD initiation in L.G6pc−/− mice.

Methods

We generated liver-specific ChREBP (L.Chrebp−/−)- and/or G6Pase (L.G6pc−/−)-deficient mice using a Cre-lox strategy in B6.SACreERT2 mice. Mice were fed a standard chow diet or a high-fat diet for 10 days. Markers of hepatic metabolism and cellular stress were analysed in the liver of control, L. G6pc−/−, L. Chrebp−/− and double knockout (i.e., L.G6pc−/−.Chrebp−/−) mice.

Results

We observed that there was a dramatic decrease in lipid accumulation in the liver of L.G6pc−/−.Chrebp−/− mice. At the mechanistic level, elevated G6P concentrations caused by lack of G6Pase are rerouted towards glycogen synthesis. Importantly, this exacerbated glycogen accumulation, leading to hepatic water retention and aggravated hepatomegaly. This caused animal distress and hepatocyte damage, characterised by ballooning and moderate fibrosis, paralleled with acute endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Conclusions

Our study reveals the crucial role of the ChREBP-G6Pase duo in the regulation of G6P-regulated pathways in the liver.

Articles in Press

The absence of hepatic glucose-6 phosphatase/ChREBP couple is incompatible with survival in mice

Fabienne Rajas, Renaud Dentin, Alexane Cannella Miliano, Marine Silva, ... Gilles Mithieux

Objective

Glucose production in the blood requires the expression of glucose-6 phosphatase (G6Pase), a key enzyme that allows glucose-6 phosphate (G6P) hydrolysis into free glucose and inorganic phosphate. We previously reported that the hepatic suppression of G6Pase leads to G6P accumulation and to metabolic reprogramming in hepatocytes from liver G6Pase-deficient mice (L.G6pc−/−). Interestingly, the activity of the transcription factor carbohydrate response element-binding protein (ChREBP), central for de novo lipid synthesis, is markedly activated in L.G6pc−/−mice, which consequently rapidly develop NAFLD-like pathology. In the current work, we assessed whether a selective deletion of ChREBP could prevent hepatic lipid accumulation and NAFLD initiation in L.G6pc−/− mice.

Methods

We generated liver-specific ChREBP (L.Chrebp−/−)- and/or G6Pase (L.G6pc−/−)-deficient mice using a Cre-lox strategy in B6.SACreERT2 mice. Mice were fed a standard chow diet or a high-fat diet for 10 days. Markers of hepatic metabolism and cellular stress were analysed in the liver of control, L. G6pc−/−, L. Chrebp−/− and double knockout (i.e., L.G6pc−/−.Chrebp−/−) mice.

Results

We observed that there was a dramatic decrease in lipid accumulation in the liver of L.G6pc−/−.Chrebp−/− mice. At the mechanistic level, elevated G6P concentrations caused by lack of G6Pase are rerouted towards glycogen synthesis. Importantly, this exacerbated glycogen accumulation, leading to hepatic water retention and aggravated hepatomegaly. This caused animal distress and hepatocyte damage, characterised by ballooning and moderate fibrosis, paralleled with acute endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Conclusions

Our study reveals the crucial role of the ChREBP-G6Pase duo in the regulation of G6P-regulated pathways in the liver.

The 60 Second Metabolist

In this section authors briefly report on their work recently published in Molecular Metabolism.

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Chunmei Wang (full article)

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Noora Pöllänen (full article)

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You are what you eat

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