Biology subjects

Sorci-Thomas, M. G.

Publications and source records attributed to Sorci-Thomas, M. G..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Adipocyte Expression of O-Glycoprotein Procollagen C-Endopeptidase Enhancer Protein 2 (PCPE2): Mechanisms Linking Fibrosis and Beiging of White Adipose Tissue

BackgroundProcollagen C-endopeptidase enhancer protein 2 (Pcpe2) has been primarily investigated in collagen processing during wound healing and is assumed to function similarly to Pcpe1 in the extracellular matrix (ECM). Our studies suggest that Pcpe2 has unique structural and functional features not shared with Pcpe1. MethodsTo study the role of Pcpe2 in adipose tissue remodeling, we created adipose tissue-specific knockout of Pcpe2 (TgAd+Pcpe2KO) and adipose tissue-specific Pcpe2 overexpressing (TgAd+Pcpe2Ox) mice and performed in vivo and ex vivo experiments. ResultsWe show that TgAd+Pcpe2KO mice are resistant to WD-induced obesity and exhibit reductions in body and fat pad mass. Promethion cage studies showed no significant differences in lean mass or food intake, yet WD-fed TgAd+Pcpe2KO mice exhibited significantly higher energy expenditure than negative Cre littermate controls. WD-fed TgAd+Pcpe2KO mice also showed reduced plasma glucose and lipoprotein lipid concentrations compared to controls. While markers of adipose tissue inflammation were reduced in WD-fed TgAd+Pcpe2KO mice. Examination of mature adipocytes from white adipose tissue showed that WD consumption greatly stimulated Pcpe2 expression, while no change in Pcpe2 expression in the stromal vascular cells was noted. However, in VAT precursor cells (PCs), the CD140b+ population showed a shift from fibroadipogenic precursors towards adipocyte PCs in TgAd+Pcpe2KO mice. This shift in PCs may account for the attenuation of local inflammation and fibrosis in the absence of Pcpe2. Ex vivo differentiation of adipose PCs showed that loss of Pcpe2 enhanced adipocyte differentiation, reducing TGF{beta}-like signaling via pSmad2/3, and increasing mitochondrial function. Furthermore, unlike Pcpe1, Pcpe2 contains a mucin-like linker domain with nine sites of O-linked glycosylation which may regulate receptor signaling at the plasma membrane. ConclusionsOur results show the ECM O-glycoprotein Pcpe2 is a robust marker of unhealthy adipose tissue expansion in humans and mice and contributes to inflammation and fibrosis associated with WD-induced obesity.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2019

Lack of apolipoprotein A1 impairs optimal regulatory T cell homeostasis at steady state due to impaired IL-2 signaling

Apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1), the major constituent of the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) molecule, exhibits anti-inflammatory properties. Our laboratory has previously shown that ApoA1 protects against switching of regulatory T (Treg) cells to atherogenic T follicular helper cells in Western diet-fed mice. However, the role of ApoA1 in modulating Treg cell homeostasis in the absence of atherosclerosis remains uncharacterized. Here, we show that ApoA1 is required for normal Treg cell homeostasis and functioning at steady state. Specifically, lack of ApoA1 decreased the numbers of both natural and induced Treg cells and also lowered Treg cell-based homeostatic proliferation and suppressive functions. Importantly, these changes occurred without affecting other T cell populations. Finally, we determined that the observed phenotypes were caused by changes to cholesterol content and reduced interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor signaling in ApoA1-deficient Treg cells. Overall, our results show that ApoA1-HDL is necessary for Treg cell homeostasis and functioning.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2018

PCPE2 and SR-BI Partner to Impact Accumulation of Fat in Mice

LDL receptor knockout mice (LDLr-/-) were crossed with PCPE2 knockout mice to obtain Ldlr-/-,Pcpe2-/- mice. The rationale of these studies was to examine the effects of an extracellular matrix protein, PCPE2, on fat storage in a dyslipidemic mouse model. Male Ldlr-/-, Pcpe2-/- mice were fed a Western diet for 25 weeks and their plasma triglyceride metabolism and triglyceride storage was examined. Interestingly, visceral but not subcutaneous fat pad were smaller in diet-fed Ldlr-/-,Pcpe2-/- mice compared to controls. There was no difference in the fatty acid distribution in triglyceride and cholesteryl esters (CE) among the genotypes. Ldlr-/-, Pcpe2-/- mice have higher plasma triglyceride levels and reduced lipoprotein lipase activity. Immunoprecipitation of SR-BI from cell extracts co-precipitated PCPE2 suggesting that PCPE2 and SR-BI are tightly associated. This work also showed that in the absence of PCPE2 SR-BI does not transfer CE from HDL into the cell. These results suggest that HDL, PCPE2, SR-BI, and possibly LPL are associated in an interactome that is required for CE transport into the cell. In the absence of these interactions lipid transport is significantly disrupted.

biochemistry↗