Single cell analysis reveals immune cell-adipocyte crosstalk regulating the transcription of thermogenic adipocytes
ELIFE
Authors: Rajbhandari, Prashant; Arneson, Douglas; Hart, Sydney K.; Ahn, In Sook; Diamante, Graciel; Santos, Luis C.; Zaghari, Nima; Feng, An-Chieh; Thomas, Brandon J.; Vergnes, Laurent; Lee, Stephen D.; Rajbhandari, Abha K.; Reue, Karen; Smale, Stephen T.; Yang, Xia; Tontonoz, Peter
Abstract
Immune cells are vital constituents of the adipose microenvironment that influence both local and systemic lipid metabolism. Mice lacking IL10 have enhanced thermogenesis, but the roles of specific cell types in the metabolic response to IL10 remain to be defined. We demonstrate here that selective loss of IL10 receptor a in adipocytes recapitulates the beneficial effects of global IL10 deletion, and that local crosstalk between IL10-producing immune cells and adipocytes is a determinant of thermogenesis and systemic energy balance. Single Nuclei Adipocyte RNA-sequencing (SNAP-seq) of subcutaneous adipose tissue defined a metabolically-active mature adipocyte subtype characterized by robust expression of genes involved in thermogenesis whose transcriptome was selectively responsive to IL10R alpha deletion. Furthermore, single-cell transcriptomic analysis of adipose stromal populations identified lymphocytes as a key source of IL10 production in response to thermogenic stimuli. These findings implicate adaptive immune cell-adipocyte communication in the maintenance of adipose subtype identity and function.
Antiviral Activity of Belladonna During Japanese Encephalitis Virus Infection via Inhibition of Microglia Activation and Inflammation Leading to Neuronal Cell Survival
ACS CHEMICAL NEUROSCIENCE
Authors: Kumar, Swatantra; Maurya, Vimal K.; Kabir, Russell; Nayak, Debadatta; Khurana, Anil; Manchanda, Raj K.; Gadugu, Srinivasulu; Shanker, Karuna; Saxena, Shailendra K.
Abstract
Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is the main cause of viral encephalitis resulting in more than 68 000 clinical cases every year with case fatality rate as high as 30-40% for which no specific treatments are available. We have recently exhibited belladonna may be widely applicable for the treatment of various neurological disorders. Therefore, we developed a hydroalcoholic formulation of belladonna (B200) consisting of atropine and scopolamine and showed its antiviral efficacy against JEV infection. B200 treatment increases neuronal cell survival by reducing JEV induced cytopathic effects which were evident from significant reduction in necrotic cell population by flow-cytometry analysis and caspase 3 and 8 enzymatic activities. B200 treatment was found to reduce the intracellular JEV level observed by significant reduction in JEV-fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) expression in both neurons and microglia. Because microglia plays a crucial role in JEV pathogenesis, we further investigated the anti JEV effects of B200 on human microglia cells and elucidated the mechanism of action by performing whole-transcriptome sequencing. Gene expression analysis revealed that B200 reduces the pro-apoptotic and inflammatory gene expression observed by significant reduction in BAD, BAX, CASP3, CASP8, IL1B, and CXCL10 and increase in IL10 responsive gene expression. Interestingly, our molecular docking analysis revealed that atropine and scopolamine interact with the His288 residue of NS3 protein, a crucial residue for RNA unwinding and ATPase activity that was further confirmed by degradation of NS3 protein. Drug likeness, ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion), and toxicity analysis further suggests that atropine and scopolamine both cross the blood-brain barrier, which is crucial for effective treatment of Japanese encephalitis (JE).