Explore the vast range of titles available.

Abundance of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, a dominant bacterium of the human microbiota that exhibits antiinflammatory effects, is decreased in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). In humans, colonic lamina propria contains IL-10–secreting, Foxp3– Tregs characterized by a double expression of CD4 and CD8α (DP8α) and a specificity for F. prausnitzii. This Treg subset is decreased in IBD. The in vivo effect of DP8α cells has not been evaluated yet to our knowledge. Here, using a humanized model of a NSG immunodeficient mouse strain that expresses the HLA D–related allele HLA-DR*0401 but not murine class II (NSG-Ab° DR4) molecules, we demonstrated a protective effect of a HLA-DR*0401–restricted DP8α Treg clone combined with F. prausnitzii administration in a colitis model. In a cohort of patients with IBD, we showed an independent association between the frequency of circulating DP8α cells and disease activity. Finally, we pointed out a positive correlation between F. prausnitzii–specific DP8α Tregs and the amount of F. prausnitzii in fecal microbiota in healthy individuals and patients with ileal Crohn’s disease.

Obesity is a global epidemic characterized by chronic low-grade inflammation and metabolic dysfunction, with adipose tissue playing a pivotal role in these processes. The mixed lineage kinase domain-like pseudokinase (MLKL) is a critical mediator of necroptosis but also exhibits noncanonical roles in metabolic regulation. This study aimed to investigate the adipocyte-specific functions of MLKL in obesity. Using adipocyte-specific Mlkl knockout ( Mlkl Adi-KO ) mice, we observed reduced susceptibility to high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity, enhanced glucose tolerance, and improved insulin sensitivity. Mlkl Adi-KO mice showed elevated energy expenditure independent of changes in food intake or locomotor activity, correlating with increased mitochondrial function and reduced lipid accumulation in white adipose tissue (WAT). Transcriptomic analyses of WAT revealed significant modulation of pathways linked to oxidative phosphorylation, inflammation, and lipid metabolism. Furthermore, metabolomic profiling highlighted reductions in TCA cycle intermediates, acylcarnitines, and pro-inflammatory amino acids in Mlkl Adi-KO mice under HFD conditions. These findings were accompanied by improved hepatic lipid profiles and decreased steatosis, underscoring systemic benefits of adipocyte-specific Mlkl deletion. Mechanistically, Mlkl deficiency altered adipocyte differentiation. These results position MLKL as a promising therapeutic target for obesity and related metabolic disorders, emphasizing the need for future studies using conditional knockout and overexpression models to explore its cell-specific and noncanonical functions in metabolic regulation.

Nutrition during the perinatal period programs body growth. Growth hormone (GH) secretion from the pituitary regulates body growth and is controlled by Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone (GHRH) neurons located in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus. We observed that dietary restriction during the early postnatal period (i.e. lactation) in mice influences postnatal growth by permanently altering the development of the somatotropic axis in the pituitary gland. This alteration may be due to a lack of GHRH signaling during this critical developmental period. Indeed, underfed pups showed decreased insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) plasma levels, which are associated with lower innervation of the median eminence by GHRH axons at 10 days of age relative to normally fed pups. IGF-I preferentially stimulated axon elongation of GHRH neurons in in vitro arcuate explant cultures from 7 day-old normally fed pups. This IGF-I stimulating effect was selective since other arcuate neurons visualized concomitantly by neurofilament labeling, or AgRP immunochemistry, did not significantly respond to IGF-I stimulation. Moreover, GHRH neurons in explants from age-matched underfed pups lost the capacity to respond to IGF-I stimulation. Molecular analyses indicated that nutritional restriction was associated with impaired activation of AKT. These results highlight a role for IGF-I in axon elongation that appears to be cell selective and participates in the complex cellular mechanisms that link underfeeding during the early postnatal period with programming of the growth trajectory.

Nutrition plays a critical role in programming and shaping linear growth during early postnatal life through direct action on the development of the neuroendocrine somatotropic (GH/IGF-1) axis. IGF-1 is a key factor in modulating the programming of linear growth during this period. Notably, IGF-1 preferentially stimulates axonal growth of GHRH neurons in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus (Arc), which is crucial for the proliferation of somatotroph progenitors in the pituitary, thus influencing later GH secretory capacity. However, other nutrition-related hormones may also be involved. Among them, insulin shares several structural and functional similarities with IGF-1, as well as downstream signaling effectors. We investigated the role of insulin in the control of Arc axonal growth using an in vitro model of arcuate explants culture and a cell-type specific approach (GHRH-eGFP mice) under both physiological conditions (normally fed pups) and those of dietary restriction (underfed pups). Our data suggest that insulin failed to directly control axonal growth of Arc neurons or influence specific IGF-1-mediated effects on GHRH neurons. Insulin may act on neuronal welfare, which appears to be dependent on neuronal sub-populations and is influenced by the nutritional status of pups in which Arc neurons develop.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0170083.].

Nutrition during the early postnatal period can program the growth trajectory and adult size. Nutritionally regulated hormones are strongly suspected to be involved in this physiological regulation. Linear growth during the postnatal period is regulated by the neuroendocrine somatotropic axis, whose development is first controlled by GHRH neurons of the hypothalamus. Leptin that is secreted by adipocytes in proportion to fat mass is one of the most widely studied nutritional factors, with a programming effect in the hypothalamus. However, it remains unclear whether leptin stimulates the development of GHRH neurons directly. Using a Ghrh-eGFP mouse model, we show here that leptin can directly stimulate the axonal growth of GHRH neurons in vitro in arcuate explant cultures. Moreover, GHRH neurons in arcuate explants harvested from underfed pups were insensitive to the induction of axonal growth by leptin, whereas AgRP neurons in these explants were responsive to leptin treatment. This insensitivity was associated with altered activating capacities of the three JAK2, AKT and ERK signaling pathways. These results suggest that leptin may be a direct effector of linear growth programming by nutrition, and that the GHRH neuronal subpopulation may display a specific response to leptin in cases of underfeeding.

Faecalibacterium prausnitzii (F. prausnitzii), a dominant bacterium of the human microbiota, is decreased in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and exhibits anti-inflammatory effects. In human, colonic lamina propria contains IL-10-secreting, Foxp3-negative regulatory T cells (Treg) characterized by a double expression of CD4 and CD8α (DP8α) and a specificity for F. prausnitzii. This Treg subset is decreased in IBD. The in vivo effect of DP8α cells has not been evaluated yet. Here, using a humanized model of NOD.Prkcscid IL2rγ-/- (NSG) immunodeficient mouse strain that expresses the human leucocyte antigen D-related allele HLA-DR*0401 but not murine class II (NSG-Ab° DR4) molecules, we demonstrated a protective effect of a HLA-DR*0401-restricted DP8α Treg clone combined with F. prausnitzii administration in a colitis model. In a cohort of patients with IBD, we showed an independent association between the frequency of circulating DP8α cells and disease activity. Finally, we pointed out a positive correlation between F. prausnitzii-specific DP8α Tregs and the amount of F. prausnitzii in fecal microbiota in healthy individuals and patients with ileal Crohn's disease.

Faecalibacterium prausnitzii (F. prausnitzii), a dominant bacterium of the human microbiota, is decreased in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and exhibits anti-inflammatory effects. In human, colonic lamina propria contains IL-10-positive, Foxp3-negative regulatory T cells (Treg) characterized by a double expression of CD4 and CD8alpha (DP8alpha) and a specificity for F. prausnitzii. This Treg subset is decreased in IBD. The in vivo effect of DP8alpha cells has not been evaluated yet. Here, using a humanized model of NSG immunodeficient mouse strain that expresses human leucocyte antigen D-related 4 (HLA-DR4) but not murine class II (NSG-Ab DR4), we demonstrated a protective effect of DP8alpha Tregs combined with F. prausnitzii administration in a colitis model. In a cohort of patients with IBD, we showed an independent association between the frequency of circulating DP8alpha cells and disease activity. Finally, we pointed out a positive correlation between F. prausnitzii-specific DP8alpha; Tregs and the amount of F. prausnitzii in fecal microbiota in healthy individuals and patients with ileal Crohn s disease. Competing Interest Statement HS received unrestricted study grants from Danone, Biocodex, and Enterome; board membership, consultancy, or lecture fees from Carenity, Abbvie, Astellas, Danone, Ferring, Mayoly Spindler, MSD, Novartis, Roche, Tillots, Enterome, Maat, BiomX, Biose, Novartis, and Takeda; and a co-founder of Exeliom bioscience. Other authors have declared that no conflict of interest exists.

Objectives: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) results from a combination of genetic predisposition, dysbiosis of the gut microbiota and environmental factors, leading to alterations in the gastrointestinal immune response and chronic inflammation. Caspase recruitment domain 9 (Card9), one of the IBD susceptibility genes, has been shown to protect against intestinal inflammation and fungal infection. However, the cell types and mechanisms involved in the CARD9 protective role against inflammation remain unknown. Design: We used dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced and adoptive transfer colitis models in total and conditional CARD9 knock-out mice to uncover which cell types play a role in the CARD9 protective phenotype. The impact of Card9 deletion on neutrophil function was assessed by an in vivo model of fungal infection and various functional assays, including endpoint dilution assay, apoptosis assay by flow cytometry, proteomics and real time bioenergetic profile analysis (Seahorse). Results: Lymphocytes are not intrinsically involved in the CARD9 protective role against colitis. CARD9 expression in neutrophils, but not in epithelial or CD11c+ cells, protects against DSS-induced colitis. In the absence of CARD9, mitochondrial dysfunction in neutrophils leads to their premature death through apoptosis, especially in oxidative environment. The decrease of fonctional neutrophils in tissues could explain the impaired containment of fungi and increased susceptibility to intestinal inflammation. Conclusion: These results provide new insight into the role of CARD9 in neutrophil mitochondrial function and its involvement in intestinal inflammation, paving the way for new therapeutic strategies targeting neutrophils. Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest.