Biology subjects

Hodson, N.

Publications and source records attributed to Hodson, N..

5 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2024

Anabolic sensitivity in healthy, lean, older men is associated with higher expression of amino acid sensors and mTORC1 activators

BackgroundSarcopenia is thought to be underlined by age-associated anabolic resistance and dysregulation of intracellular signalling pathways. However, it is unclear whether these phenomena are driven by ageing per se or other confounding factors. MethodsLean and healthy young (n=10, 22 {+/-} 3 yrs, BMI; 23.4 {+/-} 0.8 kg/m2) and old men (n=10, 70 {+/-} 3 yrs, BMI; 22.7 {+/-} 1.3 kg/m2) performed unilateral resistance exercise followed by intake of essential amino acids (EAA). Muscle biopsies were collected from the rested and the exercised leg before, immediately after, as well as 60 and 180 minutes after EAA intake. Muscle samples were analyzed for amino acid concentrations, muscle protein synthesis (MPS) and associated anabolic signaling. ResultsFollowing exercise, peak plasma levels of EAA and leucine were similar between groups, but the area under the curve was [~]11% and [~]28% lower in Young (p<0.01). Absolute levels of muscle EAA and leucine peaked 60 min after exercise, with [~]15 and [~]21 % higher concentrations in the exercising leg (p<0.01) but with no difference between groups. MPS increased in both the resting ([~] 0.035%{middle dot}h-1 to 0.056%{middle dot}h-1, p<0.05) and exercising leg ([~] 0.035%{middle dot}h-1 to 0.083%{middle dot}h-1, p<0.05) with no difference between groups. Phosphorylation of S6K1Thr389 increased to a similar extent in the exercising leg in both groups but was 2.8-fold higher in the resting leg of Old at the 60 min timepoint (p<0.001). Phosphorylation of 4E-BP1Ser65 increased following EAA intake and exercise, but differences between legs were statistically different only at 180 min (p<0.001). However, phosphorylation of this site was on average 78% greater across all timepoints in Old (p<0.01). Phosphorylation of eEF2Thr56 was reduced ([~] 66 and 39%) in the exercising leg at both timepoints after EAA intake and exercise, with no group differences (p<0.05). However, phosphorylation at this site was reduced by [~] 27% also in the resting leg at 60 min, an effect that was only seen in Old (p<0.01). Total levels of Rheb ([~] 45%), LAT1 ([~] 31%) and Rag B ([~] 31%) were higher in Old (p<0.001). ConclusionLean and healthy old men do not manifest AR as evidenced by potent increases in MPS and mTORC1 signalling following EAA intake and exercise. Maintained anabolic sensitivity with age appears to be a function of a compensatory increase in basal levels of proteins involved in anabolic signalling. Therefore, our results suggest that age per se does not appear to cause AR in human skeletal muscle.

physiology↗

bioRxiv2023

PAK1-dependant mechanotransduction enables myofibroblast nuclear adaptation and chromatin organisation during fibrosis

Myofibroblasts are responsible for scarring and organ stiffness during fibrosis. The scar propagates mechanical signals inducing a radical transformation in myofibroblast cell state linked to an increasingly pro-fibrotic phenotype. Here, we have discovered mechanical stress from progressive scarring induces nuclear softening and de-repression of heterochromatin. The parallel loss of H3K9Me3 enables a permissive state for distinct chromatin accessibility and profibrotic gene regulation. By integrating chromatin accessibility profiles (ATAC sequencing) we provide insight into the transcription network and open chromatin landscape underlying the switch in profibrotic myofibroblast states, emphasizing mechanoadaptive pathways linked to PAK1 as key drivers. Through genetic manipulation in liver and lung fibrosis, uncoupling PAK1-dependant signaling impaired the mechanoadaptive response in vitro and dramatically improved fibrosis in vivo. Moreover, we provide human validation for mechanisms underpinning PAK1 mediated mechanotransduction in liver and lung fibrosis. Collectively, these observations provide new insight into the nuclear mechanics driving the profibrotic chromatin landscape in fibrosis, highlighting actomyosin-dependent mechanisms linked to chromatin organisation as urgently needed therapeutic targets in fibrosis.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2021

Mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) activity occurs predominantly in the periphery of human skeletal muscle fibers, in close proximity to focal adhesion complexes, following anabolic stimuli

Following anabolic stimuli (e.g. mechanical loading and/or amino acid provision) the mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1), a master regulator of protein synthesis, translocates toward the cell periphery. However, it is unknown if mTORC1 activity occurs prior to or following this translocation. We therefore aimed to determine the cellular location of mTORC1 activity in human skeletal muscle following anabolic stimuli. Fourteen young, healthy males either ingested a protein-carbohydrate beverage (0.25g/kg protein, 0.75g/kg carbohydrate) alone (n=7, 23{+/-}5yrs, 76.8{+/-}3.6kg, 13.6{+/-}3.8%BF, FED) or following a whole-body resistance exercise bout (n=7, 22{+/-}2yrs, 78.1{+/-}3.6kg, 12.2{+/-}4.9%BF, EXFED). Vastus lateralis muscle biopsies were obtained at rest (PRE) and 120 and 300min following anabolic stimuli. The spatial regulation of mTORC1 activity was assessed through immunofluorescent staining of p-RPS6Ser240/244, an mTORC1-specific phosphorylation event. p-RPS6Ser240/244 measured by immunofluorescent staining or immunoblot was positively correlated (r=0.76, p<0.001). Peripheral staining intensity of p-RPS6Ser240/244 increased above PRE in both FED and EXFED at 120min (~54% and ~138% respectively, p<0.05) but was greater in EXFED at both post-stimuli time points (p<0.05). The peripheral-central ratio of p-RPS6240/244 staining was displayed a similar pattern, suggesting mTORC1 activity occurs predominantly in the periphery of fibers. Moreover, p-RPS6Ser240/244 intensity within paxillin-positive regions, a marker of focal adhesion complexes, was elevated at 120min irrespective of stimulus (p=0.006) before returning to PRE at 300min. These data confirm that mTORC1 activity occurs in the region of human muscle fibers to which mTORC1 translocates following anabolic stimuli and identifies focal adhesion complexes as a potential site of mTORC1 activation in vivo.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2020

Protein-carbohydrate ingestion alters Vps34 cellular localization independent of changes in kinase activity in human skeletal muscle

The mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) complex 1 (mTORC1) regulates cell size and growth in response to nutrients, however, the mechanisms by which nutrient levels are sensed by mTORC1 in human skeletal muscle are yet to be fully elucidated. The Class III PI3Kinase Vps34 has recently been proposed as a sensor essential for mTORC1 activation following nutrient stimulation. We therefore investigated the effects of increasing nutrient availability through protein-carbohydrate (PRO-CHO) feeding on Vps34 kinase activity and cellular localization in human skeletal muscle. Eight young, healthy males (age - 21 {+/-} 0.5yrs, mean {+/-} SEM) ingested a PRO-CHO beverage containing 20/44/1g PRO/CHO/FAT respectively, with skeletal muscle biopsies obtained at baseline and 1h and 3h post-feeding. PRO-CHO feeding did not alter Vps34 kinase activity, but did stimulate Vps34 translocation toward the cell periphery (PRE (mean{+/-}SEM) - 0.273{+/-}0.021, 1h - 0.347{+/-}0.022, Pearsons Coefficient (r)) where it co-localized with mTOR (PRE - 0.312{+/-}0.018, 1h - 0.348{+/-}0.024, Pearsons Coefficient (r))). These alterations occurred in parallel to an increase in S6K1 kinase activity - 941{+/-}164% of PRE at 1h post-feeding). Subsequent in vitro experiments in C2C12 and human primary myotubes displayed no effect of the Vps34-specific inhibitor SAR405 on mTORC1 signalling responses to elevated nutrient availability. Therefore, in summary, PRO-CHO ingestion does not increase Vps34 activity in human skeletal muscle, whilst pharmacological inhibition of Vps34 does not prevent nutrient stimulation of mTORC1 in vitro. However, PRO-CHO ingestion promotes Vps34 translocation to the cell periphery, enabling Vps34 to associate with mTOR. Therefore, our data suggests that interaction between Vps34 and mTOR, rather than changes in Vps34 activity per se may be involved in PRO-CHO activation of mTORC1 in human skeletal muscle.

physiology↗

bioRxiv2018

Collagen assembly and turnover imaged with a CRISPR-Cas9 engineered Dendra2 tag

Electron microscopy has been the \"gold standard\" for studying collagen networks but dynamic information on how cells synthesise the networks has been lacking. Live imaging methods have been unable to distinguish newly-synthesised fibrils from pre-existing fibrils and intracellular collagen. Here, we tagged endogenous collagen-I using CRISPR-Cas9 with photoswitchable Dendra2 and demonstrate live cells synthesising, migrating on, and interacting with, collagen fibrils. This strategy is applicable for other long half-life proteins.

cell biology↗