Studies were conducted to investigate the tissue distribution of stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD) and the regulation of SCD1 protein expression by dietary fat, insulin, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), and linoleic acid (cis-9, cis-12 18:2). The first study examined tissue distribution of SCD1 protein in Holstein calves (n=6/diet) fed one of four milk replacer diets for a nine wk period after which they were sacrificed. Milk replacer diets varied in fat content and were formulated and administered as follows: 0.4 kg/d 20% protein, 20% fat (20:20; CON), 0.97 kg/d (28:20; HPLF), 0.97 kg/d (28:28; HPHF), or 1.46 kg/d (28:28; HPHF+). Samples of subcutaneous adipose tissue (AT), perirenal AT, omental AT, duodenum, proximal jejunum, distal jejunum, ileum, and liver were collected from calves fed the HPHF+ diet to determine SCD1 tissue distribution. Tissue homogenates were prepared and used for Western blotting. Additionally, dietary effects were analyzed on tissues expressing SCD1 protein for all 24 calves. The second study investigated the regulation of SCD1 protein expression by insulin, fatty acids increasing in degree of unsaturation, and increasing concentrations of linoleic (18:2) acid. Subcutaneous AT was collected from Smith Valley Meats in Rich Creek, VA and used to prepare explants cultured in treatment media for 24 h. Treatments consisted of insulin at 0, 7, 14, and 21 nM; stearic (18:0), oleic (18:1), linoleic (18:2), and linolenic (18:3) acids at 100 μM; and linoleic (18:2) acid at concentrations of 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 μM. Tissue explant homogenates were used for Western blotting to detect SCD1. In the first study, we found that SCD1 protein was detectable in subcutaneous AT, perirenal AT, and omental AT; however, it was not detectable in liver or small intestine samples. Also, the HPHF+ diet increased SCD1 protein expression in subcutaneous AT and perireanl AT. In the second study, SCD1 protein expression increased linearly with insulin concentration. There was no fatty acid treatment effect, but there was a negative linear effect with increase in degree of unsaturation. Finally, there was no effect on SCD1 protein expression with linoleic acid increasing in concentration. In conclusion, results indicate that SCD1 protein expression was detected in bovine AT depots, regulated by dietary fat, insulin, and by PUFA . / Master of Science

Les patients SLA et les souris modèles présentent un dysfonctionnement métabolique qui coïncide avec le changement de concentration de différentes espèces lipidiques. Notre hypothèse est qu’un tel dysfonctionnement métabolique au niveau musculaire conduirait aux premiers changements observés dans la SLA. Nous avons montré que l’expression de la stéaroyl-coenzyme A désaturase 1 (SCD1), une enzyme clé de la synthèse des acides gras mono-insaturés à partir des acides gras saturés, est diminuée dans le muscle avant les premiers symptômes moteurs observés chez les souris modèles de SLA. Dans ce modèle murin, les altérations en acides gras au niveau circulant et hépatique, traduisant les changements de SCD1,apparaissent lors des premiers symptômes de la pathologie. De plus, l’inhibition pharmacologique de l’activité de SCD1 mime le phénotype métabolique des souris modèles de SLA. Notre étude a ainsi montré que la diminution de la SCD1 joue un rôle important pour l’activité neuromusculaire. Elle module les besoins énergétiques, maintien l’activité musculaire par augmentation du métabolisme oxydatif et agit sur l’expression de gènes impliqués dans le développement et le fonctionnement de la jonction neuromusculaire. De plus, l’ablation du gène SCD1 stimule la récupération fonctionnelle musculaire après lésion du nerf. L’inhibition pharmacologique de SCD1 apporte également une protection au muscle. Nous avons pu conclure de cette étude qu’une modification de l’expression de SCD1 ainsi que du profil d’acides gras peut apporter une protection au muscle pour lutter contre la pathologie. En outre, des inhibiteurs de l’activité enzymatique de la SCD1 pourraient être développés comme traitement thérapeutique dans la SLA. / ALS patients and mouse model manifest metabolic dysfunctions that coincide with the modified levels of various lipid species. We postulated that metabolic dysfunctions in muscles function as a leading preliminary change in ALS. We have noted that the expression of stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1), a key enzyme that synthesises monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) from saturated fatty acids (SFAs), is diminished even at pre-symptomatic stage in the muscles of an ALS mouse model. In these mice, alterations in circulating and hepatic fatty acid composition, resulting from SCD1 modification, arise at a critical stage of disease onset. Of note, inhibition of SCD1 enzymatic activity by a specific pharmacological agent mimics the metabolicphenotype of the ALS mouse model. Our study also elucidates that the lack of SCD1 plays a vital role in neuromuscular function. It modulates energy supply, and maintains muscle activity by increasing oxidative metabolism and the expression of genes involved in neuromuscular junction development and function. In addition, ablation of SCD1 gene stimulates functional recovery of muscles after a nerve lesion. Pharmacological SCD1 inhibition also provides a protection to muscle function. We conclude that alteration in SCD1 expression and related altered fatty acid profile may protect muscles against pathology. Therefore, SCD1 inhibitors can be developed as a therapeutic intervention.

La sclérose latérale amyotrophique est une maladie neurodégénérative associée à un dysfonctionnement métabolique. Des altérations du métabolisme des lipides, décrites chez les patients SLA et les animaux modèles, pourraient participer à la mise en place des premières étapes de la maladie. L’objectif de cette thèse était d’étudier le rôle de la stéaroyl-coenzyme A désaturase 1 (SCD1), une enzyme clé du métabolisme des lipides, dans la SLA. En étudiant le profil d’acides gras périphériques dans un modèle de souris SLA, les souris SOD1m, nous avons vu une diminution de l’activité de la SCD1 dès les stades précoces (subcliniques) de la maladie. Cette diminution pourrait expliquer, à elle seule, les altérations du métabolisme des lipides caractéristiques de la SLA. La répercussion de la perte de l’activité de la SCD1 sur l’axe moteur a été étudiée. Une délétion du gène ou une inhibition pharmacologique de la SCD1 améliore la récupération fonctionnelle après lésion du nerf sciatique chez la souris sauvage. Nous avons cherché à voir si la perte d’activité de la SCD1 trouvée chez les souris SOD1m est un mécanisme de protection mis en place pour lutter contre l’évolution de la SLA. Nous avons traité des souris SOD1m avec un inhibiteur de l’activité de la SCD1. Le traitement a conduit à une augmentation du métabolisme oxydatif, une préservation de l’intégrité neuromusculaire ainsi qu’une amélioration de la survie des motoneurones. Nousconcluons que l’inhibition de la SCD1 représente une cible thérapeutique prometteuse dans la SLA. / Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a neurodegenerative disease, associated with metabolic dysfunction. Alteration of lipid metabolism has been documented in ALS patients and animal models, and could participate to the first pathological steps of the disease. The objective of this thesis was to study the role of stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1), a key enzyme of lipid metabolism, in ALS. By studying the profile of peripheral fatty acids in an animal model of ALS, the SOD1 mice, we found that SCD1 activity was strongly reduced at early (sub-clinical) disease stage, and that this reduction could explain in itself the alteration of lipid metabolism characteristic of ALS. The impact of loss of SCD1 activity for the motor axis was then studied. Genetic deletion or pharmacological inhibition of SCD1 enhanced functional recovery after sciatic nerve injury in mice. Wefurther explored if the loss of SCD1 activity found in SOD1 mice is a protective mechanism elicited in response to ALS. We treated SOD1 mice with an inhibitor of SCD1 activity. The treatment resulted in exacerbated muscular oxidative metabolism,preservation of neuromuscular integrity and enhanced motor neuron survival. We conclude that inhibition of SCD1 represents a promising therapeutic target for ALS.

The effect of exogenous unsaturated fatty acids on cellular fatty acid biosynthesis in mammary cells was examined. Under normal situations, even though the diet of a dairy cow contains considerable amounts of unsaturated fatty acids, viz. oleic acid (18:1) and linoleic acid (18:2), the major 18-carbon fatty acid that enters the circulation post-ruminally for delivery to the mammary gland is saturated fatty acid, viz. stearic acid (18:0). This is due to extensive ruminal biohydrogenation of unsaturated fatty acids. Studies have indicated that saturated fatty acids such as 18:0 are enhancers and that certain unsaturated fatty acids are inhibitors of de novo fatty acid synthesis in tissues such as the liver and adipose tissue. The present study investigated the effect of cis and trans isomers of 18:1 and 18:2 on de novo fatty acid synthesis and desaturation in mouse and bovine mammary epithelial cell cultures, and compared it with the effect caused by 18:0. In the first experiment 12.5, 25, 50 or 100 micromoles stearic acid (SA), oleic acid (OA), elaidic acid (EA), trans-vaccenic acid (TVA), linoleic acid (LA) or conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) were supplemented in the media of mouse mammary epithelial (MME) cells that were grown to confluence in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM). As indicated by cellular palmitic acid (16:0) content and fatty acid synthetase (FAS) activity, when compared with SA all unsaturated fatty acid treatments inhibited de novo fatty acid synthesis in MME cells. In addition, OA at all concentrations and LA and CLA at 50 and 100 micromoles inhibited cellular stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) activity and mRNA abundance. However, EA and TVA, when compared with SA, enhanced SCD activity and mRNA abundance at 12.5 and 25 micromoles. In the second experiment 25, 50 or 100 micromoles SA, OA, TVA, LA or CLA were supplemented in the media of bovine mammary epithelial cells that were grown to confluence in DMEM. As indicated by cellular 16:0 content, acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) activity and FAS activity, treatment with the unsaturated fatty acids inhibited de novo fatty acid synthesis at all concentrations, when compared with SA. Unsaturated fatty acid treatments also reduced the abundance of ACC and FAS mRNA in the cells. When compared with SA at all treatment-concentrations, OA and LA inhibited whereas TVA and CLA enhanced cellular SCD activity and mRNA abundance in the bovine cells. In both cell types, CLA and TVA appeared to be the most potent inhibitors of saturated fatty acid biosynthesis. / Ph. D.

La recherche sur la maladie d’Alzheimer (MA) est concentrée, en grande partie, sur l’étude de ses principales caractéristiques histologiques, les plaques β-amyloïdes (Aβ) et les enchevêtrements neurofibrillaires. Cependant, les thérapies ciblant directement ces caractéristiques n’empêchent pas la progression de la MA. En plus de ces caractéristiques, la génétique a mis en évidence l’implication du métabolisme des lipides et de la réponse immunitaire dans la MA. Les perturbations du métabolisme lipidique est le prédicteur génétique le plus puissant du développement de la MA, mais ses mécanismes restent un mystère. Des travaux récents dans notre laboratoire ont montré que les triglycérides s’accumulent dans le cerveau des patients atteints de MA et des souris 3xTg, un modèle murin de la MA. Chez les souris 3xTg, ces triglycérides sont enrichis en acide oléique (AO), un acide gras monoinsaturé, et l’inhibition de l’enzyme de synthèse de l’AO, le stéaryle-CoA désaturase (SCD), réduit leur accumulation et contrecarre la perte précoce de la neurogenèse hippocampique et les troubles de mémoire. Nous avons donc testé si l’inhibition de la SCD peut inverser les changements dans le transcriptome et rétablir la fonction de l’hippocampe chez les souris 3xTg symptomatiques. En comparant aux souris contrôles, l’hippocampe de souris 3xTg possède des altérations transcriptomiques impliquées dans les processus reconnus pour être perturbés dans la MA. Leur hippocampe a également montré une baisse significative des épines dendritiques. De manière remarquable, les données de séquençage de l’ARN montrent que le traitement des souris 3xTg pendant un mois avec un inhibiteur de la SCD a sauvé des gènes liés à l’immunité et aux synapses. Les analyses tissulaires ont révélé que ce traitement a conduit à des améliorations de la densité des épines dendritiques. Nous avons également établi un modèle de microglie en culture et nos données préliminaires suggèrent que les oligomères Aβ pourrait être responsable de perturbations du métabolisme des lipides chez les microglies. En somme, ces études soulignent le potentiel d’un nouveau médicament ciblant SCD pour le traitement de la MA. / Alzheimer’s disease (AD) research has mainly focused on studying its main histological hallmarks, β-amyloid (Aβ) plaques, and neurofibrillary tangles. However, therapies directly targeting these hallmarks do not prevent AD progression. In addition to these hallmarks, genetics have highlighted the implication of lipid metabolism and immunity in AD. Disturbances in lipid metabolism are the single strongest genetic predictor of developing AD, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Recent work in our laboratory showed that triglycerides accumulate in the brains of both AD patients and 3xTg mice, a mouse model of AD. In 3xTg mice, these triglycerides are enriched with monounsaturated fatty acid oleic acid (OA), and the inhibition of the OAsynthesizing enzyme stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) reduced their accumulation and counteracts the early loss of hippocampal neurogenesis and memory deficits. Here, we tested whether SCD inhibition can reverse changes in the transcriptome and rescue hippocampal function in symptomatic 3xTg mice. Compared to their strain controls, the hippocampus of middle-aged, preplaque 3xTg mice showed transcriptomic alterations involved in processes recognized to be disrupted in AD. Their hippocampus also displayed significant reduction in dendritic spines. Remarkably, RNA sequencing data show that treatment of middle-aged 3xTg mice for one month with an SCD inhibitor rescued genes related to immunity and synapses. Tissue analyses revealed that this treatment led to improvements in dendritic spine density. We also established a model of microglia in culture and our preliminary data suggest that Aβ oligomers may be responsible for disruptions in microglial lipid metabolism. Together, these studies shed light on the potential of a novel drug target SCD for the treatment of AD.

<p>The development of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and cardiovascular diseases have been suggested to be influenced more by the quality than the amount of dietary fat. The FA composition of serum lipids may be used as biomarkers of dietary fat quality. FAs can, however, also be endogenously synthesized by lipogenic enzymes such as elongases and desaturases. Three desaturases are important in humans: Stearoyl-CoA-desaturase (SCD), ∆6-desaturase (D6D) and ∆5-desaturase (D5D) and surrogate measures of desaturase activities can be estimated as product-to-precursor FA ratios.</p><p>In this thesis, we demonstrated that high SCD, D6D and low D5D estimated activities predicted MetS 20 years later, as well as cardiovascular and total mortality during a maximum of 33.7 years. The relation between D5D and MetS was independent of lifestyle and BMI, while the relation between SCD, D6D and MetS was confounded by BMI. Serum proportions of palmitic (16:0), palmitoleic (16:1) and dihomo-γ-linoleic acids were higher and the serum proportion of linoleic acid (LA) lower at baseline in those individuals who developed MetS. Further, LA was inversely related to mortality, while palmitic, palmitoleic and dihomo-γ-linoleic acids were directly associated with mortality. We also demonstrated that a diet rich in saturated fat “induced” a similar serum FA pattern (including estimated desaturase activities) that was associated with MetS, cardiovascular disease and mortality. We also propose that the SCD ratio [16:1/16:0] might be a novel and useful marker of dietary saturated fat, at least in Western high-fat diets. Finally, genetic variations in the human SCD1 gene were linked to obesity and insulin sensitivity, results that agree with data in SCD1 deficient mice.</p><p>This thesis suggests that dietary fat quality and endogenous desaturation may play a role in the development of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases and the results support current dietary guidelines.</p>

The development of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and cardiovascular diseases have been suggested to be influenced more by the quality than the amount of dietary fat. The FA composition of serum lipids may be used as biomarkers of dietary fat quality. FAs can, however, also be endogenously synthesized by lipogenic enzymes such as elongases and desaturases. Three desaturases are important in humans: Stearoyl-CoA-desaturase (SCD), ∆6-desaturase (D6D) and ∆5-desaturase (D5D) and surrogate measures of desaturase activities can be estimated as product-to-precursor FA ratios. In this thesis, we demonstrated that high SCD, D6D and low D5D estimated activities predicted MetS 20 years later, as well as cardiovascular and total mortality during a maximum of 33.7 years. The relation between D5D and MetS was independent of lifestyle and BMI, while the relation between SCD, D6D and MetS was confounded by BMI. Serum proportions of palmitic (16:0), palmitoleic (16:1) and dihomo-γ-linoleic acids were higher and the serum proportion of linoleic acid (LA) lower at baseline in those individuals who developed MetS. Further, LA was inversely related to mortality, while palmitic, palmitoleic and dihomo-γ-linoleic acids were directly associated with mortality. We also demonstrated that a diet rich in saturated fat “induced” a similar serum FA pattern (including estimated desaturase activities) that was associated with MetS, cardiovascular disease and mortality. We also propose that the SCD ratio [16:1/16:0] might be a novel and useful marker of dietary saturated fat, at least in Western high-fat diets. Finally, genetic variations in the human SCD1 gene were linked to obesity and insulin sensitivity, results that agree with data in SCD1 deficient mice. This thesis suggests that dietary fat quality and endogenous desaturation may play a role in the development of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases and the results support current dietary guidelines.

El ácido 2-hidroxioleico (2OHOA) es un fármaco antitumoral diseñado para regular la estructura y composición de los lípidos de membrana y la función de importantes proteínas de membrana. El objetivo principal de este trabajo fue estudiar cómo el 2OHOA modula la composición lipídica y la estructura de membrana en las células tumorales. Se observó que el 2OHOA indujo profundas alteraciones en el contenido de fosfolípidos, aumentando el contenido de esfingomielina y disminuyendo el contenido de fosfatidiletanolamina y fosfatidilcolina. Este efecto fue específico contra las células cancerosas, ya que el tratamiento no afectó la composición lipídica de las células no tumorales MRC-5 de fibroblastos humanos. El aumento de SM se debió a una activación rápida y específica de las SM sintasas. Como consecuencia de la activación sostenida de la SMS, todo el metabolismo de los esfingolípidos se vio afectado. Finalmente, se evaluó el impacto de todos estos cambios sobre las propiedades biofísicas de membrana mediante espectroscopia de fluorescencia / 2-Hydroxyoleic acid (2OHOA) is a potent antitumor drug that was designed to regulate membrane lipid composition and structure and the function of important membrane proteins. The main goal of this work was to study how 2OHOA modulates the membrane lipid composition and structure of tumor cells. 2OHOA induced dramatic alterations in phospholipid content, increasing sphingomyelin mass, and decreasing phosphatidyl-ethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine. This effect was specific against cancer cells as it did not affect non-tumor MRC-5 cells. The increased SM mass was due to a rapid and highly specific activation of SM synthases. As a consequence of the sustained activation of SMS, the whole sphingolipid metabolism was affected. Then, the impact of all these changes on membrane biophysical properties was evaluated by fluorescence spectroscopy

Stearoyl-CoA desaturase1 (SCD1) catalyzes the synthesis of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and mono-unsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) in the mammary gland of ruminant animals. We hypothesized that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the coding region, 5' and 3' untranslted regions (UTRs) of the SCD1 gene would influence the activity of SCD1 enzyme and consequently account for some within-breed variations in milk CLA and MUFA. Sequence analysis of the coding region of the SCD1 gene of Jerseys and Holsteins revealed c.702A&rarr;G, c.762T&rarr;C and c.878C&rarr;T SNPs in exon 5 in both breeds and c.435G&rarr;A in exon 3 in Holsteins. The SNPs resulted in: A (G435A702T 762C878), A1 (A435A702T 762C878), B (G435G702C 762T878) and B1 (A435G702C 762T878) coding variants in Holsteins and only variants A and B in Jerseys. Only SNP 878C&rarr;T resulted in a non-synonymous codon change resulting in p.293Ala and p.293Val protein variants or alleles at the SCD1 locus. Subsequent association studies found significantly higher C10 index, C12 index and C14 index and consequently higher concentrations of C10:1 and C12:1 in p.293AA cows compared to the p.293VV cows in both breeds. The SCD1 genotype had no influence on concentrations of C141, C16:1, C18:1 and CLA in both breeds. / Sequence analysis of the 5' and 3' UTRs revealed no SNPs in the 5'UTR and a total of 14 SNPs in the 3'UTR of both breeds. The SNPs were in complete linkage disequilibrium resulting in 3 haplotypes or regulatory variants: H1 (G1571G1644C1763C2053A2584 A3007C3107G3208 T3290G 3497G3682A4399C4533G4881), H2 (G1571G1644A1763C2053A 2584G3007 C3107G3208T3290G3497G 3682A4399C4533G4881) and H3 (T 1571C1644A1763 T2053G2584G3007T 3107A3208C3290A3497A3682T 4399T4533A4881) in Holsteins and only H1 and H3 variants in Jerseys. A subsequent association study involving 862 Holstein cows, found the H1 regulatory variant to be associated with higher C10 and C12 desaturase indices and consequently with higher concentrations of C10:1 and C12:1 compared with the H3 variant. The effects of the H2 variant were intermediate to those of H1 and H3. 3'UTR genotype had no influence on the concentrations of C14:1, C16:1, C18:1 and CLA. The concentrations of C10:1 and C12:1 in milk fat could therefore be due to effects of SNPs in the open reading frame and the 3'UTR regions of the SCD1 gene. These results indicate that SNPs in the coding and 3'UTR regions of the SCD1 gene could be used as markers for genetic selection for increased C10:1 and C12:1 contents of milk.

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a clonal hematopoietic stem cell disorder associated with the Philadelphia chromosome (Ph) that arises from a reciprocal translocation between chromosomes 9 and 22, thereby resulting in the formation of the chimeric BCR-ABL oncogene encoding a constitutively activated tyrosine kinase. BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) induce a complete hematologic and cytogenetic response in the majority of chronic phrase CML patients. However, TKIs cannot efficiently eradicate leukemia stem cells (LSCs) because of the insensitivity of LSCs to TKIs. Therefore, developing new strategies to target LSCs is necessary and critical for curing CML, and success of this approach depends on further understanding the molecular mechanisms by which LSCs survive and are maintained. In Chapter I, I briefly introduce CML disease, BCR-ABL oncoprotein, and TKIs. I also describe the identification and features of LSCs. Several key pathways in LSCs including Wnt/ß-catenin, hedgehog, FoxO, Bcl6 and HIF1, are discussed. I also propose our strategy to identify unique molecular pathways that are important for LSCs but not their normal stem cell counterparts. In Chapter II, I describe our finding about the function of the positive regulator, HIF1α, in CML development and LSC survival. I show that loss of HIF1α impairs the maintenance of CML through impairing cell cycle progression and inducing apoptosis of LSCs, and I also report that p16Ink4a and p19Arf mediate the effect of HIF1α on LSCs, as knockdown of p16Ink4a and p19Arf rescues the defective colony-forming ability of HIF1α-/- LSCs. As detailed in Chapter III and IV, through comparing the global gene expression profiles of LSCs and HSCs, I find two novel regulators, Blk and Scd1, which act as tumor suppressors in CML development. In Chapter III, I show that Blk is markedly down-regulated by BCR-ABL in LSCs, and that c-Myc and Pax5 mediate this down-regulation. Deletion of Blk accelerates CML development; conversely, Blk overexpression significantly delays the development of CML and impairs the function of LSCs. I also demonstrate that p27, as a downstream effector, is involved in the function of Blk in LSCs. Blk also functions as a tumor suppressor in human CML stem cells, and inhibits the colony-forming ability of human CML cells. In Chapter IV, I investigate the function of another negative regulator, Scd1, in CML LSCs, and find that expression of Scd1 is down-regulated in mouse LSCs and human CML cells. We report that Scd1 acts as a tumor suppressor in CML, as loss of Scd1 causes acceleration of CML development and overexpression of Scd1 delays CML development. Using a colony-forming assay, I demonstrate that Scd1 impairs the maintenance of LSCs due to the change of expression of Pten, p53 and Bcl2. Importantly, I find that both Blk and Scd1 do not affect normal hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) or hematopoiesis. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that HIF1α is required for the maintenance of CML LSCs, and conversely that Blk and Scd1 suppress the function of LSCs, suggesting that combining TKI treatment with specific targeting of LSCs will be necessary for curing CML.