Bruce M. Spiegelman

Bio: Bruce M. Spiegelman is an academic researcher from Harvard University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Adipose tissue & Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor. The author has an hindex of 179, co-authored 434 publications receiving 158009 citations. Previous affiliations of Bruce M. Spiegelman include University of California, San Francisco & Vassar College.

Adipocyte-specific DNA sequences and use thereof in the production of transgenic animals exhibiting altered fat tissue metabolism

Abstract: Regulatory DNA sequences are provided, which are obtained from the 5' flanking region of genes which are expressed primarily in differentiated adipose tissue These DNA sequences are largely responsible for driving the expression of endogenous genes specifically in adipose tissue in vivo The DNA sequences can be located in a region 5' of the gene, distinct from promoter sequences which provide a site for the initiation of transcription into DNA, or can be located within the region of the promoter itself When operatively linked to a gene encoding a recombinant protein capable of exerting an effect on the metabolism of adipocytes, the DNA sequences of the invention can be used to produce transgenic animals which exhibit altered fat tissue metabolism Depending upon the nature of the gene introduced in the animal or ancestor thereof at an embryonic stage, the transgenic animals are leaner or more obese than non-transgenic animals of the same species

Potent Anti-Diabetic Actions of a Novel Non-Agonist PPARγ Ligand that Blocks Cdk5-Mediated Phosphorylation

Abstract: The incidence of diabetes is increasing rapidly as the percentage of the population ages and becomes more obese. According to the National Center for Health Statistics diabetes is now the sixth leading cause of death in the US. The biguanide metformin is typically the first-line medication used for treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) as safety concerns over the use of the thiazolidinedione class [(TZD); rosiglitazone (Avandia) and pioglitazone (Actos) [1]] of insulin sensitizers has grown. This is unfortunate as TZDs have consistently shown robust efficacy for treatment of T2DM. TZDs target the nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) and are classified as full agonists. While weight gain is associated with use of TZDs, the major safety concerns include edema, plasma volume expansion (PVE or hemodilution) which is likely linked to cardiomegaly and increased risk of congestive heart failure, and an increased risk of bone fractures. The latter risk is most troublesome as detection is typically only made when a patient suffers a fracture. Studies in animal models and in clinical trials have shown that indicators of weight gain and PVE, while not eliminated, can be minimized without loss of insulin sensitization by the use of modulators that are weak or partial agonists of PPARγ (e.g., minimal agonism of the receptor as compared to TZDs). Partial agonists have been referred to as selective PPARγ modulators or SPPARγMs and this class of ligand has been shown to have a different binding mode in the PPARγ ligand binding pocket (LBP) as compared to the full agonists [2]. Selective recruitment of transcriptional coactivators by partial agonists has also been demonstrated. A combination of different ligand binding mode and distinct coactivator recruitment profile may explain the change in gene expression patterns compared to that of full agonists [3]. While it is unclear if the bone fracture risk has been minimized with use of such agents, these studies clearly demonstrate that the anti-diabetic efficacy of partial agonists is uncoupled from their transcriptional activity but does correlate well with binding potency. Recently we have shown that many PPARγ-based drugs have a separate biochemical activity, blocking the obesity-linked phosphorylation of PPARγ by Cdk5. Due to their improved adverse event profile of partial agonists and the observation of separate biochemical activities of PPARγ ligands, we sought to develop compounds with high affinity binding to PPARγ but that lacked classical agonism and block the Cdk5-mediated phosphorylation in cultured adipocytes and in insulin-resistant mice. Here we describe one such compound, ML244, which has a unique mode of binding to PPARγ, has potent anti-diabetic activity while not causing the fluid retention and weight gain that are serious side effects of many of the PPARγ drugs. Unlike TZDs, ML244 does not interfere with bone formation in culture. These data illustrate that new classes of anti-diabetes drugs can be developed by specifically targeting the Cdk5-mediated phosphorylation of PPARγ.

Erratum: CREB regulates hepatic gluconeogenesis through the coactivator PGC-1 (Nature (2001) 413 (179-183))

Abstract: Nature, 413, 323–327 (2001). In this Letter, the last name of Themis R. Kyriakides was misspelled as ‘Kyriakidis’.

Adipocyte-specific dna sequences and use for the production of transgenic animals exhibiting altered fat metabolism

Abstract: Regulatory DNA sequences are provided, which are obtained from the 5' flanking region of genes which are expressed primarily in differentiated adipose tissue. These DNA sequences are largely responsible for driving the expression of endogenous genes specifically in adipose tissue in vivo. The DNA sequences can be located in a region 5' of the gene, distinct from promoter sequences which provide a site for the initiation of transcription into DNA, or can be located within the region of the promoter itself. When operatively linked to a gene encoding a recombinant protein capable of exerting an effect on the metabolism of adipocytes, the DNA sequences of the invention can be used to produce transgenic animals which exhibit altered fat tissue metabolism. Depending upon the nature of the gene introduced in the animal or ancestor thereof at an embryonic stage, the transgenic animals are leaner or more obese than non-transgenic animals of the same species.

Response to Comment on Wu and Spiegelman. Irisin ERKs the fat. Diabetes 2014;63:381-383.

Abstract: Despite the claims of Elsen et al. (1), there are now over 45 articles that have measured human irisin, using a variety of immunoassays with independently derived …

Gene set enrichment analysis: A knowledge-based approach for interpreting genome-wide expression profiles

Abstract: Although genomewide RNA expression analysis has become a routine tool in biomedical research, extracting biological insight from such information remains a major challenge. Here, we describe a powerful analytical method called Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) for interpreting gene expression data. The method derives its power by focusing on gene sets, that is, groups of genes that share common biological function, chromosomal location, or regulation. We demonstrate how GSEA yields insights into several cancer-related data sets, including leukemia and lung cancer. Notably, where single-gene analysis finds little similarity between two independent studies of patient survival in lung cancer, GSEA reveals many biological pathways in common. The GSEA method is embodied in a freely available software package, together with an initial database of 1,325 biologically defined gene sets.

limma powers differential expression analyses for RNA-sequencing and microarray studies

Abstract: limma is an R/Bioconductor software package that provides an integrated solution for analysing data from gene expression experiments. It contains rich features for handling complex experimental designs and for information borrowing to overcome the problem of small sample sizes. Over the past decade, limma has been a popular choice for gene discovery through differential expression analyses of microarray and high-throughput PCR data. The package contains particularly strong facilities for reading, normalizing and exploring such data. Recently, the capabilities of limma have been significantly expanded in two important directions. First, the package can now perform both differential expression and differential splicing analyses of RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) data. All the downstream analysis tools previously restricted to microarray data are now available for RNA-seq as well. These capabilities allow users to analyse both RNA-seq and microarray data with very similar pipelines. Second, the package is now able to go past the traditional gene-wise expression analyses in a variety of ways, analysing expression profiles in terms of co-regulated sets of genes or in terms of higher-order expression signatures. This provides enhanced possibilities for biological interpretation of gene expression differences. This article reviews the philosophy and design of the limma package, summarizing both new and historical features, with an emphasis on recent enhancements and features that have not been previously described.

疟原虫var基因转换速率变化导致抗原变异[英]／Paul H, Robert P, Christodoulou Z, et al//Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A

Abstract: 抗原变异可使得多种致病微生物易于逃避宿主免疫应答。表达在感染红细胞表面的恶性疟原虫红细胞表面蛋白1（PfPMP1）与感染红细胞、内皮细胞、树突状细胞以及胎盘的单个或多个受体作用，在黏附及免疫逃避中起关键的作用。每个单倍体基因组var基因家族编码约60种成员，通过启动转录不同的var基因变异体为抗原变异提供了分子基础。

Obesity is associated with macrophage accumulation in adipose tissue

Abstract: Obesity alters adipose tissue metabolic and endocrine function and leads to an increased release of fatty acids, hormones, and proinflammatory molecules that contribute to obesity associated complications. To further characterize the changes that occur in adipose tissue with increasing adiposity, we profiled transcript expression in perigonadal adipose tissue from groups of mice in which adiposity varied due to sex, diet, and the obesity-related mutations agouti (Ay) and obese (Lepob). We found that the expression of 1,304 transcripts correlated significantly with body mass. Of the 100 most significantly correlated genes, 30% encoded proteins that are characteristic of macrophages and are positively correlated with body mass. Immunohistochemical analysis of perigonadal, perirenal, mesenteric, and subcutaneous adipose tissue revealed that the percentage of cells expressing the macrophage marker F4/80 (F4/80+) was significantly and positively correlated with both adipocyte size and body mass. Similar relationships were found in human subcutaneous adipose tissue stained for the macrophage antigen CD68. Bone marrow transplant studies and quantitation of macrophage number in adipose tissue from macrophage-deficient (Csf1op/op) mice suggest that these F4/80+ cells are CSF-1 dependent, bone marrow-derived adipose tissue macrophages. Expression analysis of macrophage and nonmacrophage cell populations isolated from adipose tissue demonstrates that adipose tissue macrophages are responsible for almost all adipose tissue TNF-alpha expression and significant amounts of iNOS and IL-6 expression. Adipose tissue macrophage numbers increase in obesity and participate in inflammatory pathways that are activated in adipose tissues of obese individuals.