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Wolf RM, Lei X, Yang Z, Nyandjo M, Tan SY, Wong GW. CTRP3 deficiency reduces liver size and alters IL-6 and TGF␤ levels in obese mice. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 310: E332-E345, 2016. First published December 15, 2015; doi:10.1152/ajpendo.00248.2015.-C1q/TNF-related protein 3 (CTRP3) is a secreted metabolic regulator whose circulating levels are reduced in human and rodent models of obesity and diabetes. Previously, we showed that CTRP3 infusion lowers blood glucose by suppressing gluconeogenesis and that transgenic overexpression of CTRP3 protects mice against diet-induced hepatic steatosis. Here, we used a genetic loss-of-function mouse model to further address whether CTRP3 is indeed required for metabolic homeostasis under normal and obese states. Both male and female mice lacking CTRP3 had similar weight gain when fed a control low-fat (LFD) or high-fat diet (HFD). Regardless of diet, no differences were observed in adiposity, food intake, metabolic rate, energy expenditure, or physical activity levels between wild-type (WT) and Ctrp3-knockout (KO) animals of either sex. Contrary to expectations, loss of CTRP3 in LFD-or HFD-fed male and female mice also had minimal or no impact on whole body glucose metabolism, insulin sensitivity, and fasting-induced hepatic gluconeogenesis. Unexpectedly, the liver sizes of HFD-fed Ctrp3-KO male mice were markedly reduced despite a modest increase in triglyceride content. Furthermore, liver expression of fat oxidation genes was upregulated in the Ctrp3-KO mice. Whereas the liver and adipose expression of profibrotic TGF␤1, as well as its serum levels, was suppressed in HFD-fed KO mice, circulating proinflammatory IL-6 levels were markedly increased; these changes, however, were insufficient to affect systemic metabolic outcome. We conclude that, although it is dispensable for physiological control of energy balance, CTRP3 plays a previously unsuspected role in modulating liver size and circulating cytokine levels in response to obesity. adipokine; C1q/tumor necrosis factor-related protein; C1q/tumor necrosis factor; fatty liver; obesity; diabetes THE C1Q/TNF-RELATED PROTEIN (CTRP) family comprises 15 secreted plasma proteins of the C1q family, the first seven of which were identified initially on the basis of sequence homology to the globular C1q domain of adiponectin (66); additional members were subsequently described (6, 43, 49, 59 -61, 64, 65). Recent functional studies demonstrated important and distinct roles for CTRPs in regulating glucose and/or lipid metabolism in the peripheral tissues (38 -42, 57-60) as well as having a central role in modulating food intake (6, 7) and adipocyte differentiation in culture (61). Unlike adiponectin, whose expression is restricted to adipocytes (47), CTRP family members are much more widely expressed (65, 66); all are conserved throughout vertebrate evolution (50).Multiple in vitro and in vivo approaches have been used to elucidate the biological function of one member, CTRP3, a secreted plasma protein whose circulating levels ...

Nitrogen pollution created severe environmental problems and increasingly has become an important issue in China. Since the first discovery of ANAMMOX in the early 1990s, this related technology has become a promising as well as sustainable bioprocess for treating strong nitrogenous wastewater. Many Chinese research groups have concentrated their efforts on the ANAMMOX research including bacteria, process development, and application during the past 20 years. A series of new and outstanding outcomes including the discovery of new ANAMMOX bacterial species (Brocadia sinica), sulfate-dependent ANAMMOX bacteria (Anammoxoglobus sulfate and Bacillus benzoevorans), and the highest nitrogen removal performance (74.3–76.7 kg-N/m3/d) in lab scale granule-based UASB reactors around the world were achieved. The characteristics, structure, packing pattern and floatation mechanism of the high-rate ANAMMOX granules in ANAMMOX reactors were also carefully illustrated by native researchers. Nowadays, some pilot and full-scale ANAMMOX reactors were constructed to treat different types of ammonium-rich wastewater including monosodium glutamate wastewater, pharmaceutical wastewater, and leachate. The prime objective of the present review is to elucidate the ongoing ANAMMOX research in China from lab scale to full scale applications, comparative analysis, and evaluation of significant findings and to set a design to usher ANAMMOX research in culmination.