Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34600974›Full record

ArticleJournal of hepatology2022

TTC39B destabilizes retinoblastoma protein promoting hepatic lipogenesis in a sex-specific fashion.

Joanne Hsieh, Matthew M Molusky, Kristin M McCabe, Panagiotis Fotakis, Tong Xiao, Liana Tascau, Lars Zeana-Schliep, Paul DaSilva-Jardine, Alan R Tall

Open access · greenAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of hepatology, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed
1.1field-weighted citation impact, top 23% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

8 citing papers in PubMed, 10 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Review
  2. Review
  3. Targeting CDK4/6 in breast cancer.Experimental & molecular medicine · 2025
    Review
  4. Molecular Regulation and Therapeutic Targeting of VLDL Production in Cardiometabolic Disease.Cellular and molecular gastroenterology and hepatology · 2025
    Review
  5. Review
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Joanne HsiehDivision of Molecular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10032, USA. Electronic address: jh3265@cumc.columbia.edu.
Matthew M MoluskyDivision of Molecular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
Kristin M McCabeDivision of Molecular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
Panagiotis FotakisDivision of Molecular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
Tong XiaoDivision of Molecular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
Liana TascauDivision of Molecular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
Lars Zeana-SchliepDivision of Molecular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
Paul DaSilva-JardineVascumab LLC, Branford, CT, 06405, USA.
Alan R TallDivision of Molecular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
Columbia University · USColumbia University Irving Medical Center · US

Funding

Translational Biomarker Analytical Core (TBAC)P30DK063608 · NIDDK · COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · PI Anthony W Ferrante · 2003 to 2026
$36.7M
TTC39B in obesity and atherosclerosisP01HL087123 · NHLBI · COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · PI ACCILI, DOMENICO · 2007 to 2022
$31.2M
MECHANISMS OF BETA CELL FAILURER01DK064819 · NIDDK · COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · PI ACCILI, DOMENICO · 2003 to 2025
$10.5M
TTC39B in MetabolismR01HL119830 · NHLBI · COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · PI TALL, ALAN RICHARD · 2015 to 2022
$3.5M
Hepatoprotective Mechanisms of TTC39B DeficiencyK01DK114380 · NIDDK · COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · PI HSIEH, JOANNE · 2018 to 2022
$753k
NHLBI NIH HHS P01 HL087123NHLBI NIH HHS R01 HL119830NIDDK NIH HHS K01 DK114380NIDDK NIH HHS P30 DK063608NIDDK NIH HHS R01 DK064819
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND &

aimsMolecular mechanisms underlying the different susceptibility of men and women to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are poorly understood. The TTC39B locus encodes a scaffolding protein, associates with gynecological disorders and its deletion protects mice from diet-induced steatohepatitis. This study aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms linking TTC39B (T39) to the expression of lipogenic genes and to explore sex-specific effects.

methodsCo-expression in HEK293A cells validated the novel T39/pRb interaction predicted by a protein-protein interaction algorithm. T39 was knocked down using an antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) in mice with dietary NAFLD and a genetic deficiency of pRb or its downstream effector E2F1, as well as in primary human hepatocytes.

resultsT39 interacts with pRb via its C-terminal TPR domain and promotes its proteasomal degradation. In female mice, T39 deficiency reduces the mRNA of lipogenic genes, especially Pnpla3, in a pRb- and E2F1-dependent manner. In contrast, in male mice, T39 deficiency results in a much smaller reduction in lipogenic gene expression that is independent of pRb/E2F1. T39 also interacts with VAPB via an N-terminal FFAT motif and stabilizes the interaction of VAPB with SCAP. Ovariectomy abolishes the effect of T39 knockdown on the hepatic pRb/E2F1/Pnpla3 axis. In both sexes T39 knockdown reduces SCAP independently of pRb. In primary human hepatocytes, T39 knockdown reduces expression of PNPLA3 and other lipogenic genes in women but not men.

conclusionsWe have uncovered a conserved sexual dimorphism in the regulation of hepatic lipogenic genes, with effects of T39 mediated through pRb/E2F1 in females and VAPB/SCAP in both sexes. T39 inhibition could be a novel strategy to downregulate PNPLA3 and treat NAFLD in women. LAY SUMMARY: In females, the protein TTC39B degrades a tumor suppressor in the liver to promote the synthesis of new fat and the expression of a major genetic risk factor for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. TTC39B is a potential therapeutic target for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, especially in women.

Indexed as

Sex FactorsAnimalsDisease Models, AnimalFemaleGene ExpressionLipogenesisLipoproteins, HDLMaleMiceMice, Inbred C57BLNeoplasm ProteinsRetinoblastoma ProteinLipoproteins, HDLNeoplasm ProteinsRetinoblastoma ProteinTTC39B protein, humanE2F1lipogenesisnon-alcoholic fatty liver diseasePNPLA3retinoblastoma proteinSCAPsex characteristicssterol regulatory element binding protein 1TTC39B

Identifiers

PMID34600974
PMCPMC8766887
OpenAlexW3201759548

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceTDM
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.