Catecholamines and tumour promoting phorbolesters inhibit insulin receptor kinase and induce insulin resistance in isolated human adipocytes

Leucine Potentiates Glucose-mediated 18F-FDG Uptake in Brown Adipose Tissue via β-Adrenergic Activation

Significant depots of brown adipose tissue (BAT) have been identified in many adult humans through positron emission tomography (PET), with the amount of BAT being inversely correlated with obesity. As dietary activation of BAT has implications for whole body glucose metabolism, leucine was used in the present study to determine its ability to promote BAT activation resulting in increased glucose uptake. In order to assess this, 2-deoxy-2-(fluorine-18)fluoro-d-glucose (¹⁸F-FDG) uptake was measured in C57BL/6 mice using microPET after treatment with leucine, glucose, or both in interscapular BAT (IBAT). Pretreatment with propranolol (PRP) was used to determine the role of β-adrenergic activation in glucose and leucine-mediated ¹⁸F-FDG uptake. Analysis of maximum standardized uptake values (SUV_MAX) determined that glucose administration increased ¹⁸F-FDG uptake in IBAT by 25.3%. While leucine did not promote ¹⁸F-FDG uptake alone, it did potentiate glucose-mediated ¹⁸F-FDG uptake, increasing ¹⁸F-FDG uptake in IBAT by 22.5%, compared to glucose alone. Pretreatment with PRP prevented the increase in IBAT ¹⁸F-FDG uptake following the combination of glucose and leucine administration. These data suggest that leucine is effective in promoting BAT ¹⁸F-FDG uptake through β-adrenergic activation in combination with glucose.

Impact of metabolic regulators on the expression of the obesity associated genes FTO and NAMPT in human preadipocytes and adipocytes

Background

FTO and NAMPT/PBEF/visfatin are thought to play a role in obesity but their transcriptional regulation in adipocytes is not fully understood. In this study, we evaluated the transcriptional regulation of FTO and NAMPT in preadipocytes and adipocytes by metabolic regulators.

Methodology and Principal Findings

We assessed FTO mRNA expression during human adipocyte differentiation of Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndrome (SGBS) cells and primary subcutaneous preadipocytes in vitro and evaluated the effect of the metabolic regulators glucose, insulin, dexamethasone, IGF-1 and isoproterenol on FTO and NAMPT mRNA expression in SGBS preadipocytes and adipocytes. FTO mRNA levels were not significantly modulated during adipocyte differentiation. Also, metabolic regulators had no impact on FTO expression in preadipocytes or adipocytes. In SGBS preadipocytes NAMPT expression was more than 3fold induced by dexamethasone and isoproterenol and 1.6fold by dexamethasone in adipocytes. Complete glucose restriction caused an increase in NAMPT mRNA expression by more than 5fold and 1.4fold in SGBS preadipocytes and adipocytes, respectively.

Conclusion

FTO mRNA expression is not significantly affected by differentiation or metabolic regulators in human adipocytes. The stimulation of NAMPT expression by dexamethasone, isoproterenol and complete glucose restriction may indicate a regulation of NAMPT by metabolic stress, which was more pronounced in preadipocytes compared to mature adipocytes.

Endocrine manifestations of stimulatory G protein alpha-subunit mutations and the role of genomic imprinting

The heterotrimeric G protein G(s) couples hormone receptors (as well as other receptors) to the effector enzyme adenylyl cyclase and is therefore required for hormone-stimulated intracellular cAMP generation. Receptors activate G(s) by promoting exchange of GTP for GDP on the G(s) alpha-subunit (G(s)alpha) while an intrinsic GTPase activity of G(s)alpha that hydrolyzes bound GTP to GDP leads to deactivation. Mutations of specific G(s)alpha residues (Arg(201) or Gln(227)) that are critical for the GTPase reaction lead to constitutive activation of G(s)-coupled signaling pathways, and such somatic mutations are found in endocrine tumors, fibrous dysplasia of bone, and the McCune-Albright syndrome. Conversely, heterozygous loss-of-function mutations may lead to Albright hereditary osteodystrophy (AHO), a disease characterized by short stature, obesity, brachydactyly, sc ossifications, and mental deficits. Similar mutations are also associated with progressive osseous heteroplasia. Interestingly, paternal transmission of GNAS1 mutations leads to the AHO phenotype alone (pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism), while maternal transmission leads to AHO plus resistance to several hormones (e.g., PTH, TSH) that activate G(s) in their target tissues (pseudohypoparathyroidism type IA). Studies in G(s)alpha knockout mice demonstrate that G(s)alpha is imprinted in a tissue-specific manner, being expressed primarily from the maternal allele in some tissues (e.g., renal proximal tubule, the major site of renal PTH action), while being biallelically expressed in most other tissues. Disrupting mutations in the maternal allele lead to loss of G(s)alpha expression in proximal tubules and therefore loss of PTH action in the kidney, while mutations in the paternal allele have little effect on G(s)alpha expression or PTH action. G(s)alpha has recently been shown to be also imprinted in human pituitary glands. The G(s)alpha gene GNAS1 (as well as its murine ortholog Gnas) has at least four alternative promoters and first exons, leading to the production of alternative gene products including G(s)alpha, XLalphas (a novel G(s)alpha isoform that is expressed only from the paternal allele), and NESP55 (a chromogranin-like protein that is expressed only from the maternal allele). A fourth alternative promoter and first exon (exon 1A) located approximately 2.5 kb upstream of the G(s)alpha promoter is normally methylated on the maternal allele and transcriptionally active on the paternal allele. In patients with isolated renal resistance to PTH (pseudohypoparathyroidism type IB), the exon 1A promoter region has a paternal-specific imprinting pattern on both alleles (unmethylated, transcriptionally active), suggesting that this region is critical for the tissue-specific imprinting of G(s)alpha. The GNAS1 imprinting defect in pseudohypoparathyroidism type IB is predicted to decrease G(s)alpha expression in renal proximal tubules. Studies in G(s)alpha knockout mice also demonstrate that this gene is critical in the regulation of lipid and glucose metabolism.

Modulation of insulin receptor signalling: significance of altered receptor isoform patterns and mechanism of hyperglycaemia-induced receptor modulation

Insulin resistance of the skeletal muscle plays a key role in the development of the metabolic endocrine syndrome and its further progression to non-insulin dependent diabetes (NIDDM). Available data suggest that insulin resistance is caused by an impaired signal from the insulin receptor to the glucose transport system and to glycogen synthase. The impaired response of the insulin receptor tyrosine kinase which is found in NIDDM appears to contribute to the pathogenesis of the signalling defect. The reduced kinase activation is not caused by mutations within the insulin receptor gene. We investigated two potential mechanisms that might be relevant for the abnormal function of the insulin receptor in NIDDM, i.e. changes in the expression of the receptor isoforms and the effect of hyperglycaemia on insulin receptor tyrosine kinase activity. The insulin receptor is expressed in two different isoforms (HIR-A and HIR-B). We found that HIR-B expression in the skeletal muscle is increased in NIDDM. However, the characterisation of the functional properties of HIR-A and HIR-B revealed no difference in their tyrosine kinase activity in vivo. The increased expression of HIR-B might represent a compensatory event. In contrast, hyperglycaemia might directly inhibit insulin-receptor function. We have found that in rat-1 fibroblasts which overexpressing human insulin receptor an inhibition of the tyrosine kinase activity of the receptor may be induced by high glucose levels. This appears to be mediated through activation of certain protein kinase C isoforms which form stable complexes with the insulin receptor and modulate the tyrosine kinase activity of the insulin receptor through serine phosphorylation of the receptor beta subunit.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cyclic AMP impairs the rapid effect of insulin to enhance cell-surface insulin-binding capacity in rat adipocytes

The aim of this study was to characterize further the interaction between cyclic AMP (cAMP) and insulin binding and action. Rat adipocytes were preincubated at 37 degrees C for 20 min, and after energy depletion with KCN, cell-surface 125I-insulin binding was measured. As recently reported [Eriksson, Lönnroth & Smith (1992) Diabetes 41, 707-714], preincubation with insulin rapidly increased the number of cell-surface insulin binding sites up to approximately 5-fold through recruitment within the plasma membrane. This was completely abolished by the presence of 4 mM-N6-monobutyryl cAMP (a non-hydrolysable cAMP analogue) or 1 microM-isoprenaline, without any apparent change in receptor internalization. Insulin-stimulated receptor tyrosine kinase activity was attenuated by the cAMP analogue only if the exposure of the adipocytes was prolonged to 60 min. The cellular sensitivity to insulin, assessed as 3-O-methylglucose uptake, was markedly decreased by the cAMP analogue, and this could be attributed to the impaired cell-surface binding. However, evidence for post-receptor interactions between cAMP and insulin was also found: an impairment of maximal insulin-stimulated 3-O-methylglucose transport and a delay in the rate of activation of the glucose transport system by insulin. In conclusion, these data demonstrate that beta-adrenergic stimulation and elevated cAMP levels markedly impair the ability of insulin to enhance cell-surface insulin-binding capacity. This novel interaction may be an important mechanism for the cellular insensitivity to insulin produced by cAMP.

Effects of epinephrine on insulin-mediated glucose uptake in whole body and leg muscle in humans: role of blood flow

In vivo insulin-mediated glucose uptake (IMGU) occurs chiefly in skeletal muscle, where it is determined by the product of arteriovenous glucose difference (delta AVG) and blood flow (BF) rate into muscle. Epinephrine (Epi) reduces the rate of IMGU in whole body. To examine whether this is due to a reduction in delta AVG across or BF into skeletal muscle we constructed insulin dose-response curves for whole body IMGU and leg muscle IMGU- using euglycemic clamp ((+)[3-3H]glucose infusion) and leg balance techniques during insulin infusions ranging from 10 to 1,200 mU.m-2.min-1. We studied six subjects [wt 70 +/- 2 (SE) kg] during an Epi infusion at a single rate of 0.002 mg.kg-1.min-1 and six subjects (70 +/- 3 kg) during a saline infusion alone. Maximum whole body glucose uptake (WBGU) was similar during Epi and saline infusions [71.4 vs. 73.6 mmol.kg-1.min-1, P = not significant (NS)]. Compared with saline, maximum delta AVG was decreased during Epi infusion (1.04 vs. 1.31 mM, P less than 0.01). Compared with saline alone maximum leg BF was increased (5.3 vs. 4.3 dl/min, P less than 0.01) during Epi infusion. Thus maximum leg glucose uptake (LGU) was similar (696 vs. 821 pmol.leg-1.min-1, P = NS) during infusion of Epi and saline, respectively. Half-maximal effective dose for insulin's effect to stimulate WBGU, delta AVG, BF, and LGU was increased two- to threefold during Epi vs. saline infusions (P less than 0.01 for all values).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effects of growth hormone on fuel utilization and muscle glycogen synthase activity in normal humans

To examine the insulin antagonistic effects of growth hormone (GH), seven healthy subjects underwent, in random order, two 5-h euglycemic clamp studies with moderate hyperinsulinemia. A GH infusion (45 ng.kg-1.min-1) was given throughout one of the studies. GH inhibited the insulin-stimulated glucose disposal by 27% from 4.4 +/- 0.7 to 3.3 +/- 0.4 mg.kg-1.min-1 (P less than 0.02) and raised the nonprotein energy expenditures (NPEE) from 18.7 +/- 0.5 to 20.5 +/- 0.3 kcal.kg-1.24 h-1 (P less than 0.03). Lipid oxidation contributed 71.7 +/- 5.6% of NPEE during the GH infusion as compared with 48.7 +/- 5.2% during the control clamp (P less than 0.02). In skeletal muscle biopsies, insulin binding to wheat germ agglutinin-purified insulin receptors and insulin receptor kinase activity were unaffected by GH infusion. Glycogen synthase activation by insulin was inhibited by 41% during the GH clamp (fractional velocity 14.1 +/- 2.5 vs. 8.3 +/- 1.4%, P less than 0.03). In conclusion, GH 1) increases energy expenditures and inhibits glucose oxidation in favor of an increased lipid oxidation, and 2) inhibits insulin-mediated activation of the glycogen synthase in skeletal muscle biopsies by a mechanism distal to insulin receptor binding and kinase activity.

Exercise-enhanced activation of glycogen synthase in human skeletal muscle

The present study was undertaken to elucidate aspects of the regulatory mechanisms leading to enhanced glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity of muscle after physical exertion. Biopsies were obtained from the vastus lateralis muscle of healthy volunteers before and after 60 min of bicycle exercise at 60% of their maximal aerobic capacity. Insulin binding to wheat germ agglutinin-purified muscle insulin receptors as well as basal and insulin-stimulated receptor kinase activity toward an exogenous substrate were unaltered by exercise. Muscle glycogen levels diminished from 3.35 +/- 0.26 to 1.85 +/- 0.13 mg/100 mg muscle (P less than 0.01) and the half-maximal activation constant of glycogen synthase for glucose 6-phosphate decreased from 0.62 +/- 0.05 to 0.25 +/- 0.02 mM (P less than 0.001). Total glycogen synthase activity was unchanged. In the absence of phosphatase inhibitors, glucose 6-phosphate-independent glycogen synthase activity of the crude enzyme extract increased during in vitro incubation. The initial rate of activation (through dephosphorylations) of glycogen synthase was 0.18 +/- 0.06 vs. 0.37 +/- 0.03 U.min-1.mg-1 protein before and after exercise, respectively (P less than 0.02). The total as well as the glycogen-associated phosphoprotein phosphatase activity was, however, unaffected by exercise.

Tyrosine kinase activity of liver insulin receptor is inhibited in rats at term gestation

Late gestation is associated with insulin resistance in rats and humans. It has been reported that rats at term gestation show active hepatic gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis, and diminished lipogenesis, despite normal or mildly elevated plasma insulin concentrations, indicating a state of resistance to the hormone action. Since autophosphorylation of the insulin receptor has been reported to play a key role in the hormone signal transduction, we have partially purified plasma-membrane liver insulin receptors from virgin and 22-day-pregnant rats and studied their binding and kinase activities. (1) Insulin binding to partially purified receptors does not appear to be influenced by gestation, as indicated by the observed KD and Bmax. values. (2) The rate of autophosphorylation and the maximal 32P incorporation into the receptor beta-subunit from pregnant rats at saturating concentrations of insulin are markedly decreased with respect to the corresponding values for virgin rats. (3) The diminished autophosphorylation rate was due to a decreased responsiveness of the kinase activity to the action of insulin. (4) Phosphorylation of the exogenous substrates casein and poly(Glu80Tyr20) by insulin-receptor kinase was also less when receptors from pregnant rats were used. These results show the existence of an impairment at the receptor kinase level of the insulin signalling mechanism that might be related to the insulin-resistant state characteristic of term gestation in rats.