Fatty acid inhibition of hormonal induction of acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase in hepatocyte monolayers

A PUFA-rich diet improves fat oxidation following saturated fat-rich meal

PURPOSE

To determine substrate oxidation responses to saturated fatty acid (SFA)-rich meals before and after a 7-day polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA)-rich diet versus control diet.

METHODS

Twenty-six, normal-weight, adults were randomly assigned to either PUFA or control diet. Following a 3-day lead-in diet, participants completed the pre-diet visit where anthropometrics and resting metabolic rate (RMR) were measured, and two SFA-rich HF meals (breakfast and lunch) were consumed. Indirect calorimetry was used to determine fat oxidation (Fox) and energy expenditure (EE) for 4 h after each meal. Participants then consumed a PUFA-rich diet (50 % carbohydrate, 15 % protein, 35 % fat, of which 21 % of total energy was PUFA) or control diet (50 % carbohydrate, 15 % protein, 35 % fat, of which 7 % of total energy was PUFA) for the next 7 days. Following the 7-day diet, participants completed the post-diet visit.

RESULTS

From pre- to post-PUFA-rich diet, there was no change in RMR (16.3 ± 0.8 vs. 16.4 ± 0.8 kcal/20 min) or in incremental area under the curve for EE (118.9 ± 20.6-126.9 ± 14.1 kcal/8h, ns). Fasting respiratory exchange ratio increased from pre- to post-PUFA-rich diet only (0.83 ± 0.1-0.86 ± 0.1, p < 0.05). The postprandial change in Fox increased from pre- to post-visit in PUFA-rich diet (0.03 ± 0.1-0.23 ± 0.1 g/15 min for cumulative Fox; p < 0.05), whereas controls showed no change.

CONCLUSIONS

Adopting a PUFA-rich diet initiates greater fat oxidation after eating occasional high SFA meals compared to a control diet, an effect achieved in 7 days.

Up-regulation of lipogenic enzyme genes expression in inguinal white adipose tissue of female rats by progesterone

Contradictory results have been published regarding the influence of progesterone on lipids metabolism in adipose tissue. The aim of the present work was to elucidate whether progesterone administration in the setting of an experimental model influences lipogenic enzyme genes expression, body and adipose tissue mass. The results presented here indicate that the elevated blood progesterone concentration was associated with significant increase in lipogenic enzyme genes expression in inguinal adipose tissue of females. The rise in the expression of lipogenic enzyme genes was associated with an increase in sterol regulatory element binding transcription factor 1 (Srebf1) and S14 genes expression. Mifepristone, a specific antagonist of progesterone receptor, abolished progesterone's effect on body mass, inguinal fat mass, and lipogenic enzyme genes expression in inguinal adipose tissue. No significant changes were found in the expression of lipogenic enzyme genes, Srebf1 and S14 genes in perirenal white adipose tissue of females. The elevated blood progesterone concentration was associated with the increase in body and inguinal white adipose tissue mass of females. In males, elevated blood progesterone concentration had no effect on the lipogenic enzyme genes expression and on body and fat mass. In conclusion, we demonstrate that a chronic increase in serum progesterone concentration in females was associated with up-regulation of lipogenic enzyme genes expression in inguinal adipose tissue. Up-regulation of Srebf1 and S14 genes expression following progesterone administration suggests that products of these genes might be involved in the regulation of lipogenic enzyme genes expression by progesterone. The stimulatory effect of progesterone on lipogenic enzyme genes expression in inguinal adipose tissue seems to be specific as it was reversed by specific antagonist of progesterone receptor.

n-3 fatty acids ameliorate hepatic steatosis and dysfunction after LXR agonist ingestion in mice

Liver X receptor (LXR) agonists slow atherogenesis, but cause hepatic steatosis and dysfunction in part by increasing expression of sterol regulatory element binding protein 1-c (SREBP1-c), a transcription factor that upregulates fatty acid (FA) synthesis. n-3 FAs decrease hepatic FA synthesis by down-regulating SREBP1-c. To test the hypothesis that n-3 FAs decrease hepatic steatosis in mice given LXR agonist, C57BL/6 mice received daily gavage of an LXR agonist T0901317 (LXR(T)) or vehicle for 4weeks with concomitant intakes chow or high-fat diets enriched in saturated fat (SAT) or n-3 fat (n-3). Mice on LXR(T) and SAT developed hepatomegaly with a large increase in size and number of hepatic lipid droplets; an n-3 diet reduced liver weight/body weight with decreased hepatic steatosis and triglyceride levels. Effects of n-3 diet on hepatic lipogenesis were linked to a blunting of LXR(T) upregulation of hepatic SREBP1-c and FA synthase mRNA. n-3 diets also normalized LXR(T)-mediated increases of plasma ALT and AST levels, whereas SAT diet increased these markers.

CONCLUSION

These studies suggest that n-3 FAs when given together with LXR agonists have the potential to improve both hepatic steatosis and hepatotoxicity in humans that might receive LXR agonists to decrease risk of atherosclerosis.

Digestion rate of dietary starch affects the systemic circulation of lipid profiles and lipid metabolism-related gene expression in weaned pigs

The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of digestion rate of dietary starch on postprandial systemic circulating glucose, insulin and lipid profiles, and the activity and gene expression of lipid metabolism-related enzymes in weaned pigs. A total of twenty-four weaned pigs, surgically fitted with a catheter in the jugular vein, were randomly assigned to three dietary treatment groups, representing the high digestion rate starch (HDRS) group, the moderate-digestion rate starch (MDRS) group and the low-digestion rate starch (LDRS) group. The amylopectin:amylose ratios in the diets of each group were 27·6:1, 27·6:8·5 and 1:27·6, respectively. The serum concentrations of glucose, TAG, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol in the HDRS group were increased to the peak point at postprandial 1·5, 2·5, 2·5, 1·5 and 1·5 h, those in the MDRS group were at postprandial 2·5, 3·5, 3·5, 3·5 and 3·5 h and those in the LDRS group were at postprandial 2·5, 3·5, 3·5, 1·5 and 3·5 h, respectively. The serum concentration of insulin in the HDRS group was higher (P < 0·05) than those in the MDRS group, and those in the MDRS group was also higher (P < 0·05) than those in the LDRS group at postprandial 0·5, 1·5 and 2·5 h, respectively. The serum concentrations of acetate, propionate and butyrate in the HDRS group were higher (P < 0·05) than those in the MDRS group, and those in the MDRS group were higher (P < 0·05) than in the LDRS group in each feeding cycle, in turn, respectively. The activity of fatty acid synthase (FAS) in the liver and abdominal adipose tissues, that of acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACC) in the myocardium and interscapular brown adipose tissues and that of the ATP-citrate lyase (ATP-CL) in the liver and interscapular brown adipose tissues in pigs of the HDRS group were higher (P < 0·05) than that of the MDRS group. The mRNA levels of FAS in the myocardium, liver and interscapular brown adipose tissues of pigs in the HDRS group were higher (P < 0·05) than those of the MDRS group. The activities and mRNA levels of FAS, ACC and ATP-CL in the myocardium, liver, abdominal and interscapular brown adipose tissues of the HDRS group were higher than those of the LDRS group. We conclude that the digestion rate of dietary starch affected not only the postprandial systemic circulating levels of glucose and insulin but also the lipid metabolism in weaned pigs. Dietary starch with higher digestion rate produces higher blood glucose and insulin response, ameliorates the blood lipid profiles and up-regulates the activity and gene expression profile of lipid metabolism-related genes in weaned pigs.

Chylomicron remnants and nonesterified fatty acids differ in their ability to inhibit genes involved in lipogenesis in rats

Primary hepatocytes treated with nonesterified PUFA have been used as a model for analyzing the inhibitory effects of dietary polyunsaturated fats on lipogenic gene expression. Although nonesterified fatty acids play an important signaling role in starvation, they do not completely recapitulate the mechanism of dietary fat presentation to the liver, which is delivered via chylomicron remnants. To test the effect of remnant TG on lipogenic enzyme expression, chylomicron remnants were generated from the lymph of rats intubated with either safflower oil or lard. The remnants were added to the medium of primary rat hepatocytes in culture and the accumulation of mRNA for genes involved in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism was measured. Both PUFA-enriched remnants and nonesterified PUFA inhibited the expression and maturation of sterol response element binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c) and the expression of lipogenic genes regulated by this transcription factor. These remnants also inhibited the expression of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), a gene regulated at post-transcriptional steps. In contrast, PUFA-enriched remnants did not inhibit the accumulation of mRNA for malic enzyme, glucokinase, and L-pyruvate kinase, whereas nonesterified fatty acids caused a decrease in these mRNA. These genes are regulated independently of SREBP-1c. SFA-enriched remnants did not inhibit lipogenic gene expression, which is consistent with a lack of inhibition of lipogenesis by dietary saturated fats. Thus, the inhibitory action of dietary polyunsaturated fats on lipogenesis involves a direct action of chylomicron remnants on the liver.

AMP-activated protein kinase α2 subunit is required for the preservation of hepatic insulin sensitivity by n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids

OBJECTIVE

The induction of obesity, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance by high-fat diet in rodents can be prevented by n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs). We tested a hypothesis whether AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) has a role in the beneficial effects of n-3 LC-PUFAs.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Mice with a whole-body deletion of the α2 catalytic subunit of AMPK (AMPKα2(-/-)) and their wild-type littermates were fed on either a low-fat chow, or a corn oil-based high-fat diet (cHF), or a cHF diet with 15% lipids replaced by n-3 LC-PUFA concentrate (cHF+F).

RESULTS

Feeding a cHF diet induced obesity, dyslipidemia, hepatic steatosis, and whole-body insulin resistance in mice of both genotypes. Although cHF+F feeding increased hepatic AMPKα2 activity, the body weight gain, dyslipidemia, and the accumulation of hepatic triglycerides were prevented by the cHF+F diet to a similar degree in both AMPKα2(-/-) and wild-type mice in ad libitum-fed state. However, preservation of hepatic insulin sensitivity by n-3 LC-PUFAs required functional AMPKα2 and correlated with the induction of adiponectin and reduction in liver diacylglycerol content. Under hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic conditions, AMPKα2 was essential for preserving low levels of both hepatic and plasma triglycerides, as well as plasma free fatty acids, in response to the n-3 LC-PUFA treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results show that n-3 LC-PUFAs prevent hepatic insulin resistance in an AMPKα2-dependent manner and support the role of adiponectin and hepatic diacylglycerols in the regulation of insulin sensitivity. AMPKα2 is also essential for hypolipidemic and antisteatotic effects of n-3 LC-PUFA under insulin-stimulated conditions.

Differential effect of prolonged food restriction and fasting on hypothalamic malonyl-CoA concentration and expression of orexigenic and anorexigenic neuropeptides genes in rats

Several lines of evidence suggest that malonyl-CoA in the hypothalamus plays an important role in monitoring and modulating body energy balance. In fasted state the level of malonyl-CoA concentration significantly decreases. Simultaneously, orexigenic neuropeptides (NPY - neuropeptide Y, AgRP - agouti-related peptide) genes are expressed at high level, whereas anorexigenic neuropeptides (CART - cocaine-and amphetamine-regulated transcript, POMC - proopiomelanocortin) genes are expressed at low level. When food intake resumes, opposite effect is observed. This study examined the effect of prolonged food restriction, common in humans trying to lose body weight on expression of orexigenic and anorexigenic neuropeptides genes and on malonyl-CoA content in rat whole hypothalamus. We observed an increase of NPY and AgRP mRNA levels in hypothalamus of rats kept on 30 days-long food restriction (50% of the amount of food consumed by controls). Simultaneously, a decrease of CART and POMC mRNA levels occurred. Refeeding caused a decrease in NPY and POMC mRNA levels without effect on AgRP and CART mRNA. Surprisingly, both prolonged food restriction and food restriction/refeeding caused the increase of malonyl-CoA level in whole hypothalamus. In contrast, fasting for 24h caused the decrease of malonyl-CoA level, which was associated with the up-regulation of NPY and AgRP genes expression and down-regulation of CART and POMC genes expression. After refeeding opposite effect was observed. These results indicate that prolonged food restriction and acute fasting, conditions in which energy expenditure exceeds intake, differentially affect malonyl-CoA concentration and similarly affect orexigenic and anorexigenic neuropeptide genes expression in whole rat hypothalamus.

Hormonal regulation of acetyl-CoA carboxylase isoenzyme gene transcription

Both glucocorticoid and insulin are known to have an anabolic effect on lipogenesis. Acetyl-CoA, an intermediate product of glycolysis, is supplied for fatty acid synthesis when carbohydrate intake is sufficient. Acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), consisting of two isoenzymes ACC1 and ACC2, mediates the conversion from acetyl-CoA to malonyl-CoA, and thus plays a key role for the regulation of lipogenesis. In this study, we surveyed the effects of glucocorticoid and insulin on the transcriptional activity of the alternative promoters of ACCs (PI-PIII for ACC1, and PI and PII for ACC2) using the HepG2 human hepatocyte cell line in vitro. We also examined the roles of the insulin and/or glucose-regulated transcriptional factor(s) such as SREBP1c, LXRalpha/beta, and ChREBP on each promoter of the ACC genes. We found that both insulin and glucocorticoid had potent positive effects on all the promoters examined, and additive effects of both hormones were recognized in ACC1 PI and ACC2 PI. Furthermore, a representative insulin-responsive transcription factor SREBP1c showed significant stimulatory effects on all the promoters of ACC genes, among which those on ACC1 PIII and ACC2 PI were most prominent. On the other hand, the effect of LXRalpha was rather selective; it showed a marked stimulatory effect only on ACC1 PII. LXRbeta and ChREBP had minimal, if any, effects on some of the promoters. Altogether, our data suggest that insulin and glucocorticoid have positive effects on both ACC1 and ACC2 gene transcription. SREBP1c might be a master regulator of the expression of both genes regardless of the promoter utilized, whereas LXRalpha seems to play a promoter-specific role. Since ACC1 facilitates lipogenesis by stimulating fatty acid synthesis and ACC2 inhibits lipolysis, both insulin and glucocorticoid seem to play an important role in the pathogenesis of obesity and/or hepatic steatosis.

Acetyl-CoA carboxylase and fatty acid synthase activities in human hypothalamus

Several data indicate that hypothalamic fatty acid synthesis pathway plays an important role in the control of food intake and energy expenditure in rodents. However, the confirmation of its physiological relevance in regulation of feeding in human remains incomplete. For fatty acid synthesis pathway to function as regulator of energy balance in human hypothalamus, acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), fatty acid synthase (FAS) and other lipogenic enzymes activities must be present. The presence of FAS in human hypothalamic neurons has been shown by immunohistochemistry, but quantitative studies on FAS activity there has not been performed so far. There is no available data concerning ACC activity in human hypothalamus. Thus, we investigated ACC and FAS (as well as other lipogenic enzymes) activities in human hypothalamus of subjects who died in car accidents. The results presented in this paper indicate that ACC and FAS activities are present in human hypothalamus and that these activities are 2- to 3-fold lower than in rat hypothalamus. Moreover, our data presented in this paper indicate that other lipogenic enzymes activities are also present in human hypothalamus. The activity of FAS, ACC and other lipogenic enzymes in human hypothalamus suggests that fatty acid synthesis actively occurs there. Therefore, it is likely, that in human this pathway may be relevant to hypothalamic functioning as food intake and energy expenditure regulator, similarly as it was suggested in rodents.

Polyunsaturated fatty acid suppression of fatty acid synthase (FASN): evidence for dietary modulation of NF-Y binding to the Fasn promoter by SREBP-1c

Dietary PUFAs (polyunsaturated fatty acids) co-ordinately suppress transcription of a group of hepatic genes encoding glycolytic and lipogenic enzymes. Suppression of Fasn (fatty acid synthase) transcription involves two PUFA-responsive regions, but the majority of PUFA sensitivity maps to a region within the proximal promoter containing binding sites for NF-Y (nuclear factor-Y), Sp1 (stimulatory protein 1), SREBP (sterol-regulatory-elementbinding protein), and USF (upstream stimulatory factor). Promoter activation assays indicate that altered NF-Y is the key component in regulation of Fasn promoter activity by PUFA. Using electrophoretic mobility-shift assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis, we demonstrate for the first time that PUFAs decrease in vivo binding of NF-Y and SREBP-1c to the proximal promoter of the hepatic Fasn gene and the promoters of three additional genes, spot 14, stearoyl-CoA desaturase and farnesyl diphosphate synthase that are also down-regulated by PUFA. The comparable 50% decrease in NF-Y and SREBP-1c binding to the promoters of the respective PUFA-sensitive genes occurred despite no change in nuclear NF-Y content and a 4-fold decrease in SREBP-1c. Together, these findings support a mechanism whereby PUFA reciprocally regulates the binding of NF-Y and SREBP-1c to a subset of genes which share similar contiguous arrangements of sterol regulatory elements and NF-Y response elements within their promoters. PUFA-dependent regulation of SREBP-1c and NF-Y binding to this unique configuration of response elements may represent a nutrient-sensitive motif through which PUFA selectively and co-ordinately targets subsets of hepatic genes involved in lipid metabolism.

Hepatocyte nuclear factor-4alpha contributes to carbohydrate-induced transcriptional activation of hepatic fatty acid synthase

Refeeding a carbohydrate-rich meal after a fast produces a co-ordinated induction of key glycolytic and lipogenic genes in the liver. The transcriptional response is mediated by insulin and increased glucose oxidation, and both signals are necessary for optimal induction of FAS (fatty acid synthase). The glucose-regulated component of FAS promoter activation is mediated in part by ChREBP [ChoRE (carbohydrate response element)-binding protein], which binds to a ChoRE between -7300 and -7000 base-pairs in a carbohydrate-dependent manner. Using in vivo footprinting with nuclei from fasted and refed rats, we identify an imperfect DR-1 (direct repeat-1) element between -7110 and -7090 bp that is protected upon carbohydrate refeeding. Electrophoretic mobility-shift assays establish that this DR-1 element binds HNF-4alpha (hepatocyte nuclear factor 4alpha), and chromatin immunoprecipitation establishes that HNF-4alpha binding to this site is increased approx. 3-fold by glucose refeeding. HNF-4alpha transactivates reporter constructs containing the distal FAS promoter in a DR-1-dependent manner, and this DR-1 is required for full glucose induction of the FAS promoter in primary hepatocytes. In addition, a 3-fold knockdown of hepatocyte HNF-4alpha by small interfering RNA produces a corresponding decrease in FAS gene induction by glucose. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments demonstrate a physical interaction between HNF-4alpha and ChREBP in primary hepatocytes, further supporting an important complementary role for HNF-4alpha in glucose-induced activation of FAS transcription. Taken together, these observations establish for the first time that HNF-4alpha functions in vivo through a DR-1 element in the distal FAS promoter to enhance gene transcription following refeeding of glucose to fasted rats. The findings support the broader view that HNF-4alpha is an integral component of the hepatic nutrient sensing system that co-ordinates transcriptional responses to transitions between nutritional states.

Regulation of acetyl CoA carboxylase and carnitine palmitoyl transferase-1 in rat adipocytes

OBJECTIVE

Acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACC) is a key enzyme in energy balance. It controls the synthesis of malonyl-CoA, an allosteric inhibitor of carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 (CPT-I). CPT-I is the gatekeeper of free fatty acid (FFA) oxidation. To test the hypothesis that both enzymes play critical roles in regulation of FFA partitioning in adipocytes, we compared enzyme mRNA expression and specific activity from fed, fasted, and diabetic rats.

RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES

Direct effects of nutritional state, insulin, and FFAs on CPT-I and ACC mRNA expression were assessed in adipocytes, liver, and cultured adipose tissue explants. We also determined FFA partitioning in adipocytes from donors exposed to different nutritional conditions.

RESULTS

CPT-I mRNA and activity decreased in adipocytes but increased in liver in response to fasting. ACC mRNA and activity decreased in both adipocytes and liver during fasting. These changes were not caused directly by fasting-associated changes in plasma insulin and FFA concentrations because insulin suppressed CPT-I mRNA and did not affect ACC mRNA in vitro, whereas exogenous oleate had no effect on either. Despite the decrease in adipocyte CPT-I mRNA and specific activity, CO(2) production from endogenous FFAs increased, suggesting increased FFA transport through CPT-I for beta-oxidation.

DISCUSSION

Stimulation of FFA transport through CPT-I occurs in both tissues, but CPT-I mRNA and specific activity correlate with FFA transport in liver and not in adipocytes. We conclude that the mechanism responsible for increasing FFA oxidation in adipose tissue during fasting involves mainly allosteric regulation, whereas altered gene expression may play a central role in the liver.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids suppress glycolytic and lipogenic genes through the inhibition of ChREBP nuclear protein translocation

Dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are potent inhibitors of hepatic glycolysis and lipogenesis. Recently, carbohydrate-responsive element-binding protein (ChREBP) was implicated in the regulation by glucose of glycolytic and lipogenic genes, including those encoding L-pyruvate kinase (L-PK) and fatty acid synthase (FAS). The aim of our study was to assess the role of ChREBP in the control of L-PK and FAS gene expression by PUFAs. We demonstrated in mice, both in vivo and in vitro, that PUFAs [linoleate (C18:2), eicosapentanoic acid (C20:5), and docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6)] suppressed ChREBP activity by increasing ChREBP mRNA decay and by altering ChREBP translocation from the cytosol to the nucleus, independently of an activation of the AMP-activated protein kinase, previously shown to regulate ChREBP activity. In contrast, saturated [stearate (C18)] and monounsaturated fatty acids [oleate (C18:1)] had no effect. Since glucose metabolism via the pentose phosphate pathway is determinant for ChREBP nuclear translocation, the decrease in xylulose 5-phosphate concentrations caused by a PUFA diet favors a PUFA-mediated inhibition of ChREBP translocation. In addition, overexpression of a constitutive nuclear ChREBP isoform in cultured hepatocytes significantly reduced the PUFA inhibition of both L-PK and FAS gene expression. Our results demonstrate that the suppressive effect of PUFAs on these genes is primarily caused by an alteration of ChREBP nuclear translocation. In conclusion, we describe a novel mechanism to explain the inhibitory effect of PUFAs on the genes encoding L-PK and FAS and demonstrate that ChREBP is a pivotal transcription factor responsible for coordinating the PUFA suppression of glycolytic and lipogenic genes.

POLYUNSATURATED FATTY ACID REGULATION OF GENES OF LIPID METABOLISM

Apart from being an important macronutrient, dietary fat has recently gained much prominence for its role in regulating gene expression. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) affect gene expression through various mechanisms including, but not limited to, changes in membrane composition, intracellular calcium levels, and eicosanoid production. Furthermore, PUFAs and their various metabolites can act at the level of the nucleus, in conjunction with nuclear receptors and transcription factors, to affect the transcription of a variety of genes. Several of these transcription mediators have been identified and include the nuclear receptors peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR), hepatocyte nuclear factor (HNF)-4alpha, and liver X receptor (LXR) and the transcription factors sterol-regulatory element binding protein (SREBP) and nuclear factor-kappaB (NFkappaB). Their interaction with PUFAs has been shown to be critical to the regulation of several key genes of lipid metabolism. Working out the mechanisms by which these interactions and consequent effects occur is proving to be complicated but is invaluable to our understanding of the role that dietary fat can play in disease management and prevention.

Dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids enhance hepatic AMP-activated protein kinase activity in rats

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and a number of drugs (metformin, thiazolidinediones) and hormones (leptin, adiponectin) that activate AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) have been reported to improve insulin sensitivity. To determine whether PUFA activate AMPK, Sprague-Dawley rats were adapted to a 3h meal-feeding regimen using a fat-free diet (FFD) supplemented with fish oil (n-3) or triolein (n-9) for 7 days. No differences in hepatic AMPK activity were observed between the groups after 21h of fasting. On the other hand, hepatic AMPK phosphorylation was decreased in rats refed the FFD, the FFD+triolein, and the FFD+PUFA by 80%, 75%, and 50%, respectively, when assessed 2h after completion of a meal. In keeping with these changes, decreases in acetyl-CoA carboxylase phosphorylation and carnitine palmitoyl transferase-1 mRNA and increases in fatty acid synthase gene expression were greatest in rats fed the FFD and least in the PUFA-fed rats. The results indicate that dietary PUFA enhance hepatic AMPK activity in vivo, and implicate AMPK as a component of the nutrient-sensing mechanism through which dietary fatty acids and especially PUFA influence the regulation of hepatic lipid metabolism and gene expression.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids and gene expression in mammalian systems

Over the last 30 years it has become apparent that specific dietary fatty acids are capable of regulating, either directly or indirectly through various signal pathways, the expression of numerous genes, either positively or negatively. Such nutrient-gene interactions have important effects on cell metabolism, differentiation and growth, and ultimately on disease processes. The present review describes some of the more important fatty acid-gene interactions in relation to health and disease in mammalian species, and focuses on the underlying cell signal mechanisms, including various transcription factors, affected by fatty acids and some of their oxygenated derivatives, e.g. the eicosanoids. The review also attempts to clarify some of the complexities of the effects of fatty acids by suggesting a possible overriding regulation by the redox status of the cell. The latter will at least stimulate controversy in this exciting area of lipid research.

NF-Y involvement in the polyunsaturated fat inhibition of fatty acid synthase gene transcription

Dietary polyunsaturated fats (PUFA) reduce the hepatic content of SREBP-1 65-75%, and this is paralleled by a comparable decrease in the expression of fatty acid synthase (FAS) gene. The close association between the nuclear content of SREBP-1 and FAS transcription has led to the conclusion that PUFA inhibit lipogenic gene transcription by suppressing SREBP-1 expression, but this conclusion is based upon correlative data. When in fact the SREBP-1/USF sites of the insulin response element of FAS were mutated, only 25% of the PUFA inhibition of FAS promoter activity was lost. On the other hand, mutating the -99/-93 NF-Y site reduced overall promoter activity 85%, and eliminated 50% of the PUFA suppression of FAS promoter activity. In addition, extended cloning and transfection-reporter assays revealed that the FAS gene contains a second PUFA response region (PUFA-RR) in the distal area of -7382/-6970. Interestingly, the distal PUFA-RR(FAS) has many similarities to the PUFA-RR of l-pyruvate kinase gene while the proximal PUFA-RR(FAS) is comparable to the PUFA-RR of the S14 and stearoyl-CoA desaturase genes.

Involvement of a unique carbohydrate-responsive factor in the glucose regulation of rat liver fatty-acid synthase gene transcription

Refeeding carbohydrate to fasted rats induces the transcription of genes encoding enzymes of fatty acid biosynthesis, e.g. fatty-acid synthase (FAS). Part of this transcriptional induction is mediated by insulin. An insulin response element has been described for the fatty-acid synthase gene region of -600 to +65, but the 2-3-fold increase in fatty-acid synthase promoter activity attributable to this region is small compared with the 20-30-fold induction in fatty-acid synthase gene transcription observed in fasted rats refed carbohydrate. We have previously reported that the fatty-acid synthase gene region between -7382 and -6970 was essential for achieving high in vivo rates of gene transcription. The studies of the current report demonstrate that the region of -7382 to -6970 of the fatty-acid synthase gene contains a carbohydrate response element (CHO-RE(FAS)) with a palindrome sequence (CATGTGn(5)GGCGTG) that is nearly identical to the CHO-RE of the l-type pyruvate kinase and S(14) genes. The glucose responsiveness imparted by CHO-RE(FAS) was independent of insulin. Moreover, CHO-RE(FAS) conferred glucose responsiveness to a heterologous promoter (i.e. l-type pyruvate kinase). Electrophoretic mobility shift assays demonstrated that CHO-RE(FAS) readily bound a unique hepatic ChoRF and that CHO-RE(FAS) competed with the CHO-RE of the l-type pyruvate kinase and S(14) genes for ChoRF binding. In vivo footprinting revealed that fasting reduced and refeeding increased ChoRF binding to CHO-RE(FAS). Thus, carbohydrate responsiveness of rat liver fatty-acid synthase appears to require both insulin and glucose signaling pathways. More importantly, a unique hepatic ChoRF has now been shown to recognize glucose responsive sequences that are common to three different genes: fatty-acid synthase, l-type pyruvate kinase, and S(14).

Polyunsaturated fatty acids suppress hepatic sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1 expression by accelerating transcript decay

The reduction in hepatic abundance of sterol regulatory element binding protein-1 (SREBP-1) mRNA and protein associated with the ingestion of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) appears to be largely responsible for the PUFA-dependent inhibition of lipogenic gene transcription. Our initial studies indicated that the induction of SREBP-1 expression by insulin and glucose was blocked by PUFA. Nuclear run-on assays suggested PUFA reduced SREBP-1 mRNA by post-transcriptional mechanisms. In this report we demonstrate that PUFA enhance the decay of both SREBP-1a and -1c. When rat hepatocytes in monolayer culture were treated with albumin-bound 20:4(n-6) or 20:5(n-3) the half-life of total SREBP-1 mRNA was reduced by 50%. Ribonuclease protection assays revealed that the decay of SREBP-1c mRNA was more sensitive to PUFA than was SREBP-1a, i.e. the half-life of SREBP-1c and -1a was reduced from 10.0 to 4.6 h and 11.6 to 7.6 h, respectively. Interestingly, treating the hepatocytes with the translational inhibitor, cycloheximide, prevented the PUFA-dependent decay of SREBP-1. This suggests that SREBP-1 mRNA may need to undergo translation to enter the decay process, or that the decay process requires the synthesis of a rapidly turning over protein. Although the mechanism by which PUFA accelerate SREBP-1 mRNA decay remains to be determined, cloning and sequencing of the 3'-untranslated region for the rat SREBP-1 transcript revealed the presence of an A-U-rich region that is characteristic of a destablizing element.

Comparative study of the lipogenic potential of human and rat adipose tissue

The reported low activity of lipogenic enzymes (especially adenosine triphosphate [ATP]-citrate lyase) in human adipose tissue led to the general conclusion that in humans lipogenesis occurs primarily in the liver. However, recent studies indicate that the liver plays a minor role in de novo lipogenesis and suggest that adipose tissue may be the principal lipogenic human tissue. In an attempt to resolve these contradictions we reinvestigated the lipogenic potential of human adipose tissue and compared with adipose tissue of rats fed a high-fat diet for 2 weeks and fasted overnight before death. These conditions mimic the nutritional state of patients at the moment of tissue sampling. We found that overnight fasting of the rats maintained previously for 12 days on a high-fat diet caused a decrease of ATP-citrate lyase of about 7-fold. Thus, in human adipose tissue, the mean activity of ATP-citrate lyase was approximately 8 times lower than in rats fed a high-fat diet and fasted overnight, and about 50 times lower than in rats maintained on normal laboratory diet. Unlike ATP-citrate lyase, fatty acid synthase (FAS) activity was only slightly lower in human adipose tissue than in rats maintained on a normal laboratory diet. Comparable FAS activity was found when rats were fed a high-fat diet and fasted overnight. The average activities of human adipose tissue acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase, malic enzyme, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase were approximately 3-, 4-, and 6-fold lower than in adipose tissue from rats fed a high-fat diet and fasted overnight before tissue sampling, while the activity of 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase in humans was higher than in rat adipose tissue. No significant differences in lipogenic enzyme activities were found between male and female and between lean and obese patients. The rate of fatty acid synthesis in intact pieces of human adipose tissue was approximately 5 times lower than in adipose tissue pieces of rats fed a high-fat diet and fasted overnight before tissue samples were taken. The comparison of the lipogenic potential of humans and rats (maintained on the diet to mimic the nutritional state of patients at the time of tissue sampling) suggests that human adipose tissue is an important site of fatty acid synthesis.

Identification of a novel enhancer sequence in the distal promoter of the rat fatty acid synthase gene

The proximal promoter and first intron of the fatty acid synthase (FAS) gene contains response sequences for insulin and glucose, but the 2- to 3-fold increase in FAS promoter activity attributable to these sequences falls short of the 20- to 30-fold induction in hepatic FAS gene transcription observed in fasted-refed rats. Using DNase I hypersensitivity site (HSS) mapping, two new liver specific sites were localized to the regions of: -8600 to -8500 (HSS 1) and -7300 to -7000 (HSS 2). DNase sensitivity of the -7300 to -7000 region was increased when fasted rats were refed glucose. When rat hepatocytes were transfected with a CAT construct that linked the region of -9700 and -4606 with the insulin response region located between -265 to +65, FAS promoter activity was induced 15-fold. This increase required the presence of both insulin and glucocorticoids. Deleting HSS 2 abolished the 15-fold induction in FAS promoter activity, but removing HSS 1 was without effect. Apparently the in vivo regulation of hepatic FAS gene transcription requires response elements located in the region of -7300 to -7000 and -265 to +65.

Polyunsaturated fatty acid regulation of gene expression

For the past three decades, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) have been recognized as important energy sources and membrane components. PUFA also play key roles in many cellular events, such as gene regulation. Most recently, research has focused on identifying the mechanisms by which PUFA modulate gene transcription, mRNA stability and cellular differentiation. It is the purpose of this review to examine the effects of PUFA on gene expression in lipogenic as well as other tissues. Because the (n-3) and (n-6) series of PUFA are intimately involved in gene regulation, they will be the focus of review. The effects of other fatty acid families on gene expression are reviewed elsewhere.

Unususal increase of lipogenesis in rat white adipose tissue after multiple cycles of starvation-refeeding

The purpose of the study was to determine the response of liver and brown (BAT) and white (WAT) adipose tissue lipogenesis and total body weight in rats subjected to multiple cycles of 3 days of fasting and 3 days of refeeding. Rats fasted for 3 days showed significant reduction in body weight. These changes were reversed on 3 days' refeeding. Body weight was much higher in rats fed ad libitum than in animals experiencing more than one cycle of 3 days of fasting followed by 3 days of refeeding. Despite the significant body weight reduction, an unusual increase of lipogenesis in WAT was found after multiple cycles of starvation-refeeding of rats on standard laboratory diet. The rate of lipogenesis in the liver and BAT was also elevated but to a much smaller extent. A parallel increase in enzymatic activities related to fatty acid synthesis, ie, fatty acid synthase, acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase, adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-citrate lyase, NADP-linked malic enzyme, and hexose monophosphate shunt dehydrogenases, suggests that the increased rate of lipogenesis in WAT is a consequence of increased lipogenic enzyme activities. These data suggest that upregulation of WAT lipogenesis occurs after the multiple cycles of the starvation-refeeding protocol. An unusual increase of lipogenesis in rat WAT may have a survival advantage, because starved-refed rats must develop the ability to ingest large amounts of food during a refeeding period to store it in a convenient form than can be used as an oxidizable substrate during a period of starvation. Moreover, these results suggest that it is possible to develop appropriate starvation-refeeding conditions that may inhibit body weight gain.

Regulation of stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 mRNA stability by polyunsaturated fatty acids in 3T3-L1 adipocytes

The effects of arachidonic acid (20:4, n-6) and other fatty acids on the expression of stearoyl-CoA desaturase gene 1 were investigated in fully differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Treatment of 3T3-L1 adipocytes with arachidonic acid resulted in a decrease in stearoyl-CoA desaturase (Scd) enzyme activity and scd1 mRNA. Arachidonic acid did not alter the transcription of the scd1 gene, whereas the half-life of the scd1 mRNA was reduced from 25.1 to 8.5 h. Blocking the conversion of arachidonic acid to eicosanoids by pretreatment of the cells with cyclooxygenase, lipoxygenase, or cytochrome P-450 epoxygenase inhibitors did not reverse the inhibition caused by arachidonic acid, indicating that eicosanoid synthesis is not necessary for the repression of scd1 mRNA expression. Treatment of adipocytes with linoleic (18:2, n-6) and linolenic (18:3, n-3) acids also resulted in inhibition of scd1 mRNA accumulation. By contrast, oleic acid (18:1, n-9) and stearic acid (18:0) had no effect on scd1 mRNA levels. Taken together, these results suggest that polyunsaturated fatty acids repress the expression of the scd1 gene in mature adipocytes by reducing the stability of scd1 mRNA.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids inhibit hepatic stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 gene in diabetic mice

Insulin and dietary fructose independently induce stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1) gene expression in diabetic mouse liver. In the present study, we again used diabetic mice and supplemented a high fructose diet with polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) to determine the selective repression of SCD1 gene expression by dietary PUFA, as previously shown in normal mice. We saw dramatic repression of SCD1 mRNA expression, with trilinolenin at 3% and triarachidonin at 1% supplementation. We also observed significant repression of insulin-induced SCD1 mRNA upon supplementation of the noninducing starch diet with PUFA. In conclusion, our data demonstrate that PUFA negatively regulate hepatic gene expression through an insulin-independent mechanism.

Inhibition of fatty acid synthesis in rat hepatocytes by exogenous polyunsaturated fatty acids is caused by lipid peroxidation

Rat hepatocyte long-term cultures were utilized to investigate the impact of different polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) on the insulin-induced de novo fatty acid synthesis in vitro. The addition of 0.5 mM albumin-complexed oleic, linoleic, columbinic, arachidonic, eicosapentaenoic or docosahexaenoic acid resulted in a marked suppression of fatty acid synthesis. By evaluation of cell viability (determined as the leakage of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) it turned out, that the antioxidant used (50 microM alpha-tocopherol phosphate) had a low antioxidant activity, resulting in cytotoxic effects by the peroxidized PUFA. Arachidonic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid showed a dose- and time-dependent cytotoxicity. Two other antioxidants: 50 microM alpha-tocopherol acid succinate and 1 microM N,N'-diphenyl-1,4-phenylenediamine, both proved more efficient than alpha-tocopherol phosphate. There was a significant correlation between LDH-leakage and inhibition of fatty acid synthesis. Lipid peroxidation, measured as thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, also showed a significant correlation with the degree of inhibition of fatty acid synthesis. Furthermore, PUFA had no inhibitory effect on fatty acid synthesis when peroxidation was minimized by the use of proper antioxidants. These data indicate that PUFA in vitro inhibit the insulin-induced de novo fatty acid synthesis in hepatocytes from starved rats, due to cytotoxic effects caused by lipid peroxidation.

Regulation of the malic enzyme and fatty acid synthase genes in chick embryo hepatocytes in culture: corticosterone and carnitine regulate responsiveness to triiodothyronine

Triiodothyronine (T3) added to chick embryo hepatocytes between 20 and 68 h of culture caused a 30- to 40-fold increase in malic enzyme activity. This T3 response decreased as a function of time; after 1 week in culture, a 48-h incubation with T3 had no effect on hepatocyte malic enzyme activity. Neither corticosterone nor carnitine had a significant effect on malic enzyme activity in the absence of T3 at any time or on the response of malic enzyme to T3 during the first 68 h of culture; both stimulated responsiveness to T3 subsequent to 68 h. The effects of corticosterone and carnitine on malic enzyme activity were additive, suggesting different mechanisms. Corticosterone and carnitine regulated abundance of malic enzyme mRNA. For corticosterone, at least, this effect was due to regulation of transcription. Abundance of fatty acid synthase mRNA was also stimulated by T3 in chick embryo hepatocytes in culture, and its responsiveness to T3 decreased with time. Corticosterone and carnitine stimulated responsiveness to T3 at times subsequent to 68 h. Corticosterone had no effect on binding of T3 to nuclear receptors. Intracellular accumulation of long-chain fatty acids or long-chain acyl-CoAs probably did not cause the loss of responsiveness to T3 or the stimulation of that responsiveness by corticosterone or carnitine because adding serum albumin (0.5%) or long-chain fatty acids (0.25-0.5 mM) to the medium was without effect. Corticosterone and carnitine may control the levels of other metabolic intermediates or protein factors which, in turn, regulate the transcriptional response of the lipogenic genes to T3.

Arachidonic acid suppression of fatty acid synthase gene expression in cultured rat hepatocytes

Rat hepatocytes were maintained in a serum-free, hormonally defined medium supplemented with 50-500 microM albumin-bound 20:1 (n-9) vs 20:4 (n-6). The induction of fatty acid synthase mRNA by a mix of insulin/dexamethasone/T3 was inhibited in a dose dependent fashion by 20:4 (n-6). The abundance of beta-actin mRNA was not suppressed by 20:4 (n-6). The expression of fatty acid synthase was actually stimulated 2-fold by 20:1 (n-9). It would appear that the in vivo inhibition of fatty acid synthase gene expression by dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids is a specific hepatocelluar event.

Lipogenic enzyme activities in primary cultures of adult mouse hepatocytes

The effects of various unsaturated fatty acids such as oleic (18:1n-9), linoleic (18:2n-6) and arachidonic (20:4n-6) on the activities of fatty acid synthetase (FAS), malic enzyme (ME), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGDH) all were determined in primary cultures of mouse hepatocytes. Activities of FAS and ME were found to decrease with time in culture regardless of whether hepatocyte donors were fed diets containing polyunsaturated fatty acid-free hydrogenated cottonseed oil (HCTO) or corn oil (CO). On the other hand, while G6PDH activity also declined in cultured hepatocytes obtained from HCTO-fed mice, the activity of this enzyme increased in cells cultured from CO-fed mice. 6PGDH activity was found to increase in hepatocytes obtained from both diet groups. Neither 18:2 nor 20:4 when added to media could alter FAS or ME activities compared with those observed with either 18:1-containing or fatty acid-free media. Since lactic dehydrogenase activity and the rate of incorporation of [3H] leucine into FAS protein were unaltered with time in hepatocyte cultures, the decreased activities of FAS and ME cannot be attributed to a loss in cell viability during culture but rather appear to be specific for those enzymes which respond to diet hormones in vivo.

Free fatty acid inhibition of the insulin induction of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in rat hepatocyte monolayers

Rat hepatocytes in monolayer culture were utilized to determine if the decrease in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) activity resulting from the ingestion of fat can be mimicked by the addition of fatty acids to a chemically, hormonally defined medium. G6PD activity in cultured hepatocytes was induced several-fold by insulin. Dexamethasone or T3 did not amplify the insulin induction of G6PD. Glucose alone increased G6PD activity in cultured hepatocytes from fasted donors by nearly 500%. Insulin in combination with glucose induced G6PD an additional two-fold. The increase in G6PD activity caused by glucose was greater in hepatocytes isolated from 72 hr-fasted rats as compared to fed donor rats. Such a response was reminiscent of the "overshoot" phenomenon in which G6PD activity is induced well above the normal level by fasting-refeeding rats a high glucose diet. Addition of linoleate to the medium resulted in a significant suppression of insulin's ability to induce G6PD, but linoleate had no effect on the induction of G6PD activity by glucose alone. A shift to the right in the insulin-response curve for the induction of G6PD also was detected for the induction of malic enzyme and acetyl-CoA carboxylase. Arachidonate (0.25 mM) was a significantly more effective inhibitor of the insulin action than linoleate was. Apparently rat hepatocytes in monolayer culture can be utilized as a model to investigate the molecular mechanism by which fatty acids inhibit the production of lipogenic enzymes. In part, this mechanism of fatty acid inhibition involves desensitization of hepatocytes to the lipogenic action of insulin.

Modification of fatty acid composition of membrane phospholipid in hepatocyte monolayer with n-3, n-6 and n-9 fatty acids and its relationship to triacylglycerol production

The objective of these studies with rat hepatocytes in primary culture was to establish that: (a) membrane phospholipids would become enriched with the specific fatty acid supplemented to the media and (b) hepatocyte monolayer triacylglycerol synthetic rates were dependent on the type of fatty acid enrichment of the membrane phospholipids. Hepatocytes cultured in the absence of media lipid developed a phospholipid fatty acid composition which is indicative of an essential fatty acid deficiency. The extensive rise in 18:1(n - 9) content indicated that delta 9-desaturase was active. The fatty acid composition of phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylinositol in the microsomal- and mitochondrial-enriched fractions was highly dependent upon the type of fatty acid supplemented to the medium. Incorporation of fatty acids into phospholipids was rapid, and a new steady-state in fatty acid composition was achieved within approx. 36 h. Changes in the fatty acid composition of these hepatocyte phospholipid subclasses resulting from media supplementation with 18:2/20:4(n-6) or 20:5(n-3) were similar, but not identical, to changes which occurred in vivo as a result of consuming diets rich in 18:2(n-6) or 20:5(n-3). Hepatocyte lipogenesis was highly dependent upon the type of fatty acid supplemented to the medium. Prior conditioning with 16:0 increased triacylglycerol synthesis and secretion. Secretion of triacylglycerol was reduced by polyenoic fatty acid enrichment with 20:5(n-3) greater than 20:4/18:2(n-6). The suppression of triacylglycerol synthesis by 20:5(n-3) was due to an increased (P less than 0.05) diacylglycerol specific activity, which indicates that 20:5(n-3) suppression of hepatic triacylglycerol production may be caused in part by the inhibition of diacylglycerol acyltransferase.