Activity changes of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in response to diet and insulin

PNPLA3 expression and its impact on the liver: current perspectives

A single-nucleotide polymorphism occurring in the sequence of the human patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing 3 gene (PNPLA3), known as I148M variant, is one of the best characterized and deeply investigated variants in several clinical scenarios, because of its tight correlation with increased risk for developing hepatic steatosis and more aggressive part of the disease spectrum, such as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis. Further, the I148M variant is positively associated with alcoholic liver diseases, chronic hepatitis C-related cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The native gene encodes for a protein that has not yet a fully defined role in liver lipid metabolism and, according to recent observations, seems to be divergently regulated among distinct liver cells type, such as hepatic stellate cells. Therefore, the aim of this review is to collect the latest data regarding PNPLA3 expression in human liver and to analyze the impact of its genetic variant in human hepatic pathologies. Moreover, a description of the current biochemical and metabolic data pertaining to PNPLA3 function in both animal models and in vitro studies is summarized to allow a better understanding of the relevant pathophysiological role of this enzyme in the progression of hepatic diseases.

Advances in understanding the role of PNPLA3 in the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

The incidence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is rising worldwide. Investigation of genes involved in the pathogenesis of NAFLD is significant for replenishing treatment scheme and improving prognosis. Multiple studies have established a correlation between patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing 3 (PNPLA3) gene mutation and the pathogenesis of NAFLD, suggesting that PNPLA3 may affect lipid metabolism. However, the precise mechanism remains to be elucidated. Some researchers believed that PNPLA3 as a patatin-like protein might have triglyceride hydrolysis activity and therefore affect fat metabolism in the liver, while some others thought that PNPLA3 mutation might interfere with the lipid transfer process. In this paper, we give an overview of the PNPLA3 gene and its expression, and explore the correlation between PNPLA3 gene mutation and the pathogenesis of NAFLD.

The expression level of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease-related gene PNPLA3 in hepatocytes is highly influenced by hepatic lipid status

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Recent studies have suggested that variations in PNPLA3 are associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). To gain insight into the potential function of PNPLA3 in liver, we have determined the effect of metabolic shifts on the hepatic expression profile of PNPLA3 in mice.

METHODS

PNPLA3 expression in wild-type C57BL/6 and NAFLD-susceptible LDL receptor knockout (LDLR-/-) mice was determined using microarray and real-time PCR analysis.

RESULTS

PNPLA3 expression in livers is 50- to 100-fold lower as compared to (cardiac) muscle and adipose tissue in regular chow diet-fed mice. Feeding a Western-type diet stimulated hepatic relative PNPLA3 expression level 23-fold (p<0.001) both in C57BL/6 mice and LDLR-/- mice, suggesting that PNPLA3 does become an important player in hepatic lipid metabolism under conditions of lipid excess. Subjecting mice to fasting fully reversed the effect of the Western-type diet on hepatic PNPLA3 expression. Under these conditions, the expression level of PNPLA3 in adipose tissue is also decreased 90% (p<0.001). Cellular distribution analysis revealed that PNPLA3 is expressed in hepatocytes but not in liver endothelial and Kupffer cells. Microarray-based gene profiling showed that the expression level of PNPLA3 in hepatocytes is correlated with that of genes associated with the lipogenic pathway such as ME1, SPOT14, and SCD1.

CONCLUSIONS

It appears that the NAFLD-related gene PNPLA3 is highly responsive to metabolic changes in hepatocytes within the liver and its relative change in expression level suggests an essential function in lipogenesis.

Cloning, characterization and computational analysis of the 5' regulatory region of ovine glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase gene

To better understand the structure and the function of ovine glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) promoter region, a genome-walking procedure was followed to isolate and sequence a 1628 bp fragment, containing the 5' regulatory region of the G6PD gene. In silico analysis of the sequence showed many conserved blocks and features with other known mammalian G6PD promoter regions. The analysis also revealed the presence of one TATA box, three GC boxes, two E-boxes and several binding sites for Stimulating Protein 1 (Sp1) and Activator Protein 2 (AP2). Moreover, elements involved in the regulation of lipogenesis like USF (Upstream stimulating factor), HSF (Heat Shock Factor), F2F (Prolactin receptor), RAR (Retinoid Acid Receptor), STRE (STress Response Element), RORa (Retinoid related Orphan Receptor alpha), GATA (GATA binding factor), RFX (Regulatory Factor X), SREBP (Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein), MEP (Metal Element Protein), CREB (insulin receptor), PRE (Progesterone receptor), and HNF4 (Hepatic Nuclear Factor 4) were detected. The most important regulatory motifs were found to be conserved as compared to those in human and mouse counterparts. However, some differences were noted, likely indicating differences in the transcription regulation of G6PD gene between ruminant and non-ruminant species.

Dietary regulation of expression of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase

The family of enzymes involved in lipogenesis is a model system for understanding how a cell adapts to dietary energy in the form of carbohydrate versus energy in the form of triacylglycerol. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) is unique in this group of enzymes in that it participates in multiple metabolic pathways: reductive biosynthesis, including lipogenesis; protection from oxidative stress; and cellular growth. G6PD activity is enhanced by dietary carbohydrates and is inhibited by dietary polyunsaturated fats. These changes in G6PD activity are a consequence of changes in the expression of the G6PD gene. Nutrients can regulate the expression of genes at both transcriptional and posttranscriptional steps. Most lipogenic enzymes undergo large changes in the rate of gene transcription in response to dietary changes; however, G6PD is regulated at a step subsequent to transcription. This step is involved in the rate of synthesis of the mature mRNA in the nucleus, specifically regulation of the efficiency of splicing of the nascent G6PD transcript. Understanding the mechanisms by which nutrients alter nuclear posttranscriptional events will help uncover new information on the breadth of mechanisms involved in gene regulation.

Comparative effects of insulin and refeeding on DNA synthesis, HMP shunt and cholesterogenesis in diabetic and fasted rats

DNA synthesis, cholesterogenesis and the enzymes of the hexosemonophosphate (HMP) shunt pathway were investigated in liver of diabetic rats treated with insulin and in fasted/re-fed rats. Both insulin and refeeding were found to induce liver cell proliferation, accompanied by a remarkable increase in cholesterogenesis. An enhancement of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (G6PD) activities was also found in insulin-treated diabetic rats and in re-fed rats, supporting the concept that these two enzymes are involved in the proliferative process. Since insulin did not exert the same biochemical effects in a non replicating cell population, such as in insulin-treated normal rats, these studies provide new evidence of a close correlation between DNA, cholesterol synthesis and HMP shunt enzymes during cell proliferation.

Differential behaviour of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase in two morphological forms of Trypanosoma cruzi

1. Glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity (EC 1.1.1.49) of two morphological forms of Trypanosoma cruzi, epimastigotes and metacyclics, are reported. 2. The kinetic behaviour and some of the kinetic parameters of the enzyme in both forms were studied. The enzymes showed a simple Michaelis-Menten kinetic. 3. The activity in epimastigote forms was alway higher than the metacyclic ones. At subsaturating concentrations of substrate was almost 10-fold higher, whereas at saturating concentrations was about 2-fold higher. 4. In epimastigote forms the specific activity and Km values, at pH 7.5 and 37 degrees C, was found to be 142 mUnits x mg-1 of protein and 0.23 mM, respectively. 5. In the same conditions, the specific activity and Km values in metacyclic forms was 75 mUnits x mg-1 of protein and 1.06 mM, respectively. 6. A possible role in the carbohydrate metabolism of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase in both forms of Trypanosoma cruzi is discussed.