Down-regulation of uncoupling protein-3 and -2 by thiazolidinediones in C2C12 myotubes

PPARs in the Control of Uncoupling Proteins Gene Expression

Uncoupling proteins (UCPs) are mitochondrial membrane transporters involved in the control of energy conversion in mitochondria. Experimental and genetic evidence relate dysfunctions of UCPs with metabolic syndrome and obesity. The PPAR subtypes mediate to a large extent the transcriptional regulation of the UCP genes, with a distinct relevance depending on the UCP gene and the tissue in which it is expressed. UCP1 gene is under the dual control of PPARγ and PPARα in relation to brown adipocyte differentiation and lipid oxidation, respectively. UCP3 gene is regulated by PPARα and PPARδ in the muscle, heart, and adipose tissues. UCP2 gene is also under the control of PPARs even in tissues in which it is the predominantly expressed UCP (eg, the pancreas and liver). This review summarizes the current understanding of the role of PPARs in UCPs gene expression in normal conditions and also in the context of type-2 diabetes or obesity.

Mechanisms of cancer cachexia

Up to 50% of cancer patients suffer from a progressive atrophy of adipose tissue and skeletal muscle, called cachexia, resulting in weight loss, a reduced quality of life, and a shortened survival time. Anorexia often accompanies cachexia, but appears not to be responsible for the tissue loss, particularly lean body mass. An increased resting energy expenditure is seen, possibly arising from an increased thermogenesis in skeletal muscle due to an increased expression of uncoupling protein, and increased operation of the Cori cycle. Loss of adipose tissue is due to an increased lipolysis by tumor or host products. Loss of skeletal muscle in cachexia results from a depression in protein synthesis combined with an increase in protein degradation. The increase in protein degradation may include both increased activity of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway and lysosomes. The decrease in protein synthesis is due to a reduced level of the initiation factor 4F, decreased elongation, and decreased binding of methionyl-tRNA to the 40S ribosomal subunit through increased phosphorylation of eIF2 on the alpha-subunit by activation of the dsRNA-dependent protein kinase, which also increases expression of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway through activation of NFkappaB. Tumor factors such as proteolysis-inducing factor and host factors such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha, angiotensin II, and glucocorticoids can all induce muscle atrophy. Knowledge of the mechanisms of tissue destruction in cachexia should improve methods of treatment.

PPAR-gamma expression modulates insulin sensitivity in C2C12 skeletal muscle cells

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma) expression is very low in skeletal muscle cells, which is one of the most important target tissues for insulin and plays a predominant role in glucose homeostasis. It has recently been shown that muscle-specific PPAR-gamma deletion in mouse causes insulin resistance. However, it is likely that the observed effects might be due to secondary interaction in whole animal. The aim of the study was to explore the role of muscle PPAR-gamma in insulin sensitivity. We stably transfected C2C12 skeletal muscle cells with plasmids containing sense or antisense constructs of PPAR-gamma and examined the effect of modulation of PPAR-gamma expression in terms of glucose uptake. Effect was also examined in insulin-resistant C2C12 skeletal muscle cells. In transfected C2C12 cell line, the inhibition of PPAR-gamma expression (23.0 +/-0.005%) was observed to induce insulin resistance as determined by functional assessment of 2-deoxyglucose incorporation. Overexpression of PPAR-gamma (28.5 +/- 0.008%) produced an additional effect on insulin (100 nM) and Pioglitazone (50 microM), resulting in 42.7 +/- 3.5% increase in glucose uptake as against 29.2+/-2.8% in wild-type C2C12 skeletal muscle cells differentiated under normal (2% horse serum) condition. Under similar treatment, PPAR-gamma overexpressing cells resistant to insulin exhibited enhanced glucose uptake upto 60.7 +/- 4.08%, as compared to 23.8 +/- 5.1% observed in wild-type C2C12 skeletal muscle cells. These data demonstrate a direct involvement of PPAR-gamma in insulin sensitization of TZD action on skeletal muscle cells, and suggest that pharmacological overexpression of muscle PPAR-gamma gene in skeletal muscle might be a useful strategy for the treatment of insulin resistance.

Links between fatty acids and expression of UCP2 and UCP3 mRNAs

Physiological and pathological states that are associated with elevated plasma fatty acids (FAs) increase uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) mRNA in white adipose tissue and UCP3 mRNA in skeletal muscle and heart. A direct effect of unsaturated fatty acids from all classes has been shown in various cultured cells. There is evidence that FAs could induce expression of UCPs by acting as ligands for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors, influencing the function of sterol responsive element binding protein or activating 5'-AMP-activated protein kinase. Oleic acid has been shown to stimulate the activity of the promoter regions of UCP2 and UCP3 genes and the FA responsive regions are beginning to be characterised.

Down-regulation of acyl-CoA oxidase gene expression in heart of troglitazone-treated mice through a mechanism involving chicken ovalbumin upstream promoter transcription factor II

Cardiac expression of genes involved in fatty acid metabolism may suffer alterations depending on the substrate availability. We studied how troglitazone, an antidiabetic drug that selectively activates peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma), affected the expression of several of these genes. A single-day troglitazone administration (100 mg/kg/day) did not significantly alter plasma free fatty acids or triglyceride levels. In contrast, a 10-day period of troglitazone treatment significantly reduced plasma free fatty acids and triglyceride levels by 74% (P < 0.001) and 56% (P < 0.01), respectively. Cardiac mRNA expression of acyl-CoA oxidase (ACO) increased (8.3-fold induction) after 1-day troglitazone treatment, whereas after 10 days of treatment ACO mRNA levels were dramatically reduced (98% reduction, P < 0.02), as well as those of uncoupling protein 3 (41% reduction, P = 0.05). The mRNA expression of PPARalpha and several PPAR target genes, such as medium chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase or fatty acid translocase were not altered after 10 days of troglitazone treatment, whereas muscle-type carnitine palmitoyltransferase I increased 1.7-fold (P < 0.05). The reduction in ACO expression in the hearts of 10-day troglitazone-treated mice was accompanied by an increase in the protein levels of the transcriptional repressor chicken ovalbumin upstream promoter transcription factor II (COUP-TF II). Electrophoretic mobility shift assays performed with COUP-TF II antibody to examine its interaction with a labeled peroxisome proliferator response element probe showed enhanced binding of COUP-TFII in cardiac nuclear extracts from troglitazone-treated mice for 10 days but not in the control nuclear extracts. Overall, the findings presented here show that 10 days of troglitazone treatment decreased expression of the ACO gene through a mechanism involving the transcriptional repressor COUP-TF II.

Development of insulin resistance and reversal by thiazolidinediones in C2C12 skeletal muscle cells

AIM/HYPOTHESIS

The aim of this study was to develop an insulin-resistant cell culture model in skeletal muscle cell line by chronic presence of insulin in serum-free medium and to determine the effect of thiazolidinediones on insulin signaling.

METHODS

We differentiated C2C12 in a combination of serum-free medium in presence or absence of insulin and determined differentiation by creatine kinase activity, myogenin and MyoD expression. The development of insulin resistance was determined by tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptor and insulin receptor substrate-1, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activity associated with insulin receptor substrate-1 and glucose uptake. We treated the cells with 50 microM of thiazolidinediones to determine the effect on these parameters.

RESULTS

C2C12 cells were differentiated normally in the serum-free medium in the absence or presence of insulin. Chronic treatment of insulin resulted in reduced tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptor and insulin receptor substrate-1; activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase was impaired and insulin-stimulated glucose uptake was reduced. The treatment of insulin-resistant cells with thiazolidinediones resulted in the enhancement of insulin signaling pathway by increasing tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptor, insulin receptor substrate-1, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activity and glucose uptake.

CONCLUSION/INTERPRETATION

These results indicate that insulin resistance can be developed in C2C12 skeletal muscle cell line. These findings implicate a direct mechanism of action of thiazolidinediones on skeletal muscle.

Molecular pathology of tumor metastasis III. Target array and combinatorial therapies

Therapy of tumor progression and the metastatic disease is the biggest challenge of clinical oncology. Discovery of the diverse molecular pathways behind this complex disease outlined an approach to better treatment strategies. The development of combined cytotoxic treatment protocols has produced promising results but no breakthrough in the clinical management of metastatic disease. The multiple - specific and non-specific pathways and cellular targets of tumor progression are outlined in this review. Such an approach, individually designed for various cancer types, may have a better chance to treat or even cure cancer patients with progressive disease.

Subtype specific roles of mitogen activated protein kinases in L6E9 skeletal muscle cell differentiation

Role of mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPK) in skeletal muscle differentiation is not fully understood. We investigated subtype-specific functions and their interactions, if any, in the regulation of myogenic differentiation in L6E9 skeletal muscle cells. We show inhibition of extracellular signal-regulated kinase-1 and -2 (ERK-1/-2) and activation of p38 MAP kinase during the differentiation of L6E9 rat skeletal muscle cells under low serum condition. Inhibition of ERK-1/-2 activity dramatically enhanced differentiation as was evident from cellular morphology, expression of muscle differentiation specific marker proteins, suggesting that ERK-1/-2 activation may be inhibitory to initiation and progression of differentiation. In contrast, inhibition of p38 MAP kinase completely prevented differentiation; meaning p38 activation is required from the initiation till terminal differentiation of L6E9 cells. Moreover, inhibition of ERK-1/-2 activities enhanced the activation of p38 MAP kinase that resulted in enhancement of differentiation; whereas inhibition of p38 MAP kinase activity enhanced the ERK-1/-2 activities culminating in abrogation of differentiation. We conclude that ERK-1/-2 andp38 MAPkinase cascades oppositelyregulate each other's function(s) thereby regulating L6E9 skeletal muscle differentiation.

Relationship between plasma free fatty acids and uncoupling protein-3 gene expression in skeletal muscle of obese subjects: in vitro evidence of a causal link

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether skeletal muscle uncoupling protein-2 (UCP2) and uncoupling protein-3 (UCP3) gene expression is altered in massive obesity and whether it correlates with in vivo insulin sensitivity and with metabolic and hormonal status.

DESIGN

Quantification of UCP2 and UCP3 gene expression in skeletal muscle of obese and lean subjects displaying different degrees of insulin sensitivity.

PATIENTS

Fourteen obese and 10 age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects with a mean body mass index (BMI) of 43.6 +/- 1.4 and 22.8 +/- 1.8 (+/- SEM), respectively.

MEASUREMENTS

Insulin sensitivity by glucose clamp, body composition by bio-impedance, fasting plasma glucose, insulin, leptin and free fatty acids (FFA). Skeletal muscle UCP2 and UCP3 mRNA levels by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTS

No significant differences in UCP2 or UCP3 mRNA levels were found between obese and control subjects. No significant correlation was observed, in both groups, between UCP2 or UCP3 mRNA levels and both anthropometrical and metabolic parameters. In contrast, a highly significant correlation was observed between skeletal muscle UCP3, but not UCP2, mRNA levels and plasma FFA in the obese, but not in the lean, group. Furthermore, exposure of human myocytes to FFA for 24 h strongly induced both UCP3 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARgamma) but not UCP2 gene expression.

CONCLUSIONS

FFA levels correlate strongly with skeletal muscle UCP3 mRNA levels in obese, but not in lean, subjects; in addition, in human myocytes, high FFA concentrations promote UCP3 expression. Our studies therefore provide evidence that supports a role for increased plasma FFA concentrations in the regulation of human skeletal muscle UCP3 gene expression.

Glucocorticoid hormone stimulates mitochondrial biogenesis specifically in skeletal muscle

High levels of circulating glucocorticoid hormone may be important mediators for elevating resting metabolic rate upon severe injury or stress. We therefore investigated the effect of dexamethasone on mitochondrial biogenesis in rats (6 mg/kg daily) as well as in cells in culture (1 microM) over a period of 3 d. A marked stimulation of mitochondrial DNA transcription and increased levels of cytochrome c oxidase activity were found in skeletal muscle of rats and differentiated mouse C2C12 muscle cells, but not in other tissues, myoblasts, or other cell lines. The effect was inhibited by RU486. Therefore, increased occupancy of glucocorticoid receptors is necessary, but not sufficient to increase mitochondrial biogenesis and other, skeletal muscle specific factors are postulated. Expression of the mitochondrial transcription factor A was unchanged, suggesting a possible involvement of the recently described mitochondrial glucocorticoid receptor. Expression of uncoupling protein-3 was also unchanged. In conclusion, our results show that high levels of glucocorticoid hormone are sufficient to stimulate mitochondrial biogenesis; however, only in skeletal muscle. Increased mitochondrial mass in this tissue, without changes of the coupling state of the respiratory chain, might be the molecular basis for the elevated resting metabolic rate observed under high cortisol levels in humans.

Transcriptional regulation of uncoupling protein-2 gene expression in L6 myotubes

OBJECTIVE

To increase the understanding of the transcriptional regulation of UCP2 gene expression in skeletal muscle cells, we examined the effect of all-trans-retinoic acid (tRA), a ligand (after the conversion to 9-cis-RA) of the retinoid X receptor (RXR), and linolenic acid, a polyunsaturated fatty acid and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) ligand, on the expression of UCP2 mRNA in cultured L6 myotubes.

RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES

UCP2 gene expression in L6 myotubes was confirmed by Northern blot analysis. The time- and concentration-dependency of tRA and linolenic acid on UCP2 gene expression was assessed by dot blot quantification. The mRNA levels of PPAR subtypes (alpha, gamma and delta) were determined by RT-PCR.

RESULTS

tRA induced UCP2 gene expression in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Similar to tRA, UCP2 mRNA was markedly increased by 0.5 mM linolenic acid. In L6 myotubes, PPARdelta mRNA was abundant, whereas PPARalpha mRNA was lower and PPARgamma mRNA was minimal.

CONCLUSIONS

UCP2 mRNA expression in L6 myotubes is up-regulated by tRA and linolenic acid, possibly through a mechanism involving PPAR and RXRs.

Upregulation of uncoupling protein homologues in skeletal muscle but not adipose tissue in posttraumatic insulin resistance

Metabolic alterations after surgical stress include peripheral insulin resistance and increased utilization of fat as a fuel substrate. An up-regulation of skeletal muscle uncoupling proteins (UCPs) has been associated with physiologic states of insulin resistance and enhanced fat metabolism in rodents. We examined whether posttraumatic insulin resistance induced the UCPs in gastrocnemius and soleus muscle and white adipose tissue in an experimental model of surgical trauma. Insulin sensitivity was significantly reduced in isolated soleus muscles but unchanged in adipocytes after trauma. In traumatized rats, mRNA and protein contents of UCP2 and UCP3 and were significantly increased in both muscle types. UCP2 protein content in adipose tissue was unaltered by surgical stress. Circulating NEFAs and glycerol were reduced after surgical trauma. We hypothesize that the changes in UCP2 and UCP3 gene and protein expression are involved in the regulation of substrate utilization in posttraumatic insulin resistance.