Transcriptional modulation by n-butyric acid of beta 1-, beta 2-, and beta 3-adrenergic receptor balance in 3T3-F442A adipocytes

Short Chain Fatty Acids in the Colon and Peripheral Tissues: A Focus on Butyrate, Colon Cancer, Obesity and Insulin Resistance

Increased dietary fiber consumption has been associated with many beneficial effects, including amelioration of obesity and insulin resistance. These effects may be due to the increased production of short chain fatty acids, including propionate, acetate and butyrate, during fermentation of the dietary fiber in the colon. Indeed, oral and dietary supplementation of butyrate alone has been shown to prevent high fat-diet induced obesity and insulin resistance. This review focuses on sources of short chain fatty acids, with emphasis on sources of butyrate, mechanisms of fiber and butyrate metabolism in the gut and its protective effects on colon cancer and the peripheral effects of butyrate supplementation in peripheral tissues in the prevention and reversal of obesity and insulin resistance.

Butyrate and other short-chain fatty acids increase the rate of lipolysis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes

We determined the effect of butyrate and other short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) on rates of lipolysis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Prolonged treatment with butyrate (5 mM) increased the rate of lipolysis approximately 2–3-fold. Aminobutyric acid and acetate had little or no effect on lipolysis, however propionate stimulated lipolysis, suggesting that butyrate and propionate act through their shared activity as histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors. Consistent with this, the HDAC inhibitor trichostatin A (1 µM) also stimulated lipolysis to a similar extent as did butyrate. Western blot data suggested that neither mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation nor perilipin down-regulation are necessary for SCFA-induced lipolysis. Stimulation of lipolysis with butyrate and trichostatin A was glucose-dependent. Changes in AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation mediated by glucose were independent of changes in rates of lipolysis. The glycolytic inhibitor iodoacetate prevented both butyrate- and tumor necrosis factor-alpha-(TNF-α) mediated increases in rates of lipolysis indicating glucose metabolism is required. However, unlike TNF-α– , butyrate-stimulated lipolysis was not associated with increased lactate release or inhibited by activation of pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) with dichloroacetate. These data demonstrate an important relationship between lipolytic activity and reported HDAC inhibitory activity of butyrate, other short-chain fatty acids and trichostatin A. Given that HDAC inhibitors are presently being evaluated for the treatment of diabetes and other disorders, more work will be essential to determine if these effects on lipolysis are due to inhibition of HDAC.

Protein kinase C-dependent antilipolysis by insulin in rat adipocytes

Recently, we have shown that protein kinase C (PKC) activated by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) attenuates the beta1-adrenergic receptor (beta1-AR)-mediated lipolysis in rat adipocytes. Stimulation of cells by insulin, angiotensin II, and alpha1-AR agonist is known to cause activation of PKC. In this study, we found that lipolysis induced by the beta1-AR agonist dobutamine is decreased and is no longer inhibited by PMA in adipocytes that have been treated with 20 nM insulin for 30 min followed by washing out insulin. Such effects on lipolysis were not found after pretreatment with angiotensin II and alpha1-AR agonists. The rate of lipolysis in the insulin-treated cells was normalized by the PKCalpha- and beta-specific inhibitor Gö 6976 and PKCbeta-specific inhibitor LY 333531. In the insulin-treated cells, wortmannin increased lipolysis and recovered the lipolysis-attenuating effect of PMA. Western blot analysis revealed that insulin slightly increases membrane-bound PKCalpha, betaI, and delta, and wortmannin decreases PKCbetaI, betaII, and delta in the membrane fraction. These results indicate that stimulation of insulin receptor induces a sustained activation of PKC-dependent antilipolysis in rat adipocytes.

Protein kinase C attenuates β-adrenergic receptor-mediated lipolysis, probably through inhibition of the β1-adrenergic receptor system

Lipolysis in rat white adipocytes is stimulated by beta-adrenergic agonists. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) attenuated the receptor-mediated lipolysis by causing a shift of the dose-response curve to the higher concentrations of norepinephrine and isoproterenol. Although the adipocytes possess beta1-, beta2-, and beta3-adrenergic receptor subtypes, the effect of PMA was observed only when a beta1-agonist (dobutamine) was used. No lipolysis-attenuating effect of PMA was found when cells were exposed to a beta2-agonist (procaterol) and beta3-agonists (BRL 37344 and CL 316243), or to forskolin and 8-bromo cAMP. CGP 20712A (beta1-antagonist) efficiently inhibited lipolysis by norepinephrine, isoproterenol, and dobutamine, but did not affect lipolysis by the beta2- and beta3-agonists. ICI 118551 (beta2-antagonist) had no significant effect on lipolysis by the beta-agonists examined. CGP 20712A abolished the lipolysis-attenuating effect of PMA, but ICI 118551 did not. The protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors, GF 109203X or Gö 6976, suppressed the effect of PMA. Pretreatment of adipocytes with PMA for 6 h caused downregulation of conventional and novel PKCs in association with a decrease in the lipolysis-attenuating effect of PMA. These results indicate that conventional and novel PKCs attenuate lipolysis mediated by beta-adrenergic receptors, probably through inhibition of the beta1-adrenergic receptor system.

Zinc finger protein ZNF202 structure and function in transcriptional control of HDL metabolism

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The zinc finger protein ZNF202 is a transcriptional repressor controlling promoter elements predominantly found in genes involved in lipid metabolism and energy homeostasis. Here we summarize the structure, regulation and modulation of ZNF202 function by protein interactions.

RECENT FINDINGS

We review recent data and discuss the importance of the steadily growing list of ZNF202 target genes, defining a central role for ZNF202 as a key transcriptional regulator in metabolic disorders. Furthermore, we provide an interlink between transcriptional repression by ZNF202 and enhancement of gene activation via nuclear receptor coactivation by SCAN domain protein 1.

SUMMARY

The novel findings suggest that ZNF202 together with other SCAN domain proteins orchestrates a complex transcriptional regulatory network, which justifies a further exploration of its potential as a therapeutic target in lipid disorders such as atherosclerosis and associated metabolic syndromes.

Neuropeptide AF and FF modulation of adipocyte metabolism. Primary insights from functional genomics and effects on beta-adrenergic responsiveness

The presence of a neuropeptide AF and FF receptor (NPFF-R2) mRNA in human adipose tissue (Elshourbagy, N. A., Ames, R. S., Fitzgerald, L. R., Foley, J. J., Chambers, J. K., Szekeres, P. G., Evans, N. A., Schmidt, D. B., Buckley, P. T., Dytko, G. M., Murdock, P. R., Tan, K. B., Shabon, U., Nuthulaganti, P., Wang, D. Y., Wilson, S., Bergsma, D. J., and Sarau, H. M. (2000) J. Biol. Chem. 275, 25965-25971) suggested these peptides, principally recognized for their pain modulating effects, may also impact on adipocyte metabolism, an aspect that has not been explored previously. Our aim was thus to obtain more insights into the actions of these peptides on adipocytes, an approach initially undertaken with a functional genomic assay. First we showed that 3T3-L1 adipocytes express both NPFF-R1 and NPFF-R2 transcripts, and that NPAF binds adipocyte membranes with a nanomolar affinity as assessed by surface plasmon resonance technology. Then, and following a 24-h treatment with NPFF or NPAF (1 microm), we have measured using real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase-PCR the mRNA steady state levels of already well characterized genes involved in key pathways of adipose metabolism. Among the 45 genes tested, few were modulated by NPFF ( approximately 10%) and a larger number by NPAF ( approximately 27%). Interestingly, NPAF increased the mRNA levels of beta2- and beta3-adrenergic receptors (AR), and to a lesser extent those of beta1-ARs. These variations in catecholamine receptor mRNAs correlated with a clear induction in the density of beta2- and beta3-AR proteins, and in the potency of beta-AR subtype-selective agonists to stimulate adenylyl cyclase activity. Altogether, these data show that NPFF-R1 and NPFF-R2 are functionally present in adipocytes and suggest that besides their well described pain modulation effects, NPAF and to a lesser extent NPFF, may have a global impact on body energy storage and utilization.

Insulin and sterol-regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SREBP-1C) regulation of gene expression in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Identification of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein beta as an SREBP-1C target

We evaluated the hypothesis of sterol-regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP)-1c being a general mediator of the transcriptional effects of insulin, with a focus on adipocytes, in which insulin profoundly influences specific gene expression. Using real time quantitative reverse transcriptase-PCR to monitor changes in the expression of about 50 genes that cover a wide range of adipocyte functions, we have compared the impact of insulin treatment with that of adenoviral overexpression of either dominant positive or dominant negative SREBP-1c mutants in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. As expected, insulin up-regulated, dominant positive stimulated, and dominant negative decreased previously characterized direct SREBP targets (FAS, SCD-1, and low density lipoprotein receptor). We also identified three novel SREBP-1c transcriptional targets in adipocytes, which were confirmed by run-on assays: plasminogen activator inhibitor 1, CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein delta (C/EBPdelta), and C/EBPbeta. Because most insulin-regulated genes were also modulated by SREBP-1c mutants, our data establish that 1) SREBP-1c is an important mediator of insulin transcriptional effects in adipocytes, and 2) C/EBPbeta is under the direct control of SREBP-1c, as demonstrated by the ability of SREBP-1c to activate the transcription from C/EBPbeta promoter through canonical SREBP binding sites. Thus, some of the effects of insulin and/or SREBP-1c in mature fat cells might require C/EBPbeta or C/EBPdelta as transcriptional relays.

Identification and characterization of cvHsp. A novel human small stress protein selectively expressed in cardiovascular and insulin-sensitive tissues

Starting with computational tools that search for tissue-selective expression of assembled expressed sequenced tags, we have identified by focusing on heart libraries a novel small stress protein of 170 amino acids that we named cvHsp. cvHsp was found as being computationally selectively and highly (0.3% of the total RNA) expressed in human heart. The cvHsp gene mapped to 1p36.23-p34.3 between markers D1S434 and D1S507. The expression of cvHsp was analyzed with RNA dot, Northern blots, or reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction: expression was high in heart, medium in skeletal muscle, and low in aorta or adipose tissues. In the heart of rat models of cardiac pathologies, cvHsp mRNA expression was either unchanged (spontaneous hypertension), up-regulated (right ventricular hypertrophy induced by monocrotaline treatment), or down-regulated (left ventricular hypertrophy following aortic banding). In obese Zucker rats, cvHsp mRNA was increased in skeletal muscle, brown, and white adipose tissues but remained unchanged in the heart. Western blot analysis using antipeptide polyclonal antibodies revealed two specific bands at 23 and 25 kDa for cvHsp in human heart. cvHsp interacted in both yeast two-hybrid and immunoprecipitation experiments with alpha-filamin or actin-binding protein 280. Within cvHsp, amino acid residues 56-119 were shown to be important for its specific interaction with the C-terminal tail of alpha-filamin.

Mechanisms regulating adipocyte lipolysis

Mechanisms regulating adipocyte lipolysis are reviewed in three stages. The first stage examines plasma membrane hormone receptors and G-proteins. The primary regulators of adipose tissue lipolysis, the catecholamines, bind to the alpha 2, beta 1, beta 2, and beta 3 adrenergic receptors. The alpha 2 receptor couples with Gi-proteins to inhibit cyclic AMP formation and lipolysis, while the beta receptors couple with Gs-proteins to stimulate cyclic AMP formation and lipolysis. The beta 1 receptor may mediate low level catecholamine stimulation, while the beta 3 receptor, which is activated by higher levels of catecholamines, may deliver a more sustained signal. The second stage examines the regulation of cyclic AMP, the intracellular messenger that activates protein kinase A. Adenylyl cyclase synthesizes cyclic AMP from ATP and is regulated by the G-proteins. Phosphodiesterase 3B hydrolyzes cyclic AMP to AMP and is activated and phosphorylated by both insulin and the catecholamines norepinephrine and epinephrine. The third stage focuses on the rate-limiting enzyme of lipolysis, hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL). This 82 to 88 kDa protein is regulated by reversible phosphorylation. Protein kinase A activates and phosphorylates the enzyme at 2 sites, and 3 phosphatases have been implicated in HSL dephosphorylation. The translocation of HSL from the cytosol to the lipid droplet in response to lipolytic stimulation may be facilitated by a family of lipid-associated droplets called perilipins that are heavily phosphorylated by protein kinase A and dephosphorylated by insulin. As the mechanisms regulating adipocyte lipolysis continue to be uncovered, we look forward to the challenges of integrating these findings with research at the in situ and in vivo levels.

Structure and function of the beta 3-adrenergic receptor

The beta 3 subtype of adrenaline and noradrenaline receptors has now been extensively characterized at the structural and functional levels. Ligand binding and adenylyl cyclase activation studies helped define a beta-adrenergic profile that is quite distinct from that of the beta 1- and beta 2-adrenergic receptors, but strongly reminiscent of most of the "atypical" responses reported in earlier pharmacologic studies. Human, other large mammal, and rodent receptors share most of the characteristic beta 3 properties, although obvious species-specific differences have been identified. Recently, the incidence of a naturally occurring variant of the human beta 3-adrenergic receptor was shown to be correlated with hereditary obesity in Pima Indians and in Japanese individuals, and in Western obese patients with increased dynamic capacity to add on weight and develop non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). A mild weight increase was also shown to develop in female, but not male, mice in which the beta 3 receptor gene was disrupted. Taken together, these results now provide a consistent picture of an important role of the beta 3-adrenoceptor in the regulation of lipid metabolism and as an obvious target for drugs to treat some forms of obesity.

Function and regulation of the beta 3-adrenoceptor

The cloning, sequencing and expression in model systems of the previously unidentified beta 3-adrenoceptor recently led to an extensive functional characterization. Ligand binding and adenylate cyclase activation studies helped define a specific profile that is quite distinct from that of the beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptors, but strongly reminiscent of most of the 'atypical' beta-adrenoceptor-mediated responses reported in earlier pharmacological studies. More recently, a naturally occurring variation in the human beta 3-adrenoceptor has been correlated with hereditary obesity and with increased dynamic capacity to add on weight and develop non-insulin dependent diabetes in Western obese patients. Donny Strosberg and France Pietri-Rouxel describe how results now provide a consistent picture of an important role for the human beta 3-adrenoceptor in the regulation of lipid metabolism and as an obvious target for drugs to treat some forms of obesity and diabetes.

Triiodothyronine regulates beta 3-adrenoceptor expression in 3T3-F442A differentiating adipocytes

The effect of thyroid hormones on the beta 3-adrenoceptor expression was studied in the preadipose 3T3-F442A cell line. As assessed by molecular and pharmacological analyses, triiodothyronine addition to differentiating 3T3-F442A cells caused a 2.3-fold increase in beta 3-adrenoceptor mRNA levels, which was correlated with a parallel induction of beta 3-adrenoceptor number and of beta 3-adrenoceptor coupling to the adenylate cyclase system. Nuclear transcription experiments showed that triiodothyronine did not significantly alter the transcription rate of the beta 3-adrenoceptor gene. By contrast, the hormone increased by 36% the half-life of beta 3-adrenoceptor mRNA. Triiodothyronine exhibited a discrete effect on beta 3-adrenoceptor expression when added to mature 3T3-F442A adipocytes. This study indicates that thyroid hormones exert a differentiation-dependent and post-transcriptional regulation of beta 3-adrenoceptor expression in adipocytes.

Developmental expression and functional activity of beta 1- and beta 3-adrenoceptors in murine 3T3-F442A differentiating adipocytes

Beta 1- and beta 3-adrenoceptor mRNA and protein expression, and contribution of each subtype to the catecholamine-sensitive adenylyl cyclase system were studied during the adipose conversion of the murine 3T3-F442A cell line. Northern and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analyses indicated that emergence of beta 3-adrenoceptor transcripts was concomittant with that of the gene encoding adipsin, a very late marker of adipose differentiation. Conversely, the induction of the beta 1-adrenoceptor mRNA occurred early after cell commitment towards adipose conversion. Changes in beta-subtype gene expression were accompanied by parallel modifications in receptor expression and function. 125I-cyanopindolol saturation and competition binding experiments showed a 3-fold increase in beta 1-adrenoceptor density in day 3 post-confluent cells. The beta 3-subtype population became detectable later and represented approximately 95% of total beta-adrenoceptors in day 8 and day 12 post-confluent cells. Adenylyl cyclase activity in response to the beta 3-adrenoceptor-selective agonists CGP12177 (4-(3-t-butylamino-2-hydroxypropoxy)-benzimidazol-2-one), ICI201651 ([(R)-4-(2 hydroxy-3-phenoxypropylamino-ethoxy)-N-(2- methoxyethyl)phenoxy-acetamide]) and cyanopindolol was virtually absent in young adipocytes, but dramatically increased in mature cells. The respective contributions of the beta 1- and the beta 3-subtypes to the production of cAMP were resolved by an Eadie-Hofstee computer analysis of isoproterenol and norepinephrine concentration-response curve of adenylyl cyclase activity. Agonist response curves in the presence of beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptor antagonist indicated that the beta 1-subtype accounted for the totality of beta-adrenoceptor-mediated adenylyl cyclase activation in young adipocytes. In mature adipose cells approximately 90% of this response was due to an activation of the beta 3-adrenoceptor. In addition, approximately 84% of the maximal norepinephrine-stimulated lipolysis was mediated by the beta 3-adrenoceptor in fully differentiated adipocytes. The differentiation-dependent expression of beta-subtypes in adipocytes is a biphasic process involving an initial and moderate induction of beta 1-adrenoceptors followed by the emergence of a prominent beta 3-adrenoceptor population. Compared analysis of both receptor occupancy and cAMP production shows that the beta 3-subtype is more efficiently coupled to the adenylyl cyclase system than the beta 1-adrenoceptor. Thus in mature adipose cells this receptor subtype represents the core of cAMP-dependent regulation of the lipolytic, antilipogenic and thermogenic effects of catecholamines.

Characterization and localization of atypical beta-adrenoceptors in rat ileum

1. Homogenate binding studies and receptor autoradiography have been used to examine the binding characteristics and localization of propranolol-resistant (-)-[125I]-cyanopindolol (CYP) binding sites in rat ileum. 2. Saturation studies with (-)-[125I]-CYP and homogenates of rat ileum identified a site with pKD 8.89 +/- 0.08 and Bmax = 50.3 +/- 4.1 fmol mg-1 protein (n = 6). Both beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptors (AR) were not detected in these preparations. 3. (-)-Isoprenaline infusion (400 micrograms kg-1 h-1) for 14 days caused no significant change in the density of (-)-[125I]-CYP binding which was 48.9 +/- 12.8 and 40.6 +/- 12.3 fmol mg-1 protein in control and isoprenaline-treated animals respectively (n = 6) (P = 0.97). 4. Competition for (-)-[125I]-CYP binding in the presence of 0.1 microM (-)-propranolol gave affinity values for CYP, tertatolol, alprenolol, ICI 118551 and CGP 20712A that correspond to known affinities at atypical beta-ARs. Stereoselectivity ratios for tertatolol and alprenolol were low. 5. Autoradiographic localization of propranolol resistant (-)-[125I]-CYP binding showed sites associated with the mucosa and to a lesser extent to the muscularis. A small population of beta 2-ARs were detected located predominantly in the longitudinal and circular smooth muscle layers. 6. This study identifies an (-)-[125I]-CYP binding site in rat ileum that is resistant to blockade by propranolol (0.1 microM), is located predominantly in the mucosa, shows resistance to downregulation by isoprenaline and has binding characteristics of the atypical beta-AR.

Structure, function, and regulation of the three beta-adrenergic receptors

Three beta-adrenergic receptor subtypes are now known to be functionally expressed in mammals. All three belong to the R7G family of receptors coupled to G-proteins, and characterized by an extracellular glycosylated N-terminal and an intracellular C-terminal region and seven transmembrane domains, linked by three extra- and three intracellular loops. The catecholamine ligand binding domain, studied using affinity-labeling and site-directed mutagenesis, is a pocket lined by residues belonging to the transmembrane domains. The region responsible for the interaction with the Gs protein which, when activated, stimulates adenylyl cyclase, is composed of residues belonging to the parts most proximal to the membrane of intracellular loop i3 and the C-terminal region. The pharmacology of the three subtypes is quite distinct: in fact most of the potent beta 1/beta 2 antagonists (the well known beta blockers) act as agonists on beta 3. The subtype is resistant to short-term desensitization mediated by phosphorylation through PKA or beta ARK, in stark contrast to the beta 1 or beta 2 subtypes. Various compounds (dexamethasone, butyrate, insulin) upregulate beta 1 or beta 2 subtypes while down-regulating beta 3 whose expression strictly correlates with differentiation of 3T3-F442A fibroblasts into adipocytes, thus confirming that the expression of the three subtypes may each be regulated independently to exert a specific physiologic role in different tissues or at different stages of development.

Long term phorbol ester treatment down-regulates the beta 3-adrenergic receptor in 3T3-F442A adipocytes

The role of protein kinase C (PKC) in the regulation of the beta 3-adrenergic receptor (beta 3-AR) gene was examined in murine 3T3-F442A adipocytes, which express this receptor subtype at a high level. We also investigated the involvement of this kinase in the modulation of beta 3-AR gene expression by insulin. Long term exposure of 3T3-F442A adipocytes to phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) decreased beta 3-AR mRNA content in a time- and concentration-dependent manner, with maximal changes observed at 6 h (6.5-fold decrease) and at 100 nM PMA. This inhibition was selective for beta 3-AR transcripts, since beta 1- and beta 2-AR mRNA content remained unchanged. Also, (-)-[125I]cyanopindolol saturation and competition binding experiments on adipocyte membranes indicated that PMA induced an approximately 2-fold decrease in beta 3-AR expression, while that of the two other subtypes was not affected. This correlated with a lower efficacy of beta 3-AR agonists to stimulate adenylyl cyclase. Conversely, long term exposure to PMA did not alter adenylyl cyclase activity in response to guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) or forskolin. The inactive phorbol ester 4 alpha-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate did not repress beta 3-AR mRNA levels. Inhibition of beta 3-AR mRNA by PMA was suppressed by the PKC-selective inhibitor bisindolylmaleimide, and was not observed in PKC-depleted cells, indicating that PKC was involved in this response. mRNA turnover experiments showed that the half-life of beta 3-AR transcripts was not affected by long term PMA exposure. When 3T3-F442A adipocytes were pretreated with PMA for 24 h to down-regulate PKC, or with bisindolylmaleimide, the insulin-induced inhibition of beta 3-AR mRNA levels was reduced by 44-67%. These findings demonstrate that sustained PKC activation exerts a specific control of beta 3-AR gene expression and is involved, at least in part, in the modulation by insulin of this adrenergic receptor subtype.

Why do adipocytes make the beta 3 adrenergic receptor?

Adipocytes express a mixture of beta-adrenergic receptor subtypes, including the recently characterized beta 3 receptor. The co-expression of these subtypes by fat cells suggest they serve different signalling functions. In this review, the properties of recombinant and natively-expressed beta 3 receptors are detailed and contrasted with those of beta 1 and beta 2 receptors. The beta 3 receptor appears to differ from the other beta receptor subtypes with respect to receptor coupling efficiency, G-protein coupling specificity and regulation by agonist exposure. Lastly, the potential of the beta 3 receptor as a therapeutic target is discussed in view of new data regarding its tissue distribution in humans.