Characterization of nuclear protein binding (AP-1, GR, and STAT) in the genetically obese (fa/fa) Zucker rat

Immunohistochemical localization of CB1 cannabinoid receptors in frontal cortex and related limbic areas in obese Zucker rats: effects of chronic fluoxetine treatment

In the present study, we report on the application of two specific polyclonal antibodies to different intracellular domains of the CB1 cannabinoid receptor to define the expression of the neural CB1 cannabinoid receptor at the histochemical level in frontal cortex and related limbic areas of the obese Zucker rats. Higher levels of CB1 receptor expression in frontal, cingulated and piriform cortex, without differences in temporal, parietal and occipital cortex, were observed in obese Zucker rats, with respect to their lean littermates. CB1 phosphorylated receptor (CB1-P) levels were also higher in frontal, temporal, parietal and occipital cortex in obese rats with respect to lean controls. Potential involvement of brain cortical CB1 cannabinoid receptors in the long-term effects of fluoxetine was studied. Experimental animals were administered with fluoxetine (10 mg/kg, i.p.) daily for 3 weeks, whereas the control group was given 0.9% NaCl solution. In obese Zucker rats, a significant decrease in CB1 receptor levels, measured by western blot, was observed in brain cortex after fluoxetine treatment. Immunostaining for CB1 receptor expression was also carried out, showing a significant decrease in the density of neural cells positive for CB1 receptor in frontal, cingulate and piriform cortex, without changes in parietal, temporal and occipital regions. Regional prosencephalic immunostaining for CB1-P receptor level showed a significant decrease in the density of stained neural cells in frontal, temporal and parietal cortex, without changes in cingulated, piriform and occipital cortex. These results suggest the involvement of endocannabinoid system in the chronic effects of fluoxetine, especially in the frontal cortex.

STAT5 proteins are involved in down-regulation of iron regulatory protein 1 gene expression by nitric oxide

RNA-binding activity of IRP1 (iron regulatory protein 1) is regulated by the insertion/extrusion of a [4Fe-4S] cluster into/from the IRP1 molecule. NO (nitic oxide), whose ability to activate IRP1 by removing its [4Fe-4S] cluster is well known, has also been shown to down-regulate expression of the IRP1 gene. In the present study, we examine whether this regulation occurs at the transcriptional level. Analysis of the mouse IRP1 promoter sequence revealed two conserved putative binding sites for transcription factor(s) regulated by NO and/or changes in intracellular iron level: Sp1 (promoter-selective transcription factor 1) and MTF1 (metal transcription factor 1), plus GAS (interferon-gamma-activated sequence), a binding site for STAT (signal transducer and activator of transcription) proteins. In order to define the functional activity of these sequences, reporter constructs were generated through the insertion of overlapping fragments of the mouse IRP1 promoter upstream of the luciferase gene. Transient expression assays following transfection of HuH7 cells with these plasmids revealed that while both the Sp1 and GAS sequences are involved in basal transcriptional activity of the IRP1 promoter, the role of the latter is predominant. Analysis of protein binding to these sequences in EMSAs (electrophoretic mobility-shift assays) using nuclear extracts from mouse RAW 264.7 macrophages stimulated to synthesize NO showed a significant decrease in the formation of Sp1-DNA and STAT-DNA complexes, compared with controls. We have also demonstrated that the GAS sequence is involved in NO-dependent down-regulation of IRP1 transcription. Further analysis revealed that levels of STAT5a and STAT5b in the nucleus and cytosol of NO-producing macrophages are substantially lower than in control cells. These findings provide evidence that STAT5 proteins play a role in NO-mediated down-regulation of IRP1 gene expression.

Role of oxidative stress in the increased activation of signal transducers and activators of transcription-3 in the fatty livers of obese Zucker rats

BACKGROUND

Fatty livers have chronic oxidative stress, which could activate several transcription factors. We hypothesized that fatty livers of obese rats have increased activation of signal transducers and activators of transcription-1 and transcription-3 (Stat-1 and Stat-3) and that tocopherol treatment will decrease Stat activation.

METHODS

Obese (Ob) and lean (Ln) Zucker rats with or without tocopherol treatment were used. Western blots of liver nuclear and cytoplasmic extracts to assess phosphorylated and total Stat-3 and tyrosine kinases Jak-2 and Tyk-2, immunohistochemistry to assess distribution of phosphoStat-3, and gel shift assays to assess Stat and nuclear factor kappa B binding were performed. Interleukin-6 serum levels and hepatic transcripts were determined by immunoassay and reverse polymerase chain reaction with Southern blotting, respectively.

RESULTS

Livers of Ob animals had increased nuclear phosphoStat-3, decreased cytoplasmic Stat-3, and increased Stat-3 binding. Serum interleukin-6 was not measurable in either Ob or Ln animals and hepatic transcript levels were not significantly different. Tocopherol administration decreased nuclear phosphoStat-3, increased cytoplasmic Stat-3, and decreased Stat-3 binding activity.

CONCLUSIONS

Chronic oxidative stress in fatty livers is associated with increased Stat-3 activation and decreased cytosolic Stat-3. Tocopherol treatment decreases Stat-3 activation and increases cytosolic Stat-3. Tocopherol-induced changes in Stat-3 may play a role in its beneficial effects in hepatic ischemia in fatty livers.

Role of constitutive androstane receptor in the in vivo induction of Mrp3 and CYP2B1/2 by phenobarbital

Phenobarbital (PB) induces the hepatic organic anion transporter, Mrp3. The present study tested the hypothesis that Mrp3 induction by PB is mediated by the constitutive androstane receptor (CAR). PB induction of Mrp3 and CYP2B was examined in lean and obese Zucker rats, male and female Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats, HepG2 and mouse CAR-expressing HepG2 (g2car-3) cells; HepG2 and g2car-3 cells also were treated with 1,4-bis[2-(3,5-dichloropyridyloxy)]benzene (TCPOBOP). In obese Zucker rat livers, total and nuclear CAR levels were markedly lower compared with lean rat livers, which correlated with the poor induction of CYP2B1/2 by PB in obese Zucker rats. Mrp3 induction by PB also was impaired in obese Zucker rat livers. Induction of Mrp3 by PB was similar in male and female WKY rat livers, despite the fact that CAR protein levels were significantly lower in female relative to male WKY rat livers. MRP3 levels in both HepG2 and g2car-3 cells were induced to a similar extent in the two cell lines by PB but not by TCPOBOP. In contrast, CYP2B6 levels were measurable and induced by TCPOBOP only in g2car-3 cells. In conclusion, data from WKY rats and HepG2 cells suggest that CAR does not play a key role in PB induction of Mrp3. Impaired induction of Mrp3 by PB in obese Zucker rats is not due solely to CAR deficiency. Interestingly, differences in the constitutive levels of Mrp3 were observed between obese and lean Zucker rats and between male and female WKY rats.