The relationship between the concentration of adenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate and the anti-lipolytic action of insulin in isolated rat fat-cells

Relationship between intracellular cyclic AMP and lipolysis in human adipose tissue

Human subcutaneous adipose tissue has been incubated in vitro in the presence and absence of isoprenaline (ISNA). The tissue concentration of cyclic AMP (cAMP) and the release of glycerol into the incubation medium were measured after various incubation periods. In the presence of ISNA (6 X 10(-5) mol/l), the tissue concentration of cAMP reached a peak after around 10 min and then declined to a level significantly lower than that at the start of the incubation. In contrast, the ISNA-induced rate of lipolysis was a linear function of the incubation time. The addition of propranolol (13 mumol/l) at different times after ISNA did not influence the rate of lipolysis, although it resulted in a decrease in the tissue level of cAMP. There was a positive correlation between the maximal increase in tissue cAMP and the rate of lipolysis in adipose tissue exposed to ISNA, both in individual experiments and in a group of 23 persons. No correlation was found between the rate of lipolysis and the tissue level of cAMP in adipose tissue incubated under basal conditions. The findings are compatible with the theory that the beta-adrenergic-induced lipolysis by human adipose tissue is a function of the maximal rise in the concentration of tissue cAMP. It is concluded that this peak level of cAMP represents single compartment of the nucleotide.

Insulin induced phosphorylation and activation of the cGMP-inhibited cAMP phosphodiesterase in human platelets

Insulin induced phosphorylation and activation of the cGMP inhibited cAMP phosphodiesterase (cGI-PDE) in human platelets were demonstrated after isolation of the enzyme with specific polyclonal cGI-PDE antibodies. The demonstration of this insulin effect required suppression of basal cGI-PDE phosphorylation, through the use of the protein kinase inhibitor H-7 (1-(5-isoquinolinylsulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine). The human platelet insulin receptor beta-subunit, previously identified as a 97 kDa polypeptide, was detected with the use of wheat germ agglutinin chromatography and anti-phosphotyrosine antibodies. These results suggest that insulin, through phosphorylation/activation of cGI-PDE, could decrease cAMP/cAMP dependent protein kinase (cAMP-PK) activity and thereby make the platelets more sensitive towards aggregating agents.

Desensitization of the insulin receptor by antireceptor antibodies in vivo is blocked by treatment of mice with beta-adrenergic agonists

In previous studies we reported that immunization of mice with ungulate insulins induced the development of antiinsulin antibodies, which include an idiotype that appeared to recognize the part of the insulin molecule recognized by the hormone receptor. The antiinsulin antibodies of this idiotype were replaced spontaneously by antiidiotypic antibodies. The antiidiotypic antibodies, which persisted for about 14 d, mimicked insulin and functioned as antibodies to the insulin receptor. They induced down regulation, desensitization and refractoriness of the insulin receptor and disturbances in glucose homeostasis in vivo (Shechter, Y., D. Elias, R. Maron, and I.R. Cohen., 1984; Elias, D., R. Maron, I.R. Cohen, and Y. Shechter. 1984, J. Biol. Chem. 259: 6411-6419). We now report that effects of the antiidiotypic antibodies on the insulin receptor effector system can be modified pharmacologically. Administration of the beta-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol during the period of insulin resistance (days 26-40 after primary immunization), largely restored fat cell responsiveness to insulin, and eliminated the appearance of fasting hyperglycemia. This restoration appeared to be caused by inhibition of both insulin receptor desensitization and refractoriness. In contrast, down regulation of insulin receptors was not reversed by isoproterenol treatment in vivo. The effects of treatment with isoproterenol persisted for 2-4 d after termination of treatment. The beta-antagonist, propranolol and more so, the beta 1a-antagonist metoprolol, specifically blocked the effect of isoproterenol at a molar ratio of 3-10:1. Oral administration of the cAMP phosphodiesterase inhibitor, aminophylline, was also effective in inhibiting the development of desensitization in fat cells. These results indicate that treatment with beta 1-adrenergic agonists in vivo, or other agents that elevate cellular cAMP levels, can inhibit the development of the "postbinding" defects induced by insulin-mimicking, antireceptor antibodies. These observations have both basic and clinical implications.

The antilipolytic effect of insulin in human adipocytes requires activation of the phosphodiesterase

Human fat cells were incubated with two different cAMP analogues, 8-bromocAMP and 6N-monobutyrylcAMP. The former analogue is an excellent substrate for the phosphodiesterase while the latter is resistant to hydrolysis. In the presence of adenosine deaminase, isoproterenol (10(-6)M) stimulated lipolysis 8-10 fold which was similar to the effect exerted by the cAMP analogues. Basal lipolysis and lipolysis activated by 6N-monobutyrylcAMP was not inhibited by insulin even at high concentrations, whereas the effect of 8-bromocAMP was virtually completely inhibited. This effect of insulin was completely prevented by the addition of IBMX. Thus, activation of phosphodiesterase by insulin is necessary to elicit the antilipolytic effect in human adipocytes.

Requirement for bivalent cations in the actions of insulin and sodium nitroprusside on metabolism in rat adipocytes

The requirement for Ca2+ and Mg2+ in the actions of insulin and sodium nitroprusside on rat adipocyte metabolism was investigated: sodium nitroprusside, but not insulin, increased cGMP levels in cells incubated in the absence of Ca2+ and/or Mg2+; sodium nitroprusside and insulin are unable to increase the incorporation of [14C]glucose into triglycerides and [14C]leucine into proteins in the absence of Ca2+ and Mg2+; sodium nitroprusside and insulin showed antilipolytic actions in Ca2+- and Mg2+-free medium. We conclude that in the absence of Ca2+ and Mg2+, sodium nitroprusside and insulin have very similar regulatory properties on triglyceride, protein synthesis and adrenaline-stimulated lipolysis, but not on cGMP levels in rat adipocytes. This could provide evidence that omission of bivalent cations was inhibitory at more than one site, or that sodium nitroprusside mimics insulin's actions by another mechanism that does not involve cGMP.

The antilipolytic effect of insulin does not require adenylate cyclase or phosphodiesterase action

Insulin antagonized the lipolytic actions of epinephrine in rat epididymal adipocytes when the phosphodiesterase inhibitor, Ro 20-1724, was present. Adipocytes were depleted of functional cAMP by inhibiting adenylate cyclase with N6-phenylisopropyladenosine in the presence of adenosine deaminase such that Ro 20-1724 no longer stimulated lipolysis. The cAMP analogs 8-thioisopropyl-cAMP or 8-thiomethyl-cAMP, which are resistant to phosphodiesterase hydrolysis, were subsequently added to bypass adenylate cyclase and phosphodiesterase action. Under these conditions, insulin antagonized the lipolytic effects of these analogs, even in the presence of Ro 20-1724.

A comparison of the effects of sodium nitroprusside and insulin on the control of metabolism in rat isolated adipocytes

Sodium nitroprusside, a known activator of guanylate cyclase within cells, was used as a probe to investigate the possible role of cyclic GMP in the control of metabolism within rat isolated white adipocytes. Over the concentration range 0-0.1 mM, it increased intracellular cyclic GMP concentrations up to 6-fold within 2 min. Over the same concentration range, it increased the incorporation of 14C from D-[U-14C]glucose into triacylglycerol and of L-[14C]leucine into protein. It also inhibited adrenalin -stimulated lipolysis in the cells, but had no effect on the transport of glucose into the cells. The effects of sodium nitroprusside were compared with those elicited by insulin under identical conditions, as this hormone was shown to cause a similar, but transient, rise in intracellular cyclic GMP concentrations within these cells. Nor insulin, neither sodium nitroprusside were able to increase cyclic AMP levels in adipocytes, whereas adrenalin (0.3 microM) stimulated this production. It is suggested that cyclic GMP may have a role in the control of some part of metabolism 'glucose or amino acids' in adipocytes, and that sodium nitroprusside is a useful probe to investigate this. The limitation of its use are discussed.

Effect of phenylephrine on lipolysis in rat adipocytes: no evidence for an alpha-adrenergic mechanism

Phenylephrine, a strong alpha 1-adrenergic agonist, exerted a concentration dependent antilipolytic effect against isoproterenol-activated lipolysis in rat adipocytes with the effect decreasing as the isoproterenol concentration increased. The alpha-adrenergic antagonists phentolamine and phenoxybenzamine did not reverse phenylephrine's antilipolytic effect. Phenylephrine alone activated lipolysis at concentrations above 10(-5) M and at 5 X 10(-4) M the rate of lipolysis was increased 3.4-fold. Propranolol abolished this effect. In the presence of sub-maximum concentrations of dibutyryl cyclic-AMP (less than 10(-4) M), 10(-4) M phenylephrine increased the rate of lipolysis above that activated by dibutyryl cyclic-AMP alone. At maximum dibutyryl cyclic-AMP concentrations, or in the presence of propranolol, phenylephrine had no effect on dibutyryl cyclic-AMP-dependent lipolysis. There is no evidence to support an alpha 1-adrenergic mechanism for regulation of lipolysis in the rat adipocyte. All effects of the alpha-adrenergic agonist phenylephrine appear to be due to its weak beta-adrenergic activity.

Novel approach to the study of the regulation of hormone-sensitive lipase in rat adipocytes. Permeabilization of cells with digitonin

Use of a digitonin-permeabilized rat adipocyte preparation overcomes inherent problems which occur when currently used broken cell systems are utilized for studying the regulation of hormone-sensitive lipase. The effect of digitonin on plasma membrane permeability was concentration-dependent being nearly maximum at 20 micrograms/ml as assessed by (a) leakage of 85% cellular lactate dehydrogenase after 30 min, (b) the efflux of 72% preloaded cellular (86Rb) rubidium within 10 min and (c) immediate inhibition of glucose oxidation. Hormone-modulated rates of lipolysis were preserved in this preparation. Following maximal activation of lipolysis in adipocytes with catecholamines, the rate of lipolysis in intact cells and digitonin-treated cells was elevated 26-fold and 20-fold respectively, while the rate in homogenates from these cells was elevated only 2.8-fold. Insulin suppressed catecholamine-dependent activation of lipolysis by at least 90% when subsequently measured in intact cells and digitonin-treated cells. Insulin suppression was only 56% when measured in homogenates. The hormone-sensitive lipase in permeabilized cells, as opposed to intact cells and homogenates, was activated by cyclic AMP to a degree that approached activation by catecholamines. In homogenates, cyclic AMP (1.0 mM) plus ATP (0.25 mM) activated the lipase only 36%, while neither alone had any effect. In digitonin-permeabilized cells, however, exogenous cyclic AMP alone activated lipolysis in a concentration-dependent manner with 1 microM, 30 microM and 1.0 mM cyclic AMP activating lipolysis by 41%, 250% and 1300% respectively. In contrast, lipolysis in intact cells was activated by 0%, 25% and 250% by 1 microM, 30 microM and 1.0 mM cyclic AMP. Also in digitonin-treated preparations, ATP alone activated lipolysis 40%, but ATP plus cyclic AMP activated lipolysis to only 74% of the level due to cyclic AMP alone. These studies indicate that the permeabilized adipocyte preparation is an excellent system for investigating the mechanism of regulation of the hormone-sensitive lipase by permitting manipulation of the intracellular environment while preserving the physiological response of the lipase.

The antilipolytic action of insulin on adrenocorticotrophin-stimulated rat adipocytes. The roles of adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate and the protein kinase dependent on adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate

The extent to which a fall in cellular cyclic AMP could account for the antilipolytic action in rat epididymal adipocytes incubated with adrenocorticotrophic hormone was studied. The antilipolytic effect, measured by suppression of glycerol release, was always associated with a decrease in cyclic AMP, but the magnitude of the fall was modified by several factors. For example, it was greater when the cAMP level was high, as when it is at its peak after hormone stimulation, or when cell concentrations are low. Glucose did not modify appreciably the insulin effect on the nucleotide level. The inhibitory effects of insulin on corticotrophin-stimulated lipolysis and cyclic AMP levels were detectable at the concentrations of 1 microU/ml and were biphasic, with maximal effects at 10-100 microU/ml. Protein kinase activity ratio was similarly affected. Activity of cyclic-AMP-dependent protein kinase conformed closely to the level of cyclic AMP. There was no indication that insulin modified the sensitivity of the kinase to cyclic AMP. Insulin did not alter the relationship of cellular cyclic AMP levels to glycerol when adipocytes were incubated with various concentrations of corticotrophin. This was true, irrespective of whether measurements were made when cyclic AMP was on the upward rise after hormone stimulation, or on the decline. The curves obtained with and without insulin were superimposable. It is concluded that the inhibitory action of insulin on lipolysis in fat cells can be fully accounted for by a decrease in cyclic AMP.

Dissociation by lithium of hormone-induced formation of cyclic AMP and release of glycerol in isolated rat fat cells

It has been suggested that lithium exerts some of its pharmacological actions by inhibition of the membrane-bound enzyme adenylate cyclase. However, the relationship between the lithium inhibition of adenylate cyclase and the corresponding physiological parameters, e.g. lipolysis, has not been investigated. In the present study it was found that lithium inhibited both the norepinephrine-induced accumulation of cAMP and release of glycerol in isolated rat fat cells, but only in the lower dose range of norepinephrine. At maximally effective concentrations of norepinephrine, where in the presence of 40 mM of lithium the formation of cAMP was reduced by approximally 40%, lipolysis remained unaffected. The basal content of cAMP and the basal release of glycerol were not inhibited by lithium. In addition to the inhibitory effect of lithium, lithium was found to stimulate the release of glycerol. This stimulatory effect of lithium may be explained by a prevention by lithium of the feedback inhibition by free fatty acids of adenylate cyclase and/or triglyceride lipase, since it could be avoided by increasing the concentration of bovine serum albumin in the incubation medium. It is concluded that lithium by inhibition of hormone-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity inhibits lipolysis only at submaximal hormone concentrations. This dissociation by lithium of cAMP accumulation and glycerol release may suggest that at least at high concentrations of norepinephrine cAMP-independent factors are involved in lipolysis.

Effects of insulin on lipolysis and lipogenesis in adipocytes from genetically obese (ob/ob) mice

A method for the preparation of isolated adipocytes from obese mice is described. Similar yields of adipocytes (50--60%), as judged by several criteria, are obtained from obese mice and lean controls. Few fat-globules and no free nuclei were observed in cell preparations, which are metabolically active, respond to hormonal control and appear to be representative of intact adipose tissue. Noradrenaline-stimulated lipolysis was inhibited by insulin, equally in adipocytes from lean and obese mice. Inhibition in obese cells required exogenous glucose, and the insulin dose--response curve was shifted to the right. Basal lipogenesis from glucose was higher in adipocytes from obese mice, and the stimulatory effect of insulin was greater in cells from obese mice compared with lean controls. A rightward shift in the insulin dose--response curve was again observed with cells from obese animals. This suggests that adipose tissue from obese mice is insulin-sensitive at the high blood insulin concentrations found in vivo. The resistance of obese mice to the hypoglycaemic effect of exogenous insulin and their impaired tolerance to glucose loading appear to be associated with an impaired insulin response by muscle rather than by adipose tissue.

Adenosine 3',5'cyclic monophosphate in adipose tissue of diabetic rats

Normal male rats were made chronically diabetic by injection of alloxan or acutely diabetic by injection of anti-insulin serum. The concentration of cyclic AMP in epididymal adipose tissue was increased approximately 2 1/2-fold 24 h after alloxan administration and up to 7-fold 72 h post-alloxan. Treatment of alloxan-diabetic rats with insulin for 4 h completely suppressed lipolysis but only partially suppressed cyclic AMP levels; 6 h following insulin treatment cyclic AMP levels were normal. When segments of the epididymal fat bodies were incubated in vitro the high cyclic AMP levels were not maintained but instead decreased spontaneously. Addition of insulin to the incubation media decreased lipolysis in tissues of diabetic rats to levels measured in tissues of normal rats and accelerated the decline in cyclic AMP levels but did not return cyclic AMP levels to normal. Rats rendered acutely insulin deficient by injection of anti-insulin serum showed increased plasma glucose and free fatty acid levels and increased adipose tissue free fatty acid, and cyclic AMP levels 30 min following injection of the antiserum. Plasma glucagon levels increased but not until 2 h following anti-insulin serum, thereby excluding the possibility that an increment in plasma glucagon is the primary stimulus for the acceleration of lipolysis in diabetes. These data are consistent with the view that control of adipose tissue cyclic AMP levels in situ is an important physiologic action of insulin.

Hormonal control of cyclic AMP turnover in isolated fat cells

Control of the levels of cAMP in the early phase after addition of catecholamines and the effect of insulin is discussed under consideration of own findings from experiments with isolated fat cells of the rat. Data on the kinetics of cAMP are interpreted in the light of results from several groups of a rapid activation of phosphodiesterase activity along with the adenylate cyclase system. Comparison of energy metabolism of fat cells with the formation of cAMP under conditions of near-maximal activation of the adenylate cyclase system by isoproterenol shows that about half of the cellular ATP turnover is used for information transfer. Insulin reduces cAMP concentrations in the presence of isoproterenol within one min of incubation when added either together with or after the catecholamine. Experiments with propranolol and the phosphodiesterase inhibitor, methyl isobutylxanthine suggest an effect of insulin on formation and breakdown of cAMP.

Effect of insulin on adipose tissue lipolysis in human pregnancy

Adipose tissue has been shown to retain its sensitivity to the antilipolytic effects of insulin during late pregnancy. This suggests that during late pregnancy, increased adipose tissue lipolysis is due to a lipolytic factor rather than insulin resistance.

A rapid immunological procedure for the isolation of hormonally sensitive rat fat-cell plasma membrane

1. A rapid method for the isolation of hormonally sensitive rat fat-cell plasma membranes was developed by using immunological techniques. 2. Rabbit anti-(rat erythrocyte) sera were raised and shown to cross-react with isolated rat fat-cells. 3. Isolated rat fat-cells were coated with rabbit anti-(rat erythrocyte) antibodies, homogenized and the homogenate made to react with an immunoadsorbent prepared by covalently coupling donkey anti-(rabbit globulin) antibodies to aminocellulose. Uptake of plasma membrane on to the immunoadsorbent was monitored by assaying the enzymes adenylate cyclase and 5'-nucleotidase and an immunological marker consisting of a 125I-labelled anti-(immunoglobulin G)-anti-cell antibody complex bound to the cells before fractionation. Contamination of the plasma-membrane preparation by other subcellular fractions was also investigated. 4. By using this technique, a method was developed allowing 25-40% recovery of plasma membrane from fat-cell homogenates within 30 min of homogenization. 5. Adenylate cyclase in the isolated plasma-membrane preparation was stimulated by 5 mum-adrenaline.

Carbohydrate-induced lipogenesis in the human placenta of normal and diabetic pregnancies

Using in vitro incubation, human placental slices have been shown to synthesize lipid from 14-C fructose, but to a lesser extent than from 14-C glucose. Diabetic placentae did not incorporate more of either sugar into lipid than did placentae from normal pregnancies; nor did insulin in the incubation medium enhance lipogenesis. There was a correlation between the extent of incorporation of 14-C fructose and 14-C glucose into triglyceride, suggesting a linked enzyme system for phosphorylation of the two hexoses.