Control of glycolysis in cultured chick embryo hepatocytes. Fructose 2,6-bisphosphate content and phosphofructokinase-1 activity are stimulated by insulin and epidermal growth factor

Variable protein homeostasis in housekeeping and non-housekeeping pathways under mycotoxins stress

Transcript levels are the primary factor determining protein levels, but for the majority of genes, fold changes in transcript levels are larger than the corresponding changes in protein levels, a phenomenon that is termed “protein homeostasis”. However, this phenomenon is not well characterized in the context of environmental changes. In this study, we sequenced the entire transcriptome and proteome of chicken primary hepatocytes administered three mycotoxin treatments Aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁), Ochoratoxin A (OTA) and Zearalenone (ZEN). Each mycotoxin induced unique set of differential expressed transcripts and proteins, suggesting variable cytotoxicity and biochemical action in cell. We found a weak positive correlation between transcript and protein changes, and the transcript changes were higher than the protein changes. Furthermore, we observed pathway-specific protein homeostasis pattern under mycotoxin stress. Specifically, the “Metabolism”, “Transcription” and “Translation” pathways (housekeeping pathways) showed lower fold changes in protein/mRNA levels than non-housekeeping pathways such as “Cell growth and death” and “Immune system”. Protein molecular weight had a weak negative effect on protein production, and this effect was stronger for non-housekeeping pathways. Overall, we hypothesize housekeeping pathways maintain stable protein production for baseline cellular function, whereas non-housekeeping pathways is associated with the fitness response to environmental stress.

Aegle marmelos differentially affects hepatic markers of glycolysis, insulin signalling pathway, hypoxia, and inflammation in HepG2 cells grown in fructose versus glucose-rich environment

Fructose consumption is responsible for the onset of insulin resistance (IR), and metabolic syndrome. It possesses no functional utility in body and its detrimental effects on hepatic metabolic milieu are beyond those produced by glucose. The need of the hour is to identify fructose-induced IR as an unique pathological state to be managed differentially. The effect of aqueous leaf extract of Aegle marmelos (AM) on hepatic markers of insulin resistance using HepG2 cells cultured in either fructose or glucose-rich environment is investigated. Human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2) were grown under standard conditions in either-DMEM without glucose (NC), DMEM with high glucose 25 mM (Glu), DMEM-glucose+0.55 mM fructose (FC1), DMEM-glucose+1 mM fructose (FC2) or DMEM-glucose+1 mM fructose+0.1 µM insulin (FC3). The cells were treated with either AM, rutin, quercetin, metformin or pioglitazone and assessed for levels of hexokinase, phosphofructokinase (PFK), aldehyde dehydrogenase, phosphatidylinositol kinase (PI3K), signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT-3), mitochondrial target of rapamycin (mTOR), hypoxia-induced factor (HIF-1α), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and tumour necrosis factor (TNF-α). Summarily, when results from fructose- and glucose-rich environment were compared, then (1) IR was more pronounced in former; (2) AM performed better in former; (3) metformin and pioglitazone were equivocal in either; (4) rutin and quercetin showed deviant effects from AM; and lastly (5) effects of rutin were closer to AM than quercetin. We hypothesize that AM ameliorates fructose-induced IR through a mechanism which is distinct from standard drugs and not shared by individual phytoconstituents in toto.

Proteomic changes in chicken primary hepatocytes exposed to T-2 toxin are associated with oxidative stress and mitochondrial enhancement

T-2 toxin is a mycotoxin that is toxic to plants, animals, and humans. However, its molecular mechanism remains unclear, especially in chickens. In this study, using 2D electrophoresis with MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS, 53 proteins were identified as up- or downregulated by T-2 toxin in chicken primary hepatocytes. Functional network analysis by ingenuity pathway analysis showed that the top network altered by T-2 toxin is associated with neurological disease, cancer, organismal injury, and abnormalities. Most of the identified proteins were associated with one of eight functional classes, including cell redox homeostasis, transcriptional or translational regulation, cell cycle or cell proliferation, stress response, lipid metabolism, transport, carbohydrate metabolism, and protein degradation. Subcellular location categorization showed that the identified proteins were predominantly located in the mitochondrion (34%) and interestingly, the expression of all the identified mitochondrial proteins was increased. Further cellular analysis showed that T-2 toxin was able to induce the ROS accumulation and could lead to an increase in mitochondrial mass and adenosine 5'-triphosphate content, which indicated that oxidative stress and mitochondrial enhancement occurred in T-2 toxin-treated cells. Overall, these results characterize the global proteomic response of chicken primary hepatocytes to T-2 toxin, which may lead to a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying its toxicity.

Comparative proteomics and phosphoproteomics analyses of DHEA-induced on hepatic lipid metabolism in broiler chickens

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a precursor of the adrenocorticosteroid hormones that are common to all animals, including poultry. The study described herein was undertaken to investigate the effect of DHEA on lipid metabolism in broiler chickens during embryonic development and to determine the regulatory mechanisms involved in its physiological action. Treatment group eggs were injected with 50mg DHEA diluted in 50 μL dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) per kg, while control group eggs (arbor acres [AA] fertilized) were injected with 50 μL DMSO per kg prior to incubation. Liver samples were collected on days 9, 14 and 19 of embryonic development as well as at hatching. Extracted proteins were analyzed by two dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) in combination with western blotting for specific anti-phosphotyrosine. The differential spots were identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) or MALDI-TOF-TOF-MS. Peptide mass fingerprinting (PMF) of the differentially-expressed proteins were performed using the MASCOT, Prospector or proFound server. Thirty-seven proteins and twenty-two tyrosine phosphorylation proteins were successfully identified. All 37 proteins and 22 tyrosine phosphorylation proteins exhibited a significant volume difference from the control group. These results demonstrated that DHEA increased the expression and level of tyrosine phosphorylation and sulfotransferase proteins in broilers (at pI 5.9), therefore promoting the biotransformation of DHEA. The expression of apolipoproteinA-I was increased in the DHEA treatment group, which facilitated the conversion of cholesterol to cholesterol esters. Also, DHEA increased the expression of peroxiredoxin-6 and its tyrosine phosphorylation protein levels, thus enhancing its anti-oxidative activity. Furthermore, pyruvate dehydrogenase expression was decreased and the level of its tyrosine phosphorylation proteins increased in the DHEA treatment group. Take together, those data indicate that DHEA reduces the supply of acetyl-CoA by inhibiting the activity of its target enzyme (i.e., pyruvate dehydrogenase), thus affecting both protein synthesis and phosphorylation level and decreasing fat deposition in broiler chickens during embryonic development, which could reflect a physiologically-relevant DHEA fat-reduction mechanism in the broiler chicken.

Mequindox induced cellular DNA damage via generation of reactive oxygen species

Mequindox, a quinoxaline-N-dioxide derivative that possesses antibacterial properties, has been widely used as a feed additive in the stockbreeding industry in China. While recent pharmacological studies have uncovered potential hazardous effects of mequindox, exactly how mequindox induces pathological changes and the cellular responses associated with its consumption remain largely unexplored. In this study, we investigated the cellular responses associated with mequindox treatment. We report here that mequindox inhibits cell proliferation by arresting cells at the G2/M phase of the cell cycle. Interestingly, this mequindox-associated deleterious effect on cell proliferation was observed in human, pig as well as chicken cells, suggesting that mequindox acts on evolutionarily conserved target(s). To further understand the mequindox-host interaction and the mechanism underlying mequindox-induced cell cycle arrest, we measured the cellular content of DNA damage, which is known to perturb cell proliferation and compromise cell survival. Accordingly, using γ-H2AX as a surrogate marker for DNA damage, we found that mequindox treatment induced cellular DNA damage, which paralleled the chemical-induced elevation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. Importantly, expression of the antioxidant enzyme catalase partially alleviated these mequindox-associated effects. Taken together, our results suggest that mequindox cytotoxicity is attributable, in part, to its role as a potent inducer of DNA damage via ROS.

SREBP isoform and SREBP target gene expression during rat primary hepatocyte culture

Expression of mRNA encoding sterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP) isoforms (SREBP-1a, -1c, -2) and seven SREBP target genes decreased dramatically as a result of isolation and subsequent culture of primary rat hepatocytes. In standard maintenance medium (MM) expression remained low but when cultured in HepatoZYME (HZM), there was a selective increase in mRNA encoding SREBP-2 and a subset of SREBP target genes, a group characterised by promoters containing adjacent sterol regulatory element and nuclear factor Y (NF-Y) binding sequences. Quantification of all three NF-Y transcripts showed that expression of nuclear factor Y alpha subunit and nuclear factor Y beta subunit mRNA increased during culture in HZM (in contrast to the situation with MM) whilst specificity protein 1, liver-x-receptor and hepatocyte nuclear factor-4 alpha mRNA exhibited equivalent decreased expression in both HZM and MM. Our data indicate that HZM exerts a selective preservation of hepatocyte phenotype through actions on NF-Y expression directly or via an effect secondary to actions on SREBP-2 expression. These data add to the molecular dissection of the causes of hepatocyte dedifferentiation during culture and address means to develop approaches to prevent/limit phenotype change.

Dynamics of the cellular metabolome during human cytomegalovirus infection

Viral replication requires energy and macromolecular precursors derived from the metabolic network of the host cell. Despite this reliance, the effect of viral infection on host cell metabolic composition remains poorly understood. Here we applied liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to measure the levels of 63 different intracellular metabolites at multiple times after human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection of human fibroblasts. Parallel microarray analysis provided complementary data on transcriptional regulation of metabolic pathways. As the infection progressed, the levels of metabolites involved in glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, and pyrimidine nucleotide biosynthesis markedly increased. HCMV-induced transcriptional upregulation of specific glycolytic and citric acid cycle enzymes mirrored the increases in metabolite levels. The peak levels of numerous metabolites during infection far exceeded those observed during normal fibroblast growth or quiescence, demonstrating that HCMV markedly disrupts cellular metabolic homeostasis and institutes its own specific metabolic program.

Viruses are parasites. They depend on the biochemical infrastructure of host cells to grow. A key element of the infrastructure provided by the host cell is its metabolic machinery, which viruses rely upon to provide the energy and building blocks necessary for their replication. The way in which viruses interact with host cell metabolism remains, however, poorly understood. The authors have used an advanced measurement technique, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, to quantitate directly the levels of a large number of metabolic compounds (energy molecules and biochemical building blocks) during cytomegalovirus infection of cultured human cells. They find that viral infection leads to dramatic increases in the levels of many metabolites and that these increases substantially exceed those associated with normal transitions of cells between resting and growing states. In several cases, enhanced metabolite levels induced by the virus coincide with an apparent increase in host cell production of the machinery (enzymes) involved in making those metabolites. This work represents the first comprehensive characterization of the metabolic environment of virally infected cells and identifies a number of profound metabolic effects of the virus, some of which may eventually prove fruitful targets for antiviral therapy.

6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase: head-to-head with a bifunctional enzyme that controls glycolysis

Fru-2,6-P2 (fructose 2,6-bisphosphate) is a signal molecule that controls glycolysis. Since its discovery more than 20 years ago, inroads have been made towards the understanding of the structure-function relationships in PFK-2 (6-phosphofructo-2-kinase)/FBPase-2 (fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase), the homodimeric bifunctional enzyme that catalyses the synthesis and degradation of Fru-2,6-P2. The FBPase-2 domain of the enzyme subunit bears sequence, mechanistic and structural similarity to the histidine phosphatase family of enzymes. The PFK-2 domain was originally thought to resemble bacterial PFK-1 (6-phosphofructo-1-kinase), but this proved not to be correct. Molecular modelling of the PFK-2 domain revealed that, instead, it has the same fold as adenylate kinase. This was confirmed by X-ray crystallography. A PFK-2/FBPase-2 sequence in the genome of one prokaryote, the proteobacterium Desulfovibrio desulfuricans, could be the result of horizontal gene transfer from a eukaryote distantly related to all other organisms, possibly a protist. This, together with the presence of PFK-2/FBPase-2 genes in trypanosomatids (albeit with possibly only one of the domains active), indicates that fusion of genes initially coding for separate PFK-2 and FBPase-2 domains might have occurred early in evolution. In the enzyme homodimer, the PFK-2 domains come together in a head-to-head like fashion, whereas the FBPase-2 domains can function as monomers. There are four PFK-2/FBPase-2 isoenzymes in mammals, each coded by a different gene that expresses several isoforms of each isoenzyme. In these genes, regulatory sequences have been identified which account for their long-term control by hormones and tissue-specific transcription factors. One of these, HNF-6 (hepatocyte nuclear factor-6), was discovered in this way. As to short-term control, the liver isoenzyme is phosphorylated at the N-terminus, adjacent to the PFK-2 domain, by PKA (cAMP-dependent protein kinase), leading to PFK-2 inactivation and FBPase-2 activation. In contrast, the heart isoenzyme is phosphorylated at the C-terminus by several protein kinases in different signalling pathways, resulting in PFK-2 activation.

Carbohydrate metabolism in temporal and persistent hypoglycemic chickens induced by insulin infusion

In order to elucidate the regulatory mechanism of blood glucose concentrations specific to chickens, carbohydrate metabolism in the liver, muscle and kidney and metabolite concentrations in the blood were investigated in chickens with acute and persistent hypoglycemia. Acute and persistent hypoglycemia were experimentally induced by a single injection of insulin (8 U/kg BW) or by continuous infusion of insulin (22.5 U/kg BW/day) for 4 days. Non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentration in plasma and D-3-hydroxybutyrate (3HB) concentrations in liver and muscle increased in the acute hypoglycemia. Plasma NEFA concentration and 3HB concentration in the blood and liver were not changed at day 3 of persistent hypoglycemia, while 3HB concentration in the muscle was decreased. Phosphofructokinase (PFK) activity in the liver tended to increase but PFK and pyruvate kinase (PK) activities were unchanged in acute hypoglycemia. In persistent hypoglycemia, increase of hepatic PFK activity at day 1 in which it was reversed at day 3, and a small increase of muscle PK activity were observed, while PK and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) activities in the liver and kidney were not significantly changed. These results show that in the persistent hypoglycemic chickens, hepatic glycolysis transiently increases, which is followed by a small decrease, while glycolysis in muscles and gluconeogenesis in the liver and kidney are not significantly changed.

Growth factors stimulate the activity of key glycolytic enzymes in isolated digestive gland cells from mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis Lam.) through tyrosine kinase mediated signal transduction

Digestive gland cells isolated from mussels (Mytilus) have previously been demonstrated to respond to mammalian EGF with a cytosolic Ca(2+) transient and stimulated DNA synthesis; both responses were mediated by activation of tyrosine kinase receptors. The present study examines the mechanisms involved in further signal progression and possible targets of phosphorylation/dephosphorylation processes. The effects of EGF, IGF-I, and insulin on the activity of two key glycolytic enzymes PFK (phosphofructokinase) and PK (pyruvate kinase) were evaluated. All the peptides tested induced a transient and dose-dependent stimulation of the activity of both PFK and PK, which involved activation of MAPKs. Quantitative immunoelectron microscopy, utilizing monoclonal anti-phosphotyrosine antibodies, revealed that EGF induced a transient increase in tyrosine phosphorylation. The results demonstrate that, in marine invertebrate cells, activation of tyrosine kinase membrane receptors by growth factors triggers signal transduction pathways involving a phosphorylative cascade similar to that of mammalian cells. Moreover, these data suggest that, in mussel cells, growth factors may play a physiological role in the in vivo regulation of glucose metabolism by modulating, through reversible phosphorylation, the activity of key glycolytic enzymes.

Activation of stress-activated protein kinases by hepatocyte isolation induces gene 33 expression

Gene 33 is a putative immediate early gene and we have shown that mRNA encoding for gene 33 exhibits a transient increase as a result of the procedures used for hepatocyte isolation. The stress-activated protein kinases p46 JNK, p54 JNK, and p38 SAPK are activated by hepatocyte isolation and precede changes in gene 33 mRNA content. Although each SAPK isoform shows a distinctive profile of activity during isolation and subsequent hepatocyte culture, in each case the activation is transient and is largely reversed within 3 h of hepatocyte isolation. SB 203580, a p38 SAPK inhibitor, prevents the change to gene 33 expression in response to hepatocyte isolation. Given the possible role of gene 33 as an immediate early gene, the data presented here have general implications for control of hepatocyte proliferation and differentiation.

Rat primary hepatocytes and H4 hepatoma cells display differential sensitivity to cyclic AMP at the level of expression of tyrosine aminotransferase

We have shown that the sensitivity of isolated hepatocytes and H4 hepatoma cells to cyclic AMP is different. In terms of activation of tyrosine aminotransferase at mRNA and activity level in response to cyclic AMP, isolated hepatocytes are 10-fold more sensitive. Hepatocytes and H4 hepatoma cells show similar sensitivities to cyclic AMP at the level of protein kinase A activation and phosphorylation of cyclic AMP response element binding protein (CREB) and the differential sensitivity must reside at other sites. The consequences of these findings to studies of control phenomena at the transcriptional level is discussed.

Effect of growth factors on the expression of 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase in Rat-1 fibroblasts

The activation of glycolytic flux is a biochemical characteristic of growing cells. Several reports have demonstrated the role of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate in this process. In this paper we show that the levels of 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2, 6-bisphosphatase (6PF2K/Fru-2,6-P2ase) mRNA are modulated in response to serum and growth factors and this effect is due to regulation of its transcription rate. The modulation of the expression of this enzyme by growth factors differs according their mitogenic effect; both lysophosphatidic acid and epidermal growth factor, when added alone, increased the mRNA levels, but endothelin had no effect. Furthermore, cAMP, which acts as an antimitogenic signal in Rat-1 fibroblasts, produced a decrease in 6PF2K/Fru-2, 6-P2ase mRNA and inhibited the effects of lysophosphatidic acid and epidermal growth factor on 6PF2K/Fru-2,6-P2ase expression. PD 098059, a specific inhibitor of the activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase, was able to prevent the effect of EGF on 6PF2K/Fru-2, 6-P2ase gene expression. These results imply that activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase is required for the stimulation of the transcription of 6PF2K/Fru-2,6-P2ase by EGF.

Effects of okadaic acid on expression of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase in cultured rat hepatocytes

In normal rat hepatocytes in primary culture the level of mRNA encoding the key gluconeogenic enzyme phospho enol pyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) is increased by the cyclic AMP analogue, chlorophenylthio cyclic AMP (cpt cAMP), and this response is reversed by insulin. The protein-phosphatase inhibitor okadaic acid diminished the stimulatory effects of cpt cAMP on PEPCK mRNA. Protein kinase A remained fully active in the presence of okadaic acid, therefore, the insulin-mimetic actions of okadaic acid were localised to a site subsequent to initial protein kinase A activation. Insulin produced a decrease in PEPCK mRNA expression which was similar to that of okadaic acid both in extent and mechanism (i.e., lack of change in protein kinase A activation). The effects of okadaic acid on PEPCK mRNA amount were not additive with those of insulin and the effects of insulin were not abolished by okadaic acid. These data suggest that okadaic acid and insulin may interact with the cAMP regulation of the PEPCK gene expression at a common site. The mechanisms by which this may be attained are discussed in relation to what is known about the control of specific protein kinases and protein phosphatases by insulin and okadaic acid and of the importance of protein phosphorylation state to regulation of gene-transcriptional processes.

Insulin-mimetic actions of phorbol ester in cultured adult rat hepatocytes. Lack of phorbol-ester-elicited inhibition of the insulin signal

The actions of the phorbol ester phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) on glucose metabolism, amino acid transport and enzyme inductions were studied in primary cultures of adult-rat hepatocytes and compared with the effects of insulin. PMA and insulin stimulated glycolysis 5- and 7-fold respectively. The half-maximal effective dose of PMA was 60 nM. Stimulation of glycolysis was accompanied by an insulin- or PMA-dependent and okadaic acid-sensitive activation of 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase and pyruvate kinase, as well as by an increase in fructose 2,6-bisphosphate. Glucose production from glycogen was decreased to 50% by PMA and to 15% by insulin, whereas glycogen synthesis was stimulated 2- and 7-fold respectively. PMA also increased aminoisobutyrate uptake, induced ornithine decarboxylase and counteracted the glucagon-dependent induction of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase. PMA strongly antagonized the hormonal activation of glycogen synthesis, but all other insulin actions assayed were not decreased by the phorbol ester. Whereas additive effects of PMA and insulin were not detected, PMA and a simultaneous increase in the glucose concentration had additive effects on glycolysis and glycogen metabolism. Cell exposure to insulin resulted in receptor autophosphorylation and a more than 10-fold activation of the receptor tyrosine kinase. PMA did not alter these effects, and also had no effect on the receptor phosphorylation status in the absence of insulin. Long-term (15 h) pretreatment of the cells with PMA abolished all PMA effects, but not the insulin effects. It is concluded that PMA does not generally antagonize the action of insulin in differentiated adult hepatocytes, and that insulin and PMA may use related signal-transduction pathways.

Epidermal growth factor induces glucose transport in primary cell cultures derived from human astrocytic glioma biopsies

The gene for the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor is amplified in a variety of neoplastic tissues, including malignant gliomas. To reveal whether increased sensitivity to EGF has significance for the supply of metabolic substrate to tumor cells, the rate of glucose transport was determined in cells exposed to EGF for up to six hours. In the epidermoid carcinoma line A431, and in primary cultures from 7/12 human glioma biopsies, EGF (10 ng/ml) induced an increase (two-fold) in glucose transport. This effect was transient and independent of protein synthesis.