Stimulation of glucose transport in response to activation of distinct AMPK signaling pathways

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) plays a critical role in the stimulation of glucose transport in response to hypoxia and inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation. In the present study, we examined the signaling pathway(s) mediating the glucose transport response following activation of AMPK. Using mouse fibroblasts of AMPK wild type and AMPK knockout, we documented that the expression of AMPK is essential for the glucose transport response to both azide and 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-beta-d-ribofuranoside (AICAR). In Clone 9 cells, the stimulation of glucose transport by a combination of azide and AICAR was not additive, whereas there was an additive increase in the abundance of phosphorylated AMPK (p-AMPK). In Clone 9 cells, AMPK wild-type fibroblasts, and H9c2 heart cells, azide or hypoxia selectively increased p-ERK1/2, whereas, in contrast, AICAR selectively stimulated p-p38; phosphorylation of JNK was unaffected. Azide's effect on p-ERK1/2 abundance and glucose transport in Clone 9 cells was partially abolished by the MEK1/2 inhibitor U0126. SB 203580, an inhibitor of p38, prevented the phosphorylation of p38 and the glucose transport response to AICAR and, unexpectedly, to azide. Hypoxia, azide, and AICAR all led to increased phosphorylation of Akt substrate of 160 kDa (AS160) in Clone 9 cells. Employing small interference RNA directed against AS160 did not inhibit the glucose transport response to azide or AICAR, whereas the content of P-AS160 was reduced by approximately 80%. Finally, we found no evidence for coimmunoprecipitation of Glut1 and p-AS160. We conclude that although azide, hypoxia, and AICAR all activate AMPK, the downstream signaling pathways are distinct, with azide and hypoxia stimulating ERK1/2 and AICAR stimulating the p38 pathway.     

Sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1 as a key transcription factor for nutritional induction of lipogenic enzyme genes

To elucidate the physiological role of sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1 (SREBP-1), the hepatic mRNA levels of genes encoding various lipogenic enzymes were estimated in SREBP-1 gene knockout mice after a fasting-refeeding treatment, which is an established dietary manipulation for the induction of lipogenic enzymes. In the fasted state, the mRNA levels of all lipogenic enzymes were consistently low in both wild-type and SREBP-1(-/-) mice. However, the absence of SREBP-1 severely impaired the marked induction of hepatic mRNAs of fatty acid synthetic genes, such as acetyl-CoA carboxylase, fatty acid synthase, and stearoyl-CoA desaturase, that was observed upon refeeding in the wild-type mice. Furthermore, the refeeding responses of other lipogenic enzymes, glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase, ATP citrate lyase, malic enzyme, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, and S14 mRNAs, were completely abolished in SREBP-1(-/-) mice. In contrast, mRNA levels for cholesterol biosynthetic genes were elevated in the refed SREBP-1(-/-) livers accompanied by an increase in nuclear SREBP-2 protein. When fed a high carbohydrate diet for 14 days, the mRNA levels for these lipogenic enzymes were also strikingly lower in SREBP-1(-/-) mice than those in wild-type mice. These data demonstrate that SREBP-1 plays a crucial role in the induction of lipogenesis but not cholesterol biosynthesis in liver when excess energy by carbohydrates is consumed.     

Disturbed cholesterol homeostasis in a peroxisome-deficient PEX2 knockout mouse model

We evaluated the major pathways of cholesterol regulation in the peroxisome-deficient PEX2(-/-) mouse, a model for Zellweger syndrome. Zellweger syndrome is a lethal inherited disorder characterized by severe defects in peroxisome biogenesis and peroxisomal protein import. Compared with wild-type mice, PEX2(-/-) mice have decreased total and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in plasma. Hepatic expression of the SREBP-2 gene is increased 2.5-fold in PEX2(-/-) mice and is associated with increased activities and increased protein and expression levels of SREBP-2-regulated cholesterol biosynthetic enzymes. However, the upregulated cholesterogenic enzymes appear to function with altered efficiency, associated with the loss of peroxisomal compartmentalization. The rate of cholesterol biosynthesis in 7- to 9-day-old PEX2(-/-) mice is markedly increased in most tissues, except in the brain and kidneys, where it is reduced. While the cholesterol content of most tissues is normal in PEX2(-/-) mice, in the knockout mouse liver it is decreased by 40% relative to that in control mice. The classic pathway of bile acid biosynthesis is downregulated in PEX2(-/-) mice. However, expression of CYP27A1, the rate-determining enzyme in the alternate pathway of bile acid synthesis, is upregulated threefold in the PEX2(-/-) mouse liver. The expression of hepatic ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters (ABCA1 and ABCG1) involved in cholesterol efflux is not affected in PEX2(-/-) mice. These data illustrate the diversity in cholesterol regulatory responses among different organs in postnatal peroxisome-deficient mice and demonstrate that peroxisomes are critical for maintaining cholesterol homeostasis in the neonatal mouse.     

Caffeine attenuates lipid accumulation via activation of AMP-activated protein kinase signaling pathway in HepG2 cells

The main purpose of this study is to examine the effect of caffeine on lipid accumulation in human hepatoma HepG2 cells. Significant decreases in the accumulation of hepatic lipids, such as triglyceride (TG), and cholesterol were observed when HepG2 cells were treated with caffeine as indicated. Caffeine decreased the mRNA level of lipogenesis-associated genes (SREBP1c, SREBP2, FAS, SCD1, HMGR and LDLR). In contrast, mRNA level of CD36, which is responsible for lipid uptake and catabolism, was increased. Next, the effect of caffeine on AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway was examined. Phosphorylation of AMPK and acetyl-CoA carboxylase were evidently increased when the cells were treated with caffeine as indicated for 24 h. These effects were all reversed in the presence of compound C, an AMPK inhibitor. In summary, these data indicate that caffeine effectively depleted TG and cholesterol levels by inhibition of lipogenesis and stimulation of lipolysis through modulating AMPK-SREBP signaling pathways. [BMB Reports 2013; 46(4): 207-212]     

木香烃内酯抑制乙醇诱导的肝细胞损伤与脂肪变性

探究木香烃内酯体外对乙醇诱导肝细胞损伤及脂肪变性的影响。建立乙醇导致人LO2肝细胞损伤模型,检测木香烃内酯对细胞活力、ALT和AST释放、脂质生成、脂质调控因子表达及AMPK活性的影响。发现乙醇在高于100 mM浓度时显著抑制肝细胞活力,据此将100 mM浓度的乙醇作为体外刺激肝细胞的实验浓度。木香烃内酯能够逆转乙醇对肝细胞活力的抑制作用,并降低乙醇导致的肝细胞ALT、AST的释放。木香烃内酯能够降低乙醇诱导的肝细胞脂质成分集聚,降低细胞内TG、TC水平。此外,乙醇导致肝细胞中重要的脂质调控转录因子SREBP-1c的表达显著上调,使PPARα的表达显著下调;而木香烃内酯能够减少SREBP-1c的表达并增加PPARα的表达。进一步发现,木香烃内酯显著促进肝细胞中AMPK的磷酸化,且AMPK抑制剂BML-275能够显著削弱木香烃内脂对SREBP-1c和PPARα的调控作用。综上,木香烃内酯体外显著改善乙醇诱导的肝细胞损伤与脂肪变性,该作用与激活AMPK进而调控SREBP-1c与PPARα的表达有关。本研究为将木香烃内酯作为抗酒精性脂肪肝候选药物研究提供实验依据。     

PPAR gamma ligand troglitazone lowers cholesterol synthesis in HepG2 and Caco-2 cells via a reduced concentration of nuclear SREBP-2

Cholesterol synthesis in animal cells is regulated by sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP)-2. The objective of this study was to investigate whether activation of peroxisome proliferator-activatedreceptor (PPAR)-gamma influences the SREBP-2 dependent cholesterol synthesis in liver and intestinal cells. Therefore, HepG2 and Caco-2 cells were incubated with and without 10 or 30 microM of troglitazone, a synthetic PPAR gamma agonist, for 4 hrs. Incubation with 10 or 30 microM of troglitazone caused a significant, dose-dependent reduction of cholesterol synthesis in both HepG2 and Caco-2 cells (P < 0.05). HepG2 and Caco-2 cells incubated with 10 or 30 microM of troglitazone had also lower mRNA concentrations and lower nuclear protein concentrations of SREBP-2 than untreated control cells (P < 0.05). mRNA concentrations of the SREBP-2 target genes HMG-CoA reductase and LDL receptor were also reduced in HepG2 and Caco-2 cells treated with 30 microM of troglitazone compared to control cells (P < 0.05). In conclusion, this study shows that PPAR gamma activation by troglitazone lowers the cholesterol synthesis in HepG2 and Caco-2 cells by reducing the concentration of nuclear SREBP-2 and successive downregulation of its target genes involved in cholesterol synthesis.     

Tripterygium regelii decreases the biosynthesis of triacylglycerol and cholesterol in HepG2 cells

In the course of screening to find a plant material decreasing the activity of triacylglycerol and cholesterol, we identified Tripterygium regelii (TR). The methanol extract of TR leaves (TR-LM) was shown to reduce the intracellular lipid contents consisting of triacylglycerol (TG) and cholesterol in HepG2 cells. TR-LM also downregulated the mRNA and protein expression of the lipogenic genes such as SREBP-1 and its target enzymes. Consequently, TR-LM reduced the TG biosynthesis in HepG2 cells. In addition, TR-LM decreased SREBP2 and its target enzyme HMG-CoA reductase, which is involved in cholesterol synthesis. In this study, we evaluated that TR-LM attenuated cellular lipid contents through the suppression of de novo TG and cholesterol biosynthesis in HepG2 cells. All these taken together, TR-LM could be beneficial in regulating lipid metabolism and useful preventing the hyperlipidemia and its complications, in that liver is a crucial tissue for the secretion of serum lipids.