PKB/Akt在高脂诱导鼠肾脏损害中的作用

目的：通过建立高脂血症大鼠模型,探讨单纯高脂对肾脏的损伤机制以及胰岛素传导通路中的关键酶PKB/Akt（丝氨酸/苏氨酸激酶）在高脂所致肾脏损害中的变化和意义.方法：高脂高胆固醇喂养Wistar雄性大鼠,建立胰岛素抵抗模型.分别在4周、8周、12周测定大鼠的肾功,包括血尿素蛋（BUN）,肌酐（CREA）;16周时测定甘油三酯（TG）,胆固醇（TC）,以及血糖（FBS）和胰岛素（FINS）.8周时行胰岛素增敏剂文迪雅（3mg/kg）灌胃干预四周,并行肾脏病理检查,应用免疫组化法监测PKB/Akt在肾脏的表达.结果：高脂喂饲大鼠4周后,进食量开始减少,体重增加减慢;血BUN、血CREA在4周时已升高,至8周时增加更明显（p〈0.001）.文迪雅灌胃四周后肾功改善,但仍高于正常组（p〈0.05）.血TG和血TC较正常组升高显著,统计学差异显著（p〈0.05）.血胰岛素升高,但胰岛素敏感性降低,胰岛素抵抗指数增加显著,提示胰岛素抵抗形成.肾脏免疫组化PKB/Akt的表达呈现为在肾小球和肾小管分布不均,出现PKB/Akt在损伤较重的肾小球不表达,而在损伤较轻的肾小管表达减弱的现象.结论：饮食诱导的高脂血症可导致健康大鼠产生脂质肾毒性损害以及肾功的降低,并可产生胰岛素抵抗.胰岛素传导通路的损害在肾小球和肾小管表达不同,说明其可能是产生肾脏损伤及胰岛素抵抗的又一原因.胰岛素增敏剂可改善胰岛素抵抗及肾功.     

运动对胰岛素抵抗大鼠肝脏BIM信号通路的影响*

目的: 探究运动干预对肥胖诱导的胰岛素抵抗大鼠肝脏BIM-JNK1-IRS1-Akt信号通路的影响。方法: 40只雄性SD大鼠随机分4组(n=10):对照组(普通膳食喂养16周);高脂膳食安静组(高脂膳食喂养16周);慢性运动组(高脂膳食喂养16周且后8周进行慢性运动干预,5%体重负重的游泳运动,1 h/d,5天/周)和急性运动组(高脂膳食喂养16周后进行同样5%体重负重的6 h急性运动干预,分两个3 h进行,中间间隔休息45 min)。干预结束后,所有大鼠称重后进行口服糖耐量和胰岛素释放实验,分别使用罗氏血糖仪和大鼠胰岛素ELISA试剂盒测定血糖含量和血清胰岛素含量,以胰岛素敏感性指数衡量胰岛素抵抗状态。Western blot方法检测肝脏Bcl-2细胞死亡调节因子(BIM),磷酸化c-Jun氨基末端激酶1(p-JNK1), 磷酸化胰岛素受体底物1(p-IRS1)和磷酸化蛋白激酶B(p-Akt)蛋白水平。结果: 与对照组大鼠相比,高脂膳食安静组大鼠体重和内脏脂肪质量显著增加(P＜0.01),胰岛素敏感性指数显著下降((P＜0.01);肝脏中BIM蛋白水平显著增加(P＜0.01),JNK1和IRS1磷酸化水平显著增加(P＜0.01),Akt磷酸化水平显著下降(P＜0.01)。与高脂膳食安静组相比,慢性运动组大鼠体重和内脏脂肪质量显著降低(P＜0.01),急性运动组大鼠体重和内脏脂肪质量无明显变化。与高脂膳食安静组相比,慢性运动组和急性运动组大鼠的胰岛素敏感性指数显著提高(P＜0.05),肝脏中BIM蛋白水平显著减少(P＜0.01),JNK1和IRS1磷酸化水平显著降低(P＜0.01),Akt磷酸化水平显著增加(P＜0.01)。结论: 慢性运动降低大鼠体重和内脏脂肪质量,急性运动并不影响大鼠体重和内脏脂肪质量,但两种运动方式都可以改善肥胖诱导的胰岛素抵抗,这可能与大鼠肝脏中BIM调节的JNK1-IRS1-Akt信号通路的改变有关。     

诺沙坦改善非胰岛素依赖型糖尿病大鼠胰岛素敏感性的作用机制

本文研究血管紧张素Ⅱ受体拮抗剂诺沙坦对非胰岛素依赖型糖尿病(non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus,NIDDM)大鼠胰岛素敏感性的改善作用,并探讨其作用机制。从饮水中给予正常或高脂喂养加小剂量链脲佐菌素(STZ)诱发的NIDDM大鼠诺沙坦(4 mg/kg),连续6周。分离骨骼肌,用免疫印迹法检测诺沙坦对胰岛素受体底物1(insulin receptor substrate 1,IRS-1)、蛋白激酶B(protein kinase B,PKB)和葡萄糖转运因子4(glucose transporter 4,GLUT4)的表达,以及IRS-1的磷酸化、IRS-1与磷脂酰肌醇3激酶(phosphatidylinositol(PI)3-kinase)的结合。口服葡萄糖耐量试验表明,口服诺沙坦可改善糖尿病大鼠胰岛素敏感性。在骨骼肌组织,NIDDM和正常大鼠的IRS-1、PKB和GLUT4蛋白表达无差异,且不受诺沙坦处理的影响。NIDDM大鼠胰岛素刺激后的骨骼肌IRS-1酪氨酸磷酸化水平、PI 3-kinase结合IRS-1的活性和PKB活性较对照组显著降低(P<0.01),且不能被诺沙坦改善。诺沙坦显著增加NIDDM大鼠肌细胞质膜(plasma membrane,PM)和T管(T-tubules,TT)胰岛素诱导的GLUT4的 含量(P<0.05)。与该结果一致的是,诺沙坦处理的NIDDM大鼠血糖水平较未处理NIDDM大鼠下降(P<0.05)。结果表明,诺沙坦可改善胰岛素抵抗状态,主要是通过非PI 3-kinase依赖的     

高脂喂养大鼠肾小管上皮细胞SREBP-1、TGF-β1、α-SMA的表达和细胞外基质沉积

目的:探讨高脂喂养对大鼠肾脏小管上皮细胞SREBP-1、TGF-β1、α-SMA表达和细胞外基质(ECM)的影响。方法:高脂饲料喂养大鼠12周后,油红O检测肾脏脂质沉积,Masson染色检测肾小管间质细胞外基质沉积,免疫组化、Western blot和原位杂交检测SREBP-1、TGF-β1、α-SMA和FN的表达。结果:高脂喂养后大鼠体重明显增加,血糖、甘油三酯和胰岛素均升高,油红O检测显示大鼠肾小管上皮细胞内出现明显脂滴。SREBP-1蛋白和mRNA在肾小管上皮细胞内表达,高脂组高于正常对照组,分别是正常组的1.88倍和1.85倍;TGF-β1和α-SMA也定位于肾小管上皮细胞胞浆并出现上调。Masson染色显示高脂喂养大鼠肾间质ECM沉积增多,纤维粘连蛋白FN检测也显示模型组表达强于对照组。结论:高脂饮食喂养可能通过上调肾脏小管上皮细胞SREBP-1表达使细胞内脂滴沉积,并进一步诱导TGF-β1、α-SMA合成而导致细胞外基质堆积。     

姜黄素衍生物B06对2型糖尿病大鼠肾脏的保护作用

目的:观察姜黄素衍生物B06对2型糖尿病大鼠肾脏的保护作用及机制。方法:雄性SD大鼠35只,随机均分成5组(n=7):正常对照组、高脂组、高脂治疗组、糖尿病组、糖尿病治疗组。采用高脂饮食结合链脲佐菌素诱导2型糖尿病大鼠模型。治疗组给予0.2 mg/kg·d剂量的B06灌胃,维持8周。检测血肌酐、尿素氮、尿酸,光镜和电镜观察大鼠肾组织的形态学改变,Masson染色观察肾组织的胶原纤维,并用免疫组化方法检测肾脏IV型胶原、纤维连接蛋白的表达。结果:糖尿病组大鼠血肌酐、尿素氮水平升高;光镜下见肾小球系膜基质增多,胶原纤维增多,肾小球毛细血管基底膜增厚;电镜下足细胞足突肿胀及足突融合;Masson染色示肾小球亮绿色阳性基质增多;免疫组化显示IV型胶原、纤维连接蛋白的表达水平升高。经B06干预后,血肌酐、尿素氮下降;肾小球病变减轻,肾脏组织IV型胶原、纤维连接蛋白的表达水平降低。结论:B06对2型糖尿病大鼠的肾脏具有保护作用,其机制可能是通过降低肾脏IV型胶原、纤维连接蛋白的表达,从而抑制细胞外基质的积聚和肾小球系膜增殖,发挥抗肾纤维化的作用。     

运动对老年肥胖大鼠脂联素的影响

目的：探讨运动对老年肥胖大鼠内脏脂肪组织脂联素mRNA和蛋白质表达、血浆脂联素浓度及胰岛素抵抗的影响。方法：取雄性SD大鼠,鼠龄21 d,分青春期、壮年期和老年期三个阶段喂养高脂饲料（脂肪率为36.3%~40.0%）,建立老年肥胖模型。鼠龄达到60周后,取自然生长老年大鼠随机分为对照组（C）和老年运动组（AE）,n=6;取老年肥胖大鼠随机分为肥胖对照组（OC）和肥胖运动组（OE）,n=6。动物跑台坡度0°,运动速度及时间为（15 m/min×15 min）,4组/次,组间休息5 min,每次共运动60 min,5次/周,持续运动8周。8周后,检测内脏脂肪组织脂联素mRNA和蛋白质表达,测定血糖、血浆脂联素浓度和胰岛素浓度,计算胰岛素抵抗。结果：运动干预后,与对照组比较,肥胖对照组大鼠脂联素mRNA和蛋白质表达显著减低,血糖浓度和胰岛素抵抗明显增高;而老年运动组大鼠脂联素mRNA和蛋白质表达显著增高。与肥胖对照组大鼠比较,肥胖运动组大鼠脂联素mRNA和蛋白质表达显著增高、血浆脂联素水平增高,血糖浓度和胰岛素抵抗明显减低。结论：老年肥胖大鼠内脏脂肪组织脂联素mRNA和蛋白质表达均降低,伴随胰岛素抵抗、血糖升高。运动能显著增加其内脏脂肪组织脂联素mRNA和蛋白质表达,升高血浆脂联素水平,改善胰岛素抵抗,降低血糖。     

STZ诱导糖尿病肾病大鼠模型的建立

目的建立糖尿病大鼠动物模型,探讨其肾脏损害规律。方法用STZ65mg/kg一次性腹腔内注射方式制作糖尿病大鼠模型,设立空白对照组,饲养14周,期间观察大鼠血糖、尿糖及一般情况变化,实验结束时测定血肌酐、尿素氮、尿蛋白、尿白蛋白排泄率,取肾作病理及超微病理检查。结果模型组大鼠出现血肌酐、尿素氮、尿蛋白、尿白蛋白明显升高,出现肾脏肥大,病理显示明显的肾小球、肾小管病变。结论STZ诱导糖尿病大鼠肾脏表现肾小球及小管间质损害,可以用作糖尿病肾病研究的动物模型。     

转化生长因子β1和Snaill参与糖尿病大鼠肾小管上皮细胞向间充质细胞转变

本文旨在观察转化生长因子β1(transforming growth factor-β1,TGF-β1)和锌指转录因子Snaill在糖尿病(diabetesmellitus,DM)大鼠.肾组织中的表达,并初步探讨它们与肾小管上皮细胞向间充质细胞转变的关系.链脲佐菌素(streptozotocin,STZ)诱发大鼠DM,按病程分为2、4、8、12、16、20、24周、16周胰岛素治疗(16wA)、20周胰岛素治疗(20wA)和24周胰岛索治疗(24wA)组(n=6).其中胰岛素治疗组动物从第13周起用胰岛素控制血糖至正常水平,每一时点均设鼠龄匹配的正常对照组.测定各组血糖、24 h尿蛋白、血肌酐(serum creatinine,Scr)、肾脏指数.PAS染色光镜观察肾脏病理学改变.免疫组织化学检测肾脏SnMll、TGF-β1、α-平滑肌肌动蛋白(α-smooth muscle actin,α-SMA)、E-钙黏素和纤连蛋白(fibronectin,FN)的表达;Western blot检测肾皮质SnailI、TGF-β1和E-钙黏素蛋白表达.RT-PeR检测肾皮质Snaill和E-钙黏素mRNA表达.结果显示:(1)DM各组大鼠的血糖、24 h尿蛋白、Scr、肾脏指数均较正常对照组明显升高(P<0.05,P<0.01),胰岛素治疗组大鼠上述指标均较DM组显著降低(P<0.01).(2)TGF-β1和Snmll免疫组织化学阳性染色见于DM各组大鼠肾小管,正常对照组未见阳性表达,胰岛素治疗组大鼠弱阳性表达,并随治疗时间延长而减少.从16周开始在DM大鼠肾小管上皮细胞可见α-SMA蛋白阳性表达,胰岛素治疗组大鼠未见α-SMA蛋白表达;DM组大鼠E-钙黏素蛋白阳性染色明显少于正常对照组.(3)DM组大鼠肾皮质TGF-β和Snaill蛋白以及Snaill mRNA表达较正常对照组显著增高(P<0.01),胰岛素治疗组大鼠则显著低于DM组(P<0.01);DM组E.钙黏素mRNA和蛋白表达与TGF-β1和Snaill呈相反变化.结果提示,TGF-βl和Snaill可能参与DM大鼠肾小管上皮细胞向问充质细胞转变,胰岛素治疗可抑制两者表达并阻断肾小管上皮细胞向间充质细胞转变.     

高脂喂养大鼠肝脏的NF-κBp65表达与胰岛素抵抗的相关性

目的探讨高脂饲料喂养大鼠肝脏NF-κBp65蛋白的表达与胰岛素抵抗的关系。方法采用高脂饲料喂养建立胰岛素抵抗大鼠模型,并用正常血糖-高血浆胰岛素钳夹技术评估。应用Western blotting方法检测大鼠肝脏中NF-κBp65蛋白的表达。结果①高脂饲料组大鼠的葡萄糖输注率明显低于基础饲料组[GIR60~120（0.76±0.28vs4.26±0.70）mg/（kg.min）,P〈0.01]。②高脂饲料组大鼠肝脏NF-κBp65蛋白的表达明显高于基础饲料组（A值118.48±1.45vs68.13±4.84,P〈0.01）。③高脂胰岛素抵抗大鼠肝脏NF-κBp65蛋白表达与GIR60-120（r=-0.993,P=0.000）和ISI（r=-0.773,P=0.009）负相关。结论高脂诱导的胰岛素抵抗大鼠肝脏NF-κB的激活可能是产生肝脏和全身胰岛素抵抗的根源。     

大鼠胰岛素抵抗形成中脂联素受体基因表达及运动的影响

目的:检测SD大鼠脂联素受体的分布,观察大鼠胰岛素抵抗(IR)形成中脂联素受体(Adipok)基因表达及运动的影响。方法:46只雄性SD大鼠随机分为4组(n=12),以高脂膳食喂养诱导IR,同时运动组实施10周游泳运动干预。结果:AdipoR1/R2mRNA分别在骨骼肌和肝脏高表达(P<0.05);H组骨骼肌AdipoR1和肝脏AdipoR2mRNA表达显著低于C组(P<0.05)。结论:骨骼肌和肝脏AdipoR1/R2mRNA表达的下调可能是高脂大鼠IR形成的机制之一,未观察到运动干预的显著影响。     

Cytoarchitectural alterations in kidney of Wistar rat after oral exposure to cadmium chloride

Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups - A, B and C. A dose of 5 mg and 10 mg of cadmium chloride/kg body weight/day was orally administered to groups B and C, respectively. Rats from group A served as control. Rats were sacrificed on 1st, 2nd, 4th, 6th, and 8th week after initiation of the experiment. Kidneys were removed immediately, fixed in Bouin's fixative, routinely processed and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. The present study showed that the histopathological changes were caused in kidney of rats by cadmium exposure. The changes noticed were mainly - the glomerular swelling (at initial stage), the shrinkage of glomerulus (at later stage), the tubular dilatation, hypertrophy of tubular epithelium, degeneration of glomerulus and renal tubules and deposition of eosin-positive substances in the glomerulus and renal tubules. However, lesions were depended upon the doses and duration of the treatment.     

A high-fructose diet impairs Akt and PKCzeta phosphorylation and GLUT4 translocation in rat skeletal muscle.

The molecular mechanism of insulin resistance induced by high-fructose feeding is not fully understood. The present study investigated the role of downstream signaling molecules of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) in the insulin-stimulated skeletal muscle of high-fructose-fed rats. Rats were divided into chow-fed and fructose-fed groups. The results of the euglycemic clamp study (insulin infusion rates: 6 mU/kg BW/min) showed a significant decrease in the glucose infusion rate (GIR) and the metabolic clearance rate of glucose (MCR) in fructose-fed rats compared with chow-fed rats. In skeletal muscle removed immediately after the clamp procedure, high-fructose feeding did not alter protein levels of protein kinase B (PKB/Akt), protein kinase C zeta (PKCzeta), or glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4). However, insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of Akt and PKCzeta and GLUT4 translocation to the plasma membrane were reduced. Our findings suggest that insulin resistance in fructose-fed rats is associated with impaired Akt and PKCzeta activation and GLUT4 translocation in skeletal muscle.     

Characterizing the effects of saturated fatty acids on insulin signaling and ceramide and diacylglycerol accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and C2C12 myotubes

A strong correlation between intramyocellular lipid concentrations and the severity of insulin resistance has fueled speculation that lipid oversupply to skeletal muscle, fat, or liver may desensitize these tissues to the anabolic effects of insulin. To identify free fatty acids (FFAs) capable of inhibiting insulin action, we treated 3T3-L1 adipocytes or C2C12 myotubes with either the saturated FFA palmitate (C16:0) or the monounsaturated FFA oleate (C18:1), which were shown previously to be the most prevalent FFAs in rat soleus and gastrocnemius muscles. In C2C12 myotubes, palmitate, but not oleate, inhibited insulin-stimulation of glycogen synthesis, as well as its activation of Akt/Protein Kinase B (PKB), an obligate intermediate in the regulation of anabolic metabolism. Palmitate also induced the accrual of ceramide and diacylglycerol (DAG), two lipid metabolites that have been shown to inhibit insulin signaling in cultured cells and to accumulate in insulin resistant tissues. Interestingly, in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, neither palmitate nor oleate inhibited glycogen synthesis or Akt/PKB activation, nor did they induce ceramide or DAG synthesis. Using myotubes, we also tested whether other saturated fatty acids blocked insulin signaling while promoting ceramide and DAG accumulation. The long-chain fatty acids stearate (18:0), arachidate (20:0), and lignocerate (24:0) reproduced palmitate's effects on these events, while saturated fatty acids with shorter hydrocarbon chains [i.e., laurate (12:0) and myristate (14:0)] failed to induce ceramide accumulation or inhibit Akt/PKB activation. Collectively these findings implicate excess delivery of long-chain fatty acids in the development of insulin resistance resulting from lipid oversupply to skeletal muscle.     

Long-term effects of rapamycin treatment on insulin mediated phosphorylation of Akt/PKB and glycogen synthase activity

Protein kinase B (Akt/PKB) is a Ser/Thr kinase that is involved in the regulation of cell proliferation/survival through mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and the regulation of glycogen metabolism through glycogen synthase kinase 3beta (GSK-3beta) and glycogen synthase (GS). Rapamycin is an inhibitor of mTOR. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of rapamycin pretreatment on the insulin mediated phosphorylation of Akt/PKB phosphorylation and GS activity in parental HepG2 and HepG2 cells with overexpression of constitutively active Akt1/PKB-alpha (HepG2-CA-Akt/PKB). Rapamycin pretreatment resulted in a decrease (20-30%) in the insulin mediated phosphorylation of Akt1 (Ser 473) in parental HepG2 cells but showed an upregulation of phosphorylation in HepG2-CA-Akt/PKB cells. Rictor levels were decreased (20-50%) in parental HepG2 cells but were not significantly altered in the HepG2-CA-Akt/PKB cells. Furthermore, rictor knockdown decreased the phosphorylation of Akt (Ser 473) by 40-60% upon rapamycin pretreatment. GS activity followed similar trends as that of phosphorylated Akt and so with rictor levels in these cells pretreated with rapamycin; parental HepG2 cells showed a decrease in GS activity, whereas as HepG2-CA-Akt/PKB cells showed an increase in GS activity. The changes in the levels of phosphorylated Akt/PKB (Ser 473) correlated with GS and protein phoshatase-1 activity.     

A novel PKB/Akt inhibitor, MK-2206, effectively inhibits insulin-stimulated glucose metabolism and protein synthesis in isolated rat skeletal muscle

PKB (protein kinase B), also known as Akt, is a key component of insulin signalling. Defects in PKB activation lead to insulin resistance and metabolic disorders, whereas PKB overactivation has been linked to tumour growth. Small-molecule PKB inhibitors have thus been developed for cancer treatment, but also represent useful tools to probe the roles of PKB in insulin action. In the present study, we examined the acute effects of two allosteric PKB inhibitors, MK-2206 and Akti 1/2 (Akti) on PKB signalling in incubated rat soleus muscles. We also assessed the effects of the compounds on insulin-stimulated glucose uptake, glycogen and protein synthesis. MK-2206 dose-dependently inhibited insulin-stimulated PKB phosphorylation, PKBβ activity and phosphorylation of PKB downstream targets (including glycogen synthase kinase-3α/β, proline-rich Akt substrate of 40?kDa and Akt substrate of 160?kDa). Insulin-stimulated glucose uptake, glycogen synthesis and glycogen synthase activity were also decreased by MK-2206?in a dose-dependent manner. Incubation with high doses of MK-2206 (10?μM) inhibited insulin-induced p70 ribosomal protein S6 kinase and 4E-BP1 (eukaryotic initiation factor 4E-binding protein-1) phosphorylation associated with increased eEF2 (eukaryotic elongation factor 2) phosphorylation. In contrast, Akti only modestly inhibited insulin-induced PKB and mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) signalling, with little or no effect on glucose uptake and protein synthesis. MK-2206, rather than Akti, would thus be the tool of choice for studying the role of PKB in insulin action in skeletal muscle. The results point to a key role for PKB in mediating insulin-stimulated glucose uptake, glycogen synthesis and protein synthesis in skeletal muscle.     

Inhibitory effect of hyperglycemia on insulin-induced Akt/protein kinase B activation in skeletal muscle

To determine the molecular mechanism underlying hyperglycemia-induced insulin resistance in skeletal muscles, postreceptor insulin-signaling events were assessed in skeletal muscles of neonatally streptozotocin-treated diabetic rats. In isolated soleus muscle of the diabetic rats, insulin-stimulated 2-deoxyglucose uptake, glucose oxidation, and lactate release were all significantly decreased compared with normal rats. Similarly, insulin-induced phosphorylation and activation of Akt/protein kinase B (PKB) and GLUT-4 translocation were severely impaired. However, the upstream signal, including phosphorylation of the insulin receptor (IR) and insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1 and -2 and activity of phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase associated with IRS-1/2, was enhanced. The amelioration of hyperglycemia by T-1095, a Na(+)-glucose transporter inhibitor, normalized the reduced insulin sensitivity in the soleus muscle and the impaired insulin-stimulated Akt/PKB phosphorylation and activity. In addition, the enhanced PI 3-kinase activation and phosphorylation of IR and IRS-1 and -2 were reduced to normal levels. These results suggest that sustained hyperglycemia impairs the insulin-signaling steps between PI 3-kinase and Akt/PKB, and that impaired Akt/PKB activity underlies hyperglycemia-induced insulin resistance in skeletal muscle.     

Enhanced sensitivity of protein kinase B/Akt to insulin in hypoxia is independent of HIF1alpha and promotes cell viability

Maintenance of oxygen homeostasis is a key requirement to ensure normal mammalian cell growth and differentiation. Hypoxia arises when oxygen demand exceeds supply, and is a feature of multiple human diseases including stroke, cancer and renal fibrosis. We have investigated the effect of hypoxia on kidney cells, and observed that insulin-induced cell viability is increased in hypoxia. We have characterized the role of protein kinase B (PKB/Akt) in these cells as a potential mediator of this effect. PKB/Akt activity was increased by low oxygen concentrations in kidney cells, and insulin-stimulated activation of PKB/Akt was stronger, more rapid and more sustained in hypoxia. Reduction of HIF1alpha levels using antimycin-A or siRNA targeting HIF1alpha did not affect PKB/Akt activation in hypoxia. Pharmacologic stabilization of HIF1alpha independent of hypoxia did not increase insulin-stimulated PKB/Akt activation. Although increased insulin-stimulated cell viability was observed in hypoxia, no differences in the degree of insulin-stimulated glucose uptake were observed in L6 muscle cells in hypoxia compared to normoxia. Thus, PKB/Akt may regulate specific cellular responses to growth factors such as insulin under adverse conditions such as hypoxia.     

S-nitrosylation-dependent inactivation of Akt/protein kinase B in insulin resistance

Inducible nitric-oxide synthase (iNOS) has been implicated in many human diseases including insulin resistance. However, how iNOS causes or exacerbates insulin resistance remains largely unknown. Protein S-nitrosylation is now recognized as a prototype of a redox-dependent, cGMP-independent signaling component that mediates a variety of actions of nitric oxide (NO). Here we describe the mechanism of inactivation of Akt/protein kinase B (PKB) in NO donor-treated cells and diabetic (db/db) mice. NO donors induced S-nitrosylation and inactivation of Akt/PKB in vitro and in intact cells. The inhibitory effects of NO donor were independent of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and cGMP. In contrast, the concomitant presence of oxidative stress accelerated S-nitrosylation and inactivation of Akt/PKB. In vitro denitrosylation with reducing agent reactivated recombinant and cellular Akt/PKB from NO donor-treated cells. Mutated Akt1/PKBalpha (C224S), in which cysteine 224 was substituted by serine, was resistant to NO donor-induced S-nitrosylation and inactivation, indicating that cysteine 224 is a major S-nitrosylation acceptor site. In addition, S-nitrosylation of Akt/PKB was increased in skeletal muscle of diabetic (db/db) mice compared with wild-type mice. These data suggest that S-nitrosylation-mediated inactivation may contribute to the pathogenesis of iNOS- and/or oxidative stress-involved insulin resistance.     

A Lupinoside prevented fatty acid induced inhibition of insulin sensitivity in 3T3 L1 adipocytes

The decrease in insulin sensitivity to target tissues or insulin resistance leads to type 2 diabetes mellitus, an insidious disease threatening global health. Numerous evidences made free fatty acids (FFAs) responsible for insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. We demonstrate here that the damage of insulin acitivity by a free fatty acid, palmitate could be prevented by a lupinoside. An incubation of 3T3 L1 adipocytes with a FFA i.e. palmitate inhibited insulin stimulated uptake of ³H-2 deoxyglucose (2 DOG) significantly. Addition of a lupinoside purified from Pueraria tuberosa, lupinoside PA₄ (LPA₄) strongly prevented this inhibition. We then examined insulin signaling pathway where palmitate significantly inhibited insulin stimulated phosphorylation of Insulin receptor tyrosine kinase, IRS 1and PI3 kinase, PDK1 and Akt/PKB. LPA₄ rescued this inhibition of signaling molecule by palmitate. Insulin mediated translocation of Glut4, the glucose transporter in insulin target cells, was effectively blocked by palmitate while, LPA₄ waived this block. Administration of LPA₄ to nutritionally induced diabetic rats significantly reduced the increase in plasma glucose. All these indicate LPA₄ to be a potentially therapeutic agent for insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.     

Burn injury impairs insulin-stimulated Akt/PKB activation in skeletal muscle

The molecular bases underlying burn- or critical illness-induced insulin resistance still remain unclarified. Muscle protein catabolism is a ubiquitous feature of critical illness. Akt/PKB plays a central role in the metabolic actions of insulin and is a pivotal regulator of hypertrophy and atrophy of skeletal muscle. We therefore examined the effects of burn injury on insulin-stimulated Akt/PKB activation in skeletal muscle. Insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of Akt/PKB was significantly attenuated in burned compared with sham-burned rats. Insulin-stimulated Akt/PKB kinase activity, as judged by immune complex kinase assay and phosphorylation status of the endogenous substrate of Akt/PKB, glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK-3beta), was significantly impaired in burned rats. Furthermore, insulin consistently failed to increase the phosphorylation of p70 S6 kinase, another downstream effector of Akt/PKB, in rats with burn injury, whereas phosphorylation of p70 S6 kinase was increased by insulin in controls. The protein expression of Akt/PKB, GSK-3beta, and p70 S6 kinase was unaltered by burn injury. However, insulin-stimulated activation of ERK, a signaling pathway parallel to Akt/PKB, was not affected by burn injury. These results demonstrate that burn injury impairs insulin-stimulated Akt/PKB activation in skeletal muscle and suggest that attenuated Akt/PKB activation may be involved in deranged metabolism and muscle wasting observed after burn injury.