Plasma glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) responses to duodenal fat and glucose infusions in lean and obese men

It has been suggested that obesity is associated with a reduced glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) response to oral carbohydrate, but not fat. The latter may, however, be attributable to changes in gastric emptying. We have assessed plasma GLP-1 levels in response to these infusions in lean and obese subjects. Seven healthy lean (body mass index (BMI), 19.1-24.6 kg/m(2)) and seven obese (BMI, 31.3-40.8 kg/m(2)) young men received an intraduodenal infusion of glucose and fat for 120 min (2.86 kcal/min) on two separate days. Blood samples for plasma GLP-1 were obtained at baseline and every 20 min during the infusion. Plasma GLP-1 increased during infusion of glucose and fat (P = 0.001), but there were no differences between lean and obese subjects, nor the two nutrients. We conclude that GLP-1 secretion in response to duodenal infusion of glucose and fat is not altered in obese subjects.     

Suppression of nuclear factor-kappa B activity by nitric oxide and hyperoxia in oxygen-resistant cells

Inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) is used clinically to treat pulmonary hypertension in newborns, often in conjunction with hyperoxia (NO/O2). Prolonged exposure to NO/O2 causes synergistic lung injury and death of lung epithelial cells. To explore the mechanisms involved, oxygen-resistant HeLa-80 cells were exposed to NO +/- O2. Exposure to NO and O2 induced a synergistic cytotoxicity, accompanied with apoptotic characteristics, including elevated caspase-3-like activity, Annexin V incorporation, and nuclear condensation. This apoptosis was associated with a synergistic suppression of NF-kappaB activity. Cells lacking functional NF-kappaB p65 subunit were more sensitive to NO/O2 than their wild type counterparts. This injury was partially rescued by transfection with a p65 expression construct, suggesting an inverse relationship between NF-kappaB and susceptibility to the cytotoxicity of NO/O2. Despite the reduced NF-kappaB activity in cells exposed to NO +/- O2, IkappaBalpha was degraded, suggesting that pathways regulating the steady-state levels of IkappaB were not involved. However, exposure to NO/O2 caused a marked reduction in nuclear localization and an increase in protein carbonyl formation of NF-kappaB p65 subunit. These results suggest that NO/O2-induced apoptosis occurs by suppressing NF-kappaB activity.     

Inheritance of pyriproxyfen resistance in the whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Q biotype)

The inheritance of resistance to pyriproxyfen, an insect growth regulator (a juvenoid, with ovicidal and larvicidal activities), was studied in the whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius). Two parental strains, both belonging to Q biotype, were assayed with pyriproxyfen; a susceptible strain (ALM-1) originating from Spain and a pyriproxyfen-resistant one (Pyri-R) from Israel. The resistance ratio between the two parental strains was approximately 7,000-fold. Concentration-mortality lines for F(1) heterozygous females from reciprocal crosses (SS female symbol X R male symbol and RR female symbol X S male symbol ) were derived by statistical modelling and proved intermediate to those of the parents. The pooled degree of dominance from both reciprocal crosses was +0.26, indicating that resistance was incompletely or partially dominant. Mortality curves for F(2) males produced by virgin F(1) heterozygous females displayed a broad plateau at 50% mortality, indicating that resistance to pyriproxyfen in B. tabaci is conferred primarily by a mutant allele at a single locus. The role of arrhenotoky in influencing the mode of inheritance of resistance, and its selection in field populations, is discussed.     

Expression and function of KCNH2 (HERG) in the human jejunum

Previous studies suggest that ether-a-go-go related gene (ERG) KCNH2 potassium channels contribute to the control of motility patterns in the gastrointestinal tract of animal models. The present study examines whether these results can be translated into a role in human gastrointestinal muscles. Messages for two different variants of the KCNH2 gene were detected: KCNH2 V1 human ERG (HERG) (28) and KCNH2 V2 (HERG(USO)) (13). The amount of V2 message was greater than V1 in both human jejunum and brain. The base-pair sequence that gives rise to domains S3-S5 of the channel was identical to that previously published for human KCNH2 V1 and V2. KCNH2 protein was detected immunohistochemically in circular and longitudinal smooth muscle and enteric neurons but not in interstitial cells of Cajal. In the presence of TTX (10(-6) M), atropine (10(-6) M). and l-nitroarginine (10(-4) M) human jejunal circular muscle strips contracted phasically (9 cycles/min) and generated slow waves with superimposed spikes. Low concentrations of the KCNH2 blockers E-4031 (10(-8) M) and MK-499 (3 x 10(-8) M) increased phasic contractile amplitude and the number of spikes per slow wave. The highest concentration of E-4031 (10(-6) M) produced a 10-20 mV depolarization, eliminated slow waves, and replaced phasic contractions with a small tonic contracture. E-4031 (10(-6) M) did not affect [(14)C]ACh release from enteric neurons. We conclude that KCNH2 channels play a fundamental role in the control of motility patterns in human jejunum through their ability to modulate the electrical behavior of smooth muscle cells.     

Effects of fat digestion on appetite,APD motility,and gut hormones in response to duodenal fat infusion in humans

The presence of nutrients in the small intestine slows gastric emptying and suppresses appetite and food intake; these effects are partly mediated by the release of gut hormones, including CCK. We investigated the hypothesis that the modulation of antropyloroduodenal motility, suppression of appetite, and stimulation of CCK and glucagon-like peptide-1 secretion by intraduodenal fat are dependent on triglyceride hydrolysis by lipase. Sixteen healthy, young, lean men were studied twice in double-blind, randomized, crossover fashion. Ratings for appetite-related sensations, antropyloroduodenal motility, and plasma CCK and glucagon-like peptide-1 concentrations were measured during a 120-min duodenal infusion of a triglyceride emulsion (2.8 kcal/min) on one day with, on the other day without, 120 mg tetrahydrolipstatin, a potent lipase inhibitor. Immediately after the duodenal fat infusion, food intake at a buffet lunch was quantified. Lipase inhibition with tetrahydrolipstatin was associated with reductions in tonic and phasic pyloric pressures, increased numbers of isolated antral and duodenal pressure waves, and stimulation of antropyloroduodenal pressure-wave sequences (all P < 0.05). Scores for prospective consumption and food intake at lunch were greater, and nausea scores were slightly less, and the rises in plasma CCK and glucagon-like peptide-1 were abolished (all P < 0.05). In conclusion, lipase inhibition attenuates the effects of duodenal fat on antropyloroduodenal motility, appetite, and CCK and glucagon-like peptide-1 secretion.     

Whole body and abdominal lipolytic sensitivity to epinephrine is suppressed in upper body obese women

We measured whole body and regional lipolytic and adipose tissue blood flow (ATBF) sensitivity to epinephrine in 8 lean [body mass index (BMI): 21 +/- 1 kg/m(2)] and 10 upper body obese (UBO) women (BMI: 38 +/- 1 kg/m(2); waist circumference >100 cm). All subjects underwent a four-stage epinephrine infusion (0.00125, 0.005, 0.0125, and 0.025 microgram. kg fat-free mass(-1). min(-1)) plus pancreatic hormonal clamp. Whole body free fatty acid (FFA) and glycerol rates of appearance (R(a)) in plasma were determined by stable isotope tracer methodology. Abdominal and femoral subcutaneous adipose tissue lipolytic activity was determined by microdialysis and (133)Xe clearance methods. Basal whole body FFA R(a) and glycerol R(a) were both greater (P < 0.05) in obese (449 +/- 31 and 220 +/- 12 micromol/min, respectively) compared with lean subjects (323 +/- 44 and 167 +/- 21 micromol/min, respectively). Epinephrine infusion significantly increased FFA R(a) and glycerol R(a) in lean (71 +/- 21 and 122 +/- 52%, respectively; P < 0.05) but not obese subjects (7 +/- 6 and 39 +/- 10%, respectively; P = not significant). In addition, lipolytic and ATBF sensitivity to epinephrine was blunted in abdominal but not femoral subcutaneous adipose tissue of obese compared with lean subjects. We conclude that whole body lipolytic sensitivity to epinephrine is blunted in women with UBO because of decreased sensitivity in upper body but not lower body subcutaneous adipose tissue.     

Racial differences in lipid metabolism in women with abdominal obesity

We evaluated palmitate rate of appearance (R(a)) in plasma during basal conditions and during a four-stage epinephrine infusion plus pancreatic hormonal clamp in nine white and nine black women with abdominal obesity, who were matched on fat-free mass, total and percent body fat, and waist-to-hip circumference ratio. On the basis of single-slice magnetic resonance imaging analysis, black women had the same amount of subcutaneous abdominal fat but less intra-abdominal fat than white women (68 +/- 9 vs. 170 +/- 14 cm(2), P < 0.05). Basal palmitate R(a) was lower in black than in white women (1.95 +/- 0.26 vs. 2.88 +/- 0.23 micromol. kg fat-free mass(-1). min(-1), P < 0.005), even though plasma insulin and catecholamine concentrations were the same in both groups. Palmitate R(a) across a physiological range of plasma epinephrine concentrations remained lower in black women, because the increase in palmitate R(a) during epinephrine infusion was the same in both groups. We conclude that basal and epinephrine-stimulated palmitate R(a) is lower in black than in white women with abdominal obesity. The differences in basal palmitate kinetics are not caused by alterations in plasma insulin or catecholamine concentrations or lipolytic sensitivity to epinephrine. The lower rate of whole body fatty acid flux and smaller intra-abdominal fat mass may have clinical benefits because of the relationship between excessive fatty acid availability and metabolic diseases.