Induced changes in the affinity of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 receptors in chick intestine

The contents of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) in plasma and intestinal mucose were increased by dietary calcium and by dietary phosphorus restriction. The concentration of intestinal occupied receptors for 1,25(OH)2D3 was higher in calcium-restricted birds. The affinity (association constant) of intestinal receptors for 1,25(OH)2D3 was lower in phosphorus-restricted chicks, as compared to control or calcium-restricted chicks. The number of binding sites were not influenced by dietary calcium or phosphorus restriction.     

Nitrite augments glucose uptake in adipocytes through the protein kinase A-dependent stimulation of mitochondrial fusion

Though it is well accepted that adipose tissue is central in the regulation of glycemic homeostasis, the molecular mechanisms governing adipocyte glucose uptake remain unclear. Recent studies demonstrate that mitochondrial dynamics (fission and fusion) regulate lipid accumulation and differentiation in adipocytes. However, the role of mitochondrial dynamics in glucose homeostasis has not been explored. The nitric oxide oxidation products nitrite and nitrate are endogenous signaling molecules and dietary constituents that have recently been shown to modulate glucose metabolism, prevent weight gain, and reverse the development of metabolic syndrome in mice. Although the mechanism of this protection is unclear, the mitochondrion is a known subcellular target for nitrite signaling. Thus, we hypothesize that nitrite modulates mitochondrial dynamics and function to regulate glucose uptake in adipocytes. Herein, we demonstrate that nitrite significantly increases glucose uptake in differentiated murine adipocytes through a mechanism dependent on mitochondrial fusion. Specifically, nitrite promotes mitochondrial fusion by increasing the profusion protein mitofusin 1 while concomitantly activating protein kinase A (PKA), which phosphorylates and inhibits the profission protein dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1). Functionally, this signaling augments cellular respiration, fatty acid oxidation, mitochondrial oxidant production, and glucose uptake. Importantly, inhibition of PKA or Drp1 significantly attenuates nitrite-induced mitochondrial respiration and glucose uptake. These findings demonstrate that mitochondria play an essential metabolic role in adipocytes, show a novel role for both nitrite and mitochondrial fusion in regulating adipocyte glucose homeostasis, and have implications for the potential therapeutic use of nitrite and mitochondrial modulators in glycemic regulation.     

大鼠前体脂肪细胞分化过程中6种基因的表达时序研究

本实验分离培养SD大鼠前体脂肪细胞,以油红O染色计数法区分分化的不同阶段,采用半定量RT-PCR法检测脂肪细胞分化过程中转录因子固醇调控元件结合蛋白(sterol regulatory element binding protein,SREBP-1c)、碳水化合物反应元件结合蛋白(carbohydrate responsive element binding protein,ChREBP)以及脂肪酸合成酶(fatty acid synthase,FAS)、乙酰辅酶A羧化酶(acetyl-CoA carboxylase,ACC1)、硬酯酰辅酶A去饱和酶(stearoyl-CoA desaturase,SCD)和激素敏感脂酶(hormone sensitive lipase,HSL)基因mRNA表达水平的变化。结果表明,上述基因在前体脂肪细胞阶段均不表达,SREBP-1c、FAS在分化初期表达,SREBP-1c、ChREBP、HSL、FAS、SCD在分化中期表达,6种基因在终末分化阶段均有表达。     

MicroRNA-140 Promotes Adipocyte Lineage Commitment of C3H10T1/2 Pluripotent Stem Cells via Targeting Osteopetrosis-associated Transmembrane Protein 1

BMP4 has been shown to induce C3H10T1/2 pluripotent stem cells to commit to adipocyte lineage. In addition to several proteins identified, microRNAs also play a critical role in the process. In this study, we identified microRNA-140 (miR-140) as a direct downstream component of the BMP4 signaling pathway during the commitment of C3H10T1/2 cells to adipocyte lineage. Overexpression of miR-140 in C3H10T1/2 cells promoted commitment, whereas knockdown of its expression led to impairment. Additional studies indicated that Ostm1 is a bona fide target of miR-140, which is significantly decreased during commitment, and Ostm1 was also demonstrated to function as an anti-adipogenic factor.     

Intracellular signalling mechanisms regulating glucose transport in insulin-sensitive tissues

The rate of glucose transport into cells is of fundamental importance in whole body homeostasis and adaptation to metabolic stresses, and this review examines the signalling mechanisms controlling this process. The events that mediate the action of insulin on glucose transport, which is by far the best characterized paradigm for glucose transport regulation, are discussed. There are several excellent reviews on various aspects of this subject, which are referred to while highlighting very recent developments in the field, including the recently described CAP pathway, and emerging mechanisms for feedback regulation of insulin signalling. The manner in which hormonal signalling is modulated by stimuli such as oxidative and osmotic stress is then discussed. The second major physiological event where glucose transport regulation is critical is the contraction of skeletal muscle, due to the large metabolic demands of this activity. The mechanism of this regulation is distinct from that initiated by insulin, and recent developments will be examined that have begun to clarify how contraction stimulates glucose transport in skeletal muscle, including the roles performed by AMP-activated protein kinase and nitric oxide synthase.     

肥胖者脂肪组织中TNF-α表达与脂肪细胞大小的相关性分析

目的探讨肥胖者网膜脂肪和皮下脂肪两处肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)蛋白的表达与脂肪细胞大小的相关性。方法选取正常体重者16名,中心型肥胖者32名拟行外科手术患者,术中取出网膜脂肪和皮下脂肪标本,测定脂肪细胞大小,采用western blot方法测定TNF-α蛋白表达。结果肥胖者网膜脂肪和皮下脂肪两处TNF-α蛋白的水平均比正常体重对照组表达高(P<0.01),肥胖者网膜脂肪组织TNF-α蛋白表达高于皮下脂肪(P<0.05),同时研究发现肥胖者皮下脂肪细胞和网膜脂肪细胞大小均明显大于正常体重组(P<0.05),且肥胖者网膜脂肪和皮下脂肪两处脂肪组织TNF-α蛋白表达与脂肪细胞大小呈正相关(网膜:r=0.808,P<0.01;皮下:r=0.452,P<0.05)。结论肥胖者网膜脂肪和皮下脂肪细胞增大,在肥胖相关胰岛素抵抗的发生中起到了重要的作用。     

Control of Adipogenesis by the Autocrine Interplays between Angiotensin 1–7/Mas Receptor and Angiotensin II/AT1 Receptor Signaling Pathways

Angiotensin II (AngII), a peptide hormone released by adipocytes, can be catabolized by adipose angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) to form Ang(1–7). Co-expression of AngII receptors (AT₁ and AT₂) and Ang(1–7) receptors (Mas) in adipocytes implies the autocrine regulation of the local angiotensin system upon adipocyte functions, through yet unknown interactive mechanisms. In the present study, we reveal the adipogenic effects of Ang(1–7) through activation of Mas receptor and its subtle interplays with the antiadipogenic AngII-AT1 signaling pathways. Specifically, in human and 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, Ang(1–7)-Mas signaling promotes adipogenesis via activation of PI3K/Akt and inhibition of MAPK kinase/ERK pathways, and Ang(1–7)-Mas antagonizes the antiadipogenic effect of AngII-AT₁ by inhibiting the AngII-AT₁-triggered MAPK kinase/ERK pathway. The autocrine regulation of the AngII/AT₁-ACE2-Ang(1–7)/Mas axis upon adipogenesis has also been revealed. This study suggests the importance of the local regulation of the delicately balanced angiotensin system upon adipogenesis and its potential as a novel therapeutic target for obesity and related metabolic disorders.     

Weak Functional Coupling of the Melanocortin-1 Receptor Expressed in Human Adipocytes

The melanocortin (MC) receptor type-1 (MC1-R) is the only one of the five MC receptor subtypes expressed in human adipose tissue explants, human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), and MSC-derived adipocytes. Following our recent expression studies (Obesity 2007, 15, 40–49), we now investigated the functional role of MC1-R in these tissues and cells to deduce the coupling state of MC1-R to intracellular output signals in human fat cells and tissue. Expression of MC1-R by undifferentiated and differentiated MSCs was quantified by real-time TaqMan PCR. Intracellular output signals (cAMP, lipolysis, secretion of IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α), as well as effects on the metabolic rate and proliferation of human MSCs were analyzed by standard assays, exposing undifferentiated and differentiated MSCs and, in part, human adipose tissue explants to the potent MC1-R agonist, [Nle⁴, D-Phe⁷]-α -MSH (NDP-MSH). This agonist induced a weak cAMP signal in MSC-derived adipocytes. However, it did not affect lipolysis in these cells or in adipose tissue explants, nor did it modulate cytokine release and mRNA expression of IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α upon LPS stimulation. In undifferentiated MSCs, NDP-MSH did not alter the metabolic rate, but it showed a significant antiproliferative effect. Therefore, it appears that MC1-R–effector coupling in (differentiated) human adipocytes is too weak to induce a regulatory effect on lipolysis or inflammation; by contrast, MC1-R stimulation in undifferentiated MSCs induces an inhibitory signal on cell proliferation.     

ROS在脂肪分化中的作用研究新进展

由于肥胖及肥胖相关疾病在全球范围内的广泛流行,明确脂肪组织如何生长非常重要。脂肪组织主要由脂肪细胞分化、脂肪细胞肥大以及脂解作用共同调节。脂肪细胞分化是由多能干细胞或前脂肪细胞分化形成脂肪细胞的一个复杂而又程序化的过程。脂肪细胞的分化过程被分为四个阶段,生长抑制阶段,克隆扩增阶段,早期分化阶段和分化为成熟脂肪细胞表型的终末阶段。来自国内外多个研究的大量数据表明,活性氧(Reactive oxygen species, ROS)可以显著调节脂肪分化的过程进而影响肥胖及相关疾病的发生发展。作为一类重要的高活性分子,ROS在细胞内具有多种来源,主要包括线粒体、NADPH氧化酶、黄嘌呤氧化还原酶、黄嘌呤氧化酶、一氧化氮合酶等。本文回顾近年来的一些文献,对ROS及其生成系统在脂肪细胞分化中的作用进行综述,以期从氧化还原调节的角度明确脂肪细胞分化以及肥胖形成的机制,为肥胖及相关疾病的治疗提供新思路。