Regulation of SREBP-1 expression and transcriptional action on HKII and FAS genes during fasting and refeeding in rat tissues

The sterol regulatory element binding protein 1 (SREBP-1) is regarded as a major factor involved in the nutritional regulation of lipogenesis. The aim of the present work was to demonstrate its involvement in the response of key genes of glucose and lipid metabolism in liver, adipose tissue, and skeletal muscle during fasting and refeeding. The regulation of hexokinase-2 (HKII) was investigated as a marker of the glucose metabolic pathway and that of FAS was investigated as a marker of the lipogenic pathway. The in vivo association of SREBP-1 with the promoter regions of these genes was determined in the different tissues using chromatin immunoprecipitation assays. Fasting decreased, and refeeding restored, FAS and HKII mRNA and protein levels in each tissue. The concomitant measurement of SREBP-1a and SREBP-1c mRNA levels, of mature SREBP-1 protein abundance in nuclear extracts, and of SREBP-1 interaction with target promoters led to the conclusion that SREBP-1 plays a major role in the response of FAS and HKII genes to nutritional regulation in rodents. These data elucidate the important role of SREBP-1 not only in the regulation of lipid metabolism but also of glucose metabolism and energy homeostasis.     

Overexpression of GLUT4 in mice causes up-regulation of UCP3 mRNA in skeletal muscle

Mitochondrial uncoupling protein 3 (UCP3) is expressed in skeletal muscles. We have hypothesized that increased glucose flux in skeletal muscles may lead to increased UCP3 expression. Male transgenic mice harboring insulin-responsive glucose transporter (GLUT4) minigenes with differing lengths of 5'-flanking sequence (-3237, -2000, -1000 and -442 bp) express different levels of GLUT4 protein in various skeletal muscles. Expression of the GLUT4 transgenes caused an increase in UCP3 mRNA that paralleled the increase of GLUT4 protein in gastrocnemius muscle. The effects of increased intracellular GLUT4 level on the expression of UCP1, UCP2 and UCP3 were compared in several tissues of male 4 month-old mice harboring the -1000 GLUT4 minigene transgene. In the -1000 GLUT4 transgenic mice, expression of GLUT4 mRNA and protein in skeletal muscles, brown adipose tissue (BAT), and white adipose tissue (WAT) was increased by 1.4 to 4.0-fold. Compared with non-transgenic littermates, the -1000 GLUT4 mice exhibited about 4- and 1.8-fold increases of UCP3 mRNA in skeletal muscle and WAT, respectively, and a 38% decrease of UCP1 mRNA in BAT. The transgenic mice had a 16% increase in oxygen consumption and a 14% decrease in blood glucose and a 68% increase in blood lactate, but no change in FFA or beta-OHB levels. T3 and leptin concentrations were decreased in transgenic mice. Expression of UCP1 in BAT of the -442 GLUT4 mice, which did not overexpress GLUT4 in this tissue, was not altered. These findings indicate that overexpression of GLUT4 up-regulates UCP3 expression in skeletal muscle and down-regulates UCP1 expression in BAT, possibly by increasing the rate of glucose uptake into these tissues.     

The contraction induced increase in gene expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-gamma coactivator 1alpha (PGC-1alpha), mitochondrial uncoupling protein 3 (UCP3) and hexokinase II (HKII) in primary rat skeletal muscle cells is dependent on reactive oxygen species

We evaluated the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) for the contraction induced increase in expression of PGC-1alpha, HKII and UCP3 mRNA. Rat skeletal muscle cells were subjected to acute or repeated electrostimulation in the presence and absence of antioxidants. Contraction of muscle cells lead to an increased H2O2 formation, as measured by oxidation of H2HFF. Acute contraction of the muscle cells lead to a transient increase in PGC-1alpha and UCP3 mRNA by 172 and 65%, respectively (p<0.05), whereas this increase was absent in the presence of antioxidants. Repeated contraction sessions induced a sustained elevation in PGC-1alpha and UCP3 mRNA and a transient increase in HKII (p<0.05) and this effect was not present with treatment of cells with either an antioxidant cocktail or with GPX+GSH. Incubation of cells for 10 days with ROS produced by xanthine oxidase/xanthine increased the level of PGC-1alpha, HKII and UCP3 mRNA by 175, 58 and 115%, respectively (p<0.05). A 10-day incubation of cells with antioxidants was found to have no effect on the basal mRNA content (p>0.05). The present data demonstrate that contraction of skeletal muscle cells leads to an enhanced formation of ROS and an elevation in PGC-1alpha, UCP3 and HKII mRNA content which is abolished in the presence of antioxidants, suggesting that ROS are of importance for the contraction induced increase in expression of these genes in skeletal muscle.     

禁食及胰岛素水平对大鼠解偶联蛋白-1、2、3基因表达的影响

 为探讨禁食和胰岛素对解偶联蛋白 - 1、2、3基因 (UCP1 ,2 ,3)表达的影响 ,应用 RT- PCR方法观察了在不同禁食时间和应用胰岛素条件下大鼠白色脂肪组织、棕色脂肪组织和骨骼肌中 UCP1 ,2 ,3m RNA水平的变化 .UCP1基因只在大鼠棕色脂肪组织中表达 .UCP2 ,3基因在三种组织中均有表达 ,在白色脂肪组织中以 UCP2表达为主 ;在骨骼肌中以 UCP3表达为主 .过夜禁食使棕色脂肪组织 UCP1 ,3m RNA水平明显下降 (P<0 .0 1 ) ;UCP2 m RNA水平在三种组织中均呈上升反应 ,以白色脂肪组织中表现最为明显 (P<0 .0 5) ;而对白色脂肪组织和骨骼肌中 UCP3基因表达无明显影响 .禁食时间延长至 48h,除棕色脂肪组织中 UCP2 ,3基因有明显下降外 ,各组织中UCPs基因表达基本调节至正常或高于对照组水平 .胰岛素对 UCPs基因表达水平有一定的上调作用 ,这一作用对棕色脂肪组织 UCPs各基因及骨骼肌中 UCP3基因表现得尤为明显 (P<0 .0 5) .大鼠 UCPs基因表达有一定的组织特异性 ;禁食时间对三种组织中 UCPs各成员基因表达的影响有时相上的区别 ;胰岛素可以调 UCPs各成员基因的表达 .结果反映了 UCPs各成员在能量代谢调节上的不同作用 ,这为理解膳食 -产热与体重调节的关系 ,及其能量代谢平衡与疾病关系提供了实验依据     

Effects of aging and denervation on the expression of uncoupling proteins in slow- and fast-twitch muscles of rats

We investigated the effects of aging and denervation on the gene expression of uncoupling proteins (UCPs) in slow-twitch soleus and fast-twitch gastrocnemius muscles. In a comparison between the control limbs of 6- and 24-month-old rats, the mRNA levels of UCP3, heart-type fatty acid binding protein (HFABP), and glucose transporter-4 (GLUT4) were considerably lower in the gastrocnemius muscles of the older rats, whereas no significant differences in the mRNA levels of those genes as well as UCP2 and cytochrome oxidase subunit IV (COX-IV) were observed in the soleus muscles of young and old rats. The UCP3 and COX-IV protein levels were also reduced considerably in the aged gastrocnemius muscles with atrophy. Denervation of the sciatic nerve caused an increase in UCP3 mRNA levels in both muscles, but the regulation of other genes contrasted between the two types of skeletal muscles. In spite of the increased mRNA level, a remarkable reduction in UCP3 protein was found in the denervated gastrocnemius muscles. These results indicate that the effects of aging and denervation on the gene expression of UCPs, HFABP, GLUT4, and COX-IV are different between the muscle types. The reduction in the mitochondrial UCP3 and COX proteins in aged fast-twitch muscles may have a negative effect on energy metabolism and thermogenesis in old animals.     

Expression of uncoupling protein-3 in subsarcolemmal and intermyofibrillar mitochondria of various mouse muscle types and its modulation by fasting.

Uncoupling protein-3 (UCP3) is a mitochondrial inner-membrane protein abundantly expressed in rodent and human skeletal muscle which may be involved in energy dissipation. Many studies have been performed on the metabolic regulation of UCP3 mRNA level, but little is known about UCP3 expression at the protein level. Two populations of mitochondria have been described in skeletal muscle, subsarcolemmal (SS) and intermyofibrillar (IMF), which differ in their intracellular localization and possibly also their metabolic role. To examine if UCP3 is differentially expressed in these two populations and in different mouse muscle types, we developed a new protocol for isolation of SS and IMF mitochondria and carefully validated a new UCP3 antibody. The data show that the density of UCP3 is higher in the mitochondria of glycolytic muscles (tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius) than in those of oxidative muscle (soleus). They also show that SS mitochondria contain more UCP3 per mg of protein than IMF mitochondria. Taken together, these results suggest that oxidative muscle and the mitochondria most closely associated with myofibrils are most efficient at producing ATP. We then determined the effect of a 24-h fast, which greatly increases UCP3 mRNA (16.4-fold) in muscle, on UCP3 protein expression in gastrocnemius mitochondria. We found that fasting moderately increases (1.5-fold) or does not change UCP3 protein in gastrocnemius SS or IMF mitochondria, respectively. These results show that modulation of UCP3 expression at the mRNA level does not necessarily result in similar changes at the protein level and indicate that UCP3 density in SS and IMF mitochondria can be differently affected by metabolic changes.     

UCP3 gene expression does not correlate with muscle oxidation rates in troglitazone-treated Zucker fatty rats

Uncoupling protein-3 (UCP3), a mitochondrial carrier protein predominantly expressed in muscle, has been suggested to release stored energy as heat. The insulin-sensitizing thiazolidinediones enhance glucose disposal in skeletal muscle and have been reported to increase the expression of uncoupling proteins in various experimental systems. We therefore studied the effect of troglitazone treatment on UCP3 gene expression in muscles from lean and obese Zucker rats. In comparison with obese littermates, basal UCP3 mRNA levels in lean Zucker rats tended to be higher in white and red gastrocnemius muscles, but were lower in soleus (P<0.001) muscle and heart (P<0.01). In lean rats, troglitazone significantly increased UCP3 gene expression in white and red gastrocnemius and heart muscles (all P<0.01). In contrast, the drug reduced UCP3 mRNA expression in red gastrocnemius and soleus muscles of obese littermates (all P<0.001). The troglitazone-dependent decrease in UCP3 gene expression was accompanied by an increased weight gain in obese rats, while no such effect was observed in lean rats. In obese rats, improvement of insulin resistance by troglitazone was associated with increased rates of basal and insulin-stimulated CO(2) production from glucose measured in soleus muscle. These studies demonstrate that effects of troglitazone on UCP3 gene expression depend on the phenotype of Zucker rats and that troglitazone-induced metabolic improvements are not related to increased uncoupling resulting from upregulation of UCP3 mRNA expression in muscle.     

Effects of gender and GH secretory pattern on sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c and its target genes in rat liver

We investigated whether the sexually dimorphic secretory pattern of growth hormone (GH) in the rat regulates hepatic gene expression of sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c) and its target genes. SREBP-1c, fatty acid synthase (FAS), and glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase (GPAT) mRNA were more abundant in female than in male livers, whereas acetyl-CoA carboxylase-1 (ACC1) and stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD-1) were similarly expressed in both sexes. Hypophysectomized female rats were given GH as a continuous infusion or as two daily injections for 7 days to mimic the female- and male-specific GH secretory patterns, respectively. The female pattern of GH administration increased the expression of SREBP-1c, ACC1, FAS, SCD-1, and GPAT mRNA, whereas the male pattern of GH administration increased only SCD-1 mRNA. FAS and SCD-1 protein levels were regulated in a similar manner by GH. Incubation of primary rat hepatocytes with GH increased SCD-1 mRNA levels and decreased FAS and GPAT mRNA levels but had no effect on SREBP-1c mRNA. GH decreased hepatic liver X receptor-alpha (LXRalpha) mRNA levels both in vivo and in vitro. Feminization of the GH plasma pattern in male rats by administration of GH as a continuous infusion decreased insulin sensitivity and increased expression of FAS and GPAT mRNA but had no effect on SREBP-1c, ACC1, SCD-1, or LXRalpha mRNA. In conclusion, FAS and GPAT are specifically upregulated by the female secretory pattern of GH. This regulation is not a direct effect of GH on hepatocytes and does not involve changed expression of SREBP-1c or LXRalpha mRNA but is associated with decreased insulin sensitivity.     

Comparison of the expression and activity of the lipogenic pathway in human and rat adipose tissue

Lipogenesis is considered less active in human than in rat adipose tissue. This could be explained by different nutritional conditions, namely high-carbohydrate (HCHO) diet in rats and high-fat (HF) diet in humans. Adipose tissue was sampled (postabsorptive state) in rats and humans receiving HCHO or HF diets, ad libitum fed humans, and obese subjects. We measured 1) mRNA concentrations of fatty acid synthase (FAS), acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 (ACC1), sterol regulatory element binding protein 1c (SREBP-1c), and carbohydrate response element binding protein (ChREBP), 2) SREBP-1c protein, and 3) FAS activity. FAS, ACC1, ChREBP, and SREBP1-c mRNA concentrations were unaffected by diet in humans or in rats. FAS and ACC1 mRNA levels were lower in humans than in rats (P < 0.05). FAS activity was unaffected by diet and was lower in humans (P < 0.05). SREBP-1c mRNA concentrations were similar in rats and humans, but the precursor and mature forms of SREBP-1c protein were less abundant in humans (P < 0.05). ChREBP mRNA concentrations were lower in humans than in rats. In conclusion, the lipogenic capacity of adipose tissue is lower in humans than in rats. This is not related to differences in diet and is probably explained by lower abundance of SREBP-1c protein. A decreased expression of ChREBP could also play a role.     

S14 protein in breast cancer cells: direct evidence of regulation by SREBP-1c, superinduction with progestin, and effects on cell growth

Most breast cancers exhibit brisk lipogenesis, and require it for growth. S14 is a lipogenesis-related nuclear protein that is overexpressed in most breast cancers. Sterol response element-binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c) is required for induction of lipogenesis-related genes, including S14 and fatty acid synthase (FAS), in hepatocytes, and correlation of SREBP-1c and FAS expression suggested that SREBP-1c drives lipogenesis in tumors as well. We directly tested the hypothesis that SREBP-1c drives S14 expression and mediates lipogenic effects of progestin in T47D breast cancer cells. Dominant-negative SREBP-1c inhibited induction of S14 and FAS mRNAs by progestin, while active SREBP-1c induced without hormone and superinduced in its presence. Changes in S14 mRNA were reflected in protein levels. A lag time and lack of progestin response elements indicated that S14 and FAS gene activation by progestin is indirect. Knockdown of S14 reduced, whereas overexpression stimulated, T47D cell growth, while nonlipogenic MCF10a mammary epithelial cells were not growth-inhibited. These data directly demonstrate that SREBP-1c drives S14 gene expression in breast cancer cells, and progestin magnifies that effect via an indirect mechanism. This supports the prediction, based on S14 gene amplification and overexpression in breast tumors, that S14 augments breast cancer cell growth and survival.     

Positive correlation of skeletal muscle UCP3 mRNA levels with overweight in male,but not in female,rats

The objective of this study was to investigate the sex-dependent regulation of skeletal muscle uncoupling protein (UCP)3 mRNA expression in response to overweight and its relationship with serum levels of free fatty acids, leptin, and insulin. Two obesity models were used: rats made obese by feeding them with a cafeteria diet for 14 wk, and postcafeteria overweight rats fed a chow diet for 10 wk after consuming the cafeteria diet for 14 wk. The effects of 24-h fasting were studied in postcafeteria rats and their age-matched controls. The cafeteria rats ate a high-fat diet and attained an excess body weight that was higher in females (+59%) than in males (+39%). A trend to higher induction of abdominal muscle UCP3 mRNA in male rats than in females after cafeteria diet was apparent (+116% increase vs. +26% increase). Postcafeteria male but not female rats still showed the tendency to have increased UCP3 mRNA levels relative to their age-matched controls. A linear regression analysis showed a significant positive correlation of the UCP3 mRNA levels with overweight and with serum levels of leptin and insulin in males, but not in females, and no correlation with serum free fatty acid levels. A subsequent correlation analysis and a multiple linear regression analysis showed that overweight was the only parameter actually related to UCP3 mRNA levels in males. Fasting-induced upregulation of muscle UCP3 mRNA levels was higher in males (5- to 7-fold) than in females (3- to 4-fold). Our results point to the existence of sex-associated differences in the control of muscle UCP3 expression in response to overweight and fasting, with an impaired induction in female rats under both conditions. The correlation of abdominal muscle UCP3 mRNA expression with overweight in males could be related to their relative resistance to gain weight after chronic overeating of a cafeteria diet, by the purported role of UCP3 in the regulation of lipid utilization.     

Expression of uncoupling protein 3 is upregulated in skeletal muscle during sepsis

Uncoupling protein 3 (UCP3) is a member of the mitochondrial transporter superfamily that is expressed primarily in skeletal muscle. UCP3 is upregulated in various conditions characterized by skeletal muscle atrophy, including hyperthyroidism, fasting, denervation, diabetes, cancer, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and treatment with glucocorticoids (GCs). The influence of sepsis, another condition characterized by muscle cachexia, on UCP3 expression and activity is not known. We examined UCP3 gene and protein expression in skeletal muscles from rats after cecal ligation and puncture and from sham-operated control rats. Sepsis resulted in a two- to threefold increase in both mRNA and protein levels of UCP3 in skeletal muscle. Treatment of rats with the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist RU-38486 prevented the sepsis-induced increase in gene and protein expression of UCP3. The UCP3 mRNA and protein levels were increased 2.4- to 3.6-fold when incubated muscles from normal rats were treated with dexamethasone (DEX) and/or free fatty acids (FFA) ex vivo. In addition, UCP3 mRNA and protein levels were significantly increased in normal rat muscles in vivo with treatment of either DEX or FFA. The results suggest that sepsis upregulates the gene and protein expression of UCP3 in skeletal muscle, which may at least in part be mediated by GCs and FFA.     

Muscle type difference in the regulation of UCP3 under cold conditions

We found opposite regulation of uncoupling protein 3 (UCP3) in slow-twitch soleus and fast-twitch gastrocnemius muscles of rats during cold exposure. Namely, the UCP3 mRNA level was downregulated in the soleus muscles, but upregulated in the gastrocnemius muscles after a 24-h cold exposure. In the analysis of UCP3 protein, we first succeeded in detecting UCP3 short-form as well as the long-form in vivo, which levels were decreased markedly in the cold-exposed soleus muscles. However, the levels of UCP3 and cytochrome oxidase subunit IV were well maintained in the cold-exposed gastrocnemius muscles with a rise in the total mitochondrial protein level, suggesting an increase of total oxidative ability. The fast-twitch muscle rather than the slow-twitch one may play an important role in adaptive responses, including thermogenesis under acute cold exposure.