C/EBPbeta, when expressed from the C/ebpalpha gene locus, can functionally replace C/EBPalpha in liver but not in adipose tissue

Knockout of C/EBPalpha causes a severe loss of liver function and, subsequently, neonatal lethality in mice. By using a gene replacement approach, we generated a new C/EBPalpha-null mouse strain in which C/EBPbeta, in addition to its own expression, substituted for C/EBPalpha expression in tissues. The homozygous mutant mice C/ebpalpha(beta/beta) are viable and fertile and show none of the overt liver abnormalities found in the previous C/EBPalpha-null mouse line. Levels of hepatic PEPCK mRNA are not different between C/ebpalpha(beta/beta) and wild-type mice. However, despite their normal growth rate, C/ebpalpha(beta/beta) mice have markedly reduced fat storage in their white adipose tissue (WAT). Expression of two adipocyte-specific factors, adipsin and leptin, is significantly reduced in the WAT of C/ebpalpha(beta/beta) mice. In addition, expression of the non-adipocyte-specific genes for transferrin and cysteine dioxygenase is reduced in WAT but not in liver. Our study demonstrates that when expressed from the C/ebpalpha gene locus, C/EBPbeta can act for C/EBPalpha to maintain liver functions during development. Moreover, our studies with the C/ebpalpha(beta/beta) mice provide new insights into the nonredundant functions of C/EBPalpha and C/EBPbeta on gene regulation in WAT.     

乙肝病毒X蛋白结合蛋白通过下调PEPCK的表达抑制肝脏糖异生

乙肝病毒X蛋白结合蛋白（hepatitis B X-interacting protein,HBXIP）可以调节乳腺癌中糖代谢重编程. 为了研究HBXIP在生理条件下对糖代谢的调节作用及机制,本研究利用Cre/loxP重组酶系统成功构建了肝脏组织中HBXIP特异敲除小鼠. 当小鼠接受刺激后,与正常组小鼠相比,肝脏HBXIP敲除小鼠表现基础糖代谢功能异常,如葡萄糖、丙酮酸;相对于对照小鼠,肝脏HBXIP敲除小鼠对糖异生和胰岛素耐受性减弱. RT-PCR、Western blot实验和免疫组化实验结果表明,HBXIP敲除小鼠肝脏组织中糖异生关键酶磷酸烯醇式丙酮酸羧化酶(phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase,PEPCK)表达显著增加. QRT-PCR 分析30例临床肝组织中HBXIP mRNA和PEPCK mRNA表达水平发现,HBXIP与PEPCK表达水平呈负相关. 荧光素酶报告基因实验和ChIP实验结果表明HBXIP可以在基因转录水平调节PEPCK表达. 以上结果表明,HBXIP通过调节糖异生关键酶PEPCK的表达参与调控小鼠肝脏糖异生.     

Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase overexpression selectively attenuates insulin signaling and hepatic insulin sensitivity in transgenic mice

The ability of insulin to suppress gluconeogenesis in type II diabetes mellitus is impaired; however, the cellular mechanisms for this insulin resistance remain poorly understood. To address this question, we generated transgenic (TG) mice overexpressing the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) gene under control of its own promoter. TG mice had increased basal hepatic glucose production (HGP), but normal levels of plasma free fatty acids (FFAs) and whole-body glucose disposal during a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp compared with wild-type controls. The steady-state levels of PEPCK and glucose-6-phosphatase mRNAs were elevated in livers of TG mice and were resistant to down-regulation by insulin. Conversely, GLUT2 and glucokinase mRNA levels were appropriately regulated by insulin, suggesting that insulin resistance is selective to gluconeogenic gene expression. Insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of the insulin receptor, insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1, and associated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase were normal in TG mice, whereas IRS-2 protein and phosphorylation were down-regulated compared with control mice. These results establish that a modest (2-fold) increase in PEPCK gene expression in vivo is sufficient to increase HGP without affecting FFA concentrations. Furthermore, these results demonstrate that PEPCK overexpression results in a metabolic pattern that increases glucose-6-phosphatase mRNA and results in a selective decrease in IRS-2 protein, decreased phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activity, and reduced ability of insulin to suppress gluconeogenic gene expression. However, acute suppression of HGP and glycolytic gene expression remained intact, suggesting that FFA and/or IRS-1 signaling, in addition to reduced IRS-2, plays an important role in downstream insulin signal transduction pathways involved in control of gluconeogenesis and progression to type II diabetes mellitus.     

Induction of control genes in intestinal gluconeogenesis is sequential during fasting and maximal in diabetes

We studied in rats the expression of genes involved in gluconeogenesis from glutamine and glycerol in the small intestine (SI) during fasting and diabetes. From Northern blot and enzymatic studies, we report that only phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) activity is induced at 24 h of fasting, whereas glucose-6-phosphatase (G-6-Pase) activity is induced only from 48 h. Both genes then plateau, whereas glutaminase and glycerokinase strikingly rebound between 48 and 72 h. The two latter genes are fully expressed in streptozotocin-diabetic rats. From arteriovenous balance and isotopic techniques, we show that the SI does not release glucose at 24 h of fasting and that SI gluconeogenesis contributes to 35% of total glucose production in 72-h-fasted rats. The new findings are that 1) the SI can quantitatively account for up to one-third of glucose production in prolonged fasting; 2) the induction of PEPCK is not sufficient by itself to trigger SI gluconeogenesis; 3) G-6-Pase likely plays a crucial role in this process; and 4) glutaminase and glycerokinase may play a key potentiating role in the latest times of fasting and in diabetes.