Mice Lacking C1q Are Protected from High Fat Diet-induced Hepatic Insulin Resistance and Impaired Glucose Homeostasis

Complement activation is implicated in the development of obesity and insulin resistance, and loss of signaling by the anaphylatoxin C3a prevents obesity-induced insulin resistance in mice. Here we have identified C1q in the classical pathway as required for activation of complement in response to high fat diets. After 8 weeks of high fat diet, wild-type mice became obese and developed glucose intolerance. This was associated with increased apoptotic cell death and accumulation of complement activation products (C3b/iC3b/C3c) in liver and adipose tissue. Previous studies have shown that high fat diet-induced apoptosis is dependent on Bid; here we report that Bid-mediated apoptosis was required for complement activation in adipose and liver. Although C1qa deficiency had no effect on high fat diet-induced apoptosis, accumulation of complement activation products and the metabolic complications of high fat diet-induced obesity were dependent on C1q. When wild-type mice were fed a high fat diet for only 3 days, hepatic insulin resistance was associated with the accumulation of C3b/iC3b/C3c in the liver. Mice deficient in C3a receptor were protected against this early high fat diet-induced hepatic insulin resistance, whereas mice deficient in the negative complement regulator CD55/DAF were more sensitive to the high fat diet. C1qa^−/− mice were also protected from high fat diet-induced hepatic insulin resistance and complement activation. Evidence of complement activation was also detected in adipose tissue of obese women compared with lean women. Together, these studies reveal an important role for C1q in the classical pathway of complement activation in the development of high fat diet-induced insulin resistance.     

Adipocyte Lipid Chaperone aP2 Is a Secreted Adipokine Regulating Hepatic Glucose Production

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Hepatic Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Phosphatase 1 Selectively Regulates Glucose Metabolism and Energy Homeostasis

The liver plays a critical role in glucose metabolism and communicates with peripheral tissues to maintain energy homeostasis. Obesity and insulin resistance are highly associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, the precise molecular details of NAFLD remain incomplete. The p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and c-Jun NH₂-terminal kinase (JNK) regulate liver metabolism. However, the physiological contribution of MAPK phosphatase 1 (MKP-1) as a nuclear antagonist of both p38 MAPK and JNK in the liver is unknown. Here we show that hepatic MKP-1 becomes overexpressed following high-fat feeding. Liver-specific deletion of MKP-1 enhances gluconeogenesis and causes hepatic insulin resistance in chow-fed mice while selectively conferring protection from hepatosteatosis upon high-fat feeding. Further, hepatic MKP-1 regulates both interleukin-6 (IL-6) and fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21). Mice lacking hepatic MKP-1 exhibit reduced circulating IL-6 and FGF21 levels that were associated with impaired skeletal muscle mitochondrial oxidation and susceptibility to diet-induced obesity. Hence, hepatic MKP-1 serves as a selective regulator of MAPK-dependent signals that contributes to the maintenance of glucose homeostasis and peripheral tissue energy balance. These results also demonstrate that hepatic MKP-1 overexpression in obesity is causally linked to the promotion of hepatosteatosis.     

非编码RNA与肝脏糖脂代谢调控

随着经济的迅速发展、人们饮食习惯的改变和身体活动的减少,糖尿病成为了现代社会的非传染性的流行病,给家庭和社会造成了极大的危害和经济负担。其中以全身性胰岛素抵抗及胰岛功能衰竭为主要发病特征的2型糖尿病(type 2 diabetes,T2D)已在世界范围引起广泛关注。T2D的发生发展涉及许多组织及糖代谢的各个环节,遗传因素和环境因素共同引起的糖脂代谢通路任一环节的失调均可导致T2D的发生。近年来,包括microRNA(miRNA)及长非编码RNA(LncRNA)在内的非编码RNA(ncRNA)的发现及其在人体生理和病理生理过程中的重要调控作用不断被揭示,为进一步了解T2D的发病机制注入了新理念和信息。miRNAs及LncRNAs的表达具有组织特异性,其表达水平的异常通常与疾病相关。本文主要对miRNAs和LncRNAs在肝脏糖脂代谢调控及T2D的发生发展中的作用及机制的最新研究进展作简要综述。     

Organismal Carbohydrate and Lipid Homeostasis

All living organisms maintain a high ATP:ADP ratio to drive energy-requiring processes. They therefore need mechanisms to maintain energy balance at the cellular level. In addition, multicellular eukaryotes have assigned the task of storing energy to specialized cells such as adipocytes, and therefore also need a means of intercellular communication to signal the needs of individual tissues and to maintain overall energy balance at the whole body level. Such signaling allows animals to survive periods of fasting or starvation when food is not available and is mainly achieved by hormonal and nervous communication. Insulin, adipokines, epinephrine, and other agonists thus stimulate pathways that regulate the activities of key enzymes involved in control of metabolism to integrate organismal carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. Overnutrition can dysregulate these pathways and have damaging consequences, causing insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.     

脂联素对肝脏糖脂代谢调节作用的研究进展

脂联素因其具有抗糖尿病作用而备受关注,它能控制血糖,并且在肝脏、脂肪和胰腺中能影响脂质代谢。脂联素通过刺激脂肪细胞,对抗炎症、控制脂质过氧化和脂肪分解的速率来调控脂质流入非脂肪组织。肝脏是脂联素发挥作用的重要靶器官;在肝脏中,脂联素与脂联素受体1、2或T-钙黏着蛋白结合,激活下游的AMPK、APPL1、神经酰胺酶等发挥其调节作用。我们总结了脂联素改善肝脏胰岛素敏感性和糖脂代谢的相关机制。     

Hepatic Overexpression of a Constitutively Active Form of Liver Glycogen Synthase Improves Glucose Homeostasis

In this study, we tested the efficacy of increasing liver glycogen synthase to improve blood glucose homeostasis. The overexpression of wild-type liver glycogen synthase in rats had no effect on blood glucose homeostasis in either the fed or the fasted state. In contrast, the expression of a constitutively active mutant form of the enzyme caused a significant lowering of blood glucose in the former but not the latter state. Moreover, it markedly enhanced the clearance of blood glucose when fasted rats were challenged with a glucose load. Hepatic glycogen stores in rats overexpressing the activated mutant form of liver glycogen synthase were enhanced in the fed state and in response to an oral glucose load but showed a net decline during fasting. In order to test whether these effects were maintained during long term activation of liver glycogen synthase, we generated liver-specific transgenic mice expressing the constitutively active LGS form. These mice also showed an enhanced capacity to store glycogen in the fed state and an improved glucose tolerance when challenged with a glucose load. Thus, we conclude that the activation of liver glycogen synthase improves glucose tolerance in the fed state without compromising glycogenolysis in the postabsorptive state. On the basis of these findings, we propose that the activation of liver glycogen synthase may provide a potential strategy for improvement of glucose tolerance in the postprandial state.     

Human Monoclonal Antibodies against Glucagon Receptor Improve Glucose Homeostasis by Suppression of Hepatic Glucose Output in Diet-Induced Obese Mice

Aim

Glucagon is an essential regulator of hepatic glucose production (HGP), which provides an alternative therapeutic target for managing type 2 diabetes with glucagon antagonists. We studied the effect of a novel human monoclonal antibody against glucagon receptor (GCGR), NPB112, on glucose homeostasis in diet-induced obese (DIO) mice.

Methods

The glucose-lowering efficacy and safety of NPB112 were investigated in DIO mice with human GCGR for 11 weeks, and a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp study was conducted to measure HGP.

Results

Single intraperitoneal injection of NPB112 with 5 mg/kg effectively decreased blood glucose levels in DIO mice for 5 days. A significant reduction in blood glucose was observed in DIO mice treated with NPB112 at a dose ≥5 mg/kg for 6 weeks, and its glucose-lowering effect was dose-dependent. Long-term administration of NPB112 also caused a mild 29% elevation in glucagon level, which was returned to the normal range after discontinuation of treatment. The clamp study showed that DIO mice injected with NPB112 at 5 mg/kg were more insulin sensitive than control mice, indicating amelioration of insulin resistance by treatment with NPB112. DIO mice treated with NPB112 showed a significant improvement in the ability of insulin to suppress HGP, showing a 33% suppression (from 8.3 mg/kg/min to 5.6 mg/kg/min) compared to the 2% suppression (from 9.8 mg/kg/min to 9.6 mg/kg/min) in control mice. In addition, no hypoglycemia or adverse effect was observed during the treatment.

Conclusions

A novel human monoclonal GCGR antibody, NPB112, effectively lowered the glucose level in diabetic animal models with mild and reversible hyperglucagonemia. Suppression of excess HGP with NPB112 may be a promising therapeutic modality for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.     

TAS2R38 and Its Influence on Smoking Behavior and Glucose Homeostasis in the German Sorbs

Background

Genetic variants within the bitter taste receptor gene TAS2R38 are associated with sensitivity to bitter taste and are related to eating behavior in the Amish population. Sensitivity to bitter taste is further related to anthropometric traits in an genetically isolated Italian population. We tested whether the TAS2R38 variants (rs713598; rs1726866 and rs10246939) may be related to eating behavior, anthropometric parameters, metabolic traits and consumer goods intake in the German Sorbs.

Materials and Methods

The three SNPs were genotyped in a total cohort of 1007 individuals (male/female: 405/602). The German version of the three-factor eating questionnaire was completed by 548 individuals. Genetic association analyses for smoking behavior, alcohol and coffee intake, eating behavior factors (restraint, disinhibition and hunger) and other metabolic traits were analyzed. Further, by combining the three SNPs we applied comparative haplotype analyses categorizing PAV (proline-alanine-valine) carriers (tasters) vs. homozygous AVI (alanin-valine-isoleucine) carriers (non-tasters).

Results

Significant associations of genetic variants within TAS2R38 were identified with percentage of body fat, which were driven by associations in women. In men, we observed significant associations with 30 min plasma glucose, and area under the curve for plasma glucose (0–120 min) (all adjusted P≤0.05). Further, we found that carriers of at least one PAV allele show significantly lower cigarette smoking per day (P = 0.002) as well as, albeit non-significant, lower alcohol intake. We did not confirm previously reported associations between genetic variants of TAS2R38 and eating behavior.

Conclusion

Our data suggest that genetic variation in TAS2R38 is related to individual body composition measures and may further influence consumer goods intake in the Sorbs possibly via individual sensitivity to bitter taste.     

Hepatic FoxO1 Integrates Glucose Utilization and Lipid Synthesis through Regulation of Chrebp O-Glycosylation

In liver, glucose utilization and lipid synthesis are inextricably intertwined. When glucose availability exceeds its utilization, lipogenesis increases, leading to increased intrahepatic lipid content and lipoprotein secretion. Although the fate of three-carbon metabolites is largely determined by flux rate through the relevant enzymes, insulin plays a permissive role in this process. But the mechanism integrating insulin receptor signaling to glucose utilization with lipogenesis is unknown. Forkhead box O1 (FoxO1), a downstream effector of insulin signaling, plays a central role in hepatic glucose metabolism through the regulation of hepatic glucose production. In this study, we investigated the mechanism by which FoxO1 integrates hepatic glucose utilization with lipid synthesis. We show that FoxO1 overexpression in hepatocytes reduces activity of carbohydrate response element binding protein (Chrebp), a key regulator of lipogenesis, by suppressing O-linked glycosylation and reducing the protein stability. FoxO1 inhibits high glucose- or O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT)-induced liver-pyruvate kinase (L-PK) promoter activity by decreasing Chrebp recruitment to the L-PK promoter. Conversely, FoxO1 ablation in liver leads to the enhanced O-glycosylation and increased protein level of Chrebp owing to decreased its ubiquitination. We propose that FoxO1 regulation of Chrebp O-glycosylation is a mechanism linking hepatic glucose utilization with lipid synthesis.     

PPP2R2C as a candidate gene of a temperament and character trait-based endophenotype of ADHD

There are several lines of evidence that the 4p16 region is a candidate locus of both attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and bipolar disorder. None of the harbored candidate genes of this region were hitherto shown to be associated with ADHD despite promising functionality. One of the most promising candidate genes in this region is protein phosphatase 2, regulatory subunit B, gamma (PPP2R2C), which, however, thus far has not been assessed for a potential association with ADHD. A total of 513 in- and outpatients affected with adult ADHD and 536 controls as well as 170 nuclear families with 249 children affected with ADHD were genotyped for 35 SNPs, which tagged the promoter region, the 5' and 3' UTRs, and the exons of the PPP2R2C. Two independent samples provided evidence that the major G allele of rs16838844 increases risk toward ADHD. Allelic variations of PPP2R2C rs16838698 on the other hand might be associated with a variety of personality traits. There is evidence that allelic variation in PPP2R2C may be associated with a variety of personality traits and ADHD per se. Nevertheless, as all those conditions are comorbid, PPP2R2C might reflect a common underlying neurobiological risk factor.     

Tsc2 Is a Molecular Checkpoint Controlling Osteoblast Development and Glucose Homeostasis

Insulin signaling in osteoblasts regulates global energy balance by stimulating the production of osteocalcin, a bone-derived protein that promotes insulin production and action. To identify the signaling pathways in osteoblasts that mediate insulin''s effects on bone and energy metabolism, we examined the function of the tuberous sclerosis 2 (Tsc2) protein, a key target important in coordinating nutrient signaling. Here, we show that loss of Tsc2 in osteoblasts constitutively activates mTOR and destabilizes Irs1, causing osteoblasts to differentiate poorly and become resistant to insulin. Young Tsc2 mutant mice demonstrate hypoglycemia with increased levels of insulin and undercarboxylated osteocalcin. However, with age, Tsc2 mutants develop metabolic features similar to mice lacking the insulin receptor in the osteoblast, including peripheral adiposity, hyperglycemia, and decreased pancreatic β cell mass. These metabolic abnormalities appear to result from chronic elevations in undercarboxylated osteocalcin that lead to downregulation of the osteocalcin receptor and desensitization of the β cell to this hormone. Removal of a single mTOR allele from the Tsc2 mutant mice largely normalizes the bone and metabolic abnormalities. Together, these findings suggest that Tsc2 serves as a key checkpoint in the osteoblast that is required for proper insulin signaling and acts to ensure normal bone acquisition and energy homeostasis.