Alanine metabolism in skeletal muscle in tissue culture

Alanine production by skeletal muscle in tissue culture was studied using an established myogenic line (L₆) of rat skeletal muscle cells. Correlation analyses were performed on rates of metabolism of alanine, glucose, lactate and pyruvate over incubation periods up to 96 h. Alanine production did not correlate significantly with glucose utilization (r = 0.24, P < 0.20). Alanine production, however, did correlate with lactate production (r = 0.72, P < 0.0005) as well as medium (r = 0.50, P < 0.025) and intracellular (r = 0.85, P < 0.0005) pyruvate concentrations. The intercepts of the latter two correlation analyses indicated that when medium or cell pyruvate fell below 0.28 mM or 1 nmol/mg protein, respectively, net alanine consumption occurred. Alanine synthesis also correlated (r = 0.71, P < 0.0005) with the percent change in the cell mass action ratio for the sum of the alanine and aspartate aminotransferase reactions, i.e., [alanine] [malate]/[aspartate] [lactate]. These results suggest that alanine production is not necessarily linked to the rate of glucose utilization but rather to pyruvate overflow above a critical intracellular level; under conditions of pyruvate overflow, alanine synthesis is driven by the tendency to establish equilibrium between metabolites of the linked amino acid transaminases in skeletal muscle.     

Diffusional constraints on energy metabolism in skeletal muscle

Aerobic metabolic flux depends on the diffusion of high-energy phosphate molecules (e.g., ATP and phosphocreatine) from the mitochondria to cellular ATPases, as well as the diffusion of other molecules (e.g., ADP, Pi) back to the mitochondria. Here, we develop an approach for evaluating the influence of intracellular metabolite diffusion on skeletal muscle aerobic metabolism through the application of the effectiveness factor (η). This parameter provides an intuitive and informative means of quantifying the extent to which diffusion limits metabolic flux. We start with the classical approach assuming an infinite supply of substrate at the fiber boundary, and we expand this model to ultimately include nonlinear boundary and homogeneous reactions. Comparison of the model with experimental data from a wide range of skeletal muscle types reveals that most muscle fibers are not substantially limited by diffusion (η close to unity), but many are on the brink of rather substantial diffusion limitation. This implies that intracellular metabolite diffusion does not dramatically limit aerobic metabolic flux in most fibers, but it likely plays a role in limiting the evolution of muscle fiber design and function.     

Acute effect of fatty acids on metabolism and mitochondrial coupling in skeletal muscle

Acute effects of free fatty acids (FFA) were investigated on: (1) glucose oxidation, and UCP-2 and -3 mRNA and protein levels in 1 h incubated rat soleus and extensor digitorium longus (EDL) muscles, (2) mitochondrial membrane potential in cultured skeletal muscle cells, (3) respiratory activity and transmembrane electrical potential in mitochondria isolated from rat skeletal muscle, and (4) oxygen consumption by anesthetized rats. Long-chain FFA increased both basal and insulin-stimulated glucose oxidation in incubated rat soleus and EDL muscles and reduced mitochondrial membrane potential in C2C12 myotubes and rat skeletal muscle cells. Caprylic, palmitic, oleic, and linoleic acid increased O₂ consumption and decreased electrical membrane potential in isolated mitochondria from rat skeletal muscles. FFA did not alter UCP-2 and -3 mRNA and protein levels in rat soleus and EDL muscles. Palmitic acid increased oxygen consumption by anesthetized rats. These results suggest that long-chain FFA acutely lead to mitochondrial uncoupling in skeletal muscle.     

Chronic effects of ethanol on muscle metabolism in the rat

Chronic ethanol feeding in the rat is associated with a skeletal myopathy involving primarily type-II muscle fibers, which is recognised to be mediated via a specific impairment in protein turnover. This paper investigates whether the cause of this myopathy may be related to abnormalities in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in different muscles. [U-¹⁴C]Glucose metabolism was examined in two muscles with different fibre compsitions, the extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscle, which contains predominantly type-II muscle fibres, and the soleus muscle, which is composed primarily of type-I muscle fibres. Feeding on the ethanol-supplemented Lieber-DeCarli liquid diet for 2 or 6 weeks was associated with profound distubances in glucose metabolism in both EDL and soleus muscles, particularly in relation to rates of glycogen and alanine formation. We discuss the importance of these metabolic changes in relation to the genesis of chronic alcoholic skeletal myopathy.     

肉毒碱棕榈酰基转移酶CPT2促进肝癌细胞迁移侵袭的作用研究

目的:探讨肉毒碱棕榈酰基转移酶2(CarnitinePalmitoyltransferase2, CPT2)在肝癌细胞迁移侵袭中的调控作用。方法:1).用免疫组化实验,检测62对肝癌癌组织与癌周组织中CPT2表达,以明确肝癌组织细胞中CPT2表达是否发生异常改变。2).细胞划痕实验,在人肝癌细胞HLE中分析干涉CPT2表达对肝癌细胞迁移能力的影响。3).Transwell侵袭实验,在人肝癌细胞HLE中分析干涉CPT2表达对肝癌细胞侵袭能力的影响。结果:1). CPT2主要为胞浆染色且染色呈线粒体蛋白染色典型的颗粒状分布;与癌周组织相比,肝癌组织中CPT2表达显著升高。2).细胞划痕实验证实,干涉人肝癌细胞HLE中CPT2表达后,细胞的相对迁移距离显著变短(si Ctrl VS si CPT2#1 VS si CPT2#2=1.00±0.8 VS 0.67±0.42 VS 0.64±0.31)。3).Transwell侵袭实验证实,干涉人肝癌细胞HLE中CPT2表达后,侵袭至小室底部的细胞数目显著变少(si Ctrl VS si CPT2#1 VS si CPT2#2=23.34±3.51 VS 8.00±2.00 VS8.67±1.53)。结论:CPT2在肝癌细胞中表达显著上调,CPT2表达上调促进了肝癌细胞的迁移与侵袭。     

Mitofusion-2-mediated alleviation of insulin resistance in rats through reduction in lipid intermediate accumulation in skeletal muscle

Background

Increased lipid accumulation and mitochondrial dysfunction within skeletal muscle have been shown to be strongly associated with insulin resistance. However, the role of mitofusion-2 (MFN2), a key factor in mitochondrial function and energy metabolism, in skeletal muscle lipid intermediate accumulation remains to be elucidated.

Results

A high-fat diet resulted in insulin resistance as well as accumulation of cytosolic lipid intermediates and down-regulation of MFN2 and CPT1 in skeletal muscle in rats, while MFN2 overexpression improved insulin sensitivity and reduced lipid intermediates in muscle, possibly by upregulation of CPT1 expression.

Conclusions

MFN2 overexpression can rescue insulin resistance, possibly by upregulating CPT1 expression leading to reduction in the accumulation of lipid intermediates in skeletal muscle. These observations contribute to the investigations of new diabetes therapies.     

Cold stress regulates lipid metabolism via AMPK signalling in Cherax quadricarinatus

Lipids play an important role in protecting poikilotherms from cold stress, but relatively little is known about the regulation of lipid metabolism under cold stress, especially in crustaceans. In the present study, red-clawed crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus was employed as a model organism. Animals were divided into four temperature groups (25, 20, 15 and 9 °C) and treated for 4 weeks, with the 25 °C group serving as a control. The total lipid content in the hepatopancreas as well as the triglyceride, cholesterol and free fatty acid levels in the hemolymph were determined. Lipids stored in the hepatopancreas and hemolymph decreased with decreasing temperature, with changes in the 9 °C group most pronounced, indicating that lipids are the main energy source for crayfish at low temperatures. Furthermore, enzyme activity of lipase, fatty acid synthase, acetyl-CoA carboxylase, and lipoprotein esterase, and gene expression analysis of fatty acid synthase gene, acetyl-CoA carboxylase gene and carnitine palmitoyltransferase gene showed that the digestion, synthesis and oxidation of lipids in the hepatopancreas were inhibited under low temperature stress, but expression of sphingolipid delta-4 desaturase (DEGS) was increased, indicating an increase in the demand for highly unsaturated fatty acids at low temperatures. Analysis of the expression of genes related to the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signalling pathway revealed that the adiponectin receptor gene was rapidly upregulated at low temperatures, which may in turn activate the expression of the downstream AMPKα gene, thereby inhibiting lipid anabolism.     

Interleukin-15 increases glucose uptake in skeletal muscle An antidiabetogenic effect of the cytokine

Previous studies have demonstrated that interleukin-15 (IL-15) has important anabolic effects on muscle protein metabolism. In the present investigation we have analysed the effects of IL-15 on glucose metabolism in skeletal muscle. Administration of a single dose of the cytokine (100 μg/kg body weight) resulted in a 32% increase on glucose uptake (as measured by the uptake of 2-deoxyglucose) in skeletal muscle. The effects observed on glucose uptake were direct since in vitro incubations of rat EDL muscles in the presence of the cytokine resulted in a 30% increase in glucose uptake. Similarly, IL-15 increased glucose uptake in C2C12 cell cultures, this being related with an increase in both glucose oxidation to CO₂ and the incorporation into muscle lipid. The effects of the cytokine were associated with an increase in GLUT-4 mRNA, suggesting a higher effect in insulin sensitivity. In conclusion, the data presented here indicate that IL-15 facilitates glucose metabolism in skeletal muscle and, therefore, a possible role of the cytokine as an antidiabetogenic drug merits future investigations.     

SMHS1 is involved in oxidative/glycolytic-energy metabolism balance of muscle fibers

With the aim of finding important mediators of muscle atrophy, we cloned SMHS1, a novel gene that was found to be upregulated in rat soleus muscle atrophied by restriction of activity. The SMHS1 amino acid sequence shares 65% similarity with RTP801-which is a cellular stress response protein regulated by HIF-1-but SMHS1 expression was demonstrated to be independent of HIF-1. SMHS1 was found to be mainly expressed in skeletal muscle, and comparisons of its expression in atrophied versus hypertrophied muscles and in oxidative versus glycolytic muscles suggested that SMHS1 contributes to the muscle energy metabolism phenotypes.     

Alteration of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation in aged skeletal muscle involves modification of adenine nucleotide translocator

The process of skeletal muscle aging is characterized by a progressive loss of muscle mass and functionality. The underlying mechanisms are highly complex and remain unclear. This study was designed to further investigate the consequences of aging on mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation in rat gastrocnemius muscle, by comparing young (6 months) and aged (21 months) rats. Maximal oxidative phosphorylation capacity was clearly reduced in older rats, while mitochondrial efficiency was unaffected. Inner membrane properties were unaffected in aged rats since proton leak kinetics were identical to young rats. Application of top-down control analysis revealed a dysfunction of the phosphorylation module in older rats, responsible for a dysregulation of oxidative phosphorylation under low activities close to in vivo ATP turnover. This dysregulation is responsible for an impaired mitochondrial response toward changes in cellular ATP demand, leading to a decreased membrane potential which may in turn affect ROS production and ion homeostasis. Based on our data, we propose that modification of ANT properties with aging could partly explain these mitochondrial dysfunctions.     

不同运动方式对2型糖尿病大鼠骨骼肌Rab5蛋白及糖代谢的影响*

目的: 探讨持续运动和间歇负重运动对2型糖尿病(T2DM)骨骼肌组织细胞形态、骨骼肌Rab5 mRNA及蛋白表达、骨骼肌糖代谢的影响。方法: SD大鼠选取8只为空白对照组(CR),其他采用高脂高糖饲料喂养6周后,腹腔注射STZ(35 mg/kg)构建T2DM模型。选取24只T2DM分3组(n=8),分别为:T2DM模型组(DRM)、持续运动组(DCRE)、间歇负重运动组(DWRE)。持续运动方案:为前1～2 周准备活动15 m/min(10 min)、运动20 m/min(40 min)、整理活动15 m/min(10 min),后3～8周为 18 m/min(10 min)、25 m/min(40 min)、15 m/min(10 min);间歇负重运动方案:采用负荷重量为15%(1～2周)、30%(3～4周)、45%(5～8周),运动均为15 m/min(5 min),共12组,组间休息3 min。8周后,通过HE观察骨骼肌病理形态变化,qRT-PCR检测骨骼肌Rab5、葡萄糖转运酶4(GLUT4)的mRNA表达,免疫荧光组化技术及Western blot检测骨骼肌Rab5的蛋白表达,ELISA检测血浆Rab5和糖化血红蛋白(GHb)浓度。结果: 相比CR,DRM存在骨骼肌病理损伤,骨骼肌Rab5mRNA及蛋白表达、GLUT4 mRNA表达均降低(P＜0.01),血浆Rab5和GHb均显著升高(P＜0.01);与DRM比较, DCRE、DWRE骨骼肌病理损伤均显著减轻,骨骼肌Rab5 mRNA及蛋白表达、GLUT4 mRNA表达均升高(P＜0.05,P＜0.01),血浆Rab5和GHb降低(P＜0.01);DCRE与DWRE组间均无统计学差异(P＞0.05)。结论: 2种运动方式均能改善2型糖尿病大鼠骨骼肌病理损伤,并可通过提高骨骼肌Rab5基因和蛋白表达从而增强 GLUT4转运能力,缓解骨骼肌糖代谢稳态失衡,但2种运动方式对骨骼肌Rab5蛋白和糖代谢的影响无明显差异性。     

Antioxidant effect of diphenyl diselenide on oxidative stress caused by acute physical exercise in skeletal muscle and lungs of mice

This study was designed to examine if diphenyl diselenide (PhSe)₂, an organoselenium compound, attenuates oxidative stress caused by acute physical exercise in skeletal muscle and lungs of mice. Swiss mice were pre‐treated with (PhSe)₂ (5 mg kg^‐1 day^‐1) for 7 days. At the 7th day, the animals were submitted to acute physical exercise which consisted of continuous swimming for 20 min. The animals were euthanized 1 and 24 h after the exercise test. The levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS), non‐protein thiols (NPSH) and ascorbic acid and the activity of catalase (CAT) were measured in the lungs and skeletal muscle of mice. Glycogen content was determined in the skeletal muscle of mice. Parameters in plasma (urea and creatinine) were determined. The results demonstrated an increase in TBARS levels induced by acute physical exercise in the skeletal muscle and lungs of mice. Animals submitted to exercise showed an increase in non‐enzymatic antioxidant defenses (NPSH and ascorbic acid) in the skeletal muscle. In lungs of mice, activity of CAT was increased. (PhSe)₂ protected against the increase in TBARS levels and ameliorated antioxidant defenses in the skeletal muscle and lungs of mice submitted to physical exercise. These results indicate that acute physical exercise caused a tissue‐specific oxidative stress in the skeletal muscle and lungs of mice. (PhSe)₂ protected against oxidative damage induced by acute physical exercise in mice. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Influence of in ovo thermal manipulation on lipid metabolism in embryonic duck liver

The growth and development of poultry embryos are easily affected by environmental factors, such as the incubation temperature and humidity. Metabolism, including lipid metabolism, during the embryonic stage is also important for the growth and development of poultry. Our study aimed to investigate the effects of incubation temperature on embryonic lipid metabolism in the liver of ducks. To fully evaluate the effects, thermal treatment was given between embryonic ages 11 and 24 days with a 1 °C higher incubation temperature than the control group, and lipid metabolism parameters in the liver and blood serum were analyzed both at embryonic stage day 20 and 2 weeks post-hatching. Our results showed no significant changes in the embryonic stage in total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in the blood serum (P>0.05). Additionally, the mRNA expression levels and enzyme activities of fatty acid synthase (FAS), acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACC), and elongase of very long chain fatty acids (ELOVL) did not show significant changes either in the embryonic stage or at hatching day 20 (P>0.05). However, there were significant changes in the gene expression and enzyme activities of TC, LDL-C and FAS at post-hatching stages (P≤0.05). These results may indicate that the thermal treatment has less influence on lipid metabolism in the embryonic stage but has a much stronger effect in the post-hatching stage.     

The changes in the energy metabolism of human muscle induced by training

The biochemical effects of training programmes have been studied with a kinetic model of central metabolism, using enzyme activities and metabolite concentrations measured at rest and after 30 s maximum-intensity exercise, collected before and after long and short periods of training, which differed only by the duration of the rest intervals. After short periods of training the glycolytic flux at rest was three times higher than it had been before training, whereas during exercise the flux and energy consumption remained the same as before training. Long periods of training had less effect on the glycolytic flux at rest, but increased it in response to exercise, increasing the contribution of oxidative phosphorylation.     

Effect of high-intensity exercise and high-fat diet on lipid metabolism in the liver of rats

[Purpose]

This study investigated the effects of high-intensity exercise (Ex) and high dietary fat intake on lipid metabolism in the liver of rats.

[Methods]

Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to one of the four groups (n=10 per group) that were maintained on a normal diet (ND) or high-fat diet (HFD) consisting of 30% fat (w/w), with or without exercise on a treadmill at 30 m/min and 8% grade) for 4 weeks (i.e., ND, ND+Ex, HFD, and HFD+Ex groups).

[Results]

Body weight (p<.001), total plasma cholesterol (TC) (p<.001), triglyceride (TG) (p<.05), and liver TG levels (p<.05) were increased in the HFD group relative to the ND groups, and serum glucose (p<.05), insulin (p<.05), homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (p<.01), and liver TG levels (p<.01) were also higher in the HFD group compared to the ND+Ex group. Plasma free fatty acid was elevated in the HFD+Ex group compared to the HFD group (p<.01). With the exception of acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase, the expression of lipid metabolism-related genes in the liver was altered in the Ex groups compared to the control group (p<.05), with genes involved in lipolysis specifically up regulated in the HFD+Ex group compared to the other groups.

[Conclusion]

Vigorous exercise may increase glucose utilization and fat oxidation by activating genes in the liver that are associated with lipid metabolism compared to that in animals consuming a HFD without exercise. Therefore, high intensity exercise can be considered to counter the adverse effects of high dietary fat intake.     

The role of intermediary metabolism in the maintenance of proton and charge balance during exercise

The purpose of this investigation was to examine the role of intermediary metabolism in the maintenance of proton and charge balance in rainbow trout white muscle during exercise. With increasing power outputs, there was a greater reliance on white fibers and anaerobic processes for energy production. Glycogen content declined from a pre-exercise (pre-ex) level of 23 to less than 1 µmol/g following the exhaustive swim, with its greatest rate of decline occurring during the burst swim. Lactate accumulation reached a maximum of 43 µmol/g during the exhaustive swim. PCr declined from about 20 to less than 2 µmol/g at exhaustion with a concomitant accumulation of Cr. ATP decreased from about 7.3 to 2.7 µmol/g while inorganic phosphate and IMP increased to about 56 and 4.3 µmol/g, respectively. The intramuscular pH fell from 6.97 to 6.93 during the sustained swim, declining further to 6.65 during the burst swim and reaching a minimum of 6.56 at exhaustion. Exercise induced depletions of high energy compounds and accumulations of metabolic end products nearly stabilized the accompaning intracellular perturbations in charge and proton levels. Compensatory shifts in Na⁺, K^– and Cl^– served to negate the residual imbalances such that electrical neutrality, membrane potential and pH were preserved.     

Mitochondrial DNA mutations and oxidative damage in skeletal muscle of patients with chronic uremia

Abundant evidence has been gathered to suggest that mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sustains many more mutations and greater oxidative damage than does nuclear DNA in human tissues. Uremic patients are subject to a state of enhanced oxidative stress due to excess production of oxidants and a defective antioxidant defense system. This study was conducted to investigate mtDNA mutations and oxidative damage in skeletal muscle of patients with chronic uremia. Results showed that large-scale deletions between nucleotide position (np) 7,900 and 16,300 of mtDNA occurred at a high frequency in muscle of uremic patients. Among them, the 4,977-bp deletion (mtDNA⁴⁹⁷⁷) was the most frequent and most abundant large-scale mtDNA deletion in uremic skeletal muscle. The proportion of mtDNA⁴⁹⁷⁷ was found to correlate positively with the level of 8-hydroxy 2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) in the total DNA of skeletal muscle (r=0.62, p<0.05). Using long-range PCR and DNA sequencing, we identified and characterized multiple deletions of mtDNA in skeletal muscle of 16 of 19 uremic patients examined. The 8,041-bp deletion, which occurred between np 8035 and 16,075, was flanked by a 5-bp direct repeat of 5-CCCAT-3. Some of the deletions were found in more than 1 patient. On the other hand, we found that the mean 8-OHdG/10⁵ dG ratio in the total cellular DNA of muscle of uremic patients was significantly higher than that of the controls (182.7 ± 63.6 vs. 50.9 ± 21.5, p=0.05). In addition, the mean 8-OHdG/10⁵ dG ratio in muscle mtDNA of uremic patients was significantly higher than that in nuclear DNA (344.0 ± 56.9 vs. 146.3 ± 95.8, p=0.001). Moreover, we found that the average content of lipid peroxides in mitochondrial membranes of skeletal muscle of uremic patients was significantly higher than that of age-matched healthy subjects (23.76 ± 6.06 vs. 7.67 ± 0.95 nmol/mg protein; p<0.05). The average content of protein carbonyls in the mitochondrial membranes prepared from uremic skeletal muscles was significantly higher than that in normal controls (24.90 ± 4.00 vs. 14.48 ± 1.13 nmol/mg protein; p<0.05). Taken together, these findings suggest that chronic uremia leads to mtDNA mutations together with enhanced oxidative damage to DNA, lipids, and proteins of mitochondria in skeletal muscle, which may contribute to the impairment of mitochondrial bioenergetic function and to skeletal myopathy commonly seen in uremic patients.     

黄瓜香等山野菜对糖尿病大鼠脂质代谢及肠道正常菌群的影响

目的观察黄瓜香等对糖尿病大鼠脂质代谢的影响,并进一步探讨其调脂机制。方法选取糖尿病大鼠灌胃给予黄瓜香提取液120mg/（kg.d）,共8周,检测其空腹血脂变化,及其肠道菌群变化。结果（1）经黄瓜香提取物治疗后,治疗组较糖尿病组,甘油三脂、低密度脂蛋白和胆固醇明显降低（P〈0.01）;（2）糖尿病组肠道菌群较正常组有明显变化（P〈0.01）,尤其双歧杆菌、乳杆菌等明显减少,而治疗后肠道菌群得到调整。结论黄瓜香提取物可能通过扶植肠道菌群生长繁殖,对脂质代谢发挥作用,从而达到其调脂目的。