Effects of oxidative stress on adiponectin secretion and lactate production in 3T3-L1 adipocytes

Obesity is an increasing nutritional disorder in developed countries, and oxidative stress has been identified as a key factor in numerous pathologies such as diabetes, inflammation, and atherosclerosis, which are favored by obesity. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of oxidative stress in 3T3-L1 adipose cells on two parameters involved in metabolic complications associated with obesity, namely adiponectin secretion and lactate production. Differentiated 3T3-L1 adipose cells were exposed to increasing concentrations of glucose oxidase. 4-Hydroxynonenal (4-HNE), a relevant lipid peroxidation by-product which may affect several metabolic processes in making covalent adducts with various molecules; adiponectin secretion; and lactate production were measured in response to glucose oxidase exposure. Results show an inhibition of adiponectin mRNA expression by glucose oxidase and a significant inverse correlation between 4-HNE formation and adiponectin secretion. Furthermore, 4-HNE alone inhibits adiponectin production by 3T3-L1. On the other hand, glucose oxidase and 4-HNE significantly stimulated lactate production by 3T3-L1 adipocytes. These results demonstrate that adipose cells are highly sensitive to oxidative stress, with subsequent decreased adiponectin secretion and increased lactate production, two events involved in the development of insulin resistance.     

Adipolin/C1qdc2/CTRP12 protein functions as an adipokine that improves glucose metabolism

Obesity is a major risk factor for the development of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Adipose tissue secretes various bioactive molecules, referred to as adipokines, whose dysregulation can mediate changes in glucose homeostasis and inflammatory responses. Here, we identify C1qdc2/CTRP12 as an insulin-sensitizing adipokine that is abundantly expressed by fat tissues and designate this adipokine as adipolin (adipose-derived insulin-sensitizing factor). Adipolin expression in adipose tissue and plasma was reduced in rodent models of obesity. Adipolin expression was also decreased in cultured 3T3-L1 adipocytes by treatment with inducers of endoplasmic reticulum stress and inflammation. Systemic administration of adipolin ameliorated glucose intolerance and insulin resistance in diet-induced obese mice. Adipolin administration also reduced macrophage accumulation and proinflammatory gene expression in the adipose tissue of obese mice. Conditioned medium from adipolin-expressing cells diminished the expression of proinflammatory cytokines in response to stimulation with LPS or TNFα in cultured macrophages. These data suggest that adipolin functions as an anti-inflammatory adipokine that exerts beneficial actions on glucose metabolism. Therefore, adipolin represents a new target molecule for the treatment of insulin resistance and diabetes.     

Biglycan Deletion Alters Adiponectin Expression in Murine Adipose Tissue and 3T3-L1 Adipocytes

Obesity promotes increased secretion of a number of inflammatory factors from adipose tissue. These factors include cytokines and very lately, extracellular matrix components (ECM). Biglycan, a small leucine rich proteoglycan ECM protein, is up-regulated in obesity and has recently been recognized as a pro-inflammatory molecule. However, it is unknown whether biglycan contributes to adipose tissue dysfunction. In the present study, we characterized biglycan expression in various adipose depots in wild-type mice fed a low fat diet (LFD) or obesity-inducing high fat diet (HFD). High fat feeding induced biglycan mRNA expression in multiple adipose depots. Adiponectin is an adipokine with anti-inflammatory and insulin sensitizing effects. Due to the importance of adiponectin, we examined the effect of biglycan on adiponectin expression. Comparison of adiponectin expression in biglycan knockout (bgn^−/0) and wild-type (bgn^+/0) reveals higher adiponectin mRNA and protein in epididymal white adipose tissue in bgn^−/0 mice, as well higher serum concentration of adiponectin, and lower serum insulin concentration. On the contrary, knockdown of biglycan in 3T3-L1 adipocytes led to decreased expression and secretion of adiponectin. Furthermore, treatment of 3T3-L1 adipocytes with conditioned medium from biglycan treated macrophages resulted in an increase in adiponectin mRNA expression. These data suggest a link between biglycan and adiponectin expression. However, the difference in the pattern of regulation between in vivo and in vitro settings reveals the complexity of this relationship.     

Resveratrol inhibits TNF-alpha-induced changes of adipokines in 3T3-L1 adipocytes

Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is chronically elevated in adipose tissues of obese rodents and humans. Increased levels of TNF-α are implicated in the induction of atherogenic adipokines, such as plasminogen activator inhibitor -1 (PAI-1) and IL-6, and the inhibition of the anti-atherogenic adipokine, adiponectin. In this study, we investigated the effects of resveratrol on TNF-α-induced atherogenic changes of the adipokines in 3T3-L1 cells. Exposure to TNF-α for 24 h increased PAI-1 and IL-6 secretion and decreased adiponectin secretion. The mRNA expression of adipokines changed in parallel with mRNA expression. Resveratrol effectively reversed the secretion and mRNA expression of the atherogenic adipokines, PAI-1 and IL-6, induced by TNF-α. Decreased secretion levels and mRNA expression of adiponectin by TNF-α were also recovered by resveratrol treatment. Our results suggest that resveratrol may improve obesity-induced cardiovascular disease, particularly atherosclerosis, by attenuating the TNF-α-induced changes of adipokines.     

Reducing selenoprotein P expression suppresses adipocyte differentiation as a result of increased preadipocyte inflammation

Oxidative stress and low-grade inflammation have been implicated in obesity and insulin resistance. As a selenium transporter, ubiquitously expressed selenoprotein P (SeP) is known to play a role in the regulation of antioxidant enzyme activity. However, SeP expression and regulation in adipose tissue in obesity and its role in inflammation and adipocyte biology remain unexplored. In this study, we examined Sepp1 gene expression and regulation in adipose tissue of obese rodents and characterized the role of Sepp1 in adipose inflammation and adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. We found that Sepp1 gene expression was significantly reduced in adipose tissue of ob/ob and high-fat diet-induced obese mice as well as in primary adipose cells isolated from Zucker obese rats. Rosiglitazone administration increased SeP protein expression in adipose tissue of obese mice. Treatment of either TNFα or H(2)O(2) significantly reduced Sepp1 gene expression in a time- and dose-dependent manner in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Interestingly, Sepp1 gene silencing resulted in the reduction in glutathione peroxidase activity and the upregulation of inflammatory cytokines MCP-1 and IL-6 in preadipocytes, leading to the inhibition of adipogenesis and adipokine and lipogenic gene expression. Most strikingly, coculturing Sepp1 KD cells resulted in a marked inhibition of normal 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation. We conclude that SeP has an important role in adipocyte differentiation via modulating oxidative stress and inflammatory response.     

Hypoxia dysregulates the production of adiponectin and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 independent of reactive oxygen species in adipocytes

Low plasma levels of adiponectin (hypoadiponectinemia) and elevated circulating concentrations of plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1 are causally associated with obesity-related insulin resistance and cardiovascular disease. However, the mechanism that mediates the aberrant production of these two adipokines in obesity remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the effects of hypoxia and reactive oxygen species (ROS) on production of adiponectin and PAI-1 in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Quantitative PCR and immunoassays showed that ambient hypoxia markedly suppressed adiponectin mRNA expression and its protein secretion, and increased PAI-1 production in mature adipocytes. Dimethyloxallyl glycine, a stabilizer of hypoxia-inducible factor 1alpha (HIF-1alpha), mimicked the hypoxia-mediated modulations of these two adipokines. Hypoxia caused a modest elevation of ROS in adipocytes. However, ablation of intracellular ROS by antioxidants failed to alleviate hypoxia-induced aberrant production of adiponectin and PAI-1. On the other hand, the antioxidants could reverse hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced dysregulation of adiponectin and PAI-1 production. H2O2 treatment decreased the expression levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBPalpha), but had no effect on HIF-1alpha, whereas hypoxia stabilized HIF-1alpha and decreased expression of C/EBPalpha, but not PPARgamma. Taken together, these data suggest that hypoxia and ROS decrease adiponectin production and augment PAI-1 expression in adipocytes via distinct signaling pathways. These effects may contribute to hypoadiponectinemia and elevated PAI-1 levels in obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases.     

NOD1 activation induces proinflammatory gene expression and insulin resistance in 3T3-L1 adipocytes

Chronic inflammation is associated with obesity and insulin resistance; however, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Pattern recognition receptors Toll-like receptors and nucleotide-oligomerization domain-containing proteins play critical roles in innate immune response. Here, we report that activation of nucleotide binding oligomerization domain-containing protein-1 (NOD1) in adipocytes induces proinflammatory response and impairs insulin signaling and insulin-induced glucose uptake. NOD1 and NOD2 mRNA are markedly increased in differentiated murine 3T3-L1 adipocytes and human primary adipocyte culture upon adipocyte conversion. Moreover, NOD1 mRNA is markedly increased only in the fat tissues in diet-induced obese mice, but not in genetically obese ob/ob mice. Stimulation of NOD1 with a synthetic ligand Tri-DAP induces proinflammatory chemokine MCP-1, RANTES, and cytokine TNF-α and MIP-2 (human IL-8 homolog) and IL-6 mRNA expression in 3T3-L1 adipocytes in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Similar proinflammatory profiles are observed in human primary adipocyte culture stimulated with Tri-DAP. Furthermore, NOD1 activation suppresses insulin signaling, as revealed by attenuated tyrosine phosphorylation and increased inhibitory serine phosphorylation, of IRS-1 and attenuated phosphorylation of Akt and downstream target GSK3α/3β, resulting in decreased insulin-induced glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Together, our results suggest that NOD1 may play an important role in adipose inflammation and insulin resistance in diet-induced obesity.     

Conjugated linoleic acid fails to worsen insulin resistance but induces hepatic steatosis in the presence of leptin in ob/ob mice

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) induces insulin resistance preceded by rapid depletion of the adipokines leptin and adiponectin, increased inflammation, and hepatic steatosis in mice. To determine the role of leptin in CLA-mediated insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis, recombinant leptin was coadministered with dietary CLA in ob/ob mice to control leptin levels and to, in effect, negate the leptin depletion effect of CLA. In a 2 x 2 factorial design, 6 week old male ob/ob mice were fed either a control diet or a diet supplemented with CLA and received daily intraperitoneal injections of either leptin or vehicle for 4 weeks. In the absence of leptin, CLA significantly depleted adiponectin and induced insulin resistance, but it did not increase hepatic triglyceride concentrations or adipose inflammation, marked by interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha mRNA expression. Insulin resistance, however, was accompanied by increased macrophage infiltration (F4/80 mRNA) in adipose tissue. In the presence of leptin, CLA depleted adiponectin but did not induce insulin resistance or macrophage infiltration. Despite this, CLA induced hepatic steatosis. In summary, CLA worsened insulin resistance without evidence of inflammation or hepatic steatosis in mice after 4 weeks. In the presence of leptin, CLA failed to worsen insulin resistance but induced hepatic steatosis in ob/ob mice.     

Effects of lipoic acid on apelin in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and in high-fat fed rats

Lipoic acid (LA) is an antioxidant with therapeutic properties on several diseases like diabetes and obesity. Apelin is a novel adipokine with potential beneficial actions on glucose metabolism and insulin resistance. The aim of this study was to examine in 3T3-L1 adipocytes the effects of LA on apelin gene expression and secretion, as well as elucidate the signaling pathways involved. We also tested the regulation of adipose apelin gene expression by LA supplementation in a model of high-fat diet-induced obesity. LA increased apelin secretion but not apelin gene expression in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The AMPK inhibitor Compound C induced an increase in LA-stimulated apelin production, and, on the contrary, the AMPK activator AICAR completely reversed the LA stimulatory effects on apelin secretion, also inducing a significant reduction in apelin mRNA levels in this in vitro model. Apelin mRNA levels were increased in those animals fed with the high-fat diet, while the caloric restriction decreased apelin mRNA to control levels. However, apelin gene expression was not significantly modified in rats treated with LA compared with the obese group. The current data suggest the ability of LA to modulate apelin secretion by adipocytes. However the insulin-sensitizing effect of LA in vivo is not related to changes in apelin gene expression in our model of diet-induced obesity.     

Effect of PPAR-delta agonist on the expression of visfatin, adiponectin, and resistin in rat adipose tissue and 3T3-L1 adipocytes

It has been recently reported that activation of PPAR-delta, by specific agonists or genetic manipulation, alleviates dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia, and insulin resistance in animal models of obesity and type 2 diabetes. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether the PPAR-delta agonist has a direct effect on adipokines in visceral adipose tissue of rats and in cultured adipocytes. We examined the expression of visfatin, adiponectin, and resistin mRNA in visceral adipose tissue of Wistar rats fed a high-fat diet and 3T3-L1 adipocytes treated with PPAR-delta agonist (L-165041). Body weight and biochemical measurements were performed. Rats fed a high-fat diet showed a greater increase in body weight than those fed a standard diet (P<0.05), and treatment with L-165041 (10 mg/kg/day) significantly decreased weight gain (P<0.05). The concentration of total cholesterol was lower, and HDL cholesterol was higher in L-165041-treated rats (P<0.05). In the visceral adipose tissue of L-165041-treated rats, visfatin and adiponectin mRNA levels significantly increased compared to those of the untreated rats (P<0.05). However, the expression of resistin decreased in the L-165041-treated rats. Furthermore, in cultured 3T3-L1 adipocytes, the level of visfatin and adiponectin mRNA was up-regulated in response to L-165041 treatment for nine days. By contrast, resistin mRNA levels were down-regulated by L-165041 treatment. The present study provides a novel evidence to suggest that the PPAR-delta agonist has regulatory effects on a variety of adipokines, and these effects might explain some of their metabolic function.     

Endothelin-1 inhibits adiponectin secretion through a phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate/actin-dependent mechanism

Adiponectin is an adipokine with profound insulin-sensitizing, anti-inflammatory, and anti-atherogenic properties. Plasma levels of adiponectin are reduced in insulin resistant states such as obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. However, the mechanism(s) by which adiponectin concentrations are decreased during disease development is unclear. Studies have shown that endothelin-1 (ET-1), a vasoconstrictor peptide, affects adipocyte glucose metabolism and secretion of adipokines such as leptin, resistin, and adiponectin. The goal of our study was to determine the mechanism by which ET-1 decreases adiponectin secretion. 3T3-L1 adipocytes were treated for 24h with ET-1 (10nM) and then stimulated with vehicle or insulin (100 nM) for a period of 1-2h. Chronic ET-1 (24h) treatment significantly decreased basal and insulin-stimulated adiponectin secretion by 66% and 47%, respectively. Inhibition of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP(2)) hydrolysis by the PLCbeta inhibitor, U73122, or exogenous addition of PIP(2):histone carrier complex (1.25:0.625 microM) ameliorated the decrease in basal and insulin-stimulated adiponectin secretion observed with ET-1. However, treatment with exogenous PIP(2):histone carrier complex and the actin depolymerizing agent latrunculin B (20 microM) did not reverse the ET-1-mediated decrease in adiponectin secretion. In conclusion, we demonstrate that ET-1 inhibits basal and insulin-stimulated adiponectin secretion through PIP(2) modulation of the actin cytoskeleton.     

CXCL14 enhances insulin-dependent glucose uptake in adipocytes and is related to high-fat diet-induced obesity

Accumulating evidence suggests an association between obesity and adipose tissue inflammation. Chemokines are involved in the regulation of inflammation status. Chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 14 (CXCL14) is known to be a chemoattractant for monocyte and dendritic cells. Recently, it was reported that CXCL14-deficient mice show resistance to high-fat diet-induced obesity. In this study, we identified CXCL14 as a growth hormone (GH)-induced gene in HepG2 hepatoma cells. Substantial in vivo expression of CXCL14 was detected in the adipose tissue and liver. Its expression and secretion were strikingly increased by insulin administration and high-fat diet. Intriguingly, incubation of 3T3-L1 adipocytes with CXCL14 stimulated insulin-dependent glucose uptake. Further, this effect was associated with enhanced insulin signaling. CXCL14 enhanced the insulin-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptors and insulin receptor substrate-1. These results suggest that CXCL14 plays a causal role in high-fat diet-induced obesity.     

Exendin-4, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, directly induces adiponectin expression through protein kinase A pathway and prevents inflammatory adipokine expression

Exendin-4 (Ex-4) is a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonist that has been used as a drug injected subcutaneously for treatment of type 2 diabetes. Many studies have revealed molecular targets of Ex-4, but its influence on adipokines has not been determined. Our study showed that Ex-4 induced secretion of adiponectin into the culture medium of 3T3-L1 adipocytes. This effect of Ex-4 is due to increased adiponectin mRNA level through the GLP-1R. Both forskolin and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX), which may finally elevate cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) concentration, prevented the induction of adiponectin expression by Ex-4. Moreover, H89, a protein kinase A inhibitor, blocked the effect of Ex-4 on adiponectin. On the other hand, Ex-4 decreased the mRNA levels of inflammatory adipokines. The results indicate that Ex-4 directly promotes adiponectin secretion via the protein kinase A pathway in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and may ameliorate insulin resistance.