Influence of varying degrees of malnutrition on IGF-I expression in the rat diaphragm.

This study evaluated the impact of varying degrees of prolonged malnutrition on the local insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) system in the costal diaphragm muscle. Adult rats were provided with either 60 or 40% of usual food intake over 3 wk. Nutritionally deprived (ND) animals (i.e., ND60 and ND40) were compared with control (Ctl) rats fed ad libitum. Costal diaphragm fiber types and cross-sectional areas were determined histochemically. Costal diaphragm muscle IGF-I mRNA levels were determined by RT-PCR. Serum and muscle IGF-I peptide levels were determined by using a rat-specific radioimmunoassay. The body weights of Ctl rats increased by 5%, whereas those of ND60 and ND40 animals decreased by 16 and 26%, respectively. Diaphragm weights were reduced by 17 and 27% in ND60 and ND40 animals, respectively, compared with Ctl. Diaphragm fiber proportions were unaffected by either ND regimen. Significant atrophy of both type IIa and IIx fibers was noted in the ND60 group, whereas atrophy of all three fiber types was observed in the diaphragm of ND40 rats. Serum IGF-I levels were reduced by 62 and 79% in ND60 and ND40 rats, respectively, compared with Ctl. Diaphragm muscle IGF-I mRNA levels in both ND groups were similar to those noted in Ctl. In contrast, IGF-I concentrations were reduced by 36 and 42% in the diaphragm muscle of ND60 and ND40 groups, respectively, compared with Ctl. We conclude that the local (autocrine/paracrine) muscle IGF-I system is affected in our models of prolonged ND. We propose that this contributes to disordered muscle protein turnover and muscle cachexia with atrophy of muscle fibers. This is particularly so in view of recent data demonstrating the importance of the autocrine/paracrine system in muscle growth and maintenance of fiber size.     

Muscle-specific deletion of rictor impairs insulin-stimulated glucose transport and enhances Basal glycogen synthase activity

Rictor is an essential component of mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) complex 2 (mTORC2), a kinase complex that phosphorylates Akt at Ser473 upon activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI-3 kinase). Since little is known about the role of either rictor or mTORC2 in PI-3 kinase-mediated physiological processes in adult animals, we generated muscle-specific rictor knockout mice. Muscle from male rictor knockout mice exhibited decreased insulin-stimulated glucose uptake, and the mice showed glucose intolerance. In muscle lacking rictor, the phosphorylation of Akt at Ser473 was reduced dramatically in response to insulin. Furthermore, insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of the Akt substrate AS160 at Thr642 was reduced in rictor knockout muscle, indicating a defect in insulin signaling to stimulate glucose transport. However, the phosphorylation of Akt at Thr308 was normal and sufficient to mediate the phosphorylation of glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK-3). Basal glycogen synthase activity in muscle lacking rictor was increased to that of insulin-stimulated controls. Consistent with this, we observed a decrease in basal levels of phosphorylated glycogen synthase at a GSK-3/protein phosphatase 1 (PP1)-regulated site in rictor knockout muscle. This change in glycogen synthase phosphorylation was associated with an increase in the catalytic activity of glycogen-associated PP1 but not increased GSK-3 inactivation. Thus, rictor in muscle tissue contributes to glucose homeostasis by positively regulating insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and negatively regulating basal glycogen synthase activity.     

Distinct intra-mitochondrial localizations of pro-survival kinases and regulation of their functions by DUSP5 and PHLPP-1

ERK and Akt have been shown to regulate cell sensitivity to death-inducing stress by phosphorylating GSK-3β, a major modulator of the threshold for mitochondrial permeability transition. Here we examined intra-mitochondrial localization of the pro-survival kinases and their regulation by phosphatases. Stepwise trypsin digestion of mitochondria isolated from HEK293 or H9c2 cells was performed, and immunoblotting revealed that GSK-3β and ERK localized dominantly in the outer membrane (OM), while Akt resided at comparable levels in OM, the inner membrane (IM) and the matrix. Treatment with IGF-1 increased the protein level of Akt in the matrix, while ERK and GSK-3β protein levels were increased in OM. Simultaneously, IGF-1 treatment elevated the level of Thr202/Tyr204-phospho-ERK in IM and matrix and levels of Ser473-phospho-Akt and Ser9-phospho-GSK-3β in OM, IM and matrix. Exposing cells to reactive oxygen species (ROS) by using antimycin A increased the levels of DUSP5 and PHLPP-1 mainly in OM and induced dephosphorylation of Akt, ERK and GSK-3β. The mitochondrial localization of DUSP5 was confirmed by experiments with mitochondria purified by Percoll gradient centrifugation and by transfection of cells with GFP-tagged DUSP5. Knockdown of either DUSP5 or PHLPP-1 increased the levels of both Thr202/Tyr204-phospho-ERK and Ser473-phospho-Akt in mitochondria. Cell death induced by antimycin A was suppressed by siRNA-mediated knockdown of DUSP5. The results suggest that Akt and ERK in mitochondria show distinct intra-mitochondrial localization and crosstalk in GSK-3β regulation and that recruitment of DUSP5 as well as PHLPP-1 to mitochondria contributes to ROS-induced termination of the protective signaling.     

PKA modulates GSK-3beta- and cdk5-catalyzed phosphorylation of tau in site- and kinase-specific manners

Phosphorylation of tau protein is regulated by several kinases, especially glycogen synthase kinase 3beta (GSK-3beta), cyclin-dependent protein kinase 5 (cdk5) and cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA). Phosphorylation of tau by PKA primes it for phosphorylation by GSK-3beta, but the site-specific modulation of GSK-3beta-catalyzed tau phosphorylation by the prephosphorylation has not been well investigated. Here, we found that prephosphorylation by PKA promotes GSK-3beta-catalyzed tau phosphorylation at Thr181, Ser199, Ser202, Thr205, Thr217, Thr231, Ser396 and Ser422, but inhibits its phosphorylation at Thr212 and Ser404. In contrast, the prephosphorylation had no significant effect on its subsequent phosphorylation by cdk5 at Thr181, Ser199, Thr205, Thr231 and Ser422; inhibited it at Ser202, Thr212, Thr217 and Ser404; and slightly promoted it at Ser396. These studies reveal the nature of the inter-regulation of tau phosphorylation by the three major tau kinases.     

Role of Akt2 in contraction-stimulated cell signaling and glucose uptake in skeletal muscle

The serine/threonine kinase Akt/PKB plays diverse roles in cells, and genetic studies have indicated distinct roles for the three Akt isoforms expressed in mammalian cells and tissues. Akt2 is a key signaling intermediate for insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and glycogen synthesis in skeletal muscle. Akt2 has also been shown to be activated by exercise and muscle contraction in both rodents and humans. In this study, we used Akt2 knockout mice to explore the role of Akt2 in exercise-stimulated glucose uptake and glycogen synthesis as well as intracellular signaling pathways that regulate glycogen metabolism in skeletal muscle. We found that Akt2 deficiency does not affect basal or exercise-stimulated glucose uptake or intracellular glycogen content in the soleus muscle. In addition, lack of Akt2 did not result in alterations in basal Akt Thr(308) or basal and contraction-stimulated glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK-3beta) Ser(9) phosphorylation, glycogen synthase phosphorylation, or glycogen synthase activity. In contrast, in situ contraction failed to elicit normal increases in Akt T-loop Thr(308) phosphorylation and GSK-3alpha Ser(21) phosphorylation in tibialis anterior muscles from Akt2-deficient animals. Our data establish a key role for Akt2 in the regulation of GSK-3alpha Ser(21) phosphorylation with contraction and add genetic evidence to support the separation of the intracellular pathways regulated by insulin and exercise that converge on glucose uptake and glycogen synthesis in skeletal muscle.     

Long-term effects of rapamycin treatment on insulin mediated phosphorylation of Akt/PKB and glycogen synthase activity

Protein kinase B (Akt/PKB) is a Ser/Thr kinase that is involved in the regulation of cell proliferation/survival through mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and the regulation of glycogen metabolism through glycogen synthase kinase 3beta (GSK-3beta) and glycogen synthase (GS). Rapamycin is an inhibitor of mTOR. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of rapamycin pretreatment on the insulin mediated phosphorylation of Akt/PKB phosphorylation and GS activity in parental HepG2 and HepG2 cells with overexpression of constitutively active Akt1/PKB-alpha (HepG2-CA-Akt/PKB). Rapamycin pretreatment resulted in a decrease (20-30%) in the insulin mediated phosphorylation of Akt1 (Ser 473) in parental HepG2 cells but showed an upregulation of phosphorylation in HepG2-CA-Akt/PKB cells. Rictor levels were decreased (20-50%) in parental HepG2 cells but were not significantly altered in the HepG2-CA-Akt/PKB cells. Furthermore, rictor knockdown decreased the phosphorylation of Akt (Ser 473) by 40-60% upon rapamycin pretreatment. GS activity followed similar trends as that of phosphorylated Akt and so with rictor levels in these cells pretreated with rapamycin; parental HepG2 cells showed a decrease in GS activity, whereas as HepG2-CA-Akt/PKB cells showed an increase in GS activity. The changes in the levels of phosphorylated Akt/PKB (Ser 473) correlated with GS and protein phoshatase-1 activity.     

Acute alcohol intoxication enhances myocardial eIF4G phosphorylation despite reducing mTOR signaling

Acute alcohol intoxication impairs myocardial protein synthesis in rats, secondary to a diminished mRNA translational efficiency. Decreased mRNA translational efficiency occurs through altered regulation of peptide chain initiation. The purpose of the present set of experiments was to determine whether acute alcohol intoxication alters the phosphorylation state of eukaryotic initiation factor (eIF) 4G, eIF4G.eIF4E complex formation, and the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway in the heart. Acute alcohol intoxication was induced by injection of alcohol (75 mmol/kg body wt ip). Control animals received an equal volume of saline. Alcohol administration enhanced phosphorylation of eIF4G (Ser(1108)) approximately threefold. Alcohol administration lowered formation of the active eIF4G.eIF4E complex by >90%, whereas it increased the abundance of the inactive 4E-binding protein 1 (4E-BP1).eIF4E complex by approximately 160%. Phosphorylation of mTOR on Ser(2448) and Ser(2481) was decreased by 50%. Reduced mTOR phosphorylation did not result from decreased phosphorylation of PKB. Phosphorylation of 4E-BP1 and S6 kinase 1 (Thr(389)), downstream targets of mTOR, were also reduced after acute alcohol administration. These data suggest that acute alcohol-induced impairments in myocardial mRNA translation initiation result, in part, from marked decreases in eIF4G.eIF4E complex formation, which appear to be independent of changes in phosphorylation of eIF4G but dependent on mTOR.     

Akt phosphorylation at Thr308 and Ser473 is required for CHIP-mediated ubiquitination of the kinase

Phosphorylation at Thr308 and Ser473 is known to activate Akt, a major kinase in mammalian cells. Once activated to turn on downstream signaling pathways, Akt returns to an inactive pool via PP2A-mediated dephosphorylation. We show here that Thr308 and Ser473 phosphorylations prompt Akt to enter the CHIP-mediated ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Mutation at either Thr308 or Ser473 dampened its ability to bind to the U-box E3 ligase CHIP (C-terminal Hsp70 -interacting protein), and the Akt mutants revealed decreased rate of ubiquitination by CHIP. Our study unveils that the well-known phosphorylations responsible for Akt activation turn out to transduce recognition signals for Akt-CHIP binding and ensuing degradation.     

mTORC2 protein complex-mediated Akt (Protein Kinase B) Serine 473 Phosphorylation is not required for Akt1 activity in human platelets [corrected

Protein kinase B (PKB, Akt) is a Ser/Thr kinase involved in the regulation of cell survival, proliferation, and metabolism and is activated by dual phosphorylation on Thr(308) in the activation loop and Ser(473) in the hydrophobic motif. It plays a contributory role to platelet function, although little is known about its regulation. In this study, we investigated the role of the mammalian target of rapamycin complex (mTORC)-2 in Akt regulation using the recently identified small molecule ATP competitive mTOR inhibitors PP242 and Torin1. Both PP242 and Torin1 blocked thrombin and insulin-like growth factor 1-mediated Akt Ser(473) phosphorylation with an IC(50) between 1 and 5 nm, whereas the mTORC1 inhibitor rapamycin had no effect. Interestingly, PP242 and Torin1 had no effect on Akt Thr(308) phosphorylation, Akt1 activity, and phosphorylation of the Akt substrate glycogen synthase kinase 3β, indicating that Ser(473) phosphorylation is not necessary for Thr(308) phosphorylation and maximal Akt1 activity. In contrast, Akt2 activity was significantly reduced, concurrent with inhibition of PRAS40 phosphorylation, in the presence of PP242 and Torin1. Other signaling pathways, including phospholipase C/PKC and the MAPK pathway, were unaffected by PP242 and Torin1. Together, these results demonstrate that mTORC2 is the kinase that phosphorylates Akt Ser(473) in human platelets but that this phosphorylation is dispensable for Thr(308) phosphorylation and Akt1 activity.     

Assembly protein precursor (pUL80.5 homolog) of simian cytomegalovirus is phosphorylated at a glycogen synthase kinase 3 site and its downstream "priming" site: phosphorylation affects interactions of protein with itself and with major capsid protein

Capsid assembly among the herpes-group viruses is coordinated by two related scaffolding proteins. In cytomegalovirus (CMV), the main scaffolding constituent is called the assembly protein precursor (pAP). Like its homologs in other herpesviruses, pAP is modified by proteolytic cleavage and phosphorylation. Cleavage is essential for capsid maturation and production of infectious virus, but the role of phosphorylation is undetermined. As a first step in evaluating the significance of this modification, we have identified the specific sites of phosphorylation in the simian CMV pAP. Two were established previously to be adjacent serines (Ser156 and Ser157) in a casein kinase II consensus sequence. The remaining two, identified here as Thr231 and Ser235, are within consensus sequences for glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK-3) and mitogen-activated protein kinase, respectively. Consistent with Thr231 being a GSK-3 substrate, its phosphorylation required a downstream "priming" phosphate (i.e., Ser235) and was reduced by a GSK-3-specific inhibitor. Phosphorylation of Ser235 converts pAP to an electrophoretically slower-mobility isoform, pAP*; subsequent phosphorylation of pAP* at Thr231 converts pAP* to a still-slower isoform, pAP**. The mobility shift to pAP* was mimicked by substituting an acidic amino acid for either Thr231 or Ser235, but the shift to pAP** required that both positions be phosphorylated. Glu did not substitute for pSer235 in promoting phosphorylation of Thr231. We suggest that phosphorylation of Thr231 and Ser235 causes charge-driven conformational changes in pAP, and we demonstrate that preventing these modifications alters interactions of pAP with itself and with major capsid protein, suggesting a functional significance.     

SIN1/MIP1 maintains rictor-mTOR complex integrity and regulates Akt phosphorylation and substrate specificity

Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) controls cell growth and proliferation via the raptor-mTOR (TORC1) and rictor-mTOR (TORC2) protein complexes. Recent biochemical studies suggested that TORC2 is the elusive PDK2 for Akt/PKB Ser473 phosphorylation in the hydrophobic motif. Phosphorylation at Ser473, along with Thr308 of its activation loop, is deemed necessary for Akt function, although the regulatory mechanisms and physiological importance of each phosphorylation site remain to be fully understood. Here, we report that SIN1/MIP1 is an essential TORC2/PDK2 subunit. Genetic ablation of sin1 abolished Akt-Ser473 phosphorylation and disrupted rictor-mTOR interaction but maintained Thr308 phosphorylation. Surprisingly, defective Ser473 phosphorylation affected only a subset of Akt targets in vivo, including FoxO1/3a, while other Akt targets, TSC2 and GSK3, and the TORC1 effectors, S6K and 4E-BP1, were unaffected. Our findings reveal that the SIN1-rictor-mTOR function in Akt-Ser473 phosphorylation is required for TORC2 function in cell survival but is dispensable for TORC1 function.     

Akt and its downstream targets play key roles in mediating dormancy in land snails

Estivation, a state of aerobic dormancy, facilitates survival during adverse environmental conditions and is characterized at the molecular level by regulatory protein phosphorylation. The Akt (protein kinase B) signaling pathway regulates diverse responses in cells and the present study analyzes its role in the estivating desert snail Otala lactea. Kinetic analysis (maximal velocity, substrate affinities) determined that Akt was activated in tissues of estivating snails and Western blotting and in vitro incubations promoting changes to Akt phosphorylation state both confirmed that higher amounts of active (phosphorylated Ser473) Akt were present during estivation. Akt protein stability was also enhanced during estivation as assessed from urea denaturation studies. Multiple downstream targets of Akt were differentially regulated during estivation. Estivating animals showed elevated levels of phosphorylated FOXO3a (Ser253) and BAD (Ser136), no change in mTOR (Ser2481 and Ser2448), and reduced amounts of phosphorylated glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) beta subunit (Ser9). Kinetic analysis of GSK-3 showed 1.5-1.7 fold higher activities in estivating snails coupled with increased GSK-3 substrate affinities in hepatopancreas. The data suggest an active role for Akt signaling during estivation emphasizing anti-apoptotic actions but uncoupling growth/proliferation actions to help achieve life extension on a limited energy budget.     

Signaling pathway of nitric oxide production induced by ginsenoside Rb1 in human aortic endothelial cells: a possible involvement of androgen receptor

Ginsenosides have been shown to stimulate nitric oxide (NO) production in aortic endothelial cells. However, the signaling pathways involved have not been well studied in human aortic endothelial cells. The present study was designed to examine whether purified ginsenoside Rb1, a major active component of ginseng could actually induce NO production and to clarify the signaling pathway in human aortic endothelial cells. NO production was rapidly increased by Rb1. The rapid increase in NO production was abrogated by treatment with nitric oxide synthetase inhibitor, L-NAME. Rb1 stimulated rapid phosphorylation of Akt (Ser473), ERK1/2 (Thr202/Thr204) and eNOS (Ser1177). Rapid phosphorylation of eNOS (Ser1177) was prevented by SH-5, an Akt inhibitor or wortmannin, PI3-kinase inhibitor and partially attenuated by PD98059, an upstream inhibitor for ERK1/2. Interestingly, NO production and eNOS phosphorylation at Ser1177 by Rb1 were abolished by androgen receptor antagonist, nilutamide. The results suggest that PI3kinase/Akt and MEK/ERK pathways and androgen receptor are involved in the regulation of acute eNOS activation by Rb1 in human aortic endothelial cells.     

Resistance exercise decreases eIF2Bepsilon phosphorylation and potentiates the feeding-induced stimulation of p70S6K1 and rpS6 in young men

We investigated the effect of resistance exercise and feeding on the activation of signaling proteins involved in translation initiation. Nine young men (23.7+/-0.41 yr; BMI=25.5+/-1.0 kg/m2; means+/-SE) were tested twice after they performed a strenuous bout of unilateral resistance exercise, such that their contralateral leg acted as a nonexercised comparator, in either the fasted and fed [1,000 kJ, each 90 min (3 doses): 10 g protein, 41 g carbohydrate, 4 g fat] states. Muscle biopsies were obtained 6 h postexercise from both legs, resulting in four experimental conditions: rest-fasted, rest-fed, exercise-fasted, and exercise-fed. Feeding increased PKB/Akt (Ser473) phosphorylation (P<0.05), while exercise increased the phosphorylation of Akt and the downstream 70 kDa S6 protein kinase (p70S6K1, Thr389) and ribosomal protein S6 (rpS6, Ser235/236, Ser240/244; all P<0.05). The combination of resistance exercise and feeding increased the phosphorylation of p70S6K1 (Thr389) and rpS6 (Ser240/244) above exercise alone (P<0.05). Exercise also reduced phosphorylation of the catalytic epsilon subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor 2B (eIF2Bepsilon, Ser540; P<0.05). Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR, Ser2448), glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK-3beta, Ser9), and focal adhesion kinase (FAK, Tyr576/577) phosphorylation were unaffected by either feeding or resistance exercise (all P>0.14). In summary, feeding resulted in phosphorylation of Akt, while resistance exercise stimulated phosphorylation of Akt, p70S6K1, rpS6, and dephosphorylation eIF2Bepsilon with a synergistic effect of feeding and exercise on p70(S6K1) and its downstream target rpS6. We conclude that resistance exercise potentiates the effect of feeding on the phosphorylation and presumably activation of critical proteins involved in the regulation of muscle protein synthesis in young men.     

Mitogen-induced rapid phosphorylation of serine 795 of the retinoblastoma gene product in vascular smooth muscle cells involves ERK activation

We examined the relationship between mitogen-activated MEK (mitogen and extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase kinase) and phosphorylation of the gene product encoded by retinoblastoma (hereafter referred to as Rb) in vascular smooth muscle cells. Brief treatment of the cells with 100 nm angiotensin II or 1 microm serotonin resulted in serine phosphorylation of Rb that was equal in magnitude to that induced by treating cells for 20 h with 10% fetal bovine serum ( approximately 3 x basal). There was no detectable rapid phosphorylation of two close cousins of Rb, p107 and p130. Phosphorylation state-specific antisera demonstrated that the rapid phosphorylation occurred on Ser(795), but not on Ser(249), Thr(252), Thr(373), Ser(780), Ser(807), or Ser(811). Phosphorylation of Rb Ser(795) peaked at 10 min, lagging behind phosphorylation of MEK and ERK (extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase). Rb Ser(795) phosphorylation could be blocked by PD98059, a MEK inhibitor, and greatly attenuated by apigenin, an inhibitor of the Ras --> Raf --> MEK --> ERK pathway. The effect also appears to be mediated by CDK4. Immunoprecipitation/immunoblot studies revealed that serotonin and angiotensin II induced complex formation between CDK4, cyclin D1, and phosphorylated ERK. These studies show a rapid, novel, and selective phosphorylation of Rb Ser(795) by mitogens and demonstrate an unexpected rapid linkage between the actions of the Ras --> Raf --> MEK --> ERK pathway and the phosphorylation state of Rb.     

Involvement of androgen receptor in nitric oxide production induced by icariin in human umbilical vein endothelial cells

Icariin, a flavonoid isolated from Epimedii herba, stimulated phosphorylation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) at Ser1177, Akt (Ser473) and ERK1/2 (Thr202/Tyr204). The icariin-induced eNOS phosphorylation was abolished by an androgen receptor (AR) antagonist, nilutamide in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Furthermore, it was also reduced in the cells transfected with small interfering RNA in which the expression of AR was broken down. The icariin-induced eNOS phosphorylation was inhibited by wortmannin, a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor and partially attenuated by PD98059, an upstream inhibitor for ERK1/2. These data suggest that icariin stimulates release of NO by AR-dependent activation of eNOS in HUVECs. PI3K/Akt and MAPK-ERK kinase (MEK)/ERK1/2 pathways were involved in the phosphorylation of eNOS by icariin.     

Caffeine induces apoptosis by enhancement of autophagy via PI3K/Akt/mTOR/p70S6K inhibition

Caffeine is one of the most frequently ingested neuroactive compounds. All known mechanisms of apoptosis induced by caffeine act through cell cycle modulation or p53 induction. It is currently unknown whether caffeine-induced apoptosis is associated with other cell death mechanisms, such as autophagy. Herein we show that caffeine increases both the levels of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3-II and the number of autophagosomes, through the use of western blotting, electron microscopy and immunocytochemistry techniques. Phosphorylated p70 ribosomal protein S6 kinase (Thr389), S6 ribosomal protein (Ser235/236), 4E-BP1 (Thr37/46) and Akt (Ser473) were significantly decreased by caffeine. In contrast, ERK1/2 (Thr202/204) was increased by caffeine, suggesting an inhibition of the Akt/mTOR/p70S6K pathway and activation of the ERK1/2 pathway. Although insulin treatment phosphorylated Akt (Ser473) and led to autophagy suppression, the effect of insulin treatment was completely abolished by caffeine addition. Caffeine-induced autophagy was not completely blocked by inhibition of ERK1/2 by U0126. Caffeine induced reduction of mitochondrial membrane potentials and apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner, which was further attenuated by the inhibition of autophagy with 3-methyladenine or Atg7 siRNA knockdown. Furthermore, there was a reduced number of early apoptotic cells (annexin V positive, propidium iodide negative) among autophagy-deficient mouse embryonic fibroblasts treated with caffeine than their wild-type counterparts. These results support previous studies on the use of caffeine in the treatment of human tumors and indicate a potential new target in the regulation of apoptosis.     

Hyperinsulinemia: effect on cardiac mass/function, angiotensin II receptor expression, and insulin signaling pathways

To investigate the association between hyperinsulinemia and cardiac hypertrophy, we treated rats with insulin for 7 wk and assessed effects on myocardial growth, vascularization, and fibrosis in relation to the expression of angiotensin II receptors (AT-R). We also characterized insulin signaling pathways believed to promote myocyte growth and interact with proliferative responses mediated by G protein-coupled receptors, and we assessed myocardial insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) and p110 alpha catalytic and p85 regulatory subunits of phospatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K), Akt, MEK, ERK1/2, and S6 kinase-1 (S6K1). Left ventricular (LV) geometry and performance were evaluated echocardiographically. Insulin decreased AT1a-R mRNA expression but increased protein levels and increased AT2-R mRNA and protein levels and phosphorylation of IRS-1 (Ser374/Tyr989), MEK1/2 (Ser218/Ser222), ERK1/2 (Thr202/Tyr204), S6K1 (Thr421/Ser424/Thr389), Akt (Thr308/Thr308), and PI3K p110 alpha but not of p85 (Tyr508). Insulin increased LV mass and relative wall thickness and reduced stroke volume and cardiac output. Histochemical examination demonstrated myocyte hypertrophy and increases in interstitial fibrosis. Metoprolol plus insulin prevented the increase in relative wall thickness, decreased fibrosis, increased LV mass, and improved function seen with insulin alone. Thus our data demonstrate that chronic hyperinsulinemia decreases AT1a-to-AT2 ratio and increases MEK-ERK1/2 and S6K1 pathway activity related to hypertrophy. These changes might be crucial for increased cardiovascular growth and fibrosis and signs of impaired LV function.     

Prostaglandin F2&alpha; stimulates PI3K/ERK/mTOR signaling and skeletal myotube hypertrophy

Cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes mediate the synthesis of proinflammatory prostaglandin (PG) species from cellular arachidonic acid. COX/PGs have been implicated in skeletal muscle growth/regeneration; however, the mechanisms by which PGs influence skeletal muscle adaptation are poorly understood. The present study aimed to investigate PGF(2α) signaling and its role in skeletal myotube hypertrophy. PGF(2α) or the FP receptor agonist fluprostenol increased C2C12 myotube diameter. This effect was abolished by the FP receptor antagonist AL8810 and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibition. PGF(2α) stimulated time- and dose-dependent increases in the phosphorylation of extracellular receptor kinase (ERK)1/2 (Thr202/Tyr204), p70S6 kinase (p70S6K) (Thr389 and Thr421/Ser424), and eukaryotic initiation factor 4G (eIF4G) (Ser1108) without influencing Akt (Ser473). Pretreatment with the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor LY294002 and the ERK inhibitor PD98059 blocked F prostanoid receptor signaling responses, whereas rapamycin blocked heightened p70S6K/eIF4G phosphorylation without influencing ERK1/2 phosphorylation. These data suggest that activation of the F prostanoid receptor is coupled to C2C12 myotube growth and intracellular signaling via a PI3K/ERK/mTOR-dependent pathway.