Resistin down-regulates insulin receptor expression, and modulates cell viability in rodent pancreatic beta-cells

The adipokine resistin is known to induce insulin resistance in rodent tissues. Increases in adipose tissue mass are known to have a negative effect on pancreatic beta-cell function, although the mechanisms are poorly understood. This study investigated the effects of resistin on insulin secretion, insulin receptor expression and cell viability in pancreatic beta-cells. BTC-6 or BRIN-BD11 cells were treated for 24h with resistin, and insulin receptor expression, insulin secretion and cell viability were measured. Incubation with 40ng/ml resistin caused significant decreases in insulin receptor mRNA and protein expression, but did not affect insulin secretion. At low concentrations, resistin caused significant increases in cell viability. These data implicate resistin as a factor that may regulate beta-cell function/viability, and suggests a potential mechanism by which increased adiposity causes beta-cell dysfunction.     

Adiponectin expression in humans is dependent on differentiation of adipocytes and down-regulated by humoral serum components of high molecular weight

Adiponectin is an adipocytokine with profound anti-diabetic and anti-atherogenic effects. Even though adiponectin expression is restricted to adipocytes, serum levels are paradoxically decreased in obesity. We characterized how adiponectin expression and regulation relates to adipocyte differentiation in a human adipocyte cell culture model. Adiponectin was not expressed by human preadipocytes. Differentiation into adipocytes was necessary to induce an increasing expression of adiponectin (359 +/- 64-fold, P < 0.001) in parallel to an increasing expression of adipocyte differentiation markers. Adiponectin protein synthesis and secretion occurred specifically in mature adipocytes and may thus serve as a distinctive marker of adipocyte differentiation. Addition of serum during the course of differentiation as well as acutely to mature adipocytes significantly and concentration-dependently suppressed adiponectin to almost non-detectable levels (to 9.8 +/- 0.03%, P = 0.0043), suggesting a strong humoral serum component of adiponectin down-regulation. This serum component is present in both obese and lean individuals with a tendency to a stronger effect in obese men and women. Separation by molecular size suggests that higher molecular weight (>30 kDa) fractions exert inhibition of adiponectin. Withdrawal of adipogenic ingredients from the culture medium also resulted in a decrease of adiponectin expression and secretion to 62.01 +/- 0.09% and 70.86 +/- 0.05%, respectively. We identified insulin as a critical component to maintain adiponectin expression with a down-regulation to 61.6 +/- 0.1% (P = 0.0011) in the absence of insulin. These dynamic changes of adiponectin expression and regulation with adipocyte differentiation are of physiological interest in the light of the paradoxical decrease of adiponectin levels and the continuous recruitment of preadipocytes for differentiation in obesity.     

Cloning and functional characterization of resistin-like molecule gamma

Lnk, SH2-B, and APS form a conserved adaptor protein family. All of those proteins are expressed in mast cells and their possible functions in signaling through c-Kit or FcRI have been speculated. To investigate roles of Lnk, SH2-B or APS in mast cells, we established IL-3-dependent mast cells from Ink-/-, SH2-B-/-, and APS -/- mice. IL-3-dependent growth of those cells was comparable. Proliferation or adhesion mediated by c-Kit as well as degranulation induced by cross-linking FcRI were normal in the absence of Lnk or SH2-B. In contrast, APS-deficient mast cells showed augmented degranulation after cross-linking FcRI compared to wild-type cells, while c-Kit-mediated proliferation and adhesion were kept unaffected. APS-deficient mast cells showed reduced actin assembly at steady state, although their various intracellular responses induced by cross-linking FcRI were indistinguishable compared to wild-type cells. Our results suggest potential roles of APS in controlling actin cytoskeleton and magnitude of degranulation in mast cells.     

抵抗素的研究进展

抵抗素（resistin）是近年来发现的一个新脂肪细胞因子,最初在动物实验被用于联系肥胖、胰岛素抵抗和2型糖尿病。但随着进一步在人类实验的研究中发现,抵抗素能调节炎症反应而非胰岛素敏感性,研究发现抵抗素能促进炎症发生,炎症因子也能调节抵抗素的表达。动脉硬化是一种慢性亚临床性炎症,大量的体外研究提示抵抗素有可能作为一种促炎因子,通过激活内皮功能,诱导平滑肌增殖迁移,促巨噬细胞的脂质沉积,导致脂质代谢紊乱等途径,促进动脉粥样硬化的发生与发展。     

Resistin levels are related to fat mass,but not to body mass index in children

The relationship of resistin levels with obesity remains unclear. The aim of this study was to determine resistin levels in prepubertal children and adolescents and evaluate their association with anthropometric parameters and body composition. The study population included 420 randomly selected 6–8-year-old children and 712 children aged 12–16 years. Anthropometric data were measured and body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip and waist-to-height ratios were calculated. Body composition was assessed using an impedance body composition analyzer. Serum resistin levels were determined using a multiplexed bead immunoassay. Resistin levels were not significantly different between sexes. No significant differences in serum resistin concentrations were found between obese, overweight, and normal weight children at any age, and no significant correlations were observed between resistin concentrations and weight or BMI. However, resistin levels showed a significant positive correlation with fat mass in 12–16-year-old children, particularly in girls. In addition to describing serum resistin levels in prepubertal children and adolescents, our study suggests that resistin is related to body fat rather than to BMI in adolescents.     

Naproxen and Cromolyn as New Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3β Inhibitors for Amelioration of Diabetes and Obesity: An Investigation by Docking Simulation and Subsequent In Vitro/In Vivo Biochemical Evaluation

Naproxen and cromolyn were investigated as new inhibitors of glycogen synthase kinase‐3β (GSK‐3β) in an attempt to explain their hypoglycemic properties. Study included simulated docking experiments, in vitro enzyme inhibition assay, and in vivo validations. Both drugs not only were optimally fitted within a GSK‐3β binding pocket via several attractive interactions with key amino acids but also exhibited potent in vitro enzymatic inhibitory activities of IC50 1.5 and 2.0 µM for naproxen and cromolyn, respectively. In vivo experiments illustrated that both drugs significantly reduced serum glucose and increased hepatic glycogen‐ and serum insulin levels in normal and type II diabetic Balb/c mice models. In obese animal model, both drugs exhibited significant reduction in mice weights, serum glucose, and resistin levels along with significant elevation in serum insulin, C‐peptide, and adiponectin values. It can be concluded that naproxen and cromolyn are novel GSK‐3β inhibitors and can help in management of diabetes and obesity. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J BiochemMol Toxicol 27:425–436, 2013; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com . DOI 10.1002/jbt.21503