The role of hypothalamic estrogen receptors in metabolic regulation

Estrogens regulate key features of metabolism, including food intake, body weight, energy expenditure, insulin sensitivity, leptin sensitivity, and body fat distribution. There are two ‘classical’ estrogen receptors (ERs): estrogen receptor alpha (ERS1) and estrogen receptor beta (ERS2). Human and murine data indicate ERS1 contributes to metabolic regulation more so than ESR2. For example, there are human inactivating mutations of ERS1 which recapitulate aspects of the metabolic syndrome in both men and women. Much of our understanding of the metabolic roles of ERS1 was initially uncovered in estrogen receptor α-null mice (ERS1^−/−); these mice display aspects of the metabolic syndrome, including increased body weight, increased visceral fat deposition and dysregulated glucose intolerance. Recent data further implicate ERS1 in specific tissues and neuronal populations as being critical for regulating food intake, energy expenditure, body fat distribution and adipose tissue function. This review will focus predominantly on the role of hypothalamic ERs and their critical role in regulating all aspects of energy homeostasis and metabolism.     

New players in high fat diet-induced obesity: LETM1 and CTMP

Objective

Obesity contributes to insulin resistance and is a risk factor for diabetes. C-terminal modulator protein (CTMP) and leucine zipper/EF-hand-containing transmembrane protein 1 (LETM1) have been reported to influence the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (PKB) signaling pathway via the modulation of PKB activity, a key player for insulin signaling. However, it remains unclear whether CTMP and LETM1 are associated with PI3K/PKB signaling in mouse models of obesity.

Materials/Methods

To address this question, we used two different mouse models of obesity, including high-fat diet (HFD)-induced diabetic mice and genetically modified obese mice (ob/ob mice). The levels of insulin-signaling molecules in these mice were determined by immunohistochemical and Western blot analyses. The involvement of CTMP and LETM1 in PI3K/PKB signaling was investigated in HEK293 cells by transient transfection and adenovirus-mediated infection.

Results

We found that the levels of insulin receptor, phosphorylated PKB, and LETM1 were lower and the level of CTMP was higher in the adipose tissue of obese mice on an HFD compared to lean mice on a chow diet. Similar results were obtained in ob/ob mice. In HEK293 cells, the activation of PKB increased the LETM1 level, and inhibition of PKB increased the CTMP level. The overexpression of CTMP suppressed the insulin-induced increase in PKB phosphorylation, which was abrogated by co-overexpression with LETM1.

Conclusion

These results suggest that CTMP and LETM1 may participate in impaired insulin signaling in the adipose tissue of obese mice, raising the possibility that these parameters may serve as new candidate biomarkers or targets in the development of new therapeutic approaches for diabetes.     

Age-associated impairment of Akt phosphorylation in primary rat hepatocytes is remediated by alpha-lipoic acid through PI3 kinase, PTEN, and PP2A

Akt is a highly regulated serine/threonine kinase involved in stress response and cell survival. Stress response pathways must cope with increasing chronic stress susceptibility with age. We found an age-related lesion in Akt activity via loss of phosphorylation on Ser473. In hepatocytes from old rats, basal phospho-Ser473 Akt is 30% lower when compared to young, but basal phospho-Thr308 Akt is unchanged. (R)-α-lipoic acid (LA), a dithiol compound with antioxidant properties, is effective against age-related increases in oxidative stress and has been used to improve glucose utilization through insulin receptor (IR) pathway-mediated Akt phosphorylation. Treatment with physiologically relevant doses of LA (50 μM) provided a 30% increase in phospho-Ser473. Furthermore, two phosphatases that antagonize Akt, PTEN and PP2A, were both partially inhibited by LA. Thus, LA may be a nutritive agent that can remediate loss of function in the Akt pathway and aid in the survival of liver cells.     

mTOR inhibition with rapamycin causes impaired insulin signalling and glucose uptake in human subcutaneous and omental adipocytes

Rapamycin is an immunosuppressive agent used after organ transplantation, but its molecular effects on glucose metabolism needs further evaluation. We explored rapamycin effects on glucose uptake and insulin signalling proteins in adipocytes obtained via subcutaneous (n=62) and omental (n=10) fat biopsies in human donors. At therapeutic concentration (0.01 μM) rapamycin reduced basal and insulin-stimulated glucose uptake by 20-30%, after short-term (15 min) or long-term (20 h) culture of subcutaneous (n=23 and n=10) and omental adipocytes (n=6 and n=7). Rapamycin reduced PKB Ser473 and AS160 Thr642 phosphorylation, and IRS2 protein levels in subcutaneous adipocytes. Additionally, it reduced mTOR-raptor, mTOR-rictor and mTOR-Sin1 interactions, suggesting decreased mTORC1 and mTORC2 formation. Rapamycin also reduced IR Tyr1146 and IRS1 Ser307/Ser616/Ser636 phosphorylation, whereas no effects were observed on the insulin stimulated IRS1-Tyr and TSC2 Thr1462 phosphorylation. This is the first study to show that rapamycin reduces glucose uptake in human adipocytes through impaired insulin signalling and this may contribute to the development of insulin resistance associated with rapamycin therapy.     

PI3K/PKB信号通路在TGF-β_1诱导人肝星状细胞表达骨桥蛋白中的作用

目的:研究磷脂酰肌醇3-激酶/蛋白激酶B(PI3K/PKB)信号通路在转化生长因子β1(TGF-β1)诱导人肝星状细胞表达骨桥蛋白(OPN)的调控作用。方法:体外培养LX-2人肝星状细胞株,予TGF-β1(终浓度2.5、5、10、20μg/L)刺激24 h或予TGF-β1(终浓度10μg/L)刺激12 h、24 h、48 h;先经PI3K/PKB信号通路特异性抑制剂wortmannin(0.1μmol/L)预处理1 h,再予10μg/L TGF-β1刺激24 h,收集细胞,采用real-time PCR及Western blotting法检测OPN表达情况。结果:TGF-β1能够促进LX-2细胞表达OPN,在一定浓度和时间范围内,其表达量随着TGF-β1浓度和时间的增加而增加,呈剂量和时间依赖性关系;经wortmannin预处理再予TGF-β1刺激的LX-2细胞,与对照组相比,OPN表达受到明显抑制(P0.01)。结论:TGF-β1对LX-2人肝星状细胞OPN表达具有诱导作用,此作用可能受PI3K/PKB信号通路的调控。     

ShcC proteins: Brain aging and beyond

To date, most studies of Shc family of signaling adaptor proteins have been focused on the near-ubiquitously expressed ShcA, indicating its relevance to age-related diseases and longevity. Although the role of the neuronal ShcC protein is much less investigated, accumulated evidence suggests its importance for neuroprotection against such aging-associated conditions as brain ischemia and oxidative stress. Here, we summarize more than decade of studies on the ShcC expression and function in normal brain, age-related brain pathologies and immune disorders with a focus on the interactions of ShcC with signaling proteins/pathways, and the possible implications of these interactions for changes associated with aging.     

茶多酚对卵巢癌SKOV3细胞自噬水平的影响及相关机制研究

目的研究茶多酚(EGCG)对人卵巢癌SKOV3细胞自噬水平的影响及相关机制。方法用EGCG处理SKOV3细胞,Western blot检测自噬相关蛋白LC3-II及蛋白激酶B(PKB)信号通路相应蛋白表达变化。结果 EGCG处理SKOV3细胞后,自噬相关蛋白LC3-II表达上调,并呈一定的时间浓度依赖性。EGCG处理SKOV3细胞后,AKT的磷酸化水平下调,AKT激活剂胰岛素样生长因子1(IGF-1)预处理后,自噬相关蛋白LC3-II高表达被抑制。结论 EGCG通过AKT介导的信号通路诱导SKOV3细胞自噬水平升高。