Dietary olive oil and menhaden oil mitigate induction of lipogenesis in hyperinsulinemic corpulent JCR:LA-cp rats: microarray analysis of lipid-related gene expression

In the corpulent James C. Russell corpulent (JCR:LA-cp) rat, hyperinsulinemia leads to induction of lipogenic enzymes via enhanced expression of sterol-regulatory-binding protein (SREBP)-1c. This results in increased hepatic lipid production and hypertriglyceridemia. Information regarding down-regulation of SREBP-1c and lipogenic enzymes by dietary fatty acids in this model is limited. We therefore assessed de novo hepatic lipogenesis and hepatic and plasma lipids in corpulent JCR rats fed diets enriched in olive oil or menhaden oil. Using microarray and Northern analysis, we determined the effect of these diets on expression of mRNA for lipogenic enzymes and other proteins related to lipid metabolism. In corpulent JCR:LA-cp rats, both the olive oil and menhaden oil diets reduced expression of SREBP-1c, with concomitant reductions in hepatic triglyceride content, lipogenesis, and expression of enzymes related to lipid synthesis. Unexpectedly, expression of many peroxisomal proliferator-activated receptor-dependent enzymes mediating fatty acid oxidation was increased in livers of corpulent JCR rats. The menhaden oil diet further increased expression of these enzymes. Induction of SREBP-1c by insulin is dependent on liver x receptor (LXR)alpha. Although hepatic expression of mRNA for LXR itself was not increased in corpulent rats, expression of Cyp7a1, an LXR-responsive gene, was increased, suggesting increased LXR activity. Expression of mRNA encoding fatty acid translocase and ATP-binding cassette subfamily DALD member 3 was also increased in livers of corpulent JCR rats, indicating a potential role for these fatty acid transporters in the pathogenesis of disordered lipid metabolism in obesity. This study clearly demonstrates that substitution of dietary polyunsaturated fatty acid for carbohydrate in the corpulent JCR:LA-cp rat reduces de novo lipogenesis, at least in part, by reducing hepatic expression of SREBP-1c and that strategies directed toward reducing SREBP-1c expression in the liver may mitigate the adverse effects of hyperinsulinemia on hepatic lipid production.     

Modulation of adipoinsular axis in prediabetic zucker diabetic fatty rats by diazoxide

Dysregulation of the adipoinsular axis in male obese Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF; fa/fa) rats, a model of type 2 diabetes, results in chronic hyperinsulinemia and increased de novo lipogenesis in islets, leading to beta-cell failure and diabetes. Diazoxide (DZ; 150 mg/kg.d), an inhibitor of insulin secretion, was administered to prediabetic ZDF animals for 8 wk as a strategy for prevention of diabetes. DZ reduced food intake (P < 0.02) and rate of weight gain only in ZDF rats (P < 0.01). Plasma insulin response to glucose load was attenuated in DZ-Zucker lean rats (ZL; P < 0.01), whereas DZ-ZDF had higher insulin response to glucose than controls (P < 0.001). DZ improved hemoglobin A1c (P < 0.001) and glucose tolerance in ZDF (P < 0.001), but deteriorated hemoglobin A1c in ZL rats (P < 0.02) despite normal tolerance in the fasted state. DZ lowered plasma leptin (P < 0.001), free fatty acid, and triglyceride (P < 0.001) levels, but increased adiponectin levels (P < 0.02) only in ZDF rats. DZ enhanced beta3-adrenoreceptor mRNA (P < 0.005) and adenylate cyclase activity (P < 0.01) in adipose tissue from ZDF rats only, whereas it enhanced islet beta3- adrenergic receptor mRNA (P < 0.005) but paradoxically decreased islet adenylate cyclase activity (P < 0.005) in these animals. Islet fatty acid synthase mRNA (P < 0.03), acyl coenzyme A carboxylase mRNA (P < 0.01), uncoupling protein-2 mRNA (P < 0.01), and triglyceride content (P < 0.005) were only decreased in DZ-ZDF rats, whereas islet insulin mRNA and insulin content were increased in DZ-ZDF (P < 0.01) and DZ-ZL rats (P < 0.03). DZ-induced beta-cell rest improved the lipid profile, enhanced the metabolic efficiency of insulin, and prevented beta-cell dysfunction and diabetes in diabetes-prone animals. This therapeutic strategy may be beneficial in preventing beta-cell failure and progression to diabetes in humans.     

OB-Rb gene transfer to leptin-resistant islets reverses diabetogenic phenotype

In obese Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats with mutant leptin receptors, pancreatic islets have an ≈50-fold increase in fat (TG), overproduce nitric oxide (NO), and lack a normal proinsulin mRNA response to fatty acids. We overexpressed the wild-type full-length “b” isoform of the leptin receptor (OB-Rb) in ZDF islets by perfusing ZDF pancreata with recombinant adenovirus containing the cDNA encoding OB-Rb. In cultured islets isolated from these animals, leptin lowered islet TG by 87% and completely blocked TG formation from free fatty acids. Overproduction of NO was reduced, and the preproinsulin mRNA response to free fatty acids was restored. This establishes defective leptin action as the proximate cause of lipotoxic diabetes in ZDF rats.     

Leptin decreases lipogenic enzyme gene expression through modification of SREBP-1c gene expression in white adipose tissue of aging rats

Aging is associated with a significant reduction of lipogenic enzyme gene expression and lipogenesis in white adipose tissue (WAT). The age-related increase of lep gene expression could be, in part, responsible for these changes. Considering that sterol regulatory element binding protein 1c (SREBP-1c) plays an important role in regulation of lipogenic enzyme gene expression, it is likely that the age-related decrease of WAT lipogenic potential could be a consequence of the inhibition of SREBP-1c gene expression by leptin. We determined whether the increase of lep gene expression would account for the age-related decrease in SREBP-1c and its direct target, main lipogenic enzymes acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) and fatty acid synthase (FAS), by assaying the messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of SREBP-1c, FAS, ACC, and leptin in WAT of 2-month-old (young) and 20-month-old (old) rats. Leptin mRNA level was much higher in the old animals, whereas in contrast, old rats displayed much lower mRNA levels of SREBP-1c and lipogenic enzymes. Moreover, experimentally increased plasma leptin concentration in young rats to the value observed in old rats resulted in the decrease of SREBP-1c, FAS, and ACC mRNA levels in WAT. Thus, the increase of lep gene expression could, in part, account for the reduced SREBP-1c gene expression and, consequently, the diminished lipogenic activity in WAT of old animals.     

早期胰岛素治疗对糖尿病大鼠骨骼肌细胞胆固醇调节元件结合蛋白-1c表达的影响

目的 探讨早期胰岛素治疗对糖尿病大鼠骨骼肌细胞内胆固醇调节元件结合蛋白-1c(SREBP-1c)表达的影响及可能的分子机制.方法 将7～8周龄高脂喂养联合小剂量链脲佐菌素诱导的雄性糖尿病SD大鼠24只按随机数字表法分为4组:正常对照组、未治疗糖尿病组、胰岛素组、格列齐特组,每组各6只.通过real-time PCR和Western blot法检测骨骼肌细胞SREBP-1c mRNA和核内成熟型蛋白表达水平、肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)蛋白表达、信号转导及转录活化子3磷酸化(Tyr705)(p-STAT3)蛋白表达水平.结果 与对照组(3.7±1.1)比较,糖尿病大鼠骨骼肌细胞SREBP-1c mRNA(7.3±2.6)和核内蛋白(3.3±0.4)、TNF-α(0.44±0.03)及P-STAT3蛋白(0.50 ±0.08)表达水平显著上调,早期胰岛素治疗则下调了SREBP-1c mRNA(4.1±1.8)和核内蛋白(2.7±0.3)表达、TNF-α(0.19±0.22)及P-STAT3蛋白(0.29±0.03)表达,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05).结论 早期胰岛素治疗抑制骨骼肌细胞内脂质合成通路中关键转录分子的表达,可能是骨骼肌内脂质沉积减少的机制之一.     

Vascular lipotoxicity: endothelial dysfunction via fatty-acid-induced reactive oxygen species overproduction in obese Zucker diabetic fatty rats

Vascular endothelial dysfunction has been demonstrated in obesity, but the molecular basis for this link has not been clarified. We examined the role of free fatty acids (FFA) on vascular reactivity in the obese fa/fa Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rat. Addition of acetylcholine produced a dose-dependent relaxation in aortic rings of ZDF and lean +/+ rats, but the ED(50) value was higher in ZDF (-6.80 +/- 0.05 vs. -7.11 +/- 0.05 log(10) mol/liter, P = 0.033). A 2-wk treatment with a 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitor, pitavastatin (3 mg/kg/d) or a reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase inhibitor, apocynin (5 mmol/liter in drinking water), improved the response in ZDF (ED(50), -7.16 +/- 0.03 and -7.14 +/- 0.05 log(10) mol/liter, P = 0.008 and P = 0.015 vs. vehicle, respectively). Vasodilator response to sodium nitroprusside was identical between ZDF and +/+ rats. Vascular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and NADPH oxidase activity in aorta were increased in ZDF rats but were decreased by pitavastatin. In in vitro cell culture, intracellular ROS signal and NADPH oxidase subunit mRNA were increased by palmitate, but this palmitate-induced ROS production was inhibited by NADPH oxidase inhibitor or pitavastatin. In conclusion, FFA-induced NADPH oxidase subunit overexpression and ROS production could be involved in the endothelial dysfunction seen in obese ZDF rats, and this could be protected by pitavastatin or NADPH oxidase inhibitors.     

Analysis of gene expression profiles in insulin-sensitive tissues from pre-diabetic and diabetic Zucker diabetic fatty rats

Insulin resistance occurs early in the disease process, preceding the development of type 2 diabetes. Therefore, the identification of molecules that contribute to insulin resistance and leading up to type 2 diabetes is important to elucidate the molecular pathogenesis of the disease. To this end, we characterized gene expression profiles from insulin-sensitive tissues, including adipose tissue, skeletal muscle, and liver tissue of Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats, a well characterized type 2 diabetes animal model. Gene expression profiles from ZDF rats at 6 weeks (pre-diabetes), 12 weeks (diabetes), and 20 weeks (late-stage diabetes) were compared with age- and sex-matched Zucker lean control (ZLC) rats using 5000 cDNA chips. Differentially regulated genes demonstrating > 1.3-fold change at age were identified and categorized through hierarchical clustering analysis. Our results showed that while expression of lipolytic genes was elevated in adipose tissue of diabetic ZDF rats at 12 weeks of age, expression of lipogenic genes was decreased in liver but increased in skeletal muscle of 12 week old diabetic ZDF rats. These results suggest that impairment of hepatic lipogenesis accompanied with the reduced lipogenesis of adipose tissue may contribute to development of diabetes in ZDF rats by increasing lipogenesis in skeletal muscle. Moreover, expression of antioxidant defense genes was decreased in the liver of 12-week old diabetic ZDF rats as well as in the adipose tissue of ZDF rats both at 6 and 12 weeks of age. Cytochrome P450 (CYP) genes were also significantly reduced in 12 week old diabetic liver of ZDF rats. Genes involved in glucose utilization were downregulated in skeletal muscle of diabetic ZDF rats, and the hepatic gluconeogenic gene was upregulated in diabetic ZDF rats. Genes commonly expressed in all three tissue types were also observed. These profilings might provide better fundamental understanding of insulin resistance and development of type 2 diabetes.     

非酒精性脂肪性肝病患者肝脏固醇调节元件结合蛋白-1c的表达及其意义

目的 研究非酒精性脂肪性肝病(NAFLD)患者肝组织因醇凋节元件结合蛋白-1c(SREBP-1c)的表达变化,探讨其在NAFLD中的作用. 方法对临床与病理确诊的NAFLD患者,检测肝组织SREBP-1c蛋白质和mRNA的表达变化及脂肪酸合成酶的表达,并对相应的临床资料进行分析. 结果 NAFLD患者肝脂肪变程度与血清甘油三酯和胆固醇含量呈明显正相关(r值分别为0.71和0.70,P值均<0.05);NAFLD患者肝SREBP-1c表达在蛋白质和mRNA水平都明显增强,分别为2.19±0.31和0.69±0.02,高于对照组的1.15±0.20和0.40±0.02(t值分别为11.06和-14.63,P值均<0.05),且其表达强度随脂变程度的加重,由1.47±0.08和0.67±0.08增加至2.82±0.78和0.85±0.04(F=24.54,P<0.01),而与是否合并糖尿病无关; NAFLD患者肝脂肪酸合成酶表达增加,脂肪酸合成增加. 结论肝细胞SREBP-1c表达增加,导致脂肪酸合成酶蛋白增加,脂肪合成增加是NAFLD患者肝脂肪蓄积的原因之一.     

Vasopeptidase inhibition prevents nephropathy in Zucker diabetic fatty rats

BACKGROUND: Blocking the renin-angiotensin system is an established therapeutic principle in diabetic nephropathy. We investigated whether inhibition of both neutral endopeptidase and ACE (vasopeptidase inhibition) can prevent functional and morphological features of nephropathy in the Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rat, an animal model of type II diabetes. METHODS: Homozygous (fa/fa) ZDF rats (each n=15) aged 10 weeks were treated with placebo, ramipril (1 mg/kg/day in drinking water), or the vasopeptidase inhibitor AVE7688 (45 mg/kg/day in chow). Metabolic parameters and renal function (metabolic cages) were assessed at baseline (age 10 weeks), and at age 17, 27, and 37 weeks. Twenty heterozygous animals (fa/-) served as lean, nondiabetic controls. At age 37 weeks, the animals were sacrificed and the kidneys analyzed histopathologically. RESULTS: Overt diabetes mellitus (blood glucose >20 mmol/l) was established at age 17 weeks in all homozygous ZDF rats. In the placebo group, urinary protein excretion increased progressively from 8+/-1 (baseline) to 342+/-56 mg/kg/day (week 37) whereas diabetes and proteinuria were absent in the lean control group. Ramipril tended to reduce albuminuria and morphological damage (p=ns) but AVE7688 virtually prevented albuminuria (33+/-12 mg/kg/day, p<0.05 vs. ZDF placebo) and drastically reduced the incidence and severity of glomerulosclerosis and tubulointerstitial damage. CONCLUSIONS: In ZDF rats, development of diabetes mellitus is accompanied by functional and morphological kidney damage that resembles human diabetic nephropathy. Diabetic nephropathy can be prevented by chronic vasopeptidase inhibition.     

Hepatic fatty acid synthesis is suppressed in mice with fatty livers due to targeted apolipoprotein B38.9 mutation

Humans and genetically engineered mice with hypobetalipoproteinemia due to truncation-producing mutations of the apolipoprotein B (apoB) gene frequently have fatty livers, because the apoB defect impairs the capacity of livers to export triglycerides (TGs). We assessed the adaptation of hepatic lipid metabolism in our apoB-38.9-bearing mice. Hepatic TG contents were 2- and 4-fold higher in heterozygous and homozygous mice, respectively, compared with wild-type mice. Respective in vivo hepatic fatty acid synthetic rates were reduced to 40% and 15% of the wild-type rate. Hepatic mRNAs for sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP)-1c, fatty acid synthase (FAS), and stearoyl coenzyme A desaturase-1 were coordinately decreased. FAS and SREBP-1c mRNA levels were strongly and positively correlated with each other and inversely correlated with hepatic TGs, suggesting that impaired TG export is a potent inhibitor of fatty acid synthesis. In contrast, levels of plasma beta-hydroxybutyrate and of hepatic carnitine palmitoyl transferase and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha mRNAs were not altered, implying that beta-oxidation was not affected. Fasting followed by refeeding increased hepatic fatty acid synthesis 56-fold over fasting in normal and heterozygous mice but only 24-fold in homozygous mice. Parallel changes occurred in FAS and SREBP-1c mRNAs. Thus, impairment of very low density lipoprotein export downregulates hepatic fatty acid synthesis, but the adaptation is incomplete, resulting in fatty livers. The signals mediating suppression of FAS and SREBP-1c levels remain to be identified.     

Salacia oblonga root decreases cardiac hypertrophy in Zucker diabetic fatty rats: inhibition of cardiac expression of angiotensin II type 1 receptor

Aims: We investigated the effect of the water extract of Salacia oblonga (SOE), an ayurvedic antidiabetic and antiobesity medicine, on obesity and diabetes‐associated cardiac hypertrophy and discuss the role of modulation of cardiac angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT₁) expression in the effect. Methods: SOE (100 mg/kg) was given orally to male Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats for 7 weeks. At the end‐point of the treatment, the hearts and left ventricles were weighed, cardiomyocyte cross‐sectional areas were measured, and cardiac gene profiles were analysed. On the other hand, angiotensin II–stimulated embryonic rat heart–derived H9c2 cells and neonatal rat cardiac fibroblasts were pretreated with SOE and one of its prominent components mangiferin (MA), respectively. Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) mRNA expression and protein synthesis and [³H]thymidine incorporation were determined. Results: SOE‐treated ZDF rats showed less cardiac hypertrophy (decrease in weights of the hearts and left ventricles and reduced cardiomyocyte cross‐sectional areas). SOE treatment suppressed cardiac overexpression of ANP, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and AT₁ mRNAs and AT₁ protein in ZDF rats. SOE (50–100 μg/ml) and MA (25 μmol) suppressed angiotensin II–induced ANP mRNA overexpression and protein synthesis in H9c2 cells. They also inhibited angiotensin II–stimulated [³H]thymidine incorporation by cardiac fibroblasts. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that SOE decreases cardiac hypertrophy in ZDF rats, at least in part by inhibiting cardiac AT₁ overexpression. These studies provide insights into a potential cardioprotective role of a traditional herb, which supports further clinical evaluation in obesity and diabetes‐associated cardiac hypertrophy.