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.     

From the Cover: Insulin stimulation of SREBP-1c processing in transgenic rat hepatocytes requires p70 S6-kinase

Insulin activates sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c) in liver, thereby increasing fatty acid and triglyceride synthesis. We created a line of transgenic rats that produce epitope-tagged human SREBP-1c in liver under control of the constitutive apolipoprotein E promoter/enhancer. This system allows us to dissect the pathway by which insulin stimulates SREBP-1c processing without interference by the insulin-mediated increase in SREBP-1c mRNA. Rats are used because freshly isolated rat hepatocytes respond much more robustly to insulin than do mouse hepatocytes. The data reveal that insulin-mediated stimulation of SREBP-1c processing requires the mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1), which also is required for insulin-mediated SREBP-1c mRNA induction. However, in contrast to mRNA induction, insulin stimulation of SREBP-1c processing is blocked by an inhibitor of p70 S6-kinase. The data indicate that the pathways for insulin enhancement of SREBP-1c mRNA and proteolytic processing diverge after mTORC1. Stimulation of processing requires the mTORC1 target p70 S6-kinase, whereas induction of mRNA bypasses this enzyme. Insulin stimulation of both processes is blocked by glucagon. The transgenic rat system will be useful in further defining the molecular mechanism for insulin stimulation of lipid synthesis in liver in normal and diabetic states.     

Niemann-Pick C1-Like 1表达缺陷缓解肝X受体激动剂诱导的小鼠肝脏脂肪性变

目的探讨Niemann-Pick C1-Like 1在肝X受体激动剂诱导的肝脏脂肪性变中的作用。方法给C57BL/6小鼠和Niemann-Pick C1-Like 1基因敲除小鼠喂食0.015%胆固醇饮食21天,胃饲溶剂或肝X受体激动剂T0901317一周后,收集小鼠肝脏,称重;抽提肝脏脂质并用酶法检测脂质含量;用实时定量聚合酶链反应法检测肝脏表达与脂肪合成相关基因固醇调节元件结合蛋白1c、脂肪酸合成酶和硬脂酰CoA去饱和酶1的mRNA水平。结果在胃饲T0901317一周后,C57BL/6小鼠肝脏由1.1±0.1g增大到2.8±0.3g,肝脏甘油三酯含量由34.2±18.1mg/g增至232.2±67.9mg/g,固醇调节元件结合蛋白1c、脂肪酸合成酶和硬脂酰CoA去饱和酶1mRNA水平在肝脏的表达也显著增高;而Niemann-Pick C1-Like 1基因敲除小鼠肝脏由0.9±0.1g增大到1.5±0.1g,肝脏甘油三酯含量由43.7±26.5mg/g增至104.9±62.1mg/g,脂肪酸合成酶和硬脂酰CoA去饱和酶1mRNA水平在肝脏的表达也显著增高。但在T0901317诱导下,Niemann-Pick C1-Like 1基因敲除小鼠肝脏脂肪酸合成酶mRNA水平仍比C57BL/6小鼠低63%。结论Niemann-Pick C1-Like 1表达缺陷降低肝X受体激动剂诱导的肝脏固醇调节元件结合蛋白1c和脂肪酸合成酶的表达,缓解小鼠肝脏脂肪性变。     

Sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 mediates liver X receptor-beta-induced increases in insulin secretion and insulin messenger ribonucleic acid levels

Liver X receptors (LXRalpha and LXRbeta) regulate glucose and lipid metabolism. Pancreatic beta-cells and INS-1E insulinoma cells express only the LXRbeta isoform. Activation of LXRbeta with the synthetic agonist T0901317 increased glucose-induced insulin secretion and insulin content, whereas deletion of the receptor in LXRbeta knockout mice severely blunted insulin secretion. Analysis of gene expression in LXR agonist-treated INS-1E cells and islets from LXRbeta-deficient mice revealed that LXRbeta positively regulated expression of ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1), sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP-1), insulin, PDX-1, glucokinase, and glucose transporter 2 (Glut2). Down-regulation of SREBP-1 expression with the specific small interfering RNA blocked basal and LXRbeta-induced expression of pancreatic duodenal homeobox 1 (PDX-1), insulin, and Glut2 genes. SREBP-1 small interfering RNA also prevented an increase in insulin secretion and insulin content induced by T0901317. Moreover, 5-(tetradecyloxy)-2-furoic acid, an inhibitor of the SREBP-1 target gene acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase, blocked T0901317-induced stimulation of insulin secretion. In conclusion, activation of LXRbeta in pancreatic beta-cells increases insulin secretion and insulin mRNA expression via SREBP-1-regulated pathway. These data support the role of LXRbeta, SREBP-1, and cataplerosis/anaplerosis pathways in the control of insulin secretion in pancreatic beta-cells.     

Melatonin alleviates lipopolysaccharide-induced hepatic SREBP-1c activation and lipid accumulation in mice

A link between endotoxemia and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been demonstrated in human and rodent animals. Nevertheless, the molecular mechanisms of endotoxin-evoked NAFLD remain poorly understood. We hypothesize that reactive oxygen species (ROS) mediate lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-evoked hepatic lipid accumulation. Melatonin is an antioxidant. In the present study, we investigated the effects of melatonin on LPS-induced hepatic lipid accumulation. We showed that a single dose of LPS significantly increased hepatic triglyceride (TG) contents and caused hepatic lipid accumulation in mice. Further analysis found that hepatic sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP)-1c was activated in LPS-treated mice. In agreement with hepatic SREBP-1c activation, fatty acid synthase (FAS) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), two SREBP-1c target genes, were significantly upregulated in liver of mice injected with LPS. Melatonin significantly attenuated LPS-induced SREBP-1c activation and the expression of SREBP-1c target genes. In addition, melatonin reduced serum and hepatic triglyceride (TG) content and prevented LPS-induced hepatic lipid accumulation. Taken together, these results suggest that ROS might be, at least partially, mediated in LPS-induced SREBP-1c activation and hepatic lipid accumulation. Melatonin may be useful as pharmacological agents to protect against endotoxin-evoked NAFLD.