Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 expression and secretion are stimulated by growth hormone and interleukin-6 in 3T3-L1 adipocytes

Various adipocytokines have been described which influence insulin sensitivity and vascular function profoundly and might, therefore, potentially link obesity, insulin resistance, and atherosclerosis. Among those, plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1 is an adipose-secreted factor upregulated in obesity and insulin resistance that inhibits fibrinolysis. Furthermore, recent studies in knockout mice suggest that PAI-1 directly impairs insulin sensitivity. In the current study, the impact of growth hormone (GH) and interleukin (IL)-6 on PAI-1 mRNA synthesis and secretion was determined in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Interestingly, 500 ng/ml GH and 30 ng/ml IL-6 increased PAI-1 secretion five-fold and 3.6-fold, respectively. Furthermore, GH and IL-6 induced PAI-1 mRNA by up to 7.3-fold, and 3.6-fold, respectively, in a time-dependent fashion with significant stimulation seen at concentrations as low as 5 ng/ml GH and 10 ng/ml IL-6. Other insulin resistance-inducing hormones which stimulated PAI-1 synthesis included insulin, TNFalpha, and dexamethasone. Studies using pharmacological inhibitors suggested that basal and GH-induced PAI-1 synthesis were at least in part mediated by p44/42 mitogen-activated protein kinase but not janus kinase 2 and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. Taken together, our results show a differential regulation of PAI-1 mRNA by insulin resistance-inducing hormones including GH and IL-6.     

Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 mRNA production and protein secretion are induced by interleukin-1 beta in 3T3-L1 adipocytes

The adipokine tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 is upregulated when weight is gained and promotes adipose tissue development. In the present study, the effect of insulin resistance-inducing and proinflammatory interleukin (IL)-1 beta on TIMP-1 gene expression and secretion was investigated in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Interestingly, protein secretion and mRNA production of TIMP-1 were significantly stimulated by IL-1 beta. Thus, IL-1 beta induced TIMP-1 secretion in a dose-dependent manner with maximal 3.5-fold upregulation seen at 0.67 ng/ml IL-1 beta relative to untreated cells. Furthermore, TIMP-1 mRNA synthesis was significantly stimulated by IL-1 beta in a dose-dependent fashion with 2.5-fold induction seen at IL-1 beta concentrations as low as 0.02 ng/ml and maximal 8.1-fold upregulation found at 20 ng/ml effector. Induction of TIMP-1 mRNA was also time dependent with maximal 9.6-fold upregulation detectable after 8 h of IL-1 beta treatment. Signaling studies suggested that janus kinase 2 is involved in IL-1 beta-induced TIMP-1 mRNA expression. Taken together, our results demonstrate that the TIMP-1 expression is selectively upregulated by proinflammatory IL-1 beta, supporting a direct association between insulin resistance, inflammation, and adipose tissue development in obesity.     

GH is a positive regulator of tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced adipose related protein in 3T3-L1 adipocytes

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha-induced adipose-related protein (TIARP) has recently been cloned as a TNFalpha-stimulated protein expressed in adipocytes. Its expression is differentiation-dependent and potentially involved in mediating TNFalpha-induced insulin resistance. To further characterize regulation of TIARP gene expression, 3T3-L1 adipocytes were treated with key hormones modulating insulin sensitivity and influencing adipocyte metabolism, and TIARP gene expression was determined by quantitative real-time RT-PCR. Interestingly, TIARP mRNA expression was stimulated almost 9-fold after 500 ng/ml GH were added for 16 h whereas addition of 10 microM isoproterenol, 100 nM insulin and 100 nM dexamethasone for 16 h significantly decreased TIARP gene expression to between 35 and 50% of control levels. In contrast, angiotensin 2 (10 microM) and triiodothyronine (1 microM) did not have any effect. The stimulatory effect of GH was time- and dose-dependent with stimulation occurring as early as 1 h after effector addition and at concentrations as low as 5 ng/ml GH. Moreover, pharmacological inhibition of Janus kinase 2 and p42/44 mitogen-activated protein kinase reversed the stimulatory effect of GH, suggesting that both signaling molecules are involved in activation of TIARP gene expression by GH. Furthermore, an increase of TIARP mRNA could be completely reversed to control levels by withdrawal of GH for 24 h. Taken together, these results show that TIARP is not only responsive to TNFalpha but also to important other hormones influencing glucose homeostasis and adipocyte metabolism. Thus, this factor may play an integrative role in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance and its link to obesity.     

Isoproterenol is a positive regulator of the suppressor of cytokine signaling-3 gene expression in 3T3-L1 adipocytes

SOCS (suppressor of cytokine signaling)-3 has recently been shown to be an insulin- and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha-induced negative regulator of insulin signaling. To further clarify a potential involvement of SOCS-3 in the development of insulin resistance, we measured differentiation-dependent SOCS-3 mRNA expression in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and studied its regulation by various hormones known to impair insulin signaling using quantitative real-time RT-PCR. There was a differentiation-dependent downregulation of SOCS-3 mRNA by 50% over the 9 day adipocyte differentiation course. Interestingly, besides insulin and TNF-alpha, chronic treatment of differentiated 3T3-L1 cells with 10 microM isoproterenol for 16 h stimulated SOCS-3 gene expression by about 3.5-fold. Furthermore, isoproterenol stimulated SOCS-3 mRNA expression in a dose-dependent manner with significant activation detectable at concentrations as low as 10 nM isoproterenol. Moreover, a strong 27- and 47-fold activation of SOCS-3 mRNA expression could be seen after 1 h of isoproterenol and GH treatment respectively. The stimulatory effect of isoproterenol could be almost completely reversed by pretreatment of 3T3-L1 cells with the beta-adrenergic antagonist propranolol. Finally, isoproterenol's action could be mimicked by stimulation of G(S)-proteins with cholera toxin and of adenylyl cyclase with forskolin and dibutyryl cAMP. Taken together, our results demonstrate a differentiation-dependent downregulation of SOCS-3 in adipocytes and suggest that SOCS-3 gene expression is stimulated by beta-adrenergic agents via activation of a G(S)-protein-adenylyl cyclase-dependent pathway. As SOCS-3 is a novel inhibitor of insulin signaling, the data support a possible role of this protein as a selectively regulated mediator of catecholamine-induced insulin resistance.     

Resistin promotes 3T3-L1 preadipocyte differentiation

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between resistin (a potential link between obesity and type 2 diabetes) and preadipocyte differentiation. DESIGN: A rat resistin expression vector was transfected into 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and differentiation was compared between normal 3T3-L1 cells, rat resistin-transfected cells and non-transfected cells grown in conditioned medium taken from resistin-expressing cultures. METHODS: The rat resistin gene was inserted into the pDual GC and pEFGP-N2 expression vectors for examination of the effects of resistin overexpression in 3T3-L1 cells before and after differentiation was stimulated with 3-isobutyl-1-methyxanthine (MIX), insulin and dexamethasone (DEX). Smaller conserved fragments were inserted into short interference RNA (siRNA) expression vectors, for examination of the effect of targeted resistin inhibition on differentiation of resistin-overexpressing 3T3-L1 cells. RESULTS: Prior to stimulation, the resistin-transfected 3T3-L1 cells contained many more small lipid droplets than did non-transfected 3T3-L1 cells. Following stimulation, differentiation in the resistin-transfected 3T3-L1 cells was dramatically promoted, especially in the early stages. Stimulation of differentiation was also observed in non-transfected 3T3-L1 cells grown in resistin protein-containing conditioned medium. The expression of adipocyte differentiation-associated markers such as CCAAT enhancer binding protein (C/EBPalpha), retinoid X receptor (RXRalpha) and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) was upregulated in resistin-overexpressing cells, whereas expression of preadipocyte factor-1 (Pref-1), an inhibitor of preadipocyte differentiation, was downregulated. In addition, expression of two of the three tested siRNAs inhibited the adipoconversion process, providing further evidence that resistin promotes the differentiation of preadipocytes to adipocytes. CONCLUSION: Resistin can promote preadipocyte differentiation. Based on this, we propose that resistin may be an important candidate mediator of obesity-induced insulin resistance.     

胰岛素上调3T3-L1细胞apelin基因表达的初步观察

Northern印迹法证实apelin在分离的小鼠脂肪细胞上有表达，其表达量随3T3-L1细胞分化而渐增。胰岛素上调3T3-L1脂肪细胞apelin的表达，提示脂肪细胞apelin的表达可能与肥胖、胰岛素抵抗、高血压相关。     

糖基化终产物对3T3-L1脂肪细胞胰岛素敏感性及SAA3基因表达的影响

目的探讨糖基化终产物（AGE）对3T3-L1脂肪细胞胰岛素敏感性及SAA3基因表达的影响。方法以2-DG摄入法观察葡萄糖的摄取率,用RT-PCR检测脂肪因子SAA3mRNA的表达。结果AGE显著减少3T3-L1脂肪细胞在胰岛素刺激下的葡萄糖摄取,呈剂量和时间依赖效应;AGE显著增加脂肪细胞SAA3mRNA的表达;呈剂量依赖方式。结论AGE能降低3T3-L1脂肪细胞对葡萄糖的摄取,增加3T3-L1脂肪细胞对淀粉样蛋白的表达。     

Differential expression of adrenomedullin and resistin in 3T3-L1 adipocytes treated with tumor necrosis factor-alpha

DESIGN: It has recently been shown that deficiency of adrenomedullin (AM), a potent vasodilator peptide, leads to insulin resistance. We studied expression of AM in NIH 3T3-L1 adipocytes and compared it with expression of resistin, an adipocyte-derived peptide hormone that is proposed to cause insulin resistance. Moreover, we studied the effects of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), a known mediator of insulin resistance, on the expression of AM and resistin in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. METHODS: 3T3-L1 cells were induced to differentiate to adipocytes by insulin, dexamethasone and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine. Expression of AM mRNA and resistin mRNA was examined by Northern blot analysis. Immunoreactive AM in the medium was measured by RIA. RESULTS: AM mRNA was expressed in preadipocytes, but barely detectable in adipocytes. Immunoreactive AM was detected in the medium of both preadipocytes and adipocytes, with about 2.5 times higher levels found in preadipocytes. In contrast, resistin mRNA was expressed in adipocytes, whereas it was not detected in preadipocytes. Treatment with TNF-alpha increased AM expression in both adipocytes and preadipocytes, whereas it decreased resistin mRNA levels in adipocytes. CONCLUSIONS: The present study has shown that AM expression was down-regulated and resistin expression was up-regulated during adipocyte differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells. TNF-alpha acted as a potent negative regulator of resistin expression and a potent positive regulator of AM expression in adipocytes, raising the possibility that in addition to its known actions in causing insulin resistance, TNF-alpha may also have actions against insulin resistance through AM and resistin.     

Insulin resistance-inducing cytokines differentially regulate SOCS mRNA expression via growth factor- and Jak/Stat-signaling pathways in 3T3-L1 adipocytes

Various cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha, growth hormone (GH) and interleukin (IL)-6, induce insulin resistance. Recently, it was demonstrated that induction of suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS)-3 by TNFalpha and GH is an important mechanism by which these cytokines impair insulin sensitivity. The current study investigated in 3T3-L1 adipocytes whether TNFalpha and GH also upregulate SOCS-1 and SOCS-6, which have both been shown to inhibit insulin signaling potently, and whether IL-6 might alter synthesis of SOCS-1, -3 and -6. Interestingly, 10 ng/ml TNFalpha, 500 ng/ml GH and 30 ng/ml IL-6 induced SOCS-1 mRNA time-dependently with maximal stimulation detectable after 8 h of TNFalpha and 1 h of GH and IL-6 addition respectively. Furthermore, TNFalpha and GH caused sustained upregulation of SOCS-1 for up to 24 h, whereas stimulation by IL-6 was only transient, with SOCS-1 mRNA returning to basal levels 2 h after effector addition. Induction of SOCS-1 was dose-dependent, and significant stimulation was detectable at concentrations as low as 3 ng/ml TNFalpha, 50 ng/ml GH and 10 ng/ml IL-6. Furthermore, stimulation experiments and studies using pharmacologic inhibitors suggested that the positive effect of TNFalpha, GH and IL-6 on SOCS-1 mRNA is, at least in part, mediated by Janus kinase (Jak) 2. Finally, SOCS-3 expression was dose- and time-dependently induced by IL-6, at least in part via Jak2, but none of the cytokines affected SOCS-6 expression. Taken together, our results show a differential regulation of SOCS mRNA by insulin resistance-inducing hormones, and suggest that SOCS-1, as well as SOCS-3, may be an important intracellular mediator of insulin resistance in fat cells and a potential pharmacologic target for the treatment of impaired insulin sensitivity.     

Glutamine synthetase mRNA in cultured 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Complexity, content and hormonal regulation

Glutamine synthetase (GS) activity increases more than 100-fold during adipocyte differentiation of cultured 3T3-L1 cells. We now find that Northern hybridization analysis of RNA from 3T3-L1 adipocytes with a rat GS cDNA clone (pGSRK-1) yields two hybridizable GS RNAs of length 3.2 and 1.6 kilobases (kb). Densitometric analyses of autoradiographs of the Northern blots probed with pGSRK-1 indicate that the 3.2 kb GS-specific RNA is at least 4- to 5-fold more abundant than the 1.6 kb GS RNA. Analyses of both total and poly(A+)RNA from 3T3-L1 adipocytes yielded similar results. (It is noteworthy that an mRNA of 1.2 kb would be sufficient to encode the 42 500 Da GS subunit.) Quantitative dot-blot hybridization analysis indicates that dexamethasone increases GS mRNA while both insulin and dibutyryl cAMP decrease GS mRNA and/or prevent the dexamethasone-mediated increase. Our data suggest that there are at least two GS mRNAs in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and that they are regulated in parallel by dexamethasone, insulin and dibutyryl cAMP.     

抵抗素在3T3-L1前脂细胞分化前后表达量的变化

目的检测3T3-L1前脂细胞诱导分化为脂肪细胞前后抵抗素基因表达量的变化情况，为阐明抵抗素在细胞分化过程中所起作用并为研究其与胰岛素抵抗（珉）及2型糖尿病的相关性奠定基础。方法用地塞米松、甲基异丁基黄嘌呤与胰岛素联合诱导法抽提诱导分化前后细胞总RNA，半定量RT-PCR检测抵抗素基因表达量。结果抵抗素在3T3-L1细胞诱导前后表达量明显上升。结论抵抗素在3T3-L1细胞分化过程中表达量的提高，提示其很有可能在鼠脂肪细胞产生珉的过程中发挥积极作用。     

chemerin及其受体在小鼠体内外表达的研究

目的观察chemerin及其受体chemerinR基因在小鼠各脏器中的表达谱以及两者在3T3-L1脂肪细胞诱导分化过程中表达水平的变化。方法提取正常小鼠肝脏、脂肪、胃、脾脏、肾脏、心脏、骨骼肌等脏器组织中总RNA,采用半定量逆转录PCR技术检测其中chemerin及chemerinR基因水平;体外培养3T3-L1脂肪细胞,应用1-甲基-3-异丁基黄嘌呤（MIX）、地塞米松、胰岛素诱导其分化,采用适时PCR技术检测诱导分化不同时间脂肪细胞中chemerin及chemerinR基因的表达水平。结果 chemerin及chemerinR基因在小鼠体内广泛表达,以脂肪组织和肝脏为甚;二者低表达于3T3-L1前脂肪细胞中,并随前脂肪细胞诱导分化成熟表达水平呈逐渐上调趋势。结论 chemerin及其受体基因可能有利于脂肪细胞的分化成熟。     

Expression of apolipoprotein serum amyloid A mRNA in human atherosclerotic lesions and cultured vascular cells: implications for serum amyloid A function.

Altered lipoprotein metabolism and vascular injury are considered to be major parts of the pathogenesis of atherosclerotic lesions. Serum amyloid A (SAA) is a family of acute-phase reactants found residing mainly on high density lipoproteins (HDL) in the circulation. Several functions for the SAAs have been proposed that could be important in atherosclerosis. These include involvement in cholesterol metabolism, participation in detoxification, depression of immune responses, and interference with platelet functions. Like other acute-phase reactants, the liver is a major site of SAA synthesis. However, studies in the mouse have revealed that several cell types including macrophages express SAA. Furthermore, we recently found that SAA mRNA expression can be induced in the human monocyte/macrophage cell line, THP-1. In the present study, human atherosclerotic lesions of coronary and carotid arteries were examined for expression of SAA mRNA by in situ hybridization. Surprisingly, SAA mRNA was found in most endothelial cells and some smooth muscle cells as well as macrophage-derived "foam cells," adventitial macrophages, and adipocytes. In addition, cultured smooth muscle cells expressed SAA1, SAA2, and SAA4 mRNAs when treated with interleukin 1 or 6 (IL-1 or IL-6) in the presence of dexamethasone. These findings give further credence to the notion that the SAAs are involved in lipid metabolism or transport at sites of injury and in atherosclerosis or may play a role in defending against viruses or other injurious agents such as oxidized lipids. Furthermore, expression of SAAs by endothelial cells is compatible with the evidence that SAA modulates platelet aggregation and function and possibly adhesion at the endothelial cell surface.