Adiponectin: no longer the lone soul in the fight against insulin resistance?

2008 ◽  
Vol 416 (2) ◽  
pp. e7-e9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn E. Davis ◽  
Philipp E. Scherer

Adiponectin is one of the most effective adipokines in the context of correcting obesity-induced insulin resistance. However, adiponectin-deficient animal models show a relatively modest phenotype unless metabolically challenged. This suggests that potent compensatory mechanisms are in place. In this issue of the Biochemical Journal, Wong et al. characterize new members of the CTRPs [C1q-TNFα (tumour necrosis factor α)-related proteins]. They establish that some CTRPs are produced primarily in the stromal vascular fraction of adipose tissue, and that expression of CRTP1, in particular (like adiponectin), is induced by PPARγ (peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor γ) agonists. Moreover, injection of recombinant CTRP1 displays glucose-lowering effects. These observations suggest that CTRP1 may have partially overlapping functions and, along with other paralogues, may effectively compensate for the chronic loss of adiponectin function.

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (5) ◽  
pp. 335-342
Author(s):  
Yuan-Chiang Chung ◽  
Ying-I Chen ◽  
Chih-Ming Lin ◽  
Su-Wei Chang ◽  
Tai-Hao Hsu ◽  
...  

Background: Previous studies have reported that electroacupuncture (EA) induces a glucose-lowering effect by improving insulin resistance (IR) and reduces plasma free fatty acid (FFA) levels in rats with steroid-induced insulin resistance (SIIR). In addition, EA can activate cholinergic nerves and stimulate endogenous opioid peptides to lower plasma glucose in streptozotocin-induced hyperglycemic rats. The aim of this study was to investigate the glucose-lowering effects of 15 Hz EA at bilateral ST36 in combination with acarbose (ACA). We hypothesized that EA combined with ACA would produce a stronger glucose-lowering effect than ACA alone. Methods: In this study, normal Wistar rats and SIIR rats were randomly divided into two groups: ACA and ACA + EA. To explore the potential mechanisms underlying the glucose-lowering effect, plasma FFA/insulin and insulin transduction signal pathway proteins were assayed. Results: Combined ACA + EA treatment had a greater glucose-lowering effect than ACA alone in normal Wistar rats (−45% ± 3% vs −19% ± 3%, p < 0.001) and SIIR model rats (−43% ± 2% vs −16% ± 6%, p < 0.001). A significant reduction in plasma FFA levels, improvement in homeostatic model assessment of IR (HOMA-IR) index (−48.9% ± 4.0%, p < 0.001) and insulin sensitivity index (102% ± 16.9%, p < 0.001), and significant increases in insulin receptor substrate 1, glucose transporter 4, and peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor γ protein expressions in skeletal muscle, were also observed in the ACA + EA group of SIIR rats. Conclusion: Combined EA and ACA therapy had a greater glucose-lowering effect than ACA monotherapy; this combined therapy could be more effective at improving IR in SIIR rats, which may be related to a reduction in plasma FFA levels and an elevation of insulin signaling proteins. Whether this combined therapy has an effect in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients still needs to be explored.


2002 ◽  
Vol 2 (1_suppl) ◽  
pp. S24-S27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulf Smith

The thiazolidinediones exert their insulin sensitising effect by binding to the nuclear receptors (transcription factors) peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR) γ and, to varying degrees, to PPARα. Several different genes are activated by thiazolidinediones, many of which contribute to the increase in insulin sensitivity (eg. an increase in glucose uptake and utilisation, a decrease in gluconeogenesis and in insulin-antagonistic cytokines, such as tumour necrosis factor α). Activation of other genes indirectly reduces insulin resistance by, for example, increasing free fatty acid (FFA) uptake and oxidation resulting in lower circulating FFA levels. The action of thiazolidinediones at PPARγ is generally responsible for their insulin sensitising effects while action at PPARα contributes to their lipid lowering effects. Therefore, the relative affinities of the different thiazolidinediones for PPARγ and PPARα will also lead to a different spectrum of actions for each agent.


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 1153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nunzia D’Onofrio ◽  
Gorizio Pieretti ◽  
Feliciano Ciccarelli ◽  
Antonio Gambardella ◽  
Nicola Passariello ◽  
...  

: The role of sirtuin 6 (SIRT6) in adipose abdominal tissue of pre-diabetic (pre-DM) patients is poorly known. Here, we evaluated SIRT6 expression in visceral abdominal fat of obese pre-diabetic patients and the potential effects of metformin therapy. Results indicated that obese pre-DM subjects showed low SIRT6 protein expression and high expression of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ), and sterol regulatory element-binding transcription factor 1 (SREBP-1). Obese pre-DM patients showed high values of glucose, insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), C reactive protein (CRP), nitrotyrosine, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin 6 (IL-6), and low values of insulin (p < 0.05). Of note, abdominal fat tissue of obese pre-DM patients treated with metformin therapy presented higher SIRT6 expression and lower NF-κB, PPAR-γ, and SREBP-1 expression levels compared to pre-DM control group. Collectively, results show that SIRT6 is involved in the inflammatory pathway of subcutaneous abdominal fat of obese pre-DM patients and its expression responds to metformin therapy.


2019 ◽  
Vol 316 (2) ◽  
pp. C223-C234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yong Wang ◽  
Yun-Sheng Cheng ◽  
Xiao-Qiang Yin ◽  
Gang Yu ◽  
Ben-Li Jia

Insulin resistance (IR) continues to pose a major threat to public health due to its role in the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome and its ever-increasing prevalence on a global scale. The aim of the current study was to investigate the efficacy of Anxa2 in obesity-induced IR through the mediation of the NF-κB signaling pathway. Microarray analysis was performed to screen differentially expressed genes associated with obesity. To verify whether Anxa2 was differentially expressed in IR triggered by obesity, IR mouse models were established in connection with a high-fat diet (HFD). In the mouse IR model, the role of differentially expressed Anxa2 in glycometabolism and IR was subsequently detected. To investigate the effect of Anxa2 on IR and its correlation with inflammation, a palmitic acid (PA)-induced IR cell model was established, with the relationship between Anxa2 and the NF-κB signaling pathway investigated accordingly. Anxa2 was determined to be highly expressed in IR. Silencing Anxa2 was shown to inhibit IR triggered by obesity. When Anxa2 was knocked down, elevated expression of phosphorylated insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1), IRS1 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor coactivator-1a, and glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity along with 2-deoxy-d-glucose uptake was detected, whereas decreased expression of suppressor of cytokine signaling 3, IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, and p50 was observed. Taken together, the current study ultimately demonstrated that Anxa2 may be a novel drug strategy for IR disruption, indicating that Anxa2 gene silencing is capable of alleviating PA or HFD-induced IR and inflammation through its negative regulatory role in the process of p50 nuclear translocation of the NF-κB signaling pathway.


2010 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 496-504 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jin-Zhong Zhang ◽  
Keith W. Ward

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) agonism in ocular inflammation has not been thoroughly investigated. The objective of this investigation was to determine the effect of WY-14 643, a selective PPARα agonist, on inflammatory cytokine release in human ocular cells. Stimulation of primary human corneal epithelial cells, keratocytes, and retinal endothelial cells with 1 to 10 ng/mL interleukin 1β (IL-1β) resulted in a significant increase in numerous inflammatory cytokines, including IL-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α); and dexamethasone was able to significantly inhibit these effects. However, WY-14 643 did not effectively block IL-1β-induced cytokine release in ocular cells; rather, significant increases in IL-1β-induced inflammatory cytokines were observed in these cells but not in aortic smooth muscle cells. WY-14 643 also significantly upregulated vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in corneal epithelial cells and keratocytes. These studies demonstrate for the first time that PPARα agonism may be proinflammatory and proangiogenic in a variety of ocular cells and suggest that therapeutic applications of such agents in ophthalmology may be limited.


Molecules ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (10) ◽  
pp. 1992 ◽  
Author(s):  
Firas H. Bazzari ◽  
Dalaal M. Abdallah ◽  
Hanan S. El-Abhar

Insulin resistance is a major risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) and synthetic Farnesoid X receptor (FXR) ligands have shown promising outcomes in ameliorating insulin resistance associated with various medical conditions. This study aimed to investigate whether CDCA treatment has any potential in AD management through improving insulin signaling. Adult male Wistar rats were randomly allocated into three groups and treated for six consecutive weeks; control (vehicle), AD-model (AlCl3 50 mg/kg/day i.p) and CDCA-treated group (AlCl3 + CDCA 90 mg/kg/day p.o from day 15). CDCA improved cognition as assessed by Morris Water Maze and Y-maze tests and preserved normal histological features. Moreover, CDCA lowered hippocampal beta-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) and amyloid-beta 42 (Aβ42). Although no significant difference was observed in hippocampal insulin level, CDCA reduced insulin receptor substrate-1 phosphorylation at serine-307 (pSer307-IRS1), while increased protein kinase B (Akt) activation, glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). Additionally, CDCA activated cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) and enhanced brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Ultimately, CDCA was able to improve insulin sensitivity in the hippocampi of AlCl3-treated rats, which highlights its potential in AD management.


2018 ◽  
Vol 239 (3) ◽  
pp. 289-301 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rita Sharma ◽  
Quyen Luong ◽  
Vishva M Sharma ◽  
Mitchell Harberson ◽  
Brian Harper ◽  
...  

Growth hormone (GH) has long been known to stimulate lipolysis and insulin resistance; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying these effects are unknown. In the present study, we demonstrate that GH acutely induces lipolysis in cultured adipocytes. This effect is secondary to the reduced expression of a negative regulator of lipolysis, fat-specific protein 27 (FSP27; aka Cidec) at both the mRNA and protein levels. These effects are mimicked in vivo as transgenic overexpression of GH leads to a reduction of FSP27 expression. Mechanistically, we show GH modulation of FSP27 expression is mediated through activation of both MEK/ERK- and STAT5-dependent intracellular signaling. These two molecular pathways interact to differentially manipulate peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma activity (PPARγ) on the FSP27 promoter. Furthermore, overexpression of FSP27 is sufficient to fully suppress GH-induced lipolysis and insulin resistance in cultured adipocytes. Taken together, these data decipher a molecular mechanism by which GH acutely regulates lipolysis and insulin resistance in adipocytes.


Circulation ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 130 (suppl_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michinari Nakamura ◽  
Peiyong Zhai ◽  
Junichi Sadoshima

Obesity and insulin resistance (IR) lead to impaired cardiac metabolism, resulting in cardiac dysfunction. However, the underlying mechanisms responsible for the development of cardiac dysfunction remain poorly understood. PPARα serves as a key regulator of fatty acid (FA) metabolism in the heart. GSK-3α, a serine/threonine kinase, was dephosphorylated at S21 and activated (2.0 fold, p<0.05) in the hearts of obese mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) and ob/ob mice. To evaluate the functional significance of GSK-3α upregulation, wild-type (WT) and cardiac specific GSK-3α heterozygous knockout (cGSK-3α HKO) mice were fed a HFD for up to 14 weeks. There was no difference in the food intake or body weight change between WT and cGSK-3α HKO mice. However, cardiac hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction observed in WT mice were significantly ameliorated in cGSK-3α HKO mice after HFD feeding (8.1± 0.6 and 6.5±0.5, LVW/TL; 24.8±0.9 and 16.6±0.8, deceleration time (DT), all p<0.05). FA oxidation (FAO) (0.81 fold) and ectopic lipid accumulation (Oil Red O staining) were significantly decreased in cGSK-3α HKO mice than in WT mice after HFD feeding. GSK-3α, but not GSK-3β, directly interacted with and phosphorylated PPARα at the ligand binding domain in cardiomyocytes (CMs) and in the heart. PPARα phosphorylation in the heart was significantly increased (2.1 fold, p<0.05) in response to HFD, but it was attenuated in cGSK-3α HKO mice (0.74 fold, p<0.05). Fenofibrate, a PPARα ligand, inhibited GSK-3α-induced PPARα phosphorylation (0.81 fold, p<0.05), reduced ectopic lipid accumulation, FAO (0.84 fold, p<0.05), and attenuated diastolic dysfunction (25.5±3.1 and 18.6±2.5, DT; 0.16±0.04 and 0.08±0.02, EDPVR, all p<0.05) in the heart of HFD fed mice. Collectively, these results suggest that GSK-3α increases PPARα activity through phosphorylation of PPARα, which is inhibited by Fenofibrate. Activation of GSK-3α and consequent phosphorylation of PPARα during obesity and IR could play an important role in the development of cardiac hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction. Synthetic PPARα ligands inhibit GSK-3α-mediated phosphorylation of PPARα, thereby paradoxically attenuating excessive FA metabolism in cardiomyocytes.


Hypertension ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 60 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Terry D Hinds ◽  
Nader G Abraham

The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) is a nuclear receptor that is known to regulate glucose and lipid homeostasis and increases expression of the hormone fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), which is secreted to blood, increases phosphorylation of AMPK and AKT in adipocytes and has been purported to stimulate adiponectin synthesis. The heme oxygenase (HO) system is functionally important for reducing ROS and inflammation whose induction has been shown to increase serum adiponectin levels and affect lowering of blood glucose and fatty acids. This study was designed to examine the hypothesis that a HO-1-PPARα crosstalk could elevate hepatic FGF21 thus leading to enhanced adiponectin secretion and abatement of metabolic imbalance. Preliminary experiments were conducted in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (Hep G2) cultured in the absence or presence of the HO-1 inducer, cobalt protoporphyrin (CoPP, 2μmoles/l). A 2.0 fold induction of HO-1 in Hep G2 cells by CoPP (p<0.05) increased expression of FGF21 1.5 fold (n=3, p=0.0119 vs. vehicle control) without affecting PPARα expression. Additional experiments in obese (ob/ob) mice treated with CoPP (5mg/kg/day) resulted in 2 fold (p<0.05) increase of FGF21 mRNA expression in liver as compared to mice treated with the vehicle. These observations were complemented by blood glucose measurements, which showed significant attenuation in obese mice treated with CoPP (vehicle: 285.0±24 vs. CoPP: 160.0±27.3, p<0.05, n= 5), along with enhancement of adiponectin levels in CoPP treated obese mice (p<0.05). Taken together these results demonstrate that HO-1 could increase serum adiponectin levels and insulin sensitivity by elevating hepatic FGF21 levels. Our overall hypothesis is that the HO-1 can stimulate PPARα activity with resultant activation of hepatic FGF21 secretion and that this HO-PPARα-FGF21 axis could work in concert to modulate the development of insulin resistance and diabetes.


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