PPAR γ partial agonist, KR-62776, inhibits adipocyte differentiation via activation of ERK

Indenone KR-62776 acts as an agonist of PPARγ without inducing obesity in animal models and cells. X-ray crystallography reveals that the indenone occupies the binding pocket in a different manner than rosiglitazone. 2-Dimensional gel-electrophoresis showed that the expression of 42 proteins was altered more than 2.0-fold between KR-62776- or rosiglitazone-treated adipocyte cells and control cells. Rosiglitazone down-regulated the expression of ERK1/2 and suppressed the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 in these cells. However, the expression of ERK1/2 was up-regulated in KR-62776-treated cells. Phosphorylated ERK1/2, activated by indenone, affects the localization of PPARγ, suggesting a mechanism for indenone-inhibition of adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 preadipocyte cells. The preadipocyte cells are treated with ERK1/2 inhibitor PD98059, a large amount of the cells are converted to adipocyte cells. These results support the conclusion that the localization of PPARγ is one of the key factors explaining the biological responses of the ligands. Received 04 March 2009; received after revision 13 March 2009; accepted 17 March 2009     

Profiling of the secreted proteins during 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation leads to the identification of novel adipokines

Adipose tissue is an endocrine organ capable of secreting a number of adipokines with a role in the regulation of adipose tissue and whole-body metabolism. We used two-dimensional gel electrophoresis combined with mass spectrometry to profile the secreted proteins from (pre)adipocytes. The culture medium of 3T3-L1 cells during adipocyte differentiation was screened, and 41 proteins that responded to blocking of secretion by 20°C treatment and/or brefeldin A treatment were identified. Prohibitin, stress-70 protein, and adhesion-regulating molecule 1 are reported for the first time as secreted proteins. In addition, procollagen C-proteinase enhancer protein, galectin-1, cyclophilin A and C, and SF20/IL-25 are newly identified as adipocyte secreted factors. Secretion profiles indicated a dynamic environment including an actively remodeling extracellular matrix and several factors involved in growth regulation.Received 15 June 2004; received after revision 26 July 2004; accepted 2 August 2004     

Physiological roles of glycerol-transporting aquaporins: the aquaglyceroporins

A subclass of aquaporin (AQP) water channels, termed aquaglyceroporins, are also able to transport glycerol and perhaps urea and other small solutes. Although extensive data exist on the physiological roles of aquaporin-facilitated water transport, until recently the biological significance of glycerol transport by the mammalian aquaglyceroporins has been unknown. There is now compelling evidence for involvement of aquaglyceroporin- facilitated glycerol transport in skin hydration and fat cell metabolism. Mice deficient in AQP3 have dry skin, reduced skin elasticity and impaired epidermal biosynthesis. Mice lacking AQP7 manifest progressive adipocyte fat accumulation and hypertrophy. These skin and fat phenotypes are attributable to impaired glycerol transport. A potential implication of these findings is the possibility of modulation of aquaglyceroporin expression or function in the therapy of skin diseases and obesity. Received 20 January 2006; received after revision 21 February 2006; accepted 20 March 2006     

抗猪脂肪细胞膜蛋白抗体的制备及测定

猪屠宰后,立刻取其背部皮下脂肪组织在37℃膜萃取液中匀浆,用差速离心法和密度梯度离心法提取脂肪细胞膜蛋白,经SDS-PAGE分析,背部脂肪细胞膜蛋白与其他组织细胞膜蛋白具有较大差异,但也有一些相同的膜蛋白.以猪背部脂肪细胞膜蛋白为抗原,免疫雄性家兔,制备抗猪脂肪细胞膜蛋白血清,经酶联免疫反应(ELISA)测定,血清效价达到1:12800.同样,用ELISA和Western-blotting测定抗体与其他组织细胞膜的交叉反应,结果显示:抗猪脂肪细胞膜抗体与其他组织细胞膜有交叉反应,但反应性不高.     

肥胖／糖尿病过程中大鼠不同部位脂肪细胞大小的比较

为比较大鼠肥胖／糖尿病过程中脂肪分布及脂肪细胞大小的变化,初步阐明脂肪细胞大小与2型糖尿病发生相关性。将Wistar雄性大鼠随机分为3组,每组12只：普通饮食组（正常对照）,高脂饮食组（肥胖）,高脂饮食＋链脲佐菌素组（糖尿病组）。第0周随机抽取6只大鼠处死后,取皮下脂肪及腹膜内脂肪,用2．5％甲醛乙醇溶液固定,进行石蜡包埋,HE染色,制成切片。在400倍光学显微镜下随机选取10个视野检测统计脂肪细胞数量及面积大小（mm^2）。在饲养过程中分别选取第6、9、12、14周等4个时间点,每个时间点各组随机处死2只大鼠,取皮下脂肪及腹膜内脂肪进行相同处理。同时,在各个时间点对大鼠体重、血糖进行检测。各组大鼠皮下脂肪细胞与腹膜内脂肪细胞大小差异均有统计学意义（F=9．653,P=0．001;F=160．605,P=0．000）,其中正常组与肥胖组、正常组与糖尿病组差异都有统计学意义,而肥胖组与糖尿病组差异无统计学意义。不同部位脂肪细胞大小的差异无统计学意义。脂肪细胞的体积增大,与大鼠体重及血糖变化相平行。大鼠脂肪细胞的体积增大与肥胖／糖尿病的演进过程相平行,大鼠脂肪组织的分布与脂肪细胞的大小无明显相关性。     

葛根素对脂肪细胞糖脂代谢作用研究

探讨葛根素对脂肪细胞糖、脂代谢的影响.建立3T3-L1脂肪细胞IR模型,葡萄糖氧化酶法测定葛根素处理48 h后培养液中葡萄糖残存量、铜试剂显色法测定游离脂肪酸浓度.与模型组比较,葛根素高、低剂量组葡萄糖消耗量显著增加(P<0.05),游离脂肪酸水平呈现降低趋势.葛根素明显增加脂肪细胞的葡萄糖消耗,对TNF-α诱导的脂肪分解无明显作用.     

In vitro modulation of rat adipocyte ghost membrane fluidity by cholesterol oxysterols

The effects of cholesterol and cholesterol-derived oxysterols (cholestanone, cholestenone, coprostanone and epicoprostanol) on adipocyte ghost membrane fluidity were studied using a fluorescence depolarization method. The fluorescence anisotropy of the treated membranes was determined using 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH) and 1-(4-trimethylammoniumphenyl)-6-phenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (TMA-DPH). Cholestanone and cholesterol decreased membranes fluidity at both the concentrations tested (10 & 50 M) while the rest of the sterols did not exert any significant effect on membrane fluidity. In the presence of epinephrine, cholestanone partitioned more towards the lipid core but cholesterol partitioning was not affected. The fusion activation energies (E) obtained for membranes preincubated with cholestanone (8.6 kcal/mol) and cholesterol (8.2 kcal/mol) were not significantly different from that of untreated membranes (8.3 kcal/mol). Membranes preincubated with cholestanone and cholesterol did not exhibit any change in lipid phase throughout the temperature range (10–45°C) tested. The sterols were found to inhibit fisetin-induced phospholipid methylation in isolated rat adipocytes in the rank order of cholesterol > epicoprostanol > cholestanone=cholestenone=coprostanone, while basal methylations was unaffected. When adipocytes were preincubated with the sterols before the addition of fisetin, cholestanone and cholestenone showed 74% and 66% inhibition of maximal methylation respectively. These results indicated that cholesterol oxysterols interact differently with rat adipocyte membranes, with cholestanone interacting more with phospholipids located at the inner lipid bilayer (e.g. phosphatidylethanolamine) while cholesterol interacts more with phosphatidylcholine located at the outer lipid bilayer. This differential interaction may cause selective changes in membrane fluidity at different depths of the bilayer and thus may modulate the activities of membrane-bound proteins such as enzymes and receptors.     

Pancreastatin,a chromogranin A-derived peptide,inhibits leptin and enhances UCP-2 expression in isolated rat adipocytes

Leptin, the ob gene product, is an adipocyte-secreted hormone that centrally regulates weight by decreasing caloric intake and increasing energy expenditure. Expression of leptin is regulated by dietary status, insulin, glucocorticoids and catecholamines. Pancreastatin (PST), a chromogranin A-derived peptide, correlates with catecholamine levels, and may play a role in the physiology of stress, modulating endocrine secretion and metabolism. Thus, PST has been found to exert a lipolytic and anti-insulin effect in white adipocytes. The aim of the present work was to investigate a possible role of PST modulating the expression of key genes involved in lipid storage and metabolism: leptin, PPAR-2, UCP-1 and UCP-2. We incubated isolated rat epididymal adipocytes with 100 nM PST for 16 and 24 h. Leptin, UCP-2 and UCP-1 mRNA levels were assessed by RT-PCR, followed by Southern blot. Leptin secretion was also measured by ELISA. PST inhibited leptin expression and secretion at 16-h incubation, but this effect was no longer observed after 24 h. On the other hand, PST stimulated the expression of UCP-2 after 16 h. However, the effect was still significant after 24 h. The inhibitory effect of PST on leptin expression and secretion and the stimulation of UCP-2 expression were prevented by blocking PKC. UCP-1 and PPR-2 expression did not change after PST stimulation. Leptin differentially regulates the expression of key genes in the rat adipocyte, upregulating the expression of UCP-2 and inhibiting the expression and secretion of leptin by a mechanism that involves PKC activity. These effects may contribute to the metabolic action of catecholamines in physiological and pathophysiological conditions with increased sympathetic activity.Received 5 September 2003; received after revision 6 October 2003; accepted 14 October 2003     

Recent advances in brown adipose tissue biology

In mammals, white adipose tissue （WAT） store energy, whereas brown adipose tissue （BAT） burns energy. As a thermogenic organ, BAT can help maintain body temperature during cold exposure. Owing to its important roles in energy metabolism and regulating triacylglycerol levels, BAT has received great attention in treating obesity and its related diseases. Recent studies have suggested that BAT may secrete factor（s）—batokines—to regulate whole- body energy metabolism. In this review, we summarize the recent advances in the formation and function of BAT, as well as molecules that regulate the activity of BAT and beige fat.