Activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) through inhibiting interaction with prohibitins.

5'-Adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a potential therapeutic target for various medical conditions. We here identify a small-molecule compound (RX-375) that activates AMPK and inhibits fatty acid synthesis in cultured human hepatocytes. RX-375 does not bind to AMPK but interacts with prohibitins (PHB1 and PHB2), which were found to form a complex with AMPK. RX-375 induced dissociation of this complex, and PHBs knockdown resulted in AMPK activation, in the cultured cells. Administration of RX-375 to obese mice activated AMPK and ameliorated steatosis in the liver. High-throughput screening based on disruption of the AMPK-PHB interaction identified a second small-molecule compound that activates AMPK, confirming the importance of this interaction in the regulation of AMPK. Our results thus indicate that PHBs are previously unrecognized negative regulators of AMPK, and that compounds that prevent the AMPK-PHB interaction constitute a class of AMPK activator.

A novel JNK2/SREBP-1c pathway involved in insulin-induced fatty acid synthesis in human adipocytes.

Insulin plays important roles in apoptosis and lipid droplet (LD) formation, and it is one of the determinants involved in increasing fat mass. However, the mechanisms underlying insulin-induced enlargement of fat mass remain unclear. Our previous study suggested that insulin-induced increases in LDs are related to c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)2-mediated upregulation of cell death-inducing DNA fragmentation factor-α-like effector (CIDE)C in human adipocytes. However, other genes involved in insulin/JNK2-induced LD formation are unknown. Here, we explored insulin/JNK2-regulated genes to clarify the mechanism of enlargement of LDs. Microarray analysis revealed that an insulin/JNK2 pathway mostly regulates expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism, including sterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP)-1, a key transcription factor of lipogenesis. The JNK inhibitor SP600125 blocked insulin-induced upregulation of SREBP-1c expression. Small interfering RNA-mediated depletion of JNK2 suppressed insulin-induced nuclear accumulation of the active form of SREBP-1 protein and upregulation of SREBP-1c. Furthermore, depletion of JNK2 attenuated insulin-induced upregulation of SREBP-1c target lipogenic enzymes, leading to reduced de novo fatty acid synthesis. In addition, JNK2 coimmunoprecipitated with SREBP-1, reinforcing the correlation between JNK2 and SREBP-1. These results suggest that SREBP-1c is a novel insulin/JNK2-regulated gene and that the JNK2/SREBP-1c pathway mediates insulin-induced fatty acid synthesis, which may lead to enlargement of LDs in human adipocytes.

Differential regulation of CIDEA and CIDEC expression by insulin via Akt1/2- and JNK2-dependent pathways in human adipocytes.

Both insulin and the cell death-inducing DNA fragmentation factor-α-like effector (CIDE) family play important roles in apoptosis and lipid droplet formation. Previously, we reported that CIDEA and CIDEC are differentially regulated by insulin and contribute separately to insulin-induced anti-apoptosis and lipid droplet formation in human adipocytes. However, the upstream signals of CIDE proteins remain unclear. Here, we investigated the signaling molecules involved in insulin regulation of CIDEA and CIDEC expression. The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitors wortmannin and PI-103 blocked both insulin-induced downregulation of CIDEA and upregulation of CIDEC. The Akt inhibitor API-2 and the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitor SP600125 selectively inhibited insulin regulation of CIDEA and CIDEC expression, respectively, whereas the MAPK/ERK kinase inhibitor U0126 and the p38 inhibitor SB203580 did not. Small interfering RNA-mediated depletion of Akt1/2 prevented insulin-induced downregulation of CIDEA and inhibition of apoptosis. Depletion of JNK2, but not JNK1, inhibited insulin-induced upregulation of CIDEC and lipid droplet enlargement. Furthermore, insulin increased both Akt and JNK phosphorylation, which was abrogated by the PI3K inhibitors. These results suggest that insulin regulates CIDEA and CIDEC expression via PI3K, and it regulates expression of each protein via Akt1/2- and JNK2-dependent pathways, respectively, in human adipocytes.

Unsaturated FAs prevent palmitate-induced LOX-1 induction via inhibition of ER stress in macrophages.

Palmitic acid (PA) upregulates oxidized LDL receptor-1 (LOX-1), a scavenger receptor responsible for uptake of oxidized LDL (oxLDL), and enhances oxLDL uptake in macrophages. However, the precise underlying mechanism remains to be elucidated. PA is known to induce endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in various cell types. Therefore, we investigated whether ER stress is involved in PA-induced LOX-1 upregulation. PA induced ER stress, as determined by phosphorylation of PERK, eIF2α, and JNK, as well as induction of CHOP in macrophage-like THP-1 cells. Inhibitors [4-phenylbutyric acid (PBA), sodium tauroursodeoxycholate (TUDCA), and salubrinal] and small interfering RNA (siRNA) for the ER stress response decreased PA-induced LOX-1 upregulation. Thapsigargin, an ER stress inducer, upregulated LOX-1, which was decreased by PBA and TUDCA. We next examined whether unsaturated FAs could counteract the effect of PA. Both oleic acid (OA) and linoleic acid (LA) suppressed PA-induced LOX-1. Activation of the ER stress response observed in the PA-treated cells was markedly attenuated when the cells were cotreated with OA or LA. In addition, OA and LA suppressed thapsigargin-induced LOX-1 upregulation with reduced activation of ER stress markers. Our results indicate that activation of ER stress is involved in PA-induced LOX-1 upregulation in macrophages, and that OA and LA inhibit LOX-1 induction through suppression of ER stress.

Direct evidence for leptin-induced lipid oxidation independent of long-form leptin receptor.

Leptin administration has been shown to enhance muscle lipid oxidation in relation to the energy expenditure. Both long-form (Ob-R(L)) and short-form leptin receptors (Ob-R(S)) are expressed in skeletal muscle, but the role of Ob-R(S) is unclear. In the present study, the role of Ob-R(S) in leptin-induced lipid oxidation in skeletal muscles was investigated using primary murine myotubes from m/m and db/db mice. Primary myotubes were treated with leptin (0.1, 1, 10, 100nM) for 24h. Lipid oxidation was determined by (14)CO(2) production rate from [1-(14)C] palmitate. Leptin was found to increase lipid oxidation in a dose- and time-dependent manner in db/db myotubes as well as in m/m myotubes. Leptin significantly increased phosphorylation of JAK2 and STAT3 in both types of myotube. Leptin-induced lipid oxidation was abolished by STAT3 siRNA. To investigate the mechanism underlying leptin-induced lipid oxidation, the effects of pharmacological inhibitors were examined. JAK2 or p38 MAPK inhibitor suppressed leptin-induced lipid oxidation and decreased STAT3 phosphorylation in both types of myotube, respectively. Leptin significantly increased phosphorylation of p38 MAPK, and leptin-induced lipid oxidation was abolished by treatment with p38 MAPK siRNA in both types of myotube. These results suggest that leptin induces lipid oxidation in skeletal muscle through the JAK2/p38 MAPK/STAT3 signaling pathway via not only Ob-R(L) but also Ob-R(S).

Identification of a functional peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) response element (PPRE) in the human apolipoprotein A-IV gene.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha (PPARalpha) is a key regulator in hepatic lipid metabolism and is a potential therapeutic target for dyslipidaemia. We reported previously that human hepatic apoA-IV is a highly sensitive gene up-regulated by the PPARalpha agonist KRP-101 (KRP), suggesting that induction of apoA-IV expression is one of the mechanisms underlying the decrease in triglycerides and elevation of HDL observed with PPARalpha agonist treatment. However, the mechanism of transcriptional regulation of apoA-IV by PPARalpha activation remains unclear. To clarify whether the apoA-IV promoter is regulated directly by PPARalpha, we analysed the apoA-IV promoter region by transient transfection assay in the human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line, HepG2. Co-transfection assay of unilateral deletions of apoA-IV promoter construct with human PPARalpha/RXRalpha showed that the region from -3279 to -2261 of the apoA-IV promoter includes key sites for transactivation by PPARalpha/RXRalpha. Sequence analysis suggested three putative PPAR response elements (PPREs) in this region. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) showed that a PPRE located from -2979 to -2967 can bind to PPARalpha/RXRalpha. Moreover, site-directed mutagenesis experiments indicated that the -2979/-2967 PPRE plays an essential role in transcriptional regulation of apoA-IV by PPARalpha. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay confirmed that ligand-induced binding of PPARalpha to endogenous -2979/-2967 PPRE. These results indicate that human apoA-IV is regulated directly by PPARalphavia the -2979/-2967 PPRE.

Chronic leptin treatment stimulates lipid oxidation in immortalized and primary mouse skeletal muscle cells.

Leptin administration enhances lipid oxidation in skeletal muscle. Nevertheless, direct and chronic effect of leptin has not been well characterized. Here, we measured the effect of leptin on skeletal muscles and their signaling pathways using differentiated C(2)C(12) myotubes and primary myotube cultures. Differentiated myotubes expressed both the short and long forms of leptin receptors. Leptin increased lipid oxidation in myotubes in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, with significant induction of lipid oxidation occurring after 6 h. Actinomycin D completely blocked leptin-induced lipid oxidation. Leptin significantly increased phosphorylation of JAK2 and STAT3 in myotubes, and leptin-induced lipid oxidation was abolished by treatment with a JAK2 inhibitor or STAT3 siRNA. We then used mouse myotubes to measure these effects under physiological conditions. Leptin increased lipid oxidation, which again was blocked by a JAK2 inhibitor and STAT3 siRNA. These results suggest that the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway may underlie the chronic effects of leptin on lipid oxidation in skeletal muscles.

Highly sensitive upregulation of apolipoprotein A-IV by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha) agonist in human hepatoma cells.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha) is a key regulator in hepatic lipid metabolism and a potential therapeutic target for dyslipidemia. However, in humans hepatic PPARalpha-regulated genes remain unclear. To investigate the effect of PPARalpha agonism on mRNA expressions of lipid metabolism-related genes in human livers, a potent PPARalpha agonist, KRP-101 (KRP), was used to treat the human hepatoma cell line, HepaRG cells. KRP did not affect AOX or L-PBE, which are involved in peroxisomal beta-oxidation. KRP increased L-FABP, CPT1A, VLCAD, and PDK4, which are involved in lipid transport or oxidation. However, the EC(50) values (114-2500 nM) were >10-fold weaker than the EC(50) value (10.9 nM) for human PPARalpha in a transactivation assay. To search for more sensitive genes, we determined the mRNA levels of apolipoproteins, apoA-I, apoA-II, apoA-IV, apoA-V, and apoC-III. KRP had no or little effect on apoA-I, apoC-III, and apoA-II. Interestingly, KRP increased apoA-IV (EC(50), 0.99 nM) and apoA-V (EC(50), 0.29 nM) with high sensitivity. We identified apoA-IV as a PPARalpha-upregulated gene in a study using PPARalpha siRNA. Moreover, when administered orally to dogs, KRP decreased the serum triglyceride level and increased the serum apoA-IV level in a dose-dependent manner. These findings suggest that apoA-IV, newly identified as a highly sensitive PPARalpha-regulated gene in human livers, may be one of the mechanisms underlying PPARalpha agonist-induced triglyceride decrease and HDL elevation.

Pharmacological characterization of a human-specific peroxisome proliferater-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha) agonist in dogs.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha) is a key regulator in lipid metabolism and a potential therapeutic target for lipid-related metabolic diseases. It has been shown that there are species differences between human and mouse in response to several PPARalpha agonists in a transactivation assay. In the present study, we cloned a full length of dog PPARalpha and investigated the effects of a novel and potent agonist (KCL) for human PPARalpha. In a transactivation assay using the full length of PPARalpha, agonistic activity of KCL for dog PPARalpha (EC(50): 0.007 microM) was comparable to that for human PPARalpha (EC(50): 0.003 microM), but not that for rat PPARalpha (EC(50): 11.49 microM). Similar results were obtained from a transactivation assay using a GAL4/PPARalpha ligand-binding domain (LBD) chimera. A point-mutation study showed that I272 on PPARalphaLBD is a major contributor to species differences in response to KCL between human, dog, and rat PPARalpha. KCL also induced mRNA levels of HMG-CoA synthase in dog hepatocytes. When administered orally to dogs and rats, KCL significantly decreased plasma triglyceride levels in a dose-dependent manner. The triglyceride-lowering effects of KCL in dogs were >100-fold more potent than those in rats. These results suggest that KCL may induce activation of highly potent PPARalpha in humans as well as dogs, and that dog is a suitable animal model for studying and predicting the biological actions of potent agonists for human PPARalpha.