Selective insulin resistance in the polycystic ovary syndrome.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is characterized by hyperandrogenemia that is amplified by insulin in the presence of resistance to insulin's action to stimulate glucose uptake in muscle and fat. To explore the mechanisms for this paradox, we examined the metabolic and mitogenic actions of insulin and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) in cultured skin fibroblasts from PCOS (n = 16) and control (n = 11) women. There were no significant decreases in the number or affinity of insulin- or IGF-I-binding sites in PCOS compared to control fibroblasts. Basal rates were similar, but there were significant decreases in insulin-stimulated (control, 51.8 +/- 7.0; PCOS, 29.5 +/- 2.9 nmol/10(6) cells x 2 h at 1,000,000 pmol/L; P < 0.005) and IGF-I-stimulated (control, 48.9 +/- 6.7; PCOS, 33.0 +/- 3.2 PCOS nmol/10(6) cells x 2 h at 100,000 pmol/L IGF-I; P < 0.05) glucose incorporation into glycogen in PCOS fibroblasts, a metabolic action of insulin. Stimulation of thymidine incorporation, a mitogenic action of insulin, was similar in PCOS and control fibroblasts in response to both insulin and IGF-I. There were also no significant differences in insulin- or IGF-I-stimulated insulin receptor substrate-1-associated phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase activity in PCOS compared to control fibroblast cells. We conclude that 1) there is a selective defect in insulin action in PCOS fibroblasts that affects metabolic, but not mitogenic, signaling pathways; 2) there is a similar defect in IGF-I action, suggesting that insulin and IGF-I stimulate glycogen synthesis by the same postreceptor pathways; and 3) insulin receptor substrate-1-associated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activation by insulin and IGF-I is similar to the control value, suggesting that the metabolic signaling defect is in another pathway or downstream of this signaling step in PCOS fibroblasts.

Developmental changes in regulation of the Na+, K(+)-ATPase alpha 3 isoform by thyroid hormone in ferret heart.

Ferret heart expresses the alpha 1- as well as the alpha 3-isoform of the Na+, K(+)-ATPase. We have shown previously that the alpha 3 isoform is differentially upregulated during postnatal cardiac development and that in adult ferrets expression of alpha 3 is not responsive to regulation by thyroid hormone (TH). Since developmental-stage dependent effects of TH have been reported previously, the present study examined whether effects of TH on expression of the Na+, K(+)-ATPase isoforms in ferret heart is modulated during development and possible mechanisms were examined. Ferrets of different age groups were treated with TH and the relative abundance of Na+, K(+)-ATPase isoforms in ferret myocardium was determined by immunoblotting. Thyroid hormone (T3; 50 micrograms/100 g body weight on 3 alternating days, s.c.) increased protein levels of the alpha 3 isoform, but not that of alpha 1 or beta 1, in myocardium of 5-day-old and 3-week-old ferrets. By contrast, in myocardium of 6- and 8-week-old ferrets T3 failed to increase protein levels of alpha 1 and alpha 3. To determine whether elevated plasma levels of TH during development plays a role in the transition, mature ferrets were first made hypothyroid before TH treatment. In these hypothyroid ferrets expression of the alpha 3 isoform remained unresponsive to TH (T4, 0.5 mg/kg for 7 days, s.c.). The transition from TH-responsive to TH-unresponsive appears to be isoform-specific because in skeletal muscle of 8-week-old ferrets and in hypothyroid ferrets the alpha 2 isoform is upregulated by TH. Finally, there appears to be functional thyroid hormone receptors throughout development because in each age group TH effectively induced expression of alpha-MHC in the myocardium. In conclusion, these findings demonstrate that expression of alpha 3 isoform in the myocardium of newborn ferret is responsive to TH; however, the responsiveness terminates between 3- and 6-weeks of age. Neither elevated endogenous TH level nor a lack of functional thyroid hormone receptor appears to be responsible for the transition from TH-responsive to TH-unresponsive.

Excessive insulin receptor serine phosphorylation in cultured fibroblasts and in skeletal muscle. A potential mechanism for insulin resistance in the polycystic ovary syndrome.

We investigated the cellular mechanisms of the unique disorder of insulin action found in the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Approximately 50% of PCOS women (PCOS-Ser) had a significant increase in insulin-independent beta-subunit [32P]phosphate incorporation (3.7-fold, P < 0.05 vs other groups) in skin fibroblast insulin receptors that was present in serine residues while insulin-induced tyrosine phosphorylation was decreased (both P < 0.05 vs other groups). PCOS skeletal muscle insulin receptors had the same abnormal phosphorylation pattern. The remaining PCOS women (PCOS-n1) had basal and insulin-stimulated receptor autophosphorylation similar to control. Phosphorylation of the artificial substrate poly GLU4:TYR1 by the PCOS-Ser insulin receptors was significantly decreased (P < 0.05) compared to control and PCOS-n1 receptors. The factor responsible for excessive serine phosphorylation appeared to be extrinsic to the receptor since no insulin receptor gene mutations were identified, immunoprecipitation before autophosphorylation corrected the phosphorylation defect and control insulin receptors mixed with lectin eluates from affected PCOS fibroblasts displayed increased serine phosphorylation. Our findings suggest that increased insulin receptor serine phosphorylation decreases its protein tyrosine kinase activity and is one mechanism for the post-binding defect in insulin action characteristic of PCOS.

Cardiac hypertrophy alters expression of Na+,K(+)-ATPase subunit isoforms at mRNA and protein levels in rat myocardium.

In myocardium from different rat models of cardiac hypertrophy, expression of Na+,K(+)-ATPase isoforms has been shown to be altered at the mRNA level. However, it has not been determined whether these alterations translate into changes at the protein level. This distinction is important because post-transcriptional events have been shown to regulate isoform expression. In the present study, relative abundances of the Na+,K(+)-ATPase isoforms were examined in hypertrophied left ventricles of renovascular hypertensive rats at both the protein and mRNA levels, using immunoblotting and dot blot hybridization, respectively. Stenosis of the left renal artery elicited an increase in systolic blood pressure, cardiac hypertrophy, and a shift in expression of the myosin heavy chain isoforms. In hypertrophied left ventricles, expression of the alpha 1 isoform remained unchanged at both mRNA and protein levels, whereas the relative abundances of both alpha 2-mRNA and -protein decreased, to 0.63 and 0.54, respectively, of controls. In addition, the abundance of beta 1-mRNA remained unchanged, whereas beta 1-protein decreased to 0.67 of controls. These results suggest that in hypertrophied myocardium of renovascular hypertensive rats Na+,K(+)-ATPase isoform expression is altered at both the protein and mRNA levels, and that pretranslational as well as translational/post-translational mechanisms may be involved.

Cardiac hypertrophy in the ferret increases expression of the Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase alpha 1- but not alpha 3-isoform.

Work overload alters expression of the Na(+)-K(+)-adenosinetriphosphatase (ATPase) multigene family in the myocardium. However, due to lack of an appropriate animal model, very little is known regarding regulation of the alpha 3-isoform. We previously reported that adult ferret myocardium expresses the alpha 1- and alpha 3-isoforms of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase. In the current study we examined the relative abundances of these isoforms in a recently developed ferret model of pressure-overload cardiac hypertrophy. Ferrets with abdominal aortic constriction (Coarc) developed significant left ventricular hypertrophy based on altered morphometric measurements and switching of the myosin heavy chain isoforms. Western and Northern blotting analyses showed that in hypertrophied left ventricles of Coarc ferrets the abundance of alpha 1-protein increased (27%), whereas that of alpha 1-mRNA remained unchanged. In nonhypertrophied right ventricles of Coarc ferrets abundance of alpha 1-protein remained unchanged. Expression of the alpha 3-isoform in left ventricles of Coarc ferrets remained unchanged at both protein and mRNA levels. By contrast, abundance of beta 1-mRNA increased significantly (31%), whereas beta 1-protein remained unchanged. Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity, estimated by K(+)-dependent nitrophenyl phosphatase activity, did not differ between left ventricular homogenates from Coarc and sham-operated ferrets. In conclusion, these studies indicate that in hypertrophied ferret heart Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase isoforms are differentially regulated at pretranslational, as well as at translational-posttranslational levels.

Alterations in levels of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase isoforms in heart, skeletal muscle, and kidney of diabetic rats.

In streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats, activities of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase and the Na pump have been shown to be altered. Cellular mechanisms underlying such changes remain unclear. The present studies examined by immunoblotting the levels of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase subunit isoforms in heart, skeletal muscle, and kidney of diabetic rats. Effects of insulin treatment on these levels were also studied. In cardiac muscle, STZ-induced diabetes caused a marked decrease in alpha 2-levels, a moderate decrease in beta 1-levels, and no significant change in alpha 1-levels. Corresponding to these changes, Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity, estimated by K(+)-dependent p-nitrophenylphosphatase activity, also decreased. By contrast, there were significant increases in alpha 1- and alpha 2-levels in skeletal muscle and in alpha 1- and beta 1-levels in kidneys of diabetic rats. There was also a detectable, but not significant, increase in beta 1-levels in diabetic skeletal muscle. In kidney, the increase in subunit levels was associated with significantly increased Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity, whereas, in skeletal muscle, no increase in enzyme activity was observed. In diabetic rats, 7 days of insulin treatment (10 U/kg sc) partially reversed the decreased alpha 2- and beta 1-levels in diabetic cardiac muscle, without significant effect on alpha 1-levels. In skeletal muscle, insulin treatment also partially reversed the elevated alpha 1- and alpha 2-levels but was without significant effect on beta 1-levels. It is concluded that STZ-induced diabetes exerted isoform- and tissue-specific regulation of the Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase subunit isoforms.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Expression of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase alpha 1- and alpha 3-isoforms in adult and neonatal ferret hearts.

We have demonstrated previously that in adult ferret heart two alpha-subunit isoforms of the Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase, alpha(+) and alpha, are expressed. The alpha(+)-isoform may comprise either alpha 2-, or alpha 3-, or both isoforms. The present studies further characterize the alpha(+)-isoform. The alpha(+)-isoform of ferret heart did not react with an alpha 2-specific monoclonal antibody, but rather with two different alpha 3-specific polyclonal antibodies. Electrophoretic mobility of the alpha(+)-isoform in sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis is slower than that of the alpha 2-isoform, but similar to that of the alpha 3-isoform. Limited proteolytic peptide mapping was performed using Staphylococcus aureus V8. Proteolytic fragments were then immunostained with an alpha 3-specific antibody. The peptide maps of ferret heart alpha(+)-isoform and rat brain alpha 3-isoform were identical, as were those of ferret heart alpha(+)-isoform and ferret brain alpha 3-isoform. These results indicate that the alpha(+)-isoform of ferret heart is an alpha 3-isoform. During postnatal development, the same isoforms expressed in the adult ferret heart (alpha 1 and alpha 3), were also expressed in neonatal heart. In adult or neonatal heart alpha 2-isoform was not detectable. Relative abundances of the isoforms in ventricular and atrial tissues differed. Compared with ventricular tissue, left and right atrial tissues expressed much less alpha 3 than alpha 1. It is concluded that, unlike rat heart, alpha 1- and alpha 3-isoforms are expressed in adult ferret heart.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Multiple functional enhancer motifs of rat ribosomal gene.

Previous studies from this laboratory have characterized a 174 bp enhancer element which is located 2 kb upstream of the initiation site. Half of the enhancer action is controlled by a 37 bp element at the 3' end of the 174 bp region. We now report that a 43 bp adjacent domain which is located upstream of the 37 bp element constitutes an additional motif of the rDNA enhancer. When the plasmid consisting of the 43 bp DNA upstream of the rDNA core promoter was transcribed in a fractionated rat tumor cell extract (fraction DE-B), transcription of rDNA was augmented 4 fold. Electrphoretic mobility shift and DNAase I footprinting analyses showed that the purified 37 bp enhancer (E1)-binding protein, (E1BF) not only interacted with the enhancer motif E1 but also interacted with the neighbouring 43 bp enhancer domain E2. The specificity of the binding was demonstrated by competition with unlabelled 37 bp and 43 bp fragment and lack of competition with nonspecific DNAs in the mobility shift assay. These studies have shown that a single pol I transcription factor can bind to multiple enhancer domains with no significant sequence homologies and such multiple interactions may result in maximal transcription of ribosomal gene from the core promoter.