Glucocorticoids repress induction by thiazolidinediones, fibrates, and fatty acids of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase gene expression in adipocytes.

Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) exerts a glyceroneogenic function in adipocytes in which transcription of its gene is increased by unsaturated fatty acids and fibrates. We used cultured rat adipose tissue fragments and 3T3-F442A adipocytes to show that the antidiabetic thiazolidinedione BRL 49653, a ligand and an activator of the gamma isoform of peroxisome proliferator activated receptors (PPARgamma), is a potent inducer of PEPCK mRNA. In 3T3-F442A adipocytes, the effect of BRL 49653 is rapid and concentration dependent, with a maximum reached at 1 microM and a half-maximum at 10-100 nM. PEPCK mRNA is similarly induced by the natural ligand of PPARgamma, the 15-deoxy-delta(12-14) prostaglandin J2. These observations strongly suggest that PPARgamma is a primary regulator of PEPCK gene expression in adipocytes. Dexamethasone at 10 nM repress induction of PEPCK mRNA by 1 microM BRL 49653, 0.32 mM oleate, or 1 mM clofibrate, in a cycloheximide-independent manner. The antiglucocorticoid RU 38486 prevents dexamethasone action, demonstrating involvement of the glucocorticoid receptor. Stable transfectants of 3T3-F442A adipocytes bearing -2100 to +69 base pairs of the PEPCK gene promoter fused to the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene respond to 1 microM BRL 49653 or 1 mM clofibrate by a large increase in CAT activity, which is prevented by the simultaneous addition of 10 nM dexamethasone. Hence, in adipocytes, glucocorticoids act directly through the 5'-flanking region of the PEPCK gene to repress, in a dominant fashion, the stimulation of PEPCK gene transcription by thiazolidinediones and fibrates.

Transcriptional and posttranscriptional mechanisms of glucocorticoid-mediated repression of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase gene expression in adipocytes.

Glucocorticoids exert pleiotropic effects, among which negative regulation of transcription has been recognized as of crucial importance. While glucocorticoids induce phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) gene expression in liver cells, it represses gene activity in adipose cells. We used the 3T3-F442A adipocytes to analyze the underlying mechanisms in these cells, the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone exerts a dominant repression either on basal or on beta-agonist stimulation of PEPCK gene expression. To determine whether glucocorticoid action required protein synthesis, we employed cycloheximide, anisomycin, and puromycin, three different translation inhibitors. None of these affected induction by isoprenaline or repression by dexamethasone of isoprenaline stimulation. In contrast, dexamethasone inhibitory action on basal PEPCK mRNA was totally prevented by the three translation inhibitors. Time courses of glucocorticoid action on basal and on induction by beta-agonist were similar. Half-maximal effect of dexamethasone on isoprenaline-induced PEPCK mRNA was obtained at about 10 nM, a tenfold higher concentration than that observed for the reduction of basal mRNA. Using the transcription inhibitor DRB, we showed that dexamethasone did not alter mRNA half-life, while isoprenaline strongly stabilized mRNA. In a 3T3-F442A stable transfectant bearing -2,100 base pairs of the PEPCK promoter fused to the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene, isoprenaline stimulated CAT activity, whereas dexamethasone reduced basal and isoprenaline-induced CAT expression. Hence, beta-agonists exert both transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulation, while glucocorticoid action is purely transcriptional. However, mechanisms of glucocorticoid repression of basal and of beta-agonist stimulation appear different.

Glucocorticoids use a positive liver element to repress fibrate-induced adipose transcription of the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase gene.

Glucocorticoids inhibit basal and hormone-induced phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) gene transcription in adipocytes whereas beta-adrenergic agonists and fibrates are stimulatory. Here we show that dexamethasone inhibits the induction of PEPCK mRNA by isoprenaline or clofibrate in 3T3-F442A adipocytes. RU 38486 antagonizes dexamethasone effect, suggesting the involvement of the glucocorticoid receptor. In H4IIE hepatoma cells, glucocorticoids enhance PEPCK gene transcription through a complex region which encompasses an element, AF1, with a direct repeat 1-type sequence. Mutations in the AF1 sequence abolish binding of nuclear factors from liver and from 3T3-F442A adipocytes. We transiently transfected 3T3-F442A cells with a wild type or an AF1-mutated PEPCK-CAT construct comprising -2100 to +69 base pairs of the promoter fused to the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene. With both constructs, CAT activity is decreased by dexamethasone and is increased by isoprenaline or by clofibrate. However, dexamethasone is unable to inhibit clofibrate induction of CAT activity in cells transfected with the AF1-mutated construct whereas it prevents isoprenaline action on both constructs. Hence, although a single hormone can repress stimulations originating from different intracellular routes, sites in the promoter which mediate inhibition of a specific stimulation are distinct.