Albert Gerding

Short-Chain Fatty Acids protect against High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity via a PPARγ-dependent switch from lipogenesis to fat oxidation

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are the main products of dietary fiber fermentation and are believed to drive the fiber-related prevention of the metabolic syndrome. Here we show that dietary SCFAs induce a peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor-γ (PPARγ)–dependent switch from lipid synthesis to utilization. Dietary SCFA supplementation prevented and reversed high-fat diet–induced metabolic abnormalities in mice by decreasing PPARγ expression and activity. This increased the expression of mitochondrial uncoupling protein 2 and raised the AMP-to-ATP ratio, thereby stimulating oxidative metabolism in liver and adipose tissue via AMPK. The SCFA-induced reduction in body weight and stimulation of insulin sensitivity were absent in mice with adipose-specific disruption of PPARγ. Similarly, SCFA-induced reduction of hepatic steatosis was absent in mice lacking hepatic PPARγ. These results demonstrate that adipose and hepatic PPARγ are critical mediators of the beneficial effects of SCFAs on the metabolic syndrome, with clearly distinct and complementary roles. Our findings indicate that SCFAs may be used therapeutically as cheap and selective PPARγ modulators.

Gut-derived short-chain fatty acids are vividly assimilated into host carbohydrates and lipids.

Acetate, propionate, and butyrate are the main short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) that arise from the fermentation of fibers by the colonic microbiota. While many studies focus on the regulatory role of SCFAs, their quantitative role as a catabolic or anabolic substrate for the host has received relatively little attention. To investigate this aspect, we infused conscious mice with physiological quantities of stable isotopes [1-(13)C]acetate, [2-(13)C]propionate, or [2,4-(13)C2]butyrate directly in the cecum, which is the natural production site in mice, and analyzed their interconversion by the microbiota as well as their metabolism by the host. Cecal interconversion, pointing to microbial cross-feeding, was high between acetate and butyrate, low between butyrate and propionate, and almost absent between acetate and propionate. As much as 62% of infused propionate was used in whole body glucose production, in line with its role as gluconeogenic substrate. Conversely, glucose synthesis from propionate accounted for 69% of total glucose production. The synthesis of palmitate and cholesterol in the liver was high from cecal acetate (2.8 and 0.7%, respectively) and butyrate (2.7 and 0.9%, respectively) as substrates, but low or absent from propionate (0.6 and 0.0%, respectively). Label incorporation due to chain elongation of stearate was approximately eightfold higher than de novo synthesis of stearate. Microarray data suggested that SCFAs exert a mild regulatory effect on the expression of genes involved in hepatic metabolic pathways during the 6-h infusion period. Altogether, gut-derived acetate, propionate, and butyrate play important roles as substrates for glucose, cholesterol, and lipid metabolism.

ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF CANALICULAR AND BASOLATERAL PLASMA-MEMBRANE FRACTIONS FROM HUMAN LIVER

A method is described for the isolation of subfractions from human liver plasma membranes, enriched in canalicular domains (cLPM) and basolateral domains (blLPM), respectively, and the results are compared to those obtained with rat liver. The studies were performed in 18 human livers. The cLPM (isolated at densities 1.103-1.127 for human and 1.036-1.127 for rat cLPM) from human as well as rat liver showed a lower density than the blLPM (1.141-1.161 for human and 1.151-1.172 for rat blLPM). Human and rat blLPM were characterized by increased levels of (Na+/K+)-ATPase (relative enrichment 33 and 21, respectively). Both human and rat cLPM showed high specific activities of leucine aminopeptidase; relative enrichment factors were 42 and 31, respectively. Mg(2+)-ATPase and alkaline phosphatase, specific canalicular enzymes in rat liver, were only slightly enriched in the cLPM of human liver, which indicates that these enzymes are not suitable as marker enzymes for human liver cLPM. Both cLPM and blLPM of human and rat origin were only slightly contaminated with mitochondria, lysosomes, Golgi membranes and endoplasmic reticulum. Total recoveries of cLPM and blLPM were 0.02 mg protein/g liver each for the human membrane preparations, compared to 0.07 and 0.16 mg protein/g liver for the membranes prepared from rat liver. Analysis of membrane fluidity revealed that the human liver cLPM were more rigid than blLPM (mean difference in fluorescence polarization PDPH 0.024). They contained more cholesterol (0.43 vs. 0.30 mumol/mg protein) and phospholipids (0.54 vs. 0.39 mumol/mg protein, respectively), which was compatible to rat liver plasma membrane fractions. This study shows that besides similarities, there are several differences between human and rat liver plasma membrane fractions.

Disturbed hepatic carbohydrate management during high metabolic demand in medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (MCAD)-deficient mice

Medium‐chain acyl–coenzyme A (CoA) dehydrogenase (MCAD) catalyzes crucial steps in mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation, a process that is of key relevance for maintenance of energy homeostasis, especially during high metabolic demand. To gain insight into the metabolic consequences of MCAD deficiency under these conditions, we compared hepatic carbohydrate metabolism in vivo in wild‐type and MCAD−/− mice during fasting and during a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced acute phase response (APR). MCAD−/− mice did not become more hypoglycemic on fasting or during the APR than wild‐type mice did. Nevertheless, microarray analyses revealed increased hepatic peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor gamma coactivator‐1α (Pgc‐1α) and decreased peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor alpha (Ppar α) and pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 (Pdk4) expression in MCAD−/− mice in both conditions, suggesting altered control of hepatic glucose metabolism. Quantitative flux measurements revealed that the de novo synthesis of glucose‐6‐phosphate (G6P) was not affected on fasting in MCAD−/− mice. During the APR, however, this flux was significantly decreased (−20%) in MCAD−/− mice compared with wild‐type mice. Remarkably, newly formed G6P was preferentially directed toward glycogen in MCAD−/− mice under both conditions. Together with diminished de novo synthesis of G6P, this led to a decreased hepatic glucose output during the APR in MCAD−/− mice; de novo synthesis of G6P and hepatic glucose output were maintained in wild‐type mice under both conditions. APR‐associated hypoglycemia, which was observed in wild‐type mice as well as MCAD−/− mice, was mainly due to enhanced peripheral glucose uptake. Conclusion: Our data demonstrate that MCAD deficiency in mice leads to specific changes in hepatic carbohydrate management on exposure to metabolic stress. This deficiency, however, does not lead to reduced de novo synthesis of G6P during fasting alone, which may be due to the existence of compensatory mechanisms or limited rate control of MCAD in murine mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation. (HEPATOLOGY 2008.)

The Short-Chain Fatty Acid Uptake Fluxes by Mice on a Guar Gum Supplemented Diet Associate with Amelioration of Major Biomarkers of the Metabolic Syndrome

Studies with dietary supplementation of various types of fibers have shown beneficial effects on symptoms of the metabolic syndrome. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), the main products of intestinal bacterial fermentation of dietary fiber, have been suggested to play a key role. Whether the concentration of SCFAs or their metabolism drives these beneficial effects is not yet clear. In this study we investigated the SCFA concentrations and in vivo host uptake fluxes in the absence or presence of the dietary fiber guar gum. C57Bl/6J mice were fed a high-fat diet supplemented with 0%, 5%, 7.5% or 10% of the fiber guar gum. To determine the effect on SCFA metabolism, 13C-labeled acetate, propionate or butyrate were infused into the cecum of mice for 6 h and the isotopic enrichment of cecal SCFAs was measured. The in vivo production, uptake and bacterial interconversion of acetate, propionate and butyrate were calculated by combining the data from the three infusion experiments in a single steady-state isotope model. Guar gum treatment decreased markers of the metabolic syndrome (body weight, adipose weight, triglycerides, glucose and insulin levels and HOMA-IR) in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, hepatic mRNA expression of genes involved in gluconeogenesis and fatty acid synthesis decreased dose-dependently by guar gum treatment. Cecal SCFA concentrations were increased compared to the control group, but no differences were observed between the different guar gum doses. Thus, no significant correlation was found between cecal SCFA concentrations and metabolic markers. In contrast, in vivo SCFA uptake fluxes by the host correlated linearly with metabolic markers. We argue that in vivo SCFA fluxes, and not concentrations, govern the protection from the metabolic syndrome by dietary fibers.

Soraphen, an inhibitor of the acetyl‐CoA carboxylase system, improves peripheral insulin sensitivity in mice fed a high‐fat diet

Aim: Inhibition of the acetyl‐CoA carboxylase (ACC) system, consisting of the isozymes ACC1 and ACC2, may be beneficial for treatment of insulin resistance and/or obesity by interfering with de novo lipogenesis and β‐oxidation. We have evaluated effects of pharmacological inhibition of ACC by soraphen (SP) on high fat (HF) diet–induced insulin resistance in mice.

Biochemical competition makes fatty-acid β-oxidation vulnerable to substrate overload.

Fatty-acid metabolism plays a key role in acquired and inborn metabolic diseases. To obtain insight into the network dynamics of fatty-acid β-oxidation, we constructed a detailed computational model of the pathway and subjected it to a fat overload condition. The model contains reversible and saturable enzyme-kinetic equations and experimentally determined parameters for rat-liver enzymes. It was validated by adding palmitoyl CoA or palmitoyl carnitine to isolated rat-liver mitochondria: without refitting of measured parameters, the model correctly predicted the β-oxidation flux as well as the time profiles of most acyl-carnitine concentrations. Subsequently, we simulated the condition of obesity by increasing the palmitoyl-CoA concentration. At a high concentration of palmitoyl CoA the β-oxidation became overloaded: the flux dropped and metabolites accumulated. This behavior originated from the competition between acyl CoAs of different chain lengths for a set of acyl-CoA dehydrogenases with overlapping substrate specificity. This effectively induced competitive feedforward inhibition and thereby led to accumulation of CoA-ester intermediates and depletion of free CoA (CoASH). The mitochondrial [NAD+]/[NADH] ratio modulated the sensitivity to substrate overload, revealing a tight interplay between regulation of β-oxidation and mitochondrial respiration.

Malnutrition-associated liver steatosis and ATP depletion is caused by peroxisomal and mitochondrial dysfunction

BACKGROUND & AIMS Severe malnutrition in young children is associated with signs of hepatic dysfunction such as steatosis and hypoalbuminemia, but its etiology is unknown. Peroxisomes and mitochondria play key roles in various hepatic metabolic functions including lipid metabolism and energy production. To investigate the involvement of these organelles in the mechanisms underlying malnutrition-induced hepatic dysfunction we developed a rat model of malnutrition. METHODS Weanling rats were placed on a low protein or control diet (5% or 20% of calories from protein, respectively) for four weeks. Peroxisomal and mitochondrial structural features were characterized using immunofluorescence and electron microscopy. Mitochondrial function was assessed using high-resolution respirometry. A novel targeted quantitative proteomics method was applied to analyze 47 mitochondrial proteins involved in oxidative phosphorylation, tricarboxylic acid cycle and fatty acid β-oxidation pathways. RESULTS Low protein diet-fed rats developed hypoalbuminemia and hepatic steatosis, consistent with the human phenotype. Hepatic peroxisome content was decreased and metabolomic analysis indicated peroxisomal dysfunction. This was followed by changes in mitochondrial ultrastructure and increased mitochondrial content. Mitochondrial function was impaired due to multiple defects affecting respiratory chain complex I and IV, pyruvate uptake and several β-oxidation enzymes, leading to strongly reduced hepatic ATP levels. Fenofibrate supplementation restored hepatic peroxisome abundance and increased mitochondrial β-oxidation capacity, resulting in reduced steatosis and normalization of ATP and plasma albumin levels. CONCLUSIONS Malnutrition leads to severe impairments in hepatic peroxisomal and mitochondrial function, and hepatic metabolic dysfunction. We discuss the potential future implications of our findings for the clinical management of malnourished children. LAY SUMMARY Severe malnutrition in children is associated with metabolic disturbances that are poorly understood. In order to study this further, we developed a malnutrition animal model and found that severe malnutrition leads to an impaired function of liver mitochondria which are essential for energy production and a loss of peroxisomes, which are important for normal liver metabolic function.

Protection against the Metabolic Syndrome by Guar Gum-Derived Short-Chain Fatty Acids Depends on Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor γ and Glucagon-Like Peptide-1.

The dietary fiber guar gum has beneficial effects on obesity, hyperglycemia and hypercholesterolemia in both humans and rodents. The major products of colonic fermentation of dietary fiber, the short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), have been suggested to play an important role. Recently, we showed that SCFAs protect against the metabolic syndrome via a signaling cascade that involves peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) γ repression and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation. In this study we investigated the molecular mechanism via which the dietary fiber guar gum protects against the metabolic syndrome. C57Bl/6J mice were fed a high-fat diet supplemented with 0% or 10% of the fiber guar gum for 12 weeks and effects on lipid and glucose metabolism were studied. We demonstrate that, like SCFAs, also guar gum protects against high-fat diet-induced metabolic abnormalities by PPARγ repression, subsequently increasing mitochondrial uncoupling protein 2 expression and AMP/ATP ratio, leading to the activation of AMPK and culminating in enhanced oxidative metabolism in both liver and adipose tissue. Moreover, guar gum markedly increased peripheral glucose clearance, possibly mediated by the SCFA-induced colonic hormone glucagon-like peptide-1. Overall, this study provides novel molecular insights into the beneficial effects of guar gum on the metabolic syndrome and strengthens the potential role of guar gum as a dietary-fiber intervention.

Bile acid sequestration reduces plasma glucose levels in db/db mice by increasing its metabolic clearance rate.

Aims/Hypothesis Bile acid sequestrants (BAS) reduce plasma glucose levels in type II diabetics and in murine models of diabetes but the mechanism herein is unknown. We hypothesized that sequestrant-induced changes in hepatic glucose metabolism would underlie reduced plasma glucose levels. Therefore, in vivo glucose metabolism was assessed in db/db mice on and off BAS using tracer methodology. Methods Lean and diabetic db/db mice were treated with 2% (wt/wt in diet) Colesevelam HCl (BAS) for 2 weeks. Parameters of in vivo glucose metabolism were assessed by infusing [U-13C]-glucose, [2-13C]-glycerol, [1-2H]-galactose and paracetamol for 6 hours, followed by mass isotopologue distribution analysis, and related to metabolic parameters as well as gene expression patterns. Results Compared to lean mice, db/db mice displayed an almost 3-fold lower metabolic clearance rate of glucose (p = 0.0001), a ∼300% increased glucokinase flux (p = 0.001) and a ∼200% increased total hepatic glucose production rate (p = 0.0002). BAS treatment increased glucose metabolic clearance rate by ∼37% but had no effects on glucokinase flux nor total hepatic or endogenous glucose production. Strikingly, BAS-treated db/db mice displayed reduced long-chain acylcarnitine content in skeletal muscle (p = 0.0317) but not in liver (p = 0.189). Unexpectedly, BAS treatment increased hepatic FGF21 mRNA expression 2-fold in lean mice (p = 0.030) and 3-fold in db/db mice (p = 0.002). Conclusions/Interpretation BAS induced plasma glucose lowering in db/db mice by increasing metabolic clearance rate of glucose in peripheral tissues, which coincided with decreased skeletal muscle long-chain acylcarnitine content.