Irwin G. Brodsky

Measurement of dermal collagen synthesis rate in vivo in humans

Accumulation of collagen produces organ dysfunction in many pathological conditions. We measured the fractional synthesis rate (FSR) of dermal collagen in five human volunteers from the increment of [13C]proline in detergent-soluble dermal collagen hydroxylated to hydroxyproline during a continuous infusion of L-[1-13C]proline. In these and eight other volunteers, we measured [13C]proline enrichment in skin aminoacyl-tRNA, skin tissue fluid amino acid, and plasma. The prolyl-[13C]tRNA enrichment was one-half that in tissue fluid proline and more than threefold less than in plasma. The FSR of dermal collagen was 0.076 +/- 0.063%/h (mean +/- SD), similar to previously reported rates for skeletal muscle contractile proteins and substantially slower than hepatically derived circulating proteins such as albumin or fibrinogen. We conclude that the FSR of human dermal collagen resembles that of other human proteins considered to display slow turnover. The current method for its measurement may be used to determine the regulation of collagen synthesis in other organs and disease states.Accumulation of collagen produces organ dysfunction in many pathological conditions. We measured the fractional synthesis rate (FSR) of dermal collagen in five human volunteers from the increment of [13C]proline in detergent-soluble dermal collagen hydroxylated to hydroxyproline during a continuous infusion ofl-[1-13C]proline. In these and eight other volunteers, we measured [13C]proline enrichment in skin aminoacyl-tRNA, skin tissue fluid amino acid, and plasma. The prolyl-[13C]tRNA enrichment was one-half that in tissue fluid proline and more than threefold less than in plasma. The FSR of dermal collagen was 0.076 ± 0.063%/h (mean ± SD), similar to previously reported rates for skeletal muscle contractile proteins and substantially slower than hepatically derived circulating proteins such as albumin or fibrinogen. We conclude that the FSR of human dermal collagen resembles that of other human proteins considered to display slow turnover. The current method for its measurement may be used to determine the regulation of collagen synthesis in other organs and disease states.

Decreased protein catabolism after exercise in subjects with IDDM

SummaryWe examined whether the increased rates of protein catabolism (proteolysis and leucine oxidation) associated with moderate insulinopenia in subjects with IDDM would be accentuated by prior bicycle exercise (53% VO2max for 82 min). Insulin infusions maintained plasma glucose concentrations on one study day in “tight” control (TC: 6 mmol/l) and on a separate day in “loose” control (LC: 12 mmol/l). Elevations in serum ketone body, plasma NEFA, and whole-blood branched-chain amino acid concentrations on the loose control day during the basal period persisted throughout the post-exercise recovery period. Amino acid kinetics were estimated during a primed, constant infusion of l-[1-13C]leucine from plasma dilution of α-[1-13C]KIC and expired air 13CO2 enrichments. Loose control was associated with increased rates of whole-body leucine oxidation (LC 25±7 vs TC 21±8 μmol · kg−1 · h−1) and protein degradation (LC 127±12 vs TC 118±18 μmol · kg−1 · h−1) (both p<0.05). During the 2-h post exercise recovery period, there were significant decreases in rates of leucine oxidation (LC 21±7, TC 16±7) and protein degradation (LC 112±13, TC 107±11), compared to the basal period (both p<0.05, basal vs recovery). Rates of wholebody protein synthesis were unchanged by prior exercise. In conclusion, moderate insulinopenia is associated with significantly higher rates of protein degradation and leucine oxidation in the basal state. Following exercise, net protein catabolism is diminished due to reduced rates of protein degradation in the presence of maintained rates of protein synthesis. The significantly increased concentrations of fat-derived substrates (ketone bodies, NEFA) may have prevented the predicted increases in protein catabolism which we anticipated would follow acute exercise during periods of relative insulin deficiency.

Modulation of the ubiquitin-proteasome proteolytic pathway by eicosapentaenoic acid supplementation in a model of progressive malignancy

BACKGROUND A benefit for eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) supplementation for protein maintenance in cancer patients exists, although specific mechanisms are unknown. As the ubiquitin-proteasome proteolytic (UPP) pathway has been implicated in protein use in malignancy, we determined mRNA levels for UPP components in the liver and muscles from EPA-treated rats bearing the methylcholanthrene (MCA) fibrosarcoma. METHODS Rats implanted with MCA tumor were divided into 3 groups on day 13: EPA (5 g/kg per day plus 10 IU vitamin E/g fat), corn oil (5 g/kg per day plus 10 IU vitamin E/g fat), and saline (5 g/kg per day plus 10 IU E/g saline). On day 29, tumor volume (TV) was determined; liver and quadriceps muscles were also excised to determine gene expression of C2, C3, E2(14k), and E3alpha by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS EPA-treated rats demonstrated a reduced TV of 21% compared with the 28% and 30% TV of corn oil- and saline-treated rats, respectively. Muscle mRNA levels of E2(14k) and E3alpha in EPA-treated animals were decreased compared with corn oil- and saline-treated animals. EPA treatment also decreased hepatic C2, C3, and E2(14k) mRNA levels compared with saline treatment. CONCLUSION EPA supplement decreased skeletal muscle E2(14k), E3alpha, and hepatic C2 mRNA levels compared with the isocaloric, isonitrogenous corn oil supplement, supporting a treatment-specific effect. The decrease in hepatic C3 and E2(14k) mRNA levels induced by EPA were partly because of caloric benefit and partly attributable to a treatment-specific effect. Additionally, differences in the hepatic and muscle gene expressions of UPP components suggested an organ-specific effect for omega-3 fatty acid activity.

Baseline Characteristics of the Vitamin D and Type 2 Diabetes (D2d) Study: A Contemporary Prediabetes Cohort That Will Inform Diabetes Prevention Efforts

OBJECTIVE To describe baseline characteristics of the Vitamin D and Type 2 Diabetes (D2d) study, the first large U.S. diabetes prevention clinical trial to apply current American Diabetes Association (ADA) criteria for prediabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS This is a multicenter (n = 22 sites), randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, primary prevention clinical trial testing effects of oral daily 4,000 IU cholecalciferol (D3) compared with placebo on incident diabetes in U.S. adults at risk for diabetes. Eligible participants were at risk for diabetes, defined as not meeting criteria for diabetes but meeting at least two 2010 ADA glycemic criteria for prediabetes: fasting plasma glucose (FPG) 100–125 mg/dL, 2-h postload glucose (2hPG) after a 75-g oral glucose load 140–199 mg/dL, and/or a hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) 5.7–6.4% (39–46 mmol/mol). RESULTS A total of 2,423 participants (45% of whom were women and 33% nonwhite) were randomized to cholecalciferol or placebo. Mean (SD) age was 60 (9.9) years and BMI 32.1 (4.5) kg/m2. Thirty-five percent met all three prediabetes criteria, 49% met the FPG/HbA1c criteria only, 9.5% met the 2hPG/FPG criteria only, and 6.3% met the 2hPG/HbA1c criteria only. Black participants had the highest mean HbA1c and lowest FPG concentration compared with white, Asian, and other races (P < 0.01); 2hPG concentration did not differ among racial groups. When compared with previous prediabetes cohorts, the D2d cohort had lower mean 2hPG concentration but similar HbA1c and FPG concentrations. CONCLUSIONS D2d will establish whether vitamin D supplementation lowers risk of diabetes and will inform about the natural history of prediabetes per contemporary ADA criteria.

Nutrition and somatomedin. X. Comparison of insulin-like activity of somatomedins extracted from liver and serum.

Uncontrolled diabetes in rats is associated with reduced levels of both serum somatomedins and hepatic somatomedins. Hepatic somatomedins are recognized after extraction with 5 mol/L acetic acid, have a higher molecular weight (about 30,000) than serum somatomedins (about 8,000), despite acid conditions that dissociate somatomedins from circulating carrier proteins, and stimulate cartilage when given in vivo. To determine if hepatic somatomedins--as potential prohormones--have insulin-like activity comparable with serum somatomedins, their effects on rat epididymal adipose tissue were examined. Somatomedins were prepared from serum and liver extracts by gel filtration on Sephadex G-75, pH 2.4. In initial studies with fat pad segments, extracted hepatic somatomedins increased glucose oxidation only 64 +/- 11% above buffer (mean +/- SEM), while stimulation of 372 +/- 48% was provided by extracted serum somatomedins of comparable cartilage-stimulating potency (P less than 0.01, liver v serum). Further examination was performed with isolated adipocytes in a system sensitive to insulin at a concentration of 10 microU/mL (stimulation 100% above buffer). In dose-response studies measuring glucose oxidation, hepatic somatomedins had insulin-like activity of 16 microU/mL versus 55 microU/mL for serum somatomedins equipotent on cartilage (P less than 0.05); measuring glucose incorporation into total lipids, hepatic somatomedins had undetectable activity while serum somatomedins had activity of 28 microU/mL. It is concluded that hepatic somatomedins with potent cartilage-stimulating activity have greatly reduced insulin-like activity. The apparent dissociation in biologic activity of hepatic somatomedins suggests that while they may be prohormones, they may also represent a class of growth factors separate from the circulating somatomedins.