José M. Carrascosa

The two isotypes of the human insulin receptor (HIR-A and HIR-B) follow different internalization kinetics

Human insulin receptor (HIR) is expressed in two isoforms which differ in the C-terminal end of the alpha-subunit (HIR-A = -12 aa, HIR-B = +12 aa). We studied internalization kinetics of HIR-A and HIR-B in Rat1 fibroblasts. Internalized receptors were quantified by 125I-insulin binding after cell trypsinisation and solubilization, surface receptors were determined by 125I-insulin binding to intact cells and by chemical crosslinking with B26-125I-insulin. HIR-A and HIR-B show different kinetics of receptor internalization. While in HIR-A cells the maximum of internalization (approx. 65% of total) is reached after 10 min followed by a high recycling rate (approx. 80% of internalized receptors after 20 min), the internalization in HIR-B cells reaches a maximum (approx. 60% of total) after 15 min without detectable recycling within 30 min. The data show that the different alpha-subunits of both receptor types determine different velocities of internalization and determine whether a fast recycling occurs.

In Vivo insulin-dependent glucose uptake of specific tissues is decreased during aging of mature wistar rats

Aging has been associated with peripheral insulin resistance in both humans and rats. However, the specific tissues that become insensitive to insulin before glucose homeostasis is altered remain to be elucidated. In the present work we studied the glucose metabolic index of a number of tissues known to be insulin sensitive in 3- and 24-month-old Wistar rats by measuring 2-deoxy-d-[1-3H]glucose uptake both under euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic conditions and in the basal state. Analysis of the glucose infusion rate to maintain normoglycemia during the clamp confirmed that the old rats show overall insulin resistance at both saturating and subsaturating insulin concentrations. The maximal response of glucose uptake to insulin as well as insulin sensitivity in red and white quadriceps were unaltered in old rats. In contrast, glucose uptake by soleus and diaphragm was poorly stimulated in old animals, and a marked decrease in insulin sensitivity was observed in both tissues. In heart, only the sensitivity to the...

Age-associated decrease of SIRT1 expression in rat hippocampus. Prevention by late onset caloric restriction

We have studied the effect of aging and late onset caloric restriction (CR) on the expression of SIRT1 in hippocampus and cerebral cortex of the rat. Quantitative analysis showed that there is a significant reduction of SIRT1 protein levels in hippocampus with aging. Late onset, moderate CR prevented the deleterious effect of aging on SIRT1 content. Examination of SIRT1 immunoreactivity in coronal sections from hippocampus supported these results, and confirmed that old animals are able to respond to the beneficial effects of CR by regulating SIRT1 protein expression. Differences in the amounts of SIRT1 transcripts among animal groups were not found, which suggest that post-transcriptional mechanisms could be involved in the effects of aging and CR on SIRT1 expression.

Development of Insulin Resistance During Aging: Involvement of Central Processes and Role of Adipokines

Aging in mammals associates with the development of peripheral insulin resistance. Additionally, adiposity usually increases with aging and this could play a relevant role in the gradual impairment of insulin action. In fact, fat accretion leads to changes in the expression and circulating concentrations of factors originated in adipose tissue like leptin, resistin and inflammatory cytokines which have been shown to modulate insulin signaling in insulin target tissues acting both, directly or through the central nervous system. Even insulin action on peripheral target tissues has been recently demonstrated to be partially mediated by its central action, suggesting that a decrease in central insulin action could be involved in the development of peripheral insulin resistance. In the present review we analyze the available research data on aging-associated insulin resistance making emphasis in the following aspects: 1) The time-course of development of overall insulin resistance and the evolution of changes in circulating adipokines; 2) The effect of caloric restriction and the decrease of adiposity in insulin action; 3) The influence of changes in the central action of factors like leptin or insulin in the development and maintenance of insulin resistance during aging.

Decreased leptin uptake in hypothalamic nuclei with aging in wistar rats

Leptin interacts with specific receptors in hypothalamic nuclei and modulates energy balance. Growing evidence has shown the association of obesity and hyperleptinaemia with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and insulin resistance. The aged Wistar rat shows peripheral insulin resistance in the absence of obesity and alterations of glucose homeostasis. However, it is not known whether, in these animals, the leptin action is altered. Here we studied the effect of ageing on plasma leptin concentration and the ability of hypothalamic nuclei to capture i.c.v.-injected digoxigenin-labelled leptin. Our data indicate that 24-month-old animals are hyperleptinaemic. However, daily food intake was greater in old animals, suggesting that they are leptin resistant. Leptin uptake in the hypothalamus was reduced in old rats. This uptake was a receptor-mediated process as demonstrated by displacement. Leptin accumulation in hypothalamic nuclei was partially colocalized with neuropeptide Y fibres. Immunohistochemical and western blot analyses showed a lower amount of the long form of leptin receptors in the hypothalamus of aged rats. Analysis by RT-PCR also demonstrated a decreased expression of leptin receptor mRNA in old animals. We conclude that the lower leptin uptake may be explained, at least in part, by a decreased amount of receptors in hypothalamic neurones of the aged rats.

Activation of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase by insulin is mediated by both A and B human insulin receptor types

Activation of a phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI-3-kinase) is one of the earliest consequences of insulin binding to the receptor. The human insulin receptor exists in two isoforms which differ in the length of the alpha-subunit (HIR-A = 719 aa, HIR-B = 731 aa). To test whether both isoforms transduce an insulin signal on PI-3-kinase we used rat-1-fibroblasts expressing HIR-A or HIR-B. We found that insulin stimulates 32P incorporation into PIP through both HIR-A and HIR-B to a similar extent (approx. 8-10 fold).

Regulation of Insulin-Stimulated Glucose Uptake in Rat White Adipose Tissue upon Chronic Central Leptin Infusion: Effects on Adiposity

Leptin enhances the glucose utilization in most insulin target tissues and paradoxically decreases it in white adipose tissue (WAT), but knowledge of the mechanisms underlying the inhibitory effect of central leptin on the insulin-dependent glucose uptake in WAT is limited. After 7 d intracerebroventricular leptin treatment (0.2 μg/d) of rats, the overall insulin sensitivity and the responsiveness of WAT after acute in vivo insulin administration were analyzed. We also performed unilateral WAT denervation to clarify the role of the autonomic nervous system in leptin effects on the insulin-stimulated [(3)H]-2-deoxyglucose transport in WAT. Central leptin improved the overall insulin sensitivity but decreased the in vivo insulin action in WAT, including insulin receptor autophosphorylation, insulin receptor substrate-1 tyrosine-phosphorylation, and Akt activation. In this tissue, insulin receptor substrate-1 and glucose transporter 4 mRNA and protein levels were down-regulated after central leptin treatment. Additionally, a remarkable up-regulation of resistin, together with an augmented expression of suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 in WAT, was also observed in leptin-treated rats. As a result, the insulin-stimulated glucose transporter 4 insertion at the plasma membrane and the glucose uptake in WAT were impaired in leptin-treated rats. Finally, denervation of WAT abolished the inhibitory effect of central leptin on glucose transport and decreased suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 and resistin levels in this tissue, suggesting that resistin, in an autocrine/paracrine manner, might be a mediator of central leptin antagonism of insulin action in WAT. We conclude that central leptin, inhibiting the insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in WAT, may regulate glucose availability for triacylglyceride formation and accumulation in this tissue, thereby contributing to the control of adiposity.

EFFECTS OF CHRONIC ACARBOSE TREATMENT ON ADIPOCYTE INSULIN RESPONSIVENESS, SERUM LEVELS OF LEPTIN AND ADIPONECTIN AND HYPOTHALAMIC NPY EXPRESSION IN OBESE DIABETIC WISTAR RATS

1 Inhibitors of intestinal glucosidases have been shown to improve glycaemic control in diabetic and obese humans and animals. In the present study, we have investigated the effect of 3 months treatment with acarbose on adiposity, food intake and the modulation of hypothalamic neuropeptide Y (NPY) in obese diabetic Wistar (WDF) rats and the possible correlation between changes in overall insulin sensitivity and the level of circulating adipokines, leptin and adiponectin. In addition, we investigated the effect of acarbose on adipocyte insulin signalling. 2 Mature male WDF rats were randomly distributed to one of three treatment groups (no acarbose or 20 or 40 mg of acarbose/100 g diet). After 3 months, blood glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, insulin, leptin and adiponectin were analysed. Insulin signalling was determined in isolated adipocytes as the stimulation of mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) and Akt phosphorylation; the level of hypothalamic NPY was assessed by immunohistochemistry. 3 Acarbose‐treated rats had lower levels of blood glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, insulin and leptin and an increase in adiponectin compared with untreated animals. There were no changes in bodyweight and adiposity. Stimulation of adipocyte MAPK activity by insulin was higher in rats treated with both doses of acarbose, whereas higher stimulation of Akt phosphorylation was observed with the highest dose of acarbose. Although food intake was not significantly reduced in rats treated with acarbose, the acarbose‐treated rats had lower NPY expression in the arcuate nucleus. 4 We conclude that the improvement in overall insulin sensitivity in WDF rats after prolonged acarbose treatment is paralleled by increases in circulating adiponectin and adipocyte insulin responsiveness. Acarbose neither decreases food intake nor reverts obesity, but decreases leptin levels and the expression of the orexigenic NPY in the hypothalamus.

Effects of age and caloric restriction in the vascular response of renal arteries to endothelin-1 in rats

&NA; Cardiovascular alterations are the most prevalent cause of impaired physiological function in aged individuals with kidney being one the most affected organs. Aging‐induced alterations in renal circulation are associated with a decrease in endothelium‐derived relaxing factors such as nitric oxide (NO) and with an increase in contracting factors such as endothelin‐1(ET‐1). As caloric restriction (CR) exerts beneficial effects preventing some of the aging‐induced alterations in cardiovascular system, the aim of this study was to analyze the effects of age and caloric restriction in the vascular response of renal arteries to ET‐1 in aged rats. Vascular function was studied in renal arteries from 3‐month‐old Wistar rats fed ad libitum (3 m) and in renal arteries from 8‐and 24‐month‐old Wistar rats fed ad libitum (8 m and 24 m), or subjected to 20% caloric restriction during their three last months of life (8 m‐CR and 24 m‐CR). The contractile response to ET‐1 was increased in renal arteries from 8 m and 24 m compared to 3 m rats. ET‐1‐induced contraction was mediated by ET‐A receptors in all experimental groups and also by ET‐B receptors in 24 m rats. Caloric restriction attenuated the increased contraction to ET‐1 in renal arteries from 8 m but not from 24 m rats possibly through NO release proceeding from ET‐B endothelial receptors. In 24 m rats, CR did not attenuate the aging‐increased response of renal arteries to ET‐1, but it prevented the aging‐induced increase in iNOS mRNA levels and the aging‐induced decrease in eNOS mRNA levels in arterial tissue. In conclusion, aging is associated with an increased response to ET‐1 in renal arteries that is prevented by CR in 8 m but not in 24 m rats. HighlightsRenal arteries response to ET‐1 is increased in 8‐ and 24‐month‐old ratsET‐A and ET‐B receptors are involved in ET‐1‐induced contraction of renal arteriesThe effect of caloric restriction differs depending on rat age

Aging impairs the hepatic subcellular distribution of ChREBP in response to fasting/feeding in rats: Implications on hepatic steatosis☆

Aging is associated with alterations of lipid metabolism and increased prevalence of non alcoholic hepatic steatosis. Nevertheless, the mechanisms by which fat is accumulated in the liver during aging remain incompletely understood. In the present study, we investigated potential alterations that might contribute to the development of hepatic steatosis with aging. To this end, we analyzed the expression and the subcellular localization of key transcriptional factors involved in lipid metabolism such as ChREBP, Foxo1, Foxa2 and SREBP-1c in the liver of 3- and 24-month old Wistar rats. In addition, we studied the intracellular redistribution of ChREBP in response to fasting/refeeding transition. Old rats were characterized by hepatic steatosis, low serum ketone body levels and postprandial hyperinsulinemia. These observations were paralleled by the cytoplasmic localization and decreased expression of Foxa2, while ChREBP expression was markedly up-regulated and mainly localized in the nucleus. Consequently, the expression of lipogenic and β-oxidation genes was up-regulated or down-regulated, respectively. Besides, the intracellular redistribution of ChREBP in response to fasting/refeeding transition was also impaired in old animals. Additionally, a negative correlation between serum ketone body levels and the nuclear localization of ChREBP was observed only in adult but not in old rats. Taken together, these data suggest that an age-related dysfunctional adaptation of ChREBP, in response to changes in the nutritional state, might contribute to the development of liver steatosis with aging.