Linda Koch

Inactivation of the Fto gene protects from obesity.

Several independent, genome-wide association studies have identified a strong correlation between body mass index and polymorphisms in the human FTO gene. Common variants in the first intron define a risk allele predisposing to obesity, with homozygotes for the risk allele weighing approximately 3 kilograms more than homozygotes for the low risk allele. Nevertheless, the functional role of FTO in energy homeostasis remains elusive. Here we show that the loss of Fto in mice leads to postnatal growth retardation and a significant reduction in adipose tissue and lean body mass. The leanness of Fto-deficient mice develops as a consequence of increased energy expenditure and systemic sympathetic activation, despite decreased spontaneous locomotor activity and relative hyperphagia. Taken together, these experiments provide, to our knowledge, the first direct demonstration that Fto is functionally involved in energy homeostasis by the control of energy expenditure.

Enhanced PIP3 signaling in POMC neurons causes KATP channel activation and leads to diet-sensitive obesity

Leptin and insulin have been identified as fuel sensors acting in part through their hypothalamic receptors to inhibit food intake and stimulate energy expenditure. As their intracellular signaling converges at the PI3K pathway, we directly addressed the role of phosphatidylinositol3,4,5-trisphosphate-mediated (PIP3-mediated) signals in hypothalamic proopiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons by inactivating the gene for the PIP3 phosphatase Pten specifically in this cell type. Here we show that POMC-specific disruption of Pten resulted in hyperphagia and sexually dimorphic diet-sensitive obesity. Although leptin potently stimulated Stat3 phosphorylation in POMC neurons of POMC cell-restricted Pten knockout (PPKO) mice, it failed to significantly inhibit food intake in vivo. POMC neurons of PPKO mice showed a marked hyperpolarization and a reduction in basal firing rate due to increased ATP-sensitive potassium (KATP) channel activity. Leptin was not able to elicit electrical activity in PPKO POMC neurons, but application of the PI3K inhibitor LY294002 and the KATP blocker tolbutamide restored electrical activity and leptin-evoked firing of POMC neurons in these mice. Moreover, icv administration of tolbutamide abolished hyperphagia in PPKO mice. These data indicate that PIP3-mediated signals are critical regulators of the melanocortin system via modulation of KATP channels.

Central insulin action regulates peripheral glucose and fat metabolism in mice

Insulin resistance is a hallmark of type 2 diabetes, and many insights into the functions of insulin have been gained through the study of mice lacking the IR. To gain a better understanding of the role of insulin action in the brain versus peripheral tissues, we created 2 mouse models with inducible IR inactivation, 1 in all tissues including brain (IRDeltawb), and 1 restricted to peripheral tissues (IRDeltaper). While downregulation of IR expression resulted in severe hyperinsulinemia in both models, hyperglycemia was more pronounced in IRDeltawb mice. Both strains displayed a dramatic upregulation of hepatic leptin receptor expression, while only IRDeltaper mice displayed increased hepatic Stat3 phosphorylation and Il6 expression. Despite a similar reduction in IR expression in white adipose tissue (WAT) mass in both models, IRDeltawb mice had a more pronounced reduction in WAT mass and severe hypoleptinemia. Leptin replacement restored hepatic Stat3 phosphorylation and normalized glucose metabolism in these mice, indicating that alterations in glucose metabolism occur largely as a consequence of lipoathrophy upon body-wide IR deletion. Moreover, chronic intracerebroventricular insulin treatment of control mice increased fat mass, fat cell size, and adipose tissue lipoprotein lipase expression, indicating that CNS insulin action promotes lipogenesis. These studies demonstrate that central insulin action plays an important role in regulating WAT mass and glucose metabolism via hepatic Stat3 activation.

Neuronal IGF-1 resistance reduces Aβ accumulation and protects against premature death in a model of Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimers disease (AD) is characterized by progressive neurodegeneration leading to loss of cognitive abilities and ultimately to death. Postmortem investigations revealed decreased expression of cerebral insulin‐like growth factor (IGF)‐1 receptor (IGF‐1R) and insulin receptor substrate (IRS) proteins in patients with AD. To elucidate the role of insulin/IGF‐1 signaling in AD, we crossed mice expressing the Swedish mutation of amyloid precursor protein (APPSW, Tg2576 mice) as a model for AD with mice deficient for either IRS‐2, neuronal IGF‐1R (nIGF‐1R−/−), or neuronal insulin receptor (nIR−/−), and analyzed survival, glucose, and APP metabolism. In the present study, we show that IRS‐2 deficiency in Tg2576 mice completely reverses premature mortality in Tg2576 females and delays β‐amyloid (Aβ) accumulation. Analysis of APP metabolism suggested that delayed Aβ accumulation resulted from decreased APP processing. To delineate the upstream signal responsible for IRS‐2‐mediated disease protection, we analyzed mice with nIGF‐1R or nIR deficiency predominantly in the hippocampus. Interestingly, both male and female nIGF‐1R−/−Tg2576 mice were protected from premature death in the presence of decreased Aβ accumulation specifically in the hippocampus formation. However, neuronal IR deletion had no influence on lethality of Tg2576 mice. Thus, impaired IGF‐1/IRS‐2 signaling prevents premature death and delays amyloid accumulation in a model of AD.—Freude, S., Hettich, M. M., Schumann, C., Stohr, O., Koch, L., Kohler, C., Udelhoven, M., Leeser, U., Müller, M., Kubota, N., Kadowaki, T., Krone, W., Schroder, H., Bruning, J. C., Schubert, M. Neuronal IGF‐1 resistance reduces Aβ accumulation and protects against premature death in a model of Alzheimers disease. FASEB J. 23, 3315–3324 (2009). www.fasebj.org

Divergent roles of growth factors in the GnRH regulation of puberty in mice

Pubertal onset, initiated by pulsatile gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), only occurs in a favorable, anabolic hormonal milieu. Anabolic factors that may signal nutritional status to the hypothalamus include the growth factors insulin and IGF-1. It is unclear which hypothalamic neuronal subpopulation these factors affect to ultimately regulate GnRH neuron function in puberty and reproduction. We examined the direct role of the GnRH neuron in growth factor regulation of reproduction using the Cre/lox system. Mice with the IR or IGF-1R deleted specifically in GnRH neurons were generated. Male and female mice with the IR deleted in GnRH neurons displayed normal pubertal timing and fertility, but male and female mice with the IGF-1R deleted in GnRH neurons experienced delayed pubertal development with normal fertility. With IGF-1 administration, puberty was advanced in control females, but not in females with the IGF-1R deleted in GnRH neurons, in control males, or in knockout males. These mice exhibited developmental differences in GnRH neuronal morphology but normal number and distribution of neurons. These studies define the role of IGF-1R signaling in the coordination of somatic development with reproductive maturation and provide insight into the mechanisms regulating pubertal timing in anabolic states.

Autocrine IGF-1 Action in Adipocytes Controls Systemic IGF-1 Concentrations and Growth

OBJECTIVE—IGF-1 and the IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R) have been implicated in the regulation of adipocyte differentiation and lipid accumulation in vitro. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—To investigate the role of IGF-1 receptor in vivo, we have inactivated the Igf-1r gene in adipose tissue (IGF-1RaP2Cre mice) using conditional gene targeting strategies. RESULTS—Conditional IGF-1R inactivation resulted in increased adipose tissue mass with a predominantly increased lipid accumulation in epigonadal fat pads. However, insulin-stimulated glucose uptake into adipocytes was unaffected by the deletion of the IGF-1R. Surprisingly, IGF-1RaP2Cre mice exhibited markedly increased somatic growth in the presence of elevated IGF-1 serum concentrations, and IGF-1 mRNA expression was significantly increased in liver and adipose tissue. IGF-1 stimulation of wild-type adipocytes significantly decreased IGF-1 mRNA expression, whereas the opposite effect was observed in IGF-1R–deficient adipocytes. CONCLUSIONS—IGF-1R signaling in adipocytes does not appear to be crucial for the development and differentiation of adipose tissue in vivo, but we identified a negative IGF-1R–mediated feedback mechanism of IGF-1 on its own gene expression in adipocytes, indicating an unexpected role for adipose tissue IGF-1 signaling in the regulation of IGF-1 serum concentrations in control of somatic growth.

Epidermal insulin/IGF‐1 signalling control interfollicular morphogenesis and proliferative potential through Rac activation

The lifelong self‐renewal of the epidermis is driven by a progenitor cell population with high proliferative potential. To date, the upstream signals that determine this potential have remained largely elusive. Here, we find that insulin and insulin‐like growth factor receptors (IR and IGF‐1R) determine epidermal proliferative potential and cooperatively regulate interfollicular epidermal morphogenesis in a cell autonomous manner. Epidermal deletion of either IR or IGF‐1R or both in mice progressively decreased epidermal thickness without affecting differentiation or apoptosis. Proliferation was temporarily reduced at E17.5 in the absence of IGF‐1R but not IR. In contrast, clonogenic capacity was impaired in both IR‐ and IGF‐1R‐deficient primary keratinocytes, concomitant with an in vivo loss of keratin 15. Together with a reduction in label‐retaining cells in the interfollicular epidermis, this suggests that IR/IGF‐1R regulate progenitor cells. The expression of dominant active Rac rescued clonogenic potential of IR/IGF‐1R‐negative keratinocytes and reversed epidermal thinning in vivo. Our results identify the small GTPase Rac as a key target of epidermal IR/IGF‐1R signalling crucial for proliferative potential and interfollicular morphogenesis.

Phosphoinositide-Dependent Kinase 1 Provides Negative Feedback Inhibition to Toll-Like Receptor-Mediated NF-κB Activation in Macrophages

ABSTRACT Phosphoinositide-dependent kinase 1 (PDK-1) represents an important signaling component in the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway, which plays an essential role in controlling a coordinated innate immune response. Here, we show that mice with conditional disruption of PDK-1 specifically in myeloid lineage cells (PDK-1Δmyel mice) show enhanced susceptibility to lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced septic shock accompanied by exaggerated liver failure. Furthermore, primary macrophages derived from PDK-1Δmyel mice lack LPS- and Pam3CSK4-stimulated AKT activity but exhibit increased mRNA expression and release of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin 6 (IL-6). Moreover, LPS- and Pam3CSK4-stimulated primary macrophages exhibit enhanced phosphorylation and degradation of IκBα. While immediate upstream Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4)-induced signaling, including IL-1 receptor (IL-1R)-associated protein kinase (IRAK) phosphorylation, is unaltered in the absence of PDK-1, macrophages from PDK-1Δmyel mice exhibit prolonged ubiquitination of tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF-6) in response to LPS stimulation. These experiments reveal a novel PDK-1-dependent negative feedback inhibition of TLR-induced NF-κB activation in macrophages in vivo.

Targeted Deletion of Somatotroph Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I Signaling in a Cell-Specific Knockout Mouse Model

The role of IGF-I in the negative regulation of GH expression and release is demonstrated by in vitro and in vivo models; however, the targets and mechanisms of IGF-I remain unclear. We have developed a cell-specific knockout mouse in which the IGF-I receptor was ablated from the somatotroph in order to validate and characterize IGF-I negative regulation; we termed this the somatotroph IGF-I receptor knockout (SIGFRKO) mouse. The SIGFRKO mice demonstrated increased GH gene expression and secretion as well as increased serum IGF-I. Compensatory changes were noted with decreased GHRH and increased somatostatin mRNA expression levels. SIGFRKO mice had normal linear growth, but by 14 wk of age weighed significantly less than controls. Furthermore, metabolic studies revealed SIGFRKO mice had significantly less fat mass and body percent fat. These data support somatotroph IGF-I negative regulation and suggest that hypothalamic feedback limits the extent of GH release. The SIGFRKO mouse is a model delineating the mechanisms of IGF-I regulation in the hypothalamic-pituitary axis and demonstrates compensatory mechanisms that mediate growth and metabolic function in mammals.

IGF-IR signaling attenuates the age-related decline of diastolic cardiac function

Insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I) signaling has been implicated to play an important role in regulation of cardiac growth, hypertrophy, and contractile function and has been linked to the development of age-related congestive heart failure. Here, we address the question to what extent cardiomyocyte-specific IGF-I signaling is essential for maintenance of the structural and functional integrity of the adult murine heart. To investigate the effects of IGF-I signaling in the adult heart without confounding effects due to IGF-I overexpression or adaptation during embryonic and early postnatal development, we inactivated the IGF-I receptor (IGF-IR) by a 4-hydroxytamoxifen-inducible Cre recombinase in adult cardiac myocytes. Efficient inactivation of the IGF-IR (iCMIGF-IRKO) as assessed by Western analysis and real-time PCR went along with reduced IGF-I-dependent Akt and GSK3β phosphorylation. Functional analysis by conductance manometry and MRI revealed no functional alterations in young adult iCMIGF-IRKO mice (age 3 mo). However, when induced in aging mice (11 mo) diastolic cardiac function was depressed. To address the question whether insulin signaling might compensate for the defective IGF-IR signaling, we inactivated β-cells by streptozotocin. However, the diabetes-associated functional depression was similar in control and iCMIGF-IRKO mice. Similarly, analysis of the cardiac gene expression profile on 44K microarrays did not reveal activation of overt adaptive processes. Endogenous IGF-IR signaling is required for conservation of cardiac function of the aging heart, but not for the integrity of cardiac structure and function of young hearts.