Lorraine A. Nolte

Adaptations of skeletal muscle to exercise: rapid increase in the transcriptional coactivator PGC-1

Endurance exercise induces increases in mitochondria and the GLUT4 isoform of the glucose transporter in muscle. Although little is known about the mechanisms underlying these adaptations, new information has accumulated regarding how mitochondrial biogenesis and GLUT4 expression are regulated. This includes the findings that the transcriptional coactivator PGC‐1 promotes mitochondrial biogenesis and that NRF‐1 and NRF‐2 act as transcriptional activators of genes encoding mitochondrial enzymes. We tested the hypothesis that increases in PGC‐1, NRF‐1, and NRF‐2 are involved in the initial adaptive response of muscle to exercise. Five daily bouts of swimming induced increases in mitochondrial enzymes and GLUT4 in skeletal muscle in rats. One exercise bout resulted in ~ twofold increases in full‐length muscle PGC‐1 mRNA and PGC‐1 protein, which were evident 18 h after exercise. A smaller form of PGC‐1 increased after exercise. The exercise induced increases in muscle NRF‐1 and NRF‐2 that were evident 12 to 18 h after one exercise bout. These findings suggest that increases in PGC‐1, NRF‐1, and NRF‐2 represent key regulatory components of the stimulation of mitochondrial biogenesis by exercise and that PGC‐1 mediates the coordinated increases in GLUT4 and mitochondria.—Baar, K., Wende, A. R., Jones, T. E., Marison, M., Nolte, L. A., Chen, M., Kelly, D. P., Holloszy, J. O. Adaptations of skeletal muscle to exercise: rapid increase in the transcriptional coactivator PGC‐1. FASEB J. 16, 1879–1886 (2002)

Skeletal muscle respiratory uncoupling prevents diet-induced obesityand insulin resistance in mice

To determine whether uncoupling respiration from oxidative phosphorylation in skeletal muscle is a suitable treatment for obesity and type 2 diabetes, we generated transgenic mice expressing the mitochondrial uncoupling protein (Ucp) in skeletal muscle. Skeletal muscle oxygen consumption was 98% higher in Ucp-L mice (with low expression) and 246% higher in Ucp-H mice (with high expression) than in wild-type mice. Ucp mice fed a chow diet had the same food intake as wild-type mice, but weighed less and had lower levels of glucose and triglycerides and better glucose tolerance than did control mice. Ucp-L mice were resistant to obesity induced by two different high-fat diets. Ucp-L mice fed a high-fat diet had less adiposity, lower levels of glucose, insulin and cholesterol, and an increased metabolic rate at rest and with exercise. They were also more responsive to insulin, and had enhanced glucose transport in skeletal muscle in the setting of increased muscle triglyceride content. These data suggest that manipulating respiratory uncoupling in muscle is a viable treatment for obesity and its metabolic sequelae.

A High Fat Diet Impairs Stimulation of Glucose Transport in Muscle FUNCTIONAL EVALUATION OF POTENTIAL MECHANISMS

A high fat diet causes resistance of skeletal muscle glucose transport to insulin and contractions. We tested the hypothesis that fat feeding causes a change in plasma membrane composition that interferes with functioning of glucose transporters and/or insulin receptors. Epitrochlearis muscles of rats fed a high (50% of calories) fat diet for 8 weeks showed ∼50% decreases in insulin- and contraction-stimulated 3-O-methylglucose transport. Similar decreases in stimulated glucose transport activity occurred in muscles of wild-type mice with 4 weeks of fat feeding. In contrast, GLUT1 overexpressing muscles of transgenic mice fed a high fat diet showed no decreases in their high rates of glucose transport, providing evidence against impaired glucose transporter function. Insulin-stimulated system A amino acid transport, insulin receptor (IR) tyrosine kinase activity, and insulin-stimulated IR and IRS-1 tyrosine phosphorylation were all normal in muscles of rats fed the high fat diet for 8 weeks. However, after 30 weeks on the high fat diet, there was a significant reduction in insulin-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation in muscle. The increases in GLUT4 at the cell surface induced by insulin or muscle contractions, measured with the 3H-labeled 2-N-4-(1-azi-2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)-benzoyl-1,3-bis-(d-mannose-4-yloxy)-2-propylamine photolabel, were 26–36% smaller in muscles of the 8-week high fat-fed rats as compared with control rats. Our findings provide evidence that (a) impairment of muscle glucose transport by 8 weeks of high fat feeding is not due to plasma membrane composition-related reductions in glucose transporter or insulin receptor function, (b) a defect in insulin receptor signaling is a late event, not a primary cause, of the muscle insulin resistance induced by fat feeding, and (c) impaired GLUT4 translocation to the cell surface plays a major role in the decrease in stimulated glucose transport.

Effects of glycaemia on glucose transport in isolated skeletal muscle from patients with NIDDM: in vitro reversal of muscular insulin resistance.

SummaryWe investigated the influence of altered glucose levels on insulin-stimulated 3-0-methylglucose transport in isolated skeletal muscle obtained from NIDDM patients (n=13) and non-diabetic subjects (n=23). Whole body insulin sensitivity was 71% lower in the NIDDM patients compared to the non-diabetic subjects (p <0.05), whereas, insulin-mediated peripheral glucose utilization in the NIDDM patients under hyperglycaemic conditions was comparable to that of the non-diabetic subjects at euglycaemia. Following a 30-min in vitro exposure to 4 mmol/l glucose, insulin-stimulated 3-0-methylglucose transport (600 pmol/l insulin) was 40% lower in isolated skeletal muscle strips from the NIDDM patients when compared to muscle strips from the non-diabetic subjects. The impaired capacity for insulin-stimulated 3-0-methylglucose transport in the NIDDM skeletal muscle was normalized following prolonged (2 h) exposure to 4 mmol/l, but not to 8 mmol/l glucose. Insulin-stimulated 3-0-methylglucose transport in the NIDDM skeletal muscle exposed to 8 mmol/l glucose was similar to that of the non-diabetic muscle exposed to 5 mmol/l glucose, but was decreased by 43% (p <0.01) when compared to non-diabetic muscle exposed to 8 mmol/l glucose. Despite the impaired insulin-stimulated 3-0-methylglucose transport capacity demonstrated by skeletal muscle from the NIDDM patients, skeletal muscle glycogen content was similar to that of the non-diabetic subjects. Kinetic studies revel a Km for 3-0-methylglucose transport of 9.7 and 8.8 mmol/l glucose for basal and insulin-stimulated conditions, respectively. In conclusion, the impaired capacity for insulinstimulated glucose transport in skeletal muscle from patients with NIDDM appears to protect the cell from excessive glucose uptake under hyperglycaemic conditions. Furthermore, the in vitro normalization of the decreased insulin-stimulated glucose transport in NIDDM skeletal muscle following exposure to 4 mmol/l glucose suggests that glycaemia per se has a profound effect on the regulation of muscular glucose transport.

Skeletal muscle overexpression of nuclear respiratory factor 1 increases glucose transport capacity

Nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF‐1) is a transcriptional activator of nuclear genes that encode a range of mitochondrial proteins including cytochrome c, various other respiratory chain subunits, and δ‐aminolevulinate synthase. Activation of NRF‐1 in fibroblasts has been shown to induce increases in cytochrome c expression and mitochondrial respiratory capacity. To further evaluate the role of NRF‐1 in the regulation of mitochondrial biogenesis and respiratory capacity, we generated transgenic mice overexpressing NRF‐1 in skeletal muscle. Cytochrome c expression was increased ∼twofold and δ‐aminolevulinate synthase was increased ∼50% in NRF‐1 transgenic muscle. The levels of some mitochondrial proteins were increased 50–60%, while others were unchanged. Muscle respiratory capacity was not increased in the NRF‐1 transgenic mice. A finding that provides new insight regarding the role of NRF‐1 was that expression of MEF2A and GLUT4 was increased in NRF‐1 transgenic muscle. The increase in GLUT4 was associated with a proportional increase in insulin‐stimulated glucose transport. These results show that an isolated increase in NRF‐1 is not sufficient to bring about a coordinated increase in expression of all of the proteins necessary for assembly of functional mitochondria. They also provide the new information that NRF‐1 overexpression results in increased expression of GLUT4.—Baar, K., Song, Z., Semenkovich, C. F., Jones, T. E,. Han, D.‐H., Nolte, L. A., Ojuka, E. O., Chen, M., Holloszy, J. O. Skeletal muscle overexpression of nuclear respiratory factor 1 increases glucose transport capacity. FASEB J. 17, 1666–1673 (2003)

DHEA protects against visceral obesity and muscle insulin resistance in rats fed a high-fat diet

Visceral obesity is frequently associated with muscle insulin resistance. Rats fed a high-fat diet rapidly develop obesity and insulin resistance. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) has been reported to protect against the development of obesity. This study tested the hypothesis that DHEA protects against the increase in visceral fat and the development of muscle insulin resistance induced by a high-fat diet in rats. Feeding rats a diet providing 50% of the energy as fat for 4 wk resulted in a twofold greater visceral fat mass and a 50% lower rate of maximally insulin-stimulated muscle 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) uptake compared with controls. Rats fed the high-fat diet plus 0.3% DHEA were largely protected against the increase in visceral fat (+11.3 g in high fat vs. +2.9 g in high fat plus DHEA, compared with controls) and against the decrease in insulin-stimulated muscle 2-DG uptake (0.94 ± 0.15 μmol ⋅ ml-1 ⋅ 20 min-1, controls; 0.46 ± 0.06 μmol ⋅ ml-1 ⋅ 20 min-1, high-fat diet; 0.78 ± 0.07 μmol ⋅ ml-1 ⋅ 20 min-1, high fat + DHEA). DHEA did not affect food intake. These results show that DHEA has a protective effect against accumulation of visceral fat and development of muscle insulin resistance in rats fed a high-fat diet.Visceral obesity is frequently associated with muscle insulin resistance. Rats fed a high-fat diet rapidly develop obesity and insulin resistance. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) has been reported to protect against the development of obesity. This study tested the hypothesis that DHEA protects against the increase in visceral fat and the development of muscle insulin resistance induced by a high-fat diet in rats. Feeding rats a diet providing 50% of the energy as fat for 4 wk resulted in a twofold greater visceral fat mass and a 50% lower rate of maximally insulin-stimulated muscle 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) uptake compared with controls. Rats fed the high-fat diet plus 0.3% DHEA were largely protected against the increase in visceral fat (+ 11.3 g in high fat vs. + 2.9 g in high fat plus DHEA, compared with controls) and against the decrease in insulin-stimulated muscle 2-DG uptake (0.94 +/- 0.15 mumol.ml-1.20 min-1, controls; 0.46 +/- 0.06 mumol.ml-1.20 min-1, high-fat diet; 0.78 +/- 0.07 mumol.ml-1.20 min-1, high fat + DHEA). DHEA did not affect food intake. These results show that DHEA has a protective effect against accumulation of visceral fat and development of muscle insulin resistance in rats fed a high-fat diet.

Effect of metformin on insulin-stimulated glucose transport in isolated skeletal muscle obtained from patients with NIDDM.

SummaryMetformin has been demonstrated to lower blood glucose in vivo by a mechanism which increases peripheral glucose uptake. Furthermore, the therapeutic concentration of metformin has been estimated to be in the order of 0.01 mmol/l. We investigated the effect of metformin on insulin-stimulated 3-0-methylglucose transport in isolated skeletal muscle obtained from seven patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and from eight healthy subjects. Whole body insulin-mediated glucose utilization was decreased by 45% (p<0.05) in the diabetic subjects when studied at 8 mmol/l glucose, compared to the healthy subjects studied at 5 mmol/l glucose. Metformin, at concentrations of 0.1 and 0.01 mmol/l, had no effect on basal or insulin-stimulated (100 ΜU/ml) glucose transport in muscle strips from either of the groups. However, the two control subjects and three patients with NIDDM which displayed a low rate of insulin-mediated glucose utilization (<20 Μmol·kg−1·min−1), as well as in vitro insulin resistance, demonstrated increased insulin-stimulated glucose transport in the presence of metformin at 0.1 mmol/l (p<0.05). In conclusion, the concentration of metformin resulting in a potentiating effect on insulin-stimulated glucose transport in insulin-resistant human skeletal muscle is 10-fold higher than the therapeutic concentrations administered to patients with NIDDM. Thus, it is conceivable that the hypoglycaemic effect of metformin in vivo may be due to an accumulation of the drug in the extracellular space of skeletal muscle, or to an effect of the drug distal to the glucose transport step.

Respiratory Uncoupling Lowers Blood Pressure Through a Leptin-Dependent Mechanism in Genetically Obese Mice

Insulin resistance is commonly associated with hypertension, a condition that causes vascular disease in people with obesity and type 2 diabetes. The mechanisms linking hypertension and insulin resistance are poorly understood. To determine whether respiratory uncoupling can prevent insulin resistance-related hypertension, we crossed transgenic mice expressing uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) in skeletal muscle with lethal yellow (Ay/a) mice, genetically obese animals known to have elevated blood pressure. Despite increased food intake, UCP-Ay/a mice weighed less than their Ay/a littermates. The metabolic rate was higher in UCP-Ay/a mice than in Ay/a mice and did not impair their ability to alter oxygen consumption in response to temperature changes, an adaptation involving sympathetic nervous system activity. Compared with their nontransgenic littermates, UCP-Ay/a mice had lower fasting insulin, glucose, triglyceride, and cholesterol levels and were more insulin sensitive. Blood pressure, serum leptin, and urinary catecholamine levels were also lower in uncoupled mice. Independent of sympathetic nervous system activity, low-dose peripheral leptin infusion increased blood pressure in UCP-Ay/a mice but not in their Ay/a littermates. These data indicate that skeletal muscle respiratory uncoupling reverses insulin resistance and lowers blood pressure in genetic obesity without affecting thermoregulation. The data also suggest that uncoupling could decrease the risk of atherosclerosis in type 2 diabetes.

Decreased insulin-stimulated GLUT-4 translocation in glycogen-supercompensated muscles of exercised rats

It was recently found that the effect of an exercise-induced increase in muscle GLUT-4 on insulin-stimulated glucose transport is masked by a decreased responsiveness to insulin in glycogen-supercompensated muscle. We evaluated the role of hexosamines in this decrease in insulin responsiveness and found that UDP- N-acetyl hexosamine concentrations were not higher in glycogen-supercompensated muscles than in control muscles with a low glycogen content. We determined whether the smaller increase in glucose transport is due to translocation of fewer GLUT-4 to the cell surface with the 2- N-4-(1-azi-2,2,2-trifluroethyl)-benzoyl-1,3-bis(d-mannose-4-yloxy)-2-propylamine (ATB-[2-3H]BMPA) photolabeling technique. The insulin-induced increase in GLUT-4 at the cell surface was no greater in glycogen-supercompensated exercised muscle than in muscles of sedentary controls and only 50% as great as in exercised muscles with a low glycogen content. We conclude that the decreased insulin responsiveness of glucose transport in glycogen-supercompensated muscle is not due to increased accumulation of hexosamine biosynthetic pathway end products and that the smaller increase in glucose transport is mediated by translocation of fewer GLUT-4 to the cell surface.It was recently found that the effect of an exercise-induced increase in muscle GLUT-4 on insulin-stimulated glucose transport is masked by a decreased responsiveness to insulin in glycogen-supercompensated muscle. We evaluated the role of hexosamines in this decrease in insulin responsiveness and found that UDP-N-acetyl hexosamine concentrations were not higher in glycogen-supercompensated muscles than in control muscles with a low glycogen content. We determined whether the smaller increase in glucose transport is due to translocation of fewer GLUT-4 to the cell surface with the 2-N-4-(1-azi-2,2,2-trifluroethyl)-benzoyl-1, 3-bis(D-mannose-4-yloxy)-2-propylamine (ATB-[2-3H]BMPA) photolabeling technique. The insulin-induced increase in GLUT-4 at the cell surface was no greater in glycogen-supercompensated exercised muscle than in muscles of sedentary controls and only 50% as great as in exercised muscles with a low glycogen content. We conclude that the decreased insulin responsiveness of glucose transport in glycogen-supercompensated muscle is not due to increased accumulation of hexosamine biosynthetic pathway end products and that the smaller increase in glucose transport is mediated by translocation of fewer GLUT-4 to the cell surface.

Insulin resistance of muscle glucose transport in male and female rats fed a high-sucrose diet.

It has been reported that, unlike high-fat diets, high-sucrose diets cause insulin resistance in the absence of an increase in visceral fat and that the insulin resistance develops only in male rats. This study was done to 1) determine if isolated muscles of rats fed a high-sucrose diet are resistant to stimulation of glucose transport when studied in vitro and 2) obtain information regarding how the effects of high-sucrose and high-fat diets on muscle insulin resistance differ. We found that, compared with rat chow, semipurified high-sucrose and high-starch diets both caused increased visceral fat accumulation and insulin resistance of skeletal muscle glucose transport. Insulin responsiveness of 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) transport measured in epitrochlearis and soleus muscles in vitro was decreased ∼40% ( P < 0.01) in both male and female rats fed a high-sucrose compared with a chow diet. The high-sucrose diet also caused resistance of muscle glucose transport to stimulation by contractions. There was a highly significant negative correlation between stimulated muscle 2-DG transport and visceral fat mass. In view of these results, the differences in insulin action in vivo observed by others in rats fed isocaloric high-sucrose and high-starch diets must be due to additional, specific effects of sucrose that do not carry over in muscles studied in vitro. We conclude that, compared with rat chow, semipurified high-sucrose and high-cornstarch diets, like high-fat diets, cause increased visceral fat accumulation and severe resistance of skeletal muscle glucose transport to stimulation by insulin and contractions.