Min Seon Kim

Effects of Recombinant Adenovirus-Mediated Uncoupling Protein 2 Overexpression on Endothelial Function and Apoptosis

Increased oxidative stress in vascular cells plays a key role in the development of endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis. Uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) is an important regulator of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. This study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that, UCP2 functions as an inhibitor of the atherosclerotic process in endothelial cells. Adenovirus-mediated UCP2 (Ad-UCP2) overexpression led to a significant increase in endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and decrease in endothelin-1 mRNA expression in human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs). Moreover, UCP2 inhibited the increase in ROS production and NF-&kgr;B activation, and apoptosis of HAECs induced by lysophophatidylcholine (LPC) and linoleic acid. LPC and linoleic acid caused mitochondrial calcium accumulation and transient mitochondrial membrane hyperpolarization, which was followed by depolarization. UCP2 overexpression prevented these processes. In isolated rat aorta, Ad-UCP2 infection markedly improved impaired vascular relaxation induced by LPC. The data collectively suggest that UCP2, functions as a physiologic regulator of ROS generation in endothelial cells. Thus, measures to increase UCP2 expression in vascular endothelial cells may aid in preventing the development and progression of atherosclerosis in patients with metabolic syndrome.

Targeted Disruption of ROCK1 Causes Insulin Resistance in Vivo

Insulin signaling is essential for normal glucose homeostasis. Rho-kinase (ROCK) isoforms have been shown to participate in insulin signaling and glucose metabolism in cultured cell lines. To investigate the physiological role of ROCK1 in the regulation of whole body glucose homeostasis and insulin sensitivity in vivo, we studied mice with global disruption of ROCK1. Here we show that, at 16–18 weeks of age, ROCK1-deficient mice exhibited insulin resistance, as revealed by the failure of blood glucose levels to decrease after insulin injection. However, glucose tolerance was normal in the absence of ROCK1. These effects were independent of changes in adiposity. Interestingly, ROCK1 gene ablation caused a significant increase in glucose-induced insulin secretion, leading to hyperinsulinemia. To determine the mechanism(s) by which deletion of ROCK1 causes insulin resistance, we measured the ability of insulin to activate phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and multiple distal pathways in skeletal muscle. Insulin-stimulated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activity associated with IRS-1 or phospho-tyrosine was also reduced ∼40% without any alteration in tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptor in skeletal muscle. Concurrently, serine phosphorylation of IRS-1 at serine 632/635, which is phosphorylated by ROCK in vitro, was also impaired in these mice. Insulin-induced phosphorylation of Akt, AS160, S6K, and S6 was also decreased in skeletal muscle. These data suggest that ROCK1 deficiency causes systemic insulin resistance by impairing insulin signaling in skeletal muscle. Thus, our results identify ROCK1 as a novel regulator of glucose homeostasis and insulin sensitivity in vivo, which could lead to new treatment approaches for obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Hypothalamic Angptl4/Fiaf Is a Novel Regulator of Food Intake and Body Weight

OBJECTIVE The angiopoietin-like protein 4 (Angptl4)/fasting-induced adipose factor (Fiaf) is known as a regulator of peripheral lipid and glucose metabolism. In the present study, we investigated the physiological role of Angptl4 in central regulation of body weight homeostasis. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Hypothalamic Angptl4 expression levels were measured using immunoblot assay during feeding manipulation or after administration of leptin, insulin, and nutrients. The effects of Angptl4 on food intake, body weight, and energy expenditure were determined following intracerebroventricular (ICV) administration of Angptl4 in C57BL/6 mice. Food intake, energy metabolism, and feeding responses to leptin, insulin, and nutrients were compared between Angptl4-null mice and their wild littermates. Finally, the relationship of hypothalamic AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and Angptl4 was studied. RESULTS Hypothalamic Angptl4 expression levels were increased upon food intake or administration of leptin, insulin, and nutrients. Furthermore, central administration of Angptl4 suppressed food intake and body weight gain but enhanced energy expenditure. These effects were mediated via suppression of hypothalamic AMPK activities. Consistently, Angptl4-null mice displayed increased body weight and hypothalamic AMPK activity but reduced energy expenditure. Food intake following a fast was significantly greater in Angptl4-null mice, which was normalized by centrally administered Angptl4. Moreover, anorectic responses to leptin, insulin, and glucose were diminished in Angptl4-null mice. In contrast, Angptl4-null mice were resistant to diet-induced obesity, indicating obesity-promoting effects of Angptl4 under the condition of fat-enriched diet. CONCLUSIONS We have demonstrated that hypothalamic Angptl4 is regulated by physiological appetite regulators and mediates their anorexigenic effects via inhibition of hypothalamic AMPK activity. Therefore, Angptl4 appears to have an important role in central regulation of energy metabolism.

Role of hypothalamic 5′-AMP-activated protein kinase in the regulation of food intake and energy homeostasis

Although obesity is an epidemic threat to general health worldwide, an effective treatment has yet to be found. Insights into weight-regulatory pathways will accelerate the identification of new molecular targets for anti-obesity agents. 5′-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is an enzyme activated during low cellular energy charge. In peripheral tissues, the activation of AMPK influences various metabolic pathways, including glucose uptake, glycolysis, and fatty acid oxidation, all of which help to re-establish a normal cellular energy balance. AMPK is also present in the neurons of the hypothalamus, a critical center in the regulation of energy homeostasis. Recent studies from our group and others have shown that many factors (α-lipoic acid, leptin, insulin, ghrelin, glucose, 2-deoxyglucose, etc.) cause an alteration in hypothalamic AMPK activity that mediates effects on feeding behavior. Hypothalamic AMPK also appears to play a role in the central regulation of energy expenditure and peripheral glucose metabolism. These data indicate that hypothalamic AMPK is an important signaling molecule that integrates nutritional and hormonal signals and modulates feeding behavior and energy metabolism.

Plasma vaspin concentrations are elevated in metabolic syndrome in men and are correlated with coronary atherosclerosis in women

Objectiveu2002 Vaspin is visceral adipose‐tissue‐derived adipokine, which has an insulin‐sensitizing effect in obese type 2 diabetic rodent models. As adipokines may serve as a link between visceral adiposity and atherosclerosis, we investigated whether plasma vaspin concentrations were associated with the metabolic syndrome and coronary atherosclerosis.

Enhanced Hypothalamic Leptin Signaling in Mice Lacking Dopamine D2 Receptors

The dopamine D2 receptor (D2R) plays a critical role in diverse neurophysiological functions. D2R knock-out mice (D2R−/−) show reduced food intake and body weight while displaying an increased basal energy expenditure level, compared with their wild type littermates. Thus, these mice show a lean phenotype. D2R−/− mice displayed increased leptin sensitivity, and leptin injection induced increased phosphorylation of the hypothalamic signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) in D2R−/− mice relative to wild type littermates. Using double immunofluorescence histochemistry, we have demonstrated that D2Rs are present in leptin-sensitive STAT3-positive cells in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus and that leptin injection induces STAT3 phosphorylation in hypothalamic neurons expressing D2Rs. Stimulation of D2R by the D2R agonist quinpirole suppressed the leptin-induced STAT3 phosphorylation and nuclear trans-localization of phospho-STAT3 in the hypothalamus of wild type mice. However, this regulation was not detected in the D2R−/− mice. Treatment of D2R agonist and antagonist could modulate the leptin-induced food intake and body weight changes in wild type mice but not in D2R−/− mice. Together, our findings suggest that the interaction between the dopaminergic system and leptin signaling in hypothalamus is important in control of energy homeostasis.

NF-κB Activation in Hypothalamic Pro-opiomelanocortin Neurons Is Essential in Illness- and Leptin-induced Anorexia

Anorexia and weight loss are prevalent in infectious diseases. To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying these phenomena, we established animal models of infection-associated anorexia by administrating bacterial and viral products, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and human immunodeficiency virus-1 transactivator protein (Tat). In these models, we found that the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), a pivotal transcription factor for inflammation-related proteins, was activated in the hypothalamus. In parallel, administration of LPS and Tat increased hypothalamic pro-inflammatory cytokine production, which was abrogated by inhibition of hypothalamic NF-κB. In vitro, NF-κB activation directly stimulated the transcriptional activity of pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC), a precursor of anorexigenic melanocortin, and mediated the stimulatory effects of LPS, Tat, and pro-inflammatory cytokines on POMC transcription, implying the involvement of NF-κB in controlling feeding behavior. Consistently, hypothalamic injection of LPS and Tat caused a significant reduction in food intake and body weight, which was prevented by blockade of NF-κB and melanocortin. Furthermore, disruption of IκB kinase-β, an upstream kinase of NF-κB, in POMC neurons attenuated LPS- and Tat-induced anorexia. These findings suggest that infection-associated anorexia and weight loss are mediated via NF-κB activation in hypothalamic POMC neurons. In addition, hypothalamic NF-κB was activated by leptin, an important anorexigenic hormone, and mediates leptin-stimulated POMC transcription, indicating that hypothalamic NF-κB also serves as a downstream signaling pathway of leptin.

Rho-kinase regulates energy balance by targeting hypothalamic leptin receptor signaling

Leptin regulates energy balance. However, knowledge of the critical intracellular transducers of leptin signaling remains incomplete. We found that Rho-kinase 1 (ROCK1) regulates leptin action on body weight homeostasis by activating JAK2, an initial trigger of leptin receptor signaling. Leptin promoted the physical interaction of JAK2 and ROCK1, thereby increasing phosphorylation of JAK2 and downstream activation of Stat3 and FOXO1. Mice lacking ROCK1 in either pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) or agouti-related protein neurons, mediators of leptin action, displayed obesity and impaired leptin sensitivity. In addition, deletion of ROCK1 in the arcuate nucleus markedly enhanced food intake, resulting in severe obesity. Notably, ROCK1 was a specific mediator of leptin, but not insulin, regulation of POMC neuronal activity. Our data identify ROCK1 as a key regulator of leptin action on energy homeostasis.

Oleic acid induces endothelin-1 expression through activation of protein kinase C and NF-κB

This study investigated the effect of oleic acid on the expression levels of endothelin-1 (ET-1) and on the signaling pathways mediating it in human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs). ET-1 mRNA expression was significantly increased by oleic acid in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Elevation of ET-1 expression in response to oleic acid was inhibited by the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, GF109203X, or the NF-κB inhibitor, pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate. In addition, both PKC and NF-κB activities were significantly increased by oleic acid. Immunoblot analysis revealed that conventional PKCs (PKC-α and -βII isoforms) were significantly increased in the membranous fractions of HAECs treated with oleic acid. PKC inhibitor completely abolished oleic acid-induced NF-κB activation, suggesting that PKC activation is upstream of NF-κB activation in oleic acid-induced ET-1 expression. These data suggest that elevated plasma oleic acid levels observed in obese, insulin-resistant subjects result in endothelial dysfunction, at least in part, through an increase in ET-1 expression.

Comparison of the Efficacy of Glimepiride, Metformin, and Rosiglitazone Monotherapy in Korean Drug-Naïve Type 2 Diabetic Patients: The Practical Evidence of Antidiabetic Monotherapy Study

Background Although many anti-diabetic drugs have been used to control hyperglycemia for decades, the efficacy of commonly-used oral glucose-lowering agents in Korean type 2 diabetic patients has yet to be clearly demonstrated. Methods We evaluated the efficacy of glimepiride, metformin, and rosiglitazone as initial treatment for drug-naïve type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in a 48-week, double-blind, randomized controlled study that included 349 Korean patients. Our primary goal was to determine the change in HbA1c levels from baseline to end point. Our secondary goal was to evaluate changes in fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels, body weight, frequency of adverse events, and the proportion of participants achieving target HbA1c levels. Results HbA1c levels decreased from 7.8% to 6.9% in the glimepiride group (P<0.001), from 7.9% to 7.0% in the metformin group (P<0.001), and from 7.8% to 7.0% (P<0.001) in the rosiglitazone group. Glimepiride and rosiglitazone significantly increased body weight and metformin reduced body weight during the study period. Symptomatic hypoglycemia was more frequent in the glimepiride group and diarrhea was more frequent in the metformin group. Conclusion The efficacy of glimepiride, metformin, and rosiglitazone as antidiabetic monotherapies in drug-naïve Korean type 2 diabetic patients was similar in the three groups, with no statistical difference. This study is the first randomized controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of commonly-used oral hypoglycemic agents in Korean type 2 diabetic patients. An additional subgroup analysis is recommended to obtain more detailed information.