Sonoko Yasui

Insulin Activates ATP-Sensitive Potassium Channels via Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase in Cultured Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

The effects of insulin on the vasculature are significant because insulin resistance is associated with hypertension. To increase the understanding of the effects of insulin on the vasculature, we analyzed changes in potassium ion transport in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Using the potential-sensitive fluorescence dye bis-(1,3-dibutylbarbituric acid)trimethine oxonol [DiBAC4(3)], we found that insulin induced membrane hyperpolarization after 2 min in A10 cells. Insulin-induced hyperpolarization was suppressed by glibenclamide, an ATP-sensitive potassium (KATP) channel blocker. Using a cell-attached patch clamp experiment, the KATP channel was activated by insulin in both A10 cells and isolated VSMCs from rat aortas, indicating that insulin causes membrane hyperpolarization via KATP channel activation. These effects were not dependent on intracellular ATP concentration, but wortmannin, a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K) inhibitor, significantly suppressed insulin-induced KATP channel activation. In addition, insulin enhanced phosphorylation of insulin receptor, insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1 and protein kinase B (Akt) after 2 min. These data suggest that KATP channel activation by insulin is mediated by PI3-K. Furthermore, using a nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor, we found that NOS might play an important role downstream of PI3-K in insulin-induced KATP channel activation. This study may contribute to our understanding of mechanisms of insulin resistance-associated hypertension.

β‐Adrenergic‐AMPK Pathway Phosphorylates Acetyl‐CoA Carboxylase in a High‐epinephrine Rat Model, SPORTS

We established a new animal model called SPORTS (Spontaneously‐Running Tokushima‐Shikoku) rats, which show high‐epinephrine (Epi) levels. Recent reports show that Epi activates adenosine monophosphate (AMP)–activated protein kinase (AMPK) in adipocytes. Acetyl‐CoA carboxylase (ACC) is the rate‐limiting enzyme in fatty acid synthesis, and the enzymatic activity is suppressed when its Ser‐79 is phosphorylated by AMPK. The aim of this study was to investigate the in vivo effect of Epi on ACC and abdominal visceral fat accumulation. We divided both 6‐week male control and SPORTS rats into two groups, which were fed either normal diet or high fat and sucrose (HFS) diet for 16 weeks. At the end of diet treatment, retroperitoneal fat was collected for western blotting and histological analysis. Food intake was not different among the groups, but SPORTS rats showed significantly lower weight gain than control rats in both diet groups. After 10 weeks of diet treatment, glucose tolerance tests (GTTs) revealed that SPORTS rats had increased insulin sensitivity. Furthermore, SPORTS rats had lower quantities of both abdominal fat and plasma triglyceride (TG). In abdominal fat, elevated ACC Ser‐79 phosphorylation was observed in SPORTS rats and suppressed by an antagonist of β‐adrenergic receptor (AR), propranolol, or an inhibitor of AMPK, Compound C. From these results, high level of Epi induced ACC phosphorylation mediated through β‐AR and AMPK signaling pathways in abdominal visceral fat of SPORTS rats, which may contribute to reduce abdominal visceral fat accumulation and increase insulin sensitivity. Our results suggest that β‐AR‐regulated ACC activity would be a target for treating lifestyle‐related diseases, such as obesity.

Effects of prostaglandin E1 on vascular ATP-sensitive potassium channels.

Background: Prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) has been reported to activate ATP-sensitive potassium (KATP) channels, which induces vasorelaxation. However, direct evidence of PGE1 interactions with vascular KATP channels is limited. Methods: The present study investigated the effects and mechanisms of PGE1 on vascular KATP channels in both isometric tension and patch clamp experiments. Isometric tension experiments were performed in rat thoracic aortic rings without an endothelium. Electrophysiologic experiments were performed using patch-clamp techniques to monitor KATP channels in rat vascular smooth muscle cells. Results: PGE1 significantly decreased the isometric tension in a concentration-dependent manner, which was partially inhibited by pretreating with a KATP channel inhibitor, glibenclamide (1 μM), or an inhibitor of protein kinase A (PKA), Rp-cAMPS (100 μM). Application of PGE1 to the bath solution during cell-attached recordings induced a significant increase in KATP channel activity, whereas PGE1 failed to activate KATP channels in the inside-out patches. The PGE1-induced KATP channel currents in cell-attached patches were abolished by pretreating with Rp-cAMPS (100 μM). Conclusions: The results indicate that the activation of vascular KATP channels played an important role in the PKA-dependent PGE1-induced vasorelaxation. Furthermore, an electrophysiological experiment demonstrated that PGE1 activated vascular KATP channels via PKA activation.

Telmisartan increases localization of glucose transporter 4 to the plasma membrane and increases glucose uptake via peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

Angiotensin II is a peptide hormone with strong vasoconstrictive action, and recent reports have shown that Angiotensin II receptor type 1 antagonists (angiotensin II receptor blockers) also improve glucose metabolism. The angiotensin II receptor blocker telmisartan acts as an agonistic ligand of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ). In this study, we investigated the effects of telmisartan on glucose uptake and insulin sensitivity in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and compared it with the action of other angiotensin II receptor blockers. Telmisartan treatment dose-dependently increased (from 1 μM) protein expression of PPARγ-regulated molecules such as fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4), insulin receptor, and glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4). Telmisartan increased glucose uptake both with and without insulin stimulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Telmisartan increased the up-regulation of phosphorylated insulin receptor, insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) and Akt by insulin, suggesting that telmisartan increases insulin sensitivity. Furthermore, in the absence of insulin, telmisartan, but not candesartan, increased GLUT4 levels at the plasma membrane. These effects by 10 μM telmisartan were similar potency to those of 1 μM troglitazone, an activator of PPARγ. In addition, up-regulation of glucose uptake by telmisartan was inhibited by a PPARγ antagonist, T0070907 (2-chloro-5-nitro-N-4-pyridinyl-benzamide). These results indicate that telmisartan acts via PPARγ activation in adipose tissue and may be an effective therapy for the metabolic syndrome.

Effects of intracellular MgADP and acidification on the inhibition of cardiac sarcolemmal ATP-sensitive potassium channels by propofol

PurposePropofol inhibits adenosine triphosphate-sensitive potassium (KATP) channels, which may result in the blocking of ischemic preconditioning in the heart. During cardiac ischemia, sarcolemmal KATP channel activity is regulated by the increased levels of cytosolic metabolites, such as adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and protons. However, it remains unclear whether these cytosolic metabolites modulate the inhibitory action of propofol. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of intracellular MgADP and acidification on KATP channel inhibition by propofol.MethodsWe used inside-out patch-clamp configurations to investigate the effects of propofol on the activities of recombinant cardiac sarcolemmal KATP channels, which are reassociated by expressed subunits, sulfonylurea receptor (SUR) 2A, and inwardly rectifying potassium channels (Kir6.2).ResultsIn the absence of MgADP, propofol inhibited the SUR2A/Kir6.2 channel currents in a concentration-dependent manner, and an IC50 of 78 µM. Increasing the intracellular MgADP concentrations to 0.1 and 0.3 mM markedly attenuated the inhibitory potency of propofol, and shifted the IC50 to 183 and 265 µM, respectively. Moreover, decreasing the intracellular pH from 7.4 to 6.5 attenuated the inhibitory potency of propofol, and shifted the IC50 to 277 µM. In addition, propofol-induced inhibition of truncated Kir6.2ΔC36 currents, which form a functional channel without SUR2A, was not affected by an increase in intracellular MgADP. However, intracellular acidification (pH 6.5) significantly reduced the propofol sensitivity of Kir6.2ΔC36 channels.ConclusionOur results demonstrated that the existence of intracellular MgADP and protons attenuated the direct inhibitory potency of propofol on recombinant cardiac sarcolemmal KATP channels, via SUR2A and Kir6.2 subunits, respectively.

Body fat mass is correlated with serum transthyretin levels in maintenance hemodialysis patients

Serum transthyretin (TTR), also known as prealbumin, is a reliable nutritional indicator and an independent prognostic factor for maintenance hemodialysis patients. However, we recently reported that serum TTR levels did not affect protein-energy wasting (PEW). In this study, we investigated factors affecting serum TTR levels in 60 maintenance hemodialysis patients. The patients were divided into High-TTR and Low-TTR groups according to the median serum TTR level. Albumin levels were significantly higher and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were significantly lower in the High-TTR group than in the Low-TTR group. Although body fat mass was significantly higher in the High-TTR group than in the Low-TTR group, no significant difference in body fat ratio were observed. These findings suggest that body fat mass is related to serum TTR levels, apart from factors such as albumin and CRP levels, which showed correlations with serum TTR levels. Because body fat mass is related to better survival in maintenance hemodialysis patients, it may contribute to the prognostic value of serum TTR levels. In addition, in such patients, it may be important to evaluate body fat mass rather than body fat ratio and to maintain the minimum necessary body fat mass. J. Med. Invest. 64: 222-227, August, 2017.