Yugo Miyata

Adipose Tissue Hypoxia in Obesity and Its Impact on Adipocytokine Dysregulation

Obesity is linked to a variety of metabolic disorders, such as insulin resistance and atherosclerosis. Dysregulated production of fat-derived secretory factors, adipocytokines, is partly responsible for obesity-linked metabolic disorders. However, the mechanistic role of obesity per se to adipocytokine dysregulation has not been fully elucidated. Here, we show that adipose tissue of obese mice is hypoxic and that local adipose tissue hypoxia dysregulates the production of adipocytokines. Tissue hypoxia was confirmed by an exogenous marker, pimonidazole, and by an elevated concentration of lactate, an endogenous marker. Moreover, local tissue hypoperfusion (measured by colored microspheres) was confirmed in adipose tissue of obese mice. Adiponectin mRNA expression was decreased, and mRNA of C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP), an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress–mediated protein, was significantly increased in adipose tissue of obese mice. In 3T3-L1 adipocytes, hypoxia dysregulated the expression of adipocytokines, such as adiponectin and plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1, and increased the mRNAs of ER stress marker genes, CHOP and GRP78 (glucose-regulated protein, 78 kD). Expression of CHOP attenuated adiponectin promoter activity, and RNA interference of CHOP partly reversed hypoxia-induced suppression of adiponectin mRNA expression in adipocytes. Hypoxia also increased instability of adiponectin mRNA. Our results suggest that hypoperfusion and hypoxia in adipose tissues underlie the dysregulated production of adipocytokines and metabolic syndrome in obesity.

Effects of Statins on Adipose Tissue Inflammation Their Inhibitory Effect on MyD88-Independent IRF3/IFN-β Pathway in Macrophages

Objectives—Macrophage-mediated chronic inflammation of adipose tissue is causally linked to insulin resistance in obesity. The beneficial effects of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl (HMG) coenzyme A (CoA) reductase inhibitors (statins) on glucose metabolism have been suggested, but the effects of these agents on adipose tissue inflammation are unclear. The aim of the present study is to define the effects of statins on adipose tissue inflammation and macrophages. Methods and Results—Pravastatin or pitavastatin treatment of obese mice attenuated an increase in mRNA expressions of proinflammatory genes, including MCP1 and IL6, in adipose tissue. The supernatant of TLR4-stimulated RAW264 macrophages strongly induced the expression of these genes in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, which was inhibited by pretreatment of macrophages with either statin. Statins inhibited TLR4-mediated activation of interferon (IFN) regulatory factor (IRF)3 by either lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or palmitic acid, resulting in suppression of IFN-&bgr; expression, but not that of NF-&kgr;B or JNK. Moreover, statins strongly downregulated TLR3-mediated gene expressions by poly(I:C), but not TLR2-stimulation by zymosan A. Neutralization of IFN-&bgr; attenuated proinflammatory activities of the macrophage supernatant. Conclusions—Statins partially attenuated the development of adipose tissue inflammation in obese mice, which might be associated with an inhibitory effect of statins on TLR4-triggered expression of IFN-&bgr; via MyD88-independent signaling pathway in macrophages.

RhoA induces expression of inflammatory cytokine in adipocytes

Rho GTPase regulates actin cytoskeleton organization and assembly in many cell types, however, its significance in adipose tissue is not well characterized. Here, we demonstrate high RhoA activity in adipose tissues of C57BL/6J mice. To determine the effect of RhoA activation on 3T3-L1 cells, stable cell lines overexpressing G14VRhoA fused to destabilizing domain of FKBP12 (DD-G14VRhoA-L1) were generated. Treatment of DD-G14VRhoA-L1 cells with Shield1 following their differentiation into adipocytes, resulted in the appearance of thick cortical actin filaments, and increased the mRNA expression levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1). The induction of PAI-1 and MCP-1 was inhibited by treatment with a Rho-associated kinase (ROCK) inhibitor, Y-27632. In 3T3-L1 adipocytes, tumor necrosis factor-alpha activated RhoA and increased mRNA expression of PAI-1 and MCP-1, and their treatment with Y-27632 partially inhibited these changes. The results indicate that RhoA-ROCK pathway induces inflammatory cytokine expression in adipocytes.

Obesity causes a shift in metabolic flow of gangliosides in adipose tissues

Obesity is associated with insulin resistance and a mild chronic inflammation in adipose tissues. Recent studies suggested that GM3 ganglioside mediates dysfunction in insulin signaling. However, it has not been determined the ganglioside profiling in adipose tissues of obese animals. Here, we for the first time examined semi-quantitative ganglioside profiles in the adipose tissues of high fat- and high sucrose-induced obese, diabetic C57BL/6J mice by TLC and HPLC/mass spectrometry. In control adipose tissues GM3 dominated with traces of GM1 and GD1a; obesity led to a dramatic increase in GM2, GM1, and GD1a with the GM3 content unchanged. Similar results were obtained in KK and KKAy mice. Adipocytes separated from stromal vascular cells including macrophages contained more of those gangliosides in KKAy mice than in KK mice. These results underscore those gangliosides in the pathophysiology of obesity-related diseases.

Adiponectin regulates vascular endothelial growth factor-C expression in macrophages via Syk-ERK pathway.

Adiponectin is exclusively expressed in adipose tissues and exhibits protective effects against cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. It enhances AMP-activated kinase (AMPK) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) signaling in the liver and skeletal muscles, however, its signaling pathways in macrophages remain to be elucidated. Here, we show that adiponectin upregulated the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-C, and induced phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) in macrophages. Inhibition of Syk abrogated adiponectin-induced VEGF-C expression and ERK phosphorylation. Furthermore, inhibition of ERK blocked the induction of VEGF-C gene. Inhibition of Syk, but not that of ERK, abrogated adiponectin-induced expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1, and interleukin (IL)-6. These results indicate that adiponectin regulates VEGF-C expression via Syk-ERK pathway in macrophages.

Expression of activating transcription factor 2 in inflammatory macrophages in obese adipose tissue

White adipose tissue (WAT) of obesity is in the state of inflammation with progressive infiltration by macrophages and overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can induce WAT dysfunction, including insulin resistance and adipocytokine dysregulation. Activating transcription factor 2 (ATF2) is a member of the ATF/cAMP response element binding family of transcription factors and known to be activated by cellular stressors, such as inflammatory cytokines, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and ROS.

Low gene expression levels of activating receptors of natural killer cells (NKG2E and CD94) in patients with fulminant type 1 diabetes.

Fulminant type 1 diabetes is an independent subtype of type 1 diabetes characterized by extremely rapid onset and absence of islet-related autoantibodies. However, detailed pathophysiology of this subtype is poorly understood. In this study, a comprehensive approach was applied to understand the pathogenesis of fulminant type 1 diabetes. We determined the genes that were differentially expressed in fulminant type 1 diabetes compared with type 1A diabetes and healthy control, using gene expression microarray in peripheral blood cells. Using volcano plot analysis, we found reduced expression of killer cell lectin-like receptor subfamily C, member 3 (KLRC3) which encodes NKG2E, a natural killer (NK) cell activating receptor, in fulminant type 1 diabetes, compared with healthy controls. This difference was confirmed by real-time RT-PCR among NK-enriched cells. The expression of KLRD1 (CD94), which forms heterodimer with NKG2E (KLRC3), was also reduced in NK-enriched cells in fulminant type 1 diabetes. Furthermore, flow cytometry showed significantly lower proportion of NK cells among peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in fulminant type 1 diabetes than in healthy controls. In patients with fulminant type 1 diabetes, the relative proportion of NK cells correlated significantly with the time period between onset of fever to the appearance of hyperglycemic-related symptoms. We conclude the presence of reduced NK activating receptor gene expression and low proportion of NK cells in fulminant type 1 diabetes.

Identification of Mouse Mesenteric and Subcutaneous in vitro Adipogenic Cells

Fat accumulation and the dysfunction of visceral white adipose tissue (WAT), but not subcutaneous WAT, cause abnormalities in whole body metabolic homeostasis. However, no current drugs specifically target visceral WAT. The primary reason for this is that a practical in vitro culture system for mesenteric adipocytes has not been established. To resolve this issue, we sought to identify in vitro adipogenic cells in mesenteric and subcutaneous WATs. First, we examined the expression pattern of surface antigens in stromal-vascular fraction (SVF) cells from mouse mesenteric and subcutaneous WATs, and found the expression of 30 stem cell-related surface antigens. Then, to evaluate the adipogenic ability of each fraction, we performed in vitro screening, and identified five candidate markers for mesenteric adipogenic cells and one candidate marker for subcutaneous adipogenic cells. To investigate whether in vitro adipogenic ability accurately reflects the conditions in vivo, we performed transplantation experiments, and identified CD9− CD201+ Sca-1− cells and CD90+ cells as mesenteric and subcutaneous in vitro adipogenic cells, respectively. Furthermore, mature adipocytes derived from mesenteric and subcutaneous adipogenic cells maintained each characteristic phenotype in vitro. Thus, our study should contribute to the development of a useful culture system for visceral adipocytes.

Nur77 gene expression levels were involved in different ACTH-secretion autonomy between Cushing’s disease and subclinical Cushing’s disease

Cushings disease (CD) and subclinical Cushings disease (subCD) are both diseases caused by adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-secreting pituitary adenomas. However, ACTH autonomy in subCD is weaker than in CD and there are no Cushingoid features in subCD. The differences of molecular mechanisms in ACTH autonomy between CD and subCD have not yet been reported. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the differences in molecular mechanisms of ACTH-secretion autonomy between CD and subCD. The study included 23 patients [7 CD, 6 subCD, and 10 non-functioning pituitary tumors (NFTs)] who underwent transsphenoidal surgery at the Osaka University Hospital between December 2009 and October 2013. Using quantitative real-time PCR, various ACTH-related gene expressions in tumor tissues from CD, subCD, and NFT were measured such as pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC), POMC transcription factor (Tpit, Pitx1, NeuroD1, and Nur77), POMC peptide processing enzymes (prohormone convertase: PC1/3 and PC2), and ACTH secretion-related factors (corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 1: CRHR1 and glucocorticoid receptor α: GRα). Only Nur77 mRNA levels were significantly higher in CD than in subCD. Furthermore, we stained 6 CD and 6 subCD with anti-Nur77 antibody. All tumor samples from CD had Nur77 protein positive cells. On the other hand, Nur77 protein was expressed in only one tumor sample from subCD. This sample showed high expression of Nur77 mRNA. Nur77 is an important to regulate POMC transcription and negative-feedback by glucocorticoids. Nur77 gene expression levels might involve different autonomy of ACTH production between CD and subCD.